Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

Chen Xuan's figure disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Su Chang'an sat in the grand chair, feeling as if he had nails stuck to his bottom.

The old ancestor didn't look at her and walked to the tea table on his own.

Warm the cup, add tea leaves, and rinse with water.

His movements were slow and sluggish, unlike a powerful being at the quasi-emperor level; he looked more like a retired old man.

The aroma of tea wafts out, with a very faint bitterness.

"Have some tea."

A celadon teacup was pushed in front of Su Chang'an.

Su Chang'an did not move.

The old ancestor smiled, picked up a cup, blew away the foam, and took a sip.

"The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox clan has always only drunk dew; this coarse tea is probably not to your liking."

Su Chang'an's fingers tightened suddenly, his nails digging into the flesh of his palm.

She looked up and stared intently at the white-haired, youthful-looking old Taoist priest in front of her.

I can't keep up the act anymore.

Since she's been seen through, pretending to be a timid, submissive girl would only make her look ridiculous.

Su Chang'an leaned back, crossed his legs, and that lazy air instantly returned to him.

"Old man, when did you figure that out?"

The voice was no longer the timid, high-pitched one from before, but rather carried a touch of magnetic languor.

The old ancestor wasn't annoyed. He put down his teacup and pointed to his eyes.

"The heart may be blind, but the eyes are not."

"Your scent is impossible to hide."

Su Chang'an raised an eyebrow.

taste?

She soaked in the Dragon Transformation Pool until she shed a layer of skin and even her bone marrow was replaced; there was no longer any fox smell about her.

"Stop smelling it." The old ancestor seemed to see through her thoughts. "It's not the smell on your body, it's the smell in your soul."

"That indomitable spirit, that wild drive to tear a hole in the sky."

Su Chang'an chuckled, picked up his teacup, and downed it in one gulp.

"Good tea."

She slammed the cup on the table. "Since you've figured it out, give me a quick death, whether you want to kill me or torture me."

"My silly son is still upstairs, don't let him see me."

The old man shook his head, picked up the teapot, and poured her another cup.

"Why are you shouting for war and killing?"

"If I wanted to kill you, you would already be dead downstairs just now."

Looking at the steaming tea, Su Chang'an felt a slight relaxation in his tense state.

Also.

If that old monster really wanted to make a move, she could have been gone with a single breath. There was no need for her to go through all this trouble to send Chen Xuan away and even invite her for tea.

"Then what are you after?" Su Chang'an asked.

The old ancestor did not answer, but simply looked at her quietly.

His gaze was gentle, without any sense of oppression, and even carried a hint of kindness.

Su Chang'an felt extremely uncomfortable under their gaze.

"Don't look at me like that, it's creepy."

The old ancestor withdrew his gaze and sighed.

"It just reminded me of some old things."

"Thousands of years ago, I also encountered a fox."

Su Chang'an's ears perked up.

Is there some juicy gossip to be had?

"That's a red fox, with an even bigger temper than yours." The old ancestor's lips curled into a smile, his gaze becoming somewhat distant. "It's always showing its claws, and it doesn't submit to anyone."

"And then?" Su Chang'an couldn't help but ask.

"Later..." The old ancestor paused, the light in his eyes dimming, "Later she left."

"Where did you go?"

"I don't know." The old man shook his head. "I only know that I will never see her again."

Su Chang'an pursed his lips.

It turns out he was an old bachelor who had been dumped.

No wonder the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect's techniques are so abnormal; it turns out their ancestor was heartbroken in love and was taking revenge on society.

"That kid is really sincere towards you."

The old ancestor then changed the subject and mentioned Chen Xuan.

Su Chang'an was taken aback for a moment, then snorted.

"Sincere? That's just plain stupid."

"This kind of idiot is lucky to have met me; anyone else would have chewed his bones to pieces long ago."

He cursed fiercely, but his tone clearly revealed a smugness of protecting his own.

The old ancestor's smile deepened as he looked at her insincere expression.

"You may complain, but you're actually very protective of him."

"Just now downstairs, when that kid was about to draw his sword, the killing intent emanating from you was even stronger than his."

Su Chang'an's thoughts were exposed, and he felt a little embarrassed.

"I'm afraid that if he dies, no one will cook for me."

"I raised him, so it's my business whether I hit him or scold him. Let anyone else try to lay a finger on him!"

The old ancestor nodded, seemingly agreeing with this statement.

Raising a child is not easy.

"Watching him grow from such a tiny little thing to taller, learn to walk, and learn to hold a sword."

Sometimes I wish I could break his legs so he wouldn't cause trouble everywhere.

"But if anyone bullies him, even if it's the King of Heaven himself, he'll have to grab his sword and fight to the death."

The old ancestor spoke slowly and deliberately, yet every word struck Su Chang'an's heart.

This old man knows his stuff.

Su Chang'an's gaze towards him changed, lessening the hostility and increasing the mutual appreciation between kindred spirits.

"I didn't realize you were so good at taking care of kids."

The old ancestor smiled but didn't reply.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the wind and snow outside.

His silhouette looked somewhat forlorn.

"The Supreme Forgetfulness Sect cultivates the Path of Forgetfulness."

"But in this world, is there any true heartlessness?"

"Even plants and trees have their own nature; why should they seek the favor of a beautiful woman?"

"Humans are not plants or trees; how can they be without feelings?"

The old ancestor's voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.

Su Chang'an was completely confused.

Why is this old man acting so strangely? He was just talking about parenting tips, and now he's starting to preach.

"If there is affection, why establish this rule of forgetting affection?" Su Chang'an asked.

The old ancestor turned around and looked at her.

"Because love is too painful."

"Only by forgetting can one survive."

Su Chang'an remained silent.

She thought of Gu Xiang and Bai Yin.

That bookish nerd who sacrificed his heart to save her, that silly tiger who regarded her as his life.

That love was indeed bitter.

The pain was so intense that even now, thinking about it still causes her a dull ache in her heart.

"That kid's a madman," the old man continued. "Once he's set his sights on you, he'll never look back."

"Even if you are a demon, even if you are a monster, even if you are willing to die with the world, he will hand you that knife without hesitation."

"This kind of relationship is both a calamity and a blessing."

Su Chang'an frowned.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Advising me to stay away from him? Or telling me not to jeopardize your sect's hopes?"

The old ancestor shook his head.

He walked up to Su Chang'an, bent down, and met her gaze.

Those weathered eyes reflected Su Chang'an's stunningly beautiful face.

"I just wanted to tell you."

"Be nice to him."

"In this world, it's not easy to find someone who's willing to risk their life for you."

Su Chang'an was stunned.

She didn't expect that after holding it in for so long, the old man would actually utter such a sentence.

Is this still the legendary Supreme Ancestor who killed without blinking an eye and regarded all things as straw dogs?

Why do we have to interfere in the love life of that young couple... no, that father and son?

"I've been very good to him," Su Chang'an muttered to himself. "I even used the essence of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox to make a nourishing soup for him."

The old ancestor smiled.

His smile was gentle and kind.

He reached out, seemingly wanting to pat Su Chang'an's head, but stopped halfway through.

It was as if they were afraid of disturbing something.

"picture."

"They look so alike."

The old ancestor withdrew his hand, his gaze fixed on Su Chang'an's features with a touch of fascination.

"Those eyes, that stubbornness, even that tendency to say one thing and mean another, are exactly the same."

Su Chang'an felt uneasy under their gaze.

"Old man, who exactly are you looking at through me?"

"Don't tell me I'm your long-lost daughter."

The old ancestor ignored her teasing.

He looked at Su Chang'an, his lips moved, and he uttered a nonsensical sentence.

"Master, Li Changgeng misses you so much."

Su Chang'an was stunned.

Li Changgeng?

Who?

What is the old man's name?

The tone and expression... it doesn't sound like he's talking to her, but rather like he's flirting with a lover he hasn't seen in a long time.

Goosebumps instantly appeared all over my body.

Su Chang'an shrank back, looking wary.

"Old man, are you alright?"

"You've mistaken me for someone else. My name is Su Chang'an, not your master."

The old ancestor's eyes flickered, as if he had awakened from some memory.

He looked at Su Chang'an's guarded expression and gave a wry smile.

"Yes, I mistook you for someone else."

"She left a long time ago."

"How could he possibly come back?"

He turned around, his back to Su Chang'an, and waved.

"That's enough."

"They're all old dreams."

As Su Chang'an watched his retreating figure, a sudden, inexplicable pang of sorrow welled up in her heart.

This old man, though seemingly living a glamorous life, is actually a pitiful person.

Having guarded such a large sect for thousands of years, he still carries in his heart a person who will never return.

"Um..." Su Chang'an hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is that you, Li Changgeng?"

The ancestor did not answer.

"He'll be down soon."

The old ancestor's voice returned to its previous calm, devoid of any emotion.

"Take him with you."

"Don't come to this library again."

"Why?" Su Chang'an asked subconsciously.

The old man didn't speak, but simply looked out the window quietly.

The wind and snow intensified.

"Li Changgeng..."

Su Chang'an silently repeated the name in his mind.

I feel like this name sounds familiar.

I feel like I've heard that name somewhere before.

Is it in the ancient books of the capital? Or in the library?

Before she could figure it out, Chen Xuan had already pulled her out of the Sutra Repository.

boom--

The heavy tower gate slammed shut behind us.

The blind old man remained lying in the chair, basking in the sun, and didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard the noise.

"Walk."

Chen Xuan draped the cloak over Su Chang'an, wrapping him up completely.

"Returning to the Abode of Broken Feelings".

The cold wind cleared Su Chang'an's head considerably.

It doesn't matter whether he's Li Changgeng or Zhang Changgeng.

Anyway, it has nothing to do with her.

Her current task is to quickly train this rebellious son into an emperor, and then leave.

As for the old stories of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect, let whoever wants to know them mind their own business.

just.

"Master, Li Changgeng misses you so much."

Those words were like a thorn stuck in my heart.

It doesn't hurt.

It's just a little itchy.

Inscription on a poem written on returning home from the Sutra Repository at night.

The wind and snow obscure the view, the clouds float in disarray, and the black tower and solitary lamp illuminate white hair.

Do not laugh at the fool who keeps his promise in vain; the affectionate are always imprisoned by the heartless.

Three thousand years have passed like flowing water; I envy not immortality, but someone else.

If I can win the heart of one person, I dare to defy the heavens.