The banquet by the long pavilion had ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed.
Qian Renxue stepped into the moonlight in pursuit, her golden hair fluttering lightly in the night breeze.
"Li Zhexian…"
She softly called out to the young man in white ahead.
"I'm returning to the Worship Hall."
The smile in Li Zhexian's eyes faded slightly.
"Is it because of what we spoke of regarding Spirit Hall today…"
"No."
Qian Renxue shook her head with a gentle smile. Moonlight shimmered within her golden eyes, rippling faintly.
"I still need to become stronger."
She gazed at the white-robed youth before her—
but the words that followed, "Otherwise, how could Xue'er ever help you?", never left her lips.
These past days had been too peaceful, too pleasant.
Even someone as carefree and unrestrained as Li Zhexian felt a faint heaviness in his chest now, as though an invisible weight pressed down on him.
"Walk with me?"
As Qian Renxue spoke, she clasped her slender hands behind her back and stepped lightly ahead of him.
Her head lowered, eyes fixed on the faint lines of the bluestone pavement, hopping carefully between the cracks as if afraid to disturb them.
Moonlight traced a silver outline along her figure, even the tips of her hair gleaming like lines of poetry measured to perfection.
Each time she avoided a crack, her clear laughter—crisp as silver chimes—echoed through the tranquil street.
That moment—
was beauty itself, untouched by mortal dust.
A faint smile appeared on Li Zhexian's handsome face as he followed behind at an easy pace.
His gaze remained fixed only on that youthful, radiant girl before him.
Their shadows stretched long under the moonlight…
…and slowly overlapped into one.
As they walked farther and farther away—
Creak—
The second-floor windows of the inn swung open all at once.
Feng Buyu, Huo Wushuang, Feng Xiaotian, Oscar… one head after another poked out.
Watching the two figures merge into the darkness at the end of the street, they all let out the same long, knowing sigh.
"Huuu—"
——
From the inn they wandered to Vermilion Bird Street,
and from Vermilion Bird Street to the outskirts of Heaven Dou City.
Along the way, their hands filled with all sorts of street snacks.
Their chatter was unrestrained and whimsical, drifting from topic to topic, laughing about everything and nothing.
Qian Renxue spoke in detail about the kindly elders of the Worship Hall who doted on her.
Li Zhexian asked a few curious questions about their strength and even made some audacious remarks in judgment.
They reminisced about their perilous experiences in the Slaughter City, sharing bitter laughs and mutual complaints.
At last, Li Zhexian remarked that leaving that place as it was might not be bad after all — it kept the world's villains contained, and in the long run, did more good than harm.
Their souls seemed to resonate perfectly as they talked—
—until they began debating whether the puffed rice candy they'd bought was too sweet.
Without realizing it, they had already reached the gates of Li Zhexian's courtyard.
Both stopped walking.
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then suddenly—
"Li Zhexian…"
Qian Renxue turned abruptly, taking a step forward.
Her arms slipped around his waist, her flawless face pressing lightly against his chest. She closed her eyes, her voice soft as a dream:
"I wish I could stay by your side… forever."
Li Zhexian's arms wrapped around her slender waist in return, breathing in the faint, cool fragrance of her hair.
"Xue'er…"
He began to speak—
—but she lifted her face and sealed his lips with hers.
After a long while, Qian Renxue finally drew back, breath slightly uneven, eyes shimmering with tears.
"Li Zhexian… I understand. Your heart holds the mountains and rivers of this land. There's too much yet you must do."
"And the one I fell in love with… is precisely that youth who braved the Extreme North for a promise, who tread through the Slaughter City, yet still bears the weight of the nation in his heart."
"I, Qian Renxue… will never be your burden."
Each word struck deep into Li Zhexian's heart.
A warmth surged in his chest, emotions tumbling within him, all pouring into the strength of his embrace.
"In the past, I thought the words 'If love can endure for long, why must we meet day after day?' were dull and lifeless."
"But, Xue'er, after meeting you…"
Qian Renxue blinked her golden eyes softly.
"And then?"
"Now I find that poem utterly wrong."
Li Zhexian's arms slowly tightened around her, as if he wanted to merge the girl in his embrace into his very bones and blood.
"If one truly loves from the heart, then it should be morning and night together — every moment spent side by side is a blessing not to be wasted."
Tears shimmered in Qian Renxue's eyes as she nodded hard.
"From now on," Li Zhexian said softly, "you can come find me… or we can meet somewhere outside Spirit City."
"Alright."
The two leaned into each other again, quietly savoring the warmth of that moment.
Only after a long while did Qian Renxue reluctantly pull herself away from his embrace.
Her slender hand slipped into the front of Li Zhexian's robe, and when her fingertips brushed against the Angel's Feather, a soft blush bloomed across her lovely face.
"You must keep it safe," she whispered.
"If it ever grows warm… it means I'm thinking of you."
As her words faded—
A brilliant pair of Angel Wings unfurled from Qian Renxue's back. Step by step, she retreated, her gaze lingering on Li Zhexian, unwilling to part.
Finally, she turned sharply, and with a sweep of radiant light scattering like starlight behind her, she transformed into a streak of brilliance that soared into the distant night sky.
Only when that glimmering silhouette had fully melted into the darkness did Li Zhexian withdraw his gaze.
He turned, pushing open the courtyard gate.
Click—
The wooden door creaked slightly open.
Inside the courtyard stood two figures, arms crossed over their chests.
Li Zhexian's expression shifted slightly—his first instinct was to turn around and leave.
In the air, threads of sword qi shimmered briefly—
—but were instantly shattered by two powerful auras.
"Come here, boy," growled one of them. "Explain yourself…"
A handsome man, his face flushed red with anger, bit down hard on a piece of candy, the crunch echoing sharply. Clenching his fists, he said:
"What did you just say…?"
"What did you just mean by, 'If Falling Devil Worship fought with all his strength, he might barely match the Glowing Feather Worship'?"
"Hmph! And by the way—when you hugged Xue'er just now, which hand did you use?"
"Hahahahaha!"
Beside him, a burly man in dark blue battle attire quickly stepped forward to restrain the furious one. His booming laughter shook loose petals from the plum blossoms nearby.
"Fifth Brother, calm down!"
"At our age, what's the point of getting riled up at a youngster?"
He stroked the rough stubble on his chin, giving Li Zhexian a long, assessing look — then nodded with satisfaction.
"Not bad, kid, not bad at all!"
"You've got good taste! Hahahahahaha!"
Realizing who the two were, Li Zhexian steadied himself and gave a respectful bow.
"Junior Li Zhexian greets Senior Glowing Feather and Senior Falling Devil."
"Thank you both for your help five years ago — Zhexian will never forget that debt!"
"As for your battle prowess…"
"I was merely chatting casually with Xue'er earlier — I meant no offense."
Five years ago—
During the great battle before the Pope's Hall, it was precisely these two Worship Elders who had intervened at a critical moment.
Had it not been for them…
The outcome might have been entirely different.
That debt of gratitude, Li Zhexian had always kept close to his heart.
"Hmph! Now I regret helping you back then!"
Glowing Feather Douluo glared at Li Zhexian, turning his head aside, still clearly annoyed.
Falling Devil Douluo, however, laughed heartily.
"We weren't wrong about you!"
"Five years have passed, and you've grown far beyond expectations—truly impressive!"
"We came this time, first to guard Xue'er in secret, and second—"
"To see how things have developed between the two of you."
Li Zhexian replied calmly, "You're both more than welcome."
After all, in his place, there was no shortage of good wine.
Though Glowing Feather Douluo was over ninety years old, he still had the heart of a mischievous youth.
Li Zhexian's apologies and toasts didn't soften him—
—but when Li brought out a few little trinkets he'd bought in the northern frontier, Glowing Feather's eyes lit right up.