Chapter 238 | My Class Is Ghost Bride, But This Isn’t Romance

Xu Jingan stood quietly nearby. Though his figure in his green robes was upright and tall, he could not hide the deep sorrow and melancholy that shrouded him.

His gaze repeatedly drifted back to Bai Ci, who stood not far away.

The face before him was still that of his eldest sister-in-law, but her aura was entirely different. It lacked her former meekness and restraint, yet it also lacked the gentle, upright scholarly grace of his eldest brother.

Right now, she was calm and indifferent, so unfamiliar that he could not recognize her at all.

He had always believed himself to be well-read in the classics of the sages and well-versed in the principles of the world, yet at this moment, he could not make sense of the situation before him.

Suppressing the emotions in his heart, Xu Jingan glanced at his mother in his sister's arms and raised his hand, signaling all the attendants behind him to withdraw, clearing out all outsiders.

He then looked up at Bai Ci and the others and said, “You should run.”

“The Governor's men must already be on their way. The commotion here was too loud, and this is not a situation you can easily escape from. If you wait any longer, it will be too late.”

He had already pieced together most of the truth by now. He knew that this group was by no means ordinary people of the martial world, and he also understood that the root of this disaster had never lain with them.

Now that the dust had settled, the only thing he could do was allow these people involved in the scheme to escape safely.

Hearing this, Xiang Jinsheng looked perfectly calm and confident, without a hint of panic. “The Governor won't be coming.”

“The Governor colluded with the Double Snake Cult, bent the law for personal gain, and condoned the cult's wicked deeds. I have already secretly delivered the evidence of these crimes to his political rivals in the imperial court.”

“The Governor is already struggling to save his own skin and has no time to spare, let alone the power to worry about this place.”

“This great chaos caused by the cult and its remaining members will instead become the political achievements for the new Governor to win over the people and establish a foothold in the court.”

“The old factions are being uprooted, and a new order will naturally rise in its place. Someone will see to it that today's matters are properly wrapped up.”

Even so, he nodded slightly. “But we indeed should leave. This is no place to linger.”

Just as everyone was about to move, Bai Ci, who had been standing silently, suddenly spoke—though she was not talking to anyone physically present.

“I have to leave with them.”

“...You are about to completely disappear too, aren't you?”

Bai Ci could feel that after the heavenly thunder, something was gradually peeling away and dissipating from her body.

That was likely the remnant soul of Xu Qinghe lingering in the world, slowly shedding its shackles and returning to the realm where it belonged.

“Time is running out. If you have anything to say, you had better say it quickly.”

Xu Zhaoyue laid Madame Xu down and walked over to stand beside Xu Jingan. Together, they looked at Bai Ci, their eyes turning red with welling tears.

They both understood. This was the final farewell.

Silence fell all around them, broken only by the night breeze rustling through the banners.

In the next instant, a male voice, as gentle as the wind and as elegant as bamboo, echoed in Bai Ci's mind. It was soft yet clear, filled with heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you.”

The moment the words fell, Bai Ci suddenly experienced an entirely unfamiliar physical sensation.

She could clearly feel her consciousness being gently peeled away, floating within her body yet drifting outside of it.

As if her soul had left her body, she turned into a mere bystander's consciousness, quietly watching as her physical form began to move on its own.

The posture became upright, the aura refined and gentle, taking on the tenderness and grace unique to Xu Qinghe.

The real him had finally, fully stood before his younger brother and sister for one last time.

Xu Qinghe took a slow step forward, his gentle gaze resting on his younger siblings.

The youth before him had long since shed his childhood innocence. He was calm, well-mannered, and possessed a resilient character—fully capable of supporting the Xu family household.

The once spoiled and willful little girl had also weathered many storms, shedding her childishness, learning to distinguish good from evil, and establishing her own principles and boundaries.

A trace of relief flashed across his eyes, though a hint of regret was also hidden within.

“Jingan, Zhaoyue.”

He spoke, his voice warm and mellow. It was the voice of their brother, the most familiar sound etched deep into the hearts of his younger siblings. Every word was soft, yet carried the weight of a thousand pounds.

“From now on, the Xu family is in your hands.”

“Your elder brother protected you for over a decade, but in the end, I could not accompany you to the very end.”

“From this day forward, the family's honor and the household's rise and fall will be borne by you alone. Do not force yourselves. If the burden becomes too heavy, feel free to lay it down.”

“I only hope that your lives ahead will be comfortable and smooth.”

The usually calm and restrained Xu Jingan's throat bobbed heavily, but he could not utter a single word. He could only stare fixedly at his brother, suppressing all his sobs deep within his heart.

Beside him, Xu Zhaoyue's eyes were already brimming with tears. She bit her lower lip hard, forcing herself not to cry out, her shoulders trembling slightly.

They both chose to suppress their emotions, not wanting their brother to worry about them in his final moments.

Looking at how they desperately held back their grief, the warmth in Xu Qinghe's eyes deepened.

“I know you are grieving, but there is no need to hold it back. Life and death are fated, and our lifespans are decreed by heaven. I have long since accepted this calmly, and you should also find peace.”

“Our mother's obsession was too deep. She was consumed by her inner demons and committed too many wrongs. Meeting this end today is her destiny, and also her karmic retribution.”

“You do not need to carry the shackles of her mistakes. Do not feel guilty, do not dwell on it, and above all, do not hate.”

“For the rest of your lives, you only need to guard your hearts, walk the righteous path, cherish good intentions, distinguish right from wrong, and protect the Xu family and yourselves.”

He paused for a moment, then slowly added.

“Knowing that I was weak from childhood and would not live a long life, I prepared birthday gifts for you for every year to come. They are all hidden in a secret compartment in the study, organized year by year without interruption.”

“Year after year, my feelings have never changed. Even though I can no longer accompany you as you grow, mature, and make your way in the world, I hope these small tokens of my affection can accompany you, wishing you peace and worry-free lives year after year.”

At these words, Xu Zhaoyue could no longer hold it in. Tears streamed down her face as she choked out, “Eldest Brother...”

Xu Qinghe looked at her tenderly, offering his earnest and detailed advice.

“Zhaoyue, you are naturally intelligent and quick-witted, but you were too spoiled and willful in the past.”

“From now on, there will be no one to indulge your whims. You must learn to restrain your temper, handle matters calmly, treat others with kindness, and think thrice before acting. Do not act on impulse again or stray onto the wrong path.”

“Jingan, you are upright and steady.”

“But remember, do not be too stubborn in your ways. While you must uphold etiquette and law, you must also know how to adapt. While you must cherish a benevolent heart, you must also distinguish good from evil. Never let worldly rules shackle your true self, and do not let the family's honor or disgrace trap you on your journey ahead.”

“Your lives have never needed to depend on anyone else, nor do you need to carry anyone else's obsessions. The road ahead is long, and you must walk it step by step on your own.”

Every single word he spoke came from the bottom of his heart, carrying an elder brother's deepest concern and expectations.

Xu Jingan nodded heavily, his voice laced with an unmistakable hoarseness. “Eldest Brother, we will remember. I will protect my sister and guard the Xu family. I will not fail your trust, nor will I stray from the righteous path of my heart.”

Xu Zhaoyue nodded through her tears, vigorously wiping them from the corners of her eyes. “I will also grow up well. I won't throw tantrums or make trouble anymore. I won't let you down, Eldest Brother.”

Seeing them display such a sense of responsibility, a relieved smile spread across Xu Qinghe's eyes.

He slowly raised his hands, gently patting his younger brother's and sister's heads.

His palms were warm and his touch was gentle, just as he had comforted, indulged, and protected them countless times over the years.

This was the final touch.

A moment later, he slowly withdrew his hands. All the reluctance and regret in his eyes faded away, leaving behind a clear and tranquil calm.

The aura of the physical body suddenly relaxed, and her suspended consciousness instantly returned to its place, handing the body completely back to Bai Ci.

Watching the Xu siblings walk away, Bai Ci fell silent for a moment before asking the question she had harbored for a long time in her heart.

“You were already awake when I first pretended to be you, weren't you?”

Recalling the roof tile that had fallen out of nowhere, Bai Ci asked, voicing her suspicion.

In her mind, that warm male voice echoed once more, gentle and certain: “Yes.”

“I was always there. I watched you confront my mother for me and reject this resurrection in my stead. You did wonderfully.”

“Had I been the one to face it myself, I might not have possessed such a firm mind to sever all ties and shackles so resolutely.”

Bai Ci let out a soft breath and replied in her heart, “It's only because I am an outsider.”

“I have nothing to do with your familial ties or the Xu family's honor. I have no attachments and no weaknesses, which is why I could make such a decisive choice without any reservations.”

The male voice in her mind chuckled softly, gentle and filled with a sense of relieved understanding.

“Humans are not sages; we all have our selfish desires.”

“At the moment my life force was fading, I indeed felt immense reluctance and possessed an obsession to survive at all costs.”

“Without you, I might have succumbed. I might have chosen to stray into the wrong path just to cling to life, allowing this illusion to become reality.”