Tainted Heart | Cultivation World Series 3 (BL)

E P I L O G U E

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Epilogue

The little girl then yelled 'Father' and wrapped her hands around Lian Ren's arms. Lian Ren was too dumbfounded to react as the little girl continued to speak.

"Father!~ Father!~ Axia knew you would come for her!~"

Lian Ren hesitantly replied, "I apologize, but I don't remember having a daughter."

The little girl, named Axia, tilted her head. Instead of getting either sad or angry, she just let out a sweet laugh and hugged Lian Ren.

"Father!~ Come play with Axia!~"

"Uhh." Lian Ren glanced at the plum blossom tree that turned its form back to a normal tree, where the petals were no longer radiating a pink glow, and the tree branch was no longer painted white. "I......I'm....."

Before Lian Ren could say anything, Axia pulled him towards the small boulder and signaled for him to sit with her. Lian Ren sat with a stupefied expression. He glanced at the little girl, who was smiling sweetly as she stared at the translucent boxes where there were pictures of Shao Ling and him.

Lian Ren then turned to Axia and asked, "Can I ask you what those boxes are over there?"

"It's you and my birth mom!" Axia happily answered. She then innocently turned to the plum blossom tree and continued to speak: "Mister Tree said that Dad and Mom were too mad at each other, so he destroyed their memories and buried himself deep inside their emotions to make them feel a little bit better. Axia is kind of sad. I wish Mom and Dad would make out and not get mad at each other again."

"Oh." Lian Ren slowly nodded. "I see."

Lian Ren's chest somehow felt heavy as he talked to the little girl, Axia. Hearing her call him father brings back the horrifying realization of him killing his child without knowing that Shao Ling was pregnant back then.

Lian Ren turned to the girl as he forced a pained smile on his face. "I'm sorry. I am not your father."

Axia tilted her head and slightly frowned. "Then who is my father?"

"Your father..." Lian Ren paused and averted his gaze as he frowned to himself. "He was a bad guy. He always hurt your mom."

"Oh..." Axia replied. She turned to the translucent boxes and stared at them in a daze.

Lian Ren's hand trembled as he watched the little child's bewildered expression. "Do you resent your father?" he asked. He was scared because his voice slightly trembled.

Little Axia turned to him and showed a small smile. "I don't hate father. Axia loves father and mom!"

"........."

Lian Ren went silent for a while. He was taken aback when he started to hear Axia speaking in a small voice.

"You see, Mister Tree told me that mom cannot give birth to me anymore. He said that Mom was too tired and frail, so Mister Tree saved me from dying. He took care of me here and made me a spirit while sharing a part of his power."

Axia's wings fluttered as she flew upward. Her translucent white wings were so beautiful to see as they fluttered quickly from her back. Axia laughed as she spun around, then flew behind Lian Ren.

"Axia is thankful to Mister Tree. Sadly, Mister Tree passed away long ago. Axia is now alone, trying to maintain Mister Tree with the power I have left."