After a pause, Mo Hua then asked with some sympathy:
"How did Sister Shuixian die?"
Elder Su's expression turned melancholic, and he shook his head:
"Beauty is often ill-fated, I suppose. Her health was never good, and after suffering at the Hundred Flower Tower, she developed a chronic illness. Later, when she was with me, I had a Pill Master treat her, but it was merely symptomatic treatment..."
"During that time, it was also because of me..."
"I would say that I wanted to redeem her, but I was also hesitant."
"I... after all, am an Elder of the South Yue Sect and a Formation Master. Although not boasting of a lofty status, I am indeed a person of some influence in South Yue City."
"In South Yue City, even clans and sects from other state boundaries have proposed marriage alliances."
"Those who sought my hand for their daughters were all talented and well-bred, with respectable origins and excellent Spiritual Roots, ensuring that our offspring would be gifted."
"Compared to them, Shuixian was just..."
Elder Su bittered a smile, "Perhaps Shuixian guessed what was on my mind and purposefully distanced herself from me, seemingly reluctant to trouble me."
"But in her heart, she must have resented me. Whether she hated me, I do not know..."
Elder Su sighed deeply.
"Under the weight of her grievances, her old ailments resurfaced, and then she was gone..."
"Back then, I was angry, convinced that Shuixian had been victimized, so I investigated for a long time but ended up finding nothing."
After a pause, he added, "Later I realized that Shuixian... actually died at my own hands."
"I was afraid of my own guilt, of regretting and feeling remorseful, so I shifted the blame."
"I hoped someone had killed Shuixian; then I could hate someone else, avenge her, and alleviate some of my guilt..."
"But no one had..."
"Her life was like a duckweed, hoping for solace from me."
"But I broke faith, and so, she drifted away with the wind..."
Elder Su's face bore a thick bitterness.
Mo Hua felt saddened as well and asked:
"Throughout these years, haven't you taken a Dao companion?"
Every time he visited this cave dwelling, aside from one or two maids boiling water and making tea, he hadn't seen any other female cultivators.
Elder Su shook his head, saying with resignation: