When I finally understood what had happened, my trembling hands flew to cover my mouth as I stood frozen in place. I watched helplessly as Wu Feng exerted every ounce of his strength to pin Hua Meijuan against the wall. Her sword pierced through his chest inch by inch - from front to back, sliding down until the hilt grazed his ribs. Yet he didn't so much as flinch.

Blood gushed relentlessly downward, sending chills through my spine.

Hua Meijuan's mouth hung open in wordless surrender. He wasn't the type to give up easily - someone had definitely bound him with a curse. Even immortals weren't that easy to kill; Hua Meijuan simply couldn't move.

"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!" Finally fear flickered across her face as she reached for Lingxi horn to summon Kuafu, but her arm refused obedience. She then tried channeling mental coercion toward Wu Feng - I could see him fighting desperately against his own willpower.

He sneered at Hua Meijuan."If I die, you die too." As he spoke, his gaze turned back to me one final time. In that look lay so many emotions - grief-stricken regret, painful resolve, and ultimate liberation - all coalescing into a single tear that vanished instantly in the blood pool below.

"Wu Feng no!" I screamed.

But it was futile. The moment my voice reached him, his body erupted with crimson light. Though equally red as Xue Mo Yuan's aura, this radiance differed completely - like winter fire bringing warmth, or dawn light heralding hope. Suddenly flames consumed both bodies in a fiery crescendo.

Hua Meijuan's despairing roar shook the heavens.

Legend said phoenixes could rebirth through flame - that was called Nüe Pan.

I foolishly believed it applied to him.

Self-comfort: perhaps I'd soon witness some featherless chick squawking pathetically? How cute?

But many years later, Master Jin Feng revealed bitter truth. Phoenix descendants couldn't truly revive themselves. That rebirth myth belonged only to ancient phoenixes. In short - they weren't pure enough to undergo Nüe Pan. The purifying fire would incinerate all sins but also scatter souls.

What must Wu Feng have thought when choosing mutual annihilation with Hua Meijuan?

How could he be so cruel, using his death as an eternal reminder?

Xue Mo Yuan erupted in crimson light - though not from Wu Feng's power. No one expected the blood jade that had fallen into the pool hours earlier would suddenly rise of its own accord. The red gem glimmered with crystalline stars.

A woman's voice whispered at my ear:"Use his given strength to kill him."

Still reeling from Wu Feng's revelation, I turned confusedly searching for the speaker until realizing it must be a hallucination. Yet this divinely attuned blood jade flew directly into my palm while repeating those exact words again - its source unmistakably within.

Staring at the gem in my hand, I discovered all lost divine power had returned to me instantly. At the same moment, Kuafu fighting with Heaven Emperor and Wuqu suddenly let out a strangled scream.

The tiger-pearl pendant around my chest grew cold too, alerting me to its presence. Now like Kuafu, I felt utterly possessed - my hand reached automatically for the pendant while my body drifted toward that raging beast.

"Manman!" My beloved husband cried from behind, seemingly unable to hear this mysterious woman's voice.

I turned helplessly."A woman controls me!"

His face paled as he tried rushing over. But crimson light repelled him instantly - he couldn't get near. The flames consuming Wu Feng and Hua Meijuan had already dissipated, leaving only ashes floating down into the blood pool. Tears streamed down my cheeks, unable to accept that lovable yet annoying god king would never return.

"Don't cry. Avenge him." My possessor spoke again,"I won't harm you."

Her voice drifted like rootless fluff from ancient times.

Clutching tiger-pearl tightly, I approached Kuafu who sensed me coming. His blood-red eyes actually wept crimson tears as he howled in pain but didn't strike back.

"Ah-zhu, Yuer releases you!" The woman spoke with aged amusement.

Thus, blade met flesh.

She used my hands to kill Kuafu.

The tiger-pearl sank into his chest - time froze in absolute silence.

A sharp sound echoed as Kuafu's corpse shattered into countless fragments, joining Wu Feng's ashes in the blood pool. My blood jade crumbled instantly too.

Everything happened so suddenly it felt like a dream dissolving back to tranquility. The last thing I remembered before leaving was two voices - one male and one female - sighing simultaneously as if finally freed.

Soon after, Xue Mo Yuan began collapsing violently upon Kuafu's death. As rocks rained down, Lin Bo grabbed me and rushed toward waterfall exit.

Before departing, I scattered my jade fragments into the abyss where their story would end. No matter how it began or what they endured, let this place be their final resting spot.

...

As stars shifted and time flowed,

My beloved husband approached silently from behind, wrapping his arms around my neck gently.

"How do you feel today?" He asked softly.

I emerged from my thoughts, turning to complain,"You make me sit here in the sun all day! Don't think I won't rot away! I want to go out and play!"

Lin Bo chuckled but offered neither agreement nor refusal. Stretching his arm toward nearby table, he picked up "Eight Realms Chronicle" opened at chapter about Woloye rebellion. After reading silently for a while, he suddenly said,"Manman, back then I would have rather died myself."

"I know." I snatched the forbidden history book from him and closed it.

Faced with death they always volunteered first - as if standing before me in person wasn't enough, they had to die for me. If possible, let no one perish including myself. As long as we live, hope remains.

But since past was past, why dwell upon it? Now everyone's happy.

Lin Bo and I. Mo Bei with Zi Lian. Ye Yeyin with Jun Tianmo, Yu Rang with Heiyue, Yu Xuan with Qing Mo, Xie Zhu Hua with Li Yi, Mo Qiancheng with Song Ru. Qing Qing with the scholar. Haixing with Ahliang... Even Bai Mu reunited with her lost love through others' help - true loves find their way.

All these tales tell us: as long as we hold onto beautiful wishes, most true loves ultimately receive blessings. Like how Mo Qiancheng taught Qing Qing to share mortal fates before passing away together, sparing her from eternal darkness; or when I asked Yu Rang for special permission to reincarnate Gongzi Changqing's soul into heaven so he could be with Bai Mu forever.

Finally Xinzhe defeated White Robe and locked him in deepest hell - apparently causing great turmoil at Heaven Palace. Xǐ'ér and Shíyù reconciled, still living in their western mountain cottage (though no one knows who truly dominates). Even Qi Huang shangxian overcame past shadows to leave with her father Tian Zhi.

Speaking of Qi Huang, I couldn't help sighing again.

Her eyes had gone blind.

When Wuqu pulled her out from Xue Mo Yuan that day, blood kept pouring endlessly from her eye sockets.

I wanted to heal her but discovered Kuafu's power vanished along with his death. At that moment, strange relief washed over me - now I wouldn't have to fight anymore for the sake of all living beings, no longer be passed around like a ball.

Bleeding Qi Huang suddenly regained consciousness and called my name first.

I went comfort her gently,"You'll be fine, I promise." But couldn't find words about Wu Feng's death. No one could protect her now - that helpless older brother was truly gone forever.

She shook her head. Perhaps by female intuition she said:"My whole life I lived in mistakes. Brother Wu Feng can never save me again. All errors must be paid for myself." Then with terrifying resolve, she plunged both hands into her own eyes and tore out the orbs bloodily.

"These cursed eyes are finally gone. Taosheng, sorry..." Before finishing she collapsed in Wuqu's arms.

I stood frozen there, trembling lips unable to speak despite wanting to tell her I no longer blamed her, nor did Taosheng still exist.

Now I suppose Qi Huang and Tian Zhi live peacefully together - better if people never find them again. Let the Yanzu legend fade into time with their silence...

...

"I'll prepare dinner, you go inside," Lin Bo helped me up toward our cottage.

After settling affairs, we returned to Nanhai's Fengle village to live the life we once wanted. Spring had arrived, and peach trees in courtyard bloomed beautifully again. As we passed beneath them, petals fluttered around us with faint fragrances wafting through air.

Peach branches giggled "zzz" from tree tops mischievously.

At door stood a childish voice, still halting,"Manman, dinner time. My mom can't find me."

Lin Bo and I turned simultaneously to see half of a boy's face peering out with big round eyes.

It was Tongtong - Haixing and Ahliang's one-year-old son.

When Lin Bo brought me back here earlier, this boy first tasted his delicious broth in mother's arms then became devoted to our chef. When unable to walk he'd cry at Haixing until now that with tiny steps he always appears punctually for meals, begging us to carry him inside pathetically.

"Stomach baby is expecting a sister so can't hold you. Papa holds instead?" Lin Bo offered.

"No! Want Manman!" The stubborn little one resembled someone - very determined.

I approached and waved dismissal at Lin Bo. Though my body aged slightly, strength remained enough for holding toddlers.

Lin Bo sighed but surrendered by lifting Tongtong into my arms.

"How did you know we were having dinner?" I idly asked.

"Birds called."

"Ah?"

"They told me so."

"...You're confusing,"I said as he sniffed my neck."Manman, smells nice. Kiss."

A slobbery kiss covered my face completely.

My beloved's temple throbbed coldly,"Dry mother can only watch, not touch."

"Tongtong wants sister-in-law?"

"..."

Nanhai breeze gently blew while twilight birds returned to nests.

◇◆◇◆◇◆

Zi Lian asked me once: if it were Shixiang Xianjun who died with Hua Meijun, what would I do?

I laughed - if it was him, even if soul scattered completely, I'd find him back.

She wondered if that was possible?

Of course! There's no absolute death in these six realms. Soul scattering is just existing through different forms. We may be like this today but tomorrow could become wind or clouds while still persisting. Am I not the best example returning from ancient times?

Zi Lian sighed,"Wasting your talents by not studying Buddhism."

I shrugged,"Nurturing detachment and saving beings isn't for me. I just want to grow old with those I love."

She asked again then,"Why not resurrect Wu Feng shenjun?"

Silence followed.

If he wanted return, why would he need my searching? His choice to leave was a form of liberation itself.

Where among clear winds and clouds would he find happiness again?