After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 128

The Palace Lord Yaoguang saw the hesitation and reluctance of the two women. She did not rush them, but waited quietly. As an ancient being who had lived for countless years, she knew that a forced melon is not sweet; only by letting them sort out their feelings on their own could their Dao hearts remain flawless.

Envoy Yunying and others also stood silently by, and the atmosphere grew somewhat stagnant. In the plaza before the Mystic Maiden Palace, only the gurgling sound of flowing water and the distant, ethereal immortal music could be heard, accentuating the silence of the moment.

Qin Yixuan held the heavy jade slip; her heart filled with struggle. This seemingly light slip carried the burden and expectation of ten thousand generations. Accepting the inheritance meant immense power, the ability to control her own destiny, and the capacity to help Ye Li contend with formidable enemies and shoulder her responsibility.

She could clearly feel the call coming from the jade slip—a resonance of the origin, a summoning of destiny. The Mystic Maiden origin within her body was leaping with joy, yearning for completion. This was her innate responsibility; one she could not shirk.

Yet, at the same time, it meant a long separation from the person who had already integrated into her life. Decades, perhaps even a century—for mortals, this was a lifetime; for cultivators, it was not excessively long, but the thought of not seeing Ye Li for such a duration made her heart ache intolerably.

She dared not imagine how she would spend the days without Ye Li. Over their time together, Ye Li had become the most important person in her life. That woman, outwardly aloof yet inwardly gentle, always appeared when she needed her most, sheltering her from the storm and offering her the most steadfast support.

Ye Li watched the struggle and pain in Qin Yixuan’s eyes, her own heart equally twisted in agony. She desired more than anyone for Qin Yixuan to become powerful, to master that mysterious origin and be free from its constraints. She also knew deeply that the Nine Heavens Celestial Palace, this Mystic Maiden inheritance, was the best, and perhaps the only, path for Qin Yixuan.

The loneliness and betrayal of her past life made her especially cherish the warmth and companionship of this life. The Venerable Li had dominated an era but never tasted genuine affection until she met Qin Yixuan; only then did her frozen heart truly begin to melt.

But it was precisely because of this cherished bond that she could not, for her own selfish reasons, impede Qin Yixuan’s growth and future. She understood the critical importance of strength; without enough power, one could not even protect the person one held dear, just as in her previous life, which ended in abandonment and self-destruction.

Palace Lord Yaoguang suddenly spoke, “The path of cultivation is inherently solitary. To reach the pinnacle, one must learn to endure loneliness. The Mystic Maiden’s path is even more so. This is your destiny, and your glory.”

Her words resonated in Qin Yixuan’s heart like an alarm bell. Yes, the path of cultivation had never been easy; to gain something, one had to pay a corresponding price.

Qin Yixuan looked up at Ye Li, tears welling in her eyes: “Ye Li, I…”

“Go, Yixuan.” Ye Li took a deep breath, suppressing the immense reluctance in her heart, her voice calm and firm. She stepped forward and gently embraced Qin Yixuan, whispering in her ear, “This is your Dao, your responsibility. I will wait for you.”

Simple words, yet containing the deepest understanding and support. Qin Yixuan’s tears instantly broke free, and she tightly hugged Ye Li back, as if trying to merge herself into the other’s very being. The embrace was so forceful, so reluctant, that it moved all present.

“But… a century… it’s too long…” she choked out, her voice broken, “I’m afraid… afraid that when I emerge, everything will have changed…”

This was the deepest fear in her heart. A hundred years was enough time to change too many things. She feared that by the time she left seclusion, Ye Li would no longer be where she was, or… that someone else would occupy her heart.

Ye Li gently stroked her hair, her tone soft yet carrying an undeniable conviction: “For us cultivators, a hundred years is but a blink of an eye. I will work hard to cultivate and become stronger—strong enough to sweep away all obstacles and give you a stable world when you complete your seclusion. Trust me.”

She released Qin Yixuan and gazed into her eyes, saying word by word, “The day you achieve mastery and return will be the day we stand side-by-side at the peak of this Spirit Realm, never to be separated again.”

This promise, like the most unwavering oath, shattered the last trace of anxiety and uncertainty in Qin Yixuan’s heart. She looked into Ye Li’s eyes, deep as a sea of stars, reflecting only her own image, where she saw a tenderness and determination she had never seen before.

Yes, she should believe in Ye Li, and believe in their love. If they could not endure even this small trial, how could they speak of forever?

“Alright! I believe you!” She wiped away her tears, and a resolute light rekindled in her eyes, “I will complete the inheritance as quickly as possible and come back to find you! You must also take good care of yourself, don’t get hurt, and don’t… forget me.”

Her voice caught with a sob at the end. She was the one leaving, yet she was instructing the other not to forget her—this contradictory feeling made her want to both laugh and cry.

“Never.” The corner of Ye Li’s lips curved into a faint but utterly genuine smile. It was a smile she rarely showed, yet it appeared so naturally now. “You are the most important person in my life. How could I forget?”

The two smiled at each other. Though the sadness of parting remained, there was a greater hope and confidence for the future. This emotion, having grown only more resolute and purer in the face of the trial of separation, had transcended worldly bonds, ascending to the realm of Dao companions, united in heart and ascending the great Dao together.

Palace Lord Yaoguang watched the scene, and a hint of almost imperceptible relief seemed to cross her veiled face. The word ‘love’ is the most challenging, yet also the greatest polisher of the Dao heart. Enduring this trial proved the preciousness of true affection and the firmness of the Dao heart.

She recalled a time, long, long ago, when she, too, had faced a similar choice. For the responsibility on her shoulders, she had to separate from her beloved. That pain remained vividly in her memory. But it was precisely that experience that made her Dao heart more complete, ultimately allowing her to govern the Celestial Palace and protect this realm.

Envoy Yunying, and the two deacons, Qinglan and Chisong, also showed expressions of emotion. On the path of cultivation, finding a true-hearted Dao companion was difficult, and those who could withstand the trial of separation were even rarer. These young women showed them the power of genuine affection.

“Since you have decided, then prepare to accept the inheritance,” Palace Lord Yaoguang said. “The Mystic Maiden Secret Realm has been opened and awaits its mistress.”

Qin Yixuan took a deep breath, casting one final look at Ye Li, etching her image deep into her heart. After this parting, she did not know when they would meet again, but she believed that on the day of their reunion, both of them would be better versions of themselves.

Ye Li also gazed deeply at her, as if to engrave this moment forever. The road ahead was long, but she was not alone, for she knew that somewhere, someone was also striving for their future.