Stronger from Earth-Chapter 121: That Mourning Love Tree

What is love?

If you cherish it, it becomes the most precious thing in the world, a priceless gem worth giving everything for.

If you don’t value it, it becomes worthless, a false and mundane thing that deceives your efforts and expectations.

Its existence lies in the lovers’ persistence in it; it is a conceptual object, having no physical form. It only truly exists in the hearts of the lovers when both firmly believe in it.

When either party no longer believes or insists, it fades away gradually. It cannot be possessed permanently just because it’s obtained.

At this moment, both Wang Xuan and Lin Cheng could clearly feel that love truly exists, leaping in their hearts like a sun, warming everything about them.

The joyous Lin Cheng still entered the bathroom, beginning to groom her appearance. A woman beautifies herself for the one who will appreciate her, and she wanted to leave a better image for Wang Xuan.

When she came out, Wang Xuan realized that Lin Cheng was radiant all over. Lin Cheng took his arm: "Let’s go, we can’t just stay cooped up in the lab today, that’s too boring."

The first day after confessing, everything they did was joyful, and what they wanted most was to stay together, whispering sweet nothings.

It’s quite childish and time-consuming, but for hearts wanting to be close, it’s truly meaningful and joyful time.

"Time has flown by, and summer is about to end. We’ve known each other for six or seven years. I still remember the first time I saw you, as a senior. You were truly stunning, and then I knew such a beautiful girl existed in the world."

Wang Xuan and Lin Cheng walked to their alma mater. There weren’t many people in this long-standing university during summer; the students had yet to report for the new semester.

"Really? How come I remember you being silent and sullen, like a little old man then." Lin Cheng chuckled.

Wang Xuan stayed at this school for four years, while Lin Cheng stayed even longer, being a doctoral graduate. She was also one or two years older than Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan suddenly sighed: "Indeed, when I saw you, you were like a celestial being, but when you saw me, it was during my desolation. I really want you to know that when I was arrogant and unruly back then, I was quite dazzling."

Compared to Lin Cheng, his past self was indeed too dim and dull. He didn’t express his feelings, partly for this reason.

Every girl hopes her beloved is a peerless hero who can come to marry her on a colorful cloud, and Wang Xuan also wished to appear before her as a peerless hero.

At each landmark, they left photos because during their school time, they never had such moments; now, it’s good to make up for them.

"Do you know? A little girl from our major had a crush on you and even asked me what to do about it.

I just said, look at that Wang Xuan, so silly and dull, with no money or looks, where could he find a girlfriend? You’re so beautiful; invite him to a movie, and he’ll definitely go wagging his tail." Lin Cheng recalled many fun anecdotes from school, sharing them with Wang Xuan.

Wang Xuan also remembered that girl: "She seemed to have asked me out, but I was busy that day, so I refused."

"Yeah, you rejected her. That little girl was quite disappointed," Lin Cheng said. That little girl has now entered a big company, almost ready to marry her boyfriend.

"I was indeed quite silent then, not in the mood for romance, and unsure of my daily survival, so I didn’t want to waste others’ youth."

Wang Xuan looked at the pond’s lotus, then jumped up, walking on the water’s surface, picked a lotus flower, and turned back, walking on water again.

His Lightweight Technique and strength made walking on water as stable as walking on steel plates; such water-floating feats were very easy.

"This is for you." Wang Xuan handed the lotus flower to Lin Cheng.

Lin Cheng shyly accepted it, playing with it in her hand: "What if someone sees this?"

An old man wearing an armband came from afar, expressionless: "Lotus flowers in the pond are not to be picked; one violation results in a fifty yuan fine."

Only then did Wang Xuan remember that the old man was the famous Black Evil from his university days, as he always appeared to lecture about school rules and spoil couples’ fun.

After obediently paying the fifty yuan fine, the old man walked away leisurely, searching for the next person picking lotus flowers for their girlfriend.

"Haha, didn’t expect such a thing to happen to you, huh? Whoever got fined before would definitely make a fuss on social media." Lin Cheng laughed lightly.

Wang Xuan pinched her cheek: "Didn’t I pick the lotus flower for you?"

They walked past the stadium, the library, the comprehensive hall, and the academic buildings, then crossed the couple’s walking path to stand before a big tree.

This was a grand banyan tree with a broad canopy. It was quite old, seemingly existing before the school was built, yet still lush and thriving.

The banyan’s branches were covered with red ribbons, which turned into a red cloud, resembling the tree adorned with red flowers. Three hundred sixty-five days a year, it was always flower season. These were tied by countless lovers here, making beautiful wishes one after another.

"This Wishing Tree has witnessed countless loves. Remember those little couples in our major who, in their passionate romance, would come here to wish for a blissful love."

Some people kept walking on, while others could only come back to reminisce.

Wang Xuan couldn’t help but think of the three guys from his dormitory. It seemed they’ve all sweet-talked girls under this tree, but two couples have broken up; only one made it to the end.

Just last year, he attended their wedding, gifting them. That guy was all smiles, originally planning to marry in a few years, but his girlfriend got pregnant, and since abortion harms health and life, they decided to marry directly.

Now, his child is probably already born, and the family must be enjoying heavenly bliss.

"How about we make a wish here too?" Lin Cheng said happily.

"Sure."

Wang Xuan approached the pavilion beside the Wishing Tree, where an old lady was dozing off. During the heat of summer, the university wasn’t busy, and even fewer people came to tie red ribbons here.

"Old lady, old lady? Could you help me fetch a red ribbon?" Wang Xuan asked.

The old lady woke up, looked at Wang Xuan’s tall figure, then at Lin Cheng’s relatively graceful body, feeling they were an odd pair of beauty and the beast.

Yet oddly, love not based on appearance tends to have a higher chance of enduring.

"How many years do you want it to hang?" the old lady asked. The ribbon comes with a metal token that can be engraved. When couples break up, it’ll be taken down.

The Wishing Tree is adorned with too many ribbons; every few years, they clear away the faded ones. If corresponding fees are paid, the staff will regularly replace ribbons, keeping the metal token hanging.

"What’s the longest-lasting emotion token here?" Lin Cheng approached, curiously asking.

The old lady thought hard, her memory not quite what it used to be, finally saying: "Probably over four hundred thirty years. They’re still alive."

Couples who can live this long are cultivators with extraordinary realms, either Earth Immortal or in the Vajra Realm. Being figures from the Era of Mythology’s Early Period, their status now is probably unimaginable.

No wonder the Wishing Tree has existed for so long, still standing firmly here through wind and rain, likely benefiting greatly from that couple’s care.

"How about a hundred years then, signifying eternal harmony, while one hundred thirty years is roughly my current cultivation level’s lifespan.

After a hundred years, if we can come back, we’ll renew the wish for another hundred till the day we grow old and die." Lin Cheng said solemnly.

"A hundred years then? If, after a hundred years, you don’t return, your emotion token will be arranged to be buried under the Wishing Tree until it dissolves, returning to the earth," the old lady said.

A ten-year wish is free. Beyond ten years, it will be cleared and buried in the soil. The longer the retention period, the higher the fees.

The two received their emotion token, personally engraving each other’s names on it.

"Lin Cheng."

"Wang Xuan."

"2518 AD."

Wang Xuan’s strength was good, carving countless stars above, highlighting their names along with their simple portraits. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

Taking the red ribbon, the two tied it to the branch, while the emotion token swayed with the wind, producing clear and pleasant sounds as one token clashed with another.

Wang Xuan and Lin Cheng silently made their wishes facing the Wishing Tree.

"Let’s go!"

Wang Xuan picked Lin Cheng up in a princess carry, walking away laughing and chatting while the crisp clinking behind seemed to murmur countless beautiful wishes.