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Within Gu Huaixin’s grand hall, the Heavenly Gate divine ability, which belonged to Ji Shaoqing, reappeared!

If the observers of the battle at the Edge of the Sky Platform had witnessed this scene, it would undoubtedly have caused great shock.

But Gu Huaixin was, after all, Gu Huaixin.

He sat there, not even lifting an eyelid.

“This is not the true Heavenly Gate,” he said calmly.

Zhu Biqiong looked at him: “If we treat it as real, then it can be real. You can tell me more details about the Heavenly Gate divine ability. Then it can be more real.”

“Even if it’s incredibly lifelike, it’s not real. What’s the point?” Gu Huaixin asked.

He certainly knew how powerful this display was, and he certainly knew what the point was.

So this question was still a test.

Zhu Biqiong only asked: “To be your disciple, do I need to face opponents like you?”

Gu Huaixin smiled.

This was his second smile of the day. Unlike the restrained coldness of the first, this time, it was a genuine smile.

He couldn’t help but think, no matter what, this Zhu Biqiong was indeed once a part of his lineage.

But…

He looked at the faint portal in the void, raised a finger, pointed it down, and said: “Below the Heavenly Gate, flight is forbidden.”

He raised his finger again: “Above the Heavenly Gate, I am holding it up.”

Before Zhu Biqiong could breathe a sigh of relief, he added: “These were the words I once said to Shaoqing.”

His voice was very gentle, and therefore, very sad.

At this moment, he was no longer the Elder of Calming Seas, no longer a True Immortal of this generation, but merely an old man lost in memories, grieving the loss of his beloved disciple.

The atmosphere froze for a moment.

“As a faction leader, countless people rely on me for their sustenance. I need to consider benefits, and every choice, every decision I make, requires weighing the pros and cons. But because of this, must all my emotions be erased? I am a True Immortal of this generation, I can see the truth of the world, but I cannot hold onto the truth in my heart.”

“The people behind me, wanting to feast, push me to erase my sorrow. The people in front of me, with the bigger picture in mind, pressure me not to grieve.”

Gu Huaixin gently frowned, looking at Zhu Biqiong with a confused and angry gaze: “How dare you, such a tiny ant, completely unrelated to me, ignore my emotions?”

That terrifying pressure, those who had not personally faced it could not possibly imagine.

Avalanches and tsunamis were insufficient to describe the pressure brought by a True Immortal.

But Zhu Biqiong, instead, stood up.

The ancient portal, flickering between reality and illusion on the dome of the grand hall, had dissipated.

She stood there, and for the first time, she stood like a sword.

She had seen that straight back many times.

Now she stood like that as well.

This gave her endless strength.

“True Immortal Gu, it is precisely because I respect your emotions, I respect your emotions more than anyone else. That is why I have come to show you my worth.”

“I dare not conceal anything. For a True Immortal of your caliber, I couldn’t possibly hide anything.”

“There is no need to shy away from it. Jiang Wang has risked his life for me, and I am eternally grateful to him. But at the same time, you utterly detest him. It is true that some people do not respect your emotions and suppress you with rules and the bigger picture. But I know that hatred cannot be suppressed; emotions will eventually erupt. No matter how many shackles there are, they can only shackle you for a while, no one can bind you for a lifetime.”

“I want to live well, and I want Jiang Wang to live well too. That is why I have come to you.”

“I show you my worth not because I believe you will only value worth. Rather, I want you to know that I am more outstanding than Senior Brother Ji, and more worthy of cultivation. Everything Senior Brother Ji could do, I can, and I can do it better. In terms of value, I can replace Senior Brother Ji.”

“Senior Brother Ji’s life was short, only a few decades. In the life you have experienced, it is but a fleeting moment. I can spend more time accompanying you, and I will give my sincere heart and cultivate the bond of master and disciple between us. On an emotional level, I can also replace Senior Brother Ji.”

“Senior Brother Ji would do foolish things; I will not. Senior Brother Ji would do wicked things; I will not. I have experienced the bitterness of the world, and I understand how to cherish things more.”

“I dare not hope that I can influence your decision. I only hope that one day, when you also regard me as a beloved disciple, you can consider my feelings and not do anything that would sadden me. I hope to use all my efforts to compensate for your material losses and emotional hurt.”

Zhu Biqiong slowly concluded: “This is my insignificant wish.”

After listening to this long and honest confession, the anger in Gu Huaixin’s eyes dissipated.

As Zhu Biqiong said, it is almost impossible to deceive a True Immortal who can perceive the essence of things.

Just like the almost real Heavenly Gate, he could tell it was fake with a single glance.

Just like Zhu Biqiong’s slightest emotion at this moment, it was all displayed in his eyes.

Perceiving Truth, Perceiving Truth.

For a True Immortal, outer appearance, bone structure, and divine form are all unimportant. With a single glance, one sees the essence.

So he could see. Zhu Biqiong was speaking the truth.

“You have made me interested,” Gu Huaixin said slowly: “But how can I believe that you will not resent me because of what Ji Shaoqing and Bizhu did? You are so grateful to Jiang Wang, how can I believe that one day, you will not betray me because of him? The bond between master and disciple, hehe… Can human emotions be obtained through utilitarian purposes?”

Zhu Biqiong looked at him: “Everything about me in the Sea Fishing Tower, you must know very clearly. You know how simple a person I am, always content with what I have, and never harmed anyone.”

Gu Huaixin did not deny it, but said: “But now, you have changed.”

“A gentleman judges by actions, not intentions; if he judged by intentions, there would be no perfect person in the world.” Zhu Biqiong bowed: “Master. You should not guess what I am thinking, you only need to see what I do.”

“Why didn’t I realize before that I had such an interesting child under my tutelage.” Gu Huaixin looked at her with interest: “Can the brink of life and death bring about such a huge change in a person? You are as if… a different person.”

“What kind of demons or monsters can hide from a True Immortal’s eyes? Master, you already stand above thousands. What we need to show people now is the future.” Zhu Biqiong said in a calm and resolute voice: “I can be that future.”

Whether she was right or not, Gu Huaixin knew best himself.

A faction needs both a leader and successors. If there is a gap between the generations, it will inevitably be looked down upon and lose out in the long run. Why did he try so hard to protect Ji Shaoqing? It was not only because of the bond between master and disciple; beyond emotion, among all his disciples, only Ji Shaoqing could make people see the future.

But…

Gu Huaixin asked: “Do you really still have a future?”

“I believe so,” Zhu Biqiong said calmly: “If you believe, there is.”

“I am very curious about one thing,” Gu Huaixin’s voice became gentle: “If this one still refuses you, what will you do?”

Zhu Biqiong said without hesitation: “True Immortal Qin used to be very fond of my sister.”

Gu Huaixin was noncommittal: “True Immortal Qin has a heavy killing nature himself. He liked her former gentleness and tranquility, but he may not like her later extremism and narrow-mindedness.”

“But I believe,” Zhu Biqiong said confidently: “Even if True Immortal Qin doesn’t like it, he will not refuse a prodigious talent.”

Who could have imagined that the once pure and timid little girl could now… consider herself a prodigious talent!

“Hahahahahahaha…”

Within the grand hall, Gu Huaixin’s laughter echoed.

A small white flower, blooming among the ruins.

The flower blooms and no one knows; the flower withers and no one pities.

——Ah Zhen

It’s almost twelve o’clock, which is my birthday. Last year, I was also writing Red Heart Patrol Sky for my birthday.

This year, I am still in this world for my birthday.

I won’t write a separate birthday message, I’ll save the time for writing updates.

In short, thank you very, very much, thank you to all the readers who support me.

I am writing on my birthday, and I am very satisfied with my writing. I can see that in the vast and boundless darkness, there is already a faint dawn.

That is not dawn.

That is the candlelight that you have lit for me.

Thousands of households’ lights illuminate the long night.

Just like on the Edge of the Sky Platform, the moon in the sky, the moon in the sea, and the moon in the human world.

In the book, when the former Misty Realm was broken, human cultivators went out to sea two thousand three hundred in a single day.

Outside the book, when my fighting spirit dwindled, you responded in unison and helped me reach fourteenth place on the overall list.

The human race illuminates the present world, and you illuminate the Red Heart world.

The sky is about to light up.

Not because of the sunlight.

It is because every one of you is accompanying me with your strength.

Thank you.

Thank you again.

My birthday wish—

May all readers of Red Heart be well-fed and warm, live a life with a clear conscience, and have no regrets in everything they do.