Ruyi was accustomed to farewells. In these three thousand years, she had seen off two rows of former lovers alone, let alone these friends met by chance. So her face showed not a trace of sorrow, only smiles as she listened to Fuman stammer about Ministry of Justice matters.

“The, the Crown Prince has appointed me, me and Yanning.” She had drunk two cups of wine, her cheeks slightly flushed, yet her eyes bright and clear. “We can, can continue investigating the, the mastermind behind that Black Market Case from before.”

She nodded and asked: “Do you have new lodgings?”

Speaking of this, Fuman looked at her with some melancholy: “We, we do have some.” But she was somewhat reluctant to part with Ruyi.

“That’s good. Once you’re settled, I’ll find some porters to move all the furniture and furnishings from your rooms over there.”

“That, that won’t do.” Fuman quickly waved her hands. “Back then, back then, you were kind enough to take us in, take us in. These, these are all your things.”

Ruyi waved her hand generously: “I’m tired of running the inn and don’t manage much anyway. I was thinking of renting it out recently – wouldn’t lying back and collecting money be more pleasant? Since you’re used to those things, keeping them would just benefit strangers. Better to take them all.”

Fuman’s eyes widened, and He Tinglan was also somewhat stunned: “This, this is too sudden.”

“Not sudden at all. I’ve been calculating since last month and have already contacted several proprietors. I’m waiting for them to have time to discuss details.” Ruyi smiled. “Don’t worry, I’ll buy Master Shen’s residence at Houchao Gate. You can find me there in the future.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yanning’s shocked gaze turned to the side: “Is Master also leaving?”

Shen Qiyuan pressed his lips together, about to say it wasn’t certain yet, when the person beside him answered for him: “Master Shen received transfer orders to oversee affairs in Huizhou. He’ll rarely return these next few years. Such a large residence would just sit empty – better to sell it to me.”

Zhao Yanning frowned: “Transfer orders? Didn’t they say the current regent honors virtue, treats talent well, and appoints people based on merit? How could he suddenly transfer Master away from Lin’an?”

“I requested it myself.” Shen Qiyuan helplessly went along with the story. “Great Xia’s envoys have withdrawn from Huizhou, but the remaining Great Xia forces there are difficult to eradicate. The Eastern Palace fears long-term problems, and with no one available at present, I volunteered to be transferred there for a few years.”

He continued: “Tingchuan will soon be promoted to Vice Minister of Justice. In the future, you can go directly to him for any matters.”

Seeing no resentment on his face, Zhao Yanning reluctantly nodded, then realized with surprise: “So the innkeeper will stay alone in Lin’an?”

“What do you mean alone? Aren’t you all still here too?” Ruyi laughed while fanning herself.

Everyone exchanged glances.

Though they were all still in Lin’an, the city was too large. Even He Tinglan, who would also live at Houchao Gate, was three or four streets away from the Shen residence, not to mention Fuman and Yanning who would live in the Ministry of Justice compound, and Qingyi who would go to a neighboring city for martial examinations.

The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly grew heavy.

Ruyi raised her wrist, and her embroidered silk fan swept away the mood: “Alright, let’s eat. There’s still much to do.”

She had to discuss renting out the shop, pack everyone’s luggage individually, and seamlessly erase Shen Qiyuan from Lin’an. In the next two days, she was so busy her feet barely touched the ground – she didn’t even have time to sit and drink tea.

Naturally, Shen Qiyuan couldn’t even find an opportunity to apologize.

He had previously hated this attitude of Ruyi’s, seeming to care about nothing, as if everything he did was futile. No matter how deeply he felt, she could abandon him at any time.

This feeling was terrible.

But now, watching her again, the more Shen Qiyuan looked, the more he felt something was wrong.

She indeed showed no bad emotions, and could even be called enthusiastic about helping Fuman and Yanning move – but she was too enthusiastic. In one afternoon, she had settled the two in the Ministry of Justice compound, arranged Qingyi’s lodgings in the neighboring city early, and practically rushed him onto the carriage.

None of this was unusual, but the key point was that when other proprietors came to rent the shop, this person who usually cared about money barely glanced at the contracts before hastily pressing her fingerprint.

Rather than not caring, wasn’t it more that she cared too much but didn’t want to feel sad, so she simply chose to cut through the mess with a sharp blade?

Shen Qiyuan’s fingertips curled slightly.

“I’ll see you off here.” After settling everyone, she escorted him to the countryside outside the city, placing all of Puhua’s mortal world evidence into his qiankun pouch, then waved at him dashingly: “When he gets his comeuppance, remember to return early and tell me.”

“Alright.” Shen Qiyuan nodded. “However, heaven differs from the mortal world – affairs move too slowly. It might drag on for three to five years.”

“Just three to five years – I’m not in a hurry.” She smiled with lowered eyes. “I have a long life ahead.”

The appointed time arrived. Golden light blazed from heaven as the Supreme Lord descended gracefully, opening the heavenly gate for Shen Qiyuan. Shen Qiyuan glanced at her once, then flew upward without looking back.

His snow-brocade wild goose robe swept past before her eyes, stirring up a breeze mixed with mint fragrance.

Ruyi’s eyes blinked.

She didn’t watch his departing figure. Realizing he was about to enter the heavenly gate, she immediately turned toward the city, walking quickly with steps that appeared both dashing and resolute.

Some things wouldn’t hurt if you didn’t think about them carefully. She was a three-thousand-year-old woman – she wouldn’t learn from teenage girls to cry and wail. That wouldn’t be dignified at all.

She would return to properly live out the rest of Liu Ruyi’s life, cultivate diligently, and lead the demon race to develop and grow stronger. Ideally, before her next meeting with the Celestial Emperor, she would have the confidence for equal negotiations.

That’s right, there were many things to do. She was very busy.

Her skirt hem fluttered as she quickly stepped toward the city gate, but her wrist suddenly tightened.

Someone grabbed her, and with a forceful pull, she suddenly fell backward.

Her flower-like skirt hem rose and fell. Ruyi landed in this person’s arms, her pupils suddenly widening.

The slight moisture that had just emerged was shaken loose by this movement, scattering in tiny fragments from the corners of her eyes. The crystalline droplets refracted like stars in the late spring, early summer sunlight.

Shen Qiyuan caught her, bending slightly to lower his head and kiss her reddened ear: “When I asked earlier if you were the same when parting with Wei Zijue, I meant to say your indifferent appearance was too glaring, as if you’d never taken me to heart, as if even life-separation wasn’t worth grieving.”

His fingertip brushed her eye corner, and his eyes finally showed traces of a smile: “But looking now, that’s not necessarily so.”

Ruyi suddenly pushed him away, looking up at the sky in shock.

The heavenly gate had closed, the golden light was gone, and even that old Supreme Lord had vanished without a trace.

“What are you doing?” She stared with wide eyes. “Didn’t we agree you’d go to the Nine Heavens to watch Puhua face justice?”

Shen Qiyuan reached out to take her hand: “I gave all the evidence to the True Lord. If those things can’t bring us justice, then not ascending to the Nine Heavens doesn’t matter. If he can bring good news down in three to five years, we can discuss other matters then.”

Ruyi dodged his hand, her brow furrowing more and more tightly.

He was somewhat puzzled: “I stayed behind – aren’t you happy?”