The improved female villains regained their memories.

Zhi Zixun nodded without saying anything.

Shi Yuzun remained silent for a while, then suddenly stretched out his hand. Spiritual energy arose, drawing a gust of wind that dispersed the mist between the two.

Gardenia was startled and immediately dove down, only showing half of her head, looking at him with some embarrassment and annoyance.

"what you do!"

She thought he was being frivolous again, but he wasn't. In her eyes, Shi Yuzun suddenly became serious.

“Gardenia,” he said softly, “you are not fake, you are real. Your kindness, your compassion, your gentleness are all real. These are far more precious than any title of saint.”

"Just be yourself, that's all that matters."

His voice was deep and gentle, like a warm breeze that blew into Zhi Zi's heart. She looked up at Shi Yuzun's sincere eyes and suddenly felt that the man in front of her seemed to have changed as well.

“Shi Yuzun,” she turned her head, “I…”

She wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin.

Those words buried deep in my heart are like tender buds breaking through the soil in spring, carrying a hint of shyness, a hint of expectation, and a hint of indescribable emotion.

Shi Yuzun looked at her, a knowing smile flashing in his eyes.

He didn't urge her, but waited quietly for Zhi Zi to say those words herself.

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills onto the water, creating shimmering waves like countless twinkling stars. The two stand side by side, their shadows stretched long and thin.

At this moment, there were no words between them, yet they spoke more than a thousand words. The unspoken words were hidden in their eyes, in this beautiful scenery, and in this unfinished journey.

If only time could stand still at this moment.

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

At the summit of the snow-capped mountain, the majestic palace stands tall. The cold wind, carrying fine snowflakes, gently taps against the glass windowpanes, producing a clear and melodious murmur.

Shi Yuzun and Zhizi stood side by side, returning to this frozen sacred land. Memories of the past surged up like a tide, echoing in the silence.

The rear hall doors opened, and the long-sealed wishes of all beings were once again awakened.

Shi Yuzun had already been inside once, so he wasn't surprised. His gaze followed the wishes on the wall and finally settled on that small blank space.

The place wasn't big, because there were so many wishes that there was only enough space to put one wish on the table.

Shi Yuzun said, "You only left yourself a place?"

Gardenia nodded.

She crouched in that empty corner, watching quietly, as if that was her whole world.

Shi Yuzun followed and squatted down beside him; the two of them just watched.

That blank space represents all of Gardenia's aspirations for the future. It is because she is so confused that she hopes her future self can find the true path and make the wishes she truly needs.

"Gardenia, are you so concerned about wishes?" Shi Yuzun suddenly asked.

Gardenia nodded.

She said, "I used to think that recording everyone's wishes was my mission. But now I understand that every life has the right to make a wish for itself, including my own."

As planned, how much of what she said was true and how much was false, even Zhi Zi herself probably didn't know.

Shi Yuzun asked, "Even if it can't be achieved, is that alright?"

Gardenia nodded gently: "Mm."

She stood up, her gaze flitting like a butterfly, quickly sweeping over all her desires.

“It’s okay, as long as you make a promise, it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t come true,” she said.

This was the impact that little girl had on her; it was the first time she had been so close to life.

"So, are you going to exercise your rights now?" Shi Yuzun asked.

Gardenia shook her head: "No, I'll leave it to my future self."

"Don't make things difficult for your future self; just make the wishes you want to make now."

After Shi Yuzun finished speaking, he turned and left, leaving the space to her.

She paused, staring at the blank space, but ultimately didn't make a move.

The fog remained, and she still couldn't see the road ahead.

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

They watched the sunrise at Lingxue Peak, and after coming down from there, they continued their travels.

Perhaps because of those previous conversations, Shi Yuzun has become a little more mature and is gradually no longer in line with the system's description.

But Zhi Zi didn't think much of it, simply assuming that people grow up.

The virus that had almost taken the girl's life suddenly spread, and many people around Shenlong Lake were infected with it.

They returned here, and with Shi Yuzun's help, they treated everyone in the name of the Divine Palace.

Shenlong Lake, the wishing well, was originally part of the Shen Palace's activities. After this incident, Gardenia's reputation as a saintess became even more deeply ingrained in people's minds.

The treatment went smoothly. Zhi Zi originally wanted to leave, but Shi Yu Zun suddenly suggested that they go to the nearby market. She thought about the plans she was currently working on and nodded in agreement.

Stepping into the bustling market, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares and haggling filled the air, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere. This was also Zhi Zi's first time here; previously, under strict guard at the shrine, she had rarely had the opportunity to descend the mountain.

Now that she's here, she looks around curiously at everything.

Suddenly, her eyes were drawn to a stall playing the game of pitch-pot. In front of the stall owner were several celadon bottles of different sizes, the one furthest away with the smallest opening, which corresponded to the most generous prize.

Unlike the obvious ring toss game, pitch-pot requires more skill and eyesight, especially with its tiny opening; it's difficult to hit the target unless you're an expert. Many people watch, but very few succeed.

Shi Yuzun followed her gaze and noticed the light in Zhi Zi's eyes. However, it was difficult for others to see the clues in this pitch-pot game, let alone know what she really wanted.

"Want to give it a try?" Shi Yuzun asked calmly.

Gardenia nodded, then shook her head: "I'm afraid I won't be able to hit the target."

Shi Yuzun smiled, said nothing, but walked to the stall, paid the money, and picked up the arrows.

Upon seeing the customer, the shopkeeper immediately beamed and greeted him warmly, "Young master, feel free to throw any ball! Whichever one you hit, the prize is yours!"

Shi Yuzun weighed the arrow in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the celadon bottles before finally settling on the small-mouthed bottle in the farthest distance. He narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly calculating the distance and angle.

Zhi Zi stood to the side, watching him nervously. She knew that Shi Yu Zun was an excellent archer, but at this distance and on this bottle opening, hitting the target would be no easy task.

Shi Yuzun took a deep breath, flicked his wrist, and the arrow left the bowstring, drawing a beautiful arc in the air before... landing steadily in the smallest opening of the bottle!

A chorus of exclamations arose from the crowd, and Zhi Zi couldn't help but clap and cheer, her bright eyes shining as she looked over.

The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment before he came to his senses. With a bitter expression, he took out an exquisite wooden horse from behind him: "Young master, you are truly skilled! This is the best prize I have here!"

Shi Yuzun took the wooden horse carving, looked at it, muttered that it wasn't as good as his, and turned to hand it to Zhizi: "It's yours."

Gardenia took the pony with delight and examined it closely. The pony was carved so lifelike that every detail of its mane was clearly visible, as if it were about to run away at any moment.

"Thank you!" Gardenia said happily, carefully putting the little horse away.

Shi Yuzun looked at her happy expression, lost in thought.

The two left the stall and continued strolling through the market. Shi Yuzun casually asked, "Could that be considered your wish?"

Caught off guard by the unexpected question, Zhi Zi was slightly taken aback, momentarily speechless: "Huh...?"

As the sun sets, its afterglow spills onto the streets, bathing everything in a warm golden hue.

Shi Yuzun stopped and looked at Zhizi: "Look, Zhizi, you also have wishes."

The afterglow of the setting sun cast a soft glow on his face, making the fleeting depth of that day seem like an illusion; the gentleness of this moment was the real thing.

He looked at Zhizi earnestly and said, "What you want to eat, what you want to play, what you want to desire—these are all wishes. Zhizi, you also have wishes, no matter how small they may be, they are still wishes."

Zhi Zi's heart skipped a beat. She looked up into Shi Yuzun's deep eyes and asked softly, "And what is your wish?"

The person who was stunned was Shi Yuzun.

Gardenia said, "I am a saint, but it seems I have not yet heard your wish."

got windy.

The wind ruffled the boy's hair, and he remained silent for a long time.

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

Was her heart beating too fast, or his heart beating too slow?

She could hear the pounding of his heart.

His figure was a dazzling golden yellow, while the road in front of him was a dim and desolate one.

The answer to that "wish" perhaps doesn't need to be expressed in words; Gardenia already sensed it—it must be a sorrowful wish.

"If you really don't want to say..."

"There's nothing I don't want to say."

Shi Yuzun paused for a moment, then said, "Once upon a time, I had a very good friend, or rather, a confidant..."

Gardenia was slightly taken aback. Was that so?

Before the mission began, she talked to the system about Shi Yuzun's past several times. Over the years, she had only learned about Shi Yuzun through the images transmitted by the system. She never knew that Shi Yuzun also had friends.

This guy has a self-centered personality, and basically no one wants to be friends with him. That's why the system gave him this kind of persona.

But.......

She had a lot of questions in her mind, but she couldn't ask the system right now, so she could only listen patiently.

"We had a falling out. She feels I betrayed her, and I feel she betrayed me," Shi Yuzun said calmly. "So if I have the chance, I hope..."

"Make up with her?" Gardenia asked.

"No." Shi Yuzun looked at her, and at that moment, his eyes became deep again: "I want to kill her with my own hands."

"Kill her to atone for my mistakes, that is my wish."

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

The virus spread rapidly. It started near Shenlong Lake and gradually spread throughout the country.

They walked for a long time under the scorching sun, and finally settled down in a small town called Luoxia.

I thought this would be an ordinary supply point, but to my surprise, as soon as I entered the town, I felt an unusually oppressive atmosphere. There were few pedestrians on the streets, and their faces were full of sorrow. From behind the tightly closed doors and windows, a few weak coughs could be heard from time to time.