“In the days without you, I don’t know how I’ll go on; half of my world has already collapsed!” “Please come back quickly, stop torturing me, okay? As long as you return, even if I only have one year left to live, I’d gladly accept it.

If it weren't for needing that year to spend quality time with you, I would give you everything!” “Just one glance, let me see you just one more time, is that possible? I only need to see you for a moment?” A piece of paper, stained with water, bore lines of text so faint they were almost illegible.

Mi Xue held her pen, presumably writing something new onto it. When the news came that Zhang Yang could not be found, even after deploying all these people, her mind utterly fractured.

Almost every few minutes, she would rush out to ask for updates, and hourly, she’d visit Long Feng to learn the latest situation. Sometimes, the mere sound of a torn strip of cloth or a small, crudely fashioned wooden stick being found in the forest would keep her agitated for half the day.

Repeated surges of hope were met only by repeated waves of disappointment. She had arrived three days earlier than Zhang Pinglu and the others.

After seeing such a massive sweep of the area yield no sign of Zhang Yang, she had deteriorated into this state. For these three days, she had managed not a single bite of food, nor a drop of water.

She refused even to sleep. It was only when Long Feng finally struck her pressure points to induce sleep that Qu Meilan managed to slip some sustenance into her while she was unconscious.

Had she not previously taken the Peilan Dan, these few days alone might have been enough to break her body. Though only a short period, it felt to her like centuries of torment.

There was simply no other way to endure it. When the pain became unbearable, she would pull out paper and write down the thoughts burning in her heart.

She now had several such sheets, each one saturated with her tears. “Mi Xue, there’s news about Zhang Yang!” Long Feng appeared behind her at some point, speaking very softly.

The words caused the hand holding the pen to freeze instantly. She turned, her tear-filled eyes staring blankly behind her.

This was the first time in days that Long Feng had given her a definitive statement about Zhang Yang. Every time she had asked before, he could only shake his head.

As Mi Xue turned, her body began to tremble violently. Having news of Zhang Yang had always been her greatest hope, the words she most longed to hear every day.

Yet, when it finally arrived, she felt timid, afraid. She dreaded that Long Feng was bringing terrible news, a piece of information that would haunt her for the rest of her life.

During these days, she had heard too much about the terrors of the primeval forest. In hushed discussions, many speculated that Zhang Yang was likely beyond saving.

Every time she overheard such talk, her heart felt as though it were being sliced by a knife. But she dared not stop listening; not knowing would be even harder to accept.

One could say that every time she eavesdropped on these discussions was a journey through hell. “Mi Xue, don’t worry.

Zhang Yang is fine. Chang Feng sent word—they found him and are on their way back.

Zhang Yang is perfectly well, completely unharmed!” Seeing Mi Xue’s state, Long Feng quickly added more reassurance. The astute Long Feng understood her current anxieties immediately and rushed to stabilize her spirit.

Indeed, upon hearing Long Feng’s words, Mi Xue’s trembling ceased, and the tears in her eyes momentarily stilled, her pupils filling once more with a bright hope. “Shall we go meet him?” Seeing Mi Xue finally begin to settle, Long Feng softly suggested.

“Ah, yes!” Mi Xue gasped. Her mind was still reeling; the shock of this sudden turn—from ultimate fear to the greatest desire suddenly realized—was too immense.

It felt like a dream, and for a moment, she couldn't believe it. “Wait!” She stood up and ran two steps, then turned back, returning swiftly to the tent.

A few minutes later, Mi Xue hurried back out. She had changed into a fresh, white dress, washed her face thoroughly, and reapplied a subtle touch of makeup.

She didn't want Zhang Yang to see her exhausted appearance. The silly girl was still thinking only of him.

“Let’s go!” Dressed in white, Mi Xue appeared among the crowd like a celestial being. Many people instinctively looked her way.

Over the past few days, many had known of the beautiful girl residing here, but since Mi Xue had mostly been crying or hiding while waiting for news, few had actually seen her face. Now, seeing the deliberately made-up Mi Xue, they looked upon her as if she were an immortal maiden.

Qu Meilan walked beside Mi Xue. While somewhat less worried about Zhang Yang, even she felt the strain of this long wait.

Hearing he was safe brought her immense relief. Although Zhang Yang had already cured her of her poison, several of her martial sisters still suffered.

Despite their sometimes difficult past relationship, they had grown up together, and some affection remained. These sisters were, besides Zhang Yang and her closest circle, the only people she had any real connection to, and she certainly didn't want them to suffer misfortune.

The group moved forward quickly. Long Feng remained constantly beside Mi Xue, ensuring she didn't falter; the primeval forest was hardly suitable terrain for a young woman.

However, his caution proved unnecessary. The Peilan Dan, a divine medicine known for transforming constitution, possessed extraordinary effects.

A spiritual tonic, especially one with such specific benefits, meant Mi Xue’s physical conditioning was now comparable to a cultivator in the early stages of the first layer. In terms of sheer physical resilience, she was no less robust than Qu Meilan beside her.

With such a strong body, a short run was hardly taxing. The group pressed inward, while Chang Feng and Zhang Yang moved outward.

Finally, as evening approached, the two parties met at the outer edge of the forest. From a distance, Mi Xue spotted the figure she had worried about so intensely.

Tears immediately began to stream down her face again. While the others stopped, she broke into a run, racing until she stood before that silhouette.

“Mi Xue, I’m sorry!” Zhang Yang reached out, gently wiping the tears from her face, a surge of immense guilt rising in his heart. This time, his cultivation had consumed him so completely that he had forgotten the passage of time, and forgotten all the people outside who cared for him.

Though he had lived two lives, possessing a mature and seasoned approach to worldly matters and strategy, he was utterly inept when it came to matters of the heart and family. In his previous life, he had few genuine emotional bonds, and his only family was his grandfather.

As for friends, he had even fewer in his past life. As a young Vice President of a hospital, achieving that position required navigating relentless backstabbing and deceit, which naturally curtailed his friendships.

“You are safe; that is the greatest gift Heaven could bestow upon me. I am already satisfied!” Mi Xue gazed at Zhang Yang with deep affection, speaking softly.

Before she could finish, she moved forward and threw her arms around him, her tears falling again uncontrollably. These were tears of joy—joy that Zhang Yang was unharmed, joy for herself.

By now, she was mentally thanking every deity and Buddha; she had prayed to every entity she could think of over these past few days—a remarkable feat for someone who considered herself an atheist, clearly demonstrating the depth of her devotion to Zhang Yang. “Rest assured, nothing like this will ever happen again!” Zhang Yang whispered gently, kissing Mi Xue’s forehead, his voice laced with tenderness.

This was the first time he had ever seen Mi Xue so undone. “Let’s all leave now,” Long Feng sighed softly.

Long Cheng nodded in agreement; they had come to escort Zhang Yang back as well. But seeing the scene before them, they could not bear to interrupt.

At this moment, they could only move on. As for Zhang Yang’s safety, Long Feng had no lingering concerns.

The fact that Zhang Yang could emerge meant he was safe; he was certainly no threat out here. Both groups began to move out.

Many looked back as they left, watching the enviable couple. Soon, everyone was gone.

Just a few minutes after they departed, a white blur flashed past them. Pursuit Wind was not running at his absolute maximum speed, but the pace was still formidable.

As the white figure shot past, Long Feng, Long Cheng, Su Zhantao, and Chang Feng all distinctly heard a sentence—a word spoken by Zhang Yang. Hearing it, every one of their eyes brightened momentarily, and then, smiles bloomed on their faces.

Though they had worried for so long, the outcome was good. Since they had seen Zhang Yang safe with their own eyes and received his promise, it didn't matter that they weren't with him now.

Not only could they not see him now, but likely not tonight either; Zhang Yang was clearly taking Mi Xue somewhere private. Long Feng understood best: once Pursuit Wind was unleashed, they could cover the distance back to Changdu without issue.

Zhang Yang had returned on his own. The news that the man everyone searched for during the massive mountain foray had emerged quickly began to spread.

Mayor Wang and the townspeople all learned the news and breathed a collective sigh of relief. As long as Zhang Yang was fine, the majority of the town felt genuine gratitude toward the man who had funded and helped build such a vital road for them.

Mayor Wang, in particular, had been plagued by guilt over the missing Giant Python remains and hadn't slept well these past few days, especially after Zhang Yang’s disappearance. In addition to them, the various armed police units that had assisted in the search began to assemble for withdrawal.

This operation was never strictly a government affair. Since the situation concluded and the subject was found, their services were no longer required.

The town began to buzz with activity again. Wu Zhiguo, Long Cheng, Wang Chen, and others started sending their own personnel away in batches.

Sustaining this massive influx of people—a population nearly matching the town’s entire count—for eating, drinking, and lodging was an enormous burden. The town could certainly not manage alone, but fortunately, the road was complete, allowing provisions and daily necessities to be ferried in continuously from outside.

The armed police, having arrived later and bringing their own supplies, were the reason no one suffered shortages or hunger during this period. While they were all busy with their necessary tasks, no one suspected that Zhang Yang and Mi Xue had already returned to Savage Mountain.

To Zhang Yang now, Savage Mountain was utterly undefended, posing no threat whatsoever.