One month later, in Wuchang Town—

     “Take a look, take a look.”

     The peddler’s casual shouts flowed in under the sunshine. He walked through the streets and alleys, shaking the flower drum in his hand and carrying a bamboo pole.

     “Holy Night Guardian, Holy Night Guardian—only thirty coppers for one. This mech was created by Yuheng Elder himself in the past and can ward off evil and suppress disasters, good for everyone. Come, come—don’t miss out if you pass by.”

     The peddler’s worn-out straw sandals stepped on the bluestone road. Children ran by laughing on both sides, holding candied haws or kites in their hands.

     Suddenly, a little girl with pigtails tugged at the corner of the peddler's clothes and said, "Uncle, I want to buy a Holy Night Guardian.”

     The peddler put down his goods and picked out a mahogany painted one. “Hey, is this one good to look at?”

     The girl nodded repeatedly. “It looks great! This is the one!” As if afraid that someone else would snatch it away, she hurriedly picked up the protective mech that was almost as tall as herself and then struggled to take the copper coins out of her pocket with one hand.

     She counted the coins over and over, but there were three missing.

     The girl grew somewhat anxious. “Aiya, did I run too fast and let them fall out on the road?”

     As she spoke, she turned her pockets over again until the patched bottom was upside down, but there were still only twenty-seven coins. The little girl couldn't help but panic, her eyes red. "Da-gege, it's gone. This is all I have. Can you sell it to me for this?"

     The peddler was in a dilemma, rubbing his dirty hands. "Dear girl, I already spent twenty-five coppers to buy this Holy Night Guardian from the Daoist. If I give it to you, I will only make two cents. I’ve been walking all day, and this isn’t even enough to pay for my meal."

     "What should I do?" The girl began to wipe away her tears. “My dad will scold me again when I get home, wah, wah.."

     Just as she began crying loudly, someone suddenly came over and blocked the sunlight behind the girl.

     “Xiao-ge, please accept these silver taels.”

     A gentle voice sounded, and the girl looked up in surprise. She first saw a hand wearing a snow-silk bracelet before her gaze moved upward and met a pair of jade-green eyes. His long, light golden hair looked even softer in the morning light.

     Mei Hanxue smiled gently and said, “The little girl is so beautiful. How can I allow her to shed tears over three coppers?”

     “Ah…” The girl was stunned.

     Mei Hanxue squatted down, trying his best to be on the same level as her, then handed the red Holy Night Guardian that had just been taken back by the vendor back to her arms and said with a smile, “A beauty's tears are more valuable than gold. Girls’ tears are the most valuable thing in the world. Don't cry over such a small matter next time, okay?"

     Another man walked beside him with a mediocre appearance, wearing a straw hat. His eyes were very pretty, jade in color, but also as cold as jade and seemed devoid of any warmth at first glance.

     The man frowned and said, “That's about enough. She only looks about five or six years old.”

     Mei Hanxue smiled and stood up. "Da-ge, you’re so boring. Beauty isn’t limited by age. From an eighty-year-old woman to a five-year-old child, all are beautiful in their own way. You should learn to praise them. Only then will you... Hey, why did you run away?”

     The elder Mei Hánxue didn’t want to bother with him and turned to leave.

     This time, the Mei brothers went to the middle Shu region following the order of the Palace Master of Taxue Palace, Ming Yuelou, to congratulate Sisheng Peak for its restoration. Thankfully, Madam Wang had protected the people of the sect back then, and now that the calamity had passed, the elders and disciples hadn’t suffered much decline and their strength was still preserved.

     As a result, the standing of the cultivation world had reshuffled, and Sisheng Peak unexpectedly jumped to be ranked in the top three, no longer shabby, impecunious, and able to be ridiculed by others like in the past.

     “Mei-gongzi, the Sect Leader is waiting for you at the Sword-Dancing Field.”

     It was the time of morning cultivation at Sisheng Peak, and most disciples were practicing in the training grounds. The Sword-Dancing Field was empty and quiet. There was only one man dressed in luxurious clothing standing before the white-jade railing with his hands behind his back as he looked at the misty clouds that surrounded the mountain peak.

     Mei Hanxue and his elder brother walked over, their footsteps making a pattering sound on the newly-grown green grass.

     Hearing the noise, the man didn’t turn around but sighed, “You’re here?”

     “Here.”

     “I’ve been waiting a long time for you both.”

     Mei Hanxue couldn’t help but laugh out loud. “Ziming, why are you talking like this?”

     The man turned around, and it was indeed Xue Meng. He was still as handsome as before, so much so that he appeared somewhat aloof and extravagant, but his features still had a trace of youthful immaturity. When he saw the Mei brothers, the tension between his brows relaxed slightly, and his eyes revealed a hint of ignorance and naïvety.

     “Ah, you guys don’t know. I’ve been really tired.”

     Seeing that there was no one else around and the Mei brothers didn’t bring any bodyguards with them, Xue Meng immediately relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief.

     “Xuanji Elder reminds me of the standards and etiquette seventeen or eighteen times a day. When have I ever really studied this? I don’t even know how to speak like a person nowadays. I can only say two or three words when I open my mouth. Xuanji Elder told me this is called being concise…”

     Mei Hanxue couldn’t help but cover his mouth with his hands. “Pfft… cough, cough.”

     Xue Meng glanced at him and said a little impatiently, “If you want to laugh, then laugh. Don’t pretend to cough.”

     Mei Hanxue, the elegant young master, said in a graceful and refined manner, "No, no, how can one make fun of Sect Leader Xue?"

     “You can’t call me that.” Xue Meng’s nose wrinkled. "I’m already subjected to it enough.”

     The eldest brother was still as calm as ever. Mei Hánxue said, “Bear with it. From now on, you have to endure it for the rest of your life."

     "......" Xue Meng simply turned his head to look back at the clouds near the mountaintop. “You sure are accomplished. These are the most lamentable words I’ve heard since succeeding the position.”

     Mei Hánxue: “...”

     Xue Meng added, “None other can compare.”

     “Hahaha.” This time Mei Hanxue really did clap his hands and laugh. He laughed for a moment and said to Xue Meng, “Actually, if you have the position of sect leader, you should act accordingly. You don’t need to follow an excessive number of standards, right? Look at Guyueye’s Jiang Xi—he lives far more at ease.”

     It would have been better if he didn’t mention this. Once it was mentioned, Xue Meng’s initially relaxed back tensed up again.

     Where no one else could see, under his luxurious wide sleeves embroidered with gold threads, his fingers tightened involuntarily, and his heart was very troubled.

     Actually, he’d just gone to Guyueye a few days ago.

     Jiang Xi had been seriously injured during the battle. But thanks to the many elixirs in his sect and the fact that his disciples were all proficient in medicine, his life was saved after much difficulty.

     However, although he survived, his health was no longer how it used to be. What was even more worrisome was that Jiang Xi’s body had been affected by demonic energy and undergone some changes.

     “What’s going to happen?” At that time, Xue Meng stood outside of Jiang Xi’s door and asked the Guyueye elder serving the medicine.

     The medicine elder replied, “It’s difficult to say. The demon realm hasn’t been open for millions of years, so there’s no records in the cultivation world of cultivators infected by demonic energy. For now, it seems like the sect leader is fine, but it’s unclear what kind of effects it will have on him in the future…”

     Xue Meng’s gaze was gloomy as he glanced into the room again.

     The turquoise curtains were layered heavily, overlaying three times and covering the entrance. Not to mention Jiang Xi’s current appearance, even the layout of the Sect Leader of Guyueye’s bedroom couldn’t be seen clearly from the outside.

     “Can it be cured?”

     The elder shook his head. “I’m afraid it’s likely to be an endeavor.”

     “...”

     The anxiety in his heart grew more distinct. Xue Meng closed his eyes and said, “If necessary, come to Sisheng Peak any time and find me.”

     Although the elder didn't know what happened between Xue Meng and Jiang Xi, he could also vaguely perceive the subtle affiliation between the two, so he bowed politely and said, “In that case, I would like to thank Sect Leader Xue in advance."

     Xue Meng waved his hand and once again turned his gaze towards the deep curtains.

     He actually wanted to go in and get a glimpse of Jiang Xi, but the place where a sect leader slept was probably more mysterious than a boudoir and no one could enter easily. Besides, Jiang Xi hadn't woken up yet, and the other members of Guyueye couldn't allow him in. Xue Meng really didn't know what else to say, so he said with a frown, “I have returned Sect Leader Jiang’s Xuehuang to your sect’s sword elder. Remember to tell him when the time comes.”

     “Yes.” After a pause, seeing that Xue Meng was hesitant to speak, the elder asked, "May I ask if Sect Leader Xue has any other instructions?”

     “...Nevermind, it’s fine. I’ll go.”

     The elder was very polite. “Many thanks to Sect Leader Xue for coming here personally.”

     Although Xue Meng had many conflicts with Jiang Xi before, it was while he was a young master. Now that he was a sect leader, the people of Guyueye naturally wouldn’t slight him for no reason.

     Several elders and medical experts accompanied him down the green tiles of Fuyao Hall. In Guyueye, spiritual energy circulated all year round, so all flowers bloomed regardless of the season.

     Xue Meng looked to the side and saw that although Linling Island was covered in a light snow, there were still many beautiful flowers blooming in the cold. The flourishing landscape was so outstanding that it was impossible for him to portray the feeling.

     He walked slowly down the path, the tiles creaking under his feet.

     Suddenly, a bronze bell with a beast head on the eaves rang out. Xue Meng raised his eyes and saw a young man of similar age to himself walking towards him. The young man had very handsome features and broad shoulders. In the morning light, his face exuded an indescribable gentleness and vitality.

     Even though Xue Meng had high standards, he couldn’t help but look at him a few more times.

     “Sect Leader Xue.”

     When they met on the narrow path, the young man stopped first and saluted, upright but not humble.

     “...” Xue Meng stopped. “This is…”

     “Oh, this is the sect leader’s attendant. Over the years, he has helped the sect leader take care of Guyueye’s internal affairs. He seldom appears in public, but the sect leader thinks very highly of him.” The elder laughed, but it could be seen that he was somewhat troubled by this young man.

     Xue Meng answered indifferently with a “Mm” sound.

     After the young man finished his greeting, and seeing that the other person was still looking at him, he raised his head and smiled.

     At this distance, the moment he raised his head, Xue Meng was able to get a clear and careful look at him. Although Xue Meng never paid too much attention to other people's appearance, he still noticed the young man’s outstanding features, especially his pair of eyes, which were bright and gentle as if lit up by countless stars.

     It was truly an unforgettable face.

     Xue Meng narrowed his eyes and began to size up the other person’s appearance even more critically, even attempting to find some flaws to contrast. But after examining him several times, he still found nothing.

     He was astonishingly handsome, young, reserved, had gentle features, and was tall in stature, with very delicate skin that even seemed to be emitting a faint glow—

     Such a great young man should be on the list of young heroes in the cultivation world instead of being exploited and working as a hard laborer in the depths of Guyueye.

     Xue Meng thought dryly:

     Such a bright pearl covered in dust—Jiang Xi indeed was an unworthy person.

     Being stared at unblinkingly by Xue Meng, the young man felt uncomfortable but still asked politely and gently, “Sect Leader Xue, is something wrong?”

     Xue Meng came back to his senses. “...No, it’s nothing.”

     But he still continued to stare at him unabashedly.

     Being a first-level attendant, although highly regarded, didn’t grant any status.

     If Xue Meng didn’t ask, the other person wouldn’t insult him by telling him his name.

     The medicine elder was rather perceptive. Seeing that Xue Meng was curious about this young man, he introduced him with a smile: “Sect Leader Xue, don’t underestimate him because of his young age. In fact, he takes care of any matters, regardless of their importance, and puts them in order extraordinarily well. Sometimes it even makes us elders very ashamed.”

     The young man bit his lip and blushed slightly. He said, somewhat embarrassed, "Elder is too kind."

     Xue Meng looked him up and down, becoming more and more curious about this person. Suddenly, he saw the attendant behind him holding a lacquered wooden tray. After thinking for a moment, he asked, "Are you going to Jiang Xi's place?"

     “Yes.” The young man was slightly startled; he hadn’t expected Xue Meng to call his own sect leader directly by name, but he quickly nodded his head with a smile.

     This was a good opportunity. If he expressed his desire to accompany them, the other shouldn’t refuse. This way, he could enter Jiang Xi's bedroom and get a look at the demonic illness that idiot had.

     Xue Meng cleared his throat and was about to speak when he heard the young man speak gently.

     "I’m going to deliver yifu’s medicine."

     Xue Meng was stunned at first, and then his face darkened. "...What?"

     The medicine elder hurriedly said, “Sorry, I almost forgot to mention that he is also Sect Leader Jiang’s adopted son.”

     Xue Meng: “…………………”

     After a while, under the flying corridor of Fuyao Hall, several elders followed behind the ashen-faced Xue Meng. Unsure of what had happened, they said nervously:

     “Eh? Sect Leader Xue?”

     “Sect Leader Xue, what happened?”

     “Is there something wrong?”

     The newly appointed Sect Leader of Sisheng Peak had a gloomy face, and the wooden steps creaked with the soles of his iron-inlaid boots. He fumed with rage, and his face turned pale—of course he wouldn't care whether Jiang Xi had any cats or dogs; what did it have to do with him? He only detested that Jiang Xi clearly had a capable son in the sect, but in front of outsiders was a “lonely old man without any companions,” using a false pretense to gain sympathy.

     Shameless!! How revolting!

     Mei Hanxue noticed the abnormality of his expression and asked, “What’s going on with you?”

     “Nothing,” Xue Meng said. “I just suddenly thought of an entirely unrelated person.”

     He didn't want to talk about Jiang Xi anymore, so he changed the topic and chatted for a while. Then he went to Sisheng Peak’s ancestral hall with the Mei brothers to burn incense for the heroes who had passed away from generation to generation.

     After entering the ancestral hall, Mei Hanxue discovered that there was a very unique memorial tablet on the side of the altar. It was covered by a red cloth, so the words underneath couldn’t be seen.

     “This is Mo Ran’s place.”

     “......”

     Xue Meng's expression was indifferent, making it difficult to guess what he was thinking. "Everyone says he’s dead, but I don't think so. After the battle that day, I saw Shizun descending the Kunlun Mountains... He was clearly going somewhere, but he didn't want to bring anyone else with him."

     As he spoke, he pursed his lips and his eyelashes drooped. “Anyway, I don't believe he just scattered into ashes and disappeared like this."

     “Xue Meng…”

     Xue Meng turned his head away and looked at the light outside the door. “Mo Ran, that dog, has always done things his own way ever since he was young and doesn’t follow common sense.”

     “...”

     “I know it’s the same this time.”

      Hearing him say this, Mei Hanxue couldn't help but sigh, but he didn't intend to refute him.

     The Mei brothers kowtowed to their benefactor and his wife, while Xue Meng stood by with his eyes closed, not saying anything.

     After the ceremony, Mei Hanxue stood up and patted his shoulder.

     “Ziming, you will be a good sect leader.”

     Xue Meng opened his eyes and glanced at the words on the memorial tablet. The incense burned and ashes drifted in the air. In the light blue smoke, Xue Meng looked at his father's tablet and said calmly, "It won't be better than him."

     “...”

     “Let’s go.”

     Xue Meng waved his hand and turned to leave.

     In the solemn and tranquil ancestral hall, the small piece of lacquered wood didn't have the deceased person's name written on it according to the rules. The Mei brothers looked at each other, sighed, and followed Xue Meng's footsteps.

     A bit of incense ash fell.

     Those young people had already gone far away, but the three incense sticks they left behind still burned on the dark altar. Under the faint light, a wooden sign was engraved with Xue Meng's handwriting:

     A father’s love is irreplaceable.

     And loyalty cannot be eclipsed.

     At the bottom of the tablet was another ridiculous four-character inscription. However, the Mei brothers knew, and Xue Meng also knew, that if Xue Zhengyong's spirit saw these four words, he would definitely laugh out loud.

     The eternal lamp flickered, illuminating the elegant cursive script, which was once written by Xue Zhengyong. Every stroke held a carefree sentiment—

     Xue-lang is beautiful.

     That night, Sisheng Peak hosted a banquet to entertain the Taxue Palace envoys.

     Due to the close friendship between the two sects, this was considered a private banquet, not open to outsiders. But even so, rumors still circulated. When Sect Leader Xue was drunk, he was inclined to mutter to himself and muttered a bit too much that day, crying for his parents for a while, resenting his brother for a while, muttering about his Shizun for a while, and mistakenly calling the attendant beside him ‘Shi Mei’ for a while.

    That day, he kept mumbling their names.

     But other than Mei Hanxue, none of his old friends came.

     Deep in a drunken stupor under the light of the lanterns, he rested his head on his arms on top of the table, and from the crook of his arm, he looked out at Mengpo Hall.

     For a moment, he saw glasses clinking in a lively and joyous clamor.

     In the crowd, Xue Zhengyong and Madam Wang were toasting each other, while Shi Mei and Mo Ran were making dumplings nearby—then, the surroundings quieted, and everyone turned around to see Yuheng Elder, wearing a bright red cloak, walking towards them outside where snow was falling and shaking the snowflakes off of his oil-paper umbrella.

     “Sect Leader, you’re drunk.”

     He could faintly hear someone calling him, but Xue Meng didn’t respond.

     Afterwards, someone sighed and covered him with a layer of winter clothing. He didn't know who that person was, whether it was Xuanji Elder, Tanlang Elder, or someone else.

     Then that person touched his head and said, “Young Master, you’re drunk.”

     He made a vague sound in response, but tears began to flow down his face, and he curled his head into his arms. It was already late into the night; the cups and plates were in disarray, and the enthusiasm was waning. Xue Meng didn’t speak anymore, nor did pull on anyone and cry loudly—he was trying his best to quickly grow up to be like his father.

     Perhaps in another year, he wouldn’t get drunk so easily. In another few years, even if he got drunk, he wouldn’t talk nonsense anymore. In the end, no one would be able to easily see Xue Ziming of Sisheng Peak’s tears.

     Gradually, he would become a tree that supported the middle Shu region and even the entire cultivation world. The years of exorbitant crying and drinking carelessly would one day become fleeting memories that Sect Leader Xue would chat about with his juniors with a smile.

     This was how it would be from generation to generation. By the time Xue Meng grew old, the past of his generation would be brought up again, but no one would be familiar with it anymore.

     Those brief, glorious years would perhaps eventually be glossed over and lightly fade away, until they finally became a single sentence on Xue Meng’s folding fan: “Xue-lang is beautiful.”

     A few days after the Mei brothers returned to Taxue Palace, an important announcement was made in the cultivation world.

     “After New Year’s Eve, Kunlun Taxue Palace will form an alliance with Sisheng Peak. The two sects will join forces, with no distinction between upper and lower cultivation world, only hoping for peace in the land, where the people can enjoy serenity and stability. Sect Leader Ming Yuelou and Sect Leader Xue Ziming will together prove their loyalty to the world.”

     When the announcement was made, it was as if a thousand strong waves rolled upon one another.

     Some people praised it, some didn’t understand, and some remained silent—they could see that this new alliance may reshuffle the entire world in the next ten or twenty years, if not even sooner. It was likely that the boundaries between the upper and lower cultivation worlds would slowly begin to blur over time.

     “Is this a good thing?” someone asked curiously during a moment of leisure.

     His companion took a sip of Snowy Cold Fragrance in his bowl and shook his head, saying, “Who knows what will happen in the future? In the past, Nangong Changying gathered the nine major sects to form the upper cultivation world, wanting to make the places ruled by these sects a paradise. Didn’t everyone praise it? But the result wasn’t as expected. It seems that whether a decision is wise and correct can only be proven by time…”

     “Ah, that’s right.”

     “But at least for the time being, there’s not likely to be any incidents. Guyueye shouldn’t be able to defeat the combined forces of Taxue Palace and Sisheng Peak.”

     “It’s hard to say for sure. Based on Jiang Xi’s temperament, he may be unwilling to be subservient to others…”

     “Forget it, forget it. Why bother about it so much? Let’s take it one step at a time. It’s important for us to live our own lives… Well, this snake gall and fried melon seeds are pretty good.” The person drinking tea raised his voice and shouted through the bamboo curtain, “Boss lady, give me another pound!”

     As winter turned to spring, the wounds of the world slowly healed, and the villages and towns that had been destroyed in war were renovated with the support of all the major sects.

     Some people had lost faith in the darkness, but fortunately, human hearts were not impervious to change.

     Perhaps one day, the silence would erupt into a roar, and sparks would splash from the abyss; those who praised blindly would stop; those who shrank in silence would speak; when threats arose, the gentle would become tough; in the face of lies, those who rebut would stand up.

     Everything was undergoing a cycle of change, and new cities were being built on the ruins. However, right and wrong, good and evil, still wouldn’t be distinguished so clearly.

     But it didn’t matter. It may never be possible for a person to truly and thoroughly understand anything, even themselves.

     One of the simplest examples—

     You have a pair of eyes, but have you ever really directly seen your own face?

     “Yes!! One more section!!”

     In the old land of Linyi, under an old locust tree, another session of storytelling was finished.

     “Chu-xianjun is truly a good person…” The old woman wiped her tears as she listened. “I wonder where he’s gone now…”

     “Mo-zongshi is the one who was truly wronged… ah…”

     Another little youthful girl smashed the string of candied haws in her hand, her eyes dark and her face full of tears. She was sobbing before she suddenly turned to her companion and said, “Wah, wah, I don't like the story of Nangong-gege and Ye-jiejie."

     Her friend was stunned. “Why?”

     The girl wiped away her tears and said, “They’re dead.”

     The boy muttered, “Ye Wangxi isn’t dead…”

     The girl cried even more miserably. "You don't understand; you boys are all stupid. She must be feeling worse than if she were dead, wah, wah, wah..."

     The boy was at a loss as she cried harder and harder. He scratched his head for a long time before saying, "Hey, don't cry. How about we play house? I'll be Nangong Si and you'll be Ye Wangxi. We can make up the story ourselves... Aiya, don't cry, don't cry."

     In order to cheer up his friend, the boy picked a palm-sized leaf to cover half of the little girl's face.

     “Then, hold your veil. Let’s go to the marriage ceremony~”

     The little girl blinked and laughed through her tears.

     It turned out that pain could be rewritten in the eyes of a child. Everything would gradually become easier, and the love and hatred would be left behind and slowly become legends told by storytellers one after another under the locust tree.

     You and I have experienced a lifelong journey of ups and downs, triumphs and tribulations that now make the people shed a few tears and gain the acclaim of the audiences.

     The little girl and little boy, mimicking adults, covered themselves with leaves for their play wedding ceremony. They were childhood sweethearts and only had eyes for each other as they spoke sweetly:

     “First bow to the heavens and earth—”

     “Second bow to the parents—”

     Under the old locust tree, a daozhang dressed in black passed by, with an elegant face and a quiver that had long faded on their waist, but there were no arrows inside.

    After the war ended, the world was at peace.

    Inside the intricately embroidered quiver, a little puppy with golden claws was curled up, looking at the outside world with a whimper.

    The black-clad daozhang stood under the tree, watching the two little kids playing house with a half-smile. Then the person suddenly remembered something and walked over to hand the little girl a red handkerchief.

     “Huh?” The girl was stunned. “What’s this? Who are you?”

     The daozhang in black didn’t answer but only smiled and said, “How can you get married with a leaf on your head? Here, this is for you.”

     The handkerchief was a little old but very soft and of high quality.

     The corner was embroidered with the “Si” character. It was an old item from many years ago and was slightly damaged. When she was frightened and crying in the illusion, this was what Nangong Si had taken out to wipe her tears.

     The little girl took the handkerchief and looked at it before she suddenly smiled brightly.

     She looked up and said, “Thank you, jiejie.”

     “...”

     The black-clad daozhang was startled, eyes flashing with bright stars.

     After so many years, not many people could recognize at a glance that she was a girl, not to mention the voice-changing spell that could never be broken.

     This little one really had a sharp eye.

     She smiled and shook her head, then straightened up and patted Naobaijin’s fluffy head in the quiver. “Let’s go. What are you looking at?”

     Naobaijin: “Awooo!”

     The wind blew, and the leaves of the locust tree rustled.

     The storyteller was in the middle of telling a story of the battle at Mount Jiao. When Nangong Si threw himself into the blood pool to suppress the evil spirit, everyone burst into tears.

     She no longer cried. She kept her back straight and walked alone towards the distant mountains. The sweet voices of the little girl and little boy rang out behind her.

     “Husband and wife bow to each other—”

     She happened to walk out of the shade of the locust tree at this moment, and the dazzling sunlight brushed against her face. For some unknown reason, she smiled so much her eyes curved, and her heart was filled with joy and sweetness.

     Childhood was indeed the best time of one’s life, she thought. Making vows of undying love and bowing three times was so easy.

     After walking a short distance, she heard footsteps and a little child yelling anxiously, “Da-jiejie! Your handkerchief!”

     She didn’t look back and only waved her hand, resolute and at ease, with a heroic grace.

     Naobaijin opened its round eyes and looked at her blankly, as if to ask her, “It is something left behind by A-Si. Don't you want it?"

     She smiled, and her eyes were gentle. “No.”

     As she spoke, she turned her eyes to the untamed grassland, to the spring of new beginnings. Then she wasn’t surprised at all to see Nangong Si’s figure standing beside her, still with his same wild and unbridled appearance.

     He was somewhat unruly, yet somewhat calm.

     She said, “I know you’re here.”

     The mirage of Nangong Si knitted his brows, as if to chide her.

     She said warmly, “Don’t be angry. They’re getting married but were missing a veil.”

     “...”

     “So I gave them your handkerchief.”

     Nangong Si still didn’t seem happy.

     “A handkerchief in exchange for a good marriage, just smile.”

     The golden sun shone brightly, and Nangong Si forced a disgruntled smile, but it was even uglier than a grimace.

     She also laughed, her eyelashes falling, and when she raised her eyes again, Nangong Si’s shadow had already disappeared. But she knew he would come back.

     It wasn’t a ghost nor an illusion.

     He was in her heart, so she would forever be able to see him.

     —He would always be that handsome and high-spirited figure.

     In a blink of an eye, the year was soon to draw to an end with New Year’s Eve. According to the rules of the cultivation world, the mourning period for one’s parents could be concluded. So, a month before New Year's Eve, Xue Meng was finally officially crowned as the Sect Leader of Sisheng Peak. Congratulations came from all sides, and there was a celebration in the middle Shu region.

     In the bright sky filled with fireworks, Xue Meng abided by the ceremonial etiquette described by Xuanji Elder; he wore a jade crown, donned the sect leader's ring, and was adorned with nine layers of luxurious silk gauze on the inside and outside. The ceremonial robes were so exquisite that the cuffs each had meticulous flying dragon motifs embroidered with fire-refined pearls.

     He stood tall in the solemn and magnificent Loyalty Hall, his features like fine jade, handsome and mature.

     If one were to look closely, they would be able to see a trace of Jiang Xi’s shadow in those eyes. But his surname would never be Jiang, and he would never want to be like Jiang Xi.

     “Congratulations, Sect Leader-xianjun.”

     Xuanji Elder led his disciples to bow first.

     The disciples of Sisheng Peak were like a surging blue sea, their armor gleaming as they kneeled down one after another. The guests who had come to celebrate also lowered their heads in succession.

     Their voices boomed like thunder, echoing through the mountain peaks shrouded in clouds and mist.

     “Congratulations—Sect Leader-xianjun.”

     Fireworks bloomed brilliantly in the night sky, as if announcing the beginning of Sisheng Peak’s golden age, the darkness and warmth of last night never to return.

     Xue Meng smiled, his dark eyes deep and tranquil, but not as radiant as before.

     He raised his glass and drank with everyone.

     His demeanor was very proper, and he would never again make those absurd and preposterous mistakes of the past.

     Mei Hanxue sighed and closed his eyes from his seat below. “This guy… is, in the end, emerging as Nangong Liu.”

     “Speak wisely.”

     Mei Hanxue glanced at his brother and said, “I’m not saying there's something wrong with him. I’m talking about his position today.”

     "It’s not something you should be talking about,” the elder brother said coldly. “Furthermore, since the banquet started, twenty-six girls have come looking for me. Take off your human skin mask. I’ve had enough.”

     Mei Hanxue’s face immediately wrinkled in distress.

     After the banquet ended, with so many guests, it was difficult for Sisheng Peak to attend them all, so they could only arrange for their disciples to receive the corresponding sect leaders, elders, and disciples according to their ranks.

     Everyone went back drunk, each with their own thoughts as a new sovereignty replaced the old in the cultivation world.

     Xue Meng returned to his room.

     He really wasn’t too drunk today, and Tanlang Elder’s sobering soup was more effective than anything else.

     He sat down and tiredly rubbed his temples, wanting to remove the heavy ornaments on his body. But after looking at himself in the bronze mirror for a while, he felt that his entire body was covered in so many jewels and jade ornaments that he didn’t even know where to start.

     Xuanji knocked on the door and came in.

     “Sect Leader.”

     Xue Meng said listlessly, “Hm?”

     “This is the list of gifts from each sect. Jielu forgot to bring it to you.” Xuanji handed him a thick stack of golden-red books. “Remember to read it carefully and think carefully about how to repay their gifts.”

     Xue Meng only felt even more weary. “Got it.”

     “Also, Sect Leader Jiang wants to see you privately.”

     “...I won’t see him.”

     Xuanji didn’t insist. He had always been the most perceptive of all the elders of Sisheng Peak when it came to reading people. He sighed and said, “Then I'll reject him after a while.”

     “Is there anything else?”

     Xuanji said, “Nothing else.”

     Xue Meng actually wished that he would say there was something else and tell him directly, ‘Two mysterious guests have suddenly arrived and wish to see you,’ but he didn’t.

     Xuanji left, closing the intricately carved vermillion door of the sect leader’s bedroom.

     Xue Ziming stood alone in the huge room. He stood there for a long time, then finally walked to the table, lit up the lamp, and looked at the thick register of gifts.

     The gift register was arranged in order of the generosity of the gifts, with Guyueye, the richest of the world, naturally at top. These gifts included magnificent treasures such as "Flame Tailfeathers" and “Spirit Whale Pearls,” some of which he had never even heard of before. Jiang Xi was very generous and really had no shortage of money.

     But Xue Meng wasn’t in the mood to admire these precious treasures. He quickly flipped through the pages, searching for the names of Chu Wanning and Mo Ran. Many rogue cultivators would send gifts even if they didn’t come—this was an extremely important day in Xue Meng’s life; if Mo Ran hadn’t died and Chu Wanning was still part of the cultivation world, they surely would have received the news of his ascension.

     Taxue Palace, Huohuang Pavilion, Wubei Temple...

     He turned page after page.

     He flipped through the pages containing personal gifts from rogue cultivators dozens of times.

     But no.

     Finally, Xue Meng leaned back against the delicately carved cushioned mahogany chair. He raised his hand and tiredly rubbed his temples.

     No.

     His Shizun, his… cousin; it was as if they had completely vanished from the cultivation world without a trace after the major battle that day.

     Outside, laughter and joy were abundant as the sound of fireworks filled the air, while the revered Sect Leader of Sisheng Peak locked himself up in his room, his eyelashes slowly dampening with moisture.

     He truly couldn’t accept Chu Wanning and Mo Ran’s deception towards him and could never again be in harmony with them in a way that completely lacked grudges. But no matter what, deep in his heart, he still missed them and worried for their well-being.

     When building the ancestral shrine, everyone told him that Mo Ran was dead, but he stubbornly refused to believe it and insisted that if he was alive, he wanted to see the person, and if he was dead, he wanted to see the corpse. Before there was concrete evidence, he would never remove the red cloth covering the memorial tablet.

     In truth, he also knew that many things happened and tried to understand them, but still couldn’t let go. When he thought about what they hid from him, he felt suffocated, his heart and soul in turmoil, and could hardly even breathe.

     He also knew that, for this reason, Chu Wanning and Mo Ran might never return to Sisheng Peak—no forbidden relationship between master and disciple could be met with absolute tolerance and acceptance.

     But at least send him a letter…

     At least let him know they were safe.

     Xue Meng took a deep breath and raised his hand to cover his trembling eyelids.

     Suddenly, a faint sigh came from outside the window. Xue Meng was startled, then he abruptly sprang up and rushed over, pushing the window open.

     The dazzling fireworks outside reflected on his face. He looked left and right, searching, but saw no one. However, hanging from a peach tree outside the window, there was a long and narrow exquisite brocade box.

     Xue Meng reached out with trembling hands, his entire body tense as he opened the brocade box.

     At this moment, a firework rose into the sky and burst into a thousand stars in the clear night.

     In the radiant, glittering light, Xue Meng saw a newly forged narrow scimitar blade lying in the brocade box. It had a long body and silver hilt inlaid with brightly glistening crystals…

     It was a reforged Longcheng!

     Xue Meng was nearly shuddering as he held the brocade box against his chest. Then he actually jumped out the window fixedly and rushed above the back garden, shouting, “Shizun!!”

     In the silent and lonely back courtyard of the sect leader, he was only answered by the whistling wind.

     He called out frantically, “Shizun!! Mo Ran!!”

     “Come out!”

     The cold night breeze was chilling and damp as it brushed against his cheeks. He ran aimlessly through the flowers, uncaring of the scratches on his arms and robes from the branches.

     “Both of you come out!”

     His voice became a whimper at the end.

     Unable to find them anywhere, Xue Meng stopped and slowly kneeled down, curling up on the ground as he murmured, “Come back…”

     He heard the faint sound of a melody being played on a leaf. Xue Meng shivered as he looked in the direction of the melody—

     Then he saw them, though the two figures had already gone too far away and stopped at the eaves of the distant Heaven-Piercing Tower. Behind the majestic corners of the tower ornately carved with flying beats, were two very familiar silhouettes from the past, one standing and one sitting. The one sitting had Jiu’ge resting on his knees as his sleeves billowed in the wind, while the one standing was holding a bamboo leaf in his fingertips and playing a song.

     I visit my old friends under the bright moon,

     Features reflected with the red of blossoming lanterns.

     The dawn of spring breaks with the cry of the noble young phoenix,

     Amidst the peace within the vast land of mountains and rivers.

     Unable to drink the buried pot of fermented wine,

     I return year after year to meet my elder brother again.

     There’s no need to accompany each other so often in life,

     When the east wind can carry our longing thoughts.

     The unhurried notes of the qin and whistle echoed in the peaceful moonlight and rose into the vast sky.

     Once the celebratory song concluded, a golden light flashed, and Chu Wanning’s paper candle dragon emerged as summoned. The two of them jumped onto the dragon’s back and soared away with the wind…

     Later, Xue Meng found two letters with very similar handwriting inside the brocade box. One was from Chu Wanning and the other was from Mo Weiyu.

     Mo Weiyu’s letter was very long, telling all kinds of stories that happened following everything, revealing many of his previous secrets, and explaining that they were reluctant to rashly appear openly because they still didn’t know how the world would feel about them and didn’t want to burden Sisheng Peak. As for this new Longcheng scimitar, it was the result of his and Chu Wanning’s united efforts over the last few months to gather the materials by many means and refine them. So perhaps it could be of use one day.

     Chu Wanning's letter, on the other hand, was much shorter, with only a few neatly written lines of script:

     Sect Leader, Yuheng feels ashamed and doesn’t have the face to meet you in person. The path ahead will be long and arduous, so I hope you will take care of yourself. Longcheng blade’s hilt is inlaid with a Night Haitang flower to accompany Sect Leader for life. Should there come a day when Sect Leader needs Yuheng’s meager strength, I will be at your disposal.

     That night, Xue Meng stared at the words “Sect Leader” for a long time.

     As the night grew deeper, and the clinking of wine cups and laughter faded into silence, he was still in a daze. The thought of never hearing his Shizun call his name again, from now on only hearing the words “Sect Leader,” he felt that he had never been so tired of the many rules and regulations of this world.

     But at least Chu Wanning was still here, and so was Mo Ran. They may be separated by a thousand li in the future, perhaps unable to see each other for several years, but they could still ultimately appreciate the beauty of the world’s shared moonlight from afar, which was its own sort of consolation.

     At the foot of Sisheng Peak, in Wuchang Town—two men in hooded cloaks emerged from the dark night and walked into the bustling night market, settling down at a late-night food stall with bright lanterns.

     One of them, taller and slender in stature, spoke up: “Boss, we’d like a mild broth hot-pot with crispy bamboo shoots, tofu, thin sheets of bean curd, malabar spinach, thinly sliced beef, thin slices of lamb, beef stomach leaf, crispy meat, crystal fish fillet, lotus prawn balls…”

     The other person said flatly, “That’s enough. We can’t eat any more.”

     “Then let’s have pine nut mandarin fish and two jars of soy milk—”

     “...” That person pursed his lips. “Don’t order any more.”

     These two people were none other than the ones who had just given Xue Meng a gift, Chu Wanning and Mo Weiyu.

     “And last, a serving of candied osmanthus lotus root.” When Mo Ran finished, he said with a smile, “Do you know how to make it?”

     The waiter was very eager. “We wouldn’t normally know how to make it, since it’s a dish from the Jianghuai region, but Mengpo Hall at Sisheng Peak often makes it, so we at the foot of the mountain also learned a little. Oh, by the way, we have a Great Hero Menu here, would you like to take a look?"

     Chu Wanning frowned. “...What menu?”

     “It’s the Great Hero’s Menu. Don't you two know?” The waiter introduced proudly, “There was a great calamity not too long ago, and the two xianjun who settled the disaster were both from our Sisheng Peak. Hey, now everyone in the taverns of Wuchang Town cooks some special dishes, just according to the tastes of those two xianjun!"

     As he spoke, he took out two bamboo boards from his waist and enthusiastically handed them over to Chu Wanning and Mo Ran.

     “This is the Chu-xianjun Menu.” The waiter explained excitedly, afraid that they wouldn’t understand, "It is said that Chu-xianjun enjoys dishes that are slightly burnt, so we have crispy meatballs, deep-fried rice cakes, burnt tofu, and boiled vegetables. Oh, right, our mandarin fish will also be fried a little crispy.”

     Chu Wanning: “......”

     Opposite to him, Mo Ran held back his laughter and raised his hand to pour himself a cup of tea to drink.

     But when he flipped through the other slab called “Mo-zongshi’s Menu,” he nearly spat out his tea—

     “Cough, cough, cough.”

     The waiter was a little panicked: “Aiya, honored guest, what’s happened to  you? Are you alright?”

     “I’m fine, it’s alright, cough, cough…” Mo Ran pointed at the bamboo slab as he choked. “What is this? Why is there something like Haitang Sweetheart Pastry on Mo-xianjun's menu? I've never even heard of it.”

     “It is said that Mo-xianjun likes sweets.”

     Mo Ran: “.........”

     “He also likes haitang flowers.” The waiter explained eloquently, as if he were an all-knowing bard, “So our boss lady created this Haitang Sweetheart Pastry. The sugar in this is thirty percent more than what is in ordinary desserts. It’s guaranteed to make your tongue go numb from the sweetness!”

     “...Is that still edible?”

     The waiter smiled and said, "Why can’t it be eaten? It's selling very well. Would the two of you like to order one from Mo-xianjun’s Menu and one from Chu-xianjun’s Menu? Both xianjun enjoy these dishes, so you won’t regret trying them.”

     Chu Wanning felt a headache. “No, I don’t like eating burned charcoal, thank you.”

     Mo Ran smiled and said, “I actually don’t really like eating sweets much.”

     “Ah, that's a pity.” The waiter scratched his head regretfully. He seemed to truly admire the new dishes in this restaurant, and even after walking away, he could still be heard mumbling, “After all, these are dishes that the savior heroes like to eat... Aren't you curious and want to have a taste…?”

     Chu Wanning: “...”

     Mo Ran: “Pfft.”

     “What are you laughing at?” Chu Wanning glanced at him. “Is it that funny?”

     “No.” Mo Ran's eyes were dark. “I'm just happy. When I'm happy, I can laugh at the smallest things.”

     As he spoke, he turned his head to look at the bustling crowd on the street. After the storm subsided, the mortal world came to life once more. Women were picking out cosmetics and jewelry and buying some red paper goods for New Year's Eve, while men gathered in front of the brightly lit late-night food stalls to drink and chat. The lantern light illuminated their leisurely faces, and the atmosphere was warm; even the grease on their cheeks seemed less bothersome.

     A group of children ran by, shouting and laughing. No one knew what kind of game they were playing. One child was wearing a mask, and the other group darted ahead like rabbits, shouting, “Don't let him catch us, hahahaha, don't let him catch us!”

     Mo Ran propped his chin up with his hand, a gesture that always made him look especially handsome, with a hint of innocence that didn’t seem out of place.

     He suddenly sighed with content. “That’s great.”

     Then he looked up at the brightly lit Sisheng Peak and repeated, “It’s great.”

     Chu Wanning said, “...It’s not all good. You just heard Xue Meng calling us.”

     "..." Mo Ran fell silent for a moment but still smiled. "But if we really stay, he’ll be troubled again."

     Chu Wanning said, “I know.”

     As a few dishes were served, Mo Ran ate while muttering, "Xue Meng is still a bit childish at heart. In fact, this is for the best right now. If we go back to Sisheng Peak, trouble will follow. Besides, he might tolerate me for a day or two, but what about after a month or two?"

     Mo Ran seemed slightly aggrieved as he bit into a peanut.

     “He’ll definitely kick me out.”

     Chu Wanning suppressed his laughter and knocked him on the head with the chopsticks. "You’re the one with the childish heart."

     “Really,” Mo Ran said, "when the time comes for him to chase me away, I won't be able to stay. The Sect Leader's command—it’s so scary."

     Chu Wanning couldn't help it this time and laughed softly. "Don't be silly. He won't chase you away. It's clear that we don't want to stay, so don't put the blame on him.”

     "Okay." Mo Ran scratched his head and grinned, his dimples deep. "Whatever savior-gege says is right."

     Chu Wanning said, "Let's eat. After dinner, we'll go home.”

     They were now living in seclusion, deep in Nanping Mountain. The two had been living there ever since Mo Ran's souls returned to his body. It wasn't that they were deliberately avoiding the world; they merely felt that after walking for half a lifetime, it was good to happen upon this place. So they decided to settle down and rest in this tranquil paradise.

     Everything was just right.

     Picking up a piece of crispy meat, Mo Ran's dark eyes curved as he smiled. "Actually, I am in the wrong."

     “Hm?”

     “I really don’t want to go back.”

     “Are you afraid he’ll blame you?”

     "No." Mo Ran smiled and touched his nose. "I'm afraid he’ll call me Shiniang.”

     Chu Wanning: “......”

     Mo Ran's eyes were very gentle, deep and black, with a hint of purple flowing subtly, but the purple seemed very good-natured now. He sighed. “I’ve grown a generation.”

     “Eat!”

     Mo Ran obligingly lowered his head to eat. He was so agreeable that it was as if two fluffy dog ​​ears had sprouted from his head, folding down softly and obediently.

     However, Chu Wanning knew very well that Mo Ran wasn’t unwilling to return to Sisheng Peak. In fact, whether it was him, himself, or Xue Meng, they all wanted to reunite, but time wore away at all of them, and sometimes, once those carefree and frivolous years had passed, they could never return, not even with the highest of efforts.

     They all understood this truth, but Mo Ran was afraid it would pain him, so he bore complete responsibility and tried to make him laugh.

     “Speaking of which, I’ve never asked you directly.” Chu Wanning said, “On the day of the battle… how did you know you would definitely come back?”

     Mo Ran picked at the rice and thought for a while. "...If I tell the truth, will you blame me?"

     Chu Wanning looked at him with clear eyes. "What do you think?”

     Mo Ran rubbed the back of his neck, lowered his head, and laughed. "Actually, after the gate to the demon realm opened, I also felt a kind of spiritual power coursing through my body... But at that time, I was still blocked by Taxian-Jun’s will; my mind was hazy, and I didn’t think too much about it.”

     “Mm.”

     "It was at the last moment when it was about to disappear that I suddenly remembered it."

     “...”

     "I was betting at that time that maybe I was the same as Song Xingyi, one of those special Beauty Feats." Mo Ran said, "The history books say that as long as the demons' bodies aren’t torn apart and their souls are complete, it’s easy for them to be resurrected. So I thought... if I really am such a person, then as long as I persist in returning to my own body, I should be able to come back to life."

     Chu Wanning frowned slightly. "Before this, I always thought that a demon soul returning to the body was just a legend." After a pause, he asked, "Why didn't Song Qiutong come back to life back then?"

     Mo Ran said helplessly, "Even if the demon wants to come back to life, it must have a very, very strong desire to live.”

     “...”

     "That feeling... how should I put it? Well, it was like someone gave me a life-saving rope before falling off a cliff, but the rope was covered in oil, and if I wasn’t careful, I would plummet into the abyss. I had to hold on tightly to the rope and keep climbing up without letting up for a moment, so I could return to my body."

     "Wanning, I always kept thinking about coming to find you.” Mo Ran raised his eyes. “That’s why I was able to come back.”

     The lantern above his head swayed. Chu Wanning looked at the other person's dark, deep gaze and felt an overwhelming tenderness in his chest. He still wasn’t used to this feeling of weakness, so he quickly turned his face away.

     Mo Ran smiled. “There’s actually another very important reason.”

     “Hm?”

     "The Butterfly-Boned Beauty Feasts are half-demons, so this method of rebirth didn’t apply to us before the demon gate was opened.” Mo Ran said, “It’s because we absorbed demonic energy and gained its strength—otherwise, we’d still only be mortals. Furthermore, the heart in this body had originally been destroyed. After receiving the demonic aura, I felt that the power within was much stronger than that of a spiritual core, so I thought I might be able to use it to reverse fate."

     Chu Wanning said, "So when you let me go, you weren’t sure whether you could be resurrected..."

     Mo Ran looked at the other person's slightly narrowed eyes and realized he had said the wrong thing. He couldn't help but feel a little panicked as he coughed lightly to change the subject. "Hey, this fish isn’t bad."

     Chu Wanning wasn’t fooled and stared at him. "If you didn’t come back in the end, what I would have found on Nanping Mountain would have still been a cold corpse.”

     "..." Hearing his somber tone, Mo Ran couldn't take it anymore. He lowered his head and bit his lip in silence for a while, then raised his face and said, "Yes."

     “...”

     “I can’t bear to see you die. Whether I’m living or dead.”

     Seeing the slightly reddened corners of Chu Wanning's eyes, as if he were in pain but also about to get angry, Mo Ran reached out his fingers to hold his hand on the table, rubbing it gently in his palm.

     In the gleaming lamplight, he said in a hoarse voice, "I knew I might have been deceiving you, but even if you hate me and blame me for it, I couldn’t just watch you die."

     As he spoke, he suddenly closed his eyes, his eyelashes quivering.

     “I’ve already seen it in two lifetimes.”

     Chu Wanning's tense back slowly eased, and his clenched fists gradually loosened, but the corners of his eyes were still red and slightly moist.

     Steam rose from the boiling pot, and tiny bubbles appeared in the clear soup on the stove. In this hard-earned moment of fireworks, Mo Ran held Chu Wanning's hand and interlaced their fingers.

     He said, “Back then, I thought, if I really lost the bet, I could wait for you... for ten years, twenty years, or even hundreds or thousands of years if you became an immortal."

     “...”

     “The mortal world is so good. Wanning, I don’t want you to die with me.”

     Suddenly, a boiling bubble burst in the pot, splashing some boiling water on Chu Wanning’s wrist. Although the scattered drops of water wouldn’t hurt someone, he still reflexively withdrew his hand suddenly and lowered his head.

     But after bowing his head, he felt that he should be more composed and forced himself to raise his head again to glare at the defiant and willful disciple opposite him.

     Mo Ran was amused by his response. "What's wrong? One moment you're glaring at me, and the next moment you're staring at the table."

     Chu Wanning was just about to say something when the midnight bell of Heaven-Piercing Tower rang out, the echoing sound descending from the towering mountaintop and resounding through the bustling night market of Wuchang Town.

     “Crap.”

     Chu Wanning’s expression shifted slightly as he calculated the time.

     The time for the change had arrived…

     He suddenly fixed his gaze on the man sitting before him. Seeing that the man who was smiling just now suddenly closed his eyes, he felt a sudden wave of anxiety in his heart—

     Ever since Mo Ran was resurrected, every three days at midnight, Taxian-Jun's consciousness would reoccupy this body and wouldn’t disappear until late in the following night.

     This probably occurred because the wisp of consciousness belonging to Taxian-Jun had been separated from the other two souls and seven spirits for a long time, making it difficult for them to merge into one in consciousness. Therefore, even though the soul and spirits had been combined now, their personalities would still swap every now and then at midnight.

     Sure enough, a moment later, when Mo Ran opened his eyes again, the radiance in his eyes had already changed.

     Emperor Taxian-Jun slowly raised his handsome face. Though it was clearly the same person in the same body, his demeanor was less righteous and instead had a bit of danger and wickedness within.

     Taxian-Jun grinned, and he laughed ostentatiously and brazenly, revealing his sharp teeth. "Well... after not seeing each other for three days, does Wanning miss This Venerable One?”

     “...”

     He looked down at the bowls and chopsticks before him, as well as the half-eaten clear soup pot. Finally, the former emperor of the mortal world’s astute gaze fell on the dilapidated wooden bench on the street and the visibly cramped, greasy dining table.

     —These things were ordinary to Mo-zongshi.

     To him…

     “Waiter! Come to This Venerable One at once!”

     “Mo Ran, sit down!”

     This commotion suddenly alarmed the customers near them, and everyone turned around. Suddenly someone said, "Ah! ...Is that Chu-zongshi?"

     "Eh? Mo, Mo-xianjun seems to be here too? Didn’t he die? …Should someone rub my eyes? I’m not blind, right?”

     "You’re not blind. I see it too."

     A young girl yelled, “Ah! It really is Mo-xianjun!!”

     The loud clamor attracted the attention of passersby, and more and more gazes were cast in their direction. Some people had already recognized them. Chu Wanning’s expression darkened, and he pulled the former Emperor Taxian-Jun, who was still shouting, “How can anyone eat at such a shabby table? Are you kidding me?!” Before more people could come over, he summoned his sword amidst the chaos and fled in a hurry.

     Only when rising high up into the sky did Chu Wanning finally breathe a sigh of relief.

     The moon was clear and bright, as if they’d survived a disaster.

     Everything was fine—save for the fact that Taxian-Jun was still grumbling angrily behind him, asking unhappily, “What’s so good about Mo-xianjun?”

     “...”

     “A bunch of ungrateful mortals! Why do they only remember Mo-xianjun?”

     “...”

     “The one who repaired the Xuanwu Barrier was This Venerable One!”

     “...”

     “The one who saved their lives was This Venerable One!”

     “...”

     “The one who stopped the raging flood was This Venerable One!”

     Chu Wanning glanced sideways, looking at the man who was gritting his teeth in helpless frustration. Suddenly, he felt that this man was rather petty, even jealous of himself.

     "What are you looking at?!" Suddenly catching a glimpse of Chu Wanning's smiling eyes, Taxian-Jun was taken aback for a moment before he narrowed his eyes and said angrily, with feigned indifference, "Even you. You belong to This Venerable One too!"

     At the sudden rebuke, Chu Wanning was caught off-guard and snapped, “Don’t move suddenly!” Sure enough, the sword under his feet shook slightly but was quickly stabilized by Taxian-Jun’s demonic aura with the flick of a finger.

     Taxian-Jun wrapped Chu Wanning in his black and gold cloak and snorted unhappily, "What are you afraid of? With This Venerable One here, how can you fall to death?”

     As he spoke, he activated the imperial sword technique. High up in the sky, the sword’s shadow was like a black whirlwind, flying towards Nanping Mountain under the moonlight…

     Late in the night, they were just like any other ordinary lovers.

     They returned home.

     Later on, people would occasionally catch glimpses of Mo-zongshi and Chu-zongshi in the cultivation world, but they came and went without a trace, like fleeting shadows.

     Even later, another tale emerged in the cultivation world. Legend had it that there was a blind healer who traveled from Jiangnan to the Mobei desert. He always wore a veiled bamboo hat, and no one had ever seen his true appearance. The only thing they knew was that this blind healer possessed extraordinary medical skills and traveled across all the barren hills and raging rivers, helping all people without asking for a single coin.

     There was one story about this healer that was particularly famous: there was once a group of children in Wuchang Town who had been kidnapped by shady cultivators. Their skin and flesh was scalded to turn them into human bears, and there had still been no cure to this day. When the healer came to this place and heard about this, he unexpectedly used the skin of his own wrist to perform medical diagnostics, cutting off his own flesh in exchange for the restored health of the young boys. The townsfolk were deeply grateful and asked him for his name.

     But the healer replied that he was but a sinner.

     Many, many years later, after the great battles of those years had become yellowed pages in history books, after the children of the past had grown tall and those youths were married and starting families, many of the heroes of the past now budding gray in their hair—

     Another winter passed, and spring had come.

     The Sect Leader of Sisheng Peak, Xue Ziming, accepted a young boy as his direct disciple and treated him as his own son. This little fellow was accustomed from the start, completely fearless in face of the prestigious warrior, Sect Leader Xue. He continuously pestered Xue Meng and asked him questions all day long. One day, the little boy came over to him and asked curiously, “Shizun, I’ve heard so many stories from everyone about Shizu and Uncle. Are they… still in contact with Shizun?”

     At that time, the venerated Xue Ziming stood by the window, looking at the peach blossoms blooming outside, and said steadily, "Occasionally."

     The little child was quite enthusiastic. “Then why don’t you invite them back?”

     “...”

     "The Red Lotus Pavilion and Uncle’s disciple quarters are both empty, never occupied by anyone else.” The young disciple tugged at the wide sleeves of Xue Ziming's robe and said, "Shizun, Shizun, please ask them to come back. I listened to many stories; they all say that Shizu and Uncle are great heroes, incomparable in the world..."

     Xue Meng turned his light brown eyes toward the little guy in the spring sunshine with a small smile. “Do you want to be a hero someday?”

     “Of course!” The young disciple puffed up his cheeks, looking very ambitious. "Shizun, how can you have a useless disciple? I want to do something big!”

     “A promising future doesn’t necessarily mean performing great feats.” Xue Meng said, “If you can live a life of sincerity, not bullying the weak and unyielding to the strong, possessing modesty in favorable times and strength in times of hardship… and, judging people and situations with prudence and consideration, keeping compassion in your heart, then by the time your old and gray, you can say you remained true to your heart, and that’s what makes a true hero.”

     “...”

     “What’s wrong?”

     The little guy was still young after all. When Xue Meng turned around, he found that the boy was already yawning.

     Noticing his master’s gaze on him, he forced himself to stop mid-yawn. Two pools of sleepy tears welled up at the corners of his eyes, but he still tried to straighten his back, nodding thoughtfully.

     This strong-willed spirit really made him look like a young phoenix.

     Xue Meng suppressed his laughter and asked in a serious tone, "Will you remember?"

     He hurriedly said, "I'll remember."

     Xue Meng asked again, "Do you understand?"

     "Under..." His voice wavered: "I don't understand..."

     After a while, he said aggrievedly, "Shizun, what you said is too confusing..."

     Xue Meng didn’t blame him. After thinking for a while, he raised his hand and patted his head. "Forget it. It's really too much."

     “Haha.”

     "If you want to be a hero, remember one thing first."

     The little disciple quickly straightened his back and listened attentively. He probably thought Xue Meng was going to share some particularly powerful technique or essential lesson, and his eyes, with clearly defined black and white, were wide with anticipation.

     The sunlight splashed on Xue Meng's face, and as the shadows of the flowers moved, Xue Meng smiled.

     —

     “Don’t make impulsive conjectures about others. This is the highest dignity a person can give oneself.”

     After he finished speaking, he leaned over, picked up the confused little guy, and took him out of the house to the end of the garden. Looking from here, they could see the towering "Aaaaah" mountain, and the Red Lotus Pavilion was hidden in the clouds. Through the floating clouds below, the prosperous town and jade-like rivers at the foot of the mountain could be seen from afar.

     With the gentle breeze, the little disciple’s sleepiness disappeared completely, and he stopped yawning.

     After all, he was still so young and innocent, deeply captivated by every flower or bird.

     Xue Meng stood with him by the carved railing, gazing at the scenery of Shu for a while, then asked, "What do you see?"

     The little boy was puzzled. "Mountains... houses… water... and fog..."

     Xue Meng listened with a smile. His temperament had become far more docile now, and it seemed that the days of easily growing angry were a distant memory.

     He and his disciple stood by the railing and observed the mortal world. The child saw houses, while he saw the rise and fall of Wuchang Town at the foot of the mountain, from a shabby town to a bustling city even more spirited than the upper cultivation world of the past.

     The child saw water, and he saw the rolling River of Forgetfulness flowing eastward. Sometimes he thought there was a monk standing by the river, holding a soul-calling lantern in his hand and solemnly saying to him, “Xue-shizhu, your journey to the underworld..."

     The child saw fog, but he saw the gathering and dispersing souls of the deceased continuously wandering Sisheng Peak.

     His father and mother were among them. Later, he could always see their figures—on the Sword-Dancing Field, in the back garden, in Mengpo Hall, and on Naihe Bridge. He could see them even when he closed his eyes. In fact, in addition to the three souls and seven spirits, there was probably another type of soul, which existed only in the hearts of the people they loved and were closest to. When missing them, they would come to your side.

     Xue Meng held his little disciple in his arms, his eyes looking far towards the distant Frost Sky Hall in the mountains, where the coffins of many of his relatives and friends had been placed.

     Speaking of which, Jielu Elder had grown old and died in a heavy snowfall of early spring last year. Xuanji Elder had also passed away two years ago. Everyone said that he had done too many good deeds and Yanluo had called him earlier, so he could ascend as an immortal. Xue Meng saw the passing of these elders one after another, from his initial hysteria to the eventual calmness—or perhaps helplessness.

     When he could calmly handle Xuanji Elder’s funeral arrangements, Xue Meng would also miss his former self. But it was only reminiscing; he would no longer drown himself in the past, unable to extricate himself.

     He was the leader of a sect and also Yuheng’s disciple, so he always had to look forward.

     "Shizun?" A delicate little hand waved in front of Xue Meng's eyes, calling him back to his senses. "Shizun, what are you thinking about?"

     Xue Meng smiled and said, "I was just thinking about the past."

     At the mention of the past, the youth became a little excited and tried to continue the unfinished topic, “Shizu and Uncle…”

     "Actually, they come back every New Year's Eve." Xue Meng said, "You can see them this year."

     The little boy pouted, somewhat dissatisfied. "But why is it only New Year's Eve? Why don't they stay? I heard that Uncle is very powerful. With one slash of his sword—”

     Xue Meng raised his hand and poked his head. "Your head would fall."

     The young disciple stuck out his tongue but wasn’t afraid.

     Xue Meng seemed very serious. "Really. Your uncle is a little... How should I put it… split."

     “Eh? Split?”

     Xue Meng nodded. "I'll let you see him on New Year's Eve this year. However, you’ll only be able to stay until midnight. Once midnight strikes, you must leave."

     "Why?" The child listened with excitement and apprehension, his eyes widened with curiosity.

     Xue Meng said, "...Unless you want to call him Your Majesty."

     "Ah..." Hearing this, the newly-accepted little disciple blinked, even more confused. He was about to ask again, but Xue Meng seemed to recall an unpleasant memory from the past and simply put him down, freeing his hands to rub his brows, looking like he had a terrible headache.

     Since beginning his training at the sect, he’d never seen his Shizun so distressed. The young boy couldn’t help but grow even more interested in his legendary “split” uncle. He continued directly pestering Xue Meng with questions:

     “Shizun, Shizun, about Uncle—”

     “Enough questions.”

     “Then, Shizu—”

     “Don’t ask.”

     “Shizu and Uncle…”

     “Go back and copy books!”

     “Ah, Shizun, you’re so fierce…”

     In the clear blue sky of the middle Shu region, the clear sunlight trickled through the tree branches, casting its glow upon the master and disciple pair. The wind blew across Xue Meng's clothes, across the young disciple's tender cheeks, across the magnificent Sisheng Peak, and across the dark green grass in front of the Hero's Tomb.

     The wind blew, traveling across the thousands of li of the cultivation world overnight. It blew past the blind man who practiced medicine to lessen the suffering of others, the brothers admiring plum blossoms on the snowy plains, the girl who sipped wine by the Dragon Soul Pool on Mount Jiao, and the couple who returned to seclusion in Nanping Valley. Wherever it passed, the mountains and rivers remained unchanged, and the seas and rivers were peaceful.

     Through meetings and partings, encounters of mutual understanding, the fates of countless people intertwined. Although it was impossible to linger in a single night of wine and merriment, never to wake up from the good dream, echoes of relatives, close friends, and lovers would always be within each person, regardless of whether they were alive or dead, whether they were present or distant. These echoes would shadow their paths and always accompany them.

     As the wind blew, the haitang tree in front of Heaven-Piercing Tower was in full bloom, no different from yesterday. The long night had passed, and everyone had found their respective destinations. Now, everything was harmonious.

     Xue Meng looked up at the lofty tower, at its majesty. He seemed to recall something and smiled before taking his little disciple’s hand and walking towards Loyalty Hall, in the number one sect under the heavens.

     At this moment, it was as if he could hear the tranquil melody the master and disciple played on Heaven-Piercing Tower when he ascended to the sect leader position many years ago. The music seemed to pass through the long river of time and scatter like snow behind today’s Sect Leader Xue—

     I visit my old friends under the bright moon,

     Features reflected with the red of blossoming lanterns.

     The dawn of spring breaks with the cry of the noble young phoenix,

     Amidst the peace within the vast land of mountains and rivers.

     Unable to drink the buried pot of fermented wine,

     I return year after year to meet my elder brother again.

    There’s no need to accompany each other so often in life,

     When the east wind can carry our longing thoughts.

 

    —Main Story End—