The consequences of the catastrophe were beyond repair, but nearly all the survivors felt a sense of gratitude; time would eventually restore everything.
The scorched earth began to sprout new shoots, and the crops wrecked by the heavy rain were replanted in a new cycle. The skies were clear, and life was rejuvenating all around.
Fortunately, the catastrophe hadn’t spread far beyond Wuzhong City. Although the city lay in ruins, most of the civilians had already been evacuated, resulting in minimal casualties. The various celestial sects, now recognizing their own shortcomings, disbanded the celestial beings among them and honored the Wuhui Sect as the foremost in the martial realm, uniting to assist the common folk.
Everything was breathing new life in an orderly fashion.
The Wuhui Sect was shrouded in sadness. The sect leader’s grave was established on the back mountain, resting alongside those who had sacrificed their lives for the Wuhui Sect. The disciples knelt at the white jade pillar at the entrance for three consecutive days, honoring her memory.
Luo Jinxiao knelt before her grave, bowed her head, and using Wujie, carved the characters “Bei Sang” onto the tombstone.
She had devoted her life to the sect leader’s role and had ultimately reclaimed her identity in death.
The disciples nominated Luo Jinxiao to be the new sect leader, but she declined, understanding that she was not suited for such a lofty position. She did not wish to be in the limelight; she only wanted to tend to her own small plot of land. Thus, the title temporarily fell to Elder Liu.
Upon hearing the news, Elder Liu was furious and stormed up to the Han Yun Pavilion to confront her, only to find it deserted.
Time quickly passed to late autumn, and the weather gradually turned colder; however, the world below remained bustling with excitement. Long streets in Luyang Prefecture were filled with throngs of people, all rushing to enjoy the rare warmth under the sun before the chill set in.
In the bustling market, many children brandished candy hawthorns, gathering in clusters, playing and laughing as they sang off-key tunes.
After years of chaos throughout the Six Realms, the dark night was finally illuminated.
The kind-hearted Demon Lord was not a disaster; with the descent of the Nine Gods, the heavens were cleansed.
“Listen,” a girl in green with a hood nudged the person beside her, her face aglow with a smile.
The red-cloaked woman with an oversized hat focused intently for a moment before nodding, “Not bad.”
“Control your energy; you wouldn’t want to be recognized,” Qu Weiyin playfully pinched Luo Jinxiao’s waist, causing her to yelp quietly and scoot closer.
“If they recognize me, so be it. You’re not afraid anymore,” Luo Jinxiao said, feigning a pout.
“They’ll worship us,” Qu Weiyin replied, looking even more aggrieved.
Luo Jinxiao sighed in resignation and cleared her throat a couple of times, disguising herself as an ordinary person.
The two of them continued to wander with the crowd for a while longer when Qiongqi suddenly caught the scent of roasted meat and made a beeline for a nearby tavern. Luo Jinxiao quickly grabbed her, clutching her neck. “You’re not hungry again, are you?”
Qiongqi struggled a bit while nodding.
“You can’t eat!” Luo Jinxiao refused to relent, so Qiongqi turned and gazed up at her with big teary eyes, burrowing into her chest. Luo Jinxiao instinctively dodged, and the two began to playfully wrangle in the street.
Qu Weiyin, annoyed by the ruckus, grasped Luo Jinxiao with one hand while tugging on Qiongqi with the other, successfully separating the two.
“Fine, if she wants to eat, just let her eat. Don’t argue with her,” Qu Weiyin said, shaking her head as she strode into the tavern. The attendant, seeing the guests arrive, eagerly led her upstairs.
Having succeeded, Qiongqi gleefully followed closely behind Qu Weiyin.
Luo Jinxiao sighed deeply, knowing she had to give in, mumbling as she walked inside and took a seat upstairs.
The tavern was quite spacious, with an open central area. Guests could choose to sit on the first floor or at tables on the second floor, overlooking the scene below. A storytelling session was about to begin, and the atmosphere was already lively, even before the storyteller took the stage.
Luo Jinxiao and Qu Weiyin had no need to eat, so they simply watched Qiongqi devour the food. The two relaxed with cups of tea, sipping leisurely.
“Little Master Uncle, look at her eat like that. If I can’t afford to keep her in the future, I’ll have to find her a good home,” Luo Jinxiao mused with a twitching smile, watching as Qiongqi swallowed a chunk of beef brisket whole.
“Who would be foolish enough to think that?” Qu Weiyin raised an eyebrow.
“It’s a bit challenging, but worth exploring. First, I need to have enough money-plenty of it,” Luo Jinxiao said, resting her chin in thoughtful contemplation.
“Then how about you? Why haven’t you prepared more for yourself?” Qu Weiyin finished her tea and snatched the cup from Luo Jinxiao’s hands, leaning forward to fix her captivating gaze upon her.
Luo Jinxiao felt warmth flooding her cheeks under her intense stare, causing her to stutter.
“W-well, I don’t have that much, but in the future, the entire divine realm will belong to you, filled with countless treasures.”
“Now that’s reasonable,” Qu Weiyin said with a teasing smile, bringing the remaining tea to her lips for a delicate sip.
Luo Jinxiao swallowed hard, her heart racing.
She forcibly shifted her gaze, changing the subject. “Why hasn’t the performance started yet?”
As soon as she finished speaking, the sound of gongs and drums echoed from below. A storyteller dressed in a long robe stepped onto the stage amid cheers, and Luo Jinxiao joined in with a few shouts of her own.
“Today, we shall recount the story that unfolded at the Wuhui Sect!” the storyteller declared passionately, spitting out words with fervor. “First, we start with the sect leader. Her cultivation had surpassed the Great Completion, reaching the transformation stage. No one knows how long she has lived; ever since the Wuhui Sect emerged in the martial world, legends about her have circulated.”
As he spoke animatedly, Luo Jinxiao felt an unsettling sensation growing in her heart.
“They don’t know that since the day the sect leader came down from the Southern Dipper Peak, she had already reached her limits. Her age and old ailments weighed heavily on her, and she was merely holding on.”
Luo Jinxiao listened to the storyteller, yet her thoughts seemed to drift far away.
Qu Weiyin’s eyes showed her concern; she knew how deeply Luo Jinxiao had sunk into despair after the sect leader’s passing, only recently beginning to heal.
Qu Weiyin reached out, holding Luo Jinxiao’s palm, gently rubbing it.
Luo Jinxiao had nearly exhausted all her strength. With just one final push, she could have restored the world to its former state, but it was the sect leader who had intervened with her divine power, rescuing her at the last moment and saving her life.
In the beginning, she could barely walk without Qu Weiyin’s help, but after healing for a while, she gradually regained her divine strength.
Qu Weiyin understood how deeply she felt.
“The underworld is a mysterious place; perhaps Zhao Zhao is truly waiting for her in the netherworld. She is likely reunited with Zhao Zhao now, waiting for their next lives,” Qu Weiyin said softly.
“Just like you and me. No matter what form we take, they will surely recognize each other.”
Luo Jinxiao blinked away the moisture in her eyes and managed a smile, saying, “That must be the case. I still remember the sect leader mentioning that I resemble Zhao Zhao a bit; perhaps that’s why she was willing to help me save you back then.”
Qu Weiyin smiled back, her eyes sparkling brightly.
Below them, a fresh wave of chaos erupted, like a boiling pot of oil, with shouts ringing out everywhere.
“Next, let us talk about the Demon Lord and our ancient gods.” The storyteller sipped some tea to clear his throat and continued, “As for the Demon Lord, in her noble form, she hid among the chaos of demons, bowing low and enduring for three years before she finally eliminated the instigator and prevented an even greater disaster…”
“Pfft! What nonsense is this? When has the great Demon Lord ever bowed low?” Qu Weiyin was displeased and interrupted angrily.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but laugh, lightly patting Qu Weiyin on the head. “That’s how storytellers are; every story has at least five versions. Who knows, maybe the next version will have you being crowned as a star.”
Qu Weiyin swatted her hand away, biting her lip and sporting a look of discontent.
Luo Jinxiao ordered a plate of peanuts, picked one up, and grinned as she tossed it into her mouth.
“…the Heavenly Goddess Luo Jinxiao is deeply in love with Qu Weiyin. Their bond is truly earth-shattering. Although two women are not meant to bear children, and Luo Jinxiao cannot fulfill her wish to give birth to the divine race, she is still utterly devoted to Qu Weiyin, setting aside her divine pride and willingly embracing the role of a devoted wife.”
The peanut in Luo Jinxiao’s fingers crumbled to dust.
Furious, she stood up, ready to leap over the railing, but Qu Weiyin caught her and pulled her back into an embrace. “Jinxiao, don’t be impulsive!”
“Pfft! What is this storyteller babbling about? Who told him I wanted to give birth to the divine race? Who said I’m utterly devoted?” Luo Jinxiao exclaimed, her anger boiling as she grasped the railing, itching to go down and beat him up.
Qu Weiyin hurriedly wrapped her arms around her waist, lifting her off the ground with an exasperated expression. “You can’t fight with mere mortals, and especially not with someone like him. Remember what you said: storytellers always have multiple versions of a story. Don’t take it to heart.”
“It’s unacceptable!” Luo Jinxiao shook her off and glared in fury. “There are limits to what can be tolerated! How can such irreverent claims be allowed? ‘Embracing the role of a devoted wife’? I, Luo Jinxiao, won’t stand for this disgrace!”
“Shh! Keep your voice down!” Qu Weiyin quickly tried to calm her down, gripping her firmly. However, the commotion they created was still too loud, and they had already taken off their wide-brimmed hats, revealing their appearances.
As onlookers looked up, they caught sight of Qu Weiyin pinning Luo Jinxiao against the railing, one arm wrapped around her waist while the other covered her mouth.
With the red-clad figure pressing down on the one in green, a somewhat ambiguous tension hung in the air.
Luo Jinxiao’s mind was in turmoil, fearing that her illustrious reputation might be ruined in an instant.
“Who are they? They look so familiar.”
“There’s a demonic aura; look at her eyes-could she be the Demon Lord?”
“Then the one below must be the Heavenly Goddess, Luo Jinxiao!”
The crowd erupted into a frenzy, rising in excitement. Luo Jinxiao’s face turned crimson, and she hurriedly pulled Qu Weiyin and Qiongqi along, spinning around to escape.
Just then, two figures burst into the tavern entrance, both clad in the white robes of the Wuhui Sect; one of them had a flamboyant peacock perched on her shoulder.
“Oh no, it’s Luo Ning!” Luo Jinxiao quickly took a few steps away, her and Qu Weiyin’s figures vanishing in an instant, leaving behind a jubilant crowd.
“Sister?” Luo Ning furrowed her brows, striding forward, with Yanying panting behind her, looking somewhat exasperated.
“Why are you still chasing? Don’t you see how tired I am, Ning’er?” she called out.
Luo Jinxiao grabbed Qu Weiyin and soared into the sky on her sword, the two racing directly towards the divine realm, successfully shaking off Luo Ning and Yanying.
“She didn’t catch up,” Qu Weiyin said with a turn of her head, smiling as she added, “She’s just worried about your safety.”
Luo Jinxiao sighed deeply. “Now that she’s seen me, she won’t worry anymore. Those two are truly persistent-chasing me all this time.”
“Why are you avoiding Luo Ning?” Qu Weiyin teased, her eyes sparkling. “After all, she is your younger sister.”
“It’s not that I want to avoid her; I just want some time alone with you. Just the two of us,” Luo Jinxiao tightened her grip on Qu Weiyin’s hand, feeling a bit shy.
Qu Weiyin shook her head, secretly amused at her earnestness.
The barrier of the divine realm loomed ahead, the enormous island seeming infinite, with the grand temple standing majestically in one corner as if it could pierce the sky itself.
The gleaming stone walls glittered in the sunlight, enhancing their grandeur.
Even someone as composed as Qu Weiyin couldn’t help but feel a sense of awe.
Everything on the island was magnificent. Outside the temple, the ground was blanketed in pure white snow, yet there was no chill in the air. Luo Jinxiao held Qu Weiyin’s hand and strode forward, stepping confidently onto the snowy ground as they approached the temple.
In this vast world where only the two of them existed, although it felt empty, their hearts brimmed with joy.
Suddenly, Luo Jinxiao scooped up a handful of snow and stuffed it into Qu Weiyin’s collar. Qu Weiyin let out a surprised squeak, looking at her with playful annoyance. “Jinxiao!”
Watching Luo Jinxiao dash away gleefully, Qu Weiyin kicked the snow around her before scooping up a snowball and chasing after her. The two played and laughed in the snow, reveling in their happiness.
As Qu Weiyin twirled in the snow, her red robe created arcs like fluttering petals, sending frost scattering into the air.
Luo Jinxiao watched, her heart warming like a hot spring. Suddenly, she pulled Qu Weiyin into a tight embrace, and they both fell into the soft snow pile. Qu Weiyin gasped slightly, her gaze sparkling like melted snow, crystal clear and bright.
With a gentle smile, she wrapped her arms around Luo Jinxiao’s neck and planted a kiss on her lips.
“Little Master Uncle,” Luo Jinxiao murmured, leaning down to control Qu Weiyin so she couldn’t struggle. She then pressed a kiss onto her forehead.
Qu Weiyin shivered, momentarily surprised by the gesture. In her flustered state, she couldn’t muster her anger; a soft, involuntary whimper escaped her lips.
Breathless, her chest rising and falling, she frowned and asked, “What are you angry about this time?”
Having spent days understanding Luo Jinxiao’s temperament, she knew that whenever Luo was upset, she would inevitably poke her forehead.
“It’s from those babbling storytellers!” Luo Jinxiao pouted, sidling up to Qu Weiyin to steal another kiss.
Qu Weiyin let out a small laugh, pushing her away. “How childish! You’re arguing with mere mortals.”
“I don’t care! You’re out there shining like a star, and I can’t even steal a kiss?” Luo Jinxiao whined, resting her face against Qu Weiyin’s chest, her hands starting to wander.
“Hey…” Qu Weiyin gasped as cold air hit her. In a swift motion, she flipped over, pinning Luo Jinxiao beneath her. She used her long fingers to tilt Luo Jinxiao’s chin up, her eyes glimmering with mischief. “I think they might have a point. I’ve never seen you so flushed and breathless.”
“Have you not seen it before? You see it every time,” Luo Jinxiao responded.
“That’s different! It has to be the kind of flushed and breathless that matches me,” Qu Weiyin said, wrinkling her brow.
“What’s the kind that matches you?” Luo Jinxiao asked with wide, innocent eyes.
“You!” Qu Weiyin exclaimed, unable to contain her amusement.
Qu Weiyin realized she had fallen into Luo Jinxiao’s playful trap. She turned her gaze away, huffing softly, and rolled over, refusing to acknowledge Luo Jinxiao.
“Little Master Uncle, I don’t understand! Can you teach me?” Luo Jinxiao chuckled, quickly scrambling up and bouncing after her.
The interior of the temple was grand, with ancient totems carved into the stone pillars and walls. The ceilings soared high above, echoing with every sound.
The two held hands and walked into the inner sanctum, where everything was spotless, as if someone had just occupied the space.
Luo Jinxiao surveyed their surroundings, her memories hazy from the passage of time, unable to recall many details clearly.
The floor was covered with thick animal hides, soft underfoot.
“Do you like it, Little Master Uncle? For the next thousands of years, we can spend our time here together, going wherever we wish, enjoying a carefree life in both heaven and on earth.” Luo Jinxiao spun around on the animal hides, then collapsed into a starfish position.
Qu Weiyin pressed her lips together, nodding as she knelt beside Luo Jinxiao, then slowly lay down on top of her.
“It feels surreal. Such a wonderful life has actually fallen upon me,” Qu Weiyin said with a smile, having embraced a much lighter spirit compared to before.
“You deserve it. You are worth more than anyone else in this world,” Luo Jinxiao said, rolling over to meet her gaze.
Qu Weiyin grinned, and suddenly, she tilted her head, her full, rosy lips brushing against Luo Jinxiao’s cheek.
“Jinxiao…” Her voice was sweet and soft, a softness like never before, almost like she was being affectionate.
The fragrant breath washed over Luo Jinxiao, making her heart race.
“Mm.” Luo Jinxiao steadied herself and replied gently.
To her, Qu Weiyin was like a celestial being, a fairy, a seductress-anything that could ensnare one’s soul. Gradually losing her shyness, she blossomed beautifully in this secluded space.
Luo Jinxiao held her hand, gently kneading it, marveling at how incredibly soft her hands felt, wanting to touch them endlessly.
“Little Master Uncle, are you going to comfort me?” Luo Jinxiao teased with a smile.
“For now, let’s do it your way,” Qu Weiyin replied, her breaths becoming softer as she nestled into Luo Jinxiao’s embrace, tilting her beautiful neck up, beckoning Luo Jinxiao to lean down and kiss her.
Luo Jinxiao’s heart melted. She responded to every gentle gesture, and then, with a slight tremor in her hands, she pushed Qu Weiyin gently along the soft animal hides while she leaned backward.
Qu Weiyin bit her lip, closing her eyes and daring not to look down as she let Luo Jinxiao guide her.
“Ah…” A soft moan escaped her lips.
“This place is empty, Little Master Uncle,” Luo Jinxiao looked up, her eyes sparkling brightly, “You don’t have to hold back.”
“Shut up,” Qu Weiyin shot back, covering her mouth defiantly.
Luo Jinxiao chuckled softly, surrendering to the moment and remaining quiet, while Qu Weiyin couldn’t hold back any longer. Upon hearing her words, she fully relaxed.
In matters of the heart, when two people are in love, it becomes all the more exhilarating, their souls connecting effortlessly.
From the bright sunlight until the golden disk of the sun sank in the west, the two remained tightly embraced, their foreheads touching, until the final rays of golden sunshine slanted through the window’s drop, casting a warm glow inside. It was only then that they released each other and lay side by side.
Qu Weiyin felt utterly exhausted, gently swatting Luo Jinxiao, chiding, “Don’t forget you’re a goddess; I’m not. I can’t withstand this kind of torment.”
“Alright, I’ll remember next time,” Luo Jinxiao said, unable to hide her amusement.
The golden light flooded the grand hall, illuminating the once-dim temple with vibrant life, making it richer than anywhere else.
“Our lives have just begun. For the next thousand years and every life thereafter, I will love you,” Luo Jinxiao said softly after a long while.
Qu Weiyin replied with a contented “mm,” gazing at the distant, golden rolling clouds, her phoenix eyes glistening with warmth.
The shadows of the two lying together were drawn long and synchronized, side by side on the ground.
Though no one was around, they would no longer be lonely for eternity.
(The End)
**The Author Speaks**: The main text has concluded; I have completed another story with seven thousand words. I know there may still be imperfections, but I believe we will continue to improve.
There will be extras, but due to personal reasons, these will be updated next week. If there’s anything you’d like to see, feel free to leave a comment, and I will try my best to write it.
**One more thing!** If you’re interested, please consider bookmarking my next story, *Little Overlord and Mr. Beautiful*. Pre-saves are very important to me, a little bit of support goes a long way. To those who have been following along so devotedly, thank you so much for your support. Without you, I would struggle to persevere.
I hope you all stay healthy and happy. Thank you for your understanding, and I’ll see you in my next story! Much love!
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