As for the rest, let's wait until we defeat the Heavenly Dao together before continuing.

Shangguan Miaoyin, Bai Lian, and others were also among the crowd.

Their gazes drifted toward Gu Yan and... the person beside him, Leng Qingqiu.

They found it all very strange.

Huh?

The atmosphere between the master and Gu Yan... seemed to have grown even more... more filled with a pink glow—what the hell was that?!

And...

"I didn’t expect you to have the nerve to show up here."

"Oh? Mei Xue, I heard you’re working as a teacher at the Gu Family Kindergarten?"

Shangguan Miaoyin sneered at the traitor Mei Xue standing beside her.

To be honest, she was quite surprised. She hadn’t expected this traitor to have been hiding here all along.

Mei Xue remained composed and replied indifferently, "I’m no longer part of the Night Organization. I’m just an ordinary person now."

When the demon invasion first began, Gu Yan disbanded the Night Organization he had formed, and she was among those dismissed.

Luo Ya had given her a job—working as a kindergarten teacher.

Seeing the lively children, she couldn’t help but think of her younger brother.

Gu Yan had already told her the truth: her brother had died long ago, his soul scattered to the winds.

But she didn’t feel much sorrow. Perhaps... it was because she had already known the answer.

You Xingxue worked in the same place as her, but her social anxiety hadn’t improved at all.

Shangguan Miaoyin curled her lips. Since the master hadn’t taken action against Mei Xue, it seemed the matter was already settled.

Shitou and Little Bai, members of Gu Yan’s faction, were also in the crowd.

"Wuu... The first thing the master did upon returning was look for this woman..."

Little Bai lowered her head, utterly despairing. Could it be that the master truly liked this woman?

Shitou shook his head helplessly. Ah, young love—meeting the one person you could never have at the best time of your life.

What could he, an old-timer, even say?

Still... knowing the master was alive... that was enough.

Luo Ya held the hand of a little boy, standing at the back of the crowd. She pointed at Gu Yan and said to the child beside her, "That’s Gu Yan. When you grow up, you must support him properly."

"Okay!"

...

...

Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu were surrounded by the crowd.

Gu Yan smiled, answering questions one by one.

Meanwhile, Leng Qingqiu stood by his side like a dutiful wife, explaining things on his behalf.

The two of them stood together, as if enclosed in their own little world—no one else could intrude.

Leng Qingqiu realized their remaining time together was growing shorter.

If they stayed any longer, they’d be stuck here until nightfall.

So she discreetly poked Gu Yan from behind.

Understanding her signal, he raised his voice and announced, "Everyone, my apologies."

"I’ve just returned, and I plan to accompany Qingqiu on a stroll through the underground city."

"To celebrate, all expenses in the underground city today... will be on me. Feel free to shop to your heart’s content."

The Gu Family controlled all resources in the underground city, so Gu Yan had no qualms making such an offer.

As soon as he finished speaking,

the crowd erupted into cheers.

"Alright~!"

"Thank you, Boss Gu!"

"Thanks, President Gu!"

"Have fun with Chief Leng!"

Leng Ling'er also tried to squeeze in and join them, but she was refused.

"Ugh!! Brother-in-law, Sis! There’s really no place for me in this family anymore!"

Leng Ling'er was on the verge of tears, but in the end, she was dragged away by a group of sisters who comforted her while heading out to shop.

...

...

Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu finally broke free from the crowd.

They arrived at a large courtyard where the Gu Family currently resided.

In the courtyard was a cat bed.

A black cat lay lazily there, but perked up at the sound of movement.

The cat lifted its head to look at the newcomers.

"Yeye, long time no see."

Gu Yan reached out to pick up Yeye, but perhaps because they hadn’t seen each other in so long, the cat resisted fiercely, squirming and struggling.

Helpless, Gu Yan had to set it back down.

The moment it was free, Yeye darted back into the cat bed,

then glared intently at Gu Yan and Leng Qingqiu.

Was it just Gu Yan’s imagination, or did Yeye’s eyes seem to hold a trace of... annoyance?

"The love is gone. The bond has faded."

Gu Yan gave Leng Qingqiu a wry smile.

She, however, found it odd. She placed some fresh cat food in the bowl and frowned at Yeye, who refused to come out. "Huh? Yeye has always been so well-behaved before. Why hasn’t it touched the food I gave it last night?"

She stood up, studying the cat carefully, her expression slightly puzzled.

Hmm... What’s going on? Why does Yeye give me such a... strange feeling?

Shaking off the thought, she looped her arm through Gu Yan’s and teased, "Maybe it really doesn’t recognize you after you’ve been gone for so long?"

"That can’t be, right?"

"Haha, it’s exactly that. Who told you to keep disappearing for months at a time?"

"Qingqiu~ My Qingqiu~ I was wrong, don’t scold me anymore~~ I’ll make it up to you these next few days~"

Their figures gradually faded into the distance.

Only then did Yeye slink back out of its bed.

It glanced at the cat food in the bowl, scoffed, and pawed at it a few times to make it look like it had eaten.

Then, with a surge of dark energy, it vanished into the shadows in an instant.

Cat food? What kind of garbage is that? I want sweets.

Tch... Hey, little one in my head, listen up—cat food is nothing compared to sweets...

Huh? You’re asking why I jumped out of my owner’s arms?

Hmph, don’t you dare talk back, you measly sub-personality. I’m the dominant one here.

Don’t forget who picked you up in the first place.

Yeye: Meow o(╥﹏╥)o

...

...

Over the next few days,

Gu Yan devoted himself entirely to accompanying Leng Qingqiu.

They acted like an ordinary couple, simply enjoying each other’s company.

Every day, Gu Yan took Leng Qingqiu shopping at different malls.

Hand in hand, they wandered through stores filled with dazzling displays, picking out fashionable clothes and accessories.

Gu Yan patiently followed her around, occasionally offering his opinions. While waiting outside fitting rooms, he’d crack jokes that made Leng Qingqiu giggle.

In the afternoons, sunlight spilled across the streets as the two visited amusement parks.

They rode the carousel, reveling in childlike joy, and on roller coasters, Leng Qingqiu clung tightly to Gu Yan’s hand, her screams brimming with excitement and happiness.

Gu Yan always watched her with tender affection, his heart overflowing with love.

By evening, Leng Qingqiu mentioned how long it had been since she last ate Gu Yan’s cooking, so he finally stepped into the kitchen again.

After a week of this,

on one particular night,

Gu Yan held Leng Qingqiu’s hand as they strolled leisurely, savoring the quiet beauty of the evening.

"It’s been a week."

"Yes, a week."

"I’m happy, Gu Yan. You can... continue now."

Leng Qingqiu’s voice was soft yet firm, different from before—her heart was no longer lost.

Because she trusted Gu Yan. She believed he had everything under control, and in the end, they would defeat the Heavenly Dao and truly break free from fate’s grasp.

Gu Yan stopped walking.

Under the moonlight, he gazed at the faint smile on Leng Qingqiu’s face.

And in that moment, his heart finally felt at peace.

He held Leng Qingqiu by the waist, then lowered his head and brushed a kiss against the corner of her lips.

Light as a dragonfly’s touch, he pulled back and leaned close to her ear.

With a soft chuckle, he whispered, "The rest... we’ll save for after we defeat the Heavenly Dao together."

Leng Qingqiu’s heart skipped a beat before she smiled faintly. "Alright."

..........

.........

That night.

Dark clouds descended.

A deep, resonant voice... echoed across the entire underground city.

[The era of martial artists has ended.]

[I am the Night King... I shall... purge this world.]

As the voice faded,

everyone... remembered the terror of being ruled by monsters once more.

CRACK!!

The underground city’s barrier shattered, and monsters... poured in.