190: Chapter 190 Lin Jingyun Arrives, The Final Farewell

The morning bell of Yongning City rang out once again, a full seven days having passed since the annihilation of the Ancestor of Void Evil Spiders.

Ling Shuang stood in the small courtyard beside the Monument of Heroes, before her were three gravestones and that faint thread of golden light.

For the past seven days, she had almost never left this place.

By day she handled alliance affairs, and by night she sat before the monument, speaking with those who had already departed.

She told them of the progress of reconstruction across the various domains, told them how many new Disciple were recruited by the Guardian Academy, and told them that the Sea of Stars had restored its past peace.

She believed they could hear her, they definitely could.

Early that morning, Shen Qiuyu hurried over, her complexion as pale as paper.

"Senior, news has come from the detection points at the edge of the Sea of Stars—space-time wrinkles have appeared once again."

Ling Shuang's hand paused slightly, and she turned to look at her: "What location?"

"Right near the Seal. The scale is not large, but it is very frequent. The Disciple of the Investigation Department say... say that fluctuation is exactly the same as the omen before the Ancestor of Void Evil Spiders broke the Seal."

Ling Shuang was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke: "Order the various domains to strengthen their guard. Send people to the Seal to monitor closely."

Shen Qiuyu hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice: "Senior, should we notify the representatives of the various domains to hold an emergency meeting?"

Ling Shuang shook her head: "There is no rush. Wait until the Investigation Department investigates the situation. Startling the various domains now will only cause unnecessary panic."

Shen Qiuyu nodded and turned to leave.

Ling Shuang turned back to look at the faint thread of golden light beneath the Monument of Heroes. For seven days, the light spot had been very stable, neither growing brighter nor dimmer. It was right there, beating quietly, as if in a deep slumber.

"Jingyun, when will you be able to wake up? Teacher needs you."

The light spot beat gently once, then returned to calm.

Ling Shuang sighed and turned to walk back into the small courtyard.

Just as she stepped through the courtyard gate, a familiar aura came from the direction of the Monument of Heroes.

That aura was very weak, so weak that it was almost imperceptible, but Ling Shuang still captured it. She turned abruptly, staring at the thread of golden light beneath the Monument of Heroes.

The light spot was growing brighter.

It was not growing brighter bit by bit, but growing brighter and more dazzling by the moment. Golden light surged out from the light spot like a small sun, enveloping the entire Monument of Heroes within it.

Ling Shuang's heartbeat accelerated, and she stumbled over, kneeling before the monument.

Within the light spot, a blurry figure was slowly condensing. First a pair of feet, then the legs, torso, arms, and finally the head.

When the light dissipated, Guardian Lin Jingyun stood before her.

He had his eyes closed, and his body was surrounded by a faint golden halo. His complexion was still pale, but his breath was steady and his heartbeat powerful. He had returned, truly returned.

Ling Shuang's tears burst forth from her eyes, and she rushed forward to hug him tightly.

"Jingyun! You've finally come back!"

Guardian Lin Jingyun slowly opened his eyes, seeing the white-haired old woman before him, a trace of guilt flashing in his eyes.

"Teacher, I'm sorry for making you worry."

Ling Shuang shook her head, tears flowing uncontrollably: "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back."

She let go of him and looked him up and down. Guardian Lin Jingyun looked identical to before he dissipated, except that his aura was more restrained and profound than before.

"You... how did you come back?" Ling Shuang's voice was still trembling.

Guardian Lin Jingyun raised his hand, and a cluster of golden light emerged in his palm. Within that light, it contained the power of the three Laws of Chaos, space-time, and Karma, yet it was purer and more profound than before.

"When I dissipated, my consciousness did not disappear. I saw the Ancestor, I saw Senior Zhiting, and I saw Senior Song Xinghe."

Ling Shuang was stunned: "You saw them?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun nodded, a trace of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

"The Ancestor told me that the Guardian's path is still very long and I cannot give up just like that. Senior Zhiting told me that her Battle Blood Sacred Body Legacy cannot be severed, and asked me to guard the Sea of Stars well for her. Senior Song Xinghe told me that the mission of the Investigation Department is not yet complete, and asked me to continue monitoring every corner of the Sea of Stars for him."

His voice choked somewhat.

"They used their final strength to help me reshape my Physical Body. They said the Sea of Stars still needs me, and Teacher still needs me."

Hearing this, Ling Shuang's tears blurred her vision once again.

"They... are they doing well?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun smiled slightly: "Very well. The Ancestor said he can finally rest. Senior Zhiting said she can finally drink with those old brothers. Senior Song Xinghe said he finally doesn't need to stay up late."

Ling Shuang smiled, smiling with tears streaming down her face.

"That's good, that's good."

Guardian Lin Jingyun supported her, and the two stood side by side before the Monument of Heroes.

The Chaos-colored light atop the monument remained bright, and the three gravestones stood quietly in the morning light. The fresh flowers before the monument still bore dew drops, gently swaying in the breeze.

"Teacher, you've worked hard these past few days," Guardian Lin Jingyun said softly.

Ling Shuang shook her head: "It was no hardship. Rather, it's you who just recovered and need a good rest."

Guardian Lin Jingyun did not answer, only looking at Zhou Zhiting's gravestone in prolonged silence.

"Teacher, Senior Zhiting... how did she leave?"

Ling Shuang was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke. She recounted how Zhou Zhiting used her Life to stall the Ancestor of Void Evil Spiders, how she self-detonated to blast open its skull, and how at the very last moment she looked back at her with a slight smile.

Listening to this, Guardian Lin Jingyun's eye sockets turned red.

"Senior Zhiting... did she leave any words?"

Ling Shuang took out the fragment of the battle blood spear from her embrace and handed it before him.

"She didn't say too much, only telling us to live well and guard the Sea of Stars for her."

Guardian Lin Jingyun took the fragment and felt the warmth remaining on it. That warmth was very faint, yet it truly existed, just like Zhou Zhiting's smile—brilliant and resolute.

He pressed the fragment against his chest and closed his eyes.

"Senior Zhiting, rest assured. Your Battle Blood Sacred Body, I will pass down for you. Your spear, I will guard well for you."

The fragment beat gently once, as if responding to him.

Guardian Lin Jingyun opened his eyes and carefully placed the fragment back into Ling Shuang's hands.

"Teacher, this was left for you by Senior Zhiting; please keep it safe."

Ling Shuang took the fragment and gripped it tightly in her palm.

The two walked over to Song Xinghe's gravestone again.

"What about Senior Song Xinghe? What did he leave behind?"

Ling Shuang raised her head to look at the still-shining star map above Yongning City.

"He left behind that star map and his Investigation Department."

Guardian Lin Jingyun raised his head and looked at the star map. Golden light spots slowly flowed across the star map, marking the movements of every corner of the Sea of Stars. That was the early warning ignited by Song Xinghe with his Life, the final gift he left for the Sea of Stars.

"Senior Song Xinghe, rest assured. The Investigation Department, I will guard well for you. The Sea of Stars, I will watch over for you."

The light spots on the star map flickered once, as if responding to him.

Finally, the two stood before Guardian Lin Jingyun's own gravestone.

The face of the monument was still blank, waiting for him to write upon it himself.

Guardian Lin Jingyun looked at the blank face of the monument in prolonged silence.

"Teacher, this monument..."

Ling Shuang smiled slightly: "Waiting for you to return, so you could write it yourself. Now that you are back, what do you want to write?"

Guardian Lin Jingyun thought for a moment, raised his hand, and gently brushed across the face of the monument.

Golden light surged from his fingertips, carving a line of characters onto the monument face—

"Guardian Lin Jingyun, guarding the Sea of Stars, guarding the original intent."

Ling Shuang looked at that line of characters, a light of gratification flashing in her eyes.

"Good, well written."

Guardian Lin Jingyun turned around, faced her, and bowed deeply.

"Teacher, these days have been hard on you. Next, let it be my turn."

Ling Shuang helped him up and shook her head.

"No, we together. You guard the Sea of Stars, I guard you."

Guardian Lin Jingyun's eye sockets turned red, and he nodded heavily.

The two stood side by side before the Monument of Heroes, gazing at the distant horizon.

Morning light spilled over the skies of Yongning City, gilding the entire city in a layer of gold. In the streets and alleys, the common folk had already begun a new day of Life. The cooking smoke from breakfast stalls rose lazily, and the frolicking sounds of children faintly drifted over. The Disciple of the Guardian Academy poured out sweat like rain in the Martial Arts Arena, and the Disciple of the Investigation Department were busy in the watchtowers.

Everything was so peaceful, so tranquil.

Guardian Lin Jingyun took a deep breath, feeling the respiration of this land.

"Teacher, space-time wrinkles have appeared at the edge of the Sea of Stars again."

Ling Shuang nodded: "I know. Qiuyu came to report it this morning."

"I will go take a look."

Ling Shuang did not stop him, only handing him that fragment of the battle blood spear.

"Take this with you. Zhiting will bless you."

Guardian Lin Jingyun took the fragment and solemnly tucked it into his embrace.

He turned around, facing the direction of the edge of the Sea of Stars.

"Teacher, wait for me to return."

Ling Shuang nodded: "Go, return early."

Guardian Lin Jingyun transformed into a streak of golden light, soaring up into the sky and speeding away toward the depths of the Sea of Stars.

Ling Shuang stood before the Monument of Heroes, watching that streak of light grow further and further away, ultimately vanishing into the depths of the Sea of Stars.

She lowered her head to look at the gravestones of Zhou Zhiting and Song Xinghe.

"Zhiting, Song Xinghe, did you see? Jingyun has come back. With him guarding the Sea of Stars, you can rest easy."