Chapter 00132: Farewell, Never to Meet Again
# Farewell, Never to Meet Again
Chapter 132
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 132: Farewell, Never to Meet Again
After leaving the Ocean Group, Ding Huan decisively steered the Blue Star towards Kunlun Mountain.
However, to his disappointment, after searching the cave where the Star House was located for nearly half a day, he found nothing—no talismans, not even a single strand of hair.
What belongs to you will come to you, and what doesn’t cannot be forced.
With this thought, Ding Huan left Kunlun Mountain once again.
...
In the Xiuhu District of Yiling City, a spaceship landed, startling the local authorities.
Fortunately, Dou Qingzhi quickly called to inform them that it was the Safety Bureau’s ship, and Director Qu had returned.
"Yi Yi," Yan Quan, who had been worried sick, finally breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Qu Yi step out of the spaceship.
"Teacher Ding, welcome, welcome!" Unlike Yan Quan, who only had eyes for Qu Yi, Qu Yonghe had already noticed Ding Huan and the woman walking beside him, Qi Xinyue.
Qu Yonghe felt it was only natural that Ding Huan’s eyes had healed.
After all, if Teacher Ding could cure Qu Yi’s illness, how could he not heal his own eyes? This realization eased some of the guilt he felt, as the Qu family owed Ding Huan a great deal.
Yan Quan finally remembered Ding Huan: "Teacher Ding, we’ve been waiting for you. Who is this?"
"This is Qi Xinyue, my friend," Ding Huan quickly introduced her.
"Teacher Ding, is that the meteorite iron from the Federation you’re carrying?" Qu Yonghe, who specialized in cold weapons, noticed the material in Ding Huan’s hand immediately after greeting him.
"Yes, it is. I was hoping you could help me forge a spear," Ding Huan replied.
Qu Yonghe shook his head: "It’s impossible. We’ve all tried—me, the Ji family, and the Fan family. None of us can melt it."
Ding Huan finally understood why Fan Yibing had given him a halberd after promising the material—it was because the meteorite iron couldn’t be melted.
"Oh, that’s alright," Ding Huan said, turning to toss the material back onto the spaceship.
"Let’s go inside and sit for a while," Qu Yonghe warmly invited them.
Thinking that this might be the last time they’d meet, Ding Huan decided to bring Qi Xinyue to Qu Yonghe’s home for a final visit.
The Qu family welcomed Ding Huan with great enthusiasm.
Aunt Xing and Qu Fei went to prepare food, while Yan Quan pulled Qu Yi aside for a private chat.
Qu Yonghe sat with Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue in the living room, sipping tea and chatting about everyday matters.
In his heart, Qu Yonghe was filled with emotion.
When alien forces invaded Earth and the Federation army suffered heavy losses, Qu Yi, as the director of the Puhai Safety Bureau, rushed to the front lines.
At that time, neither Qu Yonghe nor Yan Quan held any hope—not for their daughter’s return, nor for the survival of humanity.
To their surprise, not only did Qu Yi return, but they also received news that the alien forces had been annihilated.
...
"Yi Yi, that Teacher Ding is truly remarkable. Did he help defeat the alien forces?" Yan Quan asked, though she didn’t know for sure.
The only capable person she could think of was Ding Huan.
Qu Yi nodded: "Yes, if it weren’t for Brother Ding, the alien civilization might have already wiped out humanity and taken over Earth."
"Who is that Xinyue girl? She seems very close to Teacher Ding," Yan Quan whispered.
Qu Yi hesitated for a moment: "I don’t know. She’s been with Brother Ding since I first saw him."
Qu Yi had wanted to ask, but she felt too embarrassed.
Later, she overheard Qi Xinyue mention that she had been living with Ding Huan for the past few months, and she began to understand.
"Mom, I need to tell you something," Qu Yi said, knowing that Ding Huan would soon be leaving.
She needed her parents’ approval.
"What is it?" Yan Quan asked, noticing the unease in her daughter’s expression.
"Brother Ding is going to leave Earth on his spaceship..."
"Where is he going?" Yan Quan interrupted before Qu Yi could finish.
Qu Yi shook her head: "I don’t know. Sister Xinyue said they’ll probably wander the universe. I... I want to go with them."
"No, absolutely not!" Yan Quan immediately rejected the idea.
Qu Yi stood up: "Mom, Brother Ding saved my life. What’s wrong with following him to wander the universe?"
Yan Quan realized she had overreacted and tried to calm herself: "Yi Yi, it’s not that I don’t want you to be with Teacher Ding. If he were willing to marry you, your father and I would have no objections."
"Mom..."
Qu Yi looked at her mother, confused.
Yan Quan sighed, her heart aching for her daughter: "Yi Yi, does Teacher Ding love you?"
Qu Yi was taken aback.
She thought about it and realized that all their interactions had been about Ding Huan helping her.
Had he ever shown romantic interest in her?
She touched her face uncertainly.
She was pretty, but not stunningly beautiful.
Yan Quan continued: "Yi Yi, the way Xinyue looks at Teacher Ding is like she’s looking at the love of her life. And you said she’s been living with him for months. What do you think their relationship is?"
Qu Yi fell silent.
As much as she didn’t want to admit it, it was clear they were lovers.
Otherwise, why would they live together for so long?
Yan Quan added: "Xinyue may not look as beautiful as you now, but that’s because she’s been disfigured. In reality, her beauty surpasses any girl I’ve ever seen. Do you think Teacher Ding couldn’t heal her if he wanted to?"
Qu Yi remained silent.
If Ding Huan could heal her and even restore his own eyes, fixing a disfigured face would be nothing.
Seeing her daughter’s silence, Yan Quan sighed: "Yi Yi, Teacher Ding is a good man, and he’s worth entrusting your life to. But he already has someone by his side. Our Qu family may not be wealthy, but we would never interfere in someone else’s relationship. If you followed Teacher Ding and Xinyue into the universe, what would you be? Would they want you there, or would you just be an outsider?"
"Mom..."
Qu Yi couldn’t hold back her tears any longer.
She had already made up her mind to follow Ding Huan, even if her parents disagreed.
But she hadn’t considered that she might be seen as a homewrecker, someone who would destroy Ding Huan’s relationship.
Ding Huan had saved her life multiple times, even giving her his eyes.
How could she repay him by disrupting his life?
Yan Quan held her daughter tightly as tears streamed down Qu Yi’s face: "Yi Yi, I can feel your determination and your attachment to Teacher Ding, but we can’t do this."
...
The Qu family prepared a lavish feast.
Ding Huan rarely drank, but knowing he might never return to Earth, he shared a few drinks with Qu Yonghe.
The meal was filled with joy, and when it was time to leave, Ding Huan bid farewell.
Qu Yonghe, Yan Quan, and Qu Yi escorted Ding Huan and Qi Xinyue to the Blue Star.
"Yi Yi, this is for you," Ding Huan handed her a notebook.
Inside were his insights and understanding of the first move of the Nine Spears Technique, "Soul Shatter."
Originally, Ding Huan had planned to teach Qu Yi all nine moves.
However, he later realized that, apart from the first move he had mastered, he couldn’t articulate the others.
Still, the first move alone would be more than enough on Earth.
If Qu Yi could reach the Foundation Establishment stage, this move would allow her to fight the demon dragon.
Even if she didn’t, mastering this move would still make her formidable.
"Brother Ding, thank you," Qu Yi took the notebook.
Noticing the redness around Qu Yi’s eyes, Ding Huan asked, "Yi Yi, is there something you need help with?"
Qu Yi quickly shook her head: "Brother Ding, can I ask you a question?"
Ding Huan smiled: "Of course, you can ask me anything."
Qu Yi hesitated, then asked in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "Brother Ding, why have you been so kind to me?"
This was something she had never understood.
If Ding Huan truly loved her, she would ask if he was willing to take her as his second wife.
After all, they would be wandering the universe, with no certainty of tomorrow.
Dying together in the vastness of space wouldn’t be so bad.
Ding Huan’s gaze drifted to the distant sky.
After a long pause, he said, "Yi Yi, do you believe in reincarnation?"
Qu Yi looked at him, bewildered.
Reincarnation? Even if it existed, how could anyone know for sure?
Ding Huan met her eyes: "Yi Yi, your eyes are the purest in the world, bar none. In my past life, my eyes were gouged out, and you gave me yours. To me, in this life, even if I had to give you my life, I would do so willingly. And all I’ve done is a small fraction of that."
Qu Yi stared at him in shock.
The answer was far from what she had expected, but she could feel the sincerity in Ding Huan’s words.
Could reincarnation truly exist?
"Yi Yi, thank you," Ding Huan gently stroked her hair, giving her one last deep look before turning to board the Blue Star.
This departure marked the end of an era.
From now on, they would never meet again.
(End of Chapter.
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