Chen Chang’an continued his fish therapy. Only after the strange emotions in his heart had completely faded did he put on his shoes and walk back toward the house.
On the way, he once again took out the Sound-Transmission Stone. “My wife, come back…”
Over the past few days, he had sent one or two messages every day, hoping that his sincerity would persuade his angry wife to return.
[Remaining lifespan: 240 days.]
Seeing that the Sound-Transmission Stone still gave no response, Chen Chang’an let out a sigh. “The time is getting shorter.”
When he returned to the house, he noticed something on the chair.
A simple, ancient wooden box.
It was not his.
Chen Chang’an seemed to guess what it was. He walked over, frowned, and picked up the piece of paper placed on top of the wooden box.
“Do you know how much my heart aches? I hesitated for seven days and in the end still made the painful decision! This thing is yours now!”
“In the future, don’t give me anything anymore. Just thinking about it makes my heart ache!”
After reading the two lines, Chen Chang’an smiled. “At your age, you’re still this simple. I treated you like a brother, that’s why I gave you things. Yet you’re drawing such a clear line between us. After I die, sooner or later someone will trick you into poverty.”
He snorted softly, picked up the wooden box, and opened it.
Inside lay a golden compass.
A powerful aura surrounded it.
The Heaven-Slaying Array.
Jia Jiyou’s most treasured possession.
One formation could withstand countless techniques. Even the top experts of the Azure Cloud Continent would need time to break through it.
When Jia Jiyou first obtained this formation, Chen Chang’an had tried many times to trick it out of his hands.
Their sect’s other configurations were already at Saint Sect level, but the sect-protecting grand formation had always been lacking.
With this formation, the Eternal Peace Sect would finally be perfect, becoming an unshakable powerhouse.
Chen Chang’an put the formation away.
If he were still alive and Jia Jiyou had suddenly given him this formation, he would not have accepted it.
Unless he had tricked it away himself.
But now, he was going to die.
The sect would lose his protection.
Perhaps some powerful sects would come to invade.
Maybe not in the short term, but what about 100 years later? 1,000 years? Even 10,000 years?
Chen Chang’an looked into the distance, the corner of his mouth lifting.
Having such a good brother in this lifetime was worth it.
During the next half day, Chen Chang’an went to the sect and successfully set up the formation.
The moment the formation rose, his sect became flawless and impregnable.
After returning to the courtyard, Chen Chang’an resumed his peaceful life.
Every day he ate, slept, and coaxed his wife.
[Remaining lifespan: 235 days.]
Just as the system’s voice faded, Chen Chang’an suddenly felt the Sound-Transmission Stone vibrate.
He jolted and quickly infused spiritual Qi into it.
His wife’s voice rang out.
“It’s one thing that you keep sending messages, but can you make your pig-headed friend quiet down! He sends me dozens of messages a day. If this continues, I won’t be able to stop myself from chopping him!”
Chen Chang’an’s expression turned strange.
Damn, what a good brother!
Taking stabs for his brother, truly going all out!
“My wife, that guy deserves to be chopped. Go ahead!”
As long as she really went to chop Jia Jiyou, the moment Jia Jiyou sent him a message, he would rush over immediately.
The Sound-Transmission Stone vibrated again.
But no sound followed.
It was as if the person on the other side had been left speechless by Chen Chang’an.
Another day passed.
As soon as Chen Chang’an woke up, he felt the Sound-Transmission Stone vibrate. After infusing spiritual Qi, he realized it was Jia Jiyou.
“I really can’t help you anymore. I’ve already angered Sister-in-law. She said if I dare send even one more message, she’ll chop me every time she sees me in the future…”
If she had gone directly to his sect to chop him once, Chen Chang’an would have been satisfied and Jia Jiyou would not have minded.
But being chopped every day in the future? He truly could not endure that.
Being chopped once and being chopped countless times were two completely different concepts.
“Brother, why don’t you stop being afraid of death and continue?”
“…”
Chen Chang’an got dressed, took the fish feed, and walked to the pond.
When the Longevity Fish saw him, they began to churn excitedly again.
He scattered the feed into the pond.
Strangely, the Longevity Fish did not eat.
All the feed sank to the bottom.
Yet the Longevity Fish continued flipping about.
They seemed extremely excited, as if waiting for something more delicious.
Chen Chang’an’s expression grew odd.
Did you idiots fall in love with my feet?
Just as the thought crossed his mind, a powerful aura suddenly surged from the horizon.
He looked up.
A person was flying over at extreme speed on a sword.
Yes, riding a sword. A flying technique typically used by those of relatively lower cultivation.
Chen Chang’an instantly knew who it was.
The second strongest on the Azure Cloud Continent, the famously battle-obsessed Wu Jianchi.
Chen Chang’an scattered the rest of the fish feed into the pond without caring whether the foolish fish ate it or not. He flew into the air and waited for Wu Jianchi’s arrival.
He did not expect that the second person he would bid farewell to would be Wu Jianchi.
The streak of light arrived quickly, stopping above the courtyard.
A white-haired, expressionless, handsome middle-aged man stood on a black sword, looking at Chen Chang’an from afar.
“Chen Chang’an, I’ve come again.”
Wu Jianchi wore a white robe, his face completely rigid, his tone flat.
He was undeniably handsome, yet his entire face was stiff as if paralyzed, giving the impression that he was a machine.
Chen Chang’an said, “Let’s not fight first. Come down, have some tea, and let’s talk.”
They had agreed to fight once every year on this very day.
200 years had passed. Wu Jianchi had never once broken the appointment, arriving on time every single year.
Wu Jianchi replied, “There’s no need. This time, I will defeat you.”
Looking at this blockhead, Chen Chang’an shook his head. “Then I won’t fight you.”
With that, he turned and flew down into the courtyard.
Wu Jianchi frowned and followed quickly. “Why won’t you fight?”
“Because I don’t want to.”
“Why don’t you want to?”
“Because I’m lazy.”
“Why are you lazy?”
Chen Chang’an fell silent.
Unbelievable.
Are you one of those endless ‘why’ children?
Ignoring him, Chen Chang’an entered the house and brewed another type of tea. “Sit.”
He glanced at Wu Jianchi, who sat down with tightly furrowed brows, clearly unable to understand what was happening.
“Oh, I just lack martial virtue. What can you do about it?” Chen Chang’an chuckled.
“Nothing,” Wu Jianchi answered earnestly.
“Then drink tea.”
Wu Jianchi drank in silence, looking displeased.
Chen Chang’an stared at this wooden-headed man. “How long have we known each other?”
He had forgotten the exact year and month they met.
“Exactly 200 years,” Wu Jianchi replied without hesitation.
Chen Chang’an was surprised. “You remember that clearly?”
“I’ve lost to you 200 times,” Wu Jianchi said solemnly.
Chen Chang’an nodded. “That makes sense. In that case, it’s normal to remember clearly.”
“This time I will defeat you,” Wu Jianchi said seriously, just as always.
“Yes, you will,” Chen Chang’an replied with a smile.
Wu Jianchi froze, thinking he had misheard.
“So this time I won’t fight you. Then you can’t win,” Chen Chang’an said proudly.
Wu Jianchi remained silent.
After a long pause, he finally forced out two words. “Shameless.”
“You only just realized?” Chen Chang’an asked lightly.
Wu Jianchi was speechless.
“We can fight, but stay here for a few days. Whatever I ask you to do, you do it. If you manage that, I’ll fight you. How about it?”
He did not know why, but after learning he was about to die, he no longer wanted to live alone.
Endless loneliness surged over him like the sea whenever things were quiet.
It suffocated him.
That saying was true.
The most terrifying thing was not death itself, but knowing exactly when one would die.
Every second afterward became torment.
Right now, he desperately wanted his wife by his side, because he knew that if she were there, this torment would lessen, perhaps even disappear.
At that time, he would cherish every single moment.
Wu Jianchi stared at Chen Chang’an for a long while before speaking. “We are not close. This is even my first time entering your residence.”
Hearing this, Chen Chang’an was stunned, then burst into laughter. “Not close, huh?”
“Is that not so? Aside from fighting me, do you know my temperament or my habits?” Wu Jianchi asked.
Chen Chang’an shook his head. “Only superficially.”
“Then we are not close,” Wu Jianchi said seriously.
Chen Chang’an nodded. “I have a question. If I die, how would you feel? Happy? After all, you would become the number one on the Azure Cloud Continent. With your effort and strength, until the day you die, I’m afraid no one would be able to defeat you.”
That was the truth.
The gap between the top three on the continent was like a chasm.
The first crushed the second.
The second crushed the third.
Wu Jianchi pondered carefully before replying, “I would travel everywhere seeking opponents. If I find none, I will follow you in death.”
Chen Chang’an looked at his serious expression and fell silent.
“Why?”
“I have no family, no relatives, no friends, and no descendants. My entire life has been devoted to cultivation and improvement. After you die, everything I have learned and all my effort will become meaningless. In this world, I will also lose my purpose.”
Wu Jianchi stared intently at Chen Chang’an and said in a low voice, “So compared to cherishing my own life, I would cherish yours more. I will do everything in my power to prevent you from dying.”
Chen Chang’an opened his mouth but could not speak.
He understood some of it, but not entirely.
And why did it feel like this guy was confessing to him?