Once I enter the pass, great Confucian scholars will surely debate the classics for me.

As the setting sun cast a blood-red glow, the maple forest outside Forget-Me-Not Town was bathed in a poignant crimson hue.

Although it was springtime, the maple leaves in the forest had not yet turned the vibrant red of autumn, still retaining their fresh green vitality. However, in this tranquil yet slightly melancholic greenery, a solitary grave sat quietly, seemingly isolated from the world, bearing witness to an unspeakable sorrow.

The first red leaf, carrying clothes, slowly moved forward step by step.

Zhou Qingfeng, Jin Wei, and the old cripple followed slowly.

The atmosphere in the forest inexplicably began to feel somewhat oppressive and suffocating. A gentle breeze blew by, causing the black hair of the first red leaf to dance wildly. Her exquisite and beautiful face was devoid of joy or sorrow. She was dressed in white, as white as snow, and her attire was simple and elegant. She was graceful and charming, and looked like a goddess who was high above and could not be profaned.

When they reached the lonely grave, First Red Leaf knelt down, lifted her clothes, and gently stroked the tombstone.

The tombstone bears only five characters: The Tomb of Xu Xiaoqiu.

"Xiao Qiu, wake up. Didn't you want to see me? I'm here." First Red Leaf spoke calmly with a smile, her tone gentle and normal, as if she were meeting an acquaintance. She didn't seem as grief-stricken as one might expect, with tears streaming down her face. "Look, I showed you a new dress. Hehe, it might not look very good since it's my first time making clothes, but you can wear it anyway. Don't say it's ugly or not pretty."

Her only response was a chilling wind and a silent tombstone.

At this moment, First Red Leaf truly realized the meaning of death. The person was lying in the grave, but he could no longer respond and had left forever. Yet, the memories of their time together felt like yesterday.

Tears streamed down Hongye's face involuntarily. Her heart throbbed with pain and palpitations. Her delicate body began to tremble and grow cold uncontrollably. A surge of sorrow overwhelmed her, assaulting her rational defenses. All the sweet moments of the past seemed like swords slashing at her heart.

She didn't even get to see her lover one last time. Regret, sadness, pain, remorse, and sweetness all intertwined, as if twisting the first red leaf into a pretzel. She felt the sky darken and the world instantly dimmed.

Unable to hold back any longer, with tears welling in her eyes, she leaned against the tombstone, bowed her head, and sobbed, "Xiao Qiu, I'm sorry, I'm too late..."

In this spring, before the maple leaves have turned red, everything here seems even more desolate and lonely, just like the love that the two missed, once so close, yet so far, and in the end, they can only reunite in this way between life and death.

Seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, and sighed, "Why plant bitter melon under a bitter tree..."

Throughout history, wealthy families have often produced many lovesick men and women. Because of their dull and monotonous life of wealth, they lack nothing in terms of material things and can have whatever they want. The love they cannot obtain makes them even more obsessed and restless.

Did First Red Leaf not know that she and Xu Xiaoqiu could never have a good ending? No, she knew, but she still did it because she wanted to fight against and break this damn rule. She wanted to pursue her own love like her father, even if it meant repeating the same mistakes, she didn't care at all.

She didn't care about her identity, status, or even her family's long-standing fortune, because she already had all of that from the day she was born.

Moreover, her father's towering figure stood in her heart, silently influencing her path of growth.

A father is a role model in his child's heart, and whether that role model is good or bad, his influence on the child lasts a lifetime.

It can be said that the personalities and temperaments of the First Taibai and the First Hongye are exactly the same.

There's an old saying that a tiger father begets no dog daughter; in simpler terms, a dragon begets a dragon, and a phoenix begets a phoenix.

If the father is a romantic, how could his own children not be romantic, unless they are not his biological children?

"Sigh, Jinwei, keep watch from a distance and give Third Sister some space. Report back immediately if anything happens." Zhou Qingfeng didn't go to disturb First Red Leaf, nor did he try to comfort her, because it was useless. Right now, First Red Leaf just needed solitude and quiet, so he didn't want to bother her.

As time goes by, the pain will naturally fade, and your mood will calm down.

At this point, no amount of comforting would help; First Red Leaf wouldn't listen to anything anyone said, she would only find it incredibly noisy and annoying.

She's not an eighteen-year-old girl who needs comforting when she's hurt or in pain.

Moreover, one must overcome emotional tribulations on one's own; no one can help. If one tries to show off by offering help, it may very well backfire.

Therefore, it's enough to stop there and let the First Red Leaf realize that Xu Xiaoqiu is dead.

“Let’s go home and prepare dinner, Mr. Liao,” Zhou Qingfeng said, turning around and gesturing with his hand.

Seeing this, the old cripple nodded slightly, and, leaning on his cane, limped away alongside Zhou Qingfeng.

Seven days have passed, and Zhou Qingfeng is still staying in Wangyou Town.

He hoped to see the first red leaves recover before he could embark on his journey home with peace of mind.

In the front yard of the house, Zhou Qingfeng sat on a stone chair, poured a cup of tea for the old cripple, and asked, "Mr. Liao, you helped Xu Xiaoqiu find the first red leaf and fulfilled her wish. The cause and effect are now cleared. Would you like to return to the Sword Tower with me now?"

The old cripple took a sip of tea slowly and smiled slightly: "Si Lang, if you don't mind my leg problems, then I will go back to the Sword Tower with you."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Qingfeng smiled and offered tea, saying, "Mr. Liao, you are too kind. I am more than happy to welcome you, how could I possibly find it offensive?"

The old cripple's strength is unknown, but he becomes stronger when facing stronger opponents, making him unfathomable. At least Zhou Qingfeng has not yet truly seen through the old cripple's abilities. However, it is known that the old cripple is a super expert. If the old cripple accompanies him home, then the journey home will be more secure.

"Young Master!" At this moment, Jin Wei rushed into the front yard, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "The Third Miss has been kneeling in front of Xu Xiaoqiu's grave for seven consecutive days, without eating, drinking, or saying a word. Just now, for some unknown reason, the Third Miss suddenly dug up the grave and found that there was no body inside..."

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of fire descended.

The first red leaf's white dress had turned crimson, her body wreathed in demonic flames, wrapped in red silk, dancing in the wind, riding on wheels of fire, wielding a fire-tipped spear, her crimson eyes filled with rage: "Old man, how dare you lie to me! Tell me, where is Xu Xiaoqiu? He's not dead, is he?!"

Upon seeing this, Zhou Qingfeng's expression became extremely subtle, and then he looked at the calm and composed old cripple.

The old cripple took a sip of tea with a nonchalant air and sighed, "Alas, Third Miss, you still found out in the end. As expected, he calculated that you wouldn't easily believe he was dead and would definitely dig up the grave to check. This is exactly what he predicted."

First Red Leaf raised the tip of her spear, her killing intent palpable: "He really isn't dead. Why did he let you lie to me?"