Chapter 52 – To Live For Your Joy, To Die For Your Sorrow [OFFICIAL END]

translator: THISBRO

(unedited)

The bitter cold on the Great Snow Mountain was overwhelming, so He Huan’s Tribulation Stage body had been controlling everything. When He Ku finally found him, he was standing on the edge of a cliff. The sky was unusually clear today, and the cloud-patterned white robes unique to the Xuan Sect seemed to merge seamlessly with the snowy landscape. His long hair, casually tied with a pine branch, fluttered gently in the breeze. The glow of the morning sun illuminated his face, a perfect balance between youth and maturity. As He Ku’s footsteps crunched through the snow, He Huan turned around. In that moment, his eyes, previously calm and deep like still water, came alive, as though a magnificent peach blossom had suddenly bloomed amidst the snow—tender, affectionate, and full of warmth.

In this moment, all past grievances seemed to dissipate. He Huan simply extended his hand to him, gently inviting, “Come. The snow on the Snowy Mountains is eternal, and when the sun rises, the light reflects off the heavenly lake below, casting the most vibrant colors—it’s truly breathtaking.”

Without hesitation, He Ku stepped forward to take his hand. Feeling the slight chill of his fingertips, He Ku instinctively nestled closer into his embrace. Held securely in his arms, he gazed down at the scenery below. Amid the endless snowfields, large lakes glimmered like jewels embedded in the earth. The snow was pristine, and the water’s vivid colors shone even brighter under the sunlight—a truly magnificent view.

Yet, at this moment his gaze fell on the letter clutched in He Huan’s hand. “Qian Ren sent a letter?”

The power within Qing XuZi’s strike was immense. Over the past few days, they had been recuperating their souls within the Xuanmen Righteous Sect, but they hadn’t been entirely out of touch with the affairs of the Jianghu. The day after He Huan joined the Xuanmen Righteous Sect, You Jiang established the “Heavenly Demon Sect” in the northern deserts. Judging by its name alone, it seemed like a counterpart to the “Mingmen Righteous Sect” He Ku had made, almost as if the two were made to complement each other.

Perhaps He Huan’s entry into the righteous path had sparked a sense of crisis among the demonic cultivators. Realizing that the righteous path now boasted three Calamity Crossing Stage cultivators while the demonic path had none, the demonic cultivators rallied around You Jiang in unprecedented unity. They were determined to elevate this most talented young member of the demonic path to the Calamity Crossing Stage, aiming to rescue the demonic path from its decline. Within just a single month, the Heavenly Demon Sect rapidly supplanted the Palace of Bliss to become the foremost power of the demonic path.

However, despite You Jiang’s extraordinary talent, he was only twenty-five years old. Managing such a massive force was no easy task. Fortunately, upon leaving the Xuanmen Righeous Sect, He Huan ordered Qian Ren to lead all former members of the Palace of Bliss to join the Heavenly Demon Sect. The combined efforts of the two stabilized the power of the demonic faction. From then on, Qian Ren became He Huan’s eyes and ears by You Jiang’s side, keeping a close watch on the activities of the demonic path.

This time was no exception. He Huan had already read the letter in its entirety. When He Ku asked, he replied calmly, “The Heaven’s Library Pavilion High Seat was assassinated. Taking advantage of the chaos, You Jiang led the Heavenly Demon Sect to eradicate the Pavilion entirely. The righteous sects are deeply shaken.”

“You Jiang is that formidable?” He Ku was startled upon hearing this. The Heaven’s Library Pavilion was no small sect, yet it had been wiped out so silently. It seemed that without He Huan restraining the demonic path, it had finally unleashed its true strength.

“He was originally from the Heaven’s Library Pavilion, so it was easy for him to uncover the hidden network of spies they had buried underground, catching them completely off guard.”

He Huan, having led the demonic path for eighty years, knew its strength inside out. However, what left him silent at this moment wasn’t just You Jiang’s cunning. Gazing up at the clear sky, his expression remained calm as he added, “But the decisive factor was that a few days ago, the Heaven’s Library Pavilion’s High Seat’s close maid, Chun Cheng of the Floral Breeze, suddenly tore out her Nascent Soul and self-detonated, severely injuring most of the Pavilion’s upper echelon.”

The Pavilion had long been targeting He Huan, and He Ku naturally knew a bit about this sect. The High Seat was said to come from a wealthy family and was accompanied by four personal maids named Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter, who assisted him in dual cultivation. All four were at the late Core Formation stage. Why they would endure such a fate was beyond comprehension. [*Chun Cheng is the maid of Spring]

Thinking of this, He Ku felt a sense of relief that He Huan had disbanded the Palace of Bliss. Otherwise, having to watch that group of male concubines, he couldn’t guarantee he wouldn’t resort to domestic violence. With a sigh, he remarked, “The High Seat of the Pavilion was so fixated on plotting against you, only to fall victim to someone at his bedside. It seems that the two of us staying narcissistic is still the safest bet.”

“Chun Cheng of the Floral Breeze was Xiu Niang.”

One sentence was enough to shatter He Ku’s composure entirely. He Huan, however, had already come to terms with the truth. Slowly releasing the letter, he watched as the paper drifted further away in the cold wind. Whatever lingering sorrow he had seemed to dissipate along with it. He simply said, “The letter says that the Celestial Pavilion was a remnant of the Zhao clan, and she fulfilled her revenge through her death. She left this life with no regrets. You Jiang and Qian Ren gathered her belongings and erected a cenotaph in the peach grove outside Chang’an. Per her last wish, the tombstone bore only the words, ‘Lady Xiu of Zhao Clan.’ And thus, the life of the demonic cultivator known as Xiu Niang was quietly laid to rest.”

It was only at this moment that He Ku realized perhaps, on that night when Xiu Niang bid him farewell, she had already foreseen this outcome. She hadn’t left out of fear of He Huan. From the very beginning, that woman had arranged for herself the most fitting death, utilizing her life to its fullest potential. He couldn’t help but wonder—since the Heaven’s Library Pavilion was a righteous sect that neither he nor He Huan could openly act against, had Xiu Niang’s actions also carried a hint of intent to resolve this predicament for them?

He Ku, ever one to interpret others’ actions with kindness, simply asked, “What did she say before she died?”

Though Xiu Niang was the catalyst for He Huan’s descent into the demonic path, she had stayed by his side for a full eighty years. During He Huan’s darkest days, she was the only one with him. Upon hearing the news of her death, it was impossible for He Huan to remain unaffected. He tightened his hold on He Ku in his arms before finally speaking, “Qian Ren said she had originally written me a letter, but burned it immediately after finishing it. She said she was dying as someone I loathed, and that knowing this would ultimately bring me some relief. There’s no need to add more sorrow now that things have reached this point.”

He Ku could tell He Huan was in a bad mood, so he clasped his hands tightly and gave a faint smile. “She probably didn’t want you to know about this. But who would’ve thought Qian Ren, the undercover spy, would spill her words to you verbatim.”

Although his spirit body lacked warmth, the moment He Huan’s hands were enveloped in He Ku’s palms, he felt a genuine warmth spreading through him. The memories of old grievances and heartbreaks faded, and he let out a soft laugh. “Qian Ren even reports every dish You Jiang eats each day.”

He Ku realized that in that single smile, the tangled ties of gratitude and resentment between them and Xiu Niang had been laid to rest. The right and wrong of the past no longer needed to be scrutinized. Those who had once risen to fame with them, like fleeting clouds in the sky, could now be buried in the years that had gone by. What lay ahead for them was not the past but the future.

Suddenly, he understood why He Huan had chosen to stand here, gazing at the snow. Such a vast, boundless blue sky always carried with it a sense of infinite hope. Staring up at the heavens that seemed almost within reach, He Ku finally asked the question they had both silently agreed not to discuss before.

“He Huan, how do you want to live from now on?”

He Huan knew well that He Ku disliked the strife of the martial world, yet he himself was someone who could never truly let go of responsibilities. From the moment they left Xuanmen, his gaze instinctively turned back to the world, constantly weighing the balance between the forces of righteousness and evil. Any spare moment would find him contemplating how to hold the world’s affairs firmly in his hands. A man like him, destined to bear burdens until his last breath, was not someone who could retreat to a quiet life in the mountains.

A pang of guilt struck him as he thought about the peaceful life he could not give He Ku. Yet, though he had never chosen the path of a demonic cultivator willingly, the past eighty years had been spent among them. He could not simply abandon the demonic faction now. Resolving to be honest, he finally spoke:

“I may not be able to withdraw from the world with you. While many demonic cultivators are far from virtuous, not all of them are irredeemable villains who must be eliminated. Clear waters hold no fish—when the demonic path weakens, the world may seem at peace, but if the demonic way is extinguished, new demons will inevitably arise from the righteous sects of today. I must continue to watch over them.”

“Then I’ll stay with you, and we’ll witness it together. There must be countless beautiful sights like this across the land, and I’ve yet to see them all.”

He Huan, as always, was still He Huan. He could never set aside his vision of peace for the world, not even for love. But He Ku’s heart had always been tied to his. As long as He Huan chose to protect this world, He Ku would always stand beside him. If He Huan was determined to safeguard the peace of the land, then He Ku’s sword would always be drawn for its people.

Yet, at this moment, feeling the warmth of the man’s breath behind him, He Ku couldn’t help but hope to offer him a haven of rest. He gently murmured, “Don’t keep your eyes fixed solely on the righteous and demonic paths, on those people. Take a look at the world’s scenery, and… take a look at me.”

Look at me.

It’s only three short words, yet they instantly dispelled all distractions in He Huan’s heart, like an emotional tidal surge bursting forth. At this moment, the great conflicts of the world between good and evil seemed no longer important. He turned the youth around; the loneliness in the youth’s brow had not yet faded. A sharp pain struck his heart. He slowly kissed the youth’s forehead, and suddenly he understood what he must do. He gathered his full strength, and a brilliant divine light flared in his eyes.

He Ku was startled by this sudden kiss, feeling momentarily dazed. The originally pure white snowfield suddenly transformed into a glowing peach blossom forest; the piercing cold dissolved, replaced by spring breezes brushing the face and the gentle murmur of flowing water. Everywhere his gaze fell was bathed in rosy red.

Taking a petal in his palm, he realized that here he had actually taken on a physical form. Just as he was wondering about this, He Huan softly whispered by his ear, “This is my Peach Blossom Pure Land. Only you and I can enter here. I promise you, here I will only look at you.”

Only then did he understand that, just like Kasyapa Bodhi’s Lotus World, after He Huan truly comprehended the Ultimate Bliss Technique, he also formed his own unique little world. Unlike the great monk’s serene non-action, even the Dao he established symbolized the earthly ties of peach blossoms representing mortal love. Now, wielding a pure land world to save all beings, he was quite playfully provocative—undeniably unorthodox. Yet, He Ku just happened to like him all the more for his unruly ways.

He liked the old He Huan, the demon cultivator who was always slack but only thought about stopping the world’s conflicts. And now, he liked this He Huan even more—the one who had become the Great Dao but was too lazy to care about the martial world’s storms, preferring to indulge in romance. He was determined to fight with the world for this man; he wanted to be all lovey-dovey with He Huan before dealing with everyone else’s fighting and killing. Anyone who dared oppose would get their head smashed!

Squinting and smiling, He Ku thought, since this is a world belonging only to the two of them, then he could just liberate himself and do as he pleased.

He Ku was always a straightforward youth. Without hesitation, he grabbed He Huan’s collar and pulled the somewhat startled face close to his own. Their noses nearly touched, so close that it seemed they could see each other’s hearts with their eyes. Only then did he sigh:

“He Huan, you know how stubborn your nature is. Since we share the same soul, it’s probably hard for either of us to become gentle as water. So, I won’t hide anything from you. You don’t need to worry about making me uncomfortable anywhere—I won’t tolerate it. If I feel bad, I’ll definitely chase you down with a sword. Between you and me, there’s never any need for guessing.”

He spoke straight from the heart. At this moment, He Huan realized that all his previous worries were self-inflicted. They were, after all, the same soul, perfectly in sync no matter the time. Following their instincts was simply the best way to be together. Now, he couldn’t help but lower his head again and firmly kiss the youth’s lips. Their soft lips met and intertwined like clouds. He raised his eyes, his words full of tenderness: “Does that annoy you?”

This was He Huan’s first time taking the initiative to kiss him—without any romantic or poetic meaning, only deep tenderness and affection. But He Ku wanted more than that. Raising an eyebrow, he said, “You have two cabinets full of erotic art and still keep your kisses so innocent—aren’t you ashamed?”

This truly was without the slightest sugarcoating.

He Huan let out a light laugh. Though clearly being teased, his mood was excellent. He continued to nibble gently on the youth’s lips, his teeth lightly brushing the moist lower lip. Just as the other relaxed, he deepened the kiss. The gentle breeze and rain suddenly turned into a raging storm. He Ku felt as if both lips and tongue had lost control—sometimes so tight it felt like he might suffocate the next second, sometimes so soft it was barely there yet intensely teasing. Whenever he forgot to breathe, the other would perfectly time a breath to ease the awkward tension.

He Huan’s serious kiss was delicate and lingering. When he slowly raised his head, the youth’s cheeks were flushed rosy red, lips bright like peach blossoms, eyes slightly dazed. After catching his breath, he secretly regretted what had given him the courage to mock an old hand—see, he’d gotten dizzy as soon as things started moving!

That slightly vexed expression on his face made He Huan’s heart flutter again. His hands slid under the youth’s garment, not unbuttoning it, only loosening it slightly—vaguely revealing, which made it even more enticing. Through the thin inner shirt, his lips approached the youth’s chest, as if he could feel the other’s burning heartbeat. At last, he poured out everything in his heart, speaking every word directly to the other’s heart.

“He Ku, in the past, whether it was my master or Bu Yaolian, they could hurt my feelings, but never could they stop me from pursuing what I wanted. Only with you do I constantly restrain myself, unwilling to let this stubbornness hurt you even a little. The old He Huan always took the sword’s unorthodox path, acting recklessly because I feared nothing and could endure any loss. But now, I can’t anymore—I’m afraid of losing you, and even more afraid that holding on too tightly will make you hate me.”

“I won’t spoil you, nor will I worship you. If I really get mad, even you won’t be spared.”

Though his words were like this, He Ku knew in his heart that hearing He Huan’s true feelings was not easy. It took this much devotion to finally get them out; who knew when next time would be. But compared to such worries, right now he only wanted to see this devotion through to the end.

Thinking this, he pressed down on He Huan’s shoulders, and the two fell to the ground without resistance. The scent of fresh grass mingled with the fragrance of fallen flowers filled the air. The youth smiled gently, found a comfortable position lying down, and tugged He Huan’s collar to pull him close. Only then did he slowly say, “He Huan, hold me tight. I like you this much—you must never let go.”

Bai Chen had told He Ku that at times like this, his tone should be softer, tender as water. Yet, helplessly, he found that he was simply not made for coquettish pleas. Even saying these words came out with the sharp force of sword qi. Just as he was feeling frustrated, he was suddenly embraced. Though careful not to hurt him, their bodies pressed tightly together, as if once more they had become one.

Then, he saw the overwhelming desire in He Huan’s eyes, so intense it could not be dissolved.

“He Ku, you’re done for. Even if you want to leave someday, I’ll lock you inside my body, never letting go for a lifetime.”

This was probably the most demonic moment in He Huan’s life. At this moment, he no longer thought of the world, no longer cared for morality, nor others—he acted solely for himself. Yet, despite this terrifying aura of demonic energy overflowing from him, He Ku only felt happier and immediately said,

“That’s the promise—if you can’t keep it, I’ll cleave you with my sword!”

“That really is the most unique love confession in the world, but hearing it makes my heart race.”

He Huan realized he truly had no way to deal with him—he could always easily stir his emotions, and if he wasn’t careful, his rationality would collapse. But perhaps, in front of this person, losing his reason wasn’t such a problem after all.

He reached out to embrace the youth’s waist, and toward those thin lips that always spoke astonishing words, he gently pressed a kiss. Their lips met as they spoke the most important promise of their lives:

“I promise you, from now on I will never put myself in danger again. Once I only thought about dying for the world. Now, I will live for you.”

At that moment, the warm, moist spring breeze brushed through the dense peach blossom forest. The youth heard the gentle sound of flowing water. Raising his eyes, he saw the branches sway, a silent fragrant wind swept through, scattering a rain of peach blossoms. The profusion of flowers blurred his vision—besides their entwined figures, the world was nothing but a sea of rosy red.

What joy is there in life? Or anguish in death?

For a long time, whenever He Huan faced difficulties, he would only ask himself this question. He believed that for his Dao, he no longer feared death; nor did he cling to the pleasures of this world. This was the most transcendent state in life.

However, only now did he realize that having an ideal worth defending with one’s life is indeed a blessing. But if there is someone in this world, someone who just thinking of them gives you the strength to keep living, isn’t that also an irreplaceable happiness?

He never abandoned his original intention for the world; he simply placed one person deep in his heart, wanting to create the most peaceful human world for that person.

He Huan’s life was filled with countless passersby—some vanished from the martial world, some reconciled—but among the vast sea of people, only He Ku was the closest and the only one. Being able to decisively perform the Soul-Splitting Technique at that moment was truly the luck of his life.

Across a thousand years of the martial world, through myriad worldly entanglements, from this moment on, I live for you.

The End.

thisbro: the official story is finally over!! thank you for hanging on T^T, maybe i’ll see you in the extras 😛