Invincible Soul Emperor

The woman’s gaze stayed locked on that patch of shadow, and even the air around them seemed to grow heavier with her words.

The shadow the moon cast behind her also seemed, because of what she’d said, to grow deeper and more inscrutable.

In this empty place there was no movement at all, only the sound of a faint breeze brushing past, echoing by their ears.

From within the darkness came the vaguest hint of motion, all the more apparent against the pervasive stillness.

Her posture was straight and proud; though she sat beside the wine table, her bearing was like that of a deity high above, composed and unruffled.

Her eyes remained unwavering, as though she were waiting for something—or someone—to appear.

There was a trace of a smile on her face, and within it lay a quiet, profound wisdom and poise, as if she had already seen through all the secrets that had yet to surface.

The whole scene, under her steady gaze, grew more enigmatic, taut with tension.

Just then, a faint ripple disturbed the empty space, and a blurred figure slowly emerged.

It was an elderly man, hair gone to white, yet his frame still straight, clad in plain, simple robes.

Elder Yang walked toward the wine table beneath the ancient tree and slowly took a seat at the woman’s side, his movements light yet steady.

"Elder Li, long time no see." Elder Yang’s voice was low and gentle, carrying a touch of nostalgic feeling.

He looked at the woman, and a complex emotion flickered through his eyes.

Elder Li smiled faintly, her gaze soft as it rested on Elder Yang.

"Elder Yang, it has indeed been a long time."

Her voice, like her smile, was warm and tranquil, yet within that smile was a deep, hidden longing.

Elder Yang’s hand rested lightly on the table, fingertips tracing the grain of the wood as if stroking some memory long since sealed in dust.

"These years... have you been well?" he asked, his tone betraying a concern he could not quite conceal.

Elder Li lifted her cup, took a small sip, then set it down and turned her gaze toward the distant moonlight.

"Well enough. Time is merciless, but I’ve made it through." She sighed softly, a hint of melancholy flashing in her eyes.

Elder Yang nodded, and there was the same touch of sighing sentiment in his gaze.

"We’re both old now, but there are things one can never forget." He looked deep into Elder Li’s eyes, a note of helplessness in his voice.

Elder Li smiled, with a faint bitterness in that smile. "Yes... some things simply can’t be forgotten."

Her eyes returned to Elder Yang’s face, emotions rippling complexly in their depths.

"All these years, I’ve kept wondering whether the choice I made back then was right."

Elder Yang was silent for a moment, then said slowly, "The past can’t be changed. What matters is that we’re still here now, that we can still meet. That alone is a great blessing."

There was a hint of release in his words, as though he were trying to comfort Elder Li, and himself as well.

Elder Li nodded lightly, and a touch more tenderness entered her gaze.

"Yes... being able to see you again, I’m truly glad."

Her voice was soft, as if voicing the deepest secrets buried in her heart.

The two traded a smile, and for a moment it felt as though time had turned back, returning them to those young, carefree years.

Moonlight poured over them, illuminating the depth of their bond and the feelings that had never completely faded.

Elder Yang once more lifted his cup, raising it toward Elder Li. "To the years we shared, and to the fact that we can meet again now—cheers."

Elder Li smiled as she raised her cup, and lightly clinked it against Elder Yang’s.

The clear wine shimmered under the moonlight, as if reflecting the beautiful memories they once had.

They drank facing one another, while the moonlight fell in quiet silence, bearing witness to the love between them, carved into bone and heart.

They sat in silence for a long while, with only the wind whispering softly past their ears.

Elder Li set her cup back on the table and lowered her head slightly; her gaze, flowing under the wash of moonlight, looked all the more captivating.

She let out a soft sigh, then lifted her head again, a more complex emotion darkening her eyes.

"Elder Yang, you didn’t come tonight just to reminisce with me, did you?" Her voice was low, tinged with a faint, mingled expectation and disappointment.

Elder Yang nodded, his expression turning grave.

"Indeed not, Elder Li. I came to speak about your Jiang Ancient Clan’s Holy Son."

Elder Li gave a charming smile, blooming like spring flowers, but in her eyes surfaced a subtle, hard-to-notice disappointment.

"The Saint Heir, is it?" she echoed softly, a faint bitterness seeping into her tone.

Her eyes narrowed slightly, the fine lines at their corners standing out sharply in the moonlight. That hint of disappointment was like a thin veil, quietly dimming the light in her gaze.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the cup, as though weighing something.

"Elder Yang, do you know... sometimes I truly wonder why I ever took a liking to you, why I ever chose to be with you."

Her voice was low, as if she were speaking only to herself.

A trace of pain entered Elder Yang’s eyes as he looked at her; he spoke softly, "Haha, Elder Li, back then I was full of spirit—there were plenty lined up to chase after me."

Elder Li’s smile gradually faded. She turned to look at the distant moonlight, her gaze heavy with thought.

"But, Elder Yang... have you ever regretted it, all these years?"

Elder Yang fell silent for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh. "Elder Li, I understand how you feel. But I didn’t come today just to talk about this. I believe... there are matters more important than the grievances between you and me."

Elder Li’s eyes returned to his face, a glimmer of puzzlement flickering there.

"What do you mean?"

Elder Yang’s expression grew even more solemn. He said slowly, "Your Saint Heir and my disciple have a conflict. When the time comes, I hope you won’t interfere in what lies between the two of them."

On hearing this, Elder Li suddenly burst out laughing, her laughter edged with mockery and disdain.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Her eyes went cold, as if she were looking at someone spouting absurd nonsense.

"And why should I?" Her tone was steeped in anger.

Elder Yang seemed caught off guard by her reaction. He paused for an instant, then said quietly, "Could you do it for my sake?"

Elder Li’s expression froze over at once. She rose to her feet, her movements a touch agitated.

She fixed Elder Yang with a stare, fury and disappointment flashing in her eyes. "For your sake? Heh... Elder Yang, you’ve got some nerve, saying that."

Elder Li’s face grew ever colder as she slowly stepped up before Elder Yang.

Her voice was thick with scorn and anger: "Elder Yang, do you have any idea how ugly things were between us back then? And now you still have the gall to talk about ’for your sake’? Heh... truly laughable!"

A flicker of hurt crossed her eyes, and the memories of past days seemed to rise up before her once more.

She drew a deep breath and went on, "Back then, for the sake of your own interests, you didn’t hesitate to cast aside what we had between us. You made me how many promises? And what then? In the end you still chose to walk away, chosen by your ambition."