"According to the Chronicles of the Ages, if Rover is that person, the likelihood of her remaining in Jinzhou is minuscule."
"But you are different. As an outsider, the chance of you returning to your original world is exceedingly slim. That's why I want you to settle in Jinzhou and assist Jinhsi."
"Yet I also know of your bond with Rover. I won't stop you from helping her regain her memories, but I hope that once your journey ends, you will return to Jinzhou."
As she spoke, Changli let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Does this count as... throwing myself into the game?"
"Lucian, I know Jinzhou this border city means little to you. But from what I've observed along the way, I believe you are not a heartless man."
"When your journey is over, will you stay in Jinzhou? Lucian... do it for me."
Lucian listened quietly to Changli's words. In his mind, Changli had always been a wise and far-sighted counselor.
After hearing such heartfelt words from her, Lucian felt that even Jinhsi had never heard Changli speak like this.
After all, Changli usually kept her thoughts buried deep, indifferent to the rumors and gossip around her, silently working toward her lifelong ambition. Who could truly make her open her heart?
Lucian could only think that she had carried too much on her shoulders all this time, with no one to confide in.
Changli was still waiting for his answer. Lucian lowered his gaze and saw her calm, seemingly unruffled expression—yet her faintly trembling lashes betrayed her.
Lucian smiled. She really is good at hiding her emotions.
Instead of answering, he leaned down and pressed his lips deeply against Changli's warm ones...
At the same time, the system's voice echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Changli's affinity has reached 99.]
[Host's Fusion (Fire) attribute intensity increased!]
[Skill obtained: 'Flaming Sacrifice']
[Flaming Sacrifice Lv1: When using any Resonance attribute, gain 'True Sight.' Upon accumulating four stacks of 'True Sight,' consume all stacks to unleash 'Flaming Sacrifice,' dealing Fusion (Fire) damage to the target.]
As his attribute intensity rose, the Tacet Mark on Lucian's back faintly glowed, and the frequency within his body surged wildly.
Changli sensed this and couldn't help but ask, "You...?"
Their close contact allowed her to clearly perceive the strengthening of Lucian's internal frequency. She smiled softly.
"You truly are... the greatest surprise I've had in decades."
...
"...This chessboard and the mirage are both the riddle and the answer."
"At the end of the mirage... I'm glad you were by my side."
Their fingers intertwined, and between their palms rested a fiery Heartfire Feather—a gift from Changli.
Venturing deep into the mirage, they unraveled the puzzle left behind by Changli's master, Master Xuanmiao.
The space echoed with Master Xuanmiao's voice:
"Plans triumph over the formless; destruction ceases before it begins."
Changli's eyes glazed over with nostalgia as she murmured, "Master..."
Master Xuanmiao's voice continued:
"Changli, you have done well."
"Since you have found the answer you sought... it is time to depart."
"From this moment onward, the choices and plans you make..."
"...will lead to that future."
Changli released several faint wisps of True Sight, striking the space above them.
Like raindrops breaking the surface of a still lake, ripples spread outward.
The disorder of Time had been shattered, and the group reunited within the space.
"Lu—"
Rover was overjoyed to see them—but before her happiness could fully form, she noticed their clasped hands.
"?"
How long has it even been?! What the hell happened?!
Before Rover could demand an explanation, several shrill howls pierced the air.
They hadn't fully left the space yet. Several Lightcrushers emerged from nowhere, eyeing the group with hostility.
Lucian pondered. So Rover was the key to unlocking this mirage, and Changli's True Sight was the method to break it and return to reality.
No doubt, this was Master Xuanmiao's final safeguard against intruders.
Changli drew Blazing Brilliance, ready to fight.
But Lucian patted her shoulder. "Let me handle this."
He had seen the exhaustion in Changli after her previous battles.
Lucian suspected that overusing True Sight placed a heavy burden on her body—perhaps even causing irreversible damage.
When he had tried to heal her earlier, he found it unexpectedly difficult, which was why he stopped. Once we're out, I'll treat her properly.
Now that he had acquired Changli's True Sight, breaking this space wouldn't be a problem.
With that thought, Lucian charged at the Lightcrushers. At his current strength, few creatures in all of Jinzhou could rival him...
Behind him, Changli smiled faintly, whispering something to Rover.
Lucian couldn't hear them. After a brief skirmish, he activated Flaming Sacrifice, refining the entire space.
In the blink of an eye, their surroundings shifted back to the place they had been before entering the mirage.
The night sky was dotted with embers of fire, like falling stars adorning the ink-black canvas.
They flickered and danced—gentle as the call of distant bonfires, or as light as the flutter of summer fireflies.
On the path leading to Hongzhen, Wuli, Fuling, and Xinyi stood waiting.
The wondrous sight reflected in Fuling's pupils, softening her features further.
"So beautiful..."
"Wuli, this is the marvel we've always sought—the sight of rebirth beyond destruction."
Wuli gazed at Fuling, whose complexion had improved greatly, and couldn't help but take her small hand in his. "Fuling..."
Remembering the year he had spent searching for a way to heal her, his eyes grew moist. "We must thank Mr. Lucian properly..."
From a distant peak, Phrolova watched as the group emerged unscathed and let out a cold snort. "Hmph. Useless."
After glaring at Lucian for a moment, she glanced at the scattered embers in the sky before turning away.
Down below, Lucian seemed to sense something and looked in her direction—but saw nothing.
On the road back to Hongzhen, Rover pinched the back of Lucian's neck with a frosty expression. "Don't you have anything to say for yourself?"
Lucian hunched his shoulders, not daring to provoke her further.
Changli chuckled. "Rover, didn't you say you'd already accepted it? Why take it out on Lucian now?"
Lucian blinked. "Accepted? What did you two talk about?"
Changli smiled. "Just a little agreement."
Rover snorted. "Even so, I'm still furious!"
Up ahead, the figures of Xinyi and the others came into view.
Changli: "It's already over."
Xinyi gave a slight nod. "Did you find what you were looking for?"
Changli simply gazed tenderly at Lucian, still caught in Rover's grip.
"I found it."