◎Cui Heng dies, may the road ahead be smooth, farewell forever◎

Keep moving forward.

Luo Wanqing listened to these words, tremblingly lifting her eyes.

However, the rainwater moistened her eyelashes, weighing them down until her eyes felt sore.

Keep moving forward, don’t look back.

All along this journey, that’s what he had been telling her.

He brought her from Yangzhou to the Eastern Capital, reshaping her bones and giving her new life.

He led her into the Supervision Department, teaching her from the beginning.

He paved a path to heaven for her, built a platform to the azure clouds, led her to fame in the Eastern Capital in one battle, and accompanied her to Jiangnan to seek the truth.

He had always been telling her not to look back.

To become the Supervision Department’s best Inspector, to become someone who wielded power, to let the past drift away like smoke, leading her to rebirth.

She had always agreed with him, always striving forward under his expectations. But only when he forcibly dragged her forward did she understand at this moment that it wasn’t true.

She couldn’t move forward.

She was bound by shackles. She had come here for a reason—without resolution, how could she leave?

She cherished this person deeply, but this was merely a beautiful dream encountered by chance on her life’s path. Such beauty should never have belonged to her, yet she couldn’t let go, so she always wanted to cling desperately.

The sounds of fighting behind them gradually diminished. Li Guiyu seemed to have already escaped, and Cui Heng slowly released his grip.

He said nothing, only handed her the umbrella and stepped out from under it, walking forward.

Luo Wanqing stopped, watching him walk alone in the rain, moving forward, walking away.

“Cui Heng…”

Luo Wanqing spoke hoarsely, but he didn’t stop.

He left the umbrella for her and walked alone ahead, unconcerned whether she followed or accompanied him.

She couldn’t help but raise her voice: “Cui Heng!”

He finally stopped. After a long silence, he turned around on the long street.

Luo Wanqing looked at him, involuntarily gripping the umbrella tighter. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke: “I came to ask about Zhao Zhuang…”

“How many times?”

Cui Heng spoke, and Luo Wanqing paused.

Cui Heng thought for a moment, as if recalling: “I can’t remember clearly.”

His tone was very calm, as if speaking of someone unimportant, like seawater flowing slowly and deeply: “It seems every time I’m just watching from the sidelines. Every time I feel I’m close to you, but when Li Guiyu appears, I realize it’s an illusion.”

“The first time I watched you two in prison, I knew I was an outsider. I minded then, but I understood.”

“The second time at the Musical Assembly, I was sad, angry, so I wanted to intervene in your life. I thought I could do it.”

“But the third time, the fourth time…”

Cui Heng’s voice stopped. He pressed all his emotions into his eyes, all the excited, burning, intense emotions buried deep in his heart.

He had suppressed them many times.

When he heard news of his mother’s death, when he broke his own bones inch by inch in the heavenly prison, at Qingyun Ferry, at the execution ground…

He was already accustomed to pressing all emotions beneath a mask. Sometimes he forgot what was real and what was false.

It’s just that perhaps this matter was too trivial, or perhaps at this moment he was simply Cui Heng—he found himself unwilling to suppress, unwilling to endure.

He couldn’t stop questioning: “You came to find Zhao Zhuang—what for? Nothing more than to ask him what kind of person Li Guiyu is, to ask if Li Guiyu might be wrongly accused, harboring a thread of hope, wondering if Li Guiyu might have his difficulties. Even just a small difficulty, and you’d throw yourself into it recklessly. You couldn’t wait even a moment, even knowing I looked forward to tomorrow, even though I asked you to stay again and again, even with our wedding imminent…”

“That was fake…”

“To me, it was real!” Cui Heng suddenly raised his voice. Luo Wanqing looked up in surprise as Cui Heng clenched his fists, his body trembling slightly. “Do you think Cui Heng can accompany you for long? Do you think I have much time? Luo Wanqing, in this lifetime,” he seemed to find it humiliating, yet still spoke, “perhaps I’ll only have this one wedding with you. You think it’s fake…”

But this was Cui Heng’s entire life.

He came to this world because of her, lingered in this world because of her.

He was like an obsession, a lonely soul. To bow to heaven and earth with her in wedding attire would be Cui Heng’s greatest fortune, and also Xie Heng’s only color in this lifetime.

But she wouldn’t give it to him.

She thought this was just an ordinary mission, thought it was merely a smokescreen.

But she never knew what Cui Heng meant to Xie Heng, what brilliant color this wedding represented in his life.

She didn’t know, she never knew, yet he couldn’t even blame her for not knowing.

“Do you think I don’t let you find Zhao Zhuang, don’t let you keep asking, because I’ve had enough.”

He stared fixedly at Luo Wanqing: “I’ve had enough of Li Guiyu’s existence, enough of you being entangled in the past. I fear you’ll waver, but I hope that someday, even just one day, you’ll have nothing to do with him. But you can’t do it—not even for one day! Luo Wanqing, I’m not made of stone. I, too, am flesh and blood. I feel pain, sadness, jealousy, and…”

His voice stopped. Seeing her desperately controlled expression, he could no longer voice accusations. After enduring for a long time, he was left with only one sentence: “I get tired.”

Liking her was too exhausting.

He had always believed that nothing in this world couldn’t be reversed or controlled, yet only with her did he understand the fickleness of the human heart.

He gave his all, yet she remained like a stubborn stone.

He loved her unshakeable strength, yet at this moment, he hated her inflexibility.

She forever lived in her world, obsessed with her own goals. The steel brand called Jiang Shaoyan was burned into her being, and she kept covering it with her hands, not letting anyone touch it even as the wound festered and rotted.

He closed his eyes in mortification, knowing he had lost composure, and turned to leave: “Let’s go back and rest. I’m tired…”

“But it is fake.”

Luo Wanqing’s voice was clear. Cui Heng didn’t want to argue further, only saying: “I don’t want to debate with you anymore. Let’s go back…”

“I want something real.”

Cui Heng paused. He slowly looked up at the person standing in the rain.

Luo Wanqing gripped the umbrella handle tightly, saying calmly: “I haven’t deceived you. I am moving forward, always trying to move forward. Do you think I’m looking for Zhao Zhuang because I can’t let go of Li Guiyu?”

Luo Wanqing looked at him, gently shaking her head, speaking with some difficulty: “No, quite the opposite. I’m looking for Zhao Zhuang because I’m letting go. If this were the past, when we first met, I wouldn’t ask Zhao Zhuang. I would have tonight—or in the Mandarin Duck Life-Death Formation, or even earlier—killed him by any means necessary without holding back, because I hated him enough. But after meeting Zhang Jiuran, after meeting you, I can no longer simply hate. My hatred has been dissolved, my suffering healed. I began to want a future. Even though I’m afraid, I still want to move forward.”

Luo Wanqing walked toward Cui Heng: “So I can’t help asking about cause and effect, can’t help questioning myself, because I fear becoming another Zhang Jiuran, thinking myself righteous while committing countless evils. I’ve begun to look forward to the future. I want to become the Inspector you hope for, to clear my family’s name and the Cui family’s name, to help Young Master implement the ‘Great Xia Code’ he desires, to do many things. I want there to be a day when we can both stand in sunlight under our names and meet. And at that time, I can be without shame before others and my own heart.”

“So I must pursue the truth. I need to ask what he did. The more I ask, the more confused I become.”

“I once thought he was merely greedy for power and position, but now I discover that’s not so. I once thought he was heartless and faithless, but now I discover that’s not so either.”

The umbrella reached over Cui Heng’s head as Luo Wanqing looked up at him: “Cui Heng, my feelings are all real.”

Xie Heng’s expression stirred slightly. Luo Wanqing restrained all her impulses to touch and embrace, saying earnestly, “When I loved him, it was real. When I hated him, it was also real. So all those emotions accumulated in my heart. I experienced too much with him. He’s right—our entanglement runs too deep. Any touch sets everything in motion. Whatever the reason, I must have a resolution. Even if I no longer love him, just for my past self, I must seek this resolution. And before that…”

Luo Wanqing’s voice stopped. She looked at him, carving him bit by bit into her eyes, each word extraordinarily difficult: “To entangle you, covet you, cling to you—that was my mistake. But fortunately,” Luo Wanqing paused, then after a moment, smiled, “actually, you and I don’t really know each other.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng understood what she was saying and slowly clenched his fists.

Luo Wanqing gazed at his beautiful eyes, saying gently, “I know Cui Heng isn’t your real name. I know this isn’t your face. I know that you are before me is an illusion. You’re not so gentle, not so kind. That you could tolerate me and Li Guiyu until today isn’t because you’re magnanimous, but because you never intended to have a future with me.”

“Xiniang…” Xie Heng felt sudden panic in his heart. He suddenly didn’t dare let this conversation continue, saying hoarsely, “Don’t say anymore, I…”

“Cui Heng,” she interrupted him, shaking her head, “don’t bow your head to love.”

Xie Heng froze. Luo Wanqing looked at him seriously: “The love you want is unique, giving everything. I’ve always known, but I couldn’t let go. But I know you’re such a good person—you should meet the person you hope for. So don’t bow your head. This dream of ours should end.”

Don’t endure.

Don’t be sad.

Don’t bow your head to compromise for love.

Her Cui Heng deserved the cleanest, most sincere love in this world.

She placed the umbrella in his hands. Xie Heng stood motionless, watching her. The moment their fingers touched, she used all her strength to force herself to withdraw her hand.

“You do what you should do, I do what I should do,” Luo Wanqing smiled, seeming carefree. “I’ll keep the marriage token. I’m very happy to have met you. I’ll always remember Cui Heng. If someday I let go, when the sky is high and the sea broad,” Luo Wanqing said firmly, “I’ll come find you.”

“What if you don’t?” Xie Heng understood her meaning. He stared at her intently: “What if you can’t get out?”

“Then I can’t get out.”

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment, saying jokingly: “Actually, if I hadn’t met Zhang Jiuran, hadn’t met you, from the beginning I never planned to get out. Not getting out just means returning to the starting point,” Luo Wanqing shook her head, “I’m not at a loss.”

Neither spoke again, nor was either willing to break the silence.

After a long time, Luo Wanqing finally gathered courage, seemingly playfully raising her hand, fingers pressed together, mimicking Cui Heng’s gesture from before, gently touching his forehead.

Xie Heng looked up to see her smiling through tears: “Cui Heng, I only wish for you—long life of a hundred years, may all things go as you wish.”

Having said this, as if afraid to linger another moment, she decisively withdrew her hand, turned around, and walked forward with her sword.

Xie Heng stood in place, feeling those words of blessing echoing repeatedly in his ears.

Long life of a hundred years, may all things go as you wish.

Long life of a hundred years…

Long life of a hundred years.

In this world, there was still someone who hoped for his long life.

Xie Heng closed his eyes and smiled mockingly, feeling a piercing pain.

Luo Wanqing was right. This was originally a beautiful dream. Since he came because of her, if she wanted to wake up, he should leave.

Just as he told Cui Heng, if she was willing, he’d accompany her. If she wasn’t, he’d leave.

They each had their things to do. He was merely keeping her company.

But now that dawn broke and the dream ended, listening to her resolute footsteps, he realized that the one unwilling to wake from this dream was never her, but himself.

“Liu Xiniang…”

He couldn’t help but call out softly.

However, Luo Wanqing didn’t stop.

Each of her steps seemed to land on his heart, walking away step by step. He trembled as he spoke: “Do you have me in your heart?”

Luo Wanqing’s steps paused. With her back to him, she said with difficulty: “Yes.”

“Then…” Cui Heng suddenly asked softly, “What if I’m willing?”

Luo Wanqing turned back confused, only to see Cui Heng slowly open his eyes, as if making an extremely important decision: “What if I want to marry you?”

Luo Wanqing stood stunned. Xie Heng unconsciously tensed all his muscles, speaking word by word with extreme difficulty.

“Before the hour of Mao, atop Tingfeng Tower, where day and night intersect, with sun and moon as witnesses. As long as you come—”

As Xie Heng spoke, his heart gradually calmed: “I’ll tell you who I am.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s heartbeat quickened bit by bit.

Xie Heng looked at her calmly, speaking each word solemnly: “To associate with you falsely was my fault. If you’re uneasy because of this, then I can stay with you. If you have me in your heart, you come. If you still can’t let go of the past, I’ll naturally give up hope. As you said, I want complete devotion. If you don’t come, I’ll have my path ahead, but after this, there will be no more Cui Heng in this world.”

She wanted him to live a hundred years, but only she could make him willing to live a hundred years.

If she were willing to come, he’d be willing to bear his crimes for life, living wretchedly in this world.

But she needn’t know these things. The love he wanted had always been pure and singular.

Not gratitude, not debt, not pity, and without impurities.

He gave her his love and only wanted love in return.

His gaze was too steady and determined, just like the person he was.

Like a still reflection in jade, like mountains standing firm by deep waters.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at such a Cui Heng, not daring to answer carelessly at this moment. He, too, knew she was bewildered and tossed the umbrella in his hand toward her.

Luo Wanqing raised her hand to catch the umbrella, then heard the young man say, “There’s one more thing you said wrong.”

Luo Wanqing looked up questioningly, only to see him quite seriously correct: “It’s not you clinging to me. From beginning to end, I’ve been the one forcing myself on you, so you needn’t apologize to me. I’m fond of you,” he slowly smiled at Luo Wanqing’s surprised expression, finally admitting, “more than you or I thought.”

His fondness for her was more than she imagined, more than he was willing to admit.

Luo Wanqing stared at him blankly. Cui Heng couldn’t help but laugh, then turned and headed back, walking forward to leave.

I’m fond of you.

Luo Wanqing watched his luminous figure, her heart that had been nearly depleted this night now seeming soaked and filled with warm water.

Inexplicably, her eyes began to sting. Holding the umbrella he gave her, she saw him off, enduring for a long time before finally just bowing slightly to thank him.

Whatever their relationship, meeting Cui Heng was the greatest fortune of her life.

After Cui Heng walked far away, she gathered her emotions for a moment before turning back to the courtyard with the umbrella.

Returning to the courtyard, wedding attire had already been laid out in the room. She walked to the garments and smelled blood on them.

She lowered her head to sniff—mixed with the bloody scent was dragon’s saliva incense. Li Guiyu must have been here.

Perhaps before meeting her.

Luo Wanqing pondered this, then sat in the rocking chair in the darkness, gripping her sword, quietly staring at the roof beams in the black room.

Just moments ago, she had almost followed Cui Heng.

But she knew she couldn’t do that.

She couldn’t rely on Cui Heng to pull her forward every time.

This wasn’t truly moving forward—this was just Cui Heng forcibly dragging her ahead. The chains locked on her body, she had to break herself.

Only when she truly broke free would she have the right to love someone.

Otherwise, she’d just spend her life drowning in the swamp Li Guiyu had set for her. Her struggle was enough—why drag others down?

The rocking chair swayed back and forth as she examined her own heart.

Who was she, where did she come from, and where did she want to go?

What did she want? What did she want to do?

She closed her eyes, listening to the creaking sound of the rocking chair in the room.

Once, then again.

In her daze, she seemed to return to her dreams, to the heavy rain in Lingnan, listening to night rain hitting the leaves outside the window.

Back then, she hated—hated enough to eat his bones and flesh. She only wanted to inflict the cruelest methods in the world upon Li Guiyu, by any means necessary, seeking only his pain.

Every day she thought of him, every night she dreamed of him.

Li Guiyu was the curse carved into her bones and blood. In ten years, she forgot Zheng Pingsheng, who had judged her family with personal bias, forgot Zheng Biyue, forgot those who drove her sister-in-law to death, forgot those who beat her brother to death…

But she alone remembered Li Guiyu.

Was that hate?

No, that was love transformed after betrayal.

How much love, how much hate—that’s why she could let go of everyone else but not him alone.

So even after death and rebirth, disfigured and bones crushed, at any cost, she still came to find him, to kill him.

She clearly remembered that bone-deep pain of hatred, repeatedly telling herself to remember.

Yet somehow, she found it increasingly difficult to recall that feeling.

She could reminisce, wait before hatred, calmly explore the truth, and even begin to remember Li Guiyu’s past, remember his good points, and evaluate his rights and wrongs.

Enjoying the lights of long streets, gazing at a sky full of stars.

Was she afraid?

She was.

She was repeatedly swayed by Cui Heng, repeatedly forgetting her suffering. But if she didn’t hate Li Guiyu so much, what meaning did everything she sacrificed have?

So she was afraid.

Afraid of change, afraid of moving forward, afraid of admitting her past mistakes.

But if she forever wallowed in the past, she would lose Cui Heng.

She suddenly understood Li Guiyu somewhat.

In the moment of making a decision, thinking oneself capable of betting an entire lifetime.

But a lifetime is too long.

There would be hesitation, greed, moments of looking back, suddenly doubting it all.

Not letting go of the past brought unwillingness; not letting go also brought unwillingness.

If she went to find Li Guiyu, today she might be able to kill him and end everything.

If she went to find Cui Heng today, she might have been reborn.

She just couldn’t figure out which way to go, only sitting quietly in the rocking chair, smelling Cui Heng’s lingering fragrance in the room. She suddenly felt weary, not wanting to think about anything anymore.

She just wanted to sleep well.

After waking up, whether to kill someone or love someone—after waking, perhaps she’d know.

She closed her eyes and fell asleep in a daze.

Outside the window, rain pattered softly. In her sleep, she wandered in circles, returning to the past.

Bamboo forest, night rain, screen, and old friend.

She had her back to him, listening to the night rain in her dream.

For a long, long time, until the rain stopped. In the past, when she dreamed of this moment, she never wanted to leave. But today, leaning against him, she spoke: “Shaoyan.”

She faced away from the person behind her, saying softly: “I met someone very, very good. I want to leave.”

The person behind the screen said nothing, only quietly handing over a grasshopper.

Luo Wanqing looked at the grasshopper, her throat moving slightly.

“Miss,” the person behind the screen spoke persistently, “you can’t leave.”

Blood spread from behind the screen. Luo Wanqing looked up at the figure on the screen, gripping Xiling tightly, and opened her eyes in the darkness.

Cui Heng.

In that moment, she thought of nothing else.

She only instinctively, unconsciously, thought of this name.

The moment this name appeared, she knew her decision.

If Cui Heng didn’t exist in this world, she could pay any price.

But Cui Heng was waiting for her.

Cui Heng was waiting for her.

Thinking of this, she didn’t want to think of anything else. She got up, placed Xiling on the table, quickly went to the washing room to clean herself thoroughly, equipped all her hidden weapons and medicines, then sat before the mirror and began rapidly applying makeup.

They didn’t have much time. At Mao hour, they had to go with Xie Minsheng to retrieve Cui Qingping’s things. She had to arrive before Mao’s hour to find Cui Heng.

The moment he removed his mask would be their true beginning.

She had to have her revenge, but that was no longer the most important thing in her life.

She quickly finished her makeup and began arranging her hair.

Her heart pounded like drums, like a bird just escaped from prison, spreading its wings to fly toward the vast open sky.

But just as she finished pinning up her hair, she heard Xing Ling’s urgent voice from the doorway: “Xiniang!”

Luo Wanqing turned back in surprise to see Xing Ling standing injured at the door.

She was breathing lightly, saying urgently: “Xie Minran has awakened. He’s gone to the mechanism hub. Just now I received a message from Zhuque Envoy—all Supervision Department Jiangnan personnel have entered the dense forest. If he opens the mechanism hub now…”

“I understand.”

Luo Wanqing interrupted her, immediately grasping Xing Ling’s meaning.

It wasn’t yet Mao hour. If the mechanism hub opened now, all of Liufeng Island’s formations would activate, and all Supervision Department Jiangnan personnel would likely perish here.

Luo Wanqing looked up at Tingfeng Tower, pressed her lips together, then still got up, grabbing her Supervision Department outer robe, saying calmly: “Go notify them. I’ll intercept him!”

Having said this, she threw on the outer garment and rushed outside.

As Luo Wanqing raced toward Liufeng Island’s hub, atop Tingfeng Tower, Xie Heng wore red robes and a golden crown, properly dressed, looking down as he finished folding a grasshopper.

The rain had stopped long ago. The air carried moisture as he placed the grasshopper with its head facing the direction she would come from on the water-stained railing. Beside him, Cui Heng quickly caught it, turning it over to examine it between his fingers: “Why are you folding this?”

“I folded one for her when we first met,” Xie Heng said, looking into the distance. “It began with this. If there’s a result, let it witness it.”

“Decided?”

Cui Heng turned to look at him: “Once you reveal your identity, you and she will be inseparably entangled. What position will she have at the Supervision Department then? How will you protect her before His Majesty? How will you prevent her from becoming a widow in the future? Have you thought about any of this?”

“I haven’t.”

“Then you dare promise her?” Cui Heng couldn’t help but laugh. “Someone like you who thinks three steps ahead with each move—aren’t you afraid of causing trouble?”

“She won’t come.”

Xie Heng said with certainty.

Cui Heng paused, asking strangely: “How do you know?”

Xie Heng didn’t reply.

Cui Heng thought about it, then pressed: “What if she does come?”

Xie Heng, hearing this, thought for a moment, then his eyes brightened: “Then I’d be quite lucky. With such luck,” he turned to look at Cui Heng, “what’s wrong with being impulsive once?”

But just as he finished speaking, urgent footsteps came from downstairs.

“Chief, Cui Junye,” Xing Ling rushed onto the rooftop, saying urgently, “Xie Minran has gone to the mechanism hub. Inspector Liu went alone to stop him!”

Hearing this, Cui Heng’s expression changed drastically, but Xie Heng seemed to have expected it.

“You see,” Xie Heng calmly watched the signal flare shoot into the sky, “my luck has never been very good.”

“Now I know you’re a jinx!”

Cui Heng tossed the grasshopper back toward him, called Xing Ling, and jumped down from the building, shouting: “Hurry up!”

As the three pursued ahead, Luo Wanqing had already reached the entrance to the mechanism hub.

Liufeng Island’s mechanism hub was located at the island’s core underground. Yesterday, they had already determined its location. Luo Wanqing rushed to the entrance, channeled her strength, raised her sword, and directly split the door open with one strike.

The moment the door split open, a blade’s gleam struck toward her. Luo Wanqing raised her hand to block and kicked the person down with one foot.

The kicked person crashed into the person behind, tumbling together. Luo Wanqing rushed through the door, leaped down the stairs, and plummeted straight to the bottom.

Just reaching midair, white silk shot up from below. Luo Wanqing raised her hand to grab the silk and yanked hard, pulling Wang Yunzhi out from her hiding place.

Wang Yunzhi touched the wall with her toes, standing there while winding the white silk in her hands, saying coldly: “Liu Xiniang, don’t seek death.”

“Just with you,” Luo Wanqing smiled, “it’s not enough to kill me.”

The moment her words fell, the smoke bomb in Luo Wanqing’s hand exploded violently. The smoke irritated everyone into closing their eyes. In the misty haze, Luo Wanqing recalled the map and passages she’d seen before, closing her eyes and charging forward blindly with her sword!

She was best at breaking through encirclements, trying to avoid fighting with people beside her, completely ignoring what was in front or behind her. All her movements served to advance.

Not a single unnecessary strike, not a single movement that wasn’t moving forward.

In the blink of an eye, she had already charged into the passage. When the smoke cleared, Wang Yunzhi’s expression changed drastically as she shouted: “Stop her!”

But it was already completely too late. Luo Wanqing saw Xie Minran opening a large door in the distance. She rushed forward rapidly, leaped high, and struck down at his back with a devastating blow from above!

Xie Minran sensed the blade coming from behind, immediately turned around to grab the sword edge, and struck at Luo Wanqing with a palm.

Luo Wanqing was thrown up by his force, avoiding his palm strike, then felt his palm wind exploding downward like rapid rain.

She had no time to think, purely instinctively dodging left and right from Xie Minran’s palm wind, being forced back by him step by step. Finally, as guards suddenly attacked from the side and Xie Minran struck with a palm simultaneously, Luo Wanqing couldn’t dodge in time. She could only block with her sword before being knocked flying by Xie Minran.

She crashed hard to the ground. Xie Minran quickly turned back and began rapidly pressing on the protruding reliefs on the wall.

Following his movements, the surrounding ground began to tremble. Wang Yunzhi caught up from the side, entangling Luo Wanqing. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing shouted urgently: “If he opens the mechanism hub, we’ll all die! You’re seeking death!”

“That’s you dying.”

Wang Yunzhi’s white silk passed by her side. Hearing this, Luo Wanqing immediately understood that Xie Minran must have another way to safely evacuate.

But why did Xie Minran suddenly wake up?

Weren’t they supposed to switch every twelve hours? The time wasn’t up yet—how did Xie Minran wake up?

But Luo Wanqing had no time to think further. Her most important task now was to stop Xie Minran.

However, there were indeed too many people around her. She charged forward again and again, only to be blocked again and again.

The ground vibrations around them became increasingly obvious. Just as Xie Minran pressed the final key, there was a “crack” sound, the ground rumbled, and the door slowly opened.

Light appeared in Xie Minran’s eyes. The moment he stepped forward, Luo Wanqing suddenly lunged forward and pulled him back.

Xie Minran struck with another palm. Luo Wanqing turned her sword to intercept. The two exchanged several moves, neither able to advance a step.

They had only fought for a moment when clamoring sounds suddenly erupted outside. Both Luo Wanqing and Xie Minran knew reinforcements had arrived. Xie Minran suddenly became vicious, shouting loudly: “Wang Yunzhi!”

Wang Yunzhi instantly abandoned attacking Luo Wanqing and rushed toward the door. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing leaped forward. Xie Minran struck down at her head with a palm. Luo Wanqing was greatly alarmed and spun around. The moment she blocked Xie Minran’s palm wind, Wang Yunzhi leaped inside.

Luo Wanqing’s breathing stopped. But at that very moment, a figure in red robes rushed forth, grabbed Wang Yunzhi’s white silk, pulled and flung her, smashing her hard to the ground.

Wang Yunzhi rolled on the ground as Xie Minran and Yu She simultaneously swarmed up, surrounding the newcomer.

Luo Wanqing looked up in delight to see that Cui Heng, Xing Ling, and others had all arrived. Cui Heng alone blocked several masters including Xie Minran and Yu She, while Xing Ling intercepted the other guards. Both sides were at a stalemate, surrounding the door so tightly that not even water could leak through.

Cui Heng came over to help up Luo Wanqing from the corner, asking urgently: “How are you?”

Luo Wanqing shook her head. Leaning against the wall, she pushed Cui Heng: “Hurry and help them.”

Cui Heng didn’t dare say more, responded, and rushed forward.

Both sides fought intensely. Xie Minran was eager to move forward, while Cui Heng’s side absolutely couldn’t let them enter before mao hour.

Luo Wanqing pressed her sternum, quickly took a pill from her medicine bottle, and raised her sword to move forward. Suddenly, she saw a figure in black robes brush past Xing Ling’s side and slip in.

Cui Heng was entangled by Yu She, Xie Minran, and others. Cui Heng was tangled up with Wang Yunzhi. Xing Ling was surrounded by guards. This person wore a cloak and nimbly leaped in from Xing Ling’s side. His movements were too fast; Xing Ling was completely unaware. Luo Wanqing instantly reacted and shouted: “Stop him!”

But no one could make it in time. Only Luo Wanqing stepped on someone’s shoulder and pursued urgently, slashing her blade down at his back with all her might!

But the two were too far apart. This strike could only slash open the cloak behind him.

The hair ornament and cloak split with a sound. His long hair scattered, revealing bright red wedding attire. He then landed quickly on a platform not far away. Before Luo Wanqing could approach, he raised his hand to place it on a four-legged iron box on a small table beside a long pillar, turning back to say coldly: “Everyone stop!”

Luo Wanqing landed urgently on a round platform not far from him, not daring to approach. Everyone also simultaneously froze their movements, looking toward the door.

“Li Guiyu!”

Wang Yunzhi saw the newcomer with joy on her face. But after taking just one step forward, she heard Li Guiyu shout: “Stop, or we all die together!”

Wang Yunzhi was stunned. Xie Minran frowned, warning: “Third Prince, you’ve put your hand in the wrong place.”

Li Guiyu paid no attention. He looked up at Luo Wanqing, his gaze falling on her face that obviously had light makeup applied, saying calmly: “I’ve been waiting for you.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. She gripped her sword handle, vigilantly observing the surroundings.

Above was a semicircular ceiling where gears could be seen interlocking and rotating. Below, the platform consisted of small round stages connected by long passages. Through the hollow spaces, rapid undercurrents could be seen below.

There were obviously some mechanisms operating underwater in the undercurrents.

Seeing her gaze wandering around, Li Guiyu said coldly: “Look at me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up to see him in wedding attire. His scholarly face was made somewhat gorgeous by the wedding clothes, and his amber eyes held a touch of madness.

He watched her, reminding: “Under my hand is the master control for all of Liufeng Island’s mechanisms. If this box moves, all of Liufeng Island’s formations will activate. The Supervision Department’s people have landed on the island, right?”

“You’ll die too,” Luo Wanqing reminded.

Li Guiyu showed a gorgeous smile: “I don’t care anymore.”

“The position you forced so many people to death to compete for—you don’t care?” Luo Wanqing was buying time, wanting to turn back to look at Cui Heng.

But the moment she turned her head, she heard Li Guiyu roar: “Look at me!”

“Listen to him!”

Xie Minran spoke urgently: “Hold out until mao hour,” Xie Minran said urgently, “taking that thing at mao hour will be fine.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up at Li Guiyu: “What do you want to do?”

“Miss,” Li Guiyu looked at her quietly, yet squeezed out a smile, “do I look good today?”

Luo Wanqing looked at him calmly, her eyes carrying some pity: “We shouldn’t speak such words between us.”

“I know.” Li Guiyu’s tone was full of exhaustion. “I know you won’t come. Between you and me, it’s been a dead end all along. Apart from death, there’s no resolution. So I thought for a long time,” Li Guiyu raised his eyes, looking at her gently, “since you won’t come find me, I’ll come find you.”

Speaking thus, he reached out his hand toward her, saying tenderly: “Come, Miss, come over.”

“No!”

Cui Heng spoke urgently. He glanced at Xie Heng beside him, reminding: “This room has a problem. The core position where Li Guiyu stands can only accommodate one person. One more person will trigger the mechanism…”

“But everyone else can be saved!” Xie Minran shouted urgently, “Kill these two, and the other formations won’t activate.”

“Shut up, you bastard!” Cui Heng cursed loudly, “If you hadn’t caused trouble, no one here would die!”

“You want me to die?”

Luo Wanqing listened to the words behind her, understanding Li Guiyu’s meaning.

But Li Guiyu smiled, as if discussing an ordinary matter: “I invite Miss to die with me.”

“Your Highness!”

Hearing this, Elder Zhang spoke urgently: “Your Highness, you’ve already come this far. Take the item and return, and the heir apparent position will surely be yours. Why sacrifice your life for a mere woman!”

“Elder Zhang, I’m tired.”

Li Guiyu looked around at everyone, his gaze finally returning to Luo Wanqing. He said wearily: “If you could have gone to Lingnan, if you could have lived well until Lingnan, then I would have considered us separated in Yangzhou, and perhaps I could have continued on. But I had to hear news of your death, and then see you again. You were too wonderful.”

Li Guiyu spoke, moisture appearing in his eyes: “Only after tasting sugar does one find life bitter. I was already base and vile to begin with. You let me taste all sweetness and bitterness, then lost and regained you. How do you expect me to let go? There’s deep hatred between us. You can’t wrong your father, I can’t wrong my master. So—” Li Guiyu smiled, calling out loudly, “Come!”

He invited her: “Come kill me, do what you originally wanted to do. As long as you come over, today you and I will have resolution. No fate in this life, we’ll meet in the next. As long as you come, I’ll go with you.”

“What if I don’t?”

Luo Wanqing steadied her sword, asking calmly.

Mao hour.

Luo Wanqing forced herself not to think of anything else.

She knew that as long as she lasted past mao hour, she would win.

At mao hour, the mechanisms could be activated, the Supervision Department’s people could be saved. She just had to drag Li Guiyu until mao hour, and she would win.

However, Li Guiyu obviously saw through her intention. He smiled: “Your mother—”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s pupils contracted sharply, then she heard Li Guiyu say calmly: “She’s dead.”

Luo Wanqing’s hands trembled slightly. Li Guiyu smiled at her, calm yet mad, saying lightly: “Your mother, your brother, your sister-in-law, your niece—I found them all. I killed them all.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s breathing became rapid: “You’re lying to me.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu chuckled softly: “Do you remember now?”

Li Guiyu didn’t care about her rebuttal. He looked at her as if he held a winning hand: “Do you remember what it felt like when your family died? Do you remember how to hate me? Today is your only chance to kill me.” Li Guiyu stared at her. “After mao hour, you can’t kill me. I’ll get the item and return to become heir apparent.”

As Li Guiyu spoke, Luo Wanqing instantly returned to her previous life in dreams.

She carried her dead niece on her back, kneeling on Lingnan soil. While serving in labor, she heard news of him becoming heir apparent.

“I will ascend the throne gloriously. I will sleep on high beds with soft pillows. I will be beloved by countless people, leave my name in history, and become a wise ruler of a generation.”

Li Guiyu spoke word by word, describing the facts she had witnessed in her previous life.

He indeed became Crown Prince, then Emperor. The “Great Xia Code” that Xie Heng promoted ultimately became his badge as a wise ruler in historical records and in people’s mouths.

Her family really died.

And he really got what he wished for.

No justice, no resolution. Luo Wanqing gripped her sword tightly. Li Guiyu looked at her with some anticipation: “Are you willing to accept this?”

Was she willing?

She was not.

Kill him.

She had to kill him. She must kill him.

In an instant, Luo Wanqing’s mind was filled with these two words.

She couldn’t help but step forward. But the moment she moved, she heard Cui Heng’s voice from behind: “You don’t owe him.”

She turned back to see Cui Heng standing at the door, looking at her calmly: “You kill him to seek justice. If you die for him, that’s not justice.”

“What if it’s to repay me?”

Li Guiyu spoke. Luo Wanqing looked over to see Li Guiyu looking at her desperately, his lips trembling as he said: “You owe me a life. Remember?”

“What about me?”

Xie Heng didn’t yield an inch, calling to her, his tone without any emotion.

Luo Wanqing and Li Guiyu both looked over to see him step forward.

Xie Heng slowly walked to the round platform closest to her, reaching out his hand toward her: “Liu Xiniang, if we’re talking about debts, you owe me first.”

Speaking thus, he slowly opened his palm.

A grasshopper lay quietly in his hand.

The grasshopper was obviously just folded, yet everywhere bore traces of time.

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the grasshopper, momentarily bewildered. Li Guiyu’s breathing became rapid. Everyone heard Xie Heng say flatly: “Eastern Capital bamboo forest, screen…”

“Silence!”

Before the words were finished, Luo Wanqing felt a sudden gust from behind. She instinctively drew her sword backward, but Xie Heng moved first, sweeping her back and meeting Li Guiyu’s palm strike!

The moment their palms met, Li Guiyu turned his palm into a claw, grabbing him and pulling him to the round platform behind.

In an instant, tens of thousands of crossbow bolts shot toward the two on the platform. Li Guiyu rushed directly toward the iron box on the platform.

The moment he touched the iron box, the entire room shook violently, arrows falling like a waterfall.

Luo Wanqing retreated quickly and leaped out of the room. The moment she landed, she felt everything around her suddenly become quiet, only hearing Cui Heng’s shocked cry from beside her: “A’Heng!!”

Luo Wanqing stopped urgently and looked up, then froze in place.

All mechanisms stopped. Everything became quiet.

Only Cui Heng stood alone on the largest round platform in the center, gripping the four-legged iron box tightly.

Li Guiyu lay on another round platform not far away, breathing heavily as he looked at him, his eyes full of panic.

Blood flowed from Cui Heng’s clothes all the way to his jade-like hands, dripping drop by drop onto the iron box. Several arrows were stuck in his back, one even pierced through him. That arrow was less than half an inch from his heart. Luo Wanqing stared blankly, unable to make a sound.

But she quickly reacted, stumbling forward: “Cui Heng…”

“Don’t come over!”

Cui Heng shouted urgently. His face was deathly pale, but he looked up past her to Cui Junye behind her.

“Lord Cui,” Cui Heng’s breathing trembled. Cui Junye looked at him in panic as he calmly gave instructions: “At mao hour, when the iron box moves, Liufeng Island will begin to collapse, especially here. Before Zhuque arrives, find a safe place and don’t take risks. After going out, if… if Chief Xie hasn’t arrived, the Supervision Department should temporarily be managed by Lord Cui. The five hundred-plus people on the island involved in the border case—except for witnesses to be kept alive, execute the rest on the spot. As for my position,” Cui Heng paused to catch his breath, “let Qingya choose a suitable person to inherit it later.”

“Cui Guanlan!” Hearing this, Cui Heng’s eyes reddened slightly as he gritted his teeth: “What nonsense are you talking!”

“I’m sorry,” hearing Cui Heng’s tone, Xie Heng relaxed and smiled, “I was willful.”

“Shut up!”

“Xing Ling, protect Lord Cui.” Xie Heng said no more, turning to look at Xing Ling.

Hearing this, Xing Ling didn’t hesitate, grabbing Cui Heng and leaving.

Cui Heng’s eyes stayed on Xie Heng the whole time, but he knew Xie Heng was right about everything.

He and Xie Heng couldn’t both stay here and have an accident.

He could only be pulled away by Xing Ling, looking one more time, then one more time.

Xie Heng watched them go far before turning his gaze to Luo Wanqing.

At this moment, no one dared approach, no one dared disturb him. Anyone who approached his position would die, and if the iron box in his hand moved, everyone would die together.

Everyone was waiting for mao hour.

And Li Guiyu, who was closest to him, dared not move even more.

He wasn’t afraid of death. He could perish together with everyone, but he absolutely couldn’t let Cui Heng die here at this moment.

Just as he had revealed his identity, when he saved him for Luo Wanqing’s sake, to die here.

If he had killed him just now, they could have perished together, but no.

Just now, he had actually let him strike him away and remained in place himself.

If Cui Heng died because of this, he would never have a chance to win again.

Nothing would be more unforgettable than such a death—not five years, not love and hate.

Once Cui Heng died now, no matter what he did, there could never be a place for Li Guiyu in Luo Wanqing’s heart again.

It wouldn’t even be his turn to die!

Everyone was momentarily at a standstill. Xie Heng finally had a chance to look at Luo Wanqing properly.

Clearly, he had many things to say, yet in the end, he didn’t speak. He just looked at her quietly, saying nothing.

“Protect your heart meridian,” seeing him not speak, Luo Wanqing didn’t dare speak either. She used all her strength to stay calm, nervously watching him: “I’ll be right there. I’m a doctor. I can definitely save you. Nothing will happen.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng couldn’t help but smile.

He thought for a moment, then turned to look at Li Guiyu, saying calmly: “This time, I can win for a lifetime. Let her go.”

Li Guiyu’s pupils contracted sharply. At that very moment, the water clock beside them emptied, bells rang out explosively—mao hour had arrived!

In an instant, everyone around swarmed forward. At that moment, an eagle’s cry rushed from the passage. Xie Heng looked up at Luo Wanqing, grabbed the iron box and hurled it forcefully in her direction, shouting: “Catch it!”

The moment he moved, Luo Wanqing leaped forward. Everyone followed the iron box’s trajectory. Xie Heng pulled Xie Minran back, and Xie Minran turned to strike with a palm!

Luo Wanqing found an opening to slash Wang Yunzhi’s white silk with her sword, caught the iron box with one hand, then without hesitation turned and threw it to Zhuque who was chasing Zhusi: “Zhuque!”

Zhuque’s twin blades carved out a path. Zhusi borrowed his blade energy to race up and grabbed the iron box with one claw before flying back.

The moment Luo Wanqing threw back the iron box, she turned to face the falling stones and ran madly toward Cui Heng.

With the iron box displaced, the entire room began to collapse. Large pieces of rubble fell everywhere as everyone rushed out.

Only Luo Wanqing ran against the crowd, rushing madly inward.

The round platforms cracked inch by inch. With each platform Luo Wanqing crossed, the path behind collapsed.

Yet she ran without hesitation. She watched Cui Heng’s platform collapse, watched Cui Heng standing on the platform looking up at her. Her heart raced, only hating that she couldn’t be faster, just a little faster.

However, despite her best efforts, she could only watch that figure in red robes fall into the water at the last moment of the platform’s collapse.

She jumped down without hesitation, grabbed Cui Heng’s hand, then fiercely drove her sword into the stone pillar in the middle.

The sword blade pierced the stone pillar supporting the round platform, becoming their only support. Luo Wanqing held Cui Heng with one hand and gripped the sword handle with the other, breathing heavily as she looked at the person she was holding.

He wore wedding attire, his golden crown disheveled, his handsome face marked with blood, his phoenix eyes gentle and clear.

“Xiniang,” he looked up at her, speaking softly, “actually, I knew you wouldn’t come, so I dared to say it.”

“Who told you I wouldn’t come?”

Luo Wanqing gritted her teeth. She heard the sounds of Li Guiyu and Xie Minran fighting in the distance, gripping Cui Heng’s hand tightly.

Xie Minran obviously wanted to come kill Cui Heng, but for some reason, Li Guiyu was blocking him.

Xie Minran was temporarily intercepted in the distance. The entire room had mostly collapsed, leaving only pillars supporting the round platforms standing alone in the water.

Outside was chaos with fighting. No one could come save them. The two of them hung alone in midair, entirely dependent on Luo Wanqing’s grip on Xiling for support.

However, both their hands were bloody, making him slip down bit by bit.

Even though very slowly, Luo Wanqing still felt him falling unstoppably, irretrievably.

She couldn’t hold onto him. He was like sand between her fingers—no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t hold onto him.

Her breathing involuntarily became rapid, yet Xie Heng didn’t mind. He just looked at her quietly, his eyes showing completely unguarded love.

That was a gaze unique to Cui Heng.

After watching her for a moment, he suddenly spoke: “This time, did I win?”

“Shut up.”

“I won, so you can move forward now.”

“Shut up!”

“Xiniang,” he smiled, “promise me, from now on, consider me the most important person in your heart.”

“Think of a way…” Luo Wanqing’s tone carried pleading, hiding a sob, “Cui Heng, think of a way! I have nothing left… I have no family, Jiuran is dead. Cui Heng, you can’t do this. I only have you left, only you…”

Cui Heng looked at her, his gaze carrying some sadness.

“No,” he said hoarsely, “Inspector Liu, you still have your sword, you still have yourself. Put me in your heart, make me the most important person, then forget me.”

As he spoke, Li Guiyu’s alarmed cry came from the distance: “Miss, get away!”

But Luo Wanqing didn’t move. She only gripped Cui Heng tightly, holding onto her last bit of warmth.

Xie Heng watched her without moving, as if wanting to carve her into his eyes. But just as the palm wind struck toward Luo Wanqing, Xie Heng suddenly broke free from Luo Wanqing’s grip, used all his accumulated strength to strike at Xie Minran, grabbed Xie Minran’s throat, flipped over to pin him down, and fell together into the turbulent current!

The moment he fell, Luo Wanqing’s breathing stopped. Countless images flashed before her eyes.

Traveling together from Yangzhou, accompanying each other in the Eastern Capital, the Musical Assembly, becoming famous.

He had accompanied her through so much along the way. She couldn’t remember which specific moment, yet he seemed to exist in every moment.

Until the end, in her mind was that night when she picked up the pipa again for him.

The young master stood on the long street, looking up. She leaned on the railing looking down, seeing the lights dimming, his eyes full of starlight.

At this moment, she finally heard clearly the last words he said.

“Luo Wanqing, you are free.”

You are free.

You don’t need to be trapped by the past, don’t need to suffer from former events.

Hatred is just a section of road in your life—it’s not worth devoting your entire life to.

You can see good scenery again, view good landscapes again.

You can look up at the moon in the sky, can look down at snow in the human world.

Luo Wanqing.

The moment Xie Heng crashed into the water, he remembered when he first saw her—her meridians damaged, face completely destroyed, wearing iron shackles, sitting alone in a corner.

Clearly existing in this world, yet seeming like a lonely ghost crawled out from hell.

At that time he thought, how could there be such a miserable girl.

And now, looking at the woman above holding a sword, staring blankly at him, he couldn’t help but smile.

Luo Wanqing.

Cui Heng gives you a path forward, Cui Heng gives you a way home, Cui Heng gives you strength, Cui Heng gives you freedom.

From this moment on, you have a sword in your hand and the four directions in your heart.

Luo Wanqing.

May your path ahead be smooth. Farewell forever.

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Xie Heng: “So you want to compete in emotional instability? I’ll show you what it means when dogs that bite don’t bark. You think having more lines makes you impressive? I’ll give you something big.”

Li Guiyu: “Damn, you scared me into being calm.”

Luo Wanqing: “From now on, I’ll tell people that the reason I switched careers to learn the sword was mainly because studying medicine couldn’t save my boyfriend—I could only provide physical transcendence.”