With the sound of tearing flesh, the longsword pierced Hua Bucheng’s heart.
Hua Bucheng’s eyes flew open, the blade emitting a flickering, ethereal glow. The usual unshakeable calm in his eyes vanished, replaced by a void, as if something vast and blurred was flooding into his body. His expression suddenly twisted into one of extreme agony; he curled inward, a suppressed roar vibrating deep in his throat.
He began to cough up blood in great gulps. Bloody tears welled in his eyes and streamed down his face.
Mu Gesheng watched coldly as the man struggled violently on the ground, a mess of joy and sorrow, suffering beyond endurance. The white robes were soaked in blood, tattered and filthy. Before long, the transcendent immortal had transformed into a wretched mortal, drenched in blood and tears, sinking into the mire.
After an indeterminate amount of time, Hua Bucheng finally grew still. His hair was disheveled, his voice hoarse. "How... did you find this sword?"
Mu Gesheng remained silent. He had a faint, almost inconceivable suspicion: perhaps Lin Juansheng had been the one to place this sword beneath the Immortal’s Bridge.
The South, the position of *Li*. Every time Lin Juansheng wanted to leave him pocket money, he would hide it under the stove.
*Li* is fire; the human heart is also fire. *Li* takes its meaning from brightness; the human heart likewise seeks its light.
Fire upon fire, light upon light; the great man continues the brilliance to illuminate the four corners of the earth.
Mu Gesheng did not know why Lin Juansheng had done it, nor did he wish to overthink it. He only knew that this hidden move left by his master had become the key to his victory today.
Mu Gesheng looked at Hua Bucheng. "Since you knew this sword was beneath the Immortal’s Bridge, why didn't you destroy it?"
It was his only weakness.
"Who knows." Hua Bucheng’s gaze drifted toward the distance, as empty as a vast snowfall. "Perhaps I forgot."
"I have forgotten too many important things."
"It’s not too late to remember now," Mu Gesheng said. "Recall the events of a lifetime, then drink once more of the Longevity Wine."
"I cannot finish it," Hua Bucheng whispered. "I should have died long ago."
Mu Gesheng studied him, sensing that the man had regained much of his sanity. He was no longer the obsessed madman who wanted to ascend to immortality; he looked a bit like the man Mu Gesheng had known a hundred years ago.
"You know the price, don't you?" Hua Bucheng looked at him. "Using the tokens of the Six Houses to form the array will destroy the Penglai Isles, and I will vanish along with them. And the final token is the Rakshasa’s Life."
"I don't actually know what the 'Rakshasa’s Life' is," Mu Gesheng interrupted. "But I have no choice. I can only gamble."
Hua Bucheng was slightly surprised, then showed a look of understanding. "As expected of the Heavenly Calculator. It is the way of your lineage."
"My roots are tied to the Penglai Isles; I can feel that the array is complete," Hua Bucheng said. "You have the time it takes for a stick of incense to evacuate. If it is convenient..."
"The Penglai disciples you threw under the Immortal’s Bridge—I won't leave them to die," Mu Gesheng said. "Two Vermilion Birds have arrived; there should be enough room."
"Then, my thanks." Hua Bucheng nodded, then whispered something softly.
Mu Gesheng froze, his eyelashes trembling slightly. "What you said... is it true?"
"A man’s words are kind when death is near." Hua Bucheng closed his eyes. "I owe the Seven Houses far too much. Consider it a small compensation."
Pinned to the ground by the Red-Licking Blade, he could not move. He could only laboriously turn his head to look at the distant, snow-capped mountains.
The sound of the tide surged from afar, a monumental force. The ground beneath them began to shudder. Hua Bucheng was right—this paradise, which had endured for a millennium, was beginning to collapse from the inside out.
Mu Gesheng ran toward Chai Shuxin. "Sanjiutian! How are you?"
The moment he had entered the Sword Pavilion, he had seen Chai Shuxin’s back, but the other man hadn't turned around. In that instant, Mu Gesheng had understood everything. Chai Shuxin was using silence to tell him that he might not survive.
A solitary shadow, facing the end alone.
That was why Mu Gesheng hadn't looked at him—or rather, he hadn't dared to. He had relied on the unextinguished courage in his heart to kill Hua Bucheng first. Everything they had done was for this moment; they could not afford to fail now.
He grabbed Chai Shuxin’s hand. The other man had pulled the sword out of his own chest; the edges of the wound were pinned with silver needles. It seemed he had performed some basic first aid to stop the bleeding.
Mu Gesheng’s heart ached terribly. His voice was as light as a feather. "Can you stand?"
Chai Shuxin’s lips moved, seemingly trying to push him away. It took a long time for Mu Gesheng to hear what he was saying. "...Don't touch. Dirty."
Mu Gesheng nearly lost his temper. "Master Chai, look at the time!" Because of the silver needles in his chest, he couldn't carry him on his back. Mu Gesheng simply scooped him up in a bridal carry. "Hang in there. Tell me immediately if you feel unwell." He started to head out.
"...The baleful aura in my body won't last much longer," Chai Shuxin said softly. "Saving people is more important."
"Saving you is the most important," Mu Gesheng said brookingly. "Stop talking nonsense and stay with me. I don't want to be a widower at such a young age."
"Sleep. Don't worry about anything." He pressed his lips to Chai Shuxin’s ear and whispered, "I won the gamble."
Mu Gesheng carried Chai Shuxin out of the Sword Pavilion. Zhu Baizhi was waiting nearby. He carefully placed Chai Shuxin on the Vermilion Bird’s back, then suddenly felt a tap on his shoulder.
He turned around. It was Wu Nie.
Mu Gesheng stood frozen for a long moment, then suddenly let out a loud cry and lunged forward to hug her.
Zhu Yinxiao, leading several younger members of the clan, stood on the swaying Immortal’s Bridge, tirelessly pulling people out of the water. Some Penglai disciples regained consciousness after surfacing; though shocked by the events, they quickly realized that survival was the priority and began to help.
The earth shook and the mountains moved. Boulders flew and dust rose. Jade towers and magnificent palaces collapsed as the entire island gradually sank into the sea. Colossal waves rose, and a tsunami began to roll across the ocean surface.
Before the mountain gate, a slightly translucent figure stood at the end of the long, winding stairs. It was the Little Monk.
All forty-nine Mountain Ghost Coins had entered the array. Only in this moment of cataclysmic destruction could he be freed from his ancient shackles and gain a temporary physical form.
"It has been a long time, Penglai."
"You and I are both of the past."
He understood the array Mu Gesheng had laid out perfectly. The tokens of the Seven Houses would vanish together. As a ghost bound to the Mountain Ghost Coins, he too would dissipate into nothingness.
The ancient covenant ended here. Love, hate, greed, resentment—the entanglements of thousands of years were concluding. It was death, but it was also liberation.
From this day forward, the Immortals would depart, the Rakshasas would vanish, and the Seven Houses would be no more.
He took one last look at the massive moon above. Everything, through different paths, would return to the Great Void. Perhaps before his soul was utterly extinguished, Hua Bucheng would encounter that long-dormant remnant soul within the Mountain Ghost Coins.
It could be considered a reunion after a long parting.
"In that game of chess with the Longevity Immortal all those years ago... in the end, this poor monk has won by a narrow margin."
The Little Monk pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist prayer.
*Three thousand yards of sorrow in graying hair, fifty years of a prosperous spring dream.*
*Suddenly, a glimpse of a home; willows parting the mist, climbing up the eaves.*
***
Seven days later.
"Recently, a super typhoon has entered our territorial waters. Cloud cover has increased across the southeastern coast, and wind speeds have picked up. Relevant departments have issued heavy rain warnings..."
An Ping turned off the television and leaned back onto the sofa.
Since the day the people of Yishui Zhuhua had left without a word, he hadn't received any news about Mu Gesheng. In the WeChat group, Wu Biyou and Chai Yanyan were arguing incessantly, and Zhu Yinxiao was constantly offline. No one knew what had happened.
The news was filled with reports of extremely abnormal weather. The three of them deduced that this likely had something to do with Penglai.
Something major must have happened at the Penglai Isles.
Wu Biyou had exploded the day he saw the things Mu Gesheng had left behind. He was like a lit firecracker, his shouts shaking the ceiling. "That old fossil owes me so much! He can't just dump everything and leave!"
They had tried to go to the Mirage from Yishui Zhuhua, but the passage had been unilaterally closed. It was clearly a calculated move.
For seven whole days, there was total silence.
Their hearts were in their throats, but there was nothing they could do. Even the Scalper claimed to know nothing, only saying, "If you young masters and ladies take care of your own affairs, that will be for the best."
So, Chai Yanyan went back to manage the business, Wu Biyou went to Fengdu to organize family matters, and An Ping buried himself in a sea of test papers, fighting through the night, all of them pretending not to see each other's bloodshot eyes.
An Ping hadn't had any dreams lately. He tried to sleep, but the memories of the past no longer visited him. Everything seemed to have vanished like smoke. When the great dream ended, he was still just an ordinary high school senior.
An Ping’s parents were away on another overseas business trip, leaving him alone at home. He went to the kitchen, poured a glass of cold water, and drank it in one go. Outside the floor-to-ceiling window, the twilight was heavy. A faucet wasn't tightened properly, making a rhythmic *drip, drip* sound.
He began to space out again.
After an unknown amount of time, An Ping snapped back to reality when he heard his phone ringing.
Four missed calls. His heart skipped a beat—they were all from Chai Yanyan.
"Hello? Eldest Miss, what is it? I just fell asleep... No, no... What?!" An Ping’s voice suddenly jumped an octave. His whole body shuddered, and the phone nearly slipped from his hand.
He clamped the phone between his cheek and shoulder, frantically grabbing a jacket. "Wait for me! I'm coming right now!" He snatched his keys and bolted out the door.
Chai Yanyan’s company car was parked downstairs. An Ping jumped in and slammed the door. Before he could even catch his breath, he asked, "When did the news come in?"
"Just now." Wu Biyou was actually there too, sitting in the driver's seat. "The passage to the Mirage has opened. We're going there now." He stepped on the gas, turned the wheel, and the car roared down the street.
"Wait, wait, Wu Biyou, you're not an adult yet, are you?" The suddenness of it all had An Ping in a daze. "Driving without a license will get the car impounded! Aren't you a City Inspector?"
"Damn it, which of us has a license? This is an emergency! If you're not going, get out now!"
"I have one!"
"...How rushed were you when you left? You're wearing slippers!"
An Ping was teased until his head throbbed. He drove the car to Yishui Zhuhua with a bruised ego, while Wu Biyou sat beside him, huffing.
Chai Yanyan didn't even bother with the two of them. She adjusted her sunglasses, grabbed her handbag, opened the door, and walked straight into the shop.
Wu Biyou operated the elevator, pressing a series of buttons in a specific sequence. The elevator car groaned and slowly descended, then ascended, repeating the process several times before finally opening with a *ding*.
The sound of a bustling crowd flooded in. An Ping was stunned by the sight before him.
This time, the elevator seemed to have opened directly into the interior of the Mirage. The high-rise buildings that had been smashed into pieces were being rebuilt; people were everywhere, working with intense energy.
"What the hell is going on?" Wu Biyou was also shocked. He looked at the people flying on swords in mid-air. "Those people are from Penglai, right? Did their sect get demolished?"
Penglai disciples were everywhere, carrying bricks with swords on their backs. "Is this some kind of team-building activity? Coming to the Realm of Water and Sky for repairs?"
"Penglai fell into disrepair and unfortunately collapsed. Over a thousand members of the sect have come here to stay." A voice drifted over, accompanied by a lazy smile. "Paid labor plus benefits; they're working to pay off their room and board."
Chai Yanyan let out a scream and lunged forward. "Ancestor!" She didn't care about her image; despite her makeup, she buried her face in the man’s chest and began to wail.
An Ping and Wu Biyou looked at each other. They were incredibly excited, but with Chai Yanyan being so expressive, they felt awkward showing their own emotions. It wasn't like they could cling to him and cry like a young girl, right?
Then An Ping saw Wu Biyou’s lips trembling. He thought, *Oh no*, and then saw the boy lose it. Tears began to stream down his face.
An Ping was dumbfounded. He watched Wu Biyou weep openly, the boy glaring at Chai Yanyan in Mu Gesheng’s arms while biting his lip, refusing to make a sound.
An Ping stared for a long time before tentatively opening his arms. "...Want a hug?"
"Get lost." Wu Biyou wiped his face hard and punched him.
Then, they hugged each other tightly.
The group laughed and cried for a good while before their emotions finally settled. Wu Biyou stepped toward Mu Gesheng. "Where have you been these past few days?"
"Didn't I say? Penglai fell into disrepair, so I went over to help with the emergency repairs," Mu Gesheng said with a smile. Then, he pulled someone forward. The girl had a slender waist and red markings at the corners of her eyes; she studied Wu Biyou with a playful gaze.
Wu Biyou looked at her warily. "Who is this?"
An Ping knew exactly who she was, but he was so stunned he couldn't utter a single word. He could only listen as Wu Biyou dug his own grave. "This girl is younger than me, isn't she? Old fossil, when did your tastes get so extreme? Does the Rakshasa know?"
The girl slapped Wu Biyou, sending him staggering. She dusted off her hands. "Brat, I am your ancestor from eighteen generations back."
"The Great Lord Taisui, the Beauty of Calamity," Mu Gesheng added smoothly. "This is the Great Lord Taisui, Wu Nie."
Wu Biyou didn't react at first and was about to snap back, but then something clicked, and he froze on the spot.
Wu Nie dragged Wu Biyou away by the ear. Chai Yanyan hurried off to find Zhu Yinxiao, while An Ping followed Mu Gesheng upstairs. The two of them walked slowly along the corridor.
The three of them understood that something world-shaking must have happened during those seven days. But if Mu Gesheng didn't speak of it, they wouldn't pry. Their past experiences had taught them that some things truly should be buried in the torrent of time.
An Ping looked at the people and things inside and outside the building. Although he didn't know what had happened, he could clearly feel that something was different.
Mu Gesheng looked at him, as if anticipating his thoughts, and spoke leisurely. "An Ping-er, have you ever wondered why I pulled you into all of this?"
An Ping froze and shook his head. He had been curious about this for a long time but had no reliable theories. Was Mu Gesheng really going to take him as a disciple? It didn't seem like it.
Mu Gesheng smiled. "The first time I saw you, you were wearing a jade buckle around your neck."
"Right. My mom bought it at an overseas auction; they said it was an antique." Hearing this, An Ping unfastened the jade buckle from his neck. "My mom got pregnant with me shortly after buying it. They said it was a 'Peace Buckle,' so they named me An Ping."
He looked it over but couldn't see anything wrong with it. "I've worn this since I was a kid. My family even has the appraisal certificate."
"It is indeed an antique." Mu Gesheng smiled, took the jade buckle, turned, and tapped a wall, causing a dial to pop out.
Only then did An Ping realize Mu Gesheng had brought him to an open space. This area didn't seem to have collapsed; the original mechanisms were still functioning.
He watched as Mu Gesheng placed the jade buckle into a slot on the dial. Something unbelievable happened: the two fit together perfectly, as if they were a set.
The dial rose and began to rotate slowly. Golden inscriptions emerged in mid-air, then gathered into a ball of golden light. Mu Gesheng reached into the center of the light and pulled out a scroll.
An Ping was wide-eyed. "How can this be?"
"The day I saw your jade buckle, it looked familiar, so I went to ask Old Five." Mu Gesheng said as he unrolled the scroll. "He said that when Old Two went abroad with him back then, he did indeed lose a jade buckle."
"This jade buckle was once a family heirloom of the Mohist House," Mu Gesheng said. "After that, I cast a divination and found that your fate-plate had been altered."
"Some things happened back then, and the reason the Mohist inheritance was severed wasn't due to heaven's will, but human interference." Mu Gesheng looked at An Ping and smiled. "In other words, if the Mohist inheritance hadn't been severed, you would have been the new generation’s Mozi."
He spread the scroll out. It was covered in dense, complex structural diagrams that made one's head spin. "When the Mohist House built the Mirage, to prevent future generations from being unable to restore it should something happen, they left a scroll that deconstructs the entire Mirage."
"Nine million, seven hundred thousand, six hundred and sixty-six mechanisms. Five million, eight hundred and four thousand, eight hundred and sixty-seven rooms. All of it is in this map."
He scanned it briefly and nodded with satisfaction. "Now I can rest easy. With Old Five’s skills, it should take a few hundred years to restore it."
It took An Ping a long time to recover. "Why are you telling me this?" He could tell that Mu Gesheng hadn't originally intended to reveal the truth to him.
"Because it doesn't matter if you know now." Mu Gesheng smiled. "The Seven Houses no longer exist. Your generation will never be pulled into the shadows of the past again."
An Ping only half-understood. The Seven Houses no longer existed? How was that possible?
What exactly had happened during those seven days?
He suddenly realized that since they had entered the Mirage, one person had been missing from Mu Gesheng’s side. "Where is the Spiritual Pivot?"
"Him." Mu Gesheng seemed to think of something and laughed. "Come with me."
It was a red room, and everyone was there. Mu Gesheng stood behind a silk screen while Zhu Yinxiao helped him dress.
"I know you're all curious about what happened," Mu Gesheng’s voice came from behind the screen. "To put it simply, from this day forward, the Seven Houses are no more."
Chai Yanyan and Wu Biyou seemed to have been informed by Zhu Yinxiao and Wu Nie beforehand; they weren't entirely shocked, but they clearly had many questions. Wu Biyou was about to speak, but he saw Mu Gesheng raise a hand, cutting him off.
"Perhaps you will learn the facts one day in the future, but for now, it is better not to know."
"Ignorance is bliss." He smiled. "If you're lucky enough, you'll never know the truth for the rest of your lives."
"Silly girl, the Great Lord will help you with Fengdu’s affairs. If you have any trouble, just ask. We're all family."
"Yanyan, the Rakshasa House is now entirely yours. The Scalper will do his best to assist you. You're still young, and the family business is vast; take things slowly, there's no need to rush."
"An Ping-er, if there's anything you want to do, just go ahead and do it. Whether it's studying or being a wealthy heir, your family has always been free-spirited; you can go anywhere in the world. When you have time, feel free to come back and visit the Mirage."
After a long string of instructions, Mu Gesheng had arranged everything for the younger generation, pointing out their respective paths. Then, he gave a concluding statement: "In the future, if you have any wishes, just follow your heart. You no longer need to worry about the responsibilities of your lineage. If you really can't go on, give the business to whoever wants it, or just throw it away."
"You will be the first people in a thousand years to be liberated from the shackles of the Seven Houses. Be sure to enjoy yourselves to the fullest."
As he finished speaking, Mu Gesheng stepped out from behind the screen. The three of them stared at him in shock, forgetting what they had wanted to say. Wu Biyou stammered, "You... you... you... what are you wearing?"
"Doesn't it look good?" Mu Gesheng adjusted his collar. "This is a collection from the Mirage; Old Five turned the place upside down to find it."
He was wearing a wedding robe.
"Look at this exquisite craftsmanship." Mu Gesheng toyed with the tassels on the bridal veil. "If I'm right, this was likely left in the Mirage by Old Two." His tone held a hint of nostalgia. "That man, hah."
"No, wait, didn't you already get a marriage certificate with... you-know-who?" Wu Biyou looked like he was suffocating. "It's only been a few days! Who the hell are you after now?"
"Silly girl, who else could I be after?" Mu Gesheng said. "Who says you can't have a wedding just because you already have a certificate?"
Wu Biyou’s breath hitched. "...You old fossils really know how to have a good time."
Mu Gesheng put on the veil himself and swaggered onto the bridal sedan chair. Everyone in the Mirage seemed to have known about this beforehand; congratulations rang out incessantly. There was even a percussion band, and a flock of Vermilion Birds scattered feathers in the air, creating a festive atmosphere.
Wu Biyou followed the wedding procession with a dark expression. "Where the hell is this going?"
"I don't know." Chai Yanyan had a handful of wedding candy and was eating as she walked, even handing a handful of melon seeds to An Ping.
A passage had been opened in the Realm of Water and Sky in advance. The wedding procession entered, accompanied by music and celebration.
However, after they emerged, Wu Biyou realized something was wrong. Why were they at the banks of the River of Forgetfulness?
Who holds a wedding in Fengdu?
His expression changed, and he immediately went to the sedan chair to demand an explanation, but Zhu Yinxiao stopped him, shaking his head. "Don't worry."
The group walked all the way to the head of the Bridge of Helplessness. The Kings of the Ten Halls and the Four Judges were all present, waiting respectfully to one side.
A man stood at the head of the bridge. Wu Biyou recognized him instantly—it was Chai Shuxin.
He was also wearing wedding robes, and the baleful aura around him seemed much weaker. He watched the approaching sedan chair with an intense, focused gaze.
Wu Nie lifted the sedan curtain, and the bride in her finery stepped onto the bridge, the red silk in her hand connected to the groom’s. Cui Ziyu stepped forward, cleared his throat, and was about to sing the wedding blessings when he saw Mu Gesheng whip off the veil. He lunged at Chai Shuxin, laughing as he hugged him and pressed his lips against the other man’s.
The three younger ones gasped in unison. Wu Nie cursed, "Look at you, so impatient! If the rites aren't complete, watch out for your fate being severed in the next life!"
Wu Biyou froze. *Fate in the next life? What does that mean?*
"Seven days ago, the Longevity Immortal of Penglai passed away, and the tokens of the Seven Houses vanished. From that moment, the Seven Houses ceased to exist." Zhu Yinxiao pressed a hand on his shoulder and said softly, "Unlike the other houses, the Rakshasa was born because of the Seven Houses. When the cause disperses, the effect follows. Now that the Seven Houses are gone, my brother is just an ordinary mortal of flesh and blood. He cannot live for a hundred years."
Wu Biyou shuddered, looking at him in disbelief.
"His life is tied to Old Four’s; they share glory and ruin." Zhu Yinxiao paused, and it was a long time before he continued. "Relying on the last bit of baleful aura and the medicine of the Healer House, he managed to buy these few days... to settle his affairs."
"This is the last time," Zhu Yinxiao’s voice was thick. "...Try to be happy."
"How the hell am I supposed to be happy?!" Wu Biyou practically roared. Only then did he notice that both Mu Gesheng and Chai Shuxin had grown white hair.
"After the Seven Houses dissipate, the Rakshasa will no longer exist, and the Heavenly Curse will vanish with it." Zhu Yinxiao took a deep breath. "The Longevity Immortal used the last of his cultivation to stabilize their souls. Therefore, though their bodies die, they can still be reincarnated."
"According to the traditions of the Seven Houses, whether it was the Heavenly Calculator or the Rakshasa, they were meant to have their souls extinguished upon death." Zhu Yinxiao closed his eyes. "They have tied their fates at the head of the Bridge of Helplessness. In the next life, they can still be together."
He was the one who had watched them through a hundred years. Forced burdens, unrequited desires, unpredictable heaven, and the cruel twists of fate—they had tasted too much bitterness and coldness. This life of mixed joy and sorrow was finally coming to an end.
They could finally lay down their heavy scars and welcome a new, clean life.
And they would still have each other by their side.
Mu Gesheng and Chai Shuxin embraced for a long time. He seemed to be whispering many things, and Chai Shuxin listened quietly throughout, his arms wrapped around him, holding him close.
Finally, Mu Gesheng kissed Chai Shuxin again, lowered the veil once more, and nodded to Cui Ziyu. "Begin."
Vermilion Birds as the wedding party, the Judge as the master of ceremonies, and the Kings of Hell as witnesses.
The parents of both were long gone, so after bowing to Heaven and Earth, they bowed to Wu Nie.
Finally, the husband and wife bowed to each other. The rite was complete.
Zhu Yinxiao took a deep breath, revealed his true form, and flew to the highest point of Fengdu. He bit his tongue and dropped a single drop of blood into the high platform on the city tower.
In an instant, light flowed, and countless fires spread out, brilliant beyond measure.
The three younger ones gasped. An Ping had seen the same sight in his dreams, but he was still awestruck.
Ninety-three thousand and seventy-two Golden Crow Lamps were lit simultaneously, filling the city with a vast, flowing sea of light.
*The Golden Crow does not forbid the night; the jade clepsydra should not urge the time.*
"I haven't seen this in nearly a hundred years," Wu Nie murmured softly, then looked at Mu Gesheng. "The auspicious hour has arrived. Prepare to depart; don't miss a good marriage."
Granny Meng stepped forward, carrying a golden tray with two cups of nuptial wine.
Mu Gesheng and Chai Shuxin smiled at each other, their hands tightly interlaced. they exchanged cups and drank it all in one go.
Wu Biyou could no longer hold back. He ran forward and shouted, "Dad!"
Mu Gesheng paused and raised his cup to him. "Silly girl, take care of yourself."
"I wasn't calling you." Wu Biyou looked like he was about to cry again. He looked at Chai Shuxin with a half-mad expression and blurted out, "Dad!"
Then he hugged Mu Gesheng, sniffled, and gritted his teeth. "You're married now. Just be a good mother."
Mu Gesheng was stunned, then burst out laughing. He patted the boy’s shoulder. "Aye, son."
"Carried by the wine, returning to the source; I only wish your heart is like mine." Mu Gesheng took Chai Shuxin’s hand, and the two walked toward the end of the long bridge. He looked at the bottomless path of reincarnation and smiled at the other man. "Little Doctor, remember to come and marry me earlier in the next life."
Chai Shuxin pulled him into his arms. "...I will not fail our mutual longing."
They walked hand-in-hand into the cycle of reincarnation, their figures fading until no trace remained.
***
One year later.
On the day An Ping received his university admission notice, he returned to the Mirage.
The Penglai disciples had now settled in the Realm of Water and Sky. According to the deconstruction map Zhu Yinxiao had obtained, restoring the Mirage would take at least several hundred years. During this time, no Vermilion Birds or cultivators would appear in the mortal world.
As for what would happen after a hundred years, that was a time beyond his reach.
An Ping had ultimately chosen engineering. Recently, he had been studying the remaining Mohist texts in the Mirage; though difficult, he was slowly getting the hang of it.
Mu Gesheng’s words had planted a seed in his heart. Although the Seven Houses were gone, the road ahead would ultimately have to be walked by themselves. Some ancient shackles had vanished, but there were some inheritances he hoped to continue.
The scent of hotpot wafted through the Realm of Water and Sky. Whether they were Vermilion Birds or cultivators, everyone stationed here loved the takeout from Yishui Zhuhua. Eventually, Wu Biyou simply set up a branch here. Over the past year, he had been busy with only two things: the business here and studying for middle school entrance exams.
Speaking of which, An Ping found it hilarious. Wu Biyou had been stimulated by something this past year and had actually thrown away his game console to start studying. But as an overaged illiterate with only a kindergarten diploma, he truly had a long road ahead of him. For a while, he had pestered An Ping to tutor him; it had taken a whole week to explain a single "chickens and rabbits in the same cage" math problem. The poor kid had even signed up for an Advanced Math class, but he left before the first lesson was over and spent the next half-month questioning his life choices.
However, An Ping thought Wu Biyou was quite suited for middle school; he would probably become the leader of the "eighth-grade syndrome" kids. It didn't matter if he was held back; after all, with Mu Gesheng’s record as a precedent, it was no big deal.
At the thought of Mu Gesheng, An Ping couldn't help but space out.
He wondered how those two were doing now.
He walked into a recently repaired room that was being used as a private dining booth. They had gathered here often over the past year. The interior design was quite nice, with the feel of a small Jiangnan residence.
As soon as he entered, he heard Wu Biyou shouting, "Crap, crap, crap! I'm dying! Chai Yanyan, heal me quickly!" "Stop bossing me around! I just got my nails done!"
Zhu Yinxiao had his back to him. An Ping could see the man’s phone screen from a distance; they seemed to be playing a match, and Chai Yanyan had just taken Wu Biyou’s head with an ultimate move.
"An Ping-er, you're here!" The girl greeted him, quickly making room. "I can't deal with this annoying thing anymore. You come and play with him."
Chai Yanyan had been overseas often this past year. It was said that Chai Shuxin had left some businesses abroad, and she had been traveling to consolidate them. She had returned specifically for An Ping’s celebration dinner after hearing he got his admission notice.
"You're here." Zhu Yinxiao stood up and nodded to him. "We'll start the fire once the Scalper brings the food in."
Zhu Yinxiao had become much busier this past year. He was now practically the most influential person among the old Seven Houses. Although the Seven Houses were gone, many legacy issues still needed to be handled. He had switched to men's clothing and tied up his long hair. He had lost quite a bit of weight over the year and wore silver-rimmed glasses, looking quite noble and refined.
An Ping hugged him. "Brother."
They all called him Big Brother now.
To the right of the booth was a small alcove. An Ping went inside every time he visited. There was a plain white screen, a small table, and a bronze incense burner.
On the table were two rows of spirit tablets.
Mu Gesheng, Chai Shuxin, Wu Zixu, Song Wentong, Lin Juansheng.
And Mo Qingbei and Hua Bucheng.
He lit a stick of incense, bowed three times, and placed it in the burner.
Noisy voices came from outside. Wu Biyou seemed to have thrown his phone in anger and was shouting for An Ping to come out and explain a problem to him. Chai Yanyan took a call, seemingly about the Healer House’s business. The Scalper came in with the pot, and Zhu Yinxiao greeted him. He could also hear Wu Nie and Zhu Baizhi.
He heard Zhu Yinxiao say he planned to plant some ginkgo trees outside.
An Ping smiled, looking at the tablets before him.
They were all doing well.
An Ping walked out and saw Wu Biyou shouting while holding a book.
"Young Master." The Scalper bowed to him. He still stubbornly called him "Young Master," refusing to change the title. He pointed at Wu Biyou, who was standing on the sofa. "What is Master Wu going crazy about now?"
An Ping felt a bit helpless and walked over to Wu Biyou. "What problem can't you solve now?"
"It's not his elementary school homework!" Chai Yanyan waved her hand, looking quite excited herself. "An Ping-er! Do you know what this is?" She pointed to the book in Wu Biyou’s hand.
Wu Biyou slammed the book onto the table. "I just snatched this from Cui Ziyu yesterday."
Only then did An Ping realize it wasn't an ordinary book. It had a blue paper cover and winding ink strokes.
Zhu Yinxiao stood up, and Wu Nie let out a whistle. "Isn't that the Reincarnation Register? Kid, you've got guts, actually daring to take that out of Fengdu."
An Ping didn't even register the second half of Wu Nie’s sentence. All his attention was on the words "Reincarnation Register." His right hand began to tremble uncontrollably.
The Reincarnation Register—it recorded the destinations of everyone after their rebirth.
In other words, as long as they opened this book, they would know where Mu Gesheng and Chai Shuxin were now.
Everyone gathered around, forming a circle around the book. Wu Nie rolled her eyes. "This is no small matter. Are you sure you want to look?"
Zhu Yinxiao took a deep breath. "Who will open it?"
They looked at each other, scanning the circle.
"Will you?"
***
