Chapter 50: The War Begins, Time for Farewell.
"Big Brother~"
That wave of exhaustion swept over you again, and you woke to a soft call.
You opened your eyes and looked at Fu Xuan—nearly a hundred years old now, yet still acting like a little girl.
"Big Brother… I'm here."
Your voice was hoarse, like sandpaper scraping back and forth against a young girl's heart…
Her eyes were moist.
"Big Brother, are you sick?"
You shook your head, forcing a warm smile.
"Big Brother is just… old…"
"Little Sister, Big Brother has a premonition that soon you'll be able to… take care of me in my old age and see me off…"
"Mmm…"
"No… Big Brother…"
Large teardrops fell from the girl's eyes, splashing onto your pillow—and your heart.
But aside from a bitter smile, you made no other movement, because…
It wasn't time yet.
Five years…
This was fate's ultimatum for you, and you needed those five years to accomplish one thing.
Something you would be unable to do—and deeply regret—if you did not do it now.
…
Your hair and brows had long since turned gray. You still enjoyed lounging in your recliner, but Fu Xuan no longer touched her divination sticks.
She always stayed by your side, lost in thought, her eyes often red…
"Little Sister…"
"I'm here, Big Brother."
"I want to tell you a story."
You narrowed your eyes, as you always did.
"I'm listening… Big Brother."
"In my homeland, there lives a very ancient and mysterious species…"
"They're called 'elephants.' Although they are animals, they are also very human…"
You spoke slowly, telling Fu Xuan the story of an elephant who, before dying, broke off its tusks to repay the person who saved it—and also the story of an elephant who sought revenge before death…
The young girl's eyes gradually lost focus, completely absorbed.
They truly were… very human animals.
"Elephants also have a mystical trait: they do not die in the wild…"
"They can sense the end of their lives and, by unspoken agreement, travel to a place called the 'elephant graveyard.'"
"There, they quietly fall into eternal sleep…"
"Isn't that incredible?"
Your story was short, but Fu Xuan's thoughts were long.
Little Sister, Big Brother is not a long-lived species. Birth, aging, sickness, and death—life has its end…
"One day, Big Brother will leave you."
"And Big Brother has a premonition it will be within the next few years…"
Fu Xuan's small face turned pale. This was a destiny she found extremely hard to accept.
She did not want to face it; she wanted to escape…
Just as she once escaped from the Jade Pavilion to Luofu…
But this time, she realized there was nowhere to run.
The only one I cannot let go of is you, Little Sister. Big Brother cannot accompany you for your entire life, and you still have a long road ahead…
"I don't want to hear it, Big Brother! Stop talking!"
She covered her ears, tears streaming down her face as she shouted hoarsely…
You smiled bitterly, and suddenly a fit of coughing seized you.
"Cough… cough…"
It felt as though you were back in that hospital room ruled by lung cancer, your face slightly pale.
"Big Brother, what's wrong? Big Brother?"
Fu Xuan's expression changed drastically. She rushed out the door and returned moments later with someone even shorter than she was—
A Vidyadhara girl with a beautiful dragon tail…
"Miss Bailu, please examine my Big Brother. He seems sick."
"Don't worry, Sister Fu Xuan. Let me take a look…"
Bailu took your pulse.
"Your Big Brother is fine, it's just… just…"
You gave the adorable dragon girl a meaningful look.
"Oh, it's just a bit of internal heat. He'll be fine after some rest…"
Mm…
Lady Dragon truly lived up to her title as the Vidyadhara High Elder; she understood with a single hint…
You silently gave her a thumbs-up.
After prescribing some medicine, she left, and Fu Xuan went to prepare it.
Watching her busy silhouette, your worries did not lessen. What should you do?
Your death was inevitable. This time, you could not say, "Big Brother will handle everything…"
"Big Brother, drink your medicine…"
Her eyes were swollen and red, but her hands were steady as she carefully fed it to you.
You drank obediently, thinking of a solution.
If she truly cannot accept your departure, perhaps you'll have to resort to other means.
There wasn't much medicine; it was sweet and pleasant…
Very much like the girl's usual voice—sweet, but never cloying.
"Do you feel better… Big Brother?"
She asked softly.
You nodded, offering a reassuring smile.
Long-lived species do not believe in farewells…
And I cannot accept farewells either…
Time passed, and you did not bring up the matter again.
However, Fu Xuan had not forgotten. She had not slept well for a long time…
Many times…
When you opened your eyes groggily, you would see those red, swollen eyes staring at you, one small hand clutching your clothes tightly…
As if afraid that if she blinked, you would disappear.
Little Sister, sleep. Big Brother is fine…
She stubbornly shook her head, eyes wet, her grip tightening…
You could no longer sleep. You simply looked at her, meeting her gaze…
There were many nights like that.
In the end, worried about your health, she would be the first to fall asleep…
…
You no longer mentioned the subject. You even regretted making her understand too early that she would have to face that ending.
However…
It would be soon…
Five years were rapidly drawing to a close.
You spent a long time reflecting and wrote a very long letter.
[A letter to Little Sister, personally:]
Little Sister, when you read this letter, Big Brother will have already embarked on his journey—just like the elephants heading toward the elephant graveyard…
Big Brother did not finish the story that day. Legend says that the elephants who enter the graveyard to rest will one day awaken from their dreams and reunite with their herds.
Perhaps, one day, Big Brother will also awaken from his dream and return to your side…
Please do not worry, and do not try to find Big Brother…
At this point, Big Brother still has many stories he wants to tell you, but forgive Big Brother for not having enough time.
Big Brother is not a long-lived species, but neither is he an ordinary one. Little Sister, please do not regard Big Brother's departure as a final farewell…
When a very, very, very long train arrives at Xianzhou, you may receive news of Big Brother…
But before that, please, Little Sister, you must stay strong. The 0.1% possibility fate leaves you requires your full effort to seize.
Fate is not as immutable as Master once said…
The words of the long letter were half truth, half lie. You left hope for the girl.
You only hoped she could live well…
After finishing the letter, you kept it close, waiting for an opportunity…
When the Abundance Followers returned, she seemed to sense something. She watched the war anxiously, hoping it would end soon…
Three days before the great battle in Fanghu Xianzhou was set to erupt, she was summoned to the Seat of Divine Foresight…
Your opportunity had arrived.
You hurriedly left the letter behind and stepped out of the small courtyard…
Heading toward the Divination Commission of the Jade Pavilion…