After the spiritual energy was restored: Goddess girlfriends came knocking.

The next morning.

Xiao Xiao smiled and said to her older sister, "I'm going back to Longting now. There's so much to take care of this time."

Then he turned and waved to Jiang Yan, then ran away in a flash, transforming into a pale golden streak of light that soared into the sky.

Jiang Yan then took Cang Yao's hand and walked step by step along the familiar path towards the stream.

The stream still flows down from the mountain, making a bend here, making a rushing sound, just like it did hundreds of years ago.

The crooked willow tree was several times thicker than it had been back then, and its drooping branches almost touched the water.

Cang Yao's pace slowed down more and more.

She gazed at the willow tree not far away, and a thin mist gradually rose in her eyes.

"I often dream about this scene." Her voice trembled slightly. "I dream that you are holding my hand, and we are walking this road together. Every time I wake up, you are not there."

Jiang Yan didn't say anything, but simply held her hand tighter.

Cang Yao sniffed, her voice gradually becoming steady: "After that, I stopped dreaming. I told myself that when I actually meet you, I'll make up for all of this."

Jiang Yan pulled her into his arms.

Sunlight slanted through the willow branches and fell on the two of them, like a thin layer of golden gauze.

Approaching that crooked willow tree.

Cang Yao stretched out her finger and gently touched the tree bark, a hint of regret flashing in her eyes.

The four lines of poetry that were carved back then have completely disappeared, leaving no trace.

Cang Yao gazed at the tree bark, silently reciting the four lines of poetry, and also silently reminiscing about that period of time.

She tightened her grip on the hand that was intertwined with Jiang Yan's.

Jiang Yan led her to the stone, the one she had moved there years ago, the one he had sat on year after year waiting for.

The two cleared away the weeds around them and then sat down side by side.

The stream flowed gurglingly, and the willow branches swayed gently in the wind.

The two stayed in Qinghe for three days.

We didn't go anywhere else; we just stayed in that old house.

Cang Yao cooks every day, while Jiang Yan reads under the locust tree and occasionally sits by the stream.

Time has passed, and the Great Zhou is now a completely unfamiliar country.

Those familiar names from back then have all disappeared into the long river of history.

Jiang Yan didn't deliberately look for anything; some things were enough to keep in her heart.

three days later.

East Sea, Dragon Court.

Two streaks of light landed at the entrance to the Dragon Court.

Cang Yao pulled Jiang Yan through the barrier, and the seawater automatically receded to make way for them.

"This is the Qianyuan Pavilion. I used to cultivate there." Cang Yao pointed to a group of coral buildings in the distance.

"That's the observatory behind there; I've spent most of my time there these past few years."

"That's the forbidden room; I secluded myself there that time."

She walked and pointed, her steps as light as a bird returning to its nest.

Jiang Yan followed her side, his eyes following her finger movements, memorizing every detail.

"Sister! Brother Lin Chu!" Cang Xiaoxiao ran over from the other end of the corridor, her blue shirt fluttering gently in the seawater.

She stopped abruptly as she approached, looked up at the two of them, her face beaming with barely concealed excitement, "I knew you'd be here soon! I've already arranged a welcome feast!"

Jiang Yan reached out and ruffled her hair: "Thank you for your hard work."

Xiao Xiao squinted her eyes and rubbed her palm against his, then pulled Cang Yao's hand and walked forward. "Sister, let me tell you, the Western Sea Whale Clan sent another batch of good things a few days ago, including a pearl this big—"

She made an exaggerated circle with her hand, and Cang Yao laughed and tapped her on the head.

The three of them walked through the coral corridor, encountering many people from the Dragon Court along the way.

There were transformed sea creatures, half-transformed demons, and several disciples of the Hidden Abyss Pavilion.

They saw Cang Yao bow respectfully, and then their gazes naturally fell on the boy she was holding hands with.

Jiang Yan could feel those gazes—curious, scrutinizing, and some undisguised appraising.

He didn't pay attention and just quietly followed beside Cang Yao.

Cang Xiaoxiao would occasionally turn around and glare at those who stared for too long, and the person being glared at would immediately look away and pretend to be looking at the coral.

The welcoming banquet was held in a coral palace.

The dishes were all local specialties from the East China Sea. Cang Xiaoxiao sat next to Jiang Yan and kept piling food into his bowl.

Cang Yao sat on the other side, resting her chin on her hand as she watched him, a smile always on her lips.

After the banquet, Cang Yao pulled Jiang Yan through the corridor and pushed open a door made of seashells and coral.

This is her bedroom.

The interior was simply furnished with a seashell bed, a coral table, and several small conch shells on the windowsill.

Jiang Yan's gaze fell on a shelf by the bedside.

A wooden comb was placed on top.

He walked over, picked up the comb, and turned it over. The water ripples on the back of the comb had been worn very shallow, and the edges had been repeatedly rubbed until they were smooth and warm, the kind of luster that comes from being held in someone's hands many times.

This was a New Year's gift he gave to Cang Yao in Qinghe Village.

She placed it where she could see it every day.

Cang Yao stood behind him, watching him pick up the comb, and the corners of her mouth slowly turned up.

"After you left, I couldn't sleep for a long time," she said. "Then I found that holding it helped me fall asleep, so I've kept it here ever since."

Jiang Yan's eyes glazed over for a moment.

Without saying much, he simply gripped the comb in his hand, leaving a tiny trace of spiritual imprint within it.

This way, when the blue planet appears in this timeline, you can immediately sense your approximate location using the comb.

Cang Yao watched his actions from the side and blinked.

Jiang Yan smiled, put the comb back in its place, turned to look at her, and said with a gentle look in his eyes, "That way, no matter where I hide, you can find me."

Cang Yao nodded vigorously.

The two stood side by side by the window, gazing at the seawater outside, which was bright and clear under the sunlight.

At this moment, a few people from the Dragon Court were whispering together not far from the sleeping quarters.

"Is that the husband that Lady Cangyao has been waiting for for hundreds of years? He doesn't seem to be anything special." A young crab general muttered.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a lobster spirit who had followed him to Chang'an City slapped him on the back of the head with such force that the shell on the crab's head buzzed.

"What nonsense are you spouting!" the lobster spirit whispered. "Do you know who he is? The recently rising star of Chang'an City in the entire Xuan Tian Realm—he's the city lord! Jiang Yan!"

Several aquatic creatures nearby, who had been eavesdropping, gasped in shock.

The Lord of Chang'an City, Jiang Yan, who killed a Nascent Soul cultivator with a single arrow and led a group of remnants to conquer a human city in the Demon Realm.

"How many eighteen-year-olds at the Refinement stage have you ever seen? Besides, when has Lady Cangyao's judgment ever been bad?" The lobster spirit slapped the crab general again. "Think before you speak next time, or you'll drag everyone down with you."

Crab General covered the back of his head and nodded repeatedly, while the surrounding aquatic creatures also pretended to disperse.

Cang Xiaoxiao stood not far away, taking in the whole scene.

He snorted. Since Brother Lin Chu was here this time, he wouldn't cause them any trouble; otherwise, he would definitely teach them a lesson.

Jiang Yan stayed in Longting for a day.

The next morning, they prepared to set off back to the capital of Tushan.

Cang Xiaoxiao accompanied him all the way to the exit of Longting, her lips pouting so much they could hang an oil bottle.

"I'll be there soon after I've finished what I needed to do!" She looked up at Jiang Yan. "Brother Lin Chu, you have to wait for me."

"Okay." Jiang Yan reached out and ruffled her hair. "No rush, take your time."

Xiao Xiao nudged her head into his palm, then took a step back and looked at the two of them.

Cang Yao stepped forward and hugged her younger sister, whispering something in her ear. She nodded slightly.

Two streaks of light shot out from the Dragon Court and flew towards the capital of Tushan.