Chapter 399: Chapter 299: The Grand Finale

The city of Yujing was a whirlwind of activity that day, with clouds stirring in all directions.

A speck of dust from history becomes a mountain when it falls on the head of an ordinary person, let alone a change of events that even in the annals of history would be considered tumultuous and vast.

Heroes from all over gathered together, with numerous masters from the Southern Barbarians, Great Yan, and Zhao Country converging on Yujing City. Such a time of prosperity was unique in history, as who else could have the capability to gather so many experts?

It was probably only the mysterious and elusive Earth Vein Spirit, said to grant immortality, that could accomplish this.

Great Grandmasters such as Wusun, Xuwang, Xi Hafu, and Qian Qiu the Immortal also emerged one after another. Among them, several were top Grandmasters in history, dominant figures who suppressed an era with their prowess.

The outcome was indeed shocking, with Grandmasters Xi Hafu, Wusun, and Qian Qiu the Immortal succumbing to their fates, becoming but a wisp of smoke in the annals of history.

After all, these were three Great Grandmasters, seen as celestial beings by commoners, who with a wave of their sleeves could soar to the heavens and whose every step brought heaven within reach.

No one expected that the “deceased” Ghost Swordsman would reappear in Jianghu and slay Qian Qiu the Immortal, sending shockwaves throughout the world.

This controversy spread rapidly across the land like wings, becoming a hot topic among commoners and the subjects of lively discussion in the marketplaces.

Soon, people discovered that the shackles binding the world seemed to have lightened significantly, making breakthroughs in realms easier than before, and Grandmasters realized that when refining nature’s spiritual energy, the previously troublesome Evil Blood had vanished entirely.

This apparent change immediately kicked up greater storms within Jianghu.

At the same time, various rumors about Qian Qiu the Immortal spread far and wide.

Why could he live for a thousand years without dying?

The Evil Spirits were said to be from outside this realm, but what was this realm beyond?

Why could absorbing Evil Blood and controlling Evil Spirits greatly increase one’s Cultivation?

Some said Qian Qiu possessed an unparalleled mental method that granted immortality; others claimed he was an Evil Spirit from another realm, not of this world, which was why he could live forever.

What exactly lay beyond the world became a topic of much debate, with some claiming it was a celestial paradise, others a land of great danger harboring immense calamities, and still others dismissing it as a place of illusions and fantasies.

In no time, rumors abounded, but the Dragon Locking Well had everyone profoundly shocked, revealing a top expert who lived a thousand years. Many began to secretly search for Qian Qiu the Immortal’s relics, hoping to uncover the secrets within. With the fall of Qi Xuan Dao, Black Ice Platform became vulnerable and teetered on the brink of collapse.

Countless experts fought fiercely to uncover Qian Qiu the Immortal’s origins, identity, and relics, resulting in intricate schemes and deceit. This included royals, noble families, and reclusive Jianghu masters, leading to a resurgence of chaos and bloodshed within the world.

After slaying Qian Qiu the Immortal at Dragon Locking Well, the Ghost Swordsman suddenly vanished without a trace. No one knew his whereabouts, not even the people of the Demon Sect.

The more elusive he became, the more people sought after the invincible Great Sword Immortal, as if to grasp his shadow.

People knew that his sword could sever the life of an immortal who had lived a thousand years and slay celestial beings as easily as slaughtering chickens and dogs. He was regarded as the greatest master over the past three thousand years.

But the harder they searched, the more his presence eluded them, as if such a person never existed in the world.

Eventually, people stopped trying to track him down, and the Ghost Swordsman became a taboo subject, though his legendary sword continued to be celebrated in Jianghu for a long time.

After a massive storm, all that was left was devastation, and a powerful hand stepped in to establish a new order.

This hand belonged to the Great Yan Court.

Though the fall of the Houjin Royal Court and the continued resistance from the tribes of the great plains remained a concern for Great Yan, it was far less threatening compared to the previously powerful Houjin Dynasty.

As time passed, the Great Yan Dynasty not only stood to clear the tribes from the plains but also had the potential to encompass all of Houjin into its territory.

The situation in Zhao Country to the south of Great Yan was slightly better than that of Houjin, but it remained dire. With the death of Qi Xuan Dao and the unstable status of Black Ice Platform, the previously subdued tensions exploded, causing unprecedented internal chaos within Zhao Country.

The warfare across Zhao Country was even more devastating than the previous wars with Yan Country.

Indeed, the Great Yan Dynasty watched from a distance, recuperating and biding its time, with a smooth journey ahead. The situation was extremely favorable, even presenting the opportunity to annex the territory of Zhao Country, possibly becoming a unified dynasty since the times of Great Qin.

Even with the addition of Houjin’s territories, it was more prosperous than the Great Qin Dynasty.

Just when the world was thrown into chaos and the ripples had not yet settled, the Great Yan Dynasty issued a decree that completely ignited the whole world.

The Great Yan Dynasty promulgated a decree, consolidating all the sect masters and martial arts establishments of the Great Yan Martial World into a comprehensive Martial Arts Academy. Whether they were from noble families, the poor, or even beggars, as long as they were under fifteen and possessed sufficient aptitude, regardless of status, they could go to the Martial Arts Academy to learn profound martial arts and enjoy the top resources and facilities provided by the Great Yan Dynasty.

And the first Dean of the Martial Arts Academy was none other than the Sect Leader of the Zhenyi Sect and the State Preceptor of Great Yan, Xiao Qianqiu.

Instantly, the world was stirred into a thousand waves.

Consolidating the martial arts of the world and establishing a Martial Arts Academy?

As long as one had the aptitude, all the people in the world could study martial arts, offering a tremendous opportunity to those who previously had no connections or who were poor.

If this were true, how terrifying would it be?

The future of the world’s sects would be completely cut off; did the Great Yan Martial World sects truly agree to this?

But with Xiao Qianqiu’s consent, some voices of opposition from the Jianghu sects also died down. It was known that after the disappearance of the Ghost Swordsman in the Great Yan Martial World, Xiao Qianqiu was undoubtedly the most powerful and senior expert in this world. Moreover, his Zhenyi Sect was the national religion of Great Yan, one of the top sects in the world.

Soon after, rumors that the leader of the Demon Sect, Li Fuzhou, took the position of Vice Dean of the Martial Arts Academy, silenced the entire Great Yan Martial World.

The Demon Sect’s influence had already left a deep-rooted concept in people’s minds due to the Ghost Swordsman and the Sect Hierarch; now that both the Zhenyi Sect and Demon Sect had agreed in succession, how many more would dare to voice their opposition?

However, the establishment of the Martial Arts Academy was a major matter, involving the foundation and future of the Great Yan, allowing no room for negligence. Although the decree had been announced, how and when it would be implemented still remained to be discussed.

Some insightful people also saw the clues and couldn’t help but feel emotional.

If the Martial Arts Academy was successfully built, and then Martial Arts Branches were established in other places, the masters from the sects would be assimilated into the academies. Eventually, all the masters in the world would be in the hands of the Great Yan Royal Family. In less than twenty years, the Great Yan Dynasty would become the most powerful dynasty in history.

Jianghu is still that same Jianghu, full of deception, overt conflicts, and covert struggles. It is rife with conspiracies and romance; it would not change because of someone’s arrival or departure.

From ancient times to the present, things are fleeting, but the only constant is the ever-youthful landscape of the land.

With a rain cape and a wind hat, who could recognize me as I travel the Four Seas, my sword soaring across the sky time and again?

Yujing City, Imperial City, the Observatory.

The vast night sky, casually adorned with stars, wrapped the twilight in a layer of profound vastness, circling a new moon in the heavens.

Donned in a dragon robe, the imposing Yong’an Emperor stood in the center of the Observatory, gazing up at the night sky.

Behind her was a woman whose beauty did not pale in comparison to hers, Dai Ling.

Those cold eyes could ignite a fiery passion in any man’s heart, as if they were brighter and more dazzling than the stars in the sky.

Both of them looked up at the night sky above, their thoughts wandering to their own concerns.

Sometimes, concerns can resonate with each other. When a person has a deep secret weighing on their mind, they appear especially burdened, and the whole world seems as abstract and chaotic as a painting.

In their silence, each hid forbidden thoughts not to be voiced.

Zhou Xianming approached from a distance, bowing with clasped hands, “Your Majesty, the Black Feather Tribe and the Golden Eagle Tribe of Houjin have already sent letters of surrender. The remaining tribes of Houjin have retreated to Snow Mountain. Because of the icy cold weather on the mountain, which is not conducive to marching, Qiu Lun has not taken any further rash actions.”

The Yong’an Emperor’s eyes and brows were calm as she said indifferently, “Summon him back; these Houjin tribes are like grasshoppers in autumn, incapable of hopping around for much longer. It’s a waste of talent for General Qiu to stay in Houjin.”

“Understood.”

Zhou Xianming bowed and slowly withdrew.

The Yong’an Emperor stood there, hands behind her back, with an expression of confidence, along with a pair of steadfast and unshakable eyes. “The current situation in the world is very favorable for our Great Yan.”

Dai Ling, who was behind her, did not know if these words were meant for her, but her intuition told her they were, so she said, “Your Majesty is valiant, and now the situation in Great Yan seems unprecedentedly prosperous, with the potential for unending domination within grasp.”

The Houjin has been annihilated, with only a few tribes hanging on by a thread. At this time, Zhao Country has fallen into civil strife, engulfed in flames of war, while the Southern Barbarians have retreated and are holed up in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, treating Nanping Dao like the Thunder Pool, not daring to take even half a step further.

“But I,”

The Yong’an Human Emperor, looking up, had a vacant expression for a long time before saying, “just can’t find happiness.”

“Your Majesty should be the happiest person in this world.”

“What is happiness…”

“Indeed, what exactly is happiness?”

The Yong’an Human Emperor’s sigh was long as he said, “Life changes in unexpected moments, and as the one who steers one’s life, whether one lives happily or not, what does it have to do with others?”

Dai Ling’s voice was even more melancholic than the Human Emperor’s, “Indeed, I often wake from dreams of late, in a daze, not knowing if what just happened was a dream, or if this moment is the real dream.”

As if, she were the one with the heaviest burdens on her heart.

That kind of joy, suppressed to the extreme in an unknown corner of the heart, is a kind of torment, endlessly crushing and grinding.

The Yong’an Human Emperor inwardly smiled wryly. The loneliness that should have settled like autumn water, stirred anew because of these few words.

Perhaps, as Dai Ling said, in all haziness, it became difficult for her to distinguish which parts were a dream, and which were the concrete reality that had taken place.

A light breeze stirred, bringing with it a chill, and with it, a desolate atmosphere.

The round moonlight illuminated the earth, but there was ever only one moon.

Gazing at the moon, both fell into silence; in the same scene, within the same expanse of sky and land, two different women perhaps each harbored the same sort of stifling despair. They had lost their way on this shared journey, unable to find their direction, like two abandoned orphans with no place to call home.

Without direction, one is adrift everywhere.

After a long while, Dai Ling said, “Your Majesty, you truly love him.”

This made the Yong’an Human Emperor’s heart tremble, and she forced herself to rally her spirits, saying, “I do not know, but I always feel like something is missing from the world at this moment, like a fish struggling in the mud without water, not dead, but covered in blood, only waiting for that moment of death.”

Dai Ling sighed softly upon hearing this, “Who isn’t waiting for that moment of death?”

Death!

Their eyes met, and both their hearts stirred.

Life and death, the difference between opening and closing one’s eyes, between darkness and light, these are the eternally fluctuating matters of the human world. And what do these subtle emotions like discontent, grievance, anticipation… matter in the face of all that vanishes?

People do not become lonely because of the absence of love, but they do because of the sensation of death.

Without love, power can still be had, but without life, nothing at all remains.

Their eyes met, as if understanding something.

Their midsummer would never be absent.

Beneath the faint moonlight, tonight the two of them could indulge in drunkenness, letting days and months shuttle past swiftly, and after two hours, they could await the most beautiful sunrise.

…..

Beihuang Dao, You Mountain.

The first snowflakes were beginning to drift down, the green curtains still fragrant, the fire not yet out. Sitting alone in the bitter cold of night longing for sleep, in that vast empty space, the broken dreams left one twice as desolate.

As the scattered snowflakes disappeared into the dust, everything amidst the pure white snow showed a kind of desolation, yet exuded warmth. The sorrow of the waning autumn has left no trace, stealthily slipping into the biting cold.

On the tranquil mountainside, two figures appeared.

A man and a woman, the latter leading a white steed.

Jia Meixian took a deep breath and said seriously, “Senior Brother, I am leaving.”

“Leaving?”

Yang Chong was not surprised by Jia Meixian’s words, as if all of this was expected; it was just a matter of sooner or later.

No one knew better than he why Jia Meixian had stayed on You Mountain.

Jia Meixian nodded and said, “Yes, I want to go see Guishuang. It’s said to be a new world, and I want to see a different world.”

Yang Chong looked at his junior sister, then let out a deep sigh, “It seems you’ve already made up your mind. If I say I will go with you, you certainly wouldn’t want that.”

Jia Meixian said, “Senior Brother, I don’t want to be a burden to you anymore.”

“How do you know you’re a burden to me?”

“Everyone has their own life to live, and their own issues to face.”

“It seems you’ve really changed.”

Yang Chong softly said as he looked at Jia Meixian.

From those eyes and the tone of her voice, he knew that the girl before him had truly changed a lot; the immaturity and naivety of the past were no longer visible.

Turning her back, Jia Meixian watched the falling snowflakes and said, “Instead of idolizing the sun, it’s better to become a person like the sun.”

Yang Chong seemed to understand that she did not want him to see her trembling lips or tearful eyes.

“Then… will you come back, Junior Sister?”

“Perhaps I will.”

The weight of those words, “perhaps,” was quite meaningful–perhaps she would return, but what of the alternative?

Having said that, Jia Meixian mounted her horse, shouldered her pack.

At this moment, Yang Chong watched her retreating figure, his heart as if filled with a thousand words, yet not knowing how to express them.

Jia Meixian tightened the reins and turned to say, “Senior Brother, when the plum blossoms bloom again, I will return.”

“Go!”

With that, she pulled the reins hard, and the white steed galloped ahead.

Yang Chong, seeing this, couldn’t help but extend his hand, but the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat and never came out.

Jia Meixian’s figure vanished into the snowstorm, disappearing without a trace.

The snowstorm grew fiercer, its howling drowning out all other sounds, including the voice of Yang Chong’s heart.

Snow is strange, like regret, like reunion, like unrequited love.

….

In the second year of Tianfu, Yujing City, Lv Mansion.

Time keeps slipping away, like day turns to night and winter gives way to spring.

Yujing City welcomed an unprecedented heavy snowfall, and then the weather began to warm up, everything was thriving, and developments were tilting toward the positive.

As usual, Lv Jingchun, donning a thick jacket, came to pay his respects to Lv Guoyong in his study, muttering under his breath, “I composed poetry last night, surely I don’t have to write more today?”

Saying so, Lv Jingchun arrived at the door of Lv Guoyong’s study, and with a resonant voice said, “Grandfather, your grandson has come to pay his respects.”

But today was different from usual, as there was no response from Lv Guoyong in the study.

Feeling puzzled, Lv Jingchun repeated, “Grandfather, your grandson has come to pay his respects.”

But once again, there was no sound from the study, and all was quiet around him.

Lv Jingchun felt that something was amiss and promptly pushed the door open.

The door swung wide open, and a cold breeze blew in. Inside sat an elderly man in a chair, holding a writing brush, sitting quietly there, but his eyes were tightly closed, and all signs of life had ceased within him.

“Grandfather!”

Lv Jingchun’s pupils dilated, and he couldn’t help but exclaim.

Three-time minister under the Great Yan Dynasty, Lv Guoyong had not survived the spring of the second year of Tianfu; he passed away suddenly, causing turmoil in both court and country.

As the once foremost figure of the Confucian sect, his name was known to all for shattering the Literary Palace in combat against three Five Qi Grandmasters, even slaying one of them.

Especially to the people of Great Yan, Lv Guoyong had held his post for sixty years, overseeing the Great Yan Cabinet for sixty years. Through trials and tribulations over the decades, he remained unshaken in his seat, unmoved by anyone, a true pillar of the state.

Some praised him as a solitary sage in the times of governance, a virtuous counselor in historical records, while others called him a lone and tumultuous prime minister.

Looking back on his life, Lv Guoyong was a man of many aspects.

Lv Guoyong was a powerful official; some presented couplets to him, extolling him as brilliant as the sun and moon, and worshiped by all nations as the Son of Heaven, with mountains and hills equaling his stature, and all directions singing praises of the Lv Sect’s Prime Minister–referring naturally to Lv Guoyong himself, who, for sixty years, deserved to be named alongside the Emperor of Great Yan.

Lv Guoyong was a renowned prime minister; throughout his life, he poured his heart into Great Yan, stemming the tide against three Five Qi Grandmasters to preserve the dynasty’s realm. Yet, he preferred to hold absolute authority, favoring his own kin. Much like the Taiping Human Emperor, he greatly admired power and strategy. As a solitary counselor, Lv Guoyong took it upon himself to self-cultivate, manage his household, govern the state, and bring peace to all under Heaven. Undeterred by the journey ahead, he faced the multitude alone, regardless of the rolling tide of curses that followed him.

Therefore, Lv Guoyong was a man who inspired both deep admiration and deep-seated hatred.

In any case, Lv Guoyong’s contributions to Great Yan were plain for all to see, and following the Prime Minister’s death, the Yong’an Human Emperor held a grand funeral for him and posthumously bestowed upon him the honorary title of Wen Cheng Gong.

For a time, mourning gripped Great Yan, shrouded in somber clouds.

After all, compared to others, the common people held great respect and affection for this powerful minister who had guided court and country alike.

However, in the relentless wheels of history, no matter how significant a figure one is, they will all eventually become part of history.

…..

As time flowed and years passed, unnoticed, half a year had gone by in the struggle for the Earth Vein Spirit of Yujing City. Winter gave way to spring, and now summer had arrived.

The summer skies were brilliant beyond compare, the sky a boundless azure, and the sunlight intense as arrows, casting a dazzling light over everything above and below.

Yu State City, second-floor private room of Wuyang Tavern.

Inside the elegant private room was stifling heat. Seated at the head of the table was a constable in uniform, his clothes now sticking to his body, the long sword at his waist feeling incredibly heavy.

Opposite him was a rather handsome man, particularly his eyes, which were unforgettable.

If a top expert from Great Yan saw this face, they would be immensely shocked because the person before them was none other than An Jing, who had been sought unsuccessfully by everyone for half a year.

At this moment, An Jing picked up the bowl on the table and gulped down a mouthful, saying, “What’s the deal with you suddenly asking me out for drinks today? By the way, you seem to have put on quite a bit of weight recently, it looks like you’ve been having good meals.”

How could An Jing not be surprised? Han Wenxin was a man who could not keep five pieces of silver in his pocket, yet today he had invited him for drinks.

Han Wenxin’s expression darkened, and he gritted his teeth, “Brother An, I have a secret to tell you.”

“A secret?”

An Jing looked at Han Wenxin, his curiosity piqued, “What secret?”

Han Wenxin took a deep breath, then said through clenched teeth, “I… I might be pregnant.”

“Pfft!”

The wine An Jing had in his mouth sprayed out, and his face was overcome with an expression of utter shock.

Pregnant!?

Han Wenxin is pregnant!?

A man is actually pregnant!?

At this moment, An Jing’s mind was filled with questions, as if he had seen a ghost.

“Brother An, I’m telling the truth.”

Seeing An Jing’s expression, Han Wenxin hastily said, “That day, I went to the Chaotic Burial Ground to dig for gold, didn’t I find a jar with a buried baby’s body in it?”

An Jing nodded slightly. A few days ago, Han Wenxin had gone to the Chaotic Burial Ground to dig for gold, but halfway through, he unearthed a jar. Thinking it was gold, he opened it only to find, to his dismay, the body of a baby inside. Han Wenxin had been scared out of his wits and fell ill for half a month after returning.

Han Wenxin continued, “These days, I’ve been having dreams about that jar, and that child inside keeps calling me ‘daddy’.”

An Jing leisurely picked up his bowl and took a sip, asking, “Calling you what?”

Han Wenxin said, “Daddy!”

An Jing patted Han Wenxin on the shoulder and started laughing, “No need to be so polite, this round of drinks is on me.”

With that, leaving a stunned Han Wenxin behind with wide eyes, he put down a silver ingot and walked out.

By the time Han Wenxin came to his senses, An Jing was long gone. He growled, “Damn An Jing, could it really be because I deceived you?”

After roaring, he saw the silver on the table, his heart stirred with delight, and he cheerfully pocketed the silver, “It’s been a while since I went to the brothel to listen to music, my spear has gotten rusty.”

…..

Outside the Wuyang Tavern.

An Jing walked towards the Jishi Hall with his hands clasped behind his back.

Half a year ago, he had returned to Yu State City, and as a result, Jishi Hall had reopened.

Life had returned to the peacefulness of old.

The summer sun was like a furnace, scorching the earth.

Suddenly, An Jing’s brows furrowed sharply as a golden figure appeared in the crowded scene ahead.

This person was none other than Jin Deng from Tian Yin.

An Jing sent a message through voice transmission, “Elder Jin, I didn’t expect such a coincidence.”

Jin Deng also sent a message back, “It’s not a coincidence, I came especially to see you.”

An Jing said, “Please!”

Jin Deng said, “Please!”

The two stepped into a narrow alley, where outside bustle and noise filled the air, but inside, it was remarkably quiet.

With a smile, Jin Deng said, “It seems you really don’t want anyone to disturb your current life.”

An Jing, expressionless, replied, “Let’s cut to the chase. What do you want to talk about?”

“Then I’ll just say it.”

Jin Deng nodded slightly and continued, “You severed the Earth Vein Spirit, do you understand what that means?”

An Jing narrowed his eyes and asked, “What does it mean? Does it mean I can live forever and break free from the shackles of a Great Grandmaster?”

Jin Deng replied, “That is only part of it, but there is also a part of the truth you are unaware of.”

An Jing glanced at Jin Deng but said nothing.

Jin Deng went on to say, “By severing the Earth Vein Spirit, you’ve essentially become the new Earth Vein Spirit. The original Earth Vein Spirit was constantly under attack by the relentless evil spirits, and you will face the same invasion by the evil energy.”

An Jing responded indifferently, “I’ve known this for quite some time.”

Jin Deng looked intently at An Jing, “Since you are aware, I won’t say more.”

After that, Jin Deng gave a cupped-fist salute and walked away into the distance.

An Jing looked at his own palms which, if Jin Deng had been present, would have appeared like white jade, the energy of the evil spirits floating above all burnt clean away.

“Evil energy? I’ve refined it long ago. As for those evil spirits, I’ve eradicated them all.”

Murmuring to himself, An Jing then stepped out of the alley.

Perhaps Jin Deng knew some secrets from beyond this realm, or possibly the secrets of the Earth Vein Spirit, but as An Jing himself said, after the death of the Earth Vein Spirit, he had become the Earth Vein Spirit.

Regarding the secrets of the Earth Vein Spirit, An Jing knew them far clearer than anyone else.

In this part of the world, a significant amount of evil energy was still seeping in, attempting to contaminate his body, but An Jing had vanquished all of them, even purging the very essence of the evil energy.

…..

Glorious sunlight scattered among the endless green tiles and red walls, the abruptly jutting eaves, the lofty, fluttering shop banners, the oncoming carts and carriages, the unceasing stream of pedestrians–

Teahouses, taverns, pawnshops, workshops lined both sides of the street, and not far away, several street vendors toiled under large umbrellas.

The street stretched east and west, reaching into the quieter suburbs outside the city. Yet on the streets, there was an endless flow of passersby: porters with their burdens, ox carts laden with goods, donkey-drawn carts, and onlookers enjoying the scenery of Yu State River…

Centered around a towering city tower, buildings closely packed together to form distinct alleyways and courtyards.

On the west side of the street stood a brand-new plaque with three bold characters: Jishi Hall.

“Do you know? My favorite thing is little animals.”

“Woof! Woof! Woof!”

“Why do I like them? Well, it’s a must-have at every meal.”

At this moment, a pretty, plump maid yawned while carrying a wooden basin, followed closely by a small black dog.

On the other side, An Jing, carrying a box of pastries and three sticks of candied haws, strolled leisurely to the entrance of Jishi Hall and entered through the curtains.

“Three jin of madder costs 300 copper coins.”

“One jin of jacaranda costs 150 copper coins.”

…..

Yu Qiurong was busy with her abacus, taking notes with a brush on the medicinal herbs purchased. Hearing footsteps, she looked up to see An Jing returning and hurriedly greeted him, “Son-in-law, you’re back.”

An Jing put down the pastries and handed the candied haws to Yu Qiurong, asking, “Where is the wife?”

Yu Qiurong smiled and replied, “The wife is in the back preparing tonight’s dinner.”

Hearing this, An Jing’s heart softened, and he walked slowly toward the kitchen.

In the back yard, smoke rose from the kitchen, where a figure bustled about.

The woman wore a jeweled hairpin, with a purple ribbon trailing down to her waist, and her forehead adorned with an exquisite flower-shaped hairpin, making her look especially beautiful. Her peach blossom eyes sparkled with liveliness, and she wore a light purple palace dress. At that moment, her pale hands were busy preparing delicious dishes, her expression filled with focus and sincerity.

Throughout one’s life, having someone like her by one’s side is more than enough.

The happiest thing in life is loving the person you care for, and having her give her all in loving you back.

And what does it mean to be in love? As An Jing once put it, it’s quite simple:

At the sight of her, I smile.

At my sight, she smiles.

Walking up to Zhao Qingmei, An Jing said with a slight smile, “Madam.”

With her head bowed, Zhao Qingmei replied without looking up, “What is it?”

Grasping her hands, An Jing asked, “Do you know what day today is?”

Looking up, Zhao Qingmei’s beautiful eyes met An Jing’s as she said, “Today marks four years since we were married. Of course, I haven’t forgotten.”

Madam still remembers…

Lost in thought, An Jing reminisced about the day filled with the sound of firecrackers and beating drums, red candles, red yarn, and the stunning woman before him.

Memory is like an engraver, boldly capturing all the happy moments.

He recalled the wedding toast they shared, the meals they had together, sitting under the eaves watching the moonlight, boating on the lake, and the nights spent drinking and chatting… All these memories were deeply etched in his mind, never fading.

“In the blink of an eye, four years have passed. Time really does fly.”

Zhao Qingmei, watching An Jing daydream, then asked, “Husband, what’s on your mind?”

An Jing mused, “I’m just thinking about the past. Some of it was absurd, some hard to believe.”

With a playful glare, Zhao Qingmei teased, “Indeed, who would have thought that the modest doctor from Jishi Hall was the invincible Great Sword Immortal?”

An Jing couldn’t help but say, “Nor could I have imagined that my wife was the Sect Hierarch of the Demon Sect.”

The two locked eyes and then, unexpectedly, both burst into laughter.

Looking back suddenly, time passes each person in the same manner, yet everyone experiences it differently.

As it turns out, the deeply yearned-for stars and sea have always been right here. Pause for a moment, and listen, as each breath of time holds its own sound.

…

(The end of the book)