After the End

Bai Qianshuang stood dazed atop the discarded rubble, cradling her sword in her arms as she gazed at the scenery of the Qingyun Sect.

Her great vengeance had been exacted, yet at this moment, she seemed to have suddenly lost her purpose. Her eyes betrayed a sense of confusion and helplessness.

Looking at the Qingyun Mountain Range, which had been nearly snapped in two, and watching the destroyed buildings—some still burning—she simply stood there quietly, neither speaking nor uttering a sound.

Why did things have to reach this point?

Bai Qianshuang had once asked herself this. Wouldn't it be better if every sect lived in harmony and cultivated together?

But she also understood that in the Tianxuan Continent, strength reigned supreme. The weak had no dignity.

Only when you were strong did you earn the right to discuss peace with others.

With her vengeance fulfilled, she indeed felt no great joy.

Happiness would not bring back the departed.

After watching silently for a long time, Bai Qianshuang snapped back to reality. Glancing to the side, she realized that Ye Chuan had been quietly accompanying her the whole time.

"Ye Chuan, I'm sorry... I didn't help at all," Bai Qianshuang whispered. This battle had been won entirely thanks to Ye Chuan's strength.

Hearing this, Ye Chuan simply followed her gaze toward the scenery of the Qingyun Sect.

"No." Ye Chuan shook his head. "If not for you, I never would have stepped onto the path of cultivation."

Before Ye Chuan could finish, he felt a warmth embrace him. He looked up, his face completely pressed against her snowy bosom—Bai Qianshuang just held him like that, quiet and wordless.

Letting her hold him for a long while, Ye Chuan eventually raised a hand. He summoned an avatar to inventory and collect all the valuable items from the Qingyun Sect's treasury, making a massive fortune in the process.

The Qingyun Sect had many external assets, though Ye Chuan wasn't aware of the specifics. However, the spirit stones and cultivation techniques in the treasury alone amounted to a scale of billions.

After a simple cleanup, Ye Chuan looked at the still-dazed Bai Qianshuang and smiled, asking, "What are you still looking at?"

"I was just thinking... if only there were still people left from the Yuxu Sect," Bai Qianshuang said softly, tucking her long, raven-black hair behind her ear as the breeze fluttered through it.

"I did see some Yuxu Sect remnants before, or rather, guys acting under the banner of Yuxu remnants..." Ye Chuan thought for a moment. But thinking carefully, the Yuxu Sect had been wiped out back then; it wasn't realistic for so many to have survived.

"Qianshuang." Seeing the confusion and emptiness in her eyes, Ye Chuan suddenly spoke.

"Hmm?"

"Let's go. Let's go home together." Ye Chuan extended his hand.

Bai Qianshuang paused.

Home...

Right, she already had a home. That warm house.

Looking at Ye Chuan's smile, Bai Qianshuang felt her heart slowly filling up.

She nodded gently and took Ye Chuan's hand.

The next moment, her vision blurred slightly. The warmth from the hand holding hers became broad and solid. She looked up and realized Ye Chuan had grown taller.

"Huh?" Ye Chuan was also stunned, realizing he was no longer in the form of a child but had returned to his original height.

Oho?

I'm back?

"I thought I'd have to stay like that for quite a while." Seeing that he had returned to his original height and appearance, Ye Chuan felt relieved.

Now he could properly take the wheel.

Ye Chuan pulled Bai Qianshuang into his arms.

Feeling the girl in his embrace struggle subconsciously for a moment before obediently snuggling against him, Ye Chuan smiled. "Isn't this better?"

"Mhm." Bai Qianshuang pressed her cheek against Ye Chuan's chest, buried her face, and gave a soft hum of agreement.

Ye Chuan held Bai Qianshuang's waist with one hand, then logged off directly.

Tianxuan Continent, offline.

He thought that he probably wouldn't be entering the Tianxuan Continent again for a while.

...

...

After returning to the real world, Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang went to the training room, as the relics of the Yuxu Sect and the properly buried remains were still there.

After Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang told the departed brothers and sisters that their vengeance had been achieved, the matter of the Qingyun Sect finally came to a close.

To mark the occasion, Ye Chuan's household prepared a simple dinner party.

"Cheers!"

That night, at dinnertime, sizzling sounds drifted from the kitchen.

Luo Xi was wearing an apron, busily working alongside Ye Chuan in the kitchen.

Bai Qianshuang was helping chop the side dishes.

"Hehe, what's the occasion today? Why are we suddenly celebrating? Huh?" Lan Xiaoke blinked her big eyes curiously as she looked at the sumptuous food on the table.

"Can't we celebrate on a normal day?" Seeing Lan Xiaoke extend a claw to steal a bite, Ye Chuan flicked her hand away. "Eat later."

"Oh." Lan Xiaoke rubbed the back of her hand, then grabbed a piece the moment Ye Chuan turned his head.

"Hehehe." But before the fried chicken could even warm her hand, it was snatched away by Ye Yue, who was standing nearby.

"Brother said to eat later." Ye Yue acted like a loyal little lackey, her crimson eyes flashing. "Understood? Sister Xiaoke."

Hearing this, Lan Xiaoke pursed her lips.

"You won't even let me eat a fried chicken leg? Just let me starve to death."

"You don't look like you're in danger of starving." Ye Yue glanced at Lan Xiaoke's figure. "Time to go on a diet."

"I'm not fat!"

A while later, Ke Ning and Lilith came out too. It was party time, after all, so it was best for everyone to be present. Aside from Wang Yanran, who was still busy outside, even the Spider Dog from outside was let in.

"It really is lively." Ke Ning pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose, while the Rubik's Cube V2 beside him let out a beep.

"The food looks good," Lilith remarked, focusing more on the delicacies on the table.

She plonked herself down on a chair, grabbed a chicken leg, and prepared to eat.

"Ah! You're not allowed to eat that!" Lan Xiaoke exclaimed immediately upon seeing Lilith grab the leg.

Hearing this, Lilith revealed a small canine tooth and took a bite of the chicken leg.

"I shall eat whatever I wish."

Lan Xiaoke immediately turned her head to tattle, only to find that Ye Chuan was busy in the kitchen and even Ye Yue had followed him in.

Seeing this, Lan Xiaoke immediately extended her claws.

*Then I won't be polite.*

"Xiaoke, why are you trying to steal food again?" Before Lan Xiaoke could pick it up, Ye Chuan's voice drifted over.

Lan Xiaoke turned around and saw Ye Chuan walking out with a new dish.

"Lilith ate some too!" Lan Xiaoke said immediately.

"Lilith didn't eat anything." Ye Chuan glanced at Lilith and saw that she was leisurely playing with a magical orb of light in her hand.

"?!" Lan Xiaoke's beautiful eyes widened.

"Her mouth is still glistening with oil!"

"Nonsense. This is the light of magic. Lip balm magic," Lilith said, shooting a glance at Lan Xiaoke.

"There's no such magic!"

The room was bustling with noise and excitement. Bai Qianshuang watched quietly from a short distance away, her heart filled with warmth.

She once thought that avenging her destroyed sect was her only obsession. But now she realized that what was truly worth cherishing were these people right before her eyes, staying by her side.

The departed could not return, but the warmth and happiness of the present were the most precious treasures of all.