Chapter 886: Clinging to Each Other Tightly

Chen Ling gripped Sun Buming's hand as it emerged from the earth. A portion of Sun Buming's memories surged into his mind like a tide.

Chen Ling saw:

In Sun Buming's memory, this seemed to be his first slumber.

In that original memory, Sun Buming emerged from the desolate earth after a decade, with nothing left but howling winds and sand, and crumbling ruins standing amidst the debris.

Sun Buming froze.

His impression of the city was still rooted in the jubilant celebrations of ten years ago, but now, it was utterly deserted. It was an ineffable feeling; the former familiarity and sense of security had completely vanished, leaving behind only endless bewilderment and unease.

It was as if he had been forgotten by the whole world.

"Master..."

The unease in Sun Buming's heart grew stronger, and he quickly ran towards the city's ruins.

Perhaps because he had slumbered for too long, Sun Buming's steps were a little unsteady. He stumbled through every corner of the ruins, yet found no trace of what once was.

Sun Buming stood blankly in the ruins like a homeless child for an entire day. It wasn't until the cold midnight wind stung his cheeks that he snapped back to reality, then dazedly walked out of the city.

He walked for three days in the desert without a drop of water before finally finding an inhabited city.

Only after inquiring did he learn that ten years had passed since his slumber. Dynasties had changed, and the empire's map was unrecognizable, with countless cities forgotten in the vast desert.

The ten years were like a heavy blow, nearly breaking Sun Buming, who had just experienced his first slumber. Sun Buming knew very well that given his master's physical condition, he would not have survived ten years. The things and people he had cherished had largely vanished amidst the relentless current of history.

Everything, absolutely everything, was because he had slept for too long.

Sun Buming cried for a long time. He didn't know how to make amends for any of it, so he could only attribute all the blame to himself. As if to punish himself, he began to fast from food and water, trapping himself in the desert for ten days.

Perhaps blessed by auspicious energy, just as Sun Buming lay unconscious and near death, a merchant caravan happened to pass by, rescuing him and then continuing its journey towards a distant city.

Sun Buming survived, but the guilt and pain in his heart did not disappear; instead, they plagued him for a full twenty years in that life before the wounds gradually healed.

Time returned to the present.

Chen Ling, as if he had experienced that past alongside Sun Buming, had incredibly complex eyes.

Rustle—

The hand emerging from the earth was still struggling fiercely, seemingly about to break free.

Chen Ling seemed to realize something. He looked back behind him, and in the distant wasteland, a white-haired figure seemed to be quietly watching.

"You wanted me to wait for him... was it to make amends for all of this?" Chen Ling murmured to himself.

Jiang Xiaohua, in the distance, nodded slightly.

Chen Ling's gaze returned to the hand about to emerge from the earth. After a long hesitation, he gritted his teeth and suddenly exerted force with his hand!

A figure was pulled from the soil by him, stumbled from inertia, and nearly fell to the ground.

"You..." The newly awakened Sun Buming gasped for air. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chen Ling beside him, and his eyes showed surprise. "Who are you?"

Chen Ling looked into his eyes. After a moment of silence, he still didn't answer with his name but spoke directly:

"Your master asked me to give you a message."

"Master?"

Sun Buming looked around, seeing the desolate land and the distant city, reduced to mere ruins. He froze. He seemed to have a bad premonition and immediately asked, "Where is my master?"

"You slept for ten years. He has passed away."

Hearing this, Sun Buming's heart trembled. Before he could ask anything, Chen Ling spoke again:

"However, he lived very happily in these past years. Although you weren't by his side, perhaps due to your auspicious energy, his later years were free of misfortune. He was very grateful for you; having a disciple like you was his honor."

Sun Buming stood frozen.

What Chen Ling said was not unfounded. Six years ago, when the old man last appeared, he spoke alone at Sun Buming's grave for a long time, and Chen Ling heard every single word.

Chen Ling even suspected that the old man's final gaze towards him was meant for Chen Ling to relay the message... that he had specifically spoken for Chen Ling to hear.

Who exactly was that old man?

"Master..." Sun Buming's eyes immediately reddened; for a moment, he seemed unable to accept it.

"Your master also said that your not meeting again wasn't your fault, but fate. If you feel guilty because of this and waste your life, he would be very angry," Chen Ling said, patting Sun Buming's shoulder.

"Do you remember? Your master told you to take care of yourself no matter what happens..."

"I..."

Sun Buming had doubted Chen Ling's words just moments before, but after hearing the latter half, he believed him. He stood there helpless, like a child who had lost everything, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Chen Ling said no more. After all, those last few sentences were entirely made up by him.

He simply watched Sun Buming sob uncontrollably in the desolation, consumed by the endless wind and sand.

As the sun set in the west, casting the evening light like a red sash over Sun Buming, he finally regained his composure. With tear-reddened eyes, he looked back at the city ruins through the wind and sand. His gaze no longer held the original bewilderment and guilt, but rather a hint of newfound resolve.

"You must think me foolish," Sun Buming said, looking at Chen Ling, seemingly a little embarrassed.

"It's fine."

*I've already seen you wailing multiple times in your memories anyway,* Chen Ling thought to himself.

"...What's your name?"

"Chen Ling."

"Chen Ling..." Sun Buming murmured, as if imprinting the name in his mind. "Thank you for finding me, no matter what... You're right. The last thing Master told me was to take care of myself. If I can't even do that, I'd be undutiful..."

"As long as you've accepted it."

Chen Ling noticed Sun Buming staring at him, and his brows furrowed slightly in confusion.

"Have we met?" Sun Buming couldn't help but ask. "I don't know why... but ever since a moment ago, I've felt like I've forgotten something..."

As he spoke, a hair-thin strand of memory was pulled from the void above Sun Buming's head, while another segment was inserted into Chen Ling's hand. An aura of curse spread wildly through the air.

Chen Ling was startled. Just as he was about to speak, the surrounding yellow sand began to crack and crumble!

At the edge of the desolate horizon,

Jiang Xiaohua's eyes crinkled slightly, and a smile appeared on his face.

"Chen Ling...?"

In front of the Starfall Merchant Guild's gates, Sun Buming suddenly stopped.

Sun Buming suddenly felt that a part of his memory had been overwritten by someone. At the same time, all his memories were shifting back into place, as if someone had taken the end of a thread and pulled it hard, causing the memories he had once forgotten to surge continuously into his mind like a tide!