The sun rose and the moon set; the seasons cycled.
Two years quietly slipped away amidst the clanging sounds of commoners building cities, the chiming bells of merchant caravans, and the clear voices of children reading aloud in schoolrooms.
The south had long since undergone earth-shattering changes.
The newly rebuilt cities were countlessly more prosperous than before. All the official roads were paved with cement, and lights flickered to life in the post houses along the way, providing a place of rest for passing commoners, traveling merchants, and officials.
The scholars of Yecheng Academy had dispersed to various regions, using the knowledge they had acquired at the academy to improve the daily lives of the common people.
Following the unification of the north and south, everything was improving.
There was only one regret.
And that was...
The Divine Lady had never descended to the mortal realm again.
Some said the Divine Lady had returned to the heavens, while others claimed She was simply too busy and would surely return to visit the mortal realm once She had some spare time. Regardless, every single seed She had left in the mortal realm had sprouted in the hands of the people.
Inside a plain, clean study.
Shen Yu was bent over his desk writing a letter when a knock sounded at the door, causing him to pause his brush.
Immediately after, he pulled a nearby official document over to cover the letter on the desk, its ink still wet.
Perhaps because he was too flustered, a corner of the letter remained exposed, clearly displaying the words, “Farewell letter from your unfilial son, Shen Yu.”
Seeing this, he covered that corner with the official document as well before looking up at the door. “Come in,” he said.
The door was pushed open, and Shen Jue stepped over the threshold, his dark martial arts attire still damp with the morning dew from the courtyard.
His gaze swept across the desk, which was still piled high with mountains of paperwork, and his brow gradually furrowed.
“Didn't you say two days ago that you caught a cold? Why aren't you resting in bed instead of reading official documents again?”
Shen Yu diverted the topic with an ordinary expression. “Brother, do you need something? If it's nothing important, you should go back outside so I don't pass this cold to you.”
Shen Jue, however, did not mind at all. “It's nothing much. Mother sent another letter asking when you will return to Xindu. She and Father want to help you find a suitable primary wife.”
Because of the endless tasks in the south, neither he nor Shen Yu could attend to their mother. Thus, they had sent her to Xindu City early on to reunite with the Marquis of Ningyuan and enjoy her twilight years in peace.
Shen Yu felt a faint throb in his head. “Brother, you haven't married either. Why is Mother only pressuring me?”
Shen Jue replied expressionlessly, “I already told Mother that I have a preference for men, and do not like women.”
Shen Yu: “...”
That was indeed a good solution.
However, his illness had worsened inexplicably, which felt very much like heaven's punishment for his act of defying heaven. He likely did not have much time left, so why should he do something else to break his parents' hearts?
After a moment of silence, he said, “Brother, now that the south has been pacified, I discussed things with Miss Pei yesterday. In three days, we can take the Zhenbei Army home.”
Hearing this, Shen Jue asked about something else instead. “Is the Divine Lady never going to descend to the mortal realm again?”
“I don't know.” Shen Yu stood up, gently pushed open the study window, and looked up at the sky. “I only know that if the Divine Lady no longer descends to the mortal realm, it is a good thing.”
If that was the case, it meant they, as mortals, had survived the great cataclysm on their own. The Divine Lady would naturally not need to sacrifice Herself to the Dao to mend the heavens and save the world.
Shen Jue was about to press Shen Yu on the meaning behind his words, but he saw his brother suddenly turn his head away, covering his mouth with a handkerchief and coughing twice.
He walked over and closed the window. “Fuyan, why hasn't this cold of yours improved even after taking medicine for so many days?”
Catching sight of the blood staining the handkerchief he used to cover his mouth, Shen Yu quickly tucked it away, acting as if nothing were wrong out of fear that Shen Jue might catch the scent.
“Brother, perhaps it is because my constitution is naturally weak. On top of that, I've been so busy reviewing official documents these past few days that I always let the medicine go cold before drinking it, so the efficacy naturally isn't as good.”
Hearing this, Shen Jue's brow furrowed even deeper. He helped Shen Yu sit down at the desk. “I'll have someone brew the medicine. Later, I will watch you drink it myself.”
With that, he turned and left.
Perhaps because concern had clouded his mind, his steps were hurried, nearly knocking over the official documents piled on the desk.
Shen Yu was quick-eyed and swift-handed. He quietly pressed his left hand against the desk, firmly pinning the farewell letter beneath the official documents, while a helpless smile appeared on his face. “Brother, I am not a child. There is no need for someone to watch me take my medicine...”
Shen Jue turned a deaf ear to this.
He left Shen Yu's study without pausing his steps.
As the study door clicked shut and Shen Jue's footsteps faded into the distance, Shen Yu could no longer hold himself up.
He abruptly gripped the edge of the desk, his entire body doubling over as he coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood without warning. It splattered across the edges of the official documents in brilliant scarlet spots, like plum blossoms falling on snow.
Huddled almost completely over the desk, his shoulder blades shook violently as he coughed repeatedly.
It was as though he were trying to cough up his very organs.
...
Three days later, in Xindu City.
This central city of the north had now developed into a place of pilgrimage. The city towers featured upturned eaves, and the characters for “Xindu” at the city gate were newly carved, the strokes vigorous and deeply etched into the stone.
At this moment, the city gates were wide open.
The crowd waiting for the Zhenbei Army to return lined up from the city gates all the way to three li away. There were elderly people leaning on walking sticks, women holding children, and school children standing on tiptoe to peer into the distance.
The autumn wind swept up the fallen leaves on the ground, swirling them around their feet, yet not a single person spoke.
It was not until the first bright red military banner appeared on the horizon that a wave of shouts erupted from the crowd.
“They're back! The Zhenbei Army is back!”
Everyone was incredibly excited.
How could they not be?
The Zhenbei Army had been gone for three years—a full thousand days and nights. Every day, people had stood at the city gates to watch, waiting until their eyes grew weary and the hair at their temples turned white. Now, they had finally caught sight of this travel-worn army.
Men, women, young, and old surged forward like a tide.
Some cried, some laughed, and others called out names. The entire city gate fell into a chaotic, boiling frenzy.
An elderly woman stumbled out of the crowd.
Her cloudy eyes stared intently at a young general riding a tall horse in the ranks. Her lips trembled for a long while before she finally managed to squeeze out two words: “My child...”
With red eyes, the general flipped off the horse, rushed over in a few quick strides, and knelt on the ground with a thud, resting her forehead against the elderly woman's withered hand. “Mother, your daughter has returned.”
The elderly woman tremblingly caressed her face. Feeling the newly added scar on her cheekbone, her tears finally broke through the floodgates.
Crying and laughing at the same time, she repeated over and over, “It's enough that you've returned safely. It's enough that you've returned safely...”
The surrounding commoners also found their relatives in the ranks one after another, hugging each other and sharing their longing.
Yet, there were also many who searched the ranks for a long time, but never found the one they had dreamed of day and night.
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