Martial Cultivator

Chen Chao shook his head and asked, "Isn't there a way to have the best of both worlds?"

Princess Anping smiled and said, "If there were, he would definitely have come."

"Silly boy, you seem even less mature than the girl you like. I'm really worried that one day you'll mess things up because of these matters."

Princess Anping looked at Chen Chao with affection and said softly, "When will you ever grow up?"

Chen Chao forced an ugly smile, "Everyone says I'm mature beyond my years. Haven't I grown up yet?"

"Others don't know you as well as I do, your big sister," Princess Anping reached out and ruffled Chen Chao's hair. "If you have something on your mind, don't keep it bottled up. If you don't want to tell your big sister now, make sure to tell that girl later. One of the happiest things in life is having someone to listen to you when you want to talk."

Chen Chao's eyes moistened, and he said softly, "Sis."

"Why are you crying? I look down on men who shed tears."

Princess Anping smacked Chen Chao on the head. "Get out of here, I'm tired of seeing you snivel."

"What, do you want your big sister to carry you? Your big sister can't carry you anymore."

Princess Anping waved her hand somewhat wearily.

Chen Chao said softly, "Actually, later on, I encountered some things and remembered everything from my childhood. That day, you pinched my cheek."

Princess Anping was initially surprised but then smiled sweetly, "You cried your eyes out in my arms, and you even tore my sleeve. I didn't ask you to pay for it."

Chen Chao smiled bitterly.

Princess Anping shook her head, "We've all grown up. Parting is inevitable, don't dwell on it."

Chen Chao remained silent. Just as he was about to turn away, Princess Anping suddenly reached out and, just like that day, pinched this younger brother's cheek.

"It's not fun anymore, not as nice as pinching when you were little."

Princess Anping retracted her hand with a smile and then sighed, "It was better when you were a chubby little kid."

……

……

After seeing off Xie Nandu and Chen Chao, Liu Yan walked in. Princess Anping, seeing her maid already in tears, walked over to wipe her tears away. Then she said rather tiredly, "Go and guard outside the door. This imperial highness wants to take a nap."

Liu Yan reluctantly looked at the princess, but she walked out in the end.

Princess Anping sat back in front of the dressing table, looking at her reflection in the bronze mirror, noticing a few strands of white hair.

Reaching her hand out to smoothen her hair, Princess Anping looked out the window, murmuring, "It's a pity it's not spring, and no one is flying kites."

——

Interestingly enough, it had been raining heavily in Tianqing County for days, causing water to flow incessantly down Peach Blossom Alley.

During this time, the man often sat on his doorstep, lost in thought for most of the day.

Though the woman behind him knew her husband had something on his mind, she understood that asking would not help if he did not want to talk.

After who knows how long, the man suddenly stood up, and turned to look at the woman inside. After thinking for a long time, he said, "Before I met you, there was a woman I liked very much."

With that single sentence, it felt as if the woman was stabbed in the heart.

The woman leaned against the door and asked, "And then?"

The man spoke heavily, "All these years, I never went to see her, never contacted her, but I never forgot her either."

The woman felt downcast and somewhat afraid as she asked, "So you're going to see her now and don't want me anymore?"

"I am going to see her, but it doesn't mean I don't want you."

The man continued sorrowfully, "She's dying, and I want to see her one last time."

"I will come back."

With these words, Zhou Guoqi walked out of his courtyard alone, without an umbrella. Soon, he walked out of Peach Blossom Lane. Then, in an empty place, turned into a streak of light heading North.

As a student under the Dean, Zhou Guoqi was knowledgeable and had a high cultivation realm. Over the years, he had never wasted a day. Previously, Liu Banbi had said he could not defeat him now, but in reality, it was not necessarily true.

After who knows how long, Zhou Guoqi who had traveled a day and night could already see the outline of that massive city.

He queued to enter the city, bought new clothes, and briskly headed towards the imperial city. Despite the many years since he had seen this Divine Capital, he felt no emotion. He walked for a while until he passed by a shop selling kites, where he finally stopped, looking at the shop with dismal business.

In spring, many people flew kites, but now it was autumn, and hardly anyone would fly kites at this time. Therefore, the poor business was normal.

After a brief pause, the man entered the shop and glanced at the few kites inside, not entirely satisfied.

The shopkeeper smiled and asked, "What kind would you like, sir?"

"Do you have paste and bamboo strips? I'll make one myself."

The shopkeeper was momentarily stunned, feeling that this man was somewhat perplexing.

The man looked at the shopkeeper and took out a coin pouch from his bosom, saying, "I'll pay for it."

An hour later, the man left the shop with the kite and hurried towards the imperial city.

However, entering the imperial city nowadays was not as simple as how cultivators used to be able to enter. Even if the man had a high cultivation realm, it would not be easy too. Even if he wanted to enter through the palace gates obediently, that would not do either.

This trip to the divine city must remain unknown to anyone.

At the foot of the imperial city, the man glanced around to ensure there was no one nearby. He then transformed into a streak of light, leaping over the city walls and heading deeper inside.

Not far away, Li Heng silently watched the figure carrying the kite, and did not say anything or take any action.

……

……

The sky gradually grew dark and the autumn wind was desolate.

Princess Anping sat by the window, feeling a chill creeping through her entire body. She had a weak body to begin with, now that her end was coming, this felt inevitable.

The Princess Anping who struggled to look outside the window could only feel her eyelids grow heavier, almost unable to open her eyes anymore.

As her vitality continued to ebb away, Princess Anping did not feel scared. She knew this day would come, and she faced it calmly. Yet, there remained a hint of regret in her eyes.

But how many people in this world live without regrets?

With a nostalgic gaze, Princess Anping glanced out of the window, recalling a distant memory. That year, she had secretly sneaked out of the Divine Capital and met a young man in the outskirts during spring, when flowers were in full bloom. That young man was flying a kite alone.

After they exchanged words and learned each other's surnames, the young man warmly invited her, "Miss Chen, come and fly kites with me."

Princess Anping mumbled these words, a smile spreading across her face.

Just as she was about to close her eyes, a kite suddenly rose outside the window.

Princess Anping suddenly perked up and looked at the kite with curiosity.

How could there be a kite in the imperial city?

She blinked, wanting to reach out and touch it, but she lacked the strength to lift her hand.

In the next moment, a head appeared at the window, smiling at her. "Miss Chen, come and fly kites with me."

Just like back then.