Chapter 162: Mental Transformation
Li Yuan couldn't help but turn his head to look. The young man, who bore a resemblance to Xu Bo, had also knelt down.
With slightly reddened eyes, the young man looked at his father and then at Li Yuan. He clasped his hands and bowed, "Senior Brother."
He often heard his father talk about this "Senior Brother Li Yuan," the most outstanding student his father had taught in all these years.
"Hmm, get up," Li Yuan said softly, helping the young man to his feet.
"Teacher, if you have anything to say, please go ahead." Li Yuan struggled to hold back his tears as he looked at Xu Bo.
"Alright."
"I am dying, so I won't hide anything anymore. I hope you won't blame your teacher," Xu Bo forced a smile. "Xu Ling is my son. His mother died at the hands of alien races, and I always felt I owed him."
"In the future, if he encounters any trouble and you are able to help, please help him more," Xu Bo's eyes showed a glimmer of hope.
Perhaps, he once was a man of great resolve.
A man who roamed the astral realm with a fearsome reputation as the 'Iron Tower.'
But at this moment, he was just a 'father' who hoped to pave a bit more road for his child in his final stage of life and leave behind a bit of goodwill.
"Teacher, you have so many friends and relatives. They will all help Xu Ling," Li Yuan said, his heart aching. "But don't worry, I will treat Xu Ling as my own brother and will help him whenever I can."
"Good," Xu Bo felt reassured.
He had sought help from many people, but in his heart, Li Yuan held the most weight and was the one with the most potential to become a flying martial artist in the future.
"Li Yuan."
"In the past, I also aspired to become a flying martial artist, to make a name for myself in China with the spear in my hand, and even to kill all the alien races in the astral realm," Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan and said softly. "Unfortunately, I couldn't do it."
"So, after getting injured, I returned to Jiangcheng to teach students and do my best in the remaining years of my life."
"You are the best student I have ever seen," Xu Bo looked at Li Yuan with a hint of expectation in his eyes. "I hope you can carry on with the teacher's blessing."
"Become a flying martial artist."
"And even surpass the flying level to truly become the pinnacle of human civilization," Xu Bo smiled.
"Teacher, I will do my best," Li Yuan nodded, still trying hard not to let his tears fall.
Xu Bo only became Li Yuan's martial arts teacher in his second year of high school.
In terms of time spent together, it wasn't long.
But Xu Bo was the first teacher who genuinely helped Li Yuan with no expectations, whether in cultivation guidance or daily life, or when joining the Starlight Martial Hall... Xu Bo always fully supported Li Yuan.
Today was the last time they would see each other.
...
Li Yuan didn't stay in the ward for long.
After all, he was just Xu Bo's "student," barely considered a half-personal disciple.
In this final moment of life, Xu Bo most wished for his family to be by his side.
"Uncle Wan." Li Yuan walked out of the ward.
The woman in black had already left.
"I wanted to tell you about Xu Bo earlier, but your teacher didn't allow it," Wan Qinghe said. "You are still young and have seen less of this kind of thing."
"I don't want to persuade you of anything because anyone facing this will feel terrible," Wan Qinghe looked at Li Yuan and sighed. "Your teacher was a good man, and seeing him like this, I also feel bad."
"I just want to tell you."
"This is the path of a martial artist. Starting from university, many classmates will die. When entering the astral realm, more and more friends, old acquaintances, and elders will die in battle. Many won't even have their bodies or the place where they died found... We can only face it, and we must face it."
"What we can do is to make ourselves stronger and more resilient," Wan Qinghe looked at Li Yuan.
Today, his words were particularly straightforward, with little concealment.
"I understand," Li Yuan nodded softly.
Not long after, Wan Qinghe also left. As the head of the Starlight Guanshan Branch, he had a lot of things to handle at such times.
Taking some time to visit Xu Bo was already rare.
But Li Yuan didn't leave; he continued to wait silently outside the ward.
As time passed, more people came to visit.
Around 8 p.m., a slightly unexpected figure appeared in the corridor.
"Lanyue?" Li Yuan looked at the visitor in surprise.
"Are you that surprised to see me?" Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan. They hadn't met in real life for a long time.
"Didn't you say you wouldn't return to Jiangcheng during the holidays?" Li Yuan asked. He and Lin Lanyue often communicated online.
Previously, Lin Lanyue had been on the Lantis Continent and hadn't returned from Starry Sky University.
"You told me about Teacher Xu. He was also my martial arts teacher. Can't I come back to see him?" Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan.
In high school, Xu Bo had been the martial arts teacher for three classes.
"Do you have any way?" Li Yuan's heart flashed with a hint of hope.
Last night, while on a mission, Li Yuan had asked Lin Lanyue if there was any way to help.
"No," Lin Lanyue shook her head.
The last glimmer of hope in Li Yuan's heart was extinguished.
"To save Teacher Xu, the poison must be neutralized, but the Stellar Blood Spirit Poison has already penetrated his star meridians. It's too difficult," Lin Lanyue sighed and shook her head. "I asked my father, and perhaps someone beyond the flying level could do it."
"But at least my father can't."
Li Yuan's eyes dimmed; this was within his expectations.
Just as Xu Bo himself had said, he had extensive connections and had flying martial artists try to help.
If it could be saved, it would have been done long ago.
"Alright, I'll go see the teacher," Lin Lanyue said and entered the ward.
She came out of the ward shortly after.
The two sat quietly on the chairs outside the ward, waiting silently.
"I heard from my second brother that you performed very well in the recent Fish Spirit Tide in Jiangcheng," Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan. "You will probably be given a special commendation."
"A special commendation?" Li Yuan nodded slightly.
With Lin Lanyue's family background, it wasn't difficult for her to know some news in advance.
However, Li Yuan didn't feel much joy in his heart. He would rather not have this so-called commendation.
Lin Lanyue looked at Li Yuan and didn't say anything more.
Although she was also Xu Bo's student, she didn't have the same deep feelings and couldn't have the same feelings as Li Yuan.
...
At around 4 a.m., Xu Bo passed away peacefully in the ward, surrounded by many family members, friends, and students.
He was only 48 years old.
...
Two days later, Xu Bo's memorial service was held in the auditorium of the Guanshan District.
As one of the only two martial artists in Jiangcheng who died in the Fish Spirit Tide.
Yes, Starlight Martial Hall and the state jointly recognized Xu Bo as "fallen in battle," and given his significant contributions to human civilization and China throughout his life, he was posthumously awarded the First-Class Gold Medal.
His memorial service was undoubtedly grand.
Lin Lanyue stayed in Jiangcheng for several days, accompanying Li Yuan to attend Xu Bo's memorial service.
Then she quickly left and returned to the Lantis Continent.
...
After attending Teacher Xu Bo's memorial service and having a private conversation with Xu Ling, Li Yuan returned home.
The various building and street damages caused by the Fish Spirit Tide in Jiangcheng were being rapidly repaired.
However, the massive casualties and the pain in the hearts of tens of millions of people in Jiangcheng were not something that could be smoothed over quickly.
It would take a long time.
As time passed, Li Yuan spent the remaining days of his vacation either training intensively or accompanying his uncle and aunt.
After what happened with Teacher Xu Bo, Li Yuan became more aware that time often passes and never returns.
Many things.
If not done at the time, it's easy to leave regrets that can never be made up for.
For Li Yuan, he would never have the chance to repay Teacher Xu Bo's "teaching grace."
The deceased were gone.
Therefore, Li Yuan cherished the days he could spend with his uncle and aunt even more.
...
On December 25th, the Jiangbei Province announced that the "Fish Spirit Attack on Jiangcheng" was over, but the subsequent counterattacks and retaliations against the Fish Spirit Astral Realm would continue.
...
On December 27th, Jiangcheng held a city-wide commendation meeting to honor the citizens and martial artists who made outstanding contributions during the Fish Spirit Tide.
Li Yuan was established as a "young martial artist model" and was finally awarded the First-Class Silver Medal.
Along with his previous deeds, this made his reputation grow even more in the Jiangbei Province.
However.
Li Yuan never cared about all this. He didn't even attend the banquet after the award ceremony.
Instead, he returned home directly.
On the villa's rooftop, under the starry sky, the entire community was particularly quiet.
"Two days later, I will depart for the Bright Ruins Astral Realm," Li Yuan sat quietly.
Downstairs.
Because the meeting wasn't broadcast live, his uncle, aunt, younger brother, and sister were watching the recorded video of the award ceremony.
Li Yuan just sat quietly on the rooftop, listening to his family's discussions.
He looked at the calm lake in the distance.
He looked at the surrounding villas, and his heart was particularly peaceful. He felt that this moment was extremely beautiful.
As if the wars of the past few days were just a dream.
"If every day, everyone in the country could live like this, how wonderful would it be," Li Yuan silently thought.
He quietly watched all this.
Gradually, Li Yuan's heart became increasingly peaceful, with a subtle change.