touchnovel Chapter 162 A Wild Heart Embraces Wine and Leaned Against Melancholy
Chapter 162 A Wild Heart Embraces Wine and Leaned Against Melancholy
Lu Ming gently closed the carved wooden door of the secluded pavilion. The soft fragrance of Ning Qingxue's hair still lingered on his fingertips, but at this moment, Lu Ming felt empty inside.
He carefully protected the photographic stone in his arms, as if it contained a whole tender and lingering dream.
No matter how warm the dream is, it can't compare to the melancholy brought by the words "I'm leaving" at the moment of parting.
Lu Ming suppressed the sorrow surging in his eyes, his steps slightly heavy, and slowly walked back to the banquet room on the top floor of Lingyun Tower.
The rooftop of Lingyun Tower was still brightly lit, its glow spilling onto the fine wine on the table, refracting into delicate, shimmering light.
Lu Ming tried to appear calm, greeted everyone, and then sat down again.
Chenghao held the wine jar and drank heartily, his laughter ringing out.
As soon as Chu Tian sat down at the table and watched Lu Ming walk over, he instantly guessed what was going on.
Chu Tian was incredibly perceptive. When he rescued Lu Ming at Li Tian Cliff, it was Ning Qingxue who came to his aid. Coupled with Lu Ming's previous understanding of the demonic path, Chu Tian guessed it in an instant.
As Lu Ming's senior brother who had guided him in his cultivation since childhood, he could naturally see Lu Ming's thoughts, but he didn't say anything, only sighed slightly.
Liu Yiyi gently held the wine pot in her slender hand, refilling Xia Linxian's wine cup from time to time.
Lu Ming didn't chat and laugh with everyone as usual. Instead, he found a seat by the window, picked up the pot, and poured himself a drink.
The spirit wine was poured into a cup, and Lu Ming tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp. The spicy liquid slid down his throat, and waves of warmth surged in his chest, but he couldn't suppress the melancholy in his heart.
He gazed out the window at the starry sky, the evening breeze caressing his face, and in a daze, he seemed to hear Ning Qingxue's flute music again.
Her jade flute played across her lips, her black hair danced in the wind, and the gentleness hidden between her proud brows was so beautiful that it made his heart tremble.
Lu Ming poured himself another full cup and drank it down.
The scene from just now kept flashing through Lu Ming's mind, as if even the evening breeze had become gentle.
"Junior Brother Lu, why are you so listless? Is the wine not to your liking?" Cheng Hao's voice rang out. He held a wine jar and came over. Seeing Lu Ming drinking alone, he wanted to drink with him.
Lu Ming shook his head: "Thank you, Senior Brother Chenghao. I'm fine, just a little tired."
Li Jingyun walked over slowly, without asking any questions, and simply poured him a full glass of wine: "Young people often have things they don't want to say. If you want to drink, I'll keep you company."
Having said that, Li Jingyun raised his wine cup and gently clinked it against Lu Ming's. The crisp sound of the glass cups colliding eased some of the sorrow.
Xia Linxian took in Lu Ming's appearance out of the corner of his eye. As the chief of the academy, he was insightful and knew that Lu Ming must have met someone important when he left. However, there was no need to expose the thoughts of a young man.
Moreover, Lu Ming's lineage is taught by Xuanji. Although he is the chief of the Dao Academy, it is not his place to instruct Lu Ming.
Xuanji and the Grand Preceptor of the Great Yan Kingdom held positions far above those of the Taoist Academy.
He spoke gently, diverting everyone's attention slightly: "Although the situation in the Central Continent is tense, we are celebrating our victory today, so let's put aside our disputes for now, just drink and make merry, and discuss the trip to the Nangong family and Lingque Cave Heaven tomorrow."
Lu Ming felt a warmth in his heart, but this camaraderie among fellow disciples could not ultimately suppress the sorrow of parting.
Lu Ming raised his glass again, drinking one cup after another, the wine washing away his sorrow.
As night deepened outside the window, the Milky Way shone brightly. Inside Lingyun Tower, the singing and dancing continued, but in Lu Ming's world, it seemed that only Ning Qingxue's flute music remained.
Lu Ming kept replaying the sentence in his mind: "In the course of time, missing out and regret are the norm."
He dared not think about how he would face himself if he actually met him on the battlefield.
He gripped the recording stone in his arms, feeling its faint warmth, and silently recited his promise to Ning Qingxue.
He wants to become stronger, strong enough to break down the barriers between sects and to break free from all constraints!
He recalled what his senior brother Chu had told him: there was no need to deliberately pursue the ideas and answers of the world. If one takes the standards of the world as the answer, then the ideas of the world will erect high walls.
Although Lu Ming had his own ideas, at this moment he still felt so powerless against the high walls erected by the world...
Lu Ming recalled the naive and arrogant words he had blurted out when he first ascended to heaven: "I want the heavens to pave the way for me when I go to heaven..."
Lu Ming couldn't help but smile knowingly.
Thoughts linger, resentment lingers, a wild heart, fueled by wine, leans against a somber mood. A thousand cups of wine, yet I remain unfallen; who can understand my sorrow of parting? My lingering words are hard to put an end.
Li Jingyun stood beside Lu Ming, drinking wine in the breeze. He tilted his head back and drank a large cup of wine, then patted Lu Ming's shoulder and recited: "I know that longing is useless, but it doesn't stop me from being melancholy and mad."
It seemed to be addressed to Lu Ming, yet also to himself.
After several rounds of drinks, the night had grown deep.
The group was slightly tipsy, but they knew it was not advisable to stay any longer.
Xia Linxian said loudly, "It's late, let's return to the Fuyou Holy Land. We have important matters to discuss tomorrow."
Everyone echoed in agreement and prepared to leave their seats.
Lu Ming took one last look at the night outside the window, as if he could see that figure through the clouds and mist.
The manager of Lingyunlou was already waiting outside the building, with the spirit boat ready.
The group boarded the spirit boat and sped towards the sacred land of Fuyou.
On the Spirit Light Flying Boat, the evening wind howled as Cheng Hao and Chu Tian discussed the movements of the major forces in the Central Continent.
Xia Linxian and Li Jingyun stood side by side, discussing the details of subsequent communication with their allies.
Only Lu Ming stood at the edge of the flying boat, repeatedly stroking the image stone in his arms, remaining silent.
He gazed at the sea of clouds and the fairy mountains gradually becoming clearer in the direction of the Holy Land of Fuyou, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He had never been so determined. He wanted to become stronger, strong enough to take care of everything, strong enough to protect those around him, and strong enough to protect the love between him and Ning Qingxue.
Before long, the spirit boat landed steadily within the territory of the Fuyou Holy Land.
When the group returned to Tingtao Garden, people from Fuyou Holy Land were already there to greet them at the garden gate.
Feng Yuanyang laughed loudly, "Congratulations to everyone on your great success on this trip. Not only did you rescue our young friend Lu Ming, but you also made a name for yourselves in this battle, shaking the Central Plains."
The group of disciples accompanying them couldn't help but feel admiration for the group from the Dao Academy.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Feng. We successfully rescued Lu Ming on this trip. Lu Ming even benefited from the misfortune and made great progress in his cultivation," Xia Linxian replied.
Feng Yuanyang glanced at Lu Ming, nodded slightly, and looked at him with admiration.
Xia Linxian then instructed, "Everyone, please get some rest tonight. You've all worked hard these past few days."
Everyone nodded and headed towards their respective rooms.
After everyone returned to their rooms, Tingtao Garden gradually fell silent.
Lu Ming pushed open the door, and the light inside cast a long shadow of him.
He closed the door behind him and set up a simple isolation array. Then he walked slowly to the table and carefully took out the recording stone from his pocket.
Lu Ming infused a wisp of spiritual energy, and the image-recording stone instantly glowed faintly.
The image of Ning Qingxue playing the flute is clearly visible, and the flute music flows slowly.
Lu Ming sat under the lamp, watching and listening quietly, unable to sleep all night.
The flute music in the memory stone kept repeating, and Ning Qingxue's smiling face flowed in the light screen. He looked at that figure with great joy.
As the night deepens and the sound of waves grows ever stronger, the young man's heart continues to stir.