What does it mean that they all lived with lifelong regrets?

After that day we parted, quite a bit of time passed.

During this time, Lin Wuhua did not practice swordsmanship, did not go to see Xie Jiexue, and did not go out for fun. Instead, he stayed in the Sutra Repository and did not leave the house at all.

He didn't leave until the night before his departure, when Xie Jiexue knocked on the door.

Looking at Lin Wuhua, whose hair was disheveled but who still exuded charm, Xie Jiexue's heart trembled.

"What happened to you?" She walked over and tugged at his collar. "You've gotten yourself into this state."

Lin Wuhua looked at her with a smile.

"It's nothing, Jie Xue, just some occasional gains in cultivation."

He took her hand, just like when they first met.

"I'll tell you when I get back from my study abroad trip."

......

The study tour took place during the spring season.

Springtime is the perfect time to recruit new disciples.

Lin Wuhua and Xie Jiexue boarded the sect's flying shuttle and arrived at a sizable city some distance from the Supreme Sword Sect.

This is one of the Sword Sect's regular recruitment locations, and the Sword Sect's flying shuttles come here every year around the spring equinox.

Upon their arrival, the two, along with several accompanying disciples, were welcomed by the local county magistrate.

"You two must be the disciples on duty this time. You are both very talented and have an amazing aura."

Xie Jiexue nodded lightly, and Lin Wuhua walked up and echoed her.

The other disciples nearby didn't take it seriously.

The two of them were always like this; whenever Lin Wuhua was present, Xie Jiexue would tacitly agree that he was in charge of everything.

After exchanging greetings with the county magistrate and completing the Sword Sect's annual task of fostering good relations, the real work began.

Recruiting disciples.

However, Lin Wuhua and Xie Jiexue did not take care of these miscellaneous tasks.

Their task was to be on the platform, and also to be on the safe side.

These secondary tasks can be done by the junior brothers and sisters who set off together.

A line of twelve- or thirteen-year-old boys stood far away from Xie Jiexue and Lin Wuhua, looking at the two with a mixture of awe and curiosity.

Lin Wuhua and Xie Jiexue chatted on the side, discussing where they should go after the mission was over.

Suddenly, in the distance, Lin Wuhua saw a little boy raise his head and muster up the courage to ask a disciple next to him a question.

"Senior brother, are they elders?"

That disciple was always calm and unhurried, and he was also familiar with Lin Wuhua, so he smiled at Lin Wuhua.

"Those are Xie Jiexue, the 'Snow Sword' of the Sword Sect, and Lin Wuhua, the 'Book Pavilion'."

Having been in the sect for so long, Lin Wuhua and Xie Jiexue already had their own titles.

Lin Wuhua winked at the child, while Xie Jiexue adopted a haughty demeanor—her conversation with Lin Wuhua had been interrupted.

"Senior brother, does Senior Sister Xuejian never smile?"

The disciple was now embarrassed.

Lin Wuhua smiled and glanced at Xie Jiexue.

Xie Jiexue's face tightened.

So the disciple wasn't embarrassed anymore. Instead, he squatted down and said, "No, we just couldn't see your Senior Sister Xuejian when she was laughing."

Xie Jiexue's ears turned red.

Lin Wuhua covered his mouth and pretended to laugh.

The laughter only stopped when the inquisitive child was coaxed away and Lin Wuhua was stomped on by Xie Jiexue.

......

After everyone had left, Xie Jiexue glared at Lin Wuhua, grabbed his hand, and walked into the city.

"We haven't walked like this in a long time," Lin Wuhua said.

Xie Jiexue nodded, her eyes softening slightly.

She and Lin Wuhua had gone out many times, but that was when they were traveling. In order to broaden Xie Jiexue's horizons, Lin Wuhua would always drag her around to look for things.

Another time was at the last temple fair—but that's a different story.

Xie Jiexue raised her head and looked at the sky.

This is the spring sky.

The sunlight was gentle, and the peach blossoms were in full bloom. Every now and then, a few pink and white petals would be swept up by the wind and land on the two people's hair.

"Hey!"

Lin Wuhua suddenly reached out his hand, causing Xie Jiexue to instinctively narrow his eyes.

But Xie Jiexue didn't dodge; instead, he leaned his head even closer.

Lin Wuhua reached out and stroked Xie Jiexue's scalp a couple of times, making Xie Jiexue feel itchy.

After Lin Wuhua's hand left, Xie Jiexue opened her eyes.

A peach blossom rested in Lin Wuhua's palm.

"Your flowers," Lin Wuhua held out his hand to her, "Do you like them?"

Xie Jiexue remained silent for a moment.

Suddenly, she took his hand and walked out of the city.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?"

"I have something to talk to you about," Xie Jiexue said, her hands clenching tightly. "It's about you and me."

......

Outside the city, Xie Jiexue almost forcibly pushed Lin Wuhua down onto the grass.

She sat down with her back against a peach tree, then pressed Lin Wuhua's head onto her lap and wrapped her arms around Lin Wuhua's cheeks.

Lin Wuhua shifted and scurried around, trying to find a comfortable position to lie down.

Xie Jiexue blushed and let him be.

It took Lin Wuhua a while to find a suitable position.

"What's wrong, Jie Xue?"

Xie Jiexue stared at him, her dark eyes swirling with inexplicable emotions.

"Wuhua," she felt her voice trembling, "how old are you?"

"Twenty," Lin Wuhua said, "aren't you just twenty too?"

Xie Jiexue: "Mm."

Her initially violent movements softened as she gently stroked Lin Wuhua's face, looking down at him.

—She wanted to ask about marriage.

This matter had been on Xie Jiexue's mind for a long time.

Because of their close relationship, many senior sisters in the sect would ask her about it, but she always remained vague.

Because Xie Jiexue believed there was no need to rush.

Lin Wuhua didn't know any of the other girls; she only knew herself.

If he doesn't say anything, then don't ask; just wait.

And it will naturally appear in due time.

But before leaving the sect this time, the sect leader, Chu Hanxiao, talked about "Supreme Frost" once, which made her decide to ask about it herself.

Xie Jiexue took a deep breath, feeling her cheeks burning hot and her heart pounding.

Since awakening her Frost Sword Bone, she has rarely been this nervous—except in front of Lin Wuhua.

The Frost Technique and Mind Method can calm her mind and prevent her from being swayed by external things.

And she is exceptionally talented and learns very quickly.

This is one of the reasons, aside from the quality of her sword bones, that she is considered the most likely person in the history of the Sword Sect to wield the Supreme Forgetfulness.

At this very moment, the technique is undoubtedly in operation.

Looking at Lin Liyu, Xie Jiexue felt inexplicably afraid again.

"Maybe I should ask him after I get back to the sect," she told herself. "I'll talk to him after I get back."

Whether he agrees or not is not up to him.

The ticklish sensation from her fingertips interrupted her.

—Lin Wuhua was biting her fingertip.