The improved female villains regained their memories.

"........"

“I’ve been inside your inner palace. You’ve preserved those people’s wishes very well, which is beyond my expectations. I thought you were just putting on an act.”

Upon hearing this, Zhi Zi felt inexplicably nervous and shy, as if a deep secret of her heart had been discovered: "You...you've seen it all!?"

"I helped you move, so isn't it normal for me to have gone to check on things?"

"But I did not allow you to enter the inner palace!"

"Your subordinates gave permission, didn't they?"

"........"

Gardenia didn't know what to say.

“The palaces on Lingxue Peak are all preserved, and the wishes in the rear hall are also left there,” Shi Yuzun said. “But I noticed there’s a space there that’s been deliberately left empty. Did you leave it for someone?”

".......Um."

Gardenia gave a soft "hmm," a promise she made for her future self.

Shi Yuzun simply said "oh" and didn't ask any further questions.

The night was long and deep, just like the long and deep thoughts in the hearts of the young boy and girl.

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

The girl gradually recovered, thanks in part to Yu Zun's efforts and also to the system's efforts.

Although the system kept saying it couldn't cure the problem at the Divine Palace, it was now forced to go and try to cure it, even while grumbling.

This consumed a lot of its energy, forcing it to go into seclusion again.

Before going into seclusion, it handed the revised plan to Zhi Zi, warning her to follow it precisely. If it discovered the plan had gone astray after waking up, it would definitely replace Zhi Zi's soul.

Gardenia still didn't take its threat seriously, and she even breathed a sigh of relief after learning that it had gone into seclusion.

No one likes the feeling of being constantly monitored, not even a human chess piece.

She will carry out the plan; she just doesn't like the system's arrogant attitude.

Because of the little girl incident, her relationship with Shi Yuzun quickly warmed up, and she also followed the plan, showing concern for Shi Yuzun with a gentle demeanor from time to time.

The girl was fully recovered and could return to her hometown with her mother. Shi Yuzun gave the mother and daughter travel expenses, and they saw them off at the city gate.

"Thank you for your help, Holy Maiden. This is what I made. I hope you can fulfill your wishes in the future!" The little girl put the bracelet she had made on Zhizi's wrist and said sincerely.

"Okay, thank you." Only in front of the girl could Zhi Zi be herself and show her true smile.

They watched the mother and daughter leave together. Shi Yuzun said, "I looked into it. The husband died early, and the woman sold everything she owned to come to the capital to fulfill her daughter's wish. She originally planned to commit suicide after her daughter's death, but unexpectedly..."

He couldn't help but exclaim, "What a great mother's love!"

“Yes.” Gardenia lowered her eyes. She was different. Because she had no parents, she couldn’t understand the greatness of maternal love. So she didn’t know how to respond to Shi Yuzun’s words.

After resolving the matter, they walked back, and Shi Yuzun remained silent the entire way.

Suddenly, he spoke up: "I want to apologize to you."

Gardenia was taken aback: "Huh?"

He said, "I think you are just like everyone else, a person who seeks fame and fortune. The so-called saintess and divine palace are just labels that you extraterrestrials give yourselves. After all, you don't have the ability to fulfill other people's wishes."

Riding his horse in the wind, he put aside his cynicism for the first time and said calmly, "But I was wrong, Gardenia. You are different. Your wish has the power to put others at ease."

Gardenia blushed slightly, unsure how to respond.

This part wasn't in the plan, and in that instant, Shi Yuzun became different, as if his previous cynicism was just a disguise, and this calm and composed demeanor was the real him.

"I'm not as amazing as you say, I..."

"No, you're amazing."

He laughed and said, "So I want to apologize to you. You are not suited to be in the capital. You should not be corrupted by the world of fame and fortune, and you should not become a tool for me to deal with the Crown Prince."

The voice suddenly softened, and for some reason, the gentleness shifted to him.

“Gardenia, regardless of whether you can fulfill other people’s wishes, as long as you can give people a sense of security, you are the best saint.”

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

He kept his word and stopped taking her to wander around the capital.

He led her out of this place, spreading the name of the saintess to more distant places.

Gardenia also witnessed more; those places were not like the imperial city, where even making a wish required scheming and intrigue.

The wishes there are simple—some hope to have enough to eat, some hope to have a piece of clothing, and some hope that their families will be healthy and safe.

Although there was some concealment and deception involved, Zhi Zi was still happy.

Her smile became more and more frequent, to the point that she sometimes forgot her lines and how to maintain her persona.

In a village, people held a bonfire party for her. The blazing fire illuminated everyone's faces, and she was surrounded by the crowd, enveloped in their warmth.

The village was plagued, but the plague was cured by the arrival of the saint.

She felt a little embarrassed, because the person who really solved the problem was Shi Yuzun, not her.

"You've misunderstood, it wasn't me, it was Shi..."

But people didn't care; they just surrounded her and cheered happily.

She looked anxiously at Shi Yuzun, only to find him standing outside the circle, smiling at her.

She picked up the communication device: "Why aren't you coming over!?"

Shi Yuzun picked it up and replied, "People are thanking the Holy Maiden, what does that have to do with me?"

"But, without you..."

“Without you, I wouldn’t be here.” Shi Yuzun interrupted her. “Zhi Zi, it was you who brought me here and allowed me to see more.”

The moon hung high, its light as clear as water, and the two gazed at each other.

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

Shi Yuzun put down his magical artifact, waved vigorously at her, and shouted, "Zhizi, are you happy?"

Is she happy?

She didn't know that her feelings at that moment were somewhat complicated.

Because she is a human chess piece, not a saint.

she........

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

She waved her hand vigorously and shouted, "Happy!"

"I'm so happy!"

Chapter 701 Life is Hard to Guard Against

People say that the second child is the least popular.

The first one is Ye Buxin.

The third is Jiang Mochang.

In the middle is the girl named Zhi Zixun.

Unfortunately, Yang Pingsheng has no memory of her now. Standing before his own tombstone, he has made his choice, which means he will never regain his memories.

This also means that he will never know that in that past time and space, there was a girl with flaxen hair.

That grave holds not only his memories, but also those of many others.

The story remained unknown, and so he lost his life, buried in the grave along with his body.

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

Shi Yuzun really does act on a whim.

They had originally planned to spread the name of the saintess further, but unexpectedly, he simply dragged her off to play.

“The hot springs at Tianquan Mountain Villa are excellent; you must try them,” he said.

Mist rose, obscuring the sky; a gentle breeze rippled the water's surface, shattering the reflections and then piecing them back together.

She soaked in the water and whispered, "It's really good."

Shi Yuzun stood beside her, following her gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips: "You should enjoy yourself sometimes, after all..." He paused, as if searching for the right words, "Life is short, and it's best to fulfill your own wishes before fulfilling others'."

Zhi Zi was slightly taken aback and turned to look at him. She hadn't expected Shi Yuzun to suddenly bring up that matter.

My own wish........

"I..." She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

Shi Yuzun seemed to see through her thoughts, chuckled, and said, "People are always confused, just like when I lack inspiration in refining weapons. When the fog rises, people can never see the road ahead."

"But Gardenia, the wind will always blow away the fog, and then everything will be clear."

The mist obscured the boy's face. At this moment, she felt that Shi Yuzun was not a boy three years younger than her, but an old man who had experienced many vicissitudes.

It seems he has experienced something, and those experiences are unknown even to the system.

His tone was filled with endless chaos, and an inexplicable...sorrow.

Zhi Zi's heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head, avoiding Shi Yu Zun's gaze, and whispered, "Then I'll wait until then..."

"Will it be too late to make a wish by then? I thought the Heavenly Dao limited the number of people who could make wishes." Shi Yuzun teased her deliberately, "You are the Holy Maiden, you know better than anyone else, if you want to make a wish, will the Heavenly Dao let you jump the queue?"

“I…” Zhi Zi raised her head, wanting to refute, but when she met Shi Yu Zun’s smiling eyes, she suddenly lost her temper.

She knew that Shi Yuzun was mocking her. He didn't take the Heavenly Dao seriously at all. Although he believed in her identity as a visitor from outer space, he still treated the so-called Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Dao as just a persona.

"Shi Yuzun," she called softly, her voice tinged with seriousness, "thank you."

"Thank me for what?" Shi Yuzun raised an eyebrow.

"Thank you... for bringing me here, for showing me these beautiful landscapes, and for letting me meet these... lovely people." Gardenia's voice grew softer, yet more resolute. "No matter what, I..."

"It seems you really like the identity of the Holy Maiden," Shi Yuzun said.