“`
Li Yuan couldn’t help but turn his head to look over; the youth who bore a striking resemblance to Xu Bo also knelt down.
His eyes were slightly red as he looked at his own father, then turned to Li Yuan, preparing to bow: “Senior Brother.”
He often heard his father mention this ‘Senior Brother Li Yuan’, the most outstanding disciple his father had taught over the years.
“Hmm, get up,” Li Yuan said softly, helping the youth to his feet.
“Teacher, whatever you wish to say, just speak,” Li Yuan said, holding back his tears as he looked at Xu Bo.
“Good.”
“I’m going to die, and there’s no need for secrecy anymore. I hope you won’t hold this against me,” Xu Bo said, squeezing out a slight smile: “Xu Ling is my son; his mother died at the hands of an alien race, and I’ve always felt I owed it to him.”
“In the future, if he encounters any trouble, if there’s any way you can help him, please help him out,” Xu Bo pleaded with a glint of hope in his eyes.
Perhaps, he had once been a man of unyielding integrity.
He had been the mighty ‘Tie Ta’, renowned across the Star Realm.
But at this moment, he was just a ‘father’ who hoped to pave a smoother path for his child and leave behind some goodwill in the final chapter of his own life.
“Teacher, you have so many friends and relatives; they will all help Xu Ling,” Li Yuan said, his heart aching as he spoke: “But rest assured, from now on, I’ll treat Xu Ling like a younger brother and will definitely help him whenever I can.”
“Good,” Xu Bo relaxed with this assurance.
He had asked many people, but in his heart, Li Yuan was the most significant one, the one with the most promise of becoming a Flying Heaven Warrior in the future.
“Li Yuan.”
“In the past, I too aspired to become a Flying Heaven Warrior, to wield my spear to fame in the Xia Country and even exterminate the alien races of the Star Realm,” Xu Bo said softly to Li Yuan: “Regrettably, I can no longer achieve that.”
“So, after my injury, in the last years of my life, I returned to Jiang City to teach, to exert the last of my strength.”
“You are the finest student I’ve ever had,” Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan, with a trace of expectation in his eyes: “I hope you can carry on with my blessing.”
“Become a Flying Heaven Warrior.”
“And even surpass the Flying Heaven level, to truly become the pinnacle existence of our human civilization,” Xu Bo said with a smile.
“Teacher, I will try my best,” Li Yuan nodded, still trying his hardest to keep the tears from falling.
Xu Bo became Li Yuan’s Martial Arts Teacher when he was in the eleventh grade.
In terms of time spent together, it wasn’t long.
But Xu Bo was the first person who genuinely sought nothing in return while wholeheartedly helping Li Yuan, whether it was guidance in cultivation or in life, or when he joined the Starfire Martial Hall… Xu Bo always supported Li Yuan with all his might.
Today would be the last time they would see each other.
…
Li Yuan didn’t stay in the hospital room too long.
He was, after all, just Xu Bo’s ‘student’, barely considered a direct disciple.
In these final moments of life, Xu Bo surely wished for his relatives to be by his side.
“Uncle Wan,” Li Yuan walked out of the hospital room.
The woman in black had already left.
“I’d been meaning to tell you about Xu Bo’s situation, but your teacher didn’t want to,” Wan Qinghe said: “You’re young and haven’t seen much of this.”
“I don’t want to comfort you with platitudes because anyone would find this difficult,” Wan Qinghe looked at Li Yuan and sighed: “Your teacher is a good man, and it pains me to see him like this.”
“I just want to let you know.”
“This is the path of a martial artist. From university onward, there will be many classmates who die; more friends, acquaintances, and elders will perish in the Star Realm, and many won’t even leave behind a body or place of death to be found… We can only face it; we must face it,” Wan Qinghe told Li Yuan.
“What we can do is make ourselves stronger and more powerful,” Wan Qinghe looked at Li Yuan.
Today, his words were particularly direct, without much concealment.
“I understand,” Li Yuan nodded softly.
Before long.
Wan Qinghe left as well; as Hall Master of the Starfire Guan Mountain District, he had many duties at such a time.
It was rare for him to find the time to visit Xu Bo.
But Li Yuan didn’t leave; he waited silently outside the hospital room.
Time passed, and more people came to visit.
By eight in the evening, a figure Li Yuan didn’t expect to see appeared in the hallway.
“Lanyue?” Li Yuan was surprised to see the arrival.
“Are you that surprised to see me?” Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan; it had been a long time since they last saw each other in real life.
“Didn’t you say you weren’t coming back to Jiang City for the holidays?” Li Yuan asked, as he and Lin Lanyue often communicated online.
Until now, Lin Lanyue had been in the Lantis Continent and hadn’t returned from Starry Sky University.
“You told me about Teacher Xu’s situation; he is also my Martial Arts Teacher. Shouldn’t I come back to see him?” Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan.
In high school, Xu Bo was also the Martial Arts Teacher for three different classes.
“Do you have…?” Li Yuan’s heart flickered with a glimmer of hope.
Last night, while on a mission, Li Yuan had asked Lin Lanyue, hoping to find a solution.
“No,” Lin Lanyue shook her head.
The last glimmer of hope in Li Yuan’s heart extinguished.
“To save Teacher Xu, the poison must be eliminated, but the engulfing Star Meridian poison has penetrated deep into his star meridians, making it very difficult,” Lin Lanyue sighed softly: “I asked my father, and perhaps a being beyond the Flying Heaven level could do it.”
“`
“But at least, my father couldn’t do it.”
Li Yuan’s gaze darkened, this was within his expectations.
Just like Xu Bo himself said, he had a wide network and even several Flying Heaven Warriors had tried to help.
If it was possible to save him, it would have been done by now.
“Alright, I’ll go see Teacher.” Lin Lanyue said, and entered the ward.
She soon came out of the ward.
The two sat quietly on the chairs outside the ward, silently waiting.
“I heard from my second brother that you performed very well during the Fish Spirit Tide in Jiang City,” Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan. “You’ll probably be acknowledged as a key figure.”
“Key acknowledgement?” Li Yuan nodded slightly.
With Lin Lanyue’s significant family background, it wasn’t hard for her to know such news in advance.
However, Li Yuan didn’t feel much joy in his heart; he would rather not have this so-called recognition.
Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan and said no more.
Although she was also a student of Xu Bo, her emotions weren’t as deep, and she couldn’t feel the same as Li Yuan.
…
In the early hours of around four in the morning, Xu Bo passed away peacefully in the ward, surrounded by numerous family members, friends, and students.
He was only 48 years old.
…
Two days later, Xu Bo’s memorial service was held in the auditorium of Guan Mountain District.
As one of only two Prime Warriors who fell in the battle of the ‘Fish Spirit Tide’ in Jiang City.
Indeed, both Starfire Martial Hall and the nation officially recognized Xu Bo as ‘fallen in battle’ and, in light of his significant contributions to humanity and Xia Country throughout his life, posthumously awarded him a First Rank Metal Quality Medal.
His memorial service was undoubtedly grand.
Lin Lanyue stayed in Jiang City for several days, accompanying Li Yuan to Xu Bo’s memorial service.
Then she quickly left and returned to the Lantis Continent.
…
After attending Teacher Xu’s memorial service and having a private conversation with Xu Ling,
Li Yuan returned home.
The various buildings and streets in Jiang City damaged by the Fish Spirit Tide were being rapidly repaired.
However, the immense casualties, and the pain in the hearts of the tens of millions of people in Jiang City, couldn’t be erased in a moment’s time.
It would take a very long time.
As time passed, during the remaining days of his holiday, besides his daily routine of intense training, Li Yuan spent time accompanying his uncle and aunt.
Following Teacher Xu’s incident, Li Yuan became even more aware that time often never returns once it has passed.
So many things.
If not done in the moment, it’s easy to be left with regret that can’t later be compensated for.
For Li Yuan, he no longer had the chance to repay Teacher Xu’s ‘teachings and kindness.’
The departed had moved on.
Therefore, for the days he could accompany his uncle and aunt, Li Yuan treasured them all the more.
…On December 25th, Jiangbei Province announced that the ‘Jiang City Fish Spirit Attack’ was over, but the counterattacks and reprisals against the Fish Spirit Star Realm would continue.
…
On December 27th, a citywide commendation meeting was held in Jiang City, recognizing civilians and warriors who had made outstanding contributions during the Fish Spirit Tide.
Li Yuan was set up as a ‘role model for young warriors’, and at last, he was awarded the ‘First Rank Silver Quality Medal.’
Coupled with previous deeds, his fame within Jiangbei Province continued to rise.
But.
All of this Li Yuan never took to heart, even the ‘dinner banquet’ following the award ceremony. He did not attend.
Instead, he went straight back home.
On the villa’s rooftop, the stars filled the sky, and the entire neighborhood was exceptionally quiet.
“In two days, I will depart for the Mingxu Star Realm,” Li Yuan sat quietly thinking.
Downstairs.
Since the meeting was not broadcast live, his uncle, aunt, younger brother, and sister were watching the projected video, viewing the edited broadcast of the award ceremony.
Li Yuan just sat quietly on the rooftop, listening to his family’s discussion.
Looking at the calm lake in the distance.
Looking at the villas around him, Li Yuan felt an extraordinary peace in his heart; he found this moment particularly beautiful.
It was as if the recent warfare had all been a mere illusion.
“If every day for everyone in the country could be like this, how wonderful that would be,” Li Yuan silently wished.
He quietly observed everything.
Gradually, Li Yuan felt an increasing calmness in his heart, experiencing a subtle change.