In the sky, silver serpents writhed within the heavy thunderclouds.
Beneath the swirling vortex of the clouds, a purple flower bloomed quietly.
Yan Shouyi and Tong Jingcheng stared intently at the flower.
Yan Shouyi's gamble had paid off.
Tong Jingcheng was formidable, so much so that even Bai Muxu was no match for him. But no matter how strong he was, he was still a living being, and all living beings feared death.
Yan Shouyi's ability to kill Tong Jingcheng was also due to a series of coincidences.
For instance, Tong Jingcheng had dispatched his most trusted men to guard the three formation eyes. Bai Muxu was also occupied by Zhang Shantong, leaving him with no one capable by his side.
Then there was how Tong Jingcheng had focused all his attention on Lin Zitong, causing him to be distracted and unable to properly deal with Yan Shouyi.
And further, Tong Jingcheng was critically wounded by Yan Shouyi with coffin nails without his knowledge, severely weakening him...
But the true reason was that Tong Jingcheng had underestimated Yan Shouyi's resolve.
He had underestimated the love Yan Shouyi held for Lin Zitong.
At this moment, Tong Jingcheng's heart had been pierced, and he was on the verge of death, blood continuously spilling from his mouth.
However, his eyes remained fixed on the flower blooming in the sky.
Yan Shouyi, collapsing beside Tong Jingcheng, chuckled weakly,
"We're alike..."
As if seeing no hope, Tong Jingcheng also managed a smile.
"Yes, we are alike."
Tong Jingcheng would never have imagined his plan would fail at Yan Shouyi's hands.
He couldn't help but ask, "Yan Shouyi, if it were you, what would you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"If Lin Zitong were to die, would you give up everything for her, even harm others to bring her back to life?"
Yan Shouyi fell silent.
Tong Jingcheng smiled again, "There's only a thin line between good and evil. To abandon a city for one person, that is evil; to abandon one person for a city... is that good?"
Tong Jingcheng's question was profound, bordering on the philosophical. Philosophy was called philosophy precisely because, for millennia, no one had been able to clearly articulate its principles.
All beings emerged from chaos and returned to chaos. Even while alive, their minds were clouded.
The principles of the world constantly shifted with the changing times, and the boundaries between good and evil became increasingly blurred.
"Yan Shouyi, since you say we are alike, I'm very curious: if it were you, would you choose to be good or to be evil?" Tong Jingcheng asked.
Yan Shouyi hesitated, then retorted, "Can I refuse to answer?"
"I am dying..."
Tong Jingcheng said with a bitter smile, "Reviving Yi Rou is hopeless, and my life has no meaning. So, I have no intention of struggling anymore. You have won this time. Is there anything you cannot say to a dying man?"
Yan Shouyi turned his head, looking at Tong Jingcheng, whose face was growing paler.
He finally nodded, lowering his voice, and quietly told Tong Jingcheng his answer.
Upon hearing it, a hint of surprise flashed across Tong Jingcheng's face, followed by uncontrollable laughter.
Long Feicheng, sitting nearby, his hands covered in blood, was startled by Tong Jingcheng's sudden laughter and kicked him.
"What the hell are you laughing at! You scared the life out of me!"
Tong Jingcheng paid him no mind; the most painful moment had passed for him.
As Yan Shouyi had said, after experiencing the greatest pain, one would fear nothing.
Having received his answer, Tong Jingcheng seemed to find peace.
He gazed at the flower slowly unfolding in the sky and sincerely said to Yan Shouyi,
"Yi Rou is dead, and your Lin Zitong has returned. I wish you both a lifetime of happiness and everlasting love."
"I accept your good wishes," Yan Shouyi replied, accepting the blessing.
Tong Jingcheng relaxed completely, his eyes fixed on the sky, his limbs gradually turning cold.
In his final moments, Tong Jingcheng murmured to himself, "It's so good... I envy them so much..."
He and Su Yirou had also experienced many epic moments together.
But in the end, they couldn't reach the end together.
Now, with the revival of Su Yirou seeming impossible, Tong Jingcheng genuinely hoped that Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong would make it to the end.
However, this scene was something Tong Jingcheng would not live to see.
Long Feicheng got up and cautiously approached Tong Jingcheng.
He checked his breath and pulse, then shouted his name a few times in his ear.
Finally, Long Feicheng let out a sigh of relief, "The guy's finally dead!"
Yan Shouyi also glanced at Tong Jingcheng.
He only said softly, Take care.
...
"Tong Jingcheng seems to be dead."
Xue Kai stood beside Yan Chou, reminding him softly.
Yan Chou sighed, "He was a once-in-a-millennium genius of the Lu Shan Sect. It's a shame he died like this."
The beautiful woman asked in confusion, "He bullied your son and killed your daughter-in-law. You feel it's a shame he's dead?"
"Tong Jingcheng and I shared similar views on certain matters. It was only because he chose my daughter-in-law that we became enemies."
After speaking, Yan Chou turned his head.
He saw another group of people pouring into the Bai family's backyard.
It was the Lu Shan Sect!
Lü Jingsheng, Lü Jing, Tong Jiuhua, Huang Hai, Zhou Yuquan, and others were all present.
It seemed that as Lin Zitong's revival was imminent, the Array for Refining Yin to Rebirth could no longer continue, so Lü Jingsheng and his group had rushed over.
Lü Jingsheng was unaware of the exact situation. He exchanged a glance with Yan Chou and immediately recognized Yan Chou's extraordinary presence.
Lü Jingsheng stepped forward and asked, "Are you Yan Shouyi's father?"
Yan Chou bowed with his hands clasped, "This junior is Yan Chou."
Lü Jingsheng returned the greeting, then anxiously asked, "What is the current situation?"
Yan Chou recounted what had just happened. Upon hearing it, Lü Jingsheng and the others sighed in disbelief.
They didn't know what had happened to Lin Zitong, but at least her life was now safe.
Yan Chou said, "Tong Jingcheng just breathed his last. If Sect Leader Lü is still concerned, he can retrieve his soul."
This reminded Lü Jingsheng.
He quickly instructed Tong Jiuhua, "Second Elder, please handle this matter."
In fact, Tong Jiuhua was an orphan rescued by Tong Jingcheng, who had then given him the surname Tong. Tong Jiuhua was also the disciple Tong Jingcheng was most satisfied with.
Although they were not blood relatives, their bond was stronger than that of father and son.
Earlier, Lü Jingsheng had even suspected Tong Jiuhua of secretly betraying the Lu Shan Sect by colluding with Tong Jingcheng.
However, after his assessment, he concluded that Tong Jiuhua was unaware of any wrongdoing.
Now, Tong Jiuhua arrived at Tong Jingcheng's body. Looking at his master whom he hadn't seen in many years, Tong Jiuhua's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
He did not blame Yan Shouyi. He simply collected Tong Jingcheng's soul and carried his body to a safe place.
Lü Jingsheng and Yan Chou watched from a distance.
Suddenly, Lü Jingsheng asked Yan Chou, "Mr. Yan, was it you who sent that letter years ago?"
Yan Chou smiled, "What letter?"
"Don't pretend you don't know," Lü Jingsheng said sternly, "The choices made in that letter, at first glance, seemed to be for Zitong's benefit, but now it appears they were paving the way for Yan Shouyi at every turn. Besides a father, who else would do all this for him?"
Exposed, Yan Chou did not rush or get angry.
He said softly, "It seems that everything I've done has not harmed Lin Zitong, and ultimately, it is for the good."
Lü Jingsheng frowned, his tone laced with anger,
"Divination and fortune-telling are not something our Lu Shan Sect excels at like you Lu Ban descendants. But even with such skills, you shouldn't tamper with people's lives like this! Yan Chou, you have committed a grave offense!"
"I was merely doing what a father should do," Yan Chou remained unfazed. "Besides, as long as it is something my son likes, I will never harm it."
"Hmph, not harm? Lin Zitong has already died once. What if your calculations were wrong? What if you encountered someone more capable than you? Reality is not a game of chess; one wrong move can lead to life and death. Even the slightest deviation can result in a complete loss. Are you sure you can control it!?"
Lü Jingsheng had lived several decades longer than Yan Chou.
Therefore, his questions were sharp, and even Yan Chou couldn't answer them directly.
Seeing the awkward atmosphere, the beautiful woman beside them intervened to ease the tension, "Sect Leader Lü's concern for his disciple is understandable. Regardless, Lin Zitong is fine now. As the saying goes, surviving a great disaster often leads to good fortune. Perhaps this is a good thing?"
Lü Jingsheng did not want to completely fall out with Yan Chou. Since someone offered him a way out, he took it and did not pursue the matter further.
Tong Jiuhua returned with Tong Jingcheng's soul. He nodded to Lü Jingsheng, who then said,
"Upon our return, first suppress Martial Brother Tong's soul in the sect's ancestral hall and have people guard it day and night. Seven days later, summon him out. I have something to ask him."
"Yes, Sect Leader," Tong Jiuhua silently retreated.
Meanwhile, Yan Chou slowly walked towards Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi was still lying on the ground, recovering from his injuries while observing the purple flower in the sky.
Suddenly, Yan Chou's face blocked Yan Shouyi's view, startling him.
Yan Chou laughed and kicked Yan Shouyi, "Your own father is out of prison, and you don't even come to welcome him?"
Seeing his father's face, Yan Shouyi was stunned.
"Dad... you... how...?"
"You ungrateful brat, you have a wife and forget your own father," Yan Chou pulled Yan Shouyi up, saying, "No matter where you are, your dad will find you."
Yan Shouyi looked left and right, still a bit bewildered.
"When did you get here? And why have you lost weight?"
Yan Chou rubbed his buzz cut and said, "I'm out of prison, so I decided to get a new look. I lost some weight a few days ago. As for when I arrived... it was around the time Zitong turned into a flower."
"So you saw all of that just now?"
"Yes, I did."
"Then why didn't you help!?" Yan Shouyi couldn't help but complain. "I was almost dead..."
"You can't even deal with Tong Jingcheng, and you dare to call yourself my son?" Yan Chou sneered. "If you had died at his hands today, so be it. Your father is still young; I can always have another one."
Yan Shouyi: "..."
Listen to that! Is that something a father would say?