410 Blank (2/2)

”Son, you… must continue living.” Old Dugu’s body was slowly dissipating. ”Don’t be impulsive in whatever you do, don’t act tough… I have no regrets dying this time. If you must leave with my corpse, I won’t be able to rest in peace if anything were to happen to you… There is no shame or loss if you were to just leave me here.”

Yun Yang was stunned, finally stopping his efforts because he knew that nothing more could be done.

”Son… the Chinese cabbage tofu… that was your favorite, was it not? Remember to use Chinese cabbage that’s half circular and tightly packed. Peel the outer layer away and leave the center. For tofu, you have to use aged tofu made from soya bean. The best is if it's hard when you press it. Stir-fry the vegetables with lard and when the lard dries, put in the spices. Once the spices are fragrant in the wok, add pork belly. With a flip and the meat is about done, toss the Chinese cabbage in… Before the Chinese cabbage curls, don’t add any water. After the water boils, add the tofu…”

He recited the recipe sonorously.

”… it’s your favorite and I really want to make it again for you and watch you eat… It’s a pity… you'll have to make it for yourself in the future…”

Old Dugu’s gaze towards Yun Yang was loving and indulgent like he could never get enough of watching Yun Yang. ”My child… live well… you must live happily…”

The kind gaze stayed on Yun Yang’s face but Old Dugu’s own visage was already turning into wisps of smoke. ”Leave me… here…”

”I… can’t protect you anymore…”

He stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to stroke Yun Yang’s face for one last time, but the moment his hand extended, it disappeared. Yun Yang closed his eyes, imagining the lingering touch of that old hand…

The dissipating silhouette wavered slightly before it vanished entirely.

At the same time, the faint warmth that was on Old Dugu’s chest was finally gone.

He had passed to the other side. He no longer existed in the human realm…

Emmie retracted its deific sense wearily.

Yun Yang stood there in a trance, feeling his mind and heart adrift in a featureless fog.

Yun Yang knew that Old Dugu could have held on a while longer, but to fulfill his longing, the latter had used the last of his spirit to dispel the last bit of life remaining in him, obliterating his presence in this world.

”Father…”

Both of Yun Yang’s hands stretched out, trembling as if he could make the vanished silhouette stay, but he could only grasp at empty air.

…

The door opened.

Jun Moyan stood at the door alone, his gaze even colder than before. ”Old Dugu has passed on?”

Yun Yang still felt rays of lightning bolts shuttle back and forth in his mind. He was in an utter state of confusion. He actually did not hear what Jun Moyan was saying. He only felt cold all over; his heart was sinking rapidly. He felt like the last man left in this vast world.

Glancing around, only loneliness surrounded him.

His brothers were gone.

Sister Yue was gone.

Now, Old Dugu was gone too. The only family he had in this world was gone.

They had left him behind, just like that.

He had already stood before his old sire, but he could not save him!

He had trekked tens of thousands of miles, coming from a faraway land and putting in so much effort. In the end, such was the ending that he received.

What was worse, he had to give up Old Dugu’s remains due to the circumstances. He was unable to bury him in his homeland!

Did he really want to give up the body?

Yun Yang felt his heart beat faster as a hysterical emotion rushed through him.

No, I’ll never give up!