Chapter 1083: Chapter 606: Love (Double-Length Chapter) (Part 2)

Only his cheeks were somewhat wet, but he didn’t know what it was, and he couldn’t wipe it away.

Chen Yi’s thoughts were indescribable, but he had anticipated it long ago. At this moment, he returned from this Heart Lake.

He turned and left, stepping through the "door," wanting to return to his own Heart Lake. He vaguely heard noise, seemingly in dispute. The distant noise gradually became clearer, turning into voices. The sounds passed through the darkness, coming towards him from the heavens and earth, a gentle breeze brushing by, Tongxuan descended in front of him from the world, as if unhesitatingly coming at will.

"Did you find it?" she asked.

Chen Yi shook his head absentmindedly, "I can’t find it." After speaking, he laughed at himself, "I’m like searching for a mirage."

"I am the mirage."

Chen Yi stood there, frozen, she smiled faintly at him,

Her familiar face fell into his eyes, and Chen Yi was momentarily immersed in a scene. Various long swords were buried under the overgrown grass, stretching endlessly. Grave mounds of swords crowded layer upon layer amidst the mountains. On this gentle slope, a woman stood holding a sword, facing the white-haired Wu Buxu. When the latter’s sword fell, the woman was momentarily lost in thought.

Chen Yi suddenly looked up, catching sight of the many emotions within the woman’s eyes before the sword fell down — longing, desolation, regret, reminiscence, and reluctance...

And the thing he had painstakingly searched for...

Love.

Only for a moment, like a fleeting horse, passing so briefly.

It lingered in her heart only for an instant, even she didn’t realize...

"So you were crying..."

Only then did he realize his tears were streaming down his face,

At this time, all his obsessions were fully absorbed into the Heart Lake.

Behind him, Cangwu Peak seemed to have a spring opened in a certain place, pouring into the once dry Heart Lake, clear and bright, flowing with a red-yellow mixed hue, and the peonies somehow bloomed.

...

The one-armed woman came gracefully from afar along the mountain path, her gaze dim and unclear.

The setting sun descended in the west, dusk locked within the mountains. Under the tree, Chen Yi looked up to see large patches of fiery clouds, a clear summer scene, leaves falling, leisurely drawing a sword, the leaves cut into green halves.

"What, can’t even draw a sword now?" Zhou Yitang said as she approached from a distance.

Chen Yi smiled lightly and said, "I can’t, please guide me, Master."

Zhou Yitang said coldly, "No matter how many times I teach you, it’s useless."

For a moment, the two had no words. They always ended conversations casually, neither feeling awkward or embarrassed.

But this time, Zhou Yitang came to his side, her thin lips moved slightly, yet she stopped herself from speaking.

Chen Yi turned his head, smiling at her.

The mere sight of this smile was irritating, and the one-armed woman’s questions halted in her throat.

More irritatingly, this unruly disciple deliberately said, "I saw her."

The one-armed woman’s eyes were like swords and knives.

He continued, "Did you know she was here, which is why you so readily let me into your Heart Lake?"

The one-armed woman remained silent.

He risked his life to add, "Did you want to stop her then? Zhou Yitang, you see even your Heart Demon has feelings for me."

The one-armed woman remained silent, neither exhibiting the shyness or unease typical of women when exposed, her expression calm as still water.

Being a teacher, silence was her only response.

This stalemate wasn’t a solution. Chen Yi gently leaned over, kissed her cheek. She remained unmoved, gave no response, only her gaze sweeping over his face.

"I’m going to cook now," Chen Yi said softly.

"As you wish," her clear, cold demeanor, made one suddenly think of the silent branches on a snowy night.

Chen Yi sheathed his sword, peeling and deveining fresh shrimp from the water tank, washing repeatedly. The shrimp meat was white as snow, glistening, poured in yellow wine, marinated for half an hour, then Chen Yi brewed a pot of tea, kindled cooking smoke, stir-frying the shrimp to seventy percent cooked. Though not Dragon Well tea, a simple Dragon Well shrimp dish could still be made.

Chen Yi skillfully scaled the fish. Zhou Yitang disliked greasy food, so he steamed a grass carp. He added some ginger and scallion, steamed the fish with the lid on.

After finishing his tasks, Chen Yi stepped outside to see the lush overlapping mountains, now seemingly wetted by dusk, tinged yellow. Chen Yi carried the dishes to the main courtyard.

Zhou Yitang was already waiting at the table, as always.

But unlike always, beside her, Tongxuan sat shoulder to shoulder.

Just two dishes and white rice, enough for three people.

Zhou Yitang was always few spoken, only at the dining table or the sleeping quarters would she say a few more words. Chen Yi was always amazed by her tolerance for solitude, and now she was silent too.

In his helplessness, Chen Yi thought to converse with Tongxuan, but with a glance from Zhou Yitang, Tongxuan too gave no reply. Tongxuan and Zhou Yitang were always the same person, the former assisted, the latter led, sharing the same thoughts, akin to one person playing nearly identical roles.

After dinner, as night deepened, the layers of mountains were obscured and indistinct, the moonlight bright, the mountain not pitch-black, merely drowsy, the cicadas’ song echoing in the valleys.

The distant tree canopies were rounded, all blending into one black, falling into Chen Yi’s eyes, leading his imagination astray.

With a beauty by the side, the heart easily becomes unsettled.

Chen Yi carried a lamp, stepping into Zhou Yitang’s room, just as he pushed the door open,

The silhouette of the one-armed woman appeared like a ghost behind him.

Her sudden appearances, despite his habituation, still startled Chen Yi. After recovering, he said, "Master, why are you scaring people?"

Zhou Yitang asked blandly, "Why see the external?"

Naturally, Chen Yi didn’t see the external, the least seeing of external in the world was him. At this moment, he turned around, smiling as he placed the oil lamp on the cabinet. As the light flickered, he steadied himself a little.