(This beautiful song is sung by Chen called A Beautiful Goodbye)

Years Later

I wake up to the most beautiful soul on this realm and even after all these years, I am glad that his soul is mine. Somethings would never change, one of them being that my Wei is a deep sleeper and would never wake up at dawn except when he needs my body.

Covering him with the blanket, I go about to freshen up and replace the warm water inside the tub for him. Donning my Gusu robes, it is when I see the band my fingers softly caress them. Fastening them on my forehead, I walk outside only to be greeted by WuJi's heirs.

Sitting on the porch I look up at the fully blossomed Peony Tree. Taking in a deep breath I reminisce all the memories we have collected in these many years. Happiness, sadness, joy, pain, anguish, love and above all unions.

It was about 30 years ago when Uncle Lan Qiren decided it was time to give up his mortal body and ascend to the immortal world. He had dedicated his whole life for us and it was time for us to accept his decision. It made me smile when I think back to his last request. He wanted Wei Ying to pour him a cup of Gusu's Emperor Smile.

So what did Wei do? He gently lifted uncle in his arm, sat on the wall of 4000 rules and together they drank the whole night until Wei shed a drop of tear and cried for the soul who he had come to treat as his own.

It was heart wrenching to see the two of them part but I knew my uncle would have cherished the memory. He had come to adore Wei as his own.

A year after our marriage, it was Jingyi and Sizhui who were tied under the sacred union. He like his mentor had a flair and proposed Sizhui on the New Years Eve with fireworks and other extravaganza. Wei said he was jealous that he too should have wooed me this way but I knew deep down he enjoyed planning all this with Jingyi.

ZiZhen was the next to marry and as a sweet child he has always been, married an orphan who turned out to be the perfect partner for him. Ofcourse his family were against the marriage but when you have the love guru to solve all problems, ZiZhen in the end received everyones blessings and today has four grandchildren.

The most romantic of all stories would be Jin RuLan and Wu Meiming's. She under the tutelage of Wen Ning became the best medical practitioner in the realm. So when Jin RuLan came to Gusu to seek her hand, she didn't oblige at first. Not that her feelings changed but she wanted Jin RuLan to experience the realm with her. She made him wait for an entire year and he traveled around, saw peoples pain, suffering and that made him a better leader.

In the end they did get married and ruled LanLing Jin Sect with adept principles. They gave birth to two sons. They named the first born Jin Xuan and second born Jin Wanyin.

Jiang Cheng was a wise ruler but never did get married until the very end. So it was Wu Meiming and Jin RuLan who decided that Yunmeng Sect Jiang needed an heir to the throne. It was unanimously decided by all Sects to let Jiang Cheng formally adopt Jin Wanyin as the next heir to the Jiang Sect and he indeed is a sweet child.

Today Yunmeng Jiang Sect and LanLing Jin Sect flourished by highs and bounds.

Few years ago when Jiang Cheng decided that it was finally time for him to let go, he handed over the reins to Jiang Wanyin and came down to Gusu to bid his warm farewell to us. Before leaving, he and Wei reminisced their youth and happiness. It was during this time when my brother too had decided to leave the mortal realm.

I was heartbroken and so was the cultivation world but in the end he knew that Sizhui and Jingyi would be the capable leaders and there was nothing more to be done. He knew his brother had someone to make him feel and that made my brother contented.

He and Jiang Cheng as they claimed to be lifelong friends bid us farewell and that was the last time we saw them in the mortal realm.

Life went on and it was Wei Ying who made this life worthwhile. Every moment with him was beautiful. Every minute with him was precious. But time indeed was changing and there was nothing I could do to stop.

"Hey" his voice was as warm as honey as he placed a thick robe around me "it's cold" he blew a cold breath and gazed up at the sky "it's going to snow".

"Wei Ying" I called his name and as he turned to look at me, his crimson blood pupils dilated a bit and he knew the message I was trying to convey.

Giving me his hand, he pulled me up and grinned "Come on it's been ages since I fed you some Lotus Pods" trudging through the trails, we reach the pond and he picks out a fresh on. Opening them he pops it into my mouth and then kisses my lips.

"I wonder if you would have enjoyed your life with Lady Zhi Ruo had you accepted her proposal" he casually comments and I laugh.

"Hey! Why are you laughing Lan Zhan?" He pouts and I pull him for a hug "Never did I realise that you would be so jealous of her. It's good to know".

"Hey! I am not jealous" he pauses and kisses my nose "I am just possessive".

Shaking my head I sigh "Most of your hair is grey and your possessive about a proposal that happened half a century ago?".

"I am still handsome and you're mine" he bites my lips and then laughs.

It is memories as these that I would sorely miss. Rather I knew it's more of Wei Ying that I will miss.

Walking around Gusu I meet the new kids and they were ecstatic to see Wei Ying and me. "Hang-jun!" the young ones call and Wei even after all these years has a gala time when they tease me. He agrees with Jingyi  that my glares no longer work.

Lan Bohai and Lan Fan were now elders of the clan and for all Wei Ying was Elder Patriarch.

Often he'd travel back to the Burial Mountain when life became too strenuous for him here. He says the peace that he gets there is absolutely different from the ones of the ordinary realm.

Wei's eyes never changed after the last battle. They remained crimson red permanently. He grew stronger but never did he take part in any other siege. He said two lifetimes were enough.

The realm became a better place and peace was prevalent. Wen Ning was ever present by Wei's side and through the years actively took part in teaching medicines to the disciples who sought him in Gusu.

Food here was as bland as ever but for Wei, spicy food, alcohol and yelling were always allowed. Rules never applied to him and no one ever stopped him. Though with age he didn't go much against them but he did continue to stack Gusu's Emperor's Smile in Jingshi.

"Lan Zhan" we were in our bedroom as Wei walked up towards me "remember when we were young you promised me 'Everyday means Everyday', yeah, sleep with me tonight?".

I look into his eyes and smile "I have been sleeping only with you for all these years" I take him in my arms.

"Yes, but..." He trails off and I kiss his lips "Alright" I grin "Strip" at that he laughs and obliges. Standing in front of me stark naked, the mark on his chest is more prominent. As he undoes my robes, he kisses my pectorals and guides me towards the bed.

That night as I filled him up, a lone rogue tear falls from his eyes and I knew the overwhelming feeling.

"When you leave Lan Zhan, don't wake me up alright" he smiles through his tears "I won't be able to see you go" he places his warm palm on my weak heart "I knew for sometime now that you're heart is fading away. I just can't say goodbye. Not yet".

"It's alright. I'll wait for you. Remember this is just temporary. I'll always belong to you but this time" I kiss his lips "don't make me wait too long".

He nods.

Taking him into my arms that night none of us could sleep but together we enjoyed the few fleeting moments that we had in this realm.

As morning arrived, I witnessed his eyes were closed. Placing my forehead band and a letter on my pillow my his side, I kiss his lips gently and walk away.

Meet you soon my dear Wei Ying.

One year later

Wei Ying's POV:

"Elder Patriarch" Sizhui and Jingyi greet me "how have you been?" I look at them proudly and smile "As awesome as I can be!" we laugh and they gesture me to join them for lunch.

After Lan Zhan's life, my heart could no longer bear the pain and thought of him not being there and so Wen Ning and I roamed the realm far and wide.

It was said that during this period when one would hear the sound of Chenqing, it was the cry of The Yiling Patriarch for his beloved Hanguang-Jun. It was true.

Having Wen Ning by my side did not lessen the pain but he was my constant companion who shared my anguish when I drowned them with alcohol.

"Elder Patriarch" they call but it was when they said "Senior Wei, did I look at them".

"It's good to have you back" Jingyi smiled "we missed you" and I chuckled faintly "you're husband is right by your side and yet you have the courage to flirt with me after all these years".

Sizhui was smiling whilst Jingyi was laughing outrightly "Never change Senior Wei".

"There won't be any chance for me to change" my somber voice was a hint to them of what was coming next.

"What are you saying?" Sizhui's eyes were glazed and Jingyi took him in his arm.

"I am going back to Jingshi" they gasp. Everyone knew after Lan Zhan's life, I never stepped into Jingshi again "I am leaving. I just wanted to meet you two. Wen Ning is joining me to the immortal realm. My life here is complete and your Hang-jun is waiting for me. You two take care of everyone. Be wise as Hanguang-Jun made you to be. Take care of Jingshi for us" I hug them as they hold in their sorrow well.

Bowing down in front of Wen Ning and me, we smile and walk back to Jingshi. I remember Lan Zhan carrying me in his arms the day we got married. My gaze lands on the lotus pond and Shijie's lotus. Finally placing my palm on the Peony Tree, I reminisce his last letter to me.

Dear Wei,

I love you.

Only yours,
Lan Zhan.

After that one letter, I opened up his drawer and read each and every letter of his. They were heart-wrenching yet they were true as my Lan Zhan's words.

~When he read those letters, it was snowing outside and as once Lan Zhan's tears fell onto the snow only for them to forever disappear, Wei's tears were also never to be found. ~

I forever walk into Jingshi never to step out.

The Peony Tree stood test of time as she witnessed a young blossoming love. She saw the yearning, the waiting, the pain and happiness. She saw the union, she saw the scar, she saw a family and then none there was.

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying's love story was the one that spoke of immortality. It was ethereal and eternal.

With Wei Ying - Wei Wuxian - The Yiling Patriarch walking into Jingshi forever only to leave this mortal realm, Jinshi was true to its name.

Jingshi would now be silent forever.