On the opposite bank of the river, everyone watched this incredibly eerie scene with wide eyes.

The world on the far shore twisted and shrank layer by layer. Finally, at the very end, it dissolved into nothingness. And the river before their eyes gradually disappeared from everyone’s view as well.

Those who had successfully crossed the river were now fleeing in terror, but soon they too vanished along with the world like smoke dispersing into clouds.

When Huang Rang regained consciousness, she found herself still sitting in the wheelchair. Inside Yuanrong Tower, calm had been restored, with the runic incantations on the walls all concealed. The entire tower looked no different from an ordinary building.

She could no longer move even a fraction. She gazed quietly ahead, light from outside the tower streaming in. It turned out that time had already reached dusk.

Behind her, someone approached with stumbling footsteps. Then a bloodied hand reached over, gently touching her cheeks and limbs, as if confirming whether she was unharmed. Huang Rang couldn’t turn her head, but she already knew who it was.

Di Yiqiu.

Huang Rang felt his warmth, the sunlight from outside the tower shining upon her with a faint tingling sensation.

Then her field of vision shifted—Di Yiqiu had turned the wheelchair. Huang Rang’s gaze swept across and saw Xie Hongchen approaching. His face was deathly pale, his footsteps appearing to float due to weakness. He had already withdrawn his Heart Sword, and his snow-white robes were soaked with blood, blooming into large, large flowers.

Huang Rang’s gaze was vacant, and she could only let him approach step by step.

He seemed about to speak several times but stopped himself, while Di Yiqiu’s sarcastic habit hadn’t lessened despite his severe injuries. He said, “Sect Master Xie is so well-informed and knowledgeable, surely he’s heard the principle that good dogs don’t block the way.”

Xie Hongchen ignored his mockery and instead stepped far to the side.

Only then did Di Yiqiu push the wheelchair to the window. Supporting Huang Rang, he descended from the window, floating down outside the tower.

When the crowd saw him emerge, voices abruptly ceased.

Qiu Cailing and others immediately stepped forward, asking, “What’s the situation inside the tower? Did you capture Shi Wenyu?”

But his words had barely fallen when other voices rose up again.

Someone said, “What exactly is going on here? Is this how your court persecutes common people?”

“Did Master Di Sanmeng truly suffer the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needle punishment? What’s this about? Doesn’t the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needle punishment require a public trial by the immortal sects before it can be carried out? Yuhu Xuanzong must provide an explanation!”

“Is it safe now?”

All manner of questions came rushing at them, and behind them, Xie Hongchen also descended from the tower with ethereal grace.

Di Yiqiu slowly wiped the bloodstains from Huang Rang’s cheeks, and only after a long while did he say, “Shi Wenyu has already disappeared. Right now, Yuanrong Tower is under Sect Master Xie’s control.” He bent down and plucked a small blade of grass, saying, “The Heavenly Dao’s order is being restored anew, so everyone needn’t panic.”

Everyone’s eyes gathered as they saw that the wild grass in his hand, which had been half turned to sand with only slightly thickened roots and stems remaining, was indeed slowly recovering at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“At this rate, how long will it take to return to normal?” Someone demanded furiously, cursing, “You people who have already died long ago, why don’t you just end yourselves? Didn’t you hear what Master Di Sanmeng said? Your existence only disrupts the Heavenly Dao’s order!”

With this statement, the other resurrected people and their relatives became agitated.

“What absolute nonsense are you spouting? Are our lives not lives?!” For a moment, everyone cursed and argued with each other, quarreling endlessly.

Di Yiqiu was actually quite skilled at handling such matters.

Being part of the court, he understood human nature all too well.

At times like this, someone needed to take the lead, first compelling righteous people to meet their deaths. Then persuading the hesitant, followed by forcing the unwilling, and finally executing those who resisted.

The tactics of powerful ministers were like wielding a knife to sever an arm—how could there be room for sentiment?

He gently stroked Huang Rang’s long hair, his expression ice-cold. “Everyone, my wife Huang Rang has devoted her entire life to working for the people, never harboring selfish desires.”

Listening to his words, if not for the two needles on her head restraining her, Huang Rang truly couldn’t help but want to laugh out loud.

Behind her, Di Yiqiu extended his hand, gently caressing her cheek. His words were calm and composed as he spoke these false and baseless statements: “When breaking through the dream just now, she said to me that human life is precious, weighing more than mountains. It’s only natural that those resurrected through dreams are reluctant to face death.”

The surroundings gradually quieted, countless gazes converging here.

He Xijin and others had been blocking the common people earlier, not allowing them to approach Di Yiqiu and the others, but now they too looked over.

Di Yiqiu’s spine was ramrod straight, his gaze sharp as a blade’s edge. “But where righteousness lies, one should face it with generous spirit. She… is willing to sacrifice her own life for righteousness, leading the fearless to follow her example.”

“Di, Di, Di…” He Xijin pointed at him in fury.

Even Xie Hongchen was stunned for a long time before understanding this statement.

“Di Yiqiu! What are you saying?” he demanded sternly.

But the crowd’s response was one of wooden shock. Through four dreams, who didn’t know of the connection between Huang Rang and Di Yiqiu?

He was Huang Rang’s admirer from a hundred years ago, pursuing her through four dreams, husband and wife for three lifetimes.

But now he was saying that Huang Rang was willing to sacrifice her life for death, to “lead the fearless to follow her example.”

“Are you insane?” Qu Manying stepped forward to seize the wheelchair. “To achieve your goal, you can even sacrifice and exploit her? Don’t even think about it!”

Di Yiqiu said nothing, but his movement was lightning-fast as he evaded Qu Manying’s attempt to grab the wheelchair with Huang Rang.

Xie Hongchen took several steps forward. He came before Huang Rang and slowly crouched down. Huang Rang met his gaze, even her heart silent and wordless.

She couldn’t see Di Yiqiu, didn’t know how he could use such a calm tone to speak such words.

Xie Hongchen gazed at her intently and said, “Come with me.” Because his voice was so weak, these words sounded more like a plea. He grasped Huang Rang’s hands resting on her knees, each word weary and hoarse. “Ah Rang, come with me, alright?”

Huang Rang neither spoke nor moved. Xie Hongchen’s tone became almost imploring: “I’ll take you away from the immortal sects, we’ll live in seclusion, and I’ll spend my entire lifetime researching a solution to the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needles. Alright?”

To the side, Qu Manying said, “Ah Rang, can you hear us?”

Miao Yunzhi observed for a moment, also unable to bear it, and said, “She can still blink, just slowly.”

Qu Manying was already in tears. She supported Huang Rang’s shoulder and said, “Ah Rang, if you agree with Sect Master Xie’s words, just blink your eyes. Alright?”

Huang Rang’s gaze was empty and vacant, yet she remained still.

Qu Manying and Xie Hongchen held their breath and waited, until gradually they fell into despair.

Di Yiqiu hadn’t moved either. He too was waiting—perhaps she might hesitate for a moment, and her earlier words were just an impulsive decision.

But she wouldn’t.

He knew she wouldn’t.

Di Yiqiu gently stroked her long hair, his palm stained with that cool, smooth silkiness. After a long while, he said, “She won’t go with you. You don’t understand her.”

Xie Hongchen’s eyes were already brimming with tears, and so he cast aside all that gentleness and refinement, nearly roaring: “I don’t understand her? I was her husband for a hundred years!”

Di Yiqiu was as calm as a stone. He said, “A hundred years as husband and wife, yet you didn’t know—this was originally such a free and unfettered soul.”

Xie Hongchen froze. Di Yiqiu asked softly, “If… you still have no regrets, then blink your eyes.”

Under the gaze of Qu Manying, He Xijin, Xie Hongchen and others, Huang Rang gently blinked her eyes.

Living a fate worse than death—how could there be regrets?

It’s just that, Di Yiqiu, I only made arrangements for myself, but never thought about what a cruel thing this would be for you.

After I’m gone, this body will turn to sand, naturally there will be spring winds to blow and the earth to embrace it. But what about you?

Looking like this, everyone will fear you, dread you, spreading word of your cold-blooded ruthlessness.

He Xijin and others couldn’t voice any further objections. This was… her choice.

What more could be said?

Qu Manying covered her face with both hands. Xie Hongchen was drowning in the swamp of memories—awakening from this dream to discover that what was lost had long been lost.

Di Yiqiu pushed Huang Rang before the crowd. Everyone stared at this woman in the wheelchair with her exquisite makeup and elaborate clothing. Her beauty was so unreal it seemed false, her gaze scattered without focus.

It was hard to believe that such a person was actually a living being.

Di Yiqiu walked to stand before her, and Huang Rang could finally see him clearly again.

Amid the blood, grime and dust, his features were handsome and striking, his gaze deep as the treacherous whirlpool of a sea vortex.

Di Yiqiu. Huang Rang walked through the yellow sands of memory, wanting to find their first meeting outside of dreams. Unfortunately, life was chaotic and confused, the ground full of thorns, and she could no longer remember that youth who came to Immortal Tea Town to propose marriage in the fifth year of Chengyuan.

Back then, did I also wear the guise of gentle propriety and converse with you with perfect decorum?

What did we say to each other then?

Di Yiqiu, I don’t remember a single word.

Di Yiqiu cupped her hands and slowly drew her into his embrace.

He let her face rest against his chest, let her hear his heartbeat and breathing. How many years ago in Immortal Tea Town, the proud young Eighty-Sixth Prince came riding on horseback. That young woman dressed in pale gold stood in the midst of a thousand acres of fertile fields.

The wheat in the fields was golden yellow, her entire being radiating the warmth and joy of autumn’s abundant harvest.

If memories hold tears, then they can only remain untouched. Di Yiqiu helped her sit properly once more.

“Go then.” He raised his right hand, gently grasping the two golden needles atop her head. His voice was very, very soft, as if it took great effort to stem the flood of blood flowing in his heart. “Go then, Ah Rang. From now on, there will be no more suffering.”

As the words fell, his hand exerted force.

Huang Rang only felt her soul and spirit tearing in agony! But she wasn’t afraid—there wasn’t a single sound around her. She saw Xi Yin, Huang Yang, and Huang Jun in the crowd. They all looked this way, but none stepped forward.

Time fragmented into pieces, roaring past like galloping horses.

All those moments of living together, of sorrow and joy, enmity and gratitude, of karmic beginnings and endings—all love and all grudges—dissolved in this one gaze.

Huang Rang withdrew her gaze, and so before her eyes remained only Di Yiqiu’s face. Back then in the mountain depths of Yuhu Xuanzong, time had been so long, the days seeming to never end. Yet now how brief time was—not even enough for a farewell.

When the two golden needles left her body, Huang Rang wanted to rise and rush toward him.

She wanted to steal an embrace, even if just for the blink of an eye. But the instant the Bone-Setting Soul-Coiling Needles were extracted, her body turned to sand.

Golden grains of sand flew up one by one, not yet close enough before scattering on the clear wind. Di Yiqiu extended his hand, the golden sand passing through his fingers with dazzling specks of light, falling like dust motes in the blood-red setting sun.

Huang Rang’s vision sank into darkness in that brief instant.

From now on, no more suffering—only unfinished regrets and eternal night’s slumber.

Di Yiqiu, I thought heaven had granted us another fate. No matter what, between you and I there should at least have been one exchange of words. Even if just one call, one instruction.

But there was none.

What a pity—there was none.