The world around them melted.
One moment, the Empress and her three ghosts stood inside the shimmering orange sigil.
The next moment—
Silence.
A soft wind brushed against their faces.
Warm sunlight spilled over a golden meadow that stretched endlessly across the horizon.
Flowers glowed with impossible colors—lavender flames, blue roses, silver lilies that hummed like music.
Fen Yu blinked rapidly, her eyes widening.
"This place… it's beautiful."
Li Shen adjusted his robes, astonished.
"It feels like… peace."
General Wei Rong clenched his fists cautiously but even he felt a strange calm seep into his bones.
The Empress turned slowly, her hair gently lifted by the scented breeze.
"It feels… safe."
They walked together across the field.
A sparkling river flowed beside them, warm light bouncing off the surface.
Birds with crystal feathers flew overhead.
Fen Yu laughed, spinning in circles.
"Look! I feel lighter than air. There's no pain in my chest… no heaviness."
