Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Six months is neither a long nor a short time...

On this day, Jin Ping'er received a message from Bi Yao through a special channel, inviting her to meet in a very secluded valley at the foot of Qingyun Mountain.

Jin Ping'er was puzzled. Her senior sister should be at her busiest right now, so why would she come here in person?

She went as instructed and found Biyao under an old tree deep in the valley.

Half a year had passed, and Biyao seemed to have lost some weight. She was still dressed in light green, but there was a lingering weariness between her brows, as well as a more imposing and subdued aura.

However, when those deep green eyes saw Jin Ping'er, a hint of warmth still shone through them.

"Senior Sister." Jin Ping'er stepped forward and bowed, keenly noticing a hint of heaviness in Bi Yao's expression.

"Ping'er, get up." Biyao helped her up, looked her over carefully, and nodded.

"Your cultivation has improved considerably, and your complexion is better too. No one in Qingyun is giving you any trouble, is they?"

"No, Senior Sister Wenmin treats me very well, and my fellow disciples get along well," Jin Ping'er replied, though her unease grew slightly.

"Senior sister, you've come in person, is there something important?"

Biyao remained silent for a moment, then pulled her to sit down on a rock under the tree.

The valley was silent, save for the sounds of the wind and birdsong.

"Ping'er," Biyao said, her voice low.

"I've come today to tell you something. You... should be prepared."

Jin Ping'er's heart sank suddenly, and her fingers curled up involuntarily.

"Please speak, senior sister."

Biyao looked at her, a hint of reluctance flashing in her eyes, but she still slowly said:

"It's about your mother. Aunt You sent a message the day before yesterday that your mother... had been seriously ill for a long time, and medicine was ineffective. She... passed away peacefully three days ago."

After he finished speaking, the valley fell into a deathly silence.

The color drained from Jin Ping'er's face instantly, her eyes widened as she stared blankly at Bi Yao, seemingly not understanding what she was saying.

Several breaths passed before a clear pain gradually gathered in those blank eyes. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks without warning, landing silently on her clothes.

Mother...is gone?

The mother who sheltered her with her frail body in the dilapidated hut, giving her the last bit of warmth, and who worried about her day and night because of her "disappearance"... is gone?

She didn't have time...

He hadn't even had a chance to bring her out and give her a better life, hadn't even had a chance to tell her that he now had a place to stay, had learned some skills, and would never have to be bullied again...

"Ping'er..." Biyao reached out and gently grasped her cold, trembling hand.

Aunt You said that your mother passed away peacefully without pain.

She was still thinking of you in her final moments, and asked Aunt You to tell you to live well and not to worry about her.

"mother……"

Jin Ping'er finally let out a suppressed, broken sob, then abruptly lowered her head, her shoulders trembling violently.

She didn't burst into tears; instead, she bit her lip tightly, letting the tears flow freely and instantly soak the back of Biyao's hand.

It was a silent grief, yet one that seemed to tear at the heart.

Biyao looked at her, and a pang of sorrow rose in her heart.

Jin Ping'er in her previous life didn't seem to mention her mother, perhaps because she was already gone, or perhaps for some other reason.

In this life, she allowed Youji to save her and her daughter ahead of time, giving Jin Ping'er a chance to change her fate, but also causing her to suffer the pain of losing her loved ones once again.

Perhaps this is the price to pay.

She gently pulled Jin Ping'er into her arms, patting her back as if comforting a helpless child.

"Cry it out, it will make you feel better. Your mother will be able to rest in peace knowing that you are doing well at Qingyun Sect."

Jin Ping'er leaned on Bi Yao's shoulder, unable to hold back any longer, and burst into tears.

The suppressed, sorrowful cries echoed through the valley, startling several birds into flight.

Biyao simply held her quietly, letting her tears soak her shoulder.

After an unknown amount of time, Jin Ping'er's crying gradually subsided, turning into intermittent sobs.

She lifted her head from Biyao's embrace, her eyes red and swollen, her face streaked with tears, but she forced herself to stand up straight and bowed deeply to Biyao.

"Thank you very much, Senior Sister... for informing me. I am also very grateful to Senior Sister and Aunt You for taking care of my mother all these years. Ping'er is deeply grateful."

Her voice was hoarse, yet carried an unusual calmness.

There's no need for thanks between us.

Biyao helped her up, looking into her red and swollen but unusually determined eyes, and knew that after today, this girl might completely shed her last trace of weakness and truly grow up.

"Aunt You has taken good care of your mother's funeral arrangements. Given your current situation, it's not convenient for you to go back for now. I'll accompany you back to pay your respects after things have settled down."

"Yes, Ping'er understands." Jin Ping'er replied softly, her fingertips digging into her palm, leaving deep crescent-shaped marks.

Biyao gave her a few more instructions on what to be careful about in Qingyun, especially since the Ghost King Sect had been making frequent moves recently, which might arouse the vigilance of the righteous path. She told her to be extra careful before leaving behind some cultivation resources and a few life-saving talismans and hurriedly departing.

She is now the de facto ruler of the Ghost King Sect, and her every move has far-reaching implications, so she cannot stay here for long.

Jin Ping'er stood alone in the valley, gazing in the direction where Bi Yao had disappeared, then looked down at the few cold talismans in her hand, remaining motionless for a long time.

The mountain wind dried the tear stains on her face, leaving only taut skin and a deep, cold pain hidden in her eyes.

My mother... is gone.

There is no one in this world who is truly connected to her by blood and loves her unconditionally.

From now on, she truly only has herself.

No, she still has her senior sister, Aunt You, and... that silly senior brother Jiang who gave her a bit of warmth and a place to stay.

But these things are different now.

She slowly squatted down and took out a stack of rough yellow paper and firecrackers from her storage bag.

This was something she had prepared long ago, intending to use it when she had the opportunity to go back and pay her respects in the future.

Now, all we can do is send our condolences from afar in this deserted valley.

She lit the yellow paper with a tinderbox, watching the orange flames leap and devour the fragile paper, turning it to ashes, which were then swept up by the mountain wind, drifting away, their destination unknown.

"Father, Mother..."

She called out softly, tears blurring her vision once more, but stubbornly refused to fall.

She burned paper money one by one, as if she wanted to send all the grief, longing, and guilt in her heart to her loved ones who had long since passed away or perhaps had already been reunited with her.

Low, suppressed sobs echoed intermittently in the silent valley.

……

A few days later, after Jiang Xiaochuan finished practicing his sword, he felt unusually tired and decided to go for a walk alone in a more secluded spot in the back mountain to clear his mind.

He followed a rarely traveled path and unknowingly arrived at a secluded bamboo forest at the junction of Dazhu Peak and Xiaozhu Peak.

As they were walking, they suddenly heard suppressed, low sobbing sounds coming from ahead, along with the crackling of flames and... the distinctive smell of burning paper money.

Jiang Xiaochuan paused, puzzled.

This place is rarely visited; who is holding a memorial service here?

He tiptoed, quietly parted the dense bamboo branches, and looked in the direction of the sound.

In front of him, on a small open space, a girl dressed in light blue clothes was squatting on the ground with her back to him, and a small pile of paper money was burning in front of her.

The girl's shoulders trembled slightly, and a suppressed, heartbreaking sob could be heard.

The figure looks somewhat familiar from behind.

Is it Jin Ping'er?

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned for a moment.

Whom is she mourning?

Why are you crying so sadly?

He hesitated for a moment, then walked over and called softly, "Junior Sister Jin?"

Jin Ping'er's body trembled violently, and her crying stopped abruptly.

She quickly raised her hand to wipe her face, then wiped it haphazardly with her sleeve before slowly turning her head away.

Her eyes were terribly red and swollen, and her face was still wet with tears. In the flickering firelight, she looked exceptionally fragile and pitiful.

Upon seeing that it was Jiang Xiaochuan, a hint of panic flashed in her eyes. She quickly stood up, trying to force a smile, but it looked worse than crying.

"Jiang, Senior Brother Jiang... what are you doing here?"

"I was just wandering around when I heard a sound..."

Looking at her red and swollen eyes and her forced composure, Jiang Xiaochuan's initial doubts turned into sympathy and worry.

"Junior Sister Jin, are you... alright? Are you mourning your loved ones?"

Jin Ping'er lowered her head, looking at the gradually extinguishing ashes of the paper money on the ground. After a moment of silence, she whispered:

"Um... Today is the anniversary of my parents' death. They... passed away early, and I... I thought I'd burn some paper money for them here and say a few words..."

Her voice was thick with nasal tone, and she choked up at the end, quickly biting her lip to hold it in.

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a pang of sadness seeing her trying so hard to suppress her grief.

He remembered that Jin Ping'er had said that her parents had died early and that she was an orphan.

I never imagined today was the anniversary of her parents' death; no wonder she's so heartbroken.

He stepped forward, awkwardly trying to comfort her: "Junior Sister Jin, please accept my condolences. Your parents, if they could see you safe and sound in Qingyun Sect, they would be so pleased."

His words were dry and meaningless; even he himself felt they were of little use.

But when Jin Ping'er heard this, it was as if a floodgate had been opened, and the grief and loneliness she had been suppressing all along burst forth once again.

She suddenly raised her head, tears streaming down her face, and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan. Her lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she just rushed forward and buried her head in Jiang Xiaochuan's arms, bursting into tears.

"Waaah... Mother... Father... I miss you... I miss you so much..."

She cried her heart out, as if she wanted to release all the sadness, grievances, and loneliness she had suppressed over the years (or rather, all the sadness she had suppressed since losing her mother).

She gripped Jiang Xiaochuan's clothes tightly with both hands, her body trembling violently from crying.

Jiang Xiaochuan was forced back half a step by her tackle, his body instantly stiffening.

He was enveloped in a warm, soft embrace; the girl's sweet fragrance mingled with the salty, damp scent of her tears filled his nostrils, and he felt her burning tears and the suppressed trembling of grief welling up in his chest.

He was at a loss for what to do, his hands hanging in mid-air, not knowing where to put them.

Hearing the heartbreaking cries of the person in his arms and feeling her desperate trembling, Jiang Xiaochuan's initial embarrassment and discomfort were slowly replaced by a strong sense of sympathy and pity.

He hesitated for a moment, but finally reached out and gently put one arm around her slender shoulder, while awkwardly patting her back with the other hand, trying to soothe her.

"Cry, just cry it out..." he whispered, his voice unconsciously softening.

"Your parents... definitely want you to be well and live happily. Don't be too sad..."

Jin Ping'er cried even harder, as if grasping at a lifeline, burying her face deeply in his chest, her tears quickly soaking his clothes.

Jiang Xiaochuan stopped talking, just silently held her, letting her cry, gently stroking her soft hair with his hands, trying to convey a little bit of comfort.

The bamboo forest was deep and secluded, with only the girl's suppressed sobs and the crackling of the last embers of firewood.

Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on the two embracing figures.

Not far away, deep in the bamboo shadows, a pale figure stood silently—it was Lu Xueqi.

She had come to find Jiang Xiaochuan, but unexpectedly stumbled upon this scene. She watched as Jiang Xiaochuan awkwardly but tenderly held Jin Ping'er, and listened to Jin Ping'er's heart-wrenching, genuine cries. Her usually cold face remained expressionless, but her eyes flickered slightly.

She could tell that Jin Ping'er's sadness at this moment was real, so intense that it was almost impossible to fake.

Was it to commemorate her parents? She vaguely remembered hearing that Jin Ping'er was an orphan.

If that's the case, then it's understandable.

Seeing Jiang Xiaochuan's helpless yet trying-to-comfort demeanor, Lu Xueqi felt little jealousy, but rather a complex mix of emotions.

That little rascal, he's fallen into his old habit of being soft-hearted again.

However... seeing Jin Ping'er crying so hard she was almost exhausted, she ultimately didn't go forward to disturb her, but simply stood quietly in the shadows, watching.

After an unknown amount of time, Jin Ping'er's crying gradually subsided, turning into intermittent sobs.

She seemed to finally realize what she had done. Her body stiffened slightly, and she retreated from Jiang Xiaochuan's embrace with a flustered and reluctant air. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him, and her voice was barely audible.

"I'm so sorry, Senior Brother Jiang... I... I lost my composure... I got your clothes all wet..."

She looked at the dark patch of her clothes on Jiang Xiaochuan's chest, soaked with her tears, and her face flushed with shame and embarrassment. She subconsciously reached out to wipe it, but then felt it was inappropriate, and her hand froze in mid-air.

"It's nothing, just a piece of clothing."

Jiang Xiaochuan breathed a sigh of relief, feeling more at ease seeing that she had finally stopped crying.

He waved his hand, indicating it was alright. "Are you... feeling better?"

Jin Ping'er nodded, haphazardly wiping away the tear stains on her face with the back of her hand. Her eyes and nose were red, making her look exceptionally pitiful.

"Much better... Thank you, Senior Brother Jiang."

She whispered that the emptiness and pain in her heart seemed to have been slightly relieved by the crying she had just endured and the warm embrace.

However, the thought of how she had thrown herself into Jiang's arms and cried so hard, even getting his clothes wet, made her so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear into the ground.

"You're welcome."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt a little embarrassed seeing her awkward expression and scratched his head.

"Um... if you're still feeling down, you can go talk to Senior Sister Wenmin, or... Senior Sister Lu Xueqi. They're both really nice people, it's just that Senior Sister Lu is a bit cold."

He simply thought that girls might be better at communicating, and it was just a casual suggestion.

Upon hearing the name "Lu Xueqi," Jin Ping'er's body stiffened almost imperceptibly. She quickly nodded and said, "Yes, I understand. Thank you for reminding me, Senior Brother Jiang."

"Well... I'll head back now. You should also go back to Xiaozhu Peak soon, don't stay alone for too long."

Jiang Xiaochuan felt the atmosphere was really awkward and wanted to slip away as soon as possible.

"Alright, Senior Brother Jiang, take care." Jin Ping'er replied with her head down.

Jiang Xiaochuan turned around and quickly left the bamboo forest. Only after walking a long way did he breathe a sigh of relief, touching his chest, which was soaked with tears and still faintly fragrant, and sighed.

Now things are really messed up. I need to go back and take a shower and change clothes as soon as possible. If Lu Xueqi, Xiaobai, or Tian Ling'er smells other women's tears and scent on me, who knows what kind of misunderstanding will arise.

Although he himself found it strange, how come those girls had such sensitive noses?

He didn't notice that shortly after he left, a figure in moonlight also quietly disappeared from the bamboo shadows on the other side.