The Northern Song Dynasty returned south, seeking the truth of the Dao.

Wang Zhenhuan gently closed his eyes, savoring these last moments. Perhaps it was better to end it like this; maybe when he opened his eyes again, the dream would end, and he would return to the past.

In a daze, he only felt a fragrant breeze. A warm body rushed over and hugged him tightly. He smiled and drifted off to sleep.

Wang Zhenhuan felt he had a very, very long dream. In the dream, he became a three-eyed deity, wielding a bronze whip. A vertical eye grew from his forehead.

Those vertical eyes shone with a sharp light, and bursts of heavenly lightning shot out from them, turning all the golden figures into charred remains. The few remaining survivors also gave chase, slaughtering them one by one with their long whips…

When he woke up again, it was already late at night. Wang Huanzhen struggled to open his eyes and looked around. He found himself lying in a Taoist temple, covered with a bright yellow robe.

Seeing the familiar clothes, he finally came to his senses. He opened his mouth, instinctively trying to call out that name, but found that he couldn't utter a sound.

In the center of the main hall of the Taoist temple, a bonfire was still burning. The fire illuminated the clay statues of the deities in the temple, making them appear to be watching over them.

After several attempts, Wang Zhenhuan gave up on speaking. He stared at the flickering statue, listening to the crackling of the fire beside him, feeling utterly at peace.

Although he hadn't seen her, the familiar clothes and their familiar fragrance made him quite certain that Lin Qingyan was nearby. His eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

The series of extreme highs and lows had left him extremely weak. He wasn't grateful to have survived. He was grateful that the tragic ending he had imagined hadn't happened.

Just as Wang Zhenhuan was feeling conflicted, heavy footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. He looked down and saw a young girl bending over, carrying a straw mat on her back, pushing open the door of the main hall.

"Brother Zhen, you're awake. How are you feeling?" The girl carefully placed the straw mat on the ground, then got up and asked in a slightly tired voice.

Looking at her pale face and the fine beads of sweat on her cheeks, Wang Zhenhuan felt a pang of heartache. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But after opening his mouth, he realized that he had already lost his voice.

Lin Qingyan saw that Wang Huanzhen opened his mouth but didn't speak. So she walked up to him, helped him up, and leaned him against a pillar in the main hall. She took out a water bottle from her waist, opened the lid, and brought it to his lips.

Wang Zhenhuan witnessed all of this, and he knew the immense grief Lin Qingyan had endured. Just yesterday, she was having dinner and laughing with her parents, but in just a short time, they were separated by death.

The immense grief did not defeat the girl. On the contrary, she matured, as if she had grown up overnight. She was no longer the carefree, mischievous girl she once was.

She died yesterday, slain by the Jurchen's scimitar. Now, though somewhat silent, she has become more sensible. With just a single gesture, she understood that Wang Zhenhuan wanted water.

This maturity broke his heart. If he could, he wished Lin Qingyan could stay carefree and mischievous forever. But sadly, flowers may bloom again, but youth never returns!

As Wang Huanzhen drank water, his eyes remained fixed on Lin Qingyan. Although he couldn't speak, his eyes could. He wanted Lin Qingyan to understand that he was always there for her.

Lin Qingyan lowered her head and carefully fed Wang Huanzhen water without saying a word. After he drank a few sips, she noticed he wouldn't open his mouth again, so she put the water bag back on her waist.

Just then, she saw Wang Zhenhuan's eyes. Those eyes were filled with all sorts of emotions: helplessness, comfort, weariness, and deep concern.

Seeing this, Lin Qingyan could no longer hold back. She buried her face in Wang Zhenhuan's chest and burst into tears. Her sobs were filled with such heartbreak and despair, as if the sky had fallen.

She wanted to release all the grievances and sorrow in her heart. She hugged Wang Huanzhen and cried for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, until she was almost unable to speak.

Wang Zhenhuan gently rested his chin on the girl's shoulder, touching it repeatedly. It was as if he were patting her gently, hoping that she would feel his presence.

Lin Qingyan reached out and hugged Wang Zhenhuan's neck, raising her head and asking in a choked voice, "Brother Zhen, Qingyan's parents are gone, and now Qingyan is a homeless child. Would you be willing to take me in?"

Looking at the tearful girl, Wang Zhenhuan felt his heart breaking. He didn't speak, but slowly lowered his head and gently kissed the girl's forehead.

Sometimes, actions speak louder than words. This was undoubtedly the case now. After Wang Zhenhuan's kiss, the girl slowly opened her eyes, a slight blush creeping across her face.

Lin Qingyan sat down next to Wang Zhenhuan, tilting her head and gently leaning on his shoulder, just like at sunset. Two lonely souls, in this way, gradually drew closer…

Wang Huanzhen closed his eyes, feeling the warmth emanating from his surroundings. After being in this world for so long, he had finally found the meaning of his existence, found his spiritual anchor.

The world no longer held that unreal feeling. Everything now felt so real, so reassuring. He silently vowed to himself that he would take Lin Qingyan and escape this place of trouble.

The two leaned on each other and fell into a deep sleep in the main hall of the dilapidated Taoist temple. When Wang Huanzhen woke up again, it was already dawn, and Lin Qingyan was still fast asleep.

He closed his eyes and sensed that he had regained some strength. Wang Huanzhen reached out and gently laid Lin Qingyan down. The sleeping girl had a furrowed brow.

Seemingly troubled by something, Wang Zhen smoothed down her brow. Then, he gently covered the girl with the yellow robe he was wearing. Afterward, he tiptoed out of the main hall.

He stood at the entrance of the Taoist temple, watching the first rays of dawn pierce the darkness. The dazzling sunlight slowly illuminated him. As the saying goes, life is mostly unsatisfactory.

Life was tough, but with someone by his side, even the hardest days didn't seem so bad. Just as he was about to turn back, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.

A warm body embraced him from behind. Lin Qingyan rested her head against his back and softly asked, "Brother Zhen, where are we going next?"

Wang Zhenhuan grasped her icy hand, gazed at the sunrise, and resolutely replied, "We're heading south!!"