Grandma lifted her hand as well, and countless items appeared before her... all the things Su Wen had bought for her over the years: silk dresses from Sunrise City, various cosmetic items, the Mind-Calming Pendant, a mirror, and small trinkets.
From the pile, she carefully picked out a painting he had made… the one with the single word 'Happy' written on it.
Her fingers lingered on the paper for a moment. A light smile curved her lips, and her heart felt noticeably lighter.
She looked at Su Wen and said softly,
"These are not small things. They are my most precious treasures… and I will cherish them above all else."
Her gaze flicked briefly to the Mind-Calming Pendant, her eyes widening for just an instant before she hid the reaction perfectly.
Stepping forward, she gently pressed a kiss to Su Wen's forehead. Then she placed her left hand against Du Yue's cheek and gave her a tender peck as well.
Grandma turned to Grandpa and gave him a gentle nod. With a soft sweep of her hand, all the items before her vanished as if they had never existed.
"We will meet again… very soon," she said quietly.
Grandpa didn't speak. He only nodded, his eyes filled with warmth.
Su Wen and Du Yue stepped forward together and bowed deeply, their movements slow and sincere.
Both grandparents glanced once more at the little bird, who acted completely unconcerned, their thoughts unknown.
Then their bodies slowly turned to dust, leaving behind a single golden wisp each. The two wisps drifted gently before fading into the void.
As they vanished, a soft voice lingered in the air,
"Take care of yourself. Your grandma will be watching over you… and your grandpa too. He didn't say it himself because he's a little shy and emotional…"
A faint, flustered protest followed,
"I am not…!"
The voice faded, leaving behind silence… and warmth that refused to disappear.
Su Wen, Du Yue, and… Little Suzume, nestled comfortably in Du Yue's palm, stood in silence for several long minutes. Du Yue gently held Su Wen's hand and said nothing, simply staying by his side and sharing the quiet with him.
Su Wen's thoughts drifted to the past… playing chess and bickering with his grandpa, spoiling his grandma, who always loved to press kisses to his forehead. They had been the only family he had in this world, and now they were gone. It was still hard for him to believe.
Although he knew their health had been fragile and had tried countless treatments to extend their lives, nothing could save their mortal bodies. They had held on for him, enduring everything just to see him happy and not alone. And now, they finally could hold on no longer… leaving him to find them again someday.
Su Wen didn't know what to feel, whether to grieve for his grandparents' death or to feel joy, knowing they were still alive as Immortals and that he would see them again in the future.
After a long moment, Su Wen slowly emerged from his daze. He turned his gaze toward Du Yue's face… softly illuminated by the moonlight, her beauty marked gently by faint Lightning Tribulation scars. Her blue eyes seemed pure and gentle, and her golden earrings sparkled in the light, giving her an ethereal glow.
Feeling the warmth of her hands, Su Wen's swirling emotions began to settle down. Her gentle smile seemed to say, wordlessly, that he was not alone.
At that moment, Little Suzume suddenly hopped from Du Yue's palm and landed lightly on Su Wen's head, making herself comfortable before curling up and falling asleep.
Su Wen gently held Du Yue's left hand and led her toward the lakeside lodge.
He sat down on the stone steps and stretched his legs forward, letting his feet dip into the cool, gentle water of the lake. Soft ripples spread around them, quiet and calming.
He motioned for Du Yue to sit next to him.
Still holding his hand, she lowered herself onto the steps, her feet brushing the water. A faint blush coloured her cheeks, but a peaceful smile rested on her face.
They simply sat together, enjoying the quiet and peace sharing the warmth of each other's presence.
Somewhere in an unknown realm, a middle-aged man and woman, both appearing to be in their early forties, slowly opened their eyes. Their gazes shimmered like galaxies filled with countless stars, their expressions calm and gentle, their auras unfathomable and beyond mortal comprehension.
The man wore flowing white robes, embroidered with a majestic dragon coiling across his chest and sleeves, exuding serene authority. The woman was adorned in elegant red robes, embroidered with a graceful phoenix spreading its wings across her shoulders and hem, radiating warmth, beauty, and power. Together, they embodied an otherworldly harmony, surpassing mortal understanding.
They looked at each other in silence for a moment, the air around them calm yet heavy with unspoken truths. The man finally spoke, his voice carrying the weight of Heavenly Principles itself,
"Life and death… the Seven Emotions and Seven Desires… Karmic Ties, Sacrifices…"
The woman's eyes, calm and still like a mirror of tranquil water, met his gaze. A faint, otherworldly glow seemed to shimmer in her presence as she replied softly,
"Without experiencing them all, how could one ever truly understand these truths?"
The man's gaze drifted upward, as if tracing the threads of fate woven across countless worlds.
"The Dao… it is not merely a path of power or immortality. It is the rhythm of all things… the rise and fall, the birth and decay, the weaving of joy and sorrow. Only by truly understanding life in all its forms can one ever hope to approach it."
The woman's voice was soft, yet each word carried the weight of eternity, resonating like a calm tide across the cosmos.
"But without a steadfast Will, what use is the understanding of the Dao? A weak Will weakens the Dao; a strong Will strengthens it, binding the heart and the path together."
The man's eyes met hers with solemn intensity.
"Indeed. Will shapes all things in the world… even the Dao itself."