This is the true immortal of the Taoist sect.

The two fellow disciples sat facing each other; the last time they met like this was probably decades ago.

Looking at his still stunningly beautiful senior sister, Wang Yangming couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

My thoughts immediately drifted back to that grotto from decades ago.

Qingfeng, Mingyue, him, and Jingshu were building a snowman in their master's courtyard.

Their clothes were soaked with snow water, so the eldest brother went back and made a pot of hot ginger soup to warm them up.

Then the four of them sat on the threshold, imagining what the future would hold.

Qingfeng said he wanted to help his master properly establish the Taoist tradition, and he did.

Mingyue said she wanted to cultivate immortality and become a celestial being; now it seems she will be able to achieve it.

Jing Shu said she wanted to become the most powerful swordsman in the world, and without a doubt, she did.

He never thought of cultivating immortality or mastering an invincible sword technique.

All he wanted was for those who froze to death on snowy winter nights to have a warm, safe home and to survive the next winter, and every winter after that.

So many years have passed, he... should have succeeded.

well.

Everyone's dreams have come true.

But why do I feel a little lost when I think back on it now?

Wang Yangming chuckled and shook his head.

Mingyueye smiled in response.

"What are you laughing at?"

Wang Yangming remained silent for a moment before asking:

"Senior sister, do you still remember Fuyang Manor?"

Mingyue nodded and said:

"Decades have passed, and although Yang Haotian has passed away, Fuyang Manor is still the most powerful sect in the Great Zhao Jianghu. Of course I remember that."

Wang Yangming smiled and nodded.

"Do you remember the first time the four of us went to Fuyang Manor to watch the excitement? Jing Shu was almost knocked down by that Young Master Wei, but you reacted quickly and saved her."

A hint of reminiscence appeared on Mingyue's face.

That happened decades ago.

Even after decades, these events remain deeply etched in her mind.

Wang Yangming said with a somewhat exaggerated expression:

"At that time, that so-called Young Master Wei tried to get rid of us by throwing out a silver note."

"With a gentle tap of your bamboo cane, that silver note shattered."

"Senior sister, you have no idea, back then I thought you were just... um... incredibly cool... hahaha..."

Mingyue smiled gently, never expecting that the renowned Confucian sage would have such a side to him.

Few people could probably say the phrase "So cool!", since it's a catchphrase that only a master would use.

Wang Yangming continued:

"By the way, do you still remember that Senior Sister Wei, Young Master Wei?"

The bright moon nodded gently.

Wang Yangming laughed:

"Later, when I became prime minister, that young master Wei was brought to me by his father, Prince Cheng, to apologize."

"I heard he passed away a few years ago..."

"Back then, my master crippled the martial arts of his master, the leader of the Overlord Blade Sect, and the Overlord Blade Sect never recovered."

"This young master Wei is a loyal and righteous man. In order to protect his master's legacy, he was willing to put aside his pride and seek help everywhere in the capital."

"Heh...back then he and the senior brother didn't get along at all..."

Mingyue remained calm, listening to Wang Yangming talk about this Young Master Wei without any emotional fluctuation.

Wang Yangming seemed to have no clue either, saying whatever came to mind.

Let's ramble on about this and that.

The bright moon only replies occasionally.

Finally, it seems that all the idle talk has been said.

Wang Yangming quieted down, and a long silence fell over the courtyard.

Meanwhile, in the outer courtyard, the Wang family members were already as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

The old man suddenly called everyone out and locked himself in the inner courtyard. This unusual behavior made them very uneasy.

But no one dared to go in and knock on the door.

An elderly man, well past sixty, paced back and forth at the door, occasionally asking Wang Yangming's eldest grandson questions.

"What exactly is your grandfather doing in there?"

The eldest grandson of the Wang family could only manage a wry smile.

"Father, Grandpa's actions have always been unfathomable, how would I know..."

"You didn't know? You've been with Grandpa every day, and now at this crucial moment... you didn't know? You unfilial son..."

The eldest grandson of the Wang family had no choice but to lower his head and dare not utter a word in response.

Inside the courtyard, the moonlight shone brightly on the conversation between the people outside.

I couldn't help but laugh:

"If you don't open the door soon, your children and grandchildren will be worried to death..."

Wang Yangming smiled faintly upon hearing this.

"That's fine, I don't want to see them crying."

Mingyue was taken aback, her expression turning somewhat somber.

"Junior brother, if you can come with me to the Xuanhuang Great World, perhaps Master will..."

Wang Yangming gently shook his head.

"I do not desire longevity."

"A person's life is as fleeting as a blade of grass in autumn; one's fate is what one is meant to experience at each stage of life."

"My life... has been enough."

At this point, Wang Yangming suddenly became a little embarrassed and said:

"But that's how I see it. My children and grandchildren might not think the same way."

"I have a granddaughter who is fifteen years old this year. She grew up listening to stories about her great-aunt and she keeps asking herself to become a sword immortal like her great-aunt."

Upon hearing this, Mingyue's eyes clearly showed some dissatisfaction.

"You are also a disciple of Master, and you want to send your granddaughter into the Taoist sect, do you really need to come to me specifically to plead for it?"

Wang Yangming smiled and shook his head.

"That's different. After all, I'm not included in the genealogy, so I'm not considered legitimate. My status is illegitimate, and I cannot overstep my bounds."

Mingyue pondered for a moment and asked:

"Is this what you call 'rites' in Confucianism?"

Wang Yangming's eyes lit up, and he asked:

"Did you also read my theories, senior sister?"

The bright moon smiled slightly.

"Which ambitious person in this world hasn't read the works of your Confucian sage?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Yangming burst into laughter, his laughter filled with boundless joy.

"Hahahaha... It doesn't matter whether the world reads it or not, but if Senior Sister is willing to read it, then the result of my decades of painstaking effort will not have been in vain..."

Mingyue lowered her eyes slightly and remained silent.

The smile on Wang Yangming's face slowly faded, leaving only a faint trace of warmth.

"Senior sister, I'm sorry... because of me, you're unable to ascend..."

The moon remained silent.

Wang Yangming sighed, leaned back in his chair, and looked at the sky with a touch of sadness in his eyes.

His voice grew weaker, and his life force was rapidly draining away...

"Senior sister... tell me... if I had chosen to follow Master in cultivation instead of taking the imperial examinations back then, would things have turned out differently between us...?"

"Won't..."

Before he could finish speaking, Mingyue interrupted him in a gentle yet unwavering tone.

A hint of disappointment flashed in Wang Yangming's eyes at first, but he quickly felt relieved.

He nodded slightly and said:

"To hear this, I have no regrets in this life..."

"This life... is good. If only there could be a next life..."

Wang Yangming didn't continue, but slowly closed his eyes and murmured:

"Senior sister... I'm a little tired, I'll take a nap first..."

Mingyue's eyes gradually reddened. She stood up, walked to Wang Yangming's side, and gently touched his full head of white hair.

"Go to sleep, your life has been too tiring..."

Wang Yangming had a peaceful expression, a faint smile on his lips, and exhaled his last breath.

The sage of Confucianism has now peacefully passed away.