Five years later, on Danue Island.
The island is surrounded by vast sheets of frozen ice.
The ocean around it has solidified into an endless white expanse.
Only specially crafted magic ships, capable of cutting through the thick ice, can reach its shores.
The island lies far from any other land.
So distant that even Soul Enlightenment Stage cultivators find it difficult to reach by flight.
For those in lower realms, it is nearly impossible.
Travel here is rare.
Only once every twenty-five years does a magic ship arrive.
Because of this isolation, Danue Island has become a refuge.
A place for those who wish to live far away from the world.
Within a quiet valley on the island lies a quaint settlement known as Vostok Town.
The land surrounding it is fertile, a rare contrast to the frozen wilderness beyond.
Smoke rises gently from chimneys.
Life here moves slowly.
Peacefully.
A man clad in armour mixed with animal-hide clothing approaches from the back.
Over his shoulder, he carries the leg of a snow deer.
He pushes open the back door of a building and steps inside.
A woman opens the inner door and greets him with a smile.
"Master Chu Feng, you have returned from the hunt."
Chu Feng smiles faintly.
"Katrina, has Diexin awakened? And Biyun?"
Katrina steps aside, opening the door wider for him.
"Mistress is in the kitchen, checking the food," she replies.
"Young Master has gone to study with Master Thomas."
Chu Feng nods and steps inside.
Katrina closes the door behind him.
As he walks toward the kitchen, the two exchange a few casual words.
The warmth inside contrasts with the cold outside.
When he enters, his gaze immediately finds Diexin.
He places the deer leg onto the counter.
A cook takes it away to clean.
Diexin looks up at him.
A gentle smile appears on her face.
"Thank you for the deer," she says softly.
Her tone is polite.
Measured.
She leads him out toward the front of the restaurant.
The hall is empty at this hour.
They take seats at a table.
A servant soon arrives with tea and light snacks.
Chu Feng lifts his cup and takes a sip.
Warmth spreads through his body.
"What are you planning to do?" he asks.
"I heard the Four Seas convoy will reach the town today."
Diexin turns her gaze toward the window.
Outside, the quiet town continues its slow rhythm.
"I will stay," she says.
Then she glances back at him.
"But you are leaving, aren't you?"
Chu Feng frowns slightly.
He opens his mouth to respond.
Then closes it.
After a moment, he nods.
"Yes."
"I have to leave."
He takes another sip of tea.
The warmth settles into his chest.
"If I stay here any longer…"
"I will forget the vow I made to my father."
Diexin listens quietly.
Then nods.
"I understand."
Silence settles between them.
After finishing his tea, Chu Feng stands.
He says nothing more.
He walks toward the front door.
Diexin watches him.
There is something restrained in her eyes.
Something unspoken.
He opens the door.
Steps outside.
Then closes it behind him.
Only after he is gone does Diexin exhale.
A quiet.
Heavy sigh.
Footsteps approach.
Someone takes a seat opposite her.
It is her business partner.
A woman with golden hair and gem-like eyes.
Sierra.
"Diexin," Sierra says, her tone direct, "why are you still hesitating?"
"He will be leaving in a few days."
"And you will lose every opportunity to be with him."
Diexin exhales softly.
"I cannot," she says.
"I am married."
Sierra scoffs lightly.
"In the past five years, I have not seen your husband even once."
"But I have seen Chu Feng."
"Taking care of you."
"And your son, as if he were his own."
She leans forward slightly.
Her gaze is sharp.
"And don't think I haven't noticed the way you look at him."
"Those eyes aren't empty."
"They are full of affection."
Diexin lowers her gaze.
"I cannot be with him," she repeats.
Sierra frowns.
"Why?"
"Don't tell me it's because you love your husband."
She adjusts her seat and leans in closer.
"This time, I want the real reason."
"Why are you refusing a man like him?"
Diexin's eyes grow misty.
Her thoughts drift.
Back to that place.
The Ice Palace.
The Snow Maiden standing before her.
That calm, distant gaze.
The moment the Snow Maiden noticed the mark within her body.
A Saint's mark.
Diexin already knew.
Only one person could have left it behind.
Merin.
From the Snow Maiden, she learned the truth.
There had once been a Saint in this world.
Saints could travel across worlds.
Spreading their Dao.
Guiding cultivation.
Her husband…
Maybe one of them.
A being far beyond this world.
Before she left, the Snow Maiden gave her a warning.
If she did not wish for Chu Feng to die—
She must never grow close to him.
Saints are possessive.
That single sentence remained in her heart.
Diexin cannot speak of this.
The inheritance she received is only at the half-Saint stage.
She cannot afford to take such a risk.
At that moment, the door opens.
A small figure runs inside.
"Mother!"
"And Aunty!"
Her son's voice fills the room.
Diexin's thoughts shift instantly.
She is no longer alone.
Her son stands beside her.
The hatred she once held.
The desire for revenge against Shen Ling.
All of it has faded over the years.
Replaced.
By something quieter.
Something steadier.
She looks at Sierra.
Then speaks calmly.
"I need to take Biyun for a bath."
She stands.
Takes her son's hand.
Turns to leave.
Behind her, Sierra's voice follows.
"Diexin, I am not finished."
"You will tell me why."
Diexin does not respond.
She walks away silently.
Her hand was holding her son's tightly.
That evening, Diexin, Sierra, and Chu Feng sit together in a private dining room.
The room is quiet.
Warm light flickers from the lamps.
A table filled with simple but carefully prepared dishes rests between them.
On one side, Biyun sits with a book in his hands.
It is one of the items brought by the Four Seas Convoy.
His small figure leans forward slightly as he reads with focus.
Chu Feng lifts a piece of food and speaks casually.
"The book is well written," he says.
"The way it describes the northern campaigns is detailed."
Sierra nods.
"It exaggerates in parts, but the structure is good."
She glances toward Biyun.
"At least it keeps children interested."
Diexin listens quietly.
She eats slowly.
Occasionally responding.
"The battles are not as simple as written," she says softly.
"There are always things left out."
Chu Feng nods.
"True."
"The human side is often hidden."
Their conversation flows naturally.
They discuss the content of the book.
The structure.
The battles.
The figures mentioned.
But there is one name that is never spoken.
Merin.
It lingers unspoken between them.
Like a quiet barrier.
A wedge neither side crosses.
At that moment, Biyun suddenly stands.
He walks over, holding the book.
"Mother," he says excitedly.
"Look."
He opens the page and turns it toward her.
A picture is drawn on it.
A man standing above a battlefield.
A dragon behind him.
The title beneath reads—
Marquis Duan.
Diexin's eyes widen.
Her fingers freeze mid-motion.
Biyun looks up at her with bright eyes.
"In the book, it says Marquis Duan is a hero," he says.
"Mother… is my father a hero like Master Duan?"
The room falls silent.
Diexin freezes completely.
Her expression changes subtly.
Something deep stirs in her eyes.
For a brief moment, she looks toward Chu Feng.
Then she turns back to her son.
Her voice becomes gentle.
"Biyun," she says softly, "it is time for bed."
The boy pauses.
"But—"
"Tomorrow," she says.
"We will talk tomorrow."
She closes the book and takes his hand.
Leading him away.
Her steps are steady.
But her silence lingers.
The door closes behind her.
The room grows quiet again.
Sierra leans back slightly.
Her gaze shifts to Chu Feng.
"Is Marquis Merin… Diexin's husband?"
Chu Feng does not answer directly.
But his expression tightens.
That alone is enough.
Sierra exhales slowly.
"I see."
She looks down briefly.
Then back at him.
"Now I understand why Diexin refuses to make a move."
She pauses.
Then asks,
"But why haven't you?"
"Why haven't you taken that step toward her?"