Immortality: Starting with a grave, I'm invincible when burying corpses.

November, year 78 of the Five Kingdoms calendar.

"Senior Brother, Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, are you really leaving? Wan'er doesn't want you to leave... Wouldn't it be better if we could all stay together like before, happy every day?"

In front of the academy's gate, a twelve-year-old girl clung tightly to her senior brother's arm, tears streaming down her face.

Feng Jian and Wei Qiyuan stood aside, glancing at their junior sister and then at their other fellow disciples, hesitating for a long time before remaining silent.

Parting is the most common thing in life. People go to different places in order to pursue their dreams and their future. This is the norm in the world.

People from small towns who want to showcase their talents inevitably need to leave their hometowns and go to a bigger stage.

In most cases, the more outstanding and accomplished one is, the further one goes, and the further one drifts apart from one's old friends.

But feelings ultimately need to be nurtured; when you're far apart, many things gradually fade away.

Feng Jian and Wei Qiyuan couldn't guarantee that, many years later, their relationship would still be as good as it is now.

Children express their true feelings and speak their minds, while adults often force a smile; only they themselves know the bitterness of it all.

Saying you have no regrets, saying you never regret anything, is mostly just self-consolation born out of helplessness.

……

Looking at his junior sister who was crying her eyes out, Jun Changping sighed softly and squatted down.

Jun Changping could never bring himself to be harsh with the child he had watched grow up.

If this had happened before the arrival of Anshu Academy, Jun Changping would not have been emotionally affected by this situation.

As Jun Xiangyang's eldest son and a descendant of the Jun family, Jun Changping's upbringing did not allow him to have excessive emotions.

The revival of the empire was destined to be fraught with bloodshed.

But over the past ten years, Bai Ling's ideas have been influencing Jun Changping, and his life at Sui'an Academy has changed him a lot, making him less cold-blooded than before.

Having spent so much time pretending in front of Mu An and Bai Ling, Jun Changping had gotten used to how to be a responsible senior brother.

On many lonely nights, when he lay alone in bed, Jun Changping also felt lost.

Confused about who I am, confused about what is right and wrong, confused about what I should do...

Amidst the intermittent sobs, Jun Changping pulled Yun Wan into his arms and gently patted her back.

"Don't cry, don't cry, our Xiao Wan is the bravest... I, your senior brother, am only temporarily separated from Xiao Wan to pursue my own dreams. When Xiao Wan grows up, we will meet again... At that time, Xiao Wan will become the princess of Da Qi, loved by everyone in the world..."

"I don't want to be a princess, and I don't need anyone else to like me... I want us to raid bird nests together in spring, catch fish in the river in summer, harvest wheat together in autumn, and build snowmen together in winter... I have so many things I want to do with you all, so many plans..."

His voice was broken and intermittent, interspersed with soft sobs, which made Jun Changping's hand freeze in mid-air.

Among the members of Sui'an Academy, Jun Changping and Li Yin took the best care of Yun Wan.

Mu An doesn't meddle in other people's business, and Bai Ling has difficulty even taking care of herself.

When Yun Wan was two years old, she could only rely on Jun Changping and Li Yin.

With their daily companionship and meticulous care, Yun Wan's feelings for the two had long since transcended the boundaries of a senior brother and sister relationship.

The difference is that Li Yin always oscillates between being reliable and unreliable, while Jun Changping has always been a calm and composed figure.

As the eldest brother, Jun Changping played a fatherly role for Yunwan.

At this moment, facing the fact that Jun Changping was leaving the academy and Jiuzhou City, Yun Wan felt really bad.

She hugged Jun Changping tightly, refusing to let go no matter how much he comforted her, leaving the three who wanted to leave feeling helpless.

Today, Yun Wan was more clingy than ever, as if this was not a brief farewell, but their last meeting.

It was Li Yin who stepped forward and forcefully pulled Yun Wan away, allowing Jun Changping to escape.

"No! No! Senior sister, let me go! I don't want senior brother and the others to leave..."

"Alright! Stop fooling around! Your senior brothers are going to pursue their ideals, what kind of behavior is this..."

……

In a distant house, Mu An stood by the window, quietly watching this scene.

He held a cup of hot tea in his hands, seemingly lost in thought.

Bai Ling stood beside him, glancing out the window one moment and then back at the person in front of her the next.

"Shopkeeper, now that they're gone, they'll probably die in the power struggle sooner or later..."

Mu An didn't turn around, but simply put down her teacup, her calm voice carrying a subtle undercurrent of emotion.

"The path you choose is your own; dying on the battlefield or on the road of struggle may not be such a bad thing."

Bai Ling pursed her lips and whispered softly.

"If they all die one day, will the shop owner feel even a little sadness?"

"Won't."

Biting her red lips, Bai Ling nodded slightly, her voice even lower, having received her answer.

"What if I die?"

Mu An paused slightly by the window and glanced at the person behind her.

Bai Ling was intently watching the scene of parting outside, as if her words just now were merely casual remarks.

"I will light an incense stick for you."

……

Under the setting sun, Yun Wan chased after the carriage for a long time, but ultimately failed to catch up with it.

In front of the city gate of Jiuzhou, Yun Wan collapsed on the ground, panting heavily. The carriage in the distance grew smaller and smaller until it became a black dot and disappeared completely.

The fiery red sunset shone down from the horizon, illuminating Yun Wan's torn long dress.

The girl collapsed to the ground, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes with her dusty sleeves.

I tried again and again, but I just couldn't get it clean.

One scene after another flashed through her mind, and new tears once again streamed down her cheeks.

Yun Wan stopped crying as the sun set behind the distant mountains and the lights on the city walls came on one after another. She looked at Li Yin, who had been by her side, with a pitiful expression.

Li Yin didn't say anything, but took a step forward and pulled Yun Wan into her arms, letting Yun Wan sob softly in her embrace.

"We'll meet again... Every parting is for a better reunion next time... We, the Nine Princes of Sui'an, are the best group in the world..."

Li Yin's voice was very soft, and she comforted the child she had raised in the gentlest tone.

But she didn't notice that as she spoke, the little one in her arms trembled, and two more lines of clear tears appeared in her already red and swollen eyes.

Because she was crying the whole time, Li Yin didn't notice Yun Wan's unusual behavior at that moment.

Amidst intermittent sobs, Yun Wan, nestled in Li Yin's arms, closed her eyes and swallowed back all the words she wanted to say.

"Senior sister, we'll all meet again, right?"

"Yes, we will... When you grow up, Xiao Wan, we will meet again."

"I, Xiao Wan, will work hard and make sure my senior brothers see a different Xiao Wan!"

"Okay! Your senior sister will always be with you..."

……

"Liars, Senior Sister and Third Senior Brother are both liars..."

"Little koi, you must, you absolutely must live on... Never, ever do what Third Senior Brother said..."