Chu Ruochun and Director Jiang haven’t known each other for long, and he didn’t intend to reveal his past completely.
“I don’t have clear knowledge about my ancestors’ involvement, but the Ghost Abyss did originate from my lineage. Now that it’s my generation and I have the ability, I want to complete this task. So, I hope Director Jiang can lend me a hand. Both for the greater good and personally, this would also resolve your troubles.”
Director Jiang, knowing that he had no privacy in front of these masters, didn’t mind.
“What you’re saying makes sense.”
“The origins don’t matter. As long as the outcome is good, that’s what counts. I believe those six have already agreed. It’s you who wants to know the answer.”
Director Jiang honestly replied, “That’s correct. After all, I’m the head of a department, and I need to be responsible for the masters I’ve invited.”
“Don’t worry. I guarantee they will return safely,” said Chu Ruochun with a smile.
“Alright, do we need to schedule a meeting for you to discuss how to deal with the Ghost Abyss?”
“No need. We’ll meet at the entrance village of the Ghost Abyss on the 23rd of next month.”
Director Jiang took out his phone to record the scheduling. Looking at the calendar, he suddenly looked up and said, “On the Ghost Festival? Won’t that increase the influence of the ghost’s flames?”
Chu Ruochun explained, “The Ghost Festival only allows ghosts to absorb incense and fire, but it doesn’t mean they become more powerful. The ghosts inside the Abyss can’t come out; they can’t enjoy the incense and fire.”
Director Jiang felt like he had learned something new. It made sense. The entities inside the Abyss couldn’t be compared to the external spirits. Releasing the entities from the Abyss could easily eliminate the external spirits, but no one dared or had the ability to do so.
In his years as a director, he had only encountered one person like Chu Ruochun who dared to propose destroying the Ghost Abyss. Chu Ruochun’s reputation and abilities were well-known, and he had consulted with Zhang Dongliang and investigated the case of the female celebrity. Chu Ruochun had resolved several incidents.
However, since several old masters had already agreed, Director Jiang had no reason to stop Chu Ruochun from going.
After setting the time, they began preparations.
Apart from their group, they didn’t need any additional manpower.
They would solve the Ghost Abyss the same way they had originally set them up.
After spending a few more days at home, Chu Ruochun communicated with the production team and completed the filming of the remaining episodes.
During the remaining time, he took Chu Ruolin to an amusement park and bought his favorite games. If he wasn’t around, he would entrust Chu Ruolin to Feng Qi and Bai Yichen. As for the red fox, since he was similar to Bai Yichen, he wouldn’t neglect him.
Every life he lived was brief, and he didn’t have many attachments. In this life, he was already content. His senior brother had returned, and everything was complete.
The day before Chu Ruochun left for the Ghost Abyss, Feng Qi hurriedly returned from his hometown.
He found Chu Ruochun, who was casually helping Chu Ruolin with his homework, as soon as he arrived.
Feng Qi’s face looked very bad. He pointed at Chu Ruochun and sighed, but in the end, he just sat on the couch, resting his head in his hands, clearly angry. It seemed that his soul fusion had gone very smoothly.
Chu Ruochun told Chu Ruolin to go back to his room and finish his homework, then he poured a glass of water for Feng Qi and said, “Senior Brother.”
Feng Qi lifted his eyes, full of pain. “Why didn’t you tell me you’re going to the Ghost Abyss tomorrow?”
“Did Bai Yichen tell you?” Chu Ruochun asked.
Bai Yichen padded into Chu Ruolin’s room on all fours, not wanting to hear them argue. He knew what Chu Ruochun was going to do, but his involvement was only partial. It was too complicated for him to understand fully, and people were naturally lost at times.
“Yes, you don’t plan to let me go?” Feng Qi didn’t rush back from his hometown immediately upon hearing the news. This time, he not only returned to the Feng family but also searched for the sect where he and Chu Ruochun were once part of. Too much time had passed, and even the geographic names had changed. After so many years, he wasn’t sure if that mountain still existed, and in the end, he couldn’t find it.
“If Senior Brother wants to go, it’s not impossible. You already knew I was going.” Chu Ruochun stood by his side.
Suddenly, Feng Qi grabbed his hand. “I want to take you somewhere.”
“Where to?” Chu Ruochun was pulled out the door so quickly that he barely had time to change his shoes.
Whether in the past or now, their time together was limited, and now, just as they had reunited, they were facing another separation.
“You’ll know in a moment,” Feng Qi teased.
He drove to the iconic building in Jingzhou, the Star Tower.
Chu Ruochun looked up at the top of the tower. It was very tall.
He knew that the Star Tower in Jingzhou was one of the landmarks, but he had never been here and had never thought of coming here.
Each of his reincarnations had been brief, and he had been constantly searching for Feng Qi, always checking if he could merge with a new body. His mind had been preoccupied with these matters, and he had hardly had any time to relax.
At this moment, the Star Tower was brightly lit.
Feng Qi pressed the elevator floor button. “I promised you before that I would take you to the top of the highest tower in the palace to see the entire imperial city. I never had the chance back then. Now, I wonder if I can fulfill that promise.”
There weren’t many people at this time, and there were only two of them in the elevator.
As the transparent glass elevator gradually ascended, Chu Ruochun felt like he was soaring through the clouds, and his heart relaxed.
Feng Qi didn’t say anything else but stood by Chu Ruochun’s side. “The imperial city back then wasn’t as beautiful as it is now.”
Chu Ruochun nodded in enthusiastic agreement. “Yes, the imperial city at that time was too dark. Now, with electricity, there are various colorful lights.”
The two of them reached the top of the 120-story Star Tower.
The wind at the rooftop was howling, rustling their clothes and hair.
Feng Qi led Chu Ruochun to the less crowded side, where they could overlook the entire modern imperial city.
Feng Qi gently placed his hand on Chu Ruochun’s shoulder. “Do you like it here?”
Chu Ruochun turned to look at him and smiled. “I like it.”
He had stood on the tallest tower in the palace before, and he knew it was the place where Feng Qi had been. Feng Qi might have studied astrology there, and he might have looked in the direction of his sect, but he also missed his master and everything on the mountain.
However, he had never stood on the tallest tower, gazing up at the starry sky together, appreciating the night view of an ordinary evening with his senior.
“Can you stay then?” Feng Qi asked cautiously. “Preserve your own life.”
“Senior, everyone has their own fate. You have yours, and I have mine,” Chu Ruochun replied without directly addressing Feng Qi’s plea.
“Do you not listen to your senior?” Feng Qi let out a soft sigh. “If you leave, how can I continue to live?” Just as he had left, Chu Ruochun also didn’t want to continue living.
Chu Ruochun remained silent, just staring into the distance, lost in thought.
Feng Qi continued, “I went back to the Feng family.”
“Okay, and then?” Chu Ruochun, hearing the pause in Feng Qi’s words, couldn’t help but ask.
“The handwriting on the letter was you imitating the handwriting of the Feng family members.”
“Yes, I told you that,” Chu Ruochun admitted.
“I know why you don’t want to live anymore. I communicated with Director Jiang yesterday, and he painted a picture completely different from what I heard. Can you tell me if I’m right?” Feng Qi gently squeezed Chu Ruochun’s shoulder.
Chu Ruochun finally reacted. “Senior, can we not talk about this?”
He didn’t want his senior to know about the things he had done. He didn’t think they were wrong, but he didn’t want to burden Feng Qi with their weight.
“My master is gone, and you’re the closest person to me now. If you leave, what am I supposed to do? I don’t want to be the last one to know about what you’ve done. I’ll stand by your side no matter what happens. Tomorrow, I’ll go to the Ghost Abyss with you. Whether we live or die, we’ll face it together. As for me, I’ve achieved enough in this life. My parents are well, and when we’re gone, let them become Ruolin’s guardians. Treat that child as their grandchild.”
Chu Ruochun chuckled. “Then Ruolin will be younger than me.”
Feng Qi replied, “You have a special bond with him.”
Chu Ruochun nodded. “Rest assured, we’ll both be fine. A mere Ghost Abyss can’t harm us.” Chu Ruochun said confidently.
In the end, Feng Qi chose to keep all the things he knew to himself. Since Chu Ruochun didn’t bring them up, he didn’t mention them either.
Nothing else mattered now. All he wanted was for Chu Ruochun to live.
The two of them stood at the Star Tower for an hour, the wind still howling around them. Feng Qi shielded Chu Ruochun from the wind to ensure he didn’t get too cold.
Before the staff came to usher them away, Chu Ruochun held Feng Qi’s hand. “Senior, let’s go back.”
“Alright, let’s go back.” Feng Qi held his slightly cold hand.
Chu Ruochun smiled. Being able to enjoy the beautiful night scenery of the city with his senior was a long-held wish of his, and now that wish had been fulfilled.
It was truly wonderful, with no regrets.
—
The next morning, Chu Ruochun and Feng Qi had not yet departed.
Bai Yichen also packed a backpack and followed them with a cheerful smile.
Yang Ran didn’t know what they were going to do, but he assured Chu Ruochun that he would take good care of Chu Ruolin while he was away.
At this moment, Director Jiang was already waiting for them downstairs, and in the car were Feng Jiu and Yang Wenxin.
Chu Ruochun looked at them and then at Feng Qi.
He asked Feng Jiu and the others, “Why are you coming with us?”
Yang Wenxin patted the seat next to her. “You’re all so young, why act so mature? We old folks will share the responsibility with you. Don’t worry.”
Chu Ruochun was lightly pushed by Feng Qi. “Let’s get in the car. I’ve grown up, but I’ve never been able to influence their decisions.”
“But it’s very dangerous,” Chu Ruochun said helplessly.
“More people, more strength. Don’t you trust me?” Feng Qi asked.
Chu Ruochun, unusually hesitant, said, “But it’s me…”
“Reasons don’t matter. We can make it happen,” Feng Qi interrupted him. “Let’s go!”
In the end, Chu Ruochun was convinced by their determination. After all, there was no rush, and they could discuss the situation when they reached the village near the Ghost Abyss.
It took the group a day to reach Huaihua Village near the Ghost Abyss. This was still a model village, with beautiful courtyards in every household. The six members of the special department had arrived two days earlier and rented a house, enjoying their stay.
When Chu Ruochun and his group entered the house, several people were playing chess and mahjong, creating a lively atmosphere.
When the six practitioners saw the newcomers, all of whom had formidable cultivation levels, they immediately stopped their activities.
Liu Zhaodi, with two long braids, walked up to Feng Qi excitedly and exclaimed, “You’re Feng Qi, right, from the movie!”
Feng Qi nodded. “Yes, that’s me. Hello.”
Liu Zhaodi was thrilled. “Wow, I’m really seeing a real celebrity! Hurry, take a picture with me and give me an autograph!”
