Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
A crystal clear river threaded through the Purple Bamboo Forest, where each bamboo was 30 meters tall.
These purple bamboo stems were very slender, but they did not sway in the wind. The numerous bamboos were like the teeth of a comb that brushed through the gentle breeze.
Occasionally, phoenix cries resonated from deep within the bamboo forest. The sonorous phoenix cries and the rustling of leaves created an elegant symphony.
Spring was late this year in the Radiance Federation. But even if spring never came, the fragrance of bamboo, phoenix cries, and plumes of effervescent clouds persisted. It told a heartwarming story even more soothing than the spring wind.
Other than the Golden Therach Bamboo, hundreds of other types of bamboo were also planted in the forest.
The fruits of the bamboo hung off the branches of the bamboo, pulling the branches down to the ground.
Some branches hung so low that they touched the surface of the river, scaring a few purplish-golden carps that jumped out of the water.
The purplish-golden carp plucked and ate the fruits. Their tails swished in the water, kicking up a light spray of water onto the bamboo as though they were giving thanks for their meal.
The Purple Bamboo Forest flourished all year. Nestled deep in the bamboo forest was a cottage made of purple bamboo.
A few charming white cranes were flying around the cottage.
The white cranes rode the breeze, and two enormous bronze furnaces were puffing out plumes of vapors that intermittently drifted into the cottage.
A man and woman were sitting on a bench in the cottage. The man was gently combing the woman’s long ivory hair with a bamboo comb.
Although the man only looked to be about 30 years old, all the hair on his head had turned gray, and he appeared to already have one foot in a coffin.
The woman gently touched the thin lens in front of her. She could tell that the gray-haired man was forcing the blissful smile that was plastered on his face, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Once the first tear fell, the strong front she had been putting on crumbled.
The man’s hand that was holding onto the comb froze for a moment, but he soon went back to raking it through her hair.
Despite his calm expression, he could not help but gently wipe away the tears that were rolling down the woman’s cheeks.
The woman’s tears dampened the man’s nice-looking hands and rolled down the tips of his fingers to land on the bench.
“Xiangsxiang, don’t cry. I’m fine. I’m going to hand the Purple Bamboo Forest over to Xia Chen. After we meet with our old friends, we’ll go and admire the beautiful scenery in the Radiance Federation together.”
The man looked at the woman with clear and determined eyes.
He felt lucky to be living a life where he was lucky enough to meet someone he wanted to be with for the entirety of his life. Who said that love had to last forever?
Bamboo Monarch felt the warmth left by the tears on his fingers and sighed three times.
The first sigh was to lament his own lack of ability. Even though he was a Class 5 Creation Master, he was unable to remove the love of his life’s bad luck.
The second sigh was because of his lack of courage. While he was with her, he did not regret becoming afflicted by her bad luck. Rather, he regretted not asking for her hand sooner.
The third sigh was for Wang Fuxiang’s sake. He bemoaned her life that was full of trials and tribulations.
His three sighs were like three questions. Unfortunately, no one would ever be able to answer these questions.
Wang Fuxiang looked deeply into the Bamboo Monarch’s eyes, and her tears fell onto his shirt.
“Fu Wenzhu, am I really worth it?”
The Bamboo Monarch plucked his ring off his finger and put it on Wang Fuxiang’s ring finger. Since she was a woman, her finger was too slim for the ring.
The ring hung loosely around Wang Fuxiang’s finger, and it would slip off with one forceful movement.
The Bamboo Monarch laughed awkwardly and placed the ring on Wang Fuxiang’s thumb instead.
“Xiangxiang, all my wealth is in this ring. Now, I will give it to you. Do you still think I regret my decision?”
Wang Fuxiang cried even harder, and she gently touched the Bamboo Monarch’s face before twirling a finger around a lock of his gray hair.
Wang Fuxiang felt compelled to say her true feelings as she gazed at the gray hair.
“Fu Wenzhu, I promised to be with you but only on one condition.”
The Bamboo Monarch stared back at her silently before gently touching her face and pressing her head down on his chest.
“I can’t imagine a future without you, so please don’t ask me to do it. If I really have to choose, I hope that you’ll wear my ring from now on.”
While the Bamboo Monarch was speaking, the river outside twinkled with the radiance of nostalgic days past.
The light from the river reflected off the bronze furnace onto Wang Fuxiang and the Bamboo Monarch, and the spotlight of mutual longing shone down on them.
A lump was stuck in Wang Fuxiang’s throat, and she could say anything in return.
Nonetheless, her eyes shone with the solemn promise that the man in half-armor had given her.
The man was willing to give her all his wealth and even sacrifice his life. Yet, he was going to lose his life because of her.
In spite of how touched Wang Fuxiang was, she knew that if only one of them could make it out alive, the Bamboo Monarch’s survival would be better for the Radiance Federation. It would also be the best choice for her.
Wang Fuxiang murmured, “Fu Wenzhu, don’t forget me.”
Wang Fuxiang spoke softly, and the words did not travel far past her lips. As such, the Bamboo Monarch did not catch what she said.
At that moment, several cries of a cicada broke through the silence of the Purple Bamboo Forest.
The Bamboo Monarch had anticipated this and was unbothered by the cicada cries. He continued to comb Wang Fuxiang’s hair.
Xia Chen had been waiting by the Bamboo Forest Garden’s entrance for some time, and he said softly, “Lord Cicada Song, welcome to the Purple Bamboo Garden. My Master isn’t feeling well, so I’m here to greet you in his stead. I hope you will be understanding of my inadequacies.”
However, Xia Chen did not seem to have any intention of leading Cicada Song into the Purple Bamboo Garden.
As the Bamboo Monarch’s first disciple, Xia Chen had been helping to manage the Purple Bamboo Garden for the past decade.
Hence, he knew why Cicada Song had come.
