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

One day later.

Xie Jiexue stood silently in his cave.

She had her back to the cave entrance, and a sliver of light leaked in, illuminating her long, white hair and her blood-red, jade-like eyes.

Lin Wuhua's corpse lay before Xie Jiexue.

The boy's expression was gentle, his face pale, and apart from an unnatural hollow in his chest, he looked as if he were simply asleep.

Xie Jiexue held a long piece of paper in his hand, which was clearly a letter.

[To Jiexue:]

By the time you read this letter, I should already be gone.

Please forgive me for saying goodbye to you in this way—not because I dare not say it to your face, but because some things can only be clearly said in quiet moments, after careful consideration and reflection, word by word.

I have so much to say, and even as I write this, my chest is aching.

If it couldn't be fully explained, it would be rather absurd; and to say it face-to-face would risk being seen as sentimental and didactic.

You know I'm not that kind of person.

Okay, I have something to tell you first.

I had thought about this from the beginning, but I just couldn't find the right time.

Regarding the "Supreme Forgetfulness Manual" and the Way of Ruthlessness—I absolutely disagree.

Selflessness is not the same as being heartless, and being heartless is definitely not the path to selflessness.

With utmost sincerity and true nature, one can clearly understand one's own mind and nature.

All thoughts are real; the only difference is whether you are willing to face them.

Fear and repression of human nature is not transcendence, but escape and cowardice.

I have read through all the sword intents in Supreme Frost, so I can be sure of this.

And I think, with my origins there, you can be sure of this.

You are very smart, you can definitely do it. I knew that when I taught you to read.

A few days before writing this letter, I went to see Sect Master Chu Hanxiao.

She was badly injured, but she still made it to see me.

The sect leader of Chu Hanxiao told me that a long time ago, your sword bones clashed, and he asked if you came to find me.

Of course, you didn't; you solved the problem yourself—so I won't write about it here.

I want to tell you that those conflicts do not come from my sword bones—will and origin are not connected, and the appearance of a vessel does not determine its interior—just as the Supreme Frost is such a cold sword, yet it embodies the sword intent of everyone in the Sword Sect, and embodies everyone's expectations for all living beings.

It's just that your emotions are holding you back; you're the one holding yourself back.

How can a living, breathing person be reduced to a lifeless object?

I think this logic is correct, just as Supreme Frost doesn't need an equal vessel, but only a person who can wield the sword, a person who can command all sword intents.

So now, I'm going to tell you.

A sword is an object that exists for "human beings." Slaying demons and monsters, protecting loved ones, and fulfilling one's beliefs—these are all things that humans seek and what their hearts desire.

No matter how high one's swordsmanship is, if one loses humanity and human nature, it is like a tree without roots or water without a source. Even if it has the power to destroy the world, it is nothing more than a cold weapon, utterly meaningless.

Only when man and sword are in harmony can it be a true sword.

Of course, speaking of which, Jie Xue, have you ever wondered why I know everything but tell you nothing?

At the very beginning of my sword training, I would have said I was doing this for your own good; some time ago, I would have said I didn't know; but now, I will tell you, I'm afraid.

I'm afraid of intercepting the snow.

The torrent of history flows on and on. Those who stand on the riverbank in later generations feel that history should be like this, but who among those in the torrent can find their way?

I have read the notes of the swordsmiths of the Sword Sect.

In retrospect, the forging of Supreme Frost was a matter of course, as was the victory.

But he didn't know the war would be successful—neither did anyone else.

At that time, the swordsmith of the Sword Sect was filled with anxiety and fear.

He was constantly afraid that he had gathered the power of his entire clan, only to obtain a sword that would lead to his death and the extermination of his clan.

Therefore, he even told the other elders that storing sword intent within the sword was not for victory, but so that future generations would remember our sword.

But later, they won—though that was later, not then.

So just as they don't know, I don't know either.

Victory and success are never predetermined, not even for the victors themselves.

I'm afraid that if I lead you down a different path, it will end up being nothing, and you'll even lose the only thing that could protect you.

So I have to walk the whole road before I can tell you, just like in our Sword Sect Grand Competition, I have to beat you before I can take you out to play.

If I don't know the way and I lead you there, wouldn't that be irresponsible and disrespectful of your trust in me?

It's just a pity that I walked too slowly.

Jie Xue, you might ask, am I making a decision for you, or is it selfish of me to do this?

I am not prepared to argue with this.

That's true, just like when I took you to meet your parents before you left home and bought you with gold bars.

At that time, I didn't want you to live with that obsession.

But now that I think about it, I've become your obsession, which is probably a bad thing.

Also, after I shattered my sword bone that time, you questioned me about "making decisions for you," and I couldn't answer at the time—because I really hadn't asked you—I hadn't even thought about it that way.

But at this point, I want to say something.

This is my choice, and it doesn't depend on your wishes or whether you deserve it.

I do this because I love you, not because you deserve it.

So I didn't actually make choices for you, just as I didn't love yourself for you.

Love is not a transaction; you can't just refuse it if you want to.

A good sentence, isn't it?

Such a powerful answer made me quite proud of myself.

Therefore, I must sacrifice my sword bones once again, giving you all of my sword bones and my sword.

In this world, only life is inalienable, because only by living can one make choices.

So even though I know it will cause you pain, I will return the power of choice to you, instead of letting you die.

This is still a choice I'm making for you, and it will cause you pain, but you don't owe me anything.

After that, you'll have to make your own choices, and I don't know if you'll be able to adapt.

You can do it, don't be afraid.

I don't have much time left, and my hands are almost too weak to hold the pen, so I'll stop here.

After all, I don't have much to say.

My sword bones are within you, my sword techniques are in your heart, and my swordsmanship insights have left with the Scripture Pavilion.

I imagine that after the war, the snowstorm will pass, spring will come again, and the Sword Sect will return to its usual bustling state.

Unfortunately, I can't watch it with you.

But don't be afraid, Jiexue, you will be alright.

You will be alright.

May your future be free from frost and snow.

Lin Wuhua

Yu Jianzong Forbidden Land

绝笔

P.S.: If possible, please weave a wreath of peach blossoms for me at my grave.

But if there are no peach blossoms, it doesn't matter; any other flower will do.

I don't care.

Xie Jiexue stared at the letter.

She didn't shed any tears, because she had already cried all her tears.

After an unknown amount of time, her body swayed slightly, then she bent down and embraced Lin Wuhua's corpse.

One hand supports her knee, the other arm around her neck.

She nuzzled against Lin Wuhua's chest, as if his heart was still beating.

"Wuhua, I'll take you to pick peach blossoms."

Step by step, Xie Jiexue walked out of the cave.

The light shone into her eyes, but she didn't even squint.

On the vast, desolate land, there were countless corpses, countless sword marks, and endless ice and snow.

Everyone bent down and watched her from a distance.

This is all thanks to Xie Jiexue.

Yesterday, everyone thought she was going to die.

But something happened, and after a long silence, countless sword lights suddenly shone, leaving behind countless corpses.

Someone said at the time that she swung her sword.

Some say she didn't even swing the sword.

Some say those demons died of their own accord.

A very small number of people said that someone went into the center of the battlefield, but no one believed them.

Regardless, it seems the sword master has finally made a breakthrough.

Amidst awe-inspiring gazes, Xie Jiexue soared into the air, countless sword lights surging from around her as they chased after the retreating demons.

Those sword lights did not belong to any sword she had learned, nor even to any sword of any person, but rather to almost all swords in the world, moving freely according to her thoughts.

Tai Shang Han Shuang followed behind Xie Jiexue, surrounding her.

She achieved the state of selflessness and became the true Supreme Sword Master, forever protecting the sect's peace.

But the peach blossoms of that day may never be seen again.