Chapter 77: Epilogue (IV)

(T/N: I’m sorry, but I will not translate the 16 extra chapters, and if you really want to read the extra chapter, you can go to the JJWXC official website and read it there. The extra chapter contains details that the author was unable to put in the main chapter. Once again, I’m sorry for not being able to translate the extra chapter for all of you.)

Sui Ning tightened her wrist, and the light scent of pine filled the air. She was pulled back, and Xie Changzhou’s tall and upright figure stood in front of her.

“Sui Ning, I’ll take care of it.”

He drew his sword and rushed forward. The sharp sword’s intent suddenly slashed through the possessed Gui Ba.

There were severed limbs everywhere, and the dark green ghosts were floating in the void. The hideous faces inside the ghost fires roared and pounced on the disciples of the sect next to them.Evil spirits were wicked and wouldn’t harm those with evil intentions.

They most enjoyed the blood of those with pure hearts; the innocent children of the mortal realm and the disciples of the cultivation world were all delicious prey to them.
Sui Ning looked over, and the vibrant world of cultivation had become a place of carnage.

She stood in the void and looked down.

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Xie Changzhou stepped back, his divine power protecting his side, gripping his sword as he watched Gui Ba desperately attack the barrier.

He had promised Sui Ning not to act so recklessly, not to harm the enemy at the expense of his own well-being.

This wasn’t what Sui Ning wanted to see.

He raised his eyes to look at Sui Ning in the sky. Her eyebrows and eyes were cold, and her exquisite and beautiful face, while aloof, held the gentle touch of a new mother.

Sui Ning noticed his gaze directed at her, and Xie Changzhou met her eyes—a timeless moment of connection.
She nodded gently at him, and Xie Changzhou suddenly understood her meaning.

She said, “I believe in you.”

Gui Ba continued to howl, and Xie Changzhou suddenly looked at him. In his azure-colored eyes, boundless murderous intent emerged. His divine power surged, and his black hair fluttered behind him.

He raised his sword and rushed toward Gui Ba. With the immense power supporting his strike, the sword intent whistled like a swimming dragon, heading straight for Gui Ba and piercing through him from within.
After a sharp howl, the ghostly fire burning around Gui Ba gradually dissipated, and the sinister marks on his pale face receded.

His voice was hoarse and low. “No, no…”

How could this be? He were ancient demons, sealed in the Wanmo Cavern for countless millennia without dying.

Realizing something, he suddenly hesitated: “You… you… dare.”

Then, it was as if he had suddenly changed, a smile appearing at the corners of his lips: “Old man, if you dare to occupy my body… even if I die, I won’t allow you to trample on it…”

His voice was intermittent, it was the voice of Shen Jie.

Shen Jie’s consciousness returned.

Xie Changzhou held his sword and watched coldly as the person in front of him switched between anger and mockery.

Shen Jie looked at him with a calm gaze, blood oozing from the corners of his lips.

Xie Changzhou slowly raised his sword.

Gui Ba roared: “No, don’t, you are my demon bone!”

He wanted to struggle, but at this moment, the control of his body was in the hands of Shen Jie. His powerful consciousness even directly overrode him, who was an ancient demon god.

It was obviously his demon bone, why did it betray him!

Shen Jie sneered, his voice cold and mocking: “What are you, my true form is the demon lord, and I’m your demon bone?”

“Do you deserve it?”

Gui Ba struggled to escape, his body controlled by Shen Jie, could only watch as Xie Changzhou gathered his divine power in front of him.

He was terrified. He had set a trap for thousands of years, how could he be ruined by his own demon bone!
No, no!

Shen Jie stood with his hands behind his back, discarding his former ruthlessness and evilness. Facing his enemy of more than three hundred years, he remained calm for the first time.

He said coldly, “Xie Changzhou, I did not lose to you.”

He just didn’t want to be controlled to do things he didn’t want to do, nor did he want his consciousness to be squeezed into a corner, only able to watch as another person used his face to do these things.

It was too disgusting. He remembered that there was an old monster who had been alive for tens of thousands of years in his body, and he was thoroughly disgusted.

With the memories of Gui Ba, he was even more disgusted with his own existence.

He was just the demon bone of a old monster, the most evil existence.

He lifted his chin slightly, his expression proud and carefree: “I can choose not to live, but no one can borrow my body to live.” 

He didn’t lose to Xie Changzhou. 

Xie Changzhou looked over and nodded slightly, his divine power becoming even stronger. 

Shen Jie looked up at Sui Ning in the void. Her eyes softened and there was a charming lotus mark on her forehead. Her divine power was as powerful as the rising sun. 

He could feel the new life force emanating from her. 

He knew that she had married Xie Changzhou and left the Limitless Sword Sect, disappearing for more than eight months. 

Now he understood that she had given birth to a child. 

The dark light in Shen Jie’s eyes faded, but the demon in his body continued to roar, trying to break free from his restraints. 

He smirked mockingly. 

Xie Changzhou was really lucky, making him jealous. 

So be it. He couldn’t rid himself of the demon, he was just the demon’s bones. 

He would die together with the demon, which could be considered doing something within his power for her. 
He didn’t love her, he just had some fondness for her. 

When Sui Ning looked over, Shen Jie withdrew his gaze and looked coldly at Xie Changzhou’s sword intent as it slashed towards him. He stood with his hands behind his back, unmoving. 

Gui Ba howled: “No, don’t, run away!” 

“My demon bones, how dare you!” 

“Hurry—”

A powerful sword intent pierced through his chest, and all the screams suddenly stopped. Drops of blood dripped from Shen Jie’s chest, forming blood flowers on the ground.

Drop by drop, they fell and spread.

Shen Jie slowly closed his eyes, a crystal tear sliding down from the corner of his eye. His tall figure suddenly turned into wisps of fragmented pieces and flew into the void.

Sui Ning looked at him gradually dissipating, feeling indescribable emotions in her heart.

Shen Jie, who had always been unwilling to accept defeat, had fought against Xie Changzhou in battles of wits and strength for years, but in the end, he obediently died under Xie Changzhou’s sword with no resistance.

Born as a demon’s bone, his life was both hateful and pitiful.

Sui Ning sighed inwardly, unable to describe her feelings.

With the death of the demon lord who led them, Lian Heng, who was fighting against Dingyuan, was startled and quickly withdrew beyond Dingyuan’s encirclement.

Looking at Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou, Lian Heng’s face was filled with unwillingness.

It was so close, just one step away.

His voice was cold: “Retreat!”

The devil soldiers and generals who were fighting against the sect disciples quickly retreated in an orderly and swift manner, causing Dingyuan to pause in surprise.

He shook his head helplessly and said, “The devil lord really knows how to read the situation.”

Lian Heng always followed the trend, standing with whichever side had greater power. He was a typical selfish person.

Disciples of the Jingchan Sect wanted to pursue them, but Master Dingyuan stopped them: “There’s no need to pursue them.”

He looked towards the void where the floating ghostly flames illuminated the darkness, and the evil spirits howled ferociously and pounced towards his disciples.

Master Dingyuan clasped his hands together, his compassionate face filled with reluctance: “Amitabha Buddha.”

At present, they could not be of much help, and could only rely on Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou.
However, there were so many evil spirits…

Xie Changzhou put away his sword, about to go towards Sui Ning in the void, when suddenly the void in front of him split open.

Little by little, it gradually expanded.

That was the Wanmo Cavern.

He could clearly see inside the Wanmo Cavern.

Those were countless densely-packed pairs of dark red eyes, filled with sinister and crazy killing intent, roaring as they charged towards him.

Xie Changzhou could feel the pungent smell and blood in the air.

“Xie Changzhou!”

Sui Ning flew towards him, but Xie Changzhou’s brow furrowed, and his powerful divine power completely repelled the evil spirits.

But the evil spirits could not be completely killed off. They crowded and fiercely attacked his divine energy barrier. Xie Changzhou’s expression turned cold as he increased the seal on Wanmo Cavern.

Sui Ning was blocked a short distance away from him, and an invisible barrier seemed to be stopping her from moving forward.

Her beautiful face was filled with coldness, and her eyes showed anger. She swung her demon-slaying sword, and the powerful sword intent fiercely collided with the barrier.

The barrier did not budge.

This person’s cultivation was beyond her.

But she had two sources of divine power: Yanheng’s divine power and… the child’s divine power.
Who in this world could be stronger than her?

Sui Ning thought of a person, and her hand holding the sword tightened. A strong hatred surfaced in her phoenix eyes.

Thunder roared within the heavy clouds, and purple lightning meandered through the clouds, as if mocking her helplessness.

“Heavenly Dao.”

Sui Ning looked up at the sky, each word filled with hatred. She gritted her teeth as if wanting to tear it apart.
It was Heavenly Dao again.

Xie Changzhou seemed to be isolated from them. The evil spirits from the outside world were drawn to him, dividing two worlds in front of Sui ning’s eyes.

Behind Sui ning was a battlefield that had just experienced a major battle. The surviving disciples stood shoulder to shoulder, and all the evil spirits had disappeared.

In front of Sui ning was Xie Changzhou.

On his side were evil spirits, all filled with killing and blood.

Sui ning’s heart trembled as she desperately attacked the barrier in front of her.

“Heavenly Dao, you shameless person!”

She attacked the barrier in front of her while cursing the Heavenly Dao lurking in the clouds.

“Ningning, don’t be afraid.”

xie Changzhou dealt with the evil spirits that almost overwhelmed him while comforting Sui ning.

Sui ning’s nose tingled as she saw her lover almost submerged by the dark green evil spirits. She couldn’t see his figure, only the occasional flashing of sword light and the occasional eruption of divine power.

Even at this point, he was still worried about her, even though he was the one in danger.

Sui ning attacked the barrier in front of her without regard for her own body. Her powerful divine power was released without any reservation.

Suddenly, a warm and pure spiritual energy came from behind her. Sui ning turned around and saw a kind and gentle face.

Master Dingyuan smiled kindly at her, “Miss Sui ning, let me give you a hand.”

Sui ning nodded, “Thank you.”

Elders from various major sects came to help from time to time. Sui ning saw familiar faces, including Fuling, Lu guan, and Ni Shang.

Those cultivators, who were familiar or unfamiliar, and even those whom she had never met, all stood by her side and helped her break through the barrier of the Heavenly Dao.

Sui ning’s eyes became warm and her heart sour.

Xie Changzhou’s years of guardianship had finally earned them their help.

Sui ning whispered, “Thank you all.”

Within the barrier, more and more evil spirits surrounded Xie Changzhou. The Heavenly Dao was determined to bring him to his demise.

Sui Ning and the elders desperately attacked the barrier in front of them, and more and more disciples joined in to help. Finally, for a brief moment, the Heavenly Dao’s barrier trembled before Sui ning’s eyes.

Even though it was just a moment, even though only a tiny crack appeared.

Sui ning felt a glimmer of hope, and she poured out her divine power without reservation, tearing at that crack with all her might.

The unyielding Heavenly Dao could no longer hide and spoke out with a cold and solemn voice that echoed throughout the entire continent.

“Yanheng, do you intend to stop me?”

Sui ning’s phoenix eyes chilled, and she responded coldly, “Heavenly Dao, it’s your persistence that’s unforgivable!”

The thunder in the clouds rumbled louder, and the Heavenly Dao’s anger intensified.

“We only wanted to live peacefully with Xie Changzhou, but you’ve been pushing us to the brink.”

“You violated the promise with Xie Changzhou. If it weren’t for the Heavenly Dao from another world’s mistake, Xie Changzhou would never have sacrificed himself in the Wanmo Cavern. We would have missed out on eternal life together!”

“Heavenly Dao, you’ve gone too far!”

“Why should one person sacrifice for all living beings? Why are we doomed to suffer from the moment we are born?”

“I refuse!”

Her divine power surged, and the mighty force struck the barrier in front of her. She tore the crack open, and Master Dingyuan and the others quickly grabbed onto the closing gap. Sui ning hurriedly slipped inside.

As soon as she entered the Heavenly Dao’s barrier, the crack closed completely, leaving the barrier intact.

The Heavenly Dao said coldly, “Do you want to accompany him to death?”

Xie Changzhou was also startled, “Sui Ning, why did you come in? Get out!”

Sui Ning didn’t answer his words. She cut down the evil spirits in front of her, looked up at the sky, and said coldly, “I don’t want to die. I want to live!”

“My child gave me her entire divine power to save her father. She became a mortal herself, and she’s still so young. She needs me to take care of her.”

“My divine parents died for the sake of all living beings, and I followed in their footsteps countless years ago.”

“Heavenly Dao!” Sui Ning gritted her teeth, “We don’t want to die; it’s you who has been pushing us!” 

The Heavenly Dao fell silent, and the thunder in the clouds gradually diminished.

Sui ning had also rushed to Xie Changzhou’s side, tightly holding his hand.

“Sui ning—”

“Don’t say anything,” Sui ning interrupted his anxious words, her voice soft. “Xie Changzhou, I won’t leave. I’m going to take you back.”

“Our daughter gave me all her divine power to save you. You can’t die.”

Amidst the vast eerie green flames, Sui Ning’s face was partially obscured by the flickering ghostly flames, making her features difficult to discern. His heart suddenly softened.

“All right.”

He heard his own hoarse, trembling voice.

The Heavenly Dao wanted him dead, but he wanted to live.

Amidst the burning ghostly flames and the recurring cries, the figures of evil spirits were frequently cut down by streaks of swordlight.

Master Dingyuan was powerless to help, and his aged face looked towards the void.

There, the clouds were deep, and thunder and lightning meandered.

Their Heavenly Dao was there.

Master Dingyuan clasped his hands together and bowed to the Heavenly Dao.

“Heavenly Dao, you’re mistaken.”

The winding thunder and lightning in the clouds suddenly stopped.

Master Dingyuan continued, “Jianzun dedicated himself for over three hundred years, safeguarding all living beings with his own strength. He shouldn’t meet such an end.”

“Heavenly Dao, you’ve disappointed me.”

Master Dingyuan turned and walked away. His elderly and thin figure appeared especially desolate amidst the dim surroundings.

The Heavenly Dao suddenly froze, standing high above and looking down at the people below. His heart was taken aback.

His followers, were they questioning him?

Clearly, these fragile believers, who could be crushed with a single finger, were now daring to question their Heavenly Dao?

Looking at the eyes of the thousands of disciples on the ground, the Heavenly Way found disappointment in all of them.

They were disappointed.

The Heavenly Dao was speechless for a moment.

Looking at Xie Changzhou and Sui Ning inside the barrier, the two of them were still fighting side by side amidst the flickering ghostly flames, with evil spirits crawling out of the Wanmo Cavern from time to time.

… Was he really wrong?

Inadvertently meeting Sui Ning’s gaze, even though she couldn’t see him, his heart trembled suddenly.

Sui Ning’s gaze was resolute, as if she could see everything, and her emotions were full of defiance.

She spoke slowly, “Heavenly Dao, stop being so stubborn.”

As soon as Sui Ning finished speaking, a strong aura burst forth from the Wanmo Cavern, followed by Wanmo Cavern expanding rapidly, and a terrifying pressure surged out of it.

The powerful pressure caught Sui Ning and Xie Changzhou off guard, and he quickly held her in his arms, blocking that inexplicable force.

“Xie Changzhou!”
“Jianzun!”

Xie Changzhou wiped away the blood at the corner of his mouth and shook his head, saying, “I’m fine.”

He looked ahead, and his heart sank suddenly.

As expected, it was still too late, and all the evil spirits were about to rush out.

His child, his wife—they are all among these mortals.

If the evil spirits rush out…

The cold voice of the Heavenly Dao came: “Ji Hu, what are you waiting for?”

“Don’t forget our oath. If it’s not you who dies today, I will let Yanheng die!”

The Heavenly Dao’s barrier opened a narrow gap. Xie Changzhou glanced at the crack and tightly grasped Sui Ning’s hand.

Before Sui Ning could react, he pushed her out directly.

The barrier closed in front of her eyes, and Xie Changzhou was trapped inside, with a crack that was almost big enough to fit the entire Wenjian Peak.

“Xie Changzhou…” Sui Ning’s voice was hoarse and trembling.

She seemed to have lost her reason, attacking the barrier in front of her desperately.

“Xie Changzhou, what are you doing?”

“I won’t allow it. You promised me!”

“You said you wouldn’t leave me!”

Xie Changzhou looked at her; behind him were piles of corpses and bones, and the eerie lights were clawing at him. The evil spirits roared to rush out and tear him apart.

His eyes were gentle, and his gaze towards Sui Ning was full of love and tenderness.

“Sui Ning, trust me.”

Tears rolled down Sui ning’s face. “Xie Changzhou, you promised me!”

Xie Changzhou stepped back, and his black hair fluttered behind him.

“Ningning, trust me, I won’t leave you behind.”

“No matter how difficult it is, I will definitely come back to you.”

“Xie Changzhou!”

His divine power surged throughout his body, the intense brightness causing sharp pain in Sui Ning’s eyes, but she still didn’t close them.

His divine power scattered and subdued all the evil spirits; no matter how they struggled and howled, they were still tightly restrained by Xie Changzhou.

He closed his eyes and fell backward towards the Wanmo cavern behind him. His divine power swept up all the evil spirits and poured them into the blood-red and fierce crack.

“Xie Changzhou!!!”

The scene before her matched her dream, and she felt like her heart was breaking and her mind was blank.

The barrier in front of her disappeared, and she rushed forward to grab his clothes. Her fingertips just touched his hem when the Wanmo Cavern closed in front of her.

Xie Changzhou also disappeared before her eyes.

“Xie Changzhou, Xie Changzhou!”

She fell to her knees and cried, her face covered in tears, trembling and unable to stand.

She hated it.

Why, why?

Why couldn’t she save Xie Changzhou until now?

Her child had given her divine power and memories.

But she still couldn’t save him.

Sui Ning’s divine power surged, her eyes turning red as she stared hatefully into the void.

The heavenly Dao just regained consciousness when He suddenly exclaimed in shock upon meeting her gaze: “What are you doing–falling into demonic cultivation?”

“You’re going to fall into demonic cultivation?”

Sui Ning stood up straight with a shining sword in her hand.

“Are you not supposed to have Xie Changzhou go and sacrifice himself in the Wanmo Cavern? Are you not supposed to protect the world?” 

She slowly walked forward, the tip of her sword scraping against the ground and creating a burst of electricity.

“I’ll kill you!”

She picked up speed and charged towards the sky behind the clouds with her sword raised.

Fuling trembled and said, “Sui ning… Are you going to destroy the heavenly dao?”

Sui ning’s divine power was strong, but the heavenly Dao energy had not yet fully recovered because he had sacrificed half of his power due to a deal with the heavenly dao of another world.

Several people couldn’t see what was happening behind the clouds, but they could hear the thunderous roar and see the flashing of the sword within the clouds.

Could Sui ning really have the power to destroy the heavenly dao?

The voices of Sui ning and the heavenly dao could be heard occasionally from within the clouds.

“Yanheng, if you kill me, the whole world will perish!”

“Then let’s die together!”

“Yanheng, you dare!”

Then there was the sound of intense fighting and the thunder grew louder and louder.

After a while, the angry voice of the heavenly dao grew weaker.

The disciples on the ground could feel the earth shaking and see the nearby mountains slowly collapsing, while the river water was sucked up by the chaos.

Fuling shouted in a panic, “Sui ning, stop fighting!”

The disciples fell to their knees and begged Sui ning, “Please spare our lives, Madame, please stop!”

“Madame, please stop!”

The deafening sound of their pleas could be heard.

But Sui ning was already consumed by rage and only focused on attacking the heavenly dao hiding behind the clouds.

Die.

Die.

Die!

The heavenly dao desperately dodged and could not endure any longer, shouting, “Stop!”

“He’s not dead, he’s not dead!”

“Ji Hu… Xie Changzhou is not dead!”

Sui ning’s hand, which was swinging towards the heavens, suddenly paused and she tilted her head in confusion.

The sound of a baby’s cry entered her ears, the sound was weak, but she could hear it clearly.

Sui ning’s heart trembled suddenly, and the blood-red color in her eyes faded slightly.

“Sui ning!”

Sui ning looked over and saw a thin figure on the ground looking at her.

It was Tang Tang.

Tang Tang was crying, holding the baby in her arms and crying, “Sui ning, look at her, she’s still so young, she still has so many places to go!”

Sui ning’s eyes were clear, and tears fell suddenly.

Heavenly Dao quickly moved far away, and his cold voice said, “He’s not dead, can’t you feel it yourself?”

He was a little angry and wanted to pinch Sui ning in front of him to death, but he also understood that his severely injured body could not hurt her, who possessed two divine powers.

Sui ning trembled and touched her chest.

She carefully felt the fluctuations in her soul.

The familiar breath still existed, and she could even hear his heartbeat.

Thump, thump.

Although weak, it was indeed Xie Changzhou’s heartbeat.

He’s not dead.

The marriage contract still stands.

Sui ning landed and put away her demon-slaying sword. Tang Tang quickly handed her the baby in her arms.

She cried with a small face wrinkled in pain, but her crying was particularly weak, like a kitten crying.

She was supposed to be the most powerful god in both worlds.

Sui ning finally couldn’t help it, and hugged her and cried in pain.

She cried her heart out, as if she wanted to cry out all the grievances of the two worlds. Tang Tang hugged her and held her close in his arms. The sound of thunder in the void dissipated, and the heavenly dao were silent.

After a long time, when Sui ning’s crying became hoarse, he finally spoke, “Yanheng, he’s not dead. I will return him to you.” His voice dissipated, and the clouds in the sky dispersed. The sky cleared.

Sui ning held her child tightly, holding the soul bell in her hand, tears streaming down her face.

***

The demon god died at the hands of Xie Changzhou, and the demon realm was severely damaged, with the cultivators pursuing them to the savage wilderness. The demon realm was also greatly injured, and the world was peaceful.

Sui ning sat inside the house flipping through a manual, feeling a bit overwhelmed. Tang Tang walked in and massaged her shoulders, laughing softly, “Ningning, just leave these things to Lu Guan and the others.”

Sui ning shook her head, “I am the wife of the head of the Limitless Sword Sect, and the cultivation world has been greatly injured. Lu Guan and the others are also busy.”

Thinking of something, her hand stopped flipping the pages for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. Tang Tang was silent for a moment and asked softly, “Ningning, it’s been ten years.”

Sui ning put down the manual and looked down below. The Mingjing Hall was as spacious and quiet as ever. She had only been here for ten years, but she felt incredibly lonely. Xie Changzhou had been sitting here for a hundred years.

“Yes, it’s been ten years.”

Xie Changzhou, why haven’t you come back yet? The marriage contract on their souls was still there, and Xie Changzhou was still alive. But she had been waiting for him for ten years and had not found a single strand of his soul despite searching the world over.

Tang Tang lightly patted her back, consoling her silently. An An was crouching on the ground, watching the cave next to her warily, with a white tiger beside her.

Suddenly, a fluffy little head poked out from the cave. “Quick, Ah Yan!” Little White Tiger was sharp-eyed and quick-handed, leaping forward to hold the rabbit with its sharp claws and dragging it out of the cave, ruthlessly. “Ah Yan, you’re amazing!”

Ah Yan tossed the little rabbit to An An. She stretched out her small hand to catch it, her face filled with joy that looked seven points like Sui Ning’s.

An An hugged the little rabbit and buried her small face in its furry belly, her tender voice filled with contented sighs.

Ah Yan was infected by her emotions and made a joyful purring sound in his throat.

Suddenly, his voice stopped.

An An noticed that something was wrong and carefully lifted her head from the rabbit’s belly. Her small eyes followed the white robe upward, slowly meeting a pair of gentle eyes.

An An saw his face and her heart began to beat faster.

He was so good-looking, even more handsome than Uncle Huai’an. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen.

Ah Yan trembled in his voice, “Master…”

The man squatted down and hugged An An.

An An remembered her mother’s words that she should not be hugged by a strange man, but she felt inexplicably close to him.

She seemed to know the person in front of her.

The strange man buried his head in her neck, and the faint scent of pine invaded her nose, which she found pleasant. She gently hugged him with her small hands.

She heard his hoarse and low voice.

“Daddy’s back.”

After finishing her tasks, Sui ning mounted her sword and went to Gusu to buy An an’s favorite osmanthus cakes.

Although the little girl was ten years old, she still appeared as if she were five or six.

Due to the loss of her divine power, her health was particularly fragile. Sui ning searched far and wide for renowned doctors, and every month, she would take An an to the Jing Chan Sect for body conditioning.

Seeing the suffering An an had endured at such a young age, Sui ning indulged her to some extent. Whatever An an wanted, she would try to find for her.

All Sui ning wished for was a peaceful life for her daughter.

Carrying the osmanthus cakes, Sui ning returned to the Wenjian Peak in the evening, with the setting sun’s afterglow cascading down.

She walked slowly along the path she had taken for over a decade, finally arriving at the small courtyard where Xie Changzhou had once lived.

After his departure, she had moved in with her child.

A spirit pearl hung from An an’s hand, capable of shielding her from the cold on Wenjian Peak.

Before even entering, Sui ning heard An an’s cheerful laughter, exceptionally innocent and clear.

Sui ning’s heart softened, a smile forming on her lips.

“Be careful, An an.”

A clear voice reached her ears.

Sui ning’s smile suddenly froze.

She heard her own heart pounding violently.

As if it wanted to burst out of her chest.

“Daddy, hold my hand!”

Tears suddenly fell from Sui ning’s eyes, and she almost ran into the small courtyard.

Under the pear tree in the courtyard, a slender figure stood tall and upright, with his black hair loosely tied behind his head. His face was handsome, and his eyes looked at her with tenderness.

He softly called out, “Ningning.”

In his hand, he held An an, who smiled and called out to her, “Mother!”

Sui ning laughed out loud and slowly walked towards him, then picked up her pace.

She ran straight into Xie Changzhou’s arms, holding onto his waist tightly.

“You’re back, you’re back… Xie Changzhou, you’re back.”

The shackles around her waist tightened, and she was pulled into his arms, feeling the cool and refreshing scent of pine.

Something fell on her neck, hot and moist.

She heard him whisper, “Ningning, I’m back.”

It had taken him ten years, but he had finally returned to her side.

From then on, he would never leave her again.