And so, Yu Yan left Hongqi town after meeting Muyong and answering his doubts.
Even after learning about Muyong's illustrious status, he simply treat it as another passerby and went back to Huangfan where he would fish by Liuyue River on a regular basis.
...
Another ten years passed.
It is the season of autumn, unfortunately, this season was not a fruitful one nor was it bright and dazzling as the previous years.
"Father..." He called out, standing in front of the door leading to his parent's room.
The sun looked like it hid away underneath the night of day, as the cold wind echoed its howls in the creaks of the halls.
Peering behind the door, Yu Yan could see a dimly lit figure sat on the chair drinking from the table.
Occasionally, he could hear a sorrow voice singing an aged-old poems passing through Huangfan, resonating throughout the quiet night.
This is the year that his mother, Hae-Won, passed away.
Yu Yan's heart ached as he watched his father, who seemed to have aged ten years in just one. He knew that his father had been struggling to come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife, and he wished there was something he could do to ease his pain.
"Father," he said softly, approaching the old man.
His father looked up at him with a sad smile.
They sat in silence for a few moments, listening to the wind howl outside.
...
At the age of thirty six, Yu Yan had already aged greatly.
Within those gray and listless pupil of his, is untold wisdom.
His father is bed-ridden, and he relied solely on the fishing skills taught by him in order to stay afloat.
In the passing of his mother, Yu Yan turned even more cold and reserved from the outside.
Following his mother's death, Yu-Hwang also fell ill and passed away.
After his father passed away, Yu Yan was left alone in the world. He continued to fish by the river and sell his catch in the village market, but he became even more solitary and withdrawn.
As time passes, his presence in the village also fade into obscurity, there's even rumors of a certain 'ghost' who would occasionally fish by Liuyue river, humming a strange melody.
The rotten wood roof leaked during the rainy season and the wooden walls creaked at the slightest wind. It was a far cry from the sturdy stone houses of the other villagers, but it was enough to shelter him from the natural changes of heaven and earth.
Over time, Yu Yan became something of an enigma to the people in the village. Some saw him as a wise and mysterious figure.
But despite the rumors and speculation, Yu Yan continued to live his life in a solitary manner, fishing by the river and humming his strange melody.
It was as if he had retreated into his own world, seeking solace and understanding in the natural rhythms of the world around him.
During this time, Muyong had stopped visiting him, perhaps it was due to the chaos reigning the murim world, regardless of the reason, he had little attachment to the rest of the people in this life nor does he give it much care.
...
As the years passed, Yu Yan's solitude deepened, and he became more and more detached from the world around him. He continued to fish by the river and hum his strange melody, but he had no interest in the affairs of the murim world or its factions.
He had long since given up on the mission, and had retreated into the simplicity of his own life. The passing of his parents had left a profound impact on him.
He had learned to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of the natural world, and found comfort in the sound of the river and the rustling of the trees.
One day, as he was casting his line into the river, he saw a figure approaching from the distance. As the figure drew closer, he realized that it was Muyong.
"Muyong," he said, surprised to see his old friend.
"I've come to see you, my friend," Muyong said with a smile. Despite his youthful appearance, there was a certain weight to his gaze that suggested he had seen much in his lifetime.
Yu Yan nodded, and the two of them sat down by the riverbank, watching the water flow past.
For a while, they sat in silence, listening to the sounds of nature around them.
"Life is fleeting," Yu Yan said softly, breaking the silence.
Muyong nodded, and the two of them sat in silence once more, enjoying the serenity of the moment.
As the sun began to set, Muyong stood up and turned to leave.
But just as he was about to disappear into the distance, he stopped his feet and turned back to face Yu Yan.
Seeing the wrinkles on his face along with the white hair on his head, Muyong bitterly smiled, before locking gaze with Yu Yan's hollow pupil.
"There is something I have always been curious about," He said, "Your gaze yearns for something, to what I do not know. However, it feels like you are just a ghost in this lifetime, tell me, who are you?"
Yu Yan felt a jolt of surprise at Muyong's words.
"You asked a difficult question," he whispered, his body is now weak and old, no longer the youth he once was, "Perhaps the answer is not something that can be easily put into words."
"Perhaps the answer is not something that can be easily put into words..." Muyong murmurs, coming to his own understanding.
At this moment, Yu Yan can't help but asked," Say, What do you fish for if you don't know what fish you're trying to catch?"