I created an extraordinary era

Chapter 673 The Passing of an Old Friend
Tanglin Village remains peaceful.

In the courtyard.

Uncle Ding lay on the bamboo chair, his cloudy eyes staring ahead.

Those pupils seemed to hold a longing for the sky, as well as a deep reluctance to leave the land beneath their feet.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the old tree in the courtyard, casting dappled shadows on his wrinkled face.

His breathing was long and slow, as if it were in harmony with the rhythm of the small courtyard.

Aunt Ding slowly picked vegetables on the side.

The winter sun was shining brightly, turning their white hair silver.

Uncle Ding suddenly turned his head slowly, his cloudy eyes straining to focus, and looked at his wife who had been by his side for almost a lifetime. His voice was muffled but unusually clear as he said:

"My old woman, I may be leaving before you."

Aunt Ding's hands, which were picking vegetables, suddenly stopped. Her head was lowered, and her expression was not visible. Only her shoulders stiffened slightly.

After a while.

She then spoke in a soft, reproachful tone, her voice slightly choked with emotion yet forced into a calm one:

"What nonsense are you talking about? You're just spouting unlucky things."

But she didn't look up; instead, she picked at the vegetable leaves in her hand even faster and more mechanically, as if that would suppress the overwhelming bitterness.

Uncle Ding looked at her, seemed to smile, and very slowly extended his hand.

His withered, bony hand gently covered the back of her hands, which were also covered with age spots but were still warm.

No more words were spoken.

The sunlight was serene, and dust particles floated slowly within the beams of light.

A profound and tender feeling, unspoken yet deeply felt, flowed gently between the two elderly people.

Xia Yuan stood by the courtyard gate, quietly watching this scene without going in to disturb it.

The pine needle tea in his hand had stopped steaming, just like the most helpless parting in the world, which will eventually cool down.

……

for the rest of the time.

Ding Yan has rarely cultivated, or rather, he has almost completely stopped cultivating.

He began to take meticulous care of his grandfather's daily life, accompany Uncle Ding to bask in the sun, and listen to Uncle Ding reminisce about old stories.

With his grandson by his side, Uncle Ding's spirits visibly improved, and he often wore a satisfied smile. The lingering shadow of death seemed to have been somewhat diluted by this family bliss.

However, Uncle Ding, who is over 105 years old, cannot avoid the passing of his life.

The sculpting knife of time will never linger for any tenderness.

Although Ding Yan brought him great comfort, Uncle Ding's spirits were once revitalized.

However, his physical functions had inevitably begun to decline and deplete step by step.

The elderly man's energy was declining, his waking hours were getting shorter, and he was mostly in a deep sleep.

Ding Yan took even better care of her, staying by her side almost every step of the way.

Even at night, she would set up a narrow bed and stay by her grandfather's bedside, afraid of being negligent in the slightest.

That night, the moonlight, as clear as water, shone through the window onto the bedside.

Uncle Ding suddenly woke up slowly, his eyes were much clearer than usual, and he even tried to sit up slightly.

Ding Yan quickly stepped forward and carefully helped the old man up, placing a pillow under him.

"Xiao Yan."

Uncle Ding's voice was weak, but exceptionally clear. He gently patted Ding Yan's hand with his withered hand.

"Thank you for your hard work these days."

"Grandpa, what are you saying? This is what your grandson should do."

Ding Yan felt a lump in her throat, but she forced herself to hold back her emotions.

Uncle Ding's cloudy gaze slowly swept across the familiar house, as if he wanted to etch everything into his eyes and take it to another world.

He took a few breaths before continuing slowly:

"Grandpa, I'm afraid I don't have much time left. Seeing you come back and accompany me on this last stretch of the journey makes me very happy, truly very happy."

"Grandpa, don't talk nonsense, you'll live a long time!"

Ding Yan's voice was choked with sobs.

Uncle Ding shook his head laboriously, revealing a serene smile that suggested he had seen through life and death.

“I know my own body. I’ve lived for so long, watched your father get married, and watched you grow up and become successful. I’m content.”

He paused for a long time, as if gathering his last strength, his gaze becoming exceptionally deep as he looked at Ding Yan, speaking earnestly:
"Xiao Yan, after Grandpa is gone, this family will have to rely on you more." "Your father was just an ordinary person, but from now on, this world will be the era of the extraordinary."

"You are strong and capable. You should take good care of the family."

"besides."

Uncle Ding's voice was even lower, almost inaudible, but every word struck Ding Yan's heart heavily.

"Xiao Yuan is a great benefactor to our family. This kind of family bond is rare."

"You should cherish this opportunity and not act too distant in front of your Uncle Xia, but don't take his favor for granted or become arrogant, and you must not be greedy."

"If you can maintain a good relationship with Xiao Yuan, it will be a blessing that our Ding family has accumulated over many lifetimes."

By the end, the old man's breathing had become very weak, and his eyes had begun to glaze over.

But he still tried to focus, looking at his most outstanding grandson, as if he had completed the most important entrustment.

Ding Yan held his grandfather's cold hand tightly, tears finally streaming down his face, and nodded emphatically:
"Grandpa, I remember! Your grandson remembers everything!"

"Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of this family, and I will never forget Uncle Xia's kindness!"

Hearing his grandson's promise, Uncle Ding's face showed a completely relieved smile, as if all the burdens had been lifted.

He stopped speaking, only patted Ding Yan's hand very lightly, then slowly closed his eyes, his breathing became long and steady, and he fell asleep again.

This time, however, Ding Yan clearly felt that his grandfather's life force was as weak as a candle flickering in the wind.

He knelt before the bed, remaining seated for a long time, letting his tears fall silently.

"grandfather!"

Ding Yan's voice trembled as he gripped his grandfather's hand tightly, as if he could hold onto the life force that was rapidly slipping away.

He could feel that the old hand was gradually losing its warmth, becoming light and airy, like an autumn leaf about to wither.

The moonlight continued to fall quietly, illuminating the old man's peaceful sleeping face with exceptional clarity—a tranquility born from the shedding of all worries.

Just then, a very faint sound of footsteps came from behind.

Ding Yan didn't turn around; he knew who had come.

Xia Yuan appeared silently by the bedside, his plain white robes seemingly shrouded in a layer of moonlight.

He looked down at Uncle Ding, whose life was about to end, his face still expressionless, but deep in his eyes, there seemed to be a faint, elusive sadness.

Although this old man was not his relative, he was closer to him than a relative.

Once Uncle Ding passes away.

Then, there will be one less person in this world who can sit and drink tea with Xia Yuan without any reservations and chat casually.

The path of spiritual cultivation is long and arduous, filled with witnessing life and death, and taking a detached view of the vicissitudes of life.

But there are always some people and some feelings that are like a spring of clear water that you might stumble upon in an endless desert—precious and rare.

For him, Uncle Ding was such a person.

It involves no interests, no cultivation level, it's just companionship between two people.

Xia Yuan didn't bother trying to give Uncle Ding the Origin Medicine; it was pointless now!

The old man's body was like a parched desert.

It cannot be changed by simply adding a little water.

soon.

Aunt Ding, Ding Hai, and his wife also rushed over upon hearing the news.

The small room was instantly enveloped in a heavy and sorrowful atmosphere.

Aunt Ding walked to the bedside without saying a word. She simply used her calloused hands to stroke Uncle Ding's already cold cheeks again and again. Cloudy tears slid down her deep wrinkles and dripped onto their tightly clasped hands.

The Ding couple also had tears in their eyes and sobbed softly.

Xia Yuan quietly stepped back, leaving the space entirely for this final farewell.

He stood in the shadows of the room, like a silent guardian, witnessing the most ordinary yet profound farewell in the world.

Outside the window, the moonlight was cool and still, and all was quiet.

Only the sound of life passing by can be clearly heard in the silent night.

Time flows in silence.

After an unknown amount of time, the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, dispelling the chill of the night.

On the bed, Uncle Ding's breathing became lighter and slower.

Finally, it quietly came to an end...

(End of this chapter)