"Come on, Rongrong, let's go to the tent," Qin Jian said as he gently took Ning Rongrong's hand, holding it tightly as they continued forward.
"Brother Jian, did you get the tent we used before?" Ning Rongrong asked in delight.
Qin Jian nodded. "I asked the elders for it. Everything inside is arranged by me, just like before."
As he lifted the curtain, they stepped inside. It was indeed exactly the same.
"Wow..."
Ning Rongrong kicked off her little shoes in excitement and threw herself onto the bed.
The soft bedding made her giggle in joy as she rolled around a few times.
"Brother Jian, come here quickly!" she called out.
Qin Jian chuckled, removed his outer robe, and slowly sat on the bed, pulling Ning Rongrong's petite figure into his arms.
"Mm..."
Ning Rongrong buried herself against his chest, letting out a soft sigh of comfort.
"Rongrong..."
After a moment of silence, Qin Jian spoke slowly, "Rongrong, if... if I were to leave, what would you do?"
The words struck like a heavy hammer against her heart. Ning Rongrong's entire body trembled as she raised her head abruptly. "W-why would you leave?"
"It's nothing... I'm just joking," Qin Jian replied with a gentle smile, brushing past the topic.
"No, something isn't right..."
A girl's intuition is remarkably sharp. Ning Rongrong's expression became uneasy. "Brother Jian, you're acting strange today. You set up the simulation training ground, prepared the tent..."
"It's nothing. Don't overthink it," Qin Jian said softly, stroking her silky hair.
But Ning Rongrong wasn't reassured. Recent events swirled in her mind. "Brother Jian, you've been acting strange for a while now. It feels like... like you're making up for something—giving me the best Soul Ring, trading with Poison Douluo today..."
"You... you really aren't... planning to leave me, are you?"
Her tears began to pool in her eyes.
Qin Jian abruptly turned his head away, brushing a hand quickly over his eyes before turning back with a smile. "Don't think too much. How about I tell you a story? Last time, I didn't finish Zhang Xiaofan's tale..."
"Zhang Xiaofan's story..." Ning Rongrong murmured, then suddenly said, "Brother Jian, you never told me the ending before. Were you waiting for now? What... what are you planning to do?"
Though she often seemed childish, in critical moments, her sharpness rivaled that of a mature woman.
Qin Jian didn't answer. Instead, he pulled her closer into his embrace.
"Rongrong, last time I told you about the Qingyun crisis, when the entire Qingyun Mountain was besieged by the Ghost King Sect, their forces already reaching the Yuqing Hall..."
"And because of Biyao's disappearance, Zhang Xiaofan fell into despair in Caomiao Village, only slowly recovering thanks to Lu Xueqi's companionship..."
"One day, as if called by something, he arrived at the Phantom Moon Cave, where the ancient Zhu Xian Sword was kept..."
"Once again, he walked the Phantom Moon Path, as arduous as ever..."
"Across thousands of mountains and rivers, a lone journey..."
"Amid the snowy peaks, a solitary figure..."
"Zhang Xiaofan wept bitterly..."
"All his life, he wanted neither solitude nor immortality. All he wanted..."
Qin Jian's voice caught slightly.
"All he wanted was to be with the one he loved..."
Ning Rongrong covered her mouth, tears filling her eyes.
But Qin Jian smiled faintly. "In the end, he gained the acknowledgment of the ancient Zhu Xian Sword, wielding a power that could shake the heavens and the earth..."
"He defeated the Ghost King, overcame Asura... yet he didn't obtain what he truly desired..."
"Years later, in Caomiao Village, Lu Xueqi and Zhang Xiaofan exchanged a knowing smile..."
"On the eaves, a piece of green fabric with a golden bell tied to it swayed in the wind, emitting a crisp sound..."
"And that... was the ending."
Qin Jian lowered his head and murmured, "Rongrong, do you know why I like Zhang Xiaofan so much? It's because I'm just like him..."
"I don't want power, I don't want solitude. All I want is to be with the one I love..."
Ning Rongrong stared at him, her tears streaming silently.
It was as if she could sense something...
"But this world is cruel. It rarely gives us what we want. Disappointments outnumber joys ten to one..."
As Ning Rongrong cried, Qin Jian continued to smile.
"Like the lonely monkey—if it wants love, it must give up strength; if it wants strength, it must give up love..."
"But without strength, how can it protect love? And with strength, why must it lose love..."
Qin Jian tilted his head back, suppressing the mist in his eyes.
"Fate is so cruel, and we lack the power to resist it..."
He looked down at Ning Rongrong, his gaze growing resolute.
At last, he made up his mind.
"Rongrong, fate is unjust, but I will fight it to the end. So..."
Before he could finish, Ning Rongrong suddenly looked up, her tears flowing freely as she interrupted, "Brother Jian!"
She spoke quickly, her voice trembling. "Brother Jian, I'll stay with you, okay?"
"Whatever you face, I'll face it with you!"
"No matter what you need to do, I'll stand by you!"
Her tears flowed faster, her grip on his sleeve tightening.
"Don't leave me, please..."
"You can have anything—anything from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect..."
"You can have me..."
"Anything you want, I'll give it to you..."
Her delicate hands clutched his sleeve desperately.
"I'm willing to be the Lu Xueqi who stays by your side forever..."
"Just don't leave me. I'm begging you..."
For those who have never experienced heartbreak, it's impossible to understand the sheer pain in this moment.
It was a heartbreak so intense, it felt like a knife cutting through her chest.
Yet Qin Jian still smiled. "Here, Rongrong, eat this Beautiful Silk Tulip."
"I don't want it, I don't want it..."
Ning Rongrong shook her head repeatedly.
"Be good. Don't let my efforts go to waste, okay?"
Qin Jian gently placed the Beautiful Silk Tulip near her lips. "Come on, open your mouth. Ah..."
Tears streaming down her face, Ning Rongrong reluctantly opened her mouth. The Beautiful Silk Tulip dissolved into pure energy, surging into her body.
Despite wanting to refuse, she couldn't bear to let his efforts be in vain.
The immense energy forced her into a meditative state, leaving her unable to do anything else.
Only when she closed her eyes and began cultivating did Qin Jian's tears finally fall.
No one could see them. At last, he no longer had to hold them back.
He gently raised his hand, placing it on Ning Rongrong's smooth cheek.
"Rongrong..."
His voice choked with emotion. "Rongrong... you are my fiancée. Even if I die, I'll protect you from harm..."
"Wait for me... promise me you'll wait for me..."
"I'll come back and marry you!"
He stood abruptly, rushing toward the curtain. But just as he lifted it, he paused and looked back one last time, as if to etch her small figure into his memory.
Then, he turned and left, never looking back again.
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