Chapter 937: The Ones Who Retreated

Chapter 937: The Ones Who Retreated

A girl with long silvery-white hair walked out of the ancestral home, her fluffy ears adorably poking out from either side of her head.

However, she didn’t exude any immortal aura; she was just an ordinary girl.

Skillfully, she spread out the comforter, gently patting it down as the weather cleared up, making it the perfect time for sun-drying bedding.

But she shouldn’t be here at this moment, for she was a captive; ever since she had let Lin Nuo go in the valley, her freedom had been stripped away.

Yet now, here she was, which left him somewhat bewildered.

Yes, this girl was none other than Ruo’er.

She was no longer that enchanting fairy surrounded by an immortal glow, nor was she clad in a magnificent celestial dress; all that remained was a simple outfit, appearing as a very down-to-earth village girl.

Lin Nuo felt confused, and only Su Kexin knew the full story behind this.

“Why is she here? Wasn’t she imprisoned?”

Lin Nuo pointed at Ruo’er, asking Su Kexin.

Da Su stopped in her tracks, her gaze shifting to Ruo’er as she replied lightly:

“Indeed, she was supposed to be imprisoned after releasing you. But she was later set free. She chose to give up the path of immortality, severed her ties to the celestial realm, and returned to the mortal world; now she lives with your mother. It’s peaceful here, and no one disturbs their life, so you needn’t worry.”

“That’s hard to believe. What was the reason for her release? Those immortals imprisoned her, yet they would let her go? That doesn’t make sense.”

Lin Nuo clearly didn’t buy it. Ruo’er letting him go was a grave sin; a normal immortal wouldn’t do something like that unless they had lost their mind.

“Logically, they wouldn’t have released her. I had discussions with them in the past.”

“Alright, that makes sense then.”

“How can you believe it so easily now?”

“It’s normal for you to intervene. They must show you some respect. Honestly, I was going to charge in myself. But when I ran into you, I didn’t go.”

Lin Nuo said casually; directly storming the Immortal Mountain to rescue Ruo’er would have been simple, right?

But before that, he had encountered Su Kexin, then a fight broke out, and he ended up kneeling—he never had the chance to head over to Zifeng Valley.

But Ruo’er had come out of Zifeng Valley, which brought him some comfort.

At least she wouldn’t be tormented there any longer; being under house arrest was worse than death.

Su Kexin must have negotiated with those immortals; they had to agree to her terms.

They couldn’t refuse—she could take him out, who in this world could match her?

“Didn’t expect you to do this.”

“Though she committed a grave sin by releasing you. Since she’s already been punished, there’s no need to keep her imprisoned; she should regain her life. But when she learned of your situation, she had the immortals abandon her spiritual roots, left the immortal valley, and returned to being an ordinary person; now she lives with your mother. Although she has left the Immortal Mountain, I can tell she still yearns for a mortal life.”

“From what you said, you seem a bit sensible.”

In this matter, Lin Nuo found his animosity towards Da Su lessened somewhat; indeed, Ruo’er escaping from that immortal valley was for the best.

Being around those immortals would surely lead to depression.

While Lin Nuo and Da Su talked, Xiao Su listened with complete confusion, having no clue about what was going on.

Was that really Ruo’er? But in her memory, Ruo’er was supposed to be this petite girl; now she had grown taller and more mature, looking even older than her.

“Senior Martial Brother, who is that? She looks a lot like Ruo’er,” Xiao Su asked Lin Nuo.

“That’s her.”

“Ah? That’s her? How…”

“You don’t need to worry about this. It’s an illusion; anything’s possible.”

Lin Nuo decided not to explain the situation to Xiao Su; it was better she didn’t know the whole story.

He stepped closer to Ruo’er, who seemed to be humming a song, but Lin Nuo could hear no noise. She cheerfully beat the comforter, managing the housework with joy.

A smile adorned her face, but it clearly lacked the brightness it once had; something weighed on her mind.

What could it be? Lin Nuo had a guess.

It was him.

Ruo’er had pursued immortality because he left; she could have stayed in Xuanyun Sect, where the cultivators treated her well. She could have left the sect, saved some money over the years, and lived a simple life farming and running a small business.

But in the end, she chose the path of immortality.

Not because of a great sense of justice, but because she knew that only by entering the path of immortality could she have the chance to meet Lin Nuo again.

And indeed, she had—she even let him go, repaying his kindness.

But that was the last time she saw him; she lost all chances after that.

That was her heartache.

Xia Hanmo considered her like a daughter; she loved this family, but it was imperfect without Lin Nuo.

She was pure-hearted; anyone who had been kind to her, she would remember.

The gentle breeze lifted her silvery hair, as if she sensed something and glanced toward Lin Nuo’s direction.

They locked eyes, but he knew she couldn’t see him; perhaps she merely happened to look that way.

To be honest, after Lin Nuo fell from grace, he believed he had no feelings, yet there was a time when he had feelings for Ruo’er.

All along, she had supported him.

“Master?”

Her lips parted; although Lin Nuo couldn’t hear her words, he recognized the two words she mouthed.

“Hmm?”

Lin Nuo was taken aback for a moment, then asked:

“Can you see me?”

But Ruo’er didn’t respond; she still couldn’t see him.

Maybe she recalled something, which was why she said that.

Whatever.

Lin Nuo raised his hand, reaching out toward Ruo’er; reality prevented him from physically touching her, but perhaps he could reach her spiritually.

Miraculously, Ruo’er seemed to sense him too, raising her hand to reach in Lin Nuo’s direction.

Their hands met.

Of course, Lin Nuo’s hand passed through, but it could still be seen as them touching hands.

“Master…”

She murmured again, as if recalling something about Lin Nuo.

But then, she seemed to hear Xia Hanmo calling her from inside, turning around to go back into the house.

Lin Nuo retracted his hand, expressionless, yet his heart was a swirl of emotions.

“The songs she hums are all the ones you taught her; I can attest to that. And she even compiles your words into a collection of sayings to frequently look over,” Da Su said.

“What a silly girl.”

“Silly? I don’t think so. Sometimes I look at the sayings she’s written down; they’re quite interesting. It’s just that no one appreciates them.”

“Thank heavens you gave her such a compliment.”

Lin Nuo chuckled, genuinely surprised—those were words he never expected to hear from her.

Is Ruo’er silly?

Maybe, but that’s what made him care for this silly girl.

“Are you living with them now?” Lin Nuo asked.

“No, Ruo’er won’t forgive me. But I’ve been at Ru Yu Village, no longer waging wars against demons. Whatever happens in the world, I’m not concerned anymore.”

“So you’ve retreated that far.”

Lin Nuo teased, taking steps toward the ancestral home, where the ladies planned to have their meal.