The improved female villains regained their memories.

“I understand what you’re saying, sister,” the strategist said. “What I mean is not to frame Su Murong and use that to blackmail her. She has already broken the law, hasn’t she?”

The Empress suddenly realized that her younger brother was referring to the demonic beasts around Su Murong.

With the collapse of the spiritual spring and the destruction of classical immortal books in the royal city, they naturally did not know what the Four Heavenly Spirits were, and thus mistook the spirit beasts beside Su Murong for demonic beasts.

The Empress smiled slightly and raised her wine cup: "My brother has a far-sighted plan. With you here, our family is safe and sound."

"Sister, what are you saying?" The strategist smiled and raised his wine cup. "Of course, family members should take care of their own affairs."

The two wine glasses clinked together.

--------------------

On June 18th, that little girl came to beg me again yesterday. Looking at her reminded me of Xiao Rong. I wonder how she is doing now.

On June 19th, the little girl came again, saying her father was much better. I gave her some medicine, but she was hesitant to take it, so I forced it into her hand. She left. I hope she grows up healthy. Xiao Rong, look, I helped someone like you again today.

[June 20th, I dreamt about you last night, Xiao Rong. Where are you now? Are you doing well?]

On June 21st, the little girl came again, bringing me eggs, saying they were from her mother to thank me for saving her father. I refused and let her take them. When I came back that evening, she came again, shoving a steamed sweet potato into my hand, not letting me refuse. The way she ran away reminded me of Xiao Rong.

Xiao Rong, I wish I could see you again.

As night falls, the forest sheds its green dress and dons a black coat.

Su Murong finally left the cave and returned to the makeshift house.

Under the moonlight, a campfire burned, and she sat beside it, looking at the contents of her notebook.

The little Vermilion Bird, now in human form, curiously approached her, craning its neck to look: "My lord, you're looking at this thing again?"

"Ah."

"Did the higher-ups say anything?"

"nothing."

Su Murong closed the notebook.

Under the moonlight, she closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly, clearly trying to calm her emotions.

Little Vermilion Bird also felt somewhat sad and could only quietly stay with her without saying a word.

After a long while, Su Murong finally opened his eyes, slowly exhaled the stale air from his chest, and asked, "Where are they?"

"Xiaolong and Xiaohu are still fighting, Xiaowu is sleeping, everything is the same as always."

"How's that move coming along?"

"Don't worry, my lord." Little Vermilion Bird patted his chest. "I'm almost ready and can serve you at any time."

"it is good."

Tonight is a quiet night.

The cold moonlight bathed the northern border, and the desolate land was filled with swirling sandstorms. Moonlight streamed in through the window, casting long shadows of the person lying on the bed.

Su Murong couldn't sleep, so he got up and looked at the moon outside the window.

She missed Yang Pingsheng.

Three years of getting along, and the groundwork laid in the early stages, have ultimately been etched into our very bones.

True farewells don't involve holding hands and gazing at each other with tearful eyes, nor do they involve urging each other to drink another cup of wine. It's just that on countless ordinary nights, some people are left forever in yesterday.

Su Rouxue was like this, and so was Yang Pingsheng.

On that ordinary night, Su Murong returned home and saw only a swaying figure.

Nighttime is when Su Murong is most vulnerable. Looking at the moon, she no longer has the unfathomable look she had when confronting the mysterious man. In the blink of an eye, her gaze turns into tears.

She wanted to raise her hand to cover her face, but then felt that she wasn't crying. She sat there, watching the moonlight on the horizon gradually become blurred.

A figure fluttered its wings and landed in her arms.

"My lord, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Su Murong came back to his senses, smiled, and said, "I was just thinking about some things."

The girl's emotions changed very quickly; she had just looked worried, but now she was cheerful.

Little Vermilion Bird murmured, "Don't worry, my lord. I've practiced my killing move for a long time. I'll definitely let you see my lord tomorrow."

"Well, I believe you."

Looking at its master's appearance, the little Vermilion Bird couldn't help but think, if it were to leave one day, would its master react the same way?

"It's getting late, let's get some rest."

"Lord..."

Just as it was about to speak, it saw its master reach out and grasp something outside the window.

The hand slowly retracted and opened, revealing peach blossom petals lying quietly in the palm.

Peach trees are rare in the North, and a peach petal, carried by the wind, somehow ended up by the Lord's bedside.

"what do you want to say?"

"nothing."

Little Vermilion Bird nestled into Su Murong's arms.

If, if...

There are no "what ifs," and it will never leave its master!

----------

The next day, Su Murong brought the four spirits back to the grave where they had stood all those years ago.

It was a clear day. The thick white clouds in the sky were blown into thin veils by the wind. Su Murong stood silently in front of the tombstone that had stood there before. When the wind blew towards her, only her gray hair moved with the wind, dancing in harmony with the trees.

The tombstone erected back then consisted of nothing more than wooden plaques on either side, with Su Murong's crookedly written words on them. Over the years, these plaques had decayed considerably, and the bones buried beneath the earth had likely become nourishment for the land.

Past memories flow through my mind like water, blurry and indistinct, like thin clouds that vanish without a trace when the wind blows.

In a person's life, one goes through things, sees things, and passes by things. Even the most powerful and noble emperors are nothing more than a wisp of dust after death.

The dappled sunlight fell on Su Murong's face as she nodded to the little Vermilion Bird and said in a calm tone, "Let's begin."

Little Vermilion Bird nodded and then began to unleash its killing move.

Starlight rose from the earth and gradually formed a person in front of Su Rouxue's grave.

She was tall and slender, dressed in coarse linen clothes, but her natural grace was undeniable. She was delicate and graceful, yet her demeanor revealed a resolute spirit. Her expression was somewhat dazed, as if she didn't know why she was there.

Su Murong's previously calm mood suddenly trembled. She slowly stepped forward and said, "Mother."

This sound pierced through time and space, awakening the memories of the person before them.

"Xiao Rong?"

Su Rouxue became excited: "Are you Xiao Rong!?"

"mother!"

Each call brought tears streaming down her face.

Su Murong wanted to rush over and hug her, but in the end he could only pass through. After all, they were people to be parted from. Although he was forcibly awakened by the killing move, he could not stay for too long.

Su Rouxue had calmed down and understood her current situation, but she didn't panic. Instead, she looked at Su Murong with a relieved expression: "Xiao Rong, you've grown so tall."

"Yes, I'm very powerful now. I'm an alchemist, a cultivator, and I've even created a humane killing technique. I'm a high-ranking official in the country... Mother, I've become powerful now."

A few drops of water fell on the leaves, trembling, before finally returning to the earth.

"But I've also made many mistakes..."

Su Murong lowered his head, tears streaming down his face.

“I took drugs, I was disloyal, I was greedy for money and profit, I was the one who was stabbed, in order to climb up the social ladder, I recognized others as my godfather and others as my mother, and because of my own selfishness, I even hurt the person I cared about the most.”

“I am not a good daughter, I have let you down.”

"My glory is not the glory of honor..."

I remember the snow in Liuyun City that year.

Su Rouxue lay in bed, suffering terribly from her illness.

Su Murong did everything for his mother.

He is a fraudster, thief, robber, habitual liar, and disrespectful to elders.

No one would think that a child like that will amount to anything in the future.

But her own mother still held her hand and said to her, "Your honor is the honor of glory."

Yes, Mother said her honor was the honor of glory, but who would believe her?

Fourteen years of trials and tribulations, fourteen years of storms.

The world has been transformed, but Su Murong neither saved the world like the heroes nor destroyed it like the demon kings.

She was shrewd and charming, flattering and fawning, adept at navigating social situations, and used all her strength to gain wealth and status.

The meaning of the word "honor" from back then has long since changed.

She can't do anything.

She tried to save her mother, but her mother died because of it.

She tried to save the doctor, but the doctor died as a result.

She had long since failed her mother's expectations.

She simply held tightly to her aspirations and faced this cold world with a resilient heart.

However, she was ultimately ashamed to face her mother.

So she lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, Mother."

The girl who refused to give up, who played tricks on the mysterious man, and who, after learning the secrets of the world and the way of heaven, also burst forth with great ambition, lowered her head and dared not look at her mother.

"Xiao Rong".

Su Rouxue spoke slowly.