Take care.

Inside the Moon-Gazing Pavilion, time itself seemed to stretch endlessly.

The clash between those two forces had already surpassed anything they could intervene in.

The moment their spiritual energy entered, it was instantly shredded by the raging torrent of power, not even a ripple left behind.

"Pfft!"

Yun Xi suddenly opened her mouth, releasing a jet of black mist so dense it was almost tangible.

The black mist twisted and struggled in midair, eventually condensing into the faint shadow of a small, inch-long black dagger. It let out a reluctant wail before exploding with a "bang" and dispersing into nothingness.

The blade aura had been removed!

But before Elder Yao and Yun Yao could show any joy on their faces—

The vast golden light surging within Yun Xi, as if it had exhausted its last vestiges of energy, quickly dimmed and ultimately faded into complete silence.

On the bed, Yun Xi's body collapsed limply.

Everything fell still.

"Sect Leader…"

Elder Yao hurried over as well. He pressed his fingers to Yun Xi's wrist, sending a stream of pure spiritual energy into her.

After a moment, a complicated expression crossed his aged face.

Bittersweet.

What delighted him was that the blade aura—lodged like a stubborn bone-deep corruption within the Sect Leader's very foundation—had truly been ground away by the overbearing medicinal power of the Reversal Pill.

What worried him was that the Sect Leader's hidden injuries had transformed into internal damage.

Returning to her former level would take at least three to five years.

But at this critical juncture…

In this state… could she even be considered saved?

Just as Elder Yao's mind was churning with emotion—

On the bed, those tightly shut eyelids suddenly fluttered.

Yun Xi had awakened.

She slowly opened her eyes. In those deep pupils, there was no confusion, only exhaustion.

Her gaze drifted toward the distant land obscured by wind and snow.

So that's why she'd been feeling so unsettled lately…

So that was it.

That man… he had finally come.

Counting the time, she had stolen sixteen peaceful years here on Kongxuan Mountain.

It had been enough.

Compared to those fellow disciples who died back then…

And that person…

These meager, lingering days of hers were already a tremendous gift.

She slowly withdrew her gaze and focused on Elder Yao.

"Elder Yao."

"Send Yao'er and Ying'er out."

"I have something I wish to discuss with you alone."

Elder Yao's heart lurched at her words. A foreboding sense of dread surged within him.

He looked at Yun Xi, opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately let out a long sigh.

"Yes."

He persuaded the still-weeping Yun Yao and the newly arrived Yun Ying to leave, then closed the door himself inside the room.

Only the two of them remained.

"Sect Leader, you—"

"Elder," Yun Xi interrupted him. "You should leave."

Elder Yao's body trembled violently. In those murky, aged eyes, disbelief was written all over.

"Sect Leader… what do you mean by this?"

"If you stay, you will die." Yun Xi's voice was flat, as though she were speaking of something unrelated to herself. "The Yin-Yang Sect is about to face a catastrophe."

"I—"

"I know your feelings." For the first time, a hint of softness crept into Yun Xi's gaze. "But I cannot give you what you seek."

"You are a good man."

"All these years, you have poured your heart and soul for me. This debt I cannot repay."

"So go."

"Take your precious herbs and medicinal ingredients. Go anywhere. Just don't come back."

Elder Yao's lips trembled. He wanted to say, "I won't leave," wanted to say, "I will live or die with the Yin-Yang Sect."

But looking into Yun Xi's eyes—so calm, without a single ripple—he knew he couldn't bring himself to say it.

Because those eyes told him she had already prepared herself to die.

"I…"

A stifled sob escaped Elder Yao's throat. This old monster who had lived for centuries now had reddened eyes, like a child.

Finally, he bowed deeply, profoundly, to Yun Xi.

"Sect Leader… take care."

With that, he turned and walked, step by step, out of the Moon-Gazing Pavilion—the place he had longed for in his dreams for so many years.

…

After Elder Yao left, Yun Xi called Yun Ying and Yun Yao back inside.

The moment Yun Yao entered, she threw herself onto the bedside again, tears streaming.

"Master, did Elder Yao go down the mountain to find herbs to restore your health?"

Yun Xi didn't answer. Instead, she reached out and affectionately ruffled her hair.

Then her gaze shifted to the silent Yun Ying.

"Yun Ying."

"Your disciple is here."

"Take your senior sister and leave through the back mountain." Yun Xi's voice regained its cool clarity. "Remember, don't look back. No matter what you hear, no matter what you see, do not look back."

She paused, then added in a tone tinged with a faint, indescribable desolation:

"Do not stop at the Chaotic Star Sea. Go as far as you can. Head south."

The moment these words left her mouth, Yun Ying's expression changed instantly.

Though he didn't know what was happening, his master's words were clearly a final farewell!

"Master!" Yun Ying fell to his knees with a thud. "Your disciple will not leave!"

"Junior brother?" Yun Yao blinked her big eyes, looking at her kneeling junior brother, then at her master on the bed. Her mind struggled to catch up.

Suddenly, a thought struck her!

"Ah?"

Yun Yao let out a short gasp, then jumped up from the ground with startling energy. Her eyes sparkled with excitement!

"Master! Do you mean… you're finally letting me descend the mountain to gain experience?! But you want Junior Brother to watch over me, right?"

Yun Ying: "…"

He closed his eyes in despair.

My senior sister, what exactly is going on inside that head of yours?

Yun Xi watched her foolish disciple—the way delight and joy lit up her face at her imagined realization—and felt a sharp pang in the softest part of her heart.

So be it.

This way was fine.

Let her leave happily. That was better than having her cry her way out.

A supremely tender smile spread across Yun Xi's face—a smile full of affection, and also… an envy she herself didn't quite acknowledge.

"Mm."

She nodded, her voice soft, as if afraid to disturb anything.

"You should grow up too. I grant it."

"Ohhhhh—!"

Yun Yao bounced three feet in the air with sheer excitement!

She had wanted to go out and gain experience for nearly two and a half years!

Dreamed of it.

Now, finally, her wish had come true. She was happier than if she had eaten ten pieces of peach blossom pastry!

"Then I'm off, Master!"

Yun Yao was so worked up she was nearly incoherent. She hastily gave Yun Xi a half-baked, clumsy bow.

Then she turned and ran for the door, shouting over her shoulder, "Junior brother, hurry up! We need to pack! If we're late, Master might change her mind!"

Watching that joyful figure vanish through the doorway,

The smile on Yun Xi's face slowly faded.

She turned back to Yun Ying, who was still kneeling on the ground, and spoke, her voice laced with weariness.

"Ying'er."

"I entrust her to you."

"Take care."