Ten years.
For the world, a decade was nothing but the turning of seasons, the rise and fall of dynasties, the passing of emperors and kings. But for Tai Jian, each year carried the weight of silence, of memories buried but never forgotten, of nights haunted by a face he could never see again.
Three years had passed since the birth of his daughter, Qin Tie Ling, and the purging of his inner demons. Seven more years followed in which he walked the continent as a nameless healer. He had long severed ties with the empire, long abandoned the surname Qin. The empire no longer mattered to him; only the small, bright-eyed girl who called him "father" gave him reason to walk forward.
Xue Kai remained at his side in those early years, just as loyal as ever. But Tai Jian knew the boy could not remain a boy forever. He grew into a man, found a loving wife, and fathered three children of his own. Yet still he followed Tai Jian, unwilling to abandon him.
That morning, as dawn spilled across the road like molten gold, the trio walked quietly. Tai Jian carried Tie Ling on his back; her small hands curled around his shoulders, her soft breath tickling his ear. Though ten years had passed, Tai Jian's face had hardly changed. His hair, however, had streaks of silver now, and faint lines had etched themselves at the corners of his eyes. To strangers, he still looked like a young man, but those who had known the former war god would have noticed the difference: his sharpness was gone. His gaze was calm, gentle even, but weighed with a depth that could swallow mountains.
"Master," Xue Kai asked after a long silence, "where is our next stop?"
Tai Jian glanced ahead, his steps steady. "The same as always."
Xue Kai's heart tightened. He already knew the answer. Every year, without fail, when Tie Hongchen's death anniversary approached, Tai Jian would find himself near the old mansion. No matter how far their wanderings took them, his feet always returned there.
This year was no different.
Within a day, they stood before the familiar gates. Xue Kai, as he always did, remained outside, while Tai Jian entered the mansion with his daughter.
The room smelled faintly of sandalwood. Candles flickered in the corners, their flames casting long shadows on the coffin where Tie Hongchen lay. Her body, preserved flawlessly, looked as though she were simply asleep.
Tai Jian set Tie Ling down gently. Father and daughter lit incense together, their movements solemn, unhurried. They poured libations, bowed three times, and stood in silence before the coffin.
After a while, Tie Ling stepped outside, leaving her father alone.
Tai Jian placed a single rose at the base of the coffin. His voice, low and steady, filled the room.
"Hong'er, our child has grown. She's ten now. You would be proud of her… she has your eyes, your stubbornness. Sometimes when she smiles, I almost mistake her for you."
His hand brushed the coffin lid, fingers trembling slightly.
"I have missed you this year. And every year before. My time is nearly here. I can feel it. Soon, I will come to accompany you, as I promised. But before that… I must take her to Medicine Valley. She deserves a future. She deserves to live where the light shines."
The candle flames swayed, and for an instant, Tai Jian thought he saw a faint figure smiling at him from within the light. His chest tightened, but his expression remained calm.
When he finally stepped out, Xue Kai was waiting.
"Xue Kai," Tai Jian said softly, "it is time we part ways. You have been by my side for ten years. You've stood guard, carried burdens that were not yours, and given me companionship when I had nothing left. But you have a family now. Your wife, your children—they need you more than I do. My path is no longer yours."
Xue Kai's eyes widened, his lips trembling. "Master, are you… chasing me away?"
"No," Tai Jian said, shaking his head. "But you must choose. I have already chosen. My old bones are used to loneliness. You are still young—you must not waste your life shadowing me. Go home."
Xue Kai opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Tai Jian turned away. With a single step, he and Tie Ling were gone, already a hundred miles away, leaving Xue Kai frozen in place.
It took him minutes to find his breath again. When he did, he bowed deeply in the direction Tai Jian had gone. His voice cracked as he whispered, "Then allow me to thank you here, Master… for everything."
---
Later that week, Tai Jian stood with Tie Ling outside the gates of Medicine Valley.
"This will be your new home for a time," he told her gently. "Here, you will learn to heal. You already have talent surpassing mine. One day, you will outshine me completely."
Tie Ling looked up at him, her young face pale. "Father… are you leaving me here?"
Tai Jian crouched, brushing her hair back tenderly. His eyes softened, though behind them was a sorrow too deep to hide.
"Yes. You must stay. This place will keep you safe. And you will grow."
Her lips trembled. "Then… when will you come back for me?"
Tai Jian's hand lingered on her cheek. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Princess, father must go ahead. I will wait for you with your mother. Every year, come to her grave. Speak to her. She will listen."
Tears blurred Tie Ling's vision. She suddenly threw her arms around him from behind, clinging desperately. "No! Don't go, Father! Please, don't leave me!"
Tai Jian's body stiffened. For a long moment he did not move. His eyes grew moist, the weight of her embrace piercing deeper than any blade he had faced in his life. Slowly, he pried her small hands away.
"Princess…" His voice cracked faintly. "…allow father to say goodbye."
He did not turn around. He could not. If he saw her tears, he knew his resolve would break.
With slow, deliberate steps, Tai Jian walked away.
And for the first time in ten years, Qin Tie Ling understood the true meaning of despair.