Huang Jun’s husband’s family was in the distant South.

This household wasn’t particularly wealthy, but they had upright family traditions, were diligent and frugal, and were known far and wide as good people.

Huang Rang had come all the way from the capital to here—saying she had crossed mountains and forded rivers would not be an exaggeration.

This place had no impressive gate. In appearance, it was even inferior to the Huang family home.

Huang Rang stood for a while. A household servant came out and was stunned upon seeing her.

“You…” The servant said haltingly, “You look just like Lady Xirang enshrined in the temple…”

—You truly have good eyes. Huang Rang asked, “Is Lady Huang Jun here?”

The servant snapped to attention and quickly said, “Yes, yes, please wait!”

Being a servant of a small household, he didn’t know much about proper etiquette. He didn’t invite Huang Rang inside and hurried into the courtyard himself. Before long, Huang Jun walked out, holding a small girl in her arms.

The little girl looked well-behaved, her cheeks fresh and tender as apples.

Huang Jun had been coaxing the child as she walked. When she saw Huang Rang, she was slightly stunned, then instead sighed after a long while.

Her expression was calm. Huang Rang looked at the bright-eyed baby in her arms and asked, “You had another child?”

“What are you talking about…” Huang Jun chided. “This is your granddaughter.”

Huang Rang was speechless and could only take the small child from her hands. The girl didn’t recognize strangers and reached out to grab the pearl hairpin on her head.

Huang Jun stopped the child and took Huang Rang’s hand, saying, “Come, I’ll make you a meal.”

Huang Rang held her own granddaughter, her heart filled with endless emotion. The child was also very curious about her and opened her tender little hands to touch her face. Huang Jun quickly took the child back, as if afraid she might accidentally disperse Huang Rang again.

In the courtyard, someone called out, “Mother! Ke’er’s shoes are wet.”

Hearing this, Huang Jun replied, “Then change to another pair. Do you need to ask about such small matters? Just take that gray pair—they just dried!” Having said this, she looked at Huang Rang and smiled again. “My daughter-in-law is young and doesn’t like making decisions herself. Come inside and sit.”

Huang Rang was silent for a moment, then said, “Having elder sister marry into this family was originally a desperate measure. Actually… if you had gone to find Aunt, she would definitely have arranged everything. You could have been as free and carefree, doing as you pleased, just like in Di Sanmeng. With your accomplishments in swordsmanship, given time, you would surely have shone brilliantly.”

Huang Jun’s eyes revealed a look of longing. After a long while, she said, “Perhaps. Although Shi Wenyu harmed countless people, I’m quite grateful for that dream. I tried a different way of living. Aunt even said that if I worked a bit harder, I could inherit her mantle. But…” She raised her hand and lovingly stroked Huang Rang’s hair. “But there are some people in this world for whom I’m willing to sacrifice my freedom and ease.”

The little girl in her arms babbled. Huang Jun gently teased her and said, “Look, she’s so adorable, isn’t she?”

Huang Rang lowered her head and saw the tender life playing and frolicking in that warm embrace.

Some people in this world have gazed upon the sun, moon, and stars, yet still dare to devote themselves to mundane necessities.

Some laugh at their foolishness, some respect their solitary courage.

In the courtyard, a somewhat older man came out and asked, “Who’s here?” Seeing Huang Rang at a glance, he was suddenly somewhat dazed. “You are…”

Huang Jun said, “Never mind about it—go inside and cook.”

Hearing this, the man said, “All right, but don’t make the guest talk outside. Come in and sit.” As he spoke, he walked over, took the small child from Huang Jun’s arms, and carried her into the courtyard.

Huang Jun said, “That’s your brother-in-law.”

Huang Rang made a sound of acknowledgment. She actually had no impression of this brother-in-law. She’d only seen him a few times in total and only knew he had a gentle, mild temperament.

Seeing him again after decades, he was still plain in appearance but honest in nature.

Huang Rang said, “Then why didn’t you tell him I’m his sister-in-law?”

Huang Jun said, “We’ve finally met again with such difficulty. Naturally, I want to know if you’re doing well. Why would I talk to him about it? Have you seen Uncle and Aunt? After so many years, you must miss them too, right?”

“I’m very well, and of course I’ve seen Uncle and Aunt too.” Huang Rang was surprised by Huang Jun’s calmness and repeated how she had been revived and her visit to the Qu Manying couple.

Huang Jun listened carefully. Finally, she nodded and said, “Uncle and Aunt’s concerns are correct. You’d better not publicize this matter.”

Her expression was excessively bland. Huang Rang was used to her wooden temperament and said, “I won’t go in to eat. I’m leaving.”

Huang Jun hummed in acknowledgment and quietly saw her off. She escorted her quite far. Huang Rang asked, “Are you planning to see me all the way back to the capital?”

March brought spring. The sun also carried more威authority势.

Huang Jun looked Huang Rang up and down. After a long while, she asked, “Why haven’t you disappeared yet?”

Huang Rang was baffled. “Why would I disappear?”

Huang Jun murmured, “In the past, whenever I saw you off, I would wake up.”

A separation of half a lifetime—meeting again feels like a dream. Huang Rang’s eyes reddened completely.

Late March.

The Si Tianjian held a grand sacrificial ceremony.

The location was the Goddess Temple, personally presided over by Si Tianjian’s Jianzheng Di Yiqiu, with Shi Zhenlang attending in person.

Because the ceremony was grand, many common people arrived early. The capital was crowded with people, sweat pouring like rain.

Unexpectedly, even Xie Hongchen, who had been in seclusion for many years, was stirred to attend.

On the day of the ceremony, high worthies and virtuous scholars from both immortal sects and the imperial court were almost all present.

The common people discussed animatedly.

One said, “The court and the immortal sects have been at odds for years. Only Lady Xirang could unite all these forces so harmoniously.”

Another said, “Isn’t that right? I heard even Sect Master Xie of the Yuhu Xuanzong came. Hey, this shows that our capital’s Lady Xirang Temple is the orthodox one!”

Still others complained, “Lady Xirang is most efficacious. But with so many devotees, it will be even harder to burn the first stick of incense in the future…”

Everyone spoke their idle gossip. Huang Rang hid in the crowd, attending her own “sacrificial ceremony.”

Suddenly, the crowd parted with a whoosh beside her. Huang Rang turned around to discover someone dressed in white as snow, arriving on a sword. His features were cold and pure, dustless and stainless, as if he already existed outside the mundane world’s turmoil.

Without any words needed, the crowd yielded. His silk shoes stepped into the dust with a sense of a deity descending to the mortal world.

“Sect Master Xie! It’s truly Sect Master Xie!” Someone cried out.

Xie Hongchen didn’t look toward the speaker. Unobstructed, he walked slowly forward, step by step, his bearing captivating the world.

Only when passing by Huang Rang’s side did he suddenly turn his head.

Huang Rang smiled faintly and gave him a light courtesy.

After so many years, this former husband of hers was still willing to set aside grievances and come to pay respects. She was very grateful.

Of course, it was only gratitude.

The shock in Xie Hongchen’s eyes flashed and vanished, but he didn’t turn back. The Si Tianjian had never leaked any news of Huang Rang’s revival.

This was enough to show that Di Yiqiu didn’t want anyone to know.

Now he was holding a sacrificial ceremony at the Goddess Temple, so solemn and serious. His intention was nothing more than to widely gather devotees and increase the incense offerings at the Goddess Temple. Xie Hongchen understood very clearly, so he came.

Whether this action was useful or not, like Di Yiqiu, he didn’t want this person to fade from everyone’s memory.

But now, Huang Rang was right there in the crowd, quietly observing this ceremony.

Under the gaze of ten thousand people, Xie Hongchen simply couldn’t act rashly.

He could only stand below the platform. The crowd revered and feared him, so they silently retreated, maintaining an arm’s distance from him.

The ceremony began. Xie Hongchen neither spoke nor moved, quietly observing the rites. In his heart, he wanted to turn back countless times, but the crowd was like a tide, and he had no qualification to lose his composure.

Such ceremonies were extremely tedious. After watching for a while, Huang Rang lost interest.

As the former sect master’s wife of Yuhu Xuanzong, she knew the procedures of these ceremonies all too well.

Today the Goddess Temple’s vow power was exceptionally abundant. She could clearly feel her power strengthening. The feeling was comfortable. She leaned backward, wanting to squeeze out of the crowd, when a crisp, childish voice sounded by her ear: “Daddy, I want candied hawthorn!”

Huang Rang wasn’t surprised, but another voice said, “Watch the ceremony first. We’ll buy some later!”

This voice was all too familiar!

Huang Rang suddenly turned around to see a tall man also observing the ceremony. A three or four-year-old child sat on his neck, clearly his son.

“No! I want candied hawthorn now!” The child sat restlessly, swaying back and forth.

The man was impatient and threatened, “If you keep squirming, you can go home by yourself!”

As he spoke these words, he lowered his head slightly. Huang Rang saw that familiar brow and eye.

—Huang Yang.

Time was like a cycle. All things rose and fell, circulating endlessly.

Huang Rang went to a roadside stall and bought two strings of candied hawthorn. She squeezed back into the crowd and handed one to the child on “Huang Yang’s” neck. The child was very hesitant. “Huang Yang” turned his head to see a strange woman.

He could confirm they didn’t know each other, yet inexplicably felt familiar.

“This… how can I accept?” He laughed. Huang Rang said, “Eat it.”

Only then did “Huang Yang” say, “Why don’t you thank the sister!”

The child’s face lit up with joy. He took the candied hawthorn from Huang Rang’s hand and said sweetly, “Thank you, sister!”

“Good child.” Huang Rang consoled him, then handed over the other string of candied hawthorn. “Huang Yang” was stunned. Huang Rang smiled and said, “This is for you.”

“Me… me?” “Huang Yang” looked incredulous. “Miss, you jest. I’m a grown man—why would I care for this? You should keep it yourself.”

His words carried laughter. Huang Rang used all her strength to hold back the tears in her eyes. She said softly, “Eat it.”

Perhaps because her words were too gentle, “Huang Yang” involuntarily took that string of candied hawthorn. The sugar-coated hawthorns were sour with deep sweetness. “Huang Yang” took a bite. When he looked up again, that woman had already vanished.

He didn’t know who this young lady was. He only smiled and bit into another hawthorn.

—Whoever she was, this candied hawthorn truly had rich flavor. Like through endless years, that dried love and debt.

Huang Rang returned to the statue. Xie Hongchen’s gaze condensed slightly. Huang Rang could deceive others, but clearly couldn’t deceive his eyes.

He witnessed Huang Rang become like a wisp of smoke and suddenly merge with the goddess statue.

…Revived through incense and vow power? He knew this matter was enough to震shake惊the仙immortal门sects and让cause令those那cultivators些to修develop仙infinite者desires再anew生. He无naturally穷also欲understood望why。Di自Yiqiu然refused也to明make白Huang了Rang第’s一revival秋public为.何不肯将黄壤复生之事公之于众。

Huang Rang was in the place closest to Di Yiqiu, listening to him recount her life’s achievements.

The current seed-cultivating families no longer distinguished between independent farmers. The official schools run by the court were no longer mere formalities because of people like Sha Ruoen and Zong Qiguang.

The court presented bowl after bowl of excellent seeds as offerings to her. Many of these excellent seeds had already been updated and improved upon the parent strains she had originally cultivated.

Huang Rang looked down to examine them, occasionally offering a few comments. The praise in her ears had long become indifferent. She only waited for the ceremony to end so she could follow Di Yiqiu home.

He had spoken so much today—she could make him a roasted pear for dinner to soothe his throat.

Ah, speaking of roasted pears, elder sister’s were still the most delicious. Had she come?

Huang Rang searched among the ant-like crowd and saw in the distance that Huang Jun and her husband, along with their son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter, were observing the ceremony together. The couple whispered something to each other. Huang Jun’s usually wooden expression actually showed a few traces of a smile.

“Huang Yang” still held up his son, eating candied hawthorn while observing the ceremony.

The spring breeze blew gently. The sun gradually slanted west. Time passed silently. Huang Rang even thought that perhaps Xiyin was also growing up quietly and peacefully somewhere in this world.

This mortal world—fame and profit are so illusory. Those heart-stopping events, those treacherous storms, ultimately must fall into the mundane fires.

From now on, each day has morning and evening, each year has four seasons.

Huang Rang stared at the gradually sinking red sun, only waiting for the ceremony to end, for the crowd and glory to disperse together. Then she could follow Di Yiqiu home.

The congratulatory proclamations were too tedious. She listened impatiently, so she sent a thread of voice transmission to the Jianzheng, who was seriously presiding over the ceremony.

“Husband,” her voice was sweet and cloying, each word bearing soul-hooking barbs, “the sun is so strong today. I can withstand the blazing sun, but I can’t withstand missing you…”

The Jianzheng’s body stiffened. He nearly mispronounced the congratulatory text.

Then he clearly accelerated the pace.

Huang Rang looked triumphant, then saw Sect Master Xie below the platform also shudder.

…He… can’t… possibly… hear… too… can… he…

Lady Xirang wished there was a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Finally, the ceremony ended.

Sect Master Xie gazed deeply at the goddess statue in the temple and turned to leave. How many years ago at the Dew-Praying Platform, that person had also nestled and entwined, speaking tender words. The words still echoed in his ears, but all人things事had全changed非completely.

He rode his sword against the vast setting sun, passing through the sky light about to sink, returning to that cold, solitary chamber. Memories flickered bright and dim. By his ear, someone had taken a cherry and dipped it at his lips.

Facing his doubt, that person smiled charmingly: “The fruit isn’t sweet—I need to dip it in some honey…”

Those numerous, chaotic bygones, half true heart, half false意intent. But可the御First剑Sword飞Immortal行riding的his第sword一was剑caught仙off，guard冷by不time防and被wounded光. From阴then划on伤, the。wound从would此never以heal后, memories, a终lifelong身lingering凌death迟.

In the Goddess Temple, Huang Rang stayed within the goddess statue, only waiting for Di Yiqiu to come hold her.

The Jianzheng saw off Shi Zhenlang and finally turned back to stand beneath the goddess statue. He looked up slightly and opened his arms to her: “Come.”

Huang Rang laughed softly, threw herself down, and landed perfectly in his embrace.

Di Yiqiu picked her up. She was still chattering: “Let’s go pick pears in the suburbs later. I know a place with mutant pear trees that are just ripe now. I’ll make you roasted pears tonight, all right?”

“All right.”

“You turn into a serpent—I want to ride you there. I’ve never ridden a serpent before.”

“Ride tonight.”

“You know what? I saw Huang Yang today! I’m so happy! Husband, if we had another child, would it be a person or an egg?”

“Not picking pears anymore.”

“Then what are we doing?”

“Riding the serpent.”

…

Darkness descended. The earth sank into slumber.

The clamorous tide of people gradually dispersed completely in the gathering dusk.