Hearing Chuyang's words, Yaoguang's body immediately stiffened, and she trembled slightly.
As someone who had accompanied Chuyang for the past five years, she naturally understood his character well. She knew that once he made a decision, it was impossible for him to change it.
Moreover, it was also impossible for Chuyang to live an uneventful life forever.
She had long expected this day to come, but she hadn't thought it would come so quickly.
Chuyang naturally noticed Yaoguang's expression and continued, "I must travel the world to test my theories and see if this path of humanity can be pursued."
Yaoguang's expression froze as if all the moments from the past flashed before her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks.
But she didn't stop him. Instead, she stood up and silently began to clean up the dishes.
And so, the next day arrived.
Chuyang had prepared his things and planned to leave the village today to explore the outside world.
Yaoguang stood quietly by, watching Chuyang. She didn't speak, her gaze vacant, lost in thought.
Before leaving, Chuyang couldn't help but ask, "Where do you plan to go next?"
Yaoguang shook her head lightly, a stubbornness from five years ago reappearing on her face. "I don't know, and you don't need to worry about me."
Chuyang was momentarily stunned but didn't say anything further.
Many times, he couldn't understand what was going on in her mind.
Sometimes she invoked both pity and frustration.
Perhaps it was true, as the old saying goes, that a woman's heart is as elusive as a needle in the bottom of the ocean.
Chuyang walked to the door of the thatched hut where he had lived for five years, waved at Yaoguang, and said, "I'm leaving."
Yaoguang's expression was complex. She stood up and walked to Chuyang's side, then said, "We still have some woven cloth at home. Why don't we go to the market and sell it? I don't have much use for it anyway, and selling it will at least give you some extra money for your journey."
Chuyang hesitated for a moment but ultimately didn't refuse.
So, the two of them went to the town market together.
The market was bustling with people and vehicles, very lively.
Although they had lived together for five years, they still rarely talked to each other.
As they walked, neither of them spoke.
Because Yaoguang's woven cloth was indeed exquisite, even though it was made from ordinary material, it was very attractive. So, all the cloth was sold out within half a day.
They successfully exchanged it for a few taels of silver.
As they were leaving the market, walking down the street, Yaoguang suddenly saw a jewelry stall.
She stared blankly at a bracelet.
Chuyang's gaze also fell on the bracelet. It didn't look particularly special, just an ordinary bracelet.
Moreover, it was very cheap.
But Yaoguang seemed to be particularly fascinated by it.
Noticing this, the shopkeeper approached with a smile and said, "Sir, your lady is so beautiful, why not buy some jewelry for her?"
Yaoguang's expression remained unchanged. Over the past five years, she had heard such comments many times, so her demeanor didn't change much.
Chuyang smiled faintly and chose to use the silver they earned from selling the cloth to buy the bracelet.
"It's beautiful," Yaoguang murmured to herself as she put on the bracelet.
Her gaze fell on Chuyang once again, her expression complex, as if she wanted to say something but ultimately chose not to.
With slightly reddened eyes and tears shimmering, Yaoguang said softly, "Let's part ways here. I don't know if we will have the chance to meet again."
Chuyang nodded, unsure of what to say, so he remained silent.
He turned and started to leave the village where he had lived for five years.
...
Outside the Heavenly Emperor's realm.
The cultivators watching this scene were deeply moved.
Although the past five years between the Emperor and Empress Yaoguang seemed very ordinary, they were still touched.
After all, many times, the interactions between men and women are indeed plain and simple, which is the norm.
Those so-called grand and passionate romances are far less intriguing than the calm and steady companionship.
Furthermore, they could clearly sense that the relationship between the Emperor and Empress Yaoguang had become quite ambiguous and intimate.
And although five years had significantly reduced the hatred in Empress Yaoguang's heart towards the Emperor, it still had some lingering effects.
Otherwise, they might have taken that crucial step forward, making their relationship even closer.
Because of this, neither of them expressed their feelings nor tried to make the other stay when they parted.
Some cultivators recalled the events that happened later and felt very puzzled.
"The Emperor and Empress Yaoguang spent five years together. There must be a lot of emotional ties between them. Even if it wasn't like the bond between Emperor Bai and Emperor Chu, it wouldn't have led to this."
This was a point of confusion for many cultivators.
Their relationship, even if not as partners, was close to it.
But why did things turn out this way later?
Ye Fan spoke disdainfully, "Don't be fooled by the Emperor's current appearance. He lost all humanity and became an absolute demon later. With someone like him, anything he does is not surprising."
He felt very displeased with the close relationship between the Emperor and Empress Yaoguang over the past five years.
If the Emperor hadn't decided to leave and pursue his own path, perhaps just one word from him would have made Empress Yaoguang follow him unconditionally, staying together for life.
The Emperor had killed her sister and brother-in-law, and yet she could forget such a deep hatred.
Ye Fan couldn't understand this.
The only consolation was that although the Emperor and Empress Yaoguang had spent five years together, nothing had happened between them.
They maintained a respectful distance.
This made Ye Fan internally criticize, wondering if the Emperor had some sort of problem for being indifferent to such a beautiful woman by his side for five years.
First, it was Emperor Bai, and then Empress Yaoguang...
However, in a way, this was good. At least Empress Yaoguang remained pure.
Ye Fan thought bitterly, "When you die, I will definitely take Empress Yaoguang into my harem and experience her for myself."
Seeing Empress Yaoguang's simplicity and gentleness, her demeanor like that of an ordinary girl over the five years with the Emperor, Ye Fan became even more infatuated with her.
No matter what, he was determined to win Empress Yaoguang over.