"Father... y-you said that Brother Jian's Tear of the Ocean hasn't fallen off?"
Ning Rongrong's eyes widened slightly, her tears momentarily slowing.
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "You know the nature of the Tear of the Ocean. This means Qin Jian's feelings for you have never wavered. He still likes you and has never considered giving up on you."
"Is... is that really true?"
Ning Rongrong was stunned.
"But my feelings for him haven't changed either. So why did my Tear of the Ocean detach?" She stared at the delicate gem in her palm, confused.
Ning Fengzhi paused, then said, "Rongrong, this is where you and Qin Jian differ. It's also where you fall short in this relationship."
"Where I fall short?"
Rongrong's voice rose anxiously. "What do you mean?"
Ning Fengzhi explained, "It lies in your self-awareness and faith in the future."
"Do you truly know what you want? Do you understand what your future holds? Are you absolutely certain that you want to spend the rest of your life with Qin Jian?"
His barrage of questions left Rongrong speechless, dazed.
"What I truly want... Do I really want to be with Brother Jian for a lifetime?"
She stood there, lost in thought.
"While you are still lingering in the youthful haze of first love and innocent affection, Qin Jian has already seen his heart clearly."
Ning Fengzhi continued, "He knows exactly what he wants, understands what he must do, and is unwavering about where his heart lies. He is fully aware of his life's greatest pursuit. His love for you has never wavered because he has never doubted it."
"Even when separated from you, he remains steadfast in his belief that the two of you have a future. That's why his Tear of the Ocean remains intact."
Reaching out, Ning Fengzhi gently wiped away her tears. His voice softened, "But you, Rongrong, you doubted just now. You were uncertain about your feelings for each other. You didn't trust him, and you didn't trust yourself. You even doubted your future. How could the Tear of the Ocean recognize you under those circumstances?"
Rongrong gazed at the shimmering Tear of the Ocean in her palm, momentarily entranced.
"So it's because... I didn't believe in myself?"
Her eyes welled up again, but she forced back the tears.
"Father, I know what I must do now."
She smiled gently at Ning Fengzhi.
That smile was sweet yet pierced Ning Fengzhi's heart.
Is this the price of growing up?
Learning to conceal emotions and to understand the hearts of your loved ones...
"Father, once I've reintegrated with the Tear of the Ocean, I will find him again."
"No matter where he is, even to the ends of the earth, I will be with him!"
She clenched the Tear of the Ocean tightly in her hand, her gaze so resolute that Ning Fengzhi barely recognized her.
"Rongrong..."
Ning Fengzhi patted her slender shoulder and said, "Since you've made up your mind, then work hard. Qin Jian's Beautiful Silk Tulip has already raised your soul power to Rank 27, and, more importantly, transformed your martial soul into the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda."
He added solemnly, "This is the miracle Qin Jian brought you. You must not let his efforts go to waste, understand?"
"The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda..."
Rongrong raised her left hand, summoning her martial soul.
As she stared at it, tears suddenly began to fall.
"Brother Jian, thank you..."
"And there's something else he left for you. See for yourself."
Ning Fengzhi handed her a letter from Qin Jian, then left with Sword Douluo, giving her space.
He had said all that could be said and done all he could. The rest was up to Rongrong to think through and discover for herself.
This is a journey everyone must walk alone.
"Brother Jian's letter..."
Rongrong carefully opened it to find a violet card tucked inside.
Unlike ordinary paper, it was a finger's width thick.
As she unfolded it, a melody of zither and xun flute began to play.
Soon, a familiar voice began singing:
"Under the bright moon, flowers bloom full on the branches... someone stirs with longing."
She covered her mouth with her hand, her eyes brimming with tears.
"This is... the song Brother Jian and I performed, Parting Longing..."
The poignant melody filled the air, its beauty and sorrow even more moving than during their rehearsals.
For the first time, Rongrong truly understood its emotions: beauty, longing, and helplessness.
Her gaze fell on the crisp handwriting on the letter.
"Rongrong, by the time you read this, I will have left the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect..."
"I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye in person. I knew that if I did, I wouldn't be able to leave..."
"I know you have many questions, and perhaps even resentment..."
Rongrong instinctively shook her head.
No, not even now could I ever resent him.
"There are some things I cannot tell you because they are bound by rules."
"But no matter the pain or sorrow, I will bear them with you..."
"I don't know when it started, but you've become an inseparable part of me..."
"I truly don't want to leave you, but the heavens are cruel..."
"Sometimes, I wonder if my presence has been a burden on you. Without me, would you have remained that willful, carefree girl?"
"You would have grown up happily, met someone you liked, and... married him..."
Rongrong shook her head fiercely, tears streaming down her face.
"Rongrong, I only hope my presence brought you happiness, more than anything else..."
"I like you so much..."
"At first, I thought I would write that if you ever doubted your feelings or grew to love someone else, then let go of what we had..."
"But when I wrote those words, my heart ached unbearably..."
"For the first time, I realized how literal heartache could be. It wasn't just emotional—it was physical pain."
"That's when I knew—I can't live without you..."
"So, I rewrote that part."
"No matter what, no matter where your heart may wander, or who you meet..."
"I, Qin Jian, will never let go!"
"Wait for me. One day, I will marry you!"
"Because you are my fiancée!"
"..."
Rongrong laughed and cried at the same time.
Slowly, she knelt down, clutching the letter to her chest.
"Brother Jian... Rongrong could never love anyone else. Rongrong will wait for you to marry me..."
The letter's music box continued its melody:
"With your every smile..."
"You gift me an everlasting longing..."
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