◎Shadow Envoy Xie Guanlan greets the Director◎

“Kill!!”

With a single command, war drums thundered from the city tower. People surged toward the woman like a flood, while Luo Wanqing—one person, one horse, one spear and banner—broke through the torrent, charging straight toward Xie Heng’s direction.

She took gunpowder from her saddlebag, using it to clear a path as she bombarded her way through. Mounted with spear in hand, she was unstoppable.

Reaching the base of the city wall, she drew out iron climbing claws and hurled them up at a spot far from the masters Wang Yunzhi and Wang Lianyang. Before the crowd could react, she was already scaling the rope up the city wall, cleanly kicking aside the guards and darting toward Xie Heng like a phantom.

Seeing her ascend, Wang Yunzhi instantly attacked. Luo Wanqing neither dodged nor retreated, meeting Wang Yunzhi’s blade with a fierce downward strike!

That blow carried tremendous internal force. Wang Yunzhi recoiled upon contact, and in that instant of retreat, Luo Wanqing had already scooped up Xie Heng by his rope, severed his bonds, and hoisted him onto her back.

Xie Heng immediately wrapped his arms around her neck. In that moment, several blades slashed toward them. Luo Wanqing bent low to dodge while carrying him, swept her blade horizontally, and seeing Wang Yunzhi leading people in pursuit from behind, she had no time to think. After saying “Hold tight,” she leaped from the city tower with Xie Heng, landing on the city wall walkway before jumping to the rooftops.

Wang Yunzhi shouted, “Pursue them!”

She led the martial artists down from the city tower first, followed by soldiers surrounding them from all directions.

Luo Wanqing ran across the rooftops carrying Xie Heng, who seemed entirely limp. He had no strength—even holding her was weak.

The Primordial Elixir would destroy one’s meridians. Xie Heng might not even be able to lift a brush now.

Just thinking about this made her heart ache terribly, yet she forced herself to smile bitterly, saying hoarsely, “What’s this? After such a short time apart, you want to live off me? Didn’t you say you’d make me your eighteenth concubine?”

“Why did you come? Didn’t I tell you not to?”

Xie Heng’s voice scattered in the wind, carrying gentle, soft laughter. Compared to before, his breathing was much weaker. Hearing this made Luo Wanqing’s eyes sting, but she had to pretend ignorance, acting indifferent, “You tell me not to come and I won’t? Am I that obedient?”

“You’re indeed not obedient.”

Xie Heng chuckled softly without reproach, only leaning against her back and asking directly, “What’s the plan?”

“There’s a tunnel from Ziyun Mountain to the Eastern Capital. His Highness is digging it to bring troops directly into the capital and control the imperial city. We just need to hold out until dusk, then everything will be over.”

“Really?”

Xie Heng laughed softly, his tone indifferent, showing neither surprise nor joy.

Luo Wanqing felt uneasy but still said, “When the time comes, I’ll take you away. I’ll take all responsibility and get you out of here.”

A blade slashed toward them. Luo Wanqing ducked, her voice carrying longing, “I’ll take you away from Great Xia. We’ll go to Persia, to Kunlun, to Nanyang… There are many places we can go. I’ll take you away.”

Xie Heng listened quietly, his face against her shoulder, watching her determined, clear eyes. He felt his heart bloom like a soft little flower, opening its petals to gently embrace his heart.

But he still had to tell her, “Xiniang, you cannot take Xie Heng away.”

“Whether I can or not is for me to decide, not you!” Luo Wanqing shouted angrily, “I’m here now, so it’s not up to you!”

Xie Heng fell silent at her outburst.

In his silence, Luo Wanqing felt her heart clench. Just as she was about to say more, she heard Xie Heng say, “Let’s go to the Supervision Department.”

His voice was calm, “The back mountain has traps set up. We can hide there for a while.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s eyes lit up, knowing Xie Heng had agreed with her. She carried him toward the Supervision Department.

Though Xie Heng had lost his martial arts and might not even be able to run, his experience remained. He handled navigation while Luo Wanqing handled the killing. Fighting and retreating, they made their way to the Supervision Department.

Many people surrounded them densely. They fell, then climbed back up. Luo Wanqing had no time to think about routes or where she was, completely following Xie Heng’s guidance.

By the time they reached the Supervision Department, both were covered in blood and had changed blades three times.

She gasped, carrying Xie Heng into the small courtyard. Sounds of fighting were everywhere. They entered the house, and Luo Wanqing opened the secret chamber door, pushing Xie Heng inside while panting, “Go in, don’t come out.”

As she was about to close the door, Xie Heng grabbed her hand firmly, saying seriously, “If we must die, come in and die with me.”

Luo Wanqing paused, looking up at the calmly-faced young man before her. After her gaze trembled slightly, she said, “You won’t die, and neither will I.”

With that, she pushed him into the secret passage, sealed the door, turned, and rushed outside, pressing the mechanism.

The entire back mountain of the Supervision Department activated instantly. Countless wails arose as Luo Wanqing slumped at the doorway, leaning against the door and gripping her blade while gasping.

However, the traps could only delay them for a moment. Soon, sounds of explosions came from below as the Supervision Department’s back mountain shook. Luo Wanqing calmly watched people swarming up like locusts.

She sat cross-legged at the courtyard entrance, her blade resting against her shoulder, calmly watching those people surge toward her frantically. Then she supported herself to stand, looked at the approaching enemies, and shouted, “Come!”

She alone guarded the entrance, blocking all paths.

The sun gradually set. The courtyard entrance was littered with corpses from the slaughter. Luo Wanqing could no longer distinguish how many people there were or who was who.

Wang Yunzhi had already fallen at her feet, surrounded by people she knew or didn’t know. Everyone feared death and dared not advance, while Luo Wanqing was nearly exhausted. At this moment, a voice slowly rose from ahead.

“Miss Luo’s skills are much better than we imagined.”

At these words, everyone around stopped moving.

Luo Wanqing raised her blood-stained eyes, looking toward the person walking up from below.

Yang Chun wore red eunuch robes, holding a whisk in his hand. He walked up with a smile, looking at Luo Wanqing, “Miss Luo, having reached this point, you’re at the end of your strength. Why don’t we make a deal? If you leave now, we won’t pursue you. How about it?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing showed a pale smile, “If I were to leave, I wouldn’t have come.”

Hearing this, Yang Chun wasn’t surprised, only saying, “Then there’s no choice. We must take offense.”

The moment his words fell, Yang Chun’s form swooped like an eagle, attacking swiftly!

Several eunuchs charged at her from all directions simultaneously. Luo Wanqing dared not take them head-on, but with all her escape routes blocked, she could only dodge within the narrow space.

Yang Chun’s adopted sons were responsible for blocking her escape routes, while Yang Chun himself used nothing but killing moves. After several fierce exchanges, Luo Wanqing had a moment of distraction and was struck by Yang Chun’s whisk!

She hastily blocked with her blade, but still couldn’t prevent being knocked back. She quickly rolled to her feet, spitting blood, feeling her internal organs shattered with pain.

But she had no time to rest. The moment Yang Chun led his people into the courtyard, she attacked again.

Time after time, she intercepted, time after time, Yang Chun knocked her back, until finally, Yang Chun struck her down with one palm. Luo Wanqing felt her ribs shatter, lying on the ground unable to straighten up.

Seeing her still, Yang Chun didn’t dare provoke further, saying coldly, “Kill her and go!”

Luo Wanqing listened, crawling on the ground. She watched Yang Chun moving forward, calculating his steps.

Everything became extraordinarily slow, and all sounds were crystal clear. She watched him advance, watched him push open the door.

The moment he pushed the door, a white-clothed figure lunged at him with a blade, but the blade carried no internal force. Yang Chun knocked the person back with one palm, sending him crashing into the courtyard!

Seeing it was Xie Heng, Yang Chun immediately sent a second palm with full force toward Xie Heng’s head. Seeing this, Luo Wanqing exploded into action, thrusting her blade toward Yang Chun. Yang Chun heard the sound and turned, using his whisk like a sword to thrust forward. Luo Wanqing neither dodged nor avoided, letting him pierce her body with the whisk. The moment it penetrated, she fiercely gripped the whisk buried in her body. Xie Heng, who had just hit the ground, needed no words from her—he simultaneously pressed a mechanism tile beside him.

Arrows shot toward Yang Chun’s back with explosive force. Yang Chun hadn’t had time to let go when he was suddenly pierced through.

Nearby, Zhao Shun reacted, his eyes blazing with rage as he shouted, “Godfather!”

Zhao Shun’s blade fell toward Luo Wanqing. She had nowhere to dodge. Xie Heng staggered toward her, and just as the blade was about to reach Luo Wanqing, a knife suddenly flew in from outside the door, piercing through Zhao Shun and knocking him far away with tremendous force.

Xie Heng threw himself over Luo Wanqing to the ground. Both heard Zhuque’s urgent voice from outside, “Crown Prince His Highness is settling accounts with treasonous ministers. All kneel—those who surrender will not be killed!”

The moment they heard this voice, Zhuque had already arrived at the mountain gate, breathing heavily. The three looked at each other, and Luo Wanqing immediately ignored her injuries, pulled out the whisk from her body, grabbed Xie Heng, and rushed into the small house. Closing the door, she pulled him toward the tunnel, gasping, “Let’s go, we must go.”

Li Shengzhao had come. Li Shengzhao had given them a chance. She had to quickly take Xie Heng away—they couldn’t have any connection with Li Shengzhao and the others.

But after only a few steps, Song Xichao’s clear voice rang out from outside, “Crown Prince Your Highness.”

Hearing this voice, Xie Heng stopped. The moment they halted, Luo Wanqing heard many people arriving outside, then heard Song Xichao say quite solemnly, “Xie Heng is now inside the house. He is a regicidal minister. Since Your Highness has already controlled the Eastern Capital, you should avenge the late emperor and clear your name.”

These words amounted to a threat. Luo Wanqing immediately realized that Song Xichao and his people were not here to help Xie Heng.

Her expression changed, and she immediately whispered urgently, pulling Xie Heng, “Young master, let’s go quickly, we must leave.”

Xie Heng had no strength, and neither did she.

She couldn’t pull him, but instead he gently held her hand in return, placing it on her pulse.

Luo Wanqing realized what was happening and looked up in panic, “Xie Heng?”

“You need healing.”

Xie Heng spoke seriously, gazing at her with eyes full of tenderness as he took her pulse, “No vital organs were damaged. You should circulate your internal energy to heal your injuries. Let me bandage you first?”

“Do you know what you’re saying?!”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s eyes filled with tears as she whispered, “If we delay any longer, you won’t be able to leave!”

“Xiniang,” Xie Heng looked at her, his eyes suppressing countless emotions, only saying, “You cannot take Xie Heng away.”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. She looked at the calmly-faced young man before her, who seemed to have long known his fate, patiently explaining, “A crime like regicide must have someone to bear it. If I leave today, the one who bears this crime will be His Highness.”

“Then let me.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing’s tears streamed down as she immediately said, “You go, leave through the secret passage now. I’ll go confess that I killed him. Yang Chun is dead, with no one to contradict me. I’ll confess…”

“Xiniang,” Xie Heng said softly, “no one would believe it. This is what I did, my crime, and I’ll accept the punishment myself.”

“But that was also for me!”

Luo Wanqing raised her voice, looking at the person who was stunned for a moment, tentatively saying, “If not for me, you wouldn’t have killed Li Zong, right?”

Xie Heng didn’t speak. He looked at Luo Wanqing with some sadness. Luo Wanqing reached out to grip his arm, breathing heavily, her wounds aching more from her muscle tremors. With a pale face, she pleaded, “You said you were looking forward to the future, you said you wanted to live, you said you’d come with me, you said your life was mine… Xie Lingshu…”

Luo Wanqing felt her vision blur with tears, “I came to save you, I came to save you! Come with me… If we leave, everything will be fine…”

Just as Luo Wanqing finished speaking, Song Xichao’s voice came from outside, persuading Li Shengzhao, “Your Highness, all the officials are now at the foot of the mountain. This minister came up the mountain alone to tell Your Highness that the hearts of the pure officials have made their choice. We can follow you with our lives, but we hope Your Highness will not betray our loyalty, draw clear lines with the traitors, and wash away the shame.”

“The traitor has already fled. What does it have to do with me?” Li Shengzhao said coldly, “Is Lord Song threatening me?”

“Your Highness, your arrival today was too coincidental,” Song Xichao continued, “If Xie Heng doesn’t meet his end today, how will you silence the multitude of voices? Masters from various places are still watching. If Your Highness lets Xie Heng go today, I fear there will be endless warfare and strife in the future.”

“Presumptuous!” Li Shengzhao shouted angrily, “If they want to rebel, it’s because they harbor evil intentions. Even without Xie Heng, they’d find other reasons!”

“Then how does Your Highness plan to explain to the ministers?”

…

The argument continued outside. Luo Wanqing was afraid to turn around. She looked at Xie Heng, who had already made his decision, and heard him ask, “If I came with you, would you be happier?”

Luo Wanqing couldn’t speak. Xie Heng’s eyes were gentle yet compassionate. “For the next hundred years of life, every disaster caused by this, every upheaval that occurs, you wouldn’t feel guilty or regretful?”

“You would.”

Xie Heng spoke with certainty, “You would take all the consequences as your sins. You would spend your life in guilt. You saved my life, but you destroyed your heart.”

“Then what should I do?!”

Luo Wanqing shouted angrily, unable to help herself, “Watch you die? I can’t do it,” Luo Wanqing pressed her hand to her chest, crying and shaking her head, “I can’t do it. When I think of seeing news of your death on the notice board, when I return to that dream, I feel… I feel pain. I can’t do it.”

“I’ve tried so hard,” Luo Wanqing looked up at Xie Heng, gently shaking her head, “I don’t understand. I tried so hard, but why… why couldn’t I change Jiuran’s fate, and I can’t change yours either? Why… why…”

As Luo Wanqing spoke, she retreated in panic. When she pressed against the wall pillar, she suddenly seemed to lose all strength, sliding down the pillar to sit, trembling as she closed her eyes and wept.

“Xie Heng… Xie Heng…”

She only knew how to call his name, but didn’t know what else to say.

Xie Heng stepped forward, reaching out to hold her, but she struggled against his touch.

Outside were the arguments of many people, the repeated admonitions of ministers.

Finally, Xie Heng pressed her down, touching his forehead to hers, shouting, “Xiniang!”

Luo Wanqing’s movements froze. Xie Heng said softly, “Don’t be afraid.”

Luo Wanqing’s body trembled lightly. Xie Heng said calmly, “Xie Heng was destined to die. To have your attention is already the greatest fortune of my life. No matter how I proceed from here, I won’t have lost. I know you can’t make the decision, so let me.”

Luo Wanqing looked up blankly to see Xie Heng gazing at her solemnly, saying seriously, “I live as Xie Heng, I die as Xie Heng. Xiniang, you only need to remember one thing.”

Luo Wanqing listened, speaking with difficulty, “What?”

“I cherish you.”

Xie Heng gazed at her as if taking one last look, saying seriously, “Xie Heng’s life belongs to the people, but Guanlan’s heart is dedicated only to Xiniang.”

The moment his words fell, Xie Heng suddenly struck, sealing Luo Wanqing’s pressure points.

Luo Wanqing’s eyes widened in panic, “What are you doing? What is Xie Lingshu doing?”

Xie Heng smiled. He took bandages from nearby and wrapped Luo Wanqing’s wounds. Luo Wanqing said fearfully, “Xie Lingshu, don’t do anything foolish, don’t go out… What will I do if you’re gone?”

“You still have your blade.”

Xie Heng said calmly, “Xiniang, you suffer because you have compassion. That is your blade. If you can love me alone, you can love countless people. Whether I’m here or not in the future, your love will have somewhere to rest.”

“I don’t want it, I don’t need it.” Luo Wanqing spoke in pain, “I don’t need to love many people. I only want you, want my father, want Jiuran… want everyone around me to be well.”

Xie Heng listened quietly, gazing at her. After a long time, he said, “Then let’s make a bet.”

Luo Wanqing looked at him through tears, confused. Xie Heng said seriously, “Zhang Chunzi is at the foot of the mountain. In a while, you’ll take me down and give me to him. Don’t let others see—just say you buried me. You must remember,” Xie Heng’s forehead gently touched hers as he said solemnly, “I will always, always, live for you.”

Hearing these words, Luo Wanqing stared at him blankly.

Xie Heng kissed her forehead, then stood and left.

Terror filled Luo Wanqing’s heart as she watched his retreating figure. Suddenly remembering something, she shouted, “My life is still in your hands!”

Xie Heng’s steps paused. Luo Wanqing remembered and said excitedly, “I still have the poison you gave me. You haven’t given me the antidote yet. You can’t die—if you die, I can’t live. You can’t…”

“Silly girl.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng chuckled softly. With his back to her, he turned his head to the side. “That was a sugar pill.”

Luo Wanqing froze, and the person before her took the judgment he had already written from the desk beside him, walked to the door, and opened it.

The moment the door opened, daylight poured in. His entire figure was bathed in the golden light of dusk as Luo Wanqing watched him walk out.

The sound of the door opening startled everyone. The arguing officials and Li Shengzhao all froze, staring blankly at the blood-stained young man in white robes before them. After a long while, Li Shengzhao finally reacted, shouting angrily, “You dare return?!”

He frantically signaled to Xie Heng with his eyes, “Where are your accomplices?!”

“Your Highness,” Xie Heng smiled, saying seriously, “Xie Heng has come to confess his crimes.”

These words stunned everyone as they watched this young man drag his frail body forward, kneeling before Li Shengzhao and saying earnestly, “I, Xie Lingshu, have been arrogant and unruly since childhood, disregarding propriety and showing no respect for hierarchy. Thus, I committed the acts of regicide and killing ministers, truly deserving the wrath of all under heaven and meriting death. Yet there are reasons behind these events, sources behind these waters. I risk death to appear before Your Highness, begging you to hear me out.”

Li Shengzhao listened to his words, clenching his fists.

Xie Heng said calmly, “When this criminal was young, I worked with the Cui family to promote the Great Xia Code, aimed at limiting officials’ power of punishment to achieve justice. However, this action brought disaster. The Cui family was framed by the Wang and Zheng families, along with Sun Zhengli, Yang Chun and others, who falsely reported military intelligence, causing the fall of ten border cities and the persecution of the entire Cui family, with one hundred thousand soldiers forced to flee their homeland. At that time, Xie Heng was powerless and could only pretend to be a hunting dog, lying dormant for years to avenge my family. Though I know my crimes are unforgivable, I dare to request three things—please grant them, Your Highness.”

“What things?”

Li Shengzhao frowned. Xie Heng said calmly, “First, please thoroughly investigate the Cui family’s wrongful case to restore their justice.”

“That’s natural.”

“Second, today, Director Luo’s rescue was out of marital duty. Please remember her meritorious service and do not pursue this matter.”

“Good,” Li Shengzhao nodded hurriedly, “Actually, I…”

“Third,” Xie Heng didn’t give him a chance to speak, saying calmly, “Please fulfill the Cui family’s wish and restart the Great Xia Code. The fundamental reason for its previous failure was too few people knowledgeable in law, making implementation impossible at the local level. Now, after years of accumulation, the Supervision Department has trained tens of thousands of inspectors, ensuring smooth implementation in the future.”

“What about you?”

An official’s voice rang out mockingly, “You want to promote law and be dealt with according to law—may I ask Director Xie, how should your crimes be judged?”

“Shut up!”

Li Shengzhao shouted angrily. He turned to look at Xie Heng kneeling on the ground, considering carefully, “I agree to all your requests. Your actions had reasons, you…”

“Should be sentenced to death.”

Xie Heng spoke calmly, interrupting Li Shengzhao. Kneeling on the ground, he said peacefully, “Though Xie Heng’s life was for justice, according to law, I have committed many evils and deserve death. The crime of regicide must be paid for by someone. Today, Xie Heng willingly becomes a pillar at the city gate, requesting that the Great Xia Code…” He looked up at Li Shengzhao, his eyes showing resolve, “begin with Xie Heng.”

The moment his words fell, he suddenly drew his sword. Before anyone could react, they saw the blade sweep across his throat.

Like a solitary crane lifting its neck, robes falling like frost, blood spattering forth—everyone’s eyes widened.

Xie Heng fell straight down, his gaze toward the room.

Inside, Luo Wanqing sat leaning against the pillar. She watched him in shock, tears falling from her eyes.

A moment later, she exploded, screaming.

Trapped in place, she watched Xie Heng fall into the pool of blood. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, couldn’t open her mouth to say anything—she could only scream from the tremendous pain: “Ahhhhh——!!!”

Her sealed pressure points burst open instantly. She staggered forward, pulling Xie Heng into her arms, holding him tightly like a wild beast, howling and crying.

For a moment, it seemed she had returned to that dream.

She stood in the June snow, looking at the notice with his name, news of his death, and his crimes.

But this time she held him. He stood before those accusations, before irreversible fate, weeping in despair.

Xie Heng looked at the woman before him, listening to her anguished cries. His vision was somewhat blurred. He seemed to see their time in Jiangnan when she had pulled him out of the dungeon.

Under the influence of the mandala, that world was colorful and brilliant. In all that splendor, she had pulled him forward as they ran.

That was the first time he had followed her away as Xie Lingshu.

“Take me away…”

He used all his strength to grasp Luo Wanqing’s sleeve. Luo Wanqing froze, staring blankly back at him. She saw his weak eyes filled with laughter, full of hope as he said, “Xiniang… take me away…”

“Yes… yes…”

Luo Wanqing suddenly understood, hurriedly lifting him onto her back, saying anxiously, “I’ll take you away, Guanlan,” tears fell, “let’s go.”

No one stopped her.

Covered in blood, carrying that person destined to die again and again, she walked step by step down from the back mountain of the Supervision Department.

Court ministers, nobles, soldiers, and commoners—from mountain top to bottom, like watching a ritual sacrifice, they watched her carry him down from the mountain.

After leaving the Supervision Department, she saw an old man wearing short hemp clothes, his hair casually bound with a tree branch, looking particularly lean.

Seeing them come down, the old man looked her up and down, then called out a name: “Liu Xiniang?”

Hearing the voice, Luo Wanqing knew who it was and said hoarsely, “Senior Zhang?”

“Give him to me.”

Zhang Chunzi reached out his hand, smiling, “There may be a thread of hope.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing finally put Xie Heng down.

She didn’t dare delay, handing Xie Heng to Zhang Chunzi. Zhang Chunzi had already prepared a carriage and was about to leave with Xie Heng in his arms. As he turned, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help calling out, “Senior!”

Zhang Chunzi turned back. Luo Wanqing asked fearfully, “Where are you… going?”

“To the Dao Sect.”

Zhang Chunzi didn’t hide it, his hand on Xie Heng’s body, “I gave him a thread of true energy to preserve his life. I’ll escort him along this journey. If he’s alive when we reach the Dao Sect, we’ll find another way.”

“Can he live?”

Luo Wanqing asked tentatively. Zhang Chunzi shook his head, “I don’t know. This is the first time trying this method. Whether he can live depends on how much he wants to live. But he asked me to tell you to live well and wait for him to return.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but smile. Crying and laughing, she finally said, “Good… I’ll wait for him.”

She nodded, as if grasping a final straw, “I’ll wait for him to return.”

After Xie Heng left, he was gone for a long time.

In the first year of Changxing, Crown Prince Li Shengzhao returned from the northwest and, after a period of struggle, successfully ascended the throne. He changed the era name to Changxing, initiated the Great Xia Code, and promoted Luo Wanqing to Director of the Supervision Department.

On Luo Wanqing’s first day in office, Prince Guangcheng Li Guiyu surrendered himself, with Luo Wanqing personally presiding over his trial.

His case files were sealed by the Supervision Department. No one knew what crimes he had committed or what he had done. The last time anyone saw him was in Yangzhou.

Luo Wanqing accompanied him to the Luo residence in Yangzhou to identify the crime scene. Li Guiyu walked through Yangzhou with her, identifying the entire process of how he and the Zheng family had framed Luo Qushu in the salt trafficking case.

Afterward, Luo Wanqing sentenced him to death and had him imprisoned in Yangzhou prison.

When imprisoned, he happened to be in the same cell where she had once been held. As Luo Wanqing escorted him into the cell, Li Guiyu looked up at the walls covered with “Jiang Shaoyan” and asked softly, “What were you thinking then?”

“I was thinking, waiting for you to save me.” Luo Wanqing said, laughing lightly, “But now I know that people can only save themselves.”

Li Guiyu didn’t speak. After thinking, he turned to look at the blade at her waist, saying softly, “I don’t think I’ve seen your final sword technique. What is your final sword?”

Her final sword?

At his question, many people instantly flashed through Luo Wanqing’s mind.

Zhang Jiuran, Xie Minran, Ji Ruifang, Xing Ling…

And Xie Heng.

She remembered the moment he fell in the pool of blood, remembered saving him again and again, remembered him sitting high on the platform at the musical gathering, remembered their first meeting in Yangzhou when he smiled and said, “I am Qin Jue.”

Her hand gripped the scabbard as she said hoarsely, “It’s compassion.”

Li Guiyu didn’t understand. Luo Wanqing said calmly, “It’s loving one person and extending that to all people; it’s pitying one person and thus pitying all beings. My final blade wishes for no injustice, no suffering, no despair, no pain in the world. He told me,” Luo Wanqing’s eyes moistened slightly. “This is compassion.”

Li Guiyu looked at her quietly. In that moment, he suddenly realized something.

During her five years with him, she had always been behind him.

But during her two years with Xie Heng, she had been radiant.

He slowly smiled, saying softly, “May I request one sword?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing looked up at him. After looking for a long time, she nodded, “Very well.”

When she first went to the Eastern Capital, during their first encounter, she could only withstand three of his arrows.

This time, they chose the Yangzhou lakeside where they had once been. When she drew her final blade, she cut off his hair ornament.

After returning to the prison, Luo Wanqing bid him farewell for the last time. She didn’t say much, just looked at this old acquaintance and gently nodded, “Farewell.”

Li Guiyu watched her silently.

He watched her silhouette disappear against the light, finally unable to help calling out, “Young lady!”

Luo Wanqing turned back in the light to see Li Guiyu smile, “I loved you. But in the next life,” his lips trembled lightly, “we need not meet again.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing only said softly, “In the next life, may you get what you wish for.”

Li Guiyu responded through tears, “Thank you.”

Looking at her eyes, she sensed something but didn’t turn back.

After Luo Wanqing left the prison, she received word from the jailer that after she left, Li Guiyu had killed himself with the dagger he had given her in that cell, covered with “Jiang Shaoyan.”

According to the case files, his suicide wound was remarkably similar to her father’s.

Grievances repaid, finally resolved.

Afterward, Luo Wanqing was commanded by the emperor to thoroughly investigate the Cui family case. This case was extremely extensive and time-consuming. Luo Wanqing investigated for a full year, finally clarifying everything and sentencing over three hundred people involved to death and seven hundred to exile.

This included Li Guiyu’s mother, the former Empress Wang Lianyang.

On the day of judgment, Luo Wanqing brought her a cup of wine, somewhat curious: “Having given birth to him, didn’t you ever think to treat him well?”

Wang Lianyang was silent for a long time, only saying, “If I had kept him, there would always be the risk of discovery. Better to find a suitable opportunity to let him go. Since he was destined to leave,” Wang Lianyang looked up, “how could I dare give my heart? Actually… why did I love Shangwen so much?”

Wang Lianyang smiled bitterly, thinking, “Perhaps because the first time I wanted to hold Guiyu, I didn’t dare. I was afraid of having feelings, so I gave all the love I had for Guiyu to Shangwen instead.”

Hearing this absurd reason, Luo Wanqing chuckled and turned to leave.

After everything had settled, Luo Wanqing went to the Dao Sect every month.

Xie Heng was kept in the Dao Sect’s forbidden area, with no visitation allowed. As for life or death, no one could say clearly.

Unable to see him, she went to wait every month. After waiting for a year, then two years, she began to think perhaps the Dao Sect was deceiving her.

He was already gone—they were just afraid she’d be heartbroken, giving her something to hope for.

So she stopped going, just feeding Lianqing and Zhuisi well each day, writing him letters and burning them in the fire basin.

During the Changxing New Year, she spent it in the palace. Xing Ling was pregnant, and everyone was very happy.

Li Shengzhao gave everyone rewards. When it came to Luo Wanqing, Li Shengzhao gave her a red envelope, then smiled, “Wanqing, you’ve been so busy lately, your feet haven’t touched the ground. Why don’t you find a Shadow Envoy to help? At least find someone to help you with paperwork.”

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern,” Luo Wanqing shook her head in refusal, “but I’m used to being alone. I don’t need a Shadow Envoy.”

“He thinks your paperwork is poorly written.”

Zhuque, cracking sunflower seeds nearby, said directly, “You think he’s so concerned about you?”

“Go, go, go.”

Li Shengzhao shooed Zhuque away, then said seriously, “Really, you can’t handle everything alone. I’ve especially found a writer—I’ll send him to you tonight.”

“No need, really no need.”

Luo Wanqing repeatedly refused but couldn’t stop Li Shengzhao’s enthusiasm, planning to send the person away when she returned.

Everyone ate and drank. Luo Wanqing drank until midnight, then stumbled back up the mountain alone, somewhat drunk.

Snow fell at night. She walked on the bluestone steps, stepping on accumulated snow, listening to the crunching sound.

With each step up the mountain, she thought of Xie Heng.

She remembered that day carrying him down the mountain step by step.

She remembered countless times walking up this road to see that brightly lit courtyard, to see that person sitting at his desk as if he had endless case files to review, endless official business to handle.

Thinking as she walked, when she reached the mountaintop, she suddenly felt something was wrong. Instinctively gripping her blade and looking up, she saw someone standing under a peach tree covered in frost and snow, looking up at the branches.

He wore a dark blue cotton robe with a red rope belt, a soft sword, and a wine gourd at his waist, his long hair half-bound with a blue and white hair ribbon.

He had been looking up at the branches, but hearing her voice, he smiled and turned his head.

Beautiful eyes held a night full of starlight as he respectfully raised his hand and smiled slightly.

“Shadow Envoy Xie Guanlan greets the Director.”

Luo Wanqing stared blankly at the person before her. Seeing her motionless, he finally seemed somewhat helpless.

He stepped forward, reached out to hold her hand, and looked down at her.

“Xiniang,” he called out that name that belonged only to him, “I’ve returned.”

Xie Heng was destined to die.

But Cui Guanlan could live for her.

Xiniang had returned.

Author’s Note:

In this chapter, I should polish and refine a bit more—it’s somewhat rough. If you have any questions, leave them, and I’ll select some to write as extras.

This Cang Lan Dao – Chapter will have a big red envelope to celebrate the completion.

This story took a very long time to write.

For you all, it was one year, but I started writing from early 2023, saved over 200,000 words of draft, and excitedly began publishing. Because in the past, I couldn’t finish long novels without readers, without reader interaction, I felt very dry. Previously, with “The Rest of Life Has Limits,” I had a complete draft, but rewrote the entire story after publishing. Inspiration and emotion both need stimulation.

But fortunately, through the torment of repeated revisions this time, I finally learned to continue writing without needing feedback. The next book will have a complete draft ready.

This book tortured me for too long, so my feelings are very deep, but I still have to say goodbye to Qingqing/Xiniang, Xie Heng/Cui Guanlan, Li Guiyu/Jiang Shaoyan, and many other lovely characters.

Writing this story was very difficult for me. On one hand, the story was indeed inherently flawed when I started—the layered design of the Luo family case and worldbuilding weren’t solid enough, causing problems throughout. On the other hand, during the writing process, I had very deep feelings for the characters, and the relationships between Luo Wanqing, Xie Heng, and Li Guiyu were extremely difficult to construct. I hoped each character could have more precise development, so I kept revising.

Of course, many regrets remain. Between the reveal/awakening and the wedding/assassination of Zheng Pingsheng, those chapters were indeed somewhat dragging, but they didn’t involve character development, so I left them unchanged.

Revising is very painful for readers, so I must especially thank all of you who accompanied and tolerated me throughout this journey.

In this story, I learned a lot.

I don’t like writing too much plot—I like writing emotional storylines, but most of the time, without writing those plots, the characters can’t be established.

But essentially, I want to write about good people who then fall in love.

Fortunately, this story gradually found some direction and taught me a lot.

Whether in emotional push-and-pull, tension building, event design, or reflection on how I, as an author, should proceed, I feel I’ve grown a lot.

I hope I can write more concisely in the next story. See you all again in the next one, “Snow on the Azure Mountains.” Love you all. (づ￣3￣)づ╭❤～