The journey from Starlight City to Cang Yue City was far more peaceful than either Lin Shuan or Han Qing Li had expected.
The luxurious carriage moved steadily along the vast imperial roads of the Da Cang Empire.
Outside the window, mountain ranges rose and fell like sleeping ancient dragons.
Endless rivers cut through emerald plains.
Countless villages rested beneath the golden glow of the setting sun.
Merchants guided caravans along the roads.
Cultivators traveled between cities.
Children played near the villages.
Everything felt vibrant.
Everything felt alive.
Han Qing Li sat quietly beside the carriage window.
Her blue eyes reflected the passing scenery.
For most travelers, these sights were ordinary.
But for her—
they were precious.
Every mountain.
Every river.
Every village.
Every smile.
Because she no longer had a home to return to.
The Wanling Empire was gone.
The palace where she had spent her childhood no longer existed.
The people she had called family had disappeared into the darkness of history.
Only memories remained.
Painful memories.
Lonely memories.
Yet strangely...
when Lin Shuan was nearby, that loneliness felt lighter.
The little Ice Feng White Tiger slept peacefully in her lap.
Its tiny body rose and fell rhythmically.
Occasionally it would twitch its ears while dreaming.
The sight made Han Qing Li smile faintly.
Across from her, Lin Shuan sat with his eyes closed.
He appeared calm.
As though he were cultivating.
But Qing Li knew better.
This boy carried countless thoughts inside his heart.
Thoughts he rarely shared.
Thoughts buried beneath smiles.
Thoughts hidden beneath determination.
The carriage continued forward.
Hours passed.
The sun gradually descended.
Eventually—
a magnificent city appeared upon the horizon.
Han Qing Li's eyes widened.
Cang Yue City.
The Imperial Capital.
The heart of the Da Cang Empire.
Even from far away, its magnificence was overwhelming.
Massive walls stretched toward the heavens.
Countless formations shimmered across their surfaces.
Thousands of spirit lamps illuminated the city beneath the approaching night.
The entire capital resembled a sea of stars resting upon the earth.
A city worthy of an empire.
Han Qing Li unconsciously leaned forward.
"This..."
Her voice became soft.
"Is this really the capital?"
Lin Shuan opened his eyes.
A faint smile appeared.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Han Qing Li nodded slowly.
"Very beautiful."
For several moments she simply stared.
This city was alive.
Unlike the ruins left behind by Void Chaos.
Unlike the memories that haunted her.
This city still breathed.
Still laughed.
Still dreamed.
And for reasons she could not explain—
seeing it filled her heart with emotions she could not name.
The carriage finally entered the city.
Immediately, the atmosphere changed.
The streets bustled with life.
Merchants called from every direction.
Restaurants overflowed with customers.
Cultivators walked proudly through the avenues.
Children chased one another through crowded markets.
Music drifted through the night air.
The capital felt like an entirely different world.
Han Qing Li followed behind Lin Shuan.
Occasionally she stopped to admire a building.
Or a market stall.
Or some strange object she had never seen before.
Lin Shuan noticed.
And couldn't help smiling.
At this moment, Qing Li looked less like a princess and more like an ordinary young girl exploring the world for the first time.
Eventually they found an inn.
A beautiful seven-story building built beside a moonlit lake.
Rows of lanterns illuminated the entrance.
Soft music drifted from inside.
The atmosphere was peaceful.
Far removed from the noisy streets.
Lin Shuan rented a room.
The owner handed him a wooden token.
Afterward, the two of them enjoyed a simple meal.
Neither complained about the accommodations.
After everything they had experienced...
a peaceful room already felt luxurious.
Night gradually descended upon the city.
The stars appeared.
The moon rose.
Its blue-silver radiance covered the capital.
After dinner—
neither of them felt like sleeping.
Instead, they climbed to the highest rooftop of the inn.
The night breeze welcomed them.
Below—
the entire capital stretched endlessly.
Countless lanterns glowed like stars scattered across the earth.
And above—
an enormous moon hung in the heavens.
Bright.
Silent.
Majestic.
Han Qing Li slowly raised her head.
Then froze.
For several moments she forgot how to breathe.
The moon appeared impossibly close.
As though one could reach out and touch it.
Silver light poured across the city.
Covering everything beneath heaven.
The scene resembled a dream.
A beautiful dream.
"So..."
Han Qing Li spoke softly.
"This is the moon you wanted to show me."
Lin Shuan nodded.
"When I first came here, I felt the same way."
A gentle smile appeared on Qing Li's face.
"It really is beautiful."
After that—
neither spoke.
Words felt unnecessary.
They simply sat together beneath the moon.
Watching the stars.
Listening to the distant sounds of the city.
Enjoying a rare moment of peace.
No enemies.
No battles.
No danger.
Only silence.
Only tranquility.
Only the moon.
Gradually—
their hearts began to calm.
The burdens they carried seemed lighter.
Even if only for a little while.
Han Qing Li slowly turned her head.
Her gaze landed upon Lin Shuan.
Moonlight illuminated his face.
The night wind moved through his dark hair.
For once—
he looked peaceful.
Truly peaceful.
The sight caused something inside her chest to tremble.
Over the past months—
this boy had protected her countless times.
He had helped suppress the Void Chaos consuming her.
He had risked his life repeatedly.
He had stood before danger without hesitation.
And yet—
he rarely spoke about himself.
Rarely spoke about his pain.
Rarely spoke about the loneliness he carried.
Suddenly—
Han Qing Li felt her chest tighten.
Without realizing it—
she moved slightly closer.
Then closer.
And closer.
Finally—
she gently rested her head upon his shoulder.
Lin Shuan immediately froze.
His entire body became stiff.
His mind went blank.
For a moment he didn't even know how to react.
Slowly he turned his head.
Han Qing Li continued looking at the moon.
Her expression remained calm.
Peaceful.
Almost fragile.
As though she had finally found a place where she could rest.
Lin Shuan hesitated.
Then said nothing.
He simply allowed her to remain there.
The moonlight continued shining.
The breeze continued flowing.
Time passed quietly.
Far away—
upon another rooftop—
a woman dressed in crimson stood silently.
Her long black hair danced in the wind.
Her beautiful eyes remained fixed upon a single location.
Lin Shuan.
And Han Qing Li.
She had been watching for quite some time.
Observing.
Silent.
Motionless.
At first—
her expression had been calm.
But the moment she saw Han Qing Li resting against Lin Shuan's shoulder—
her fingers tightened.
Her fists clenched.
A strange ripple passed through her eyes.
The spiritual energy around her became unstable.
As though hidden emotions had been disturbed.
She simply watched.
Without blinking.
Without moving.
For a very long time.
Then—
darkness gradually appeared within her gaze.
Jealousy?
Sadness?
Regret?
Perhaps all of them.
Perhaps none.
Eventually—
she turned away.
Moonlight briefly illuminated her face.
A faint bitter smile appeared.
"Perhaps..."
"I am becoming too emotional."
She looked toward the distant moon.
"Growth requires freedom."
The next moment—
she disappeared.
Leaving only silence behind.
Back upon the rooftop—
Lin Shuan remained completely unaware.
Han Qing Li still rested against his shoulder.
But gradually—
her eyes became moist.
Memories returned.
Her father.
Her mother.
Her people.
Her empire.
Everything she had lost.
Everything that could never return.
A single tear appeared.
Then another.
Then another.
One drop slid down her cheek.
Falling onto Lin Shuan's hand.
The cold sensation startled him.
He looked down.
And saw the tears.
His expression immediately changed.
"Qing Li..."
His voice became incredibly gentle.
Han Qing Li lowered her head.
Trying to hide her tears.
Trying to remain strong.
But she couldn't.
Not anymore.
The tears continued flowing.
Lin Shuan's heart felt heavy.
Because he understood.
He understood this pain.
This loneliness.
This helplessness.
After all—
he carried similar wounds.
He slowly stood.
Then turned toward her.
"Qing Li."
She bit her lip.
Trying desperately to stop crying.
Trying desperately to maintain her composure.
But her trembling shoulders revealed everything.
Lin Shuan took a slow breath.
"You don't have to force yourself to be strong all the time."
Finally—
Han Qing Li looked up.
Her beautiful blue eyes were red.
Filled with tears.
Filled with sorrow.
For the first time—
the proud princess looked completely vulnerable.
Like a lost girl standing alone beneath a storm.
"I miss them..."
Her voice trembled.
"I miss everyone..."
More tears appeared.
"I miss my home..."
Her words broke apart.
"I miss them so much..."
Lin Shuan became silent.
Because there were no words capable of healing such wounds.
No comfort capable of replacing family.
No promise capable of restoring the dead.
He could only stand beside her.
Then suddenly—
Han Qing Li stepped forward.
And before Lin Shuan could react—
she wrapped her arms around him.
Holding him tightly.
As though she feared losing him.
As though he were the final thread connecting her to the world.
Lin Shuan's mind instantly went blank.
Completely blank.
Han Qing Li buried her face against his chest.
And quietly cried.
Not loudly.
Not dramatically.
Just softly.
Like someone who had remained strong for too long.
And had finally reached her limit.
Lin Shuan stood frozen.
A memory suddenly surfaced.
The last time he had attempted something similar with Protector Yi...
he had received a merciless slap.
The memory was terrifying.
For several seconds he didn't know what to do.
Then—
slowly—
very slowly—
he raised his arms.
And gently embraced her in return.
The moment he did—
something strange happened.
A feeling of peace.
Warmth.
Comfort.
As though the loneliness inside his heart had finally found somewhere to rest.
Han Qing Li felt it too.
Neither spoke.
Neither moved.
Moonlight fell upon them.
The wind drifted through the night.
Below them—
the capital slept peacefully.
And above Cang Yue City—
two lonely souls stood together beneath the moon.
They didn't know what the future held.
They didn't know how many dangers awaited them.
But at this moment—
none of that mattered.
Because after losing everything—
for the first time—
Han Qing Li no longer felt completely alone.
And after carrying his pain for so long—
Lin Shuan finally realized something.
Perhaps...
the burden of sorrow did not always need to be carried alone.
Above them—
the moon remained silent.
As though witnessing everything.
As though blessing the fragile bond forming beneath its blue-silver light.
A bond that required no vows.
No promises.
No grand declarations.
And yet—
one that would forever change the course of both their destinies.