Like countless suns suddenly rising through a mist of rain.

In the light of these countless suns, the shadow of a colossal building silently glided out from the void, coming to stand tall upon the desolate, muddy land.

In an instant, even the mud dried, transforming into firm, orderly green grass.

High upon the grey walls, amidst glaring lights, the emblem of the Astronomical Society hung, austere and cold. It oversaw the criminals who had reined in their horses at the ultimate boundary.

A frigid air spread in all directions, deterring any daring outlaws who harbored ill intentions.

It issued a stern warning, devoid of any mercy.

Don't move. Or die.

And so, no one else dared to approach.

Only two black-clad figures wearing sunglasses stepped forward, as if they had been waiting for a long time. They glanced at Ai Qing, then looked up at Huai Shi, who lay at the foot of the gate, and softly asked a few questions.

After Ai Qing replied, they nodded, pulled out handcuffs, and clasped them on Ai Qing's wrists.

"Ms. Ai Qing, the Ministry of Justice has assessed and reviewed the laws you have violated. You will be temporarily incarcerated, and your trial will take place in one week."

After showing her the document, stamped with the seal of the Astronomical Society and signed by the Ministry of Justice, the leading black-clad figure asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"

"No, I believe the Astronomical Society will deliver a fair judgment," Ai Qing said calmly, shaking her head. Then she added, "But before that, could I have a blanket? I'm a bit cold."

Soon, the female black-clad figure produced a thin, warm blanket and draped it over Ai Qing's shoulders. "Will that be all?" she asked.

Ai Qing nodded, turned, and without any resistance, followed them towards the grand doors that had swung open.

But then, she heard a shout from behind.

"Wait!"

Unbeknownst to them, Huai Shi had clumsily scrambled up from the ground.

Leaning on the Sword of Virtue for support, he yelled to Ai Qing with all his might, "Wait, Ai Qing!"

Gasping for breath, Huai Shi stared intently at her retreating figure and forced out, "There's one more question... I still have one question for you!"

One question he had to ask.

He feared if he didn't ask now, there might never be another chance.

But when Ai Qing turned around, he fell silent. His lips moved, but no words came out.

The two black-clad figures seemed in no rush, tolerating the interruption. In fact, having witnessed everything from the beginning, the eyes behind their sunglasses regarded Huai Shi with respect and sympathy. It was only a matter of a few minutes; they could afford to wait.

Ai Qing calmly observed Huai Shi's flushed face.

Waiting for his question.

As if she had already prepared the cruelest of responses.

"You…"

After hesitating for a long moment, as if finally mustering his courage, Huai Shi asked loudly, "Where did you buy your 'Holy Grace'?"

"…"

In the dead silence that followed, Ai Qing was stunned.

The words she had been ready to blurt out caught in her throat. After a long, long moment, she finally reacted, her shoulders shaking involuntarily as a light chuckle escaped her.

A chuckle of self-deprecation, or was it helplessness?

She should have been annoyed, yet for some reason, an indescribable helplessness washed over her.

"I really do still hate you, Huai Shi…"

She gave Huai Shi one last look, then turned and disappeared into the darkness behind the doors.

You're the person I hate most in the entire world.

The doors closed thunderously behind her.

The blinding suns and the emblem of the Astronomical Society vanished along with the massive, cold building. Only the gradually weakening rain still fell, helpless, from the Sky Dome.

Huai Shi staggered back a step, leaning against the damp wall.

"What the…"

He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head. "Not even willing to share a link, huh? That's pretty cold, isn't it?"

No one answered.

Through the sparse curtain of rain and the dissipating clouds, he watched the distant sun slowly sink into the night. In the clear Dusk, elusive stars began to twinkle in the darkening Sky Dome.

The rain was about to stop. Exhausted, he closed his eyes.

And then, he felt the rain on his face abruptly cease.

A black umbrella opened above his head. A passing Cowherd glanced down at his utterly wretched and helpless state, then chuckled with schadenfreude.

"Hey, kid, heartbroken?"

Huai Shi rolled his eyes at him. He thought for a moment, then suddenly asked.

"Got time?" he asked. "Let's go drinking... My treat."

"Sure," Liu DongLi said, smiling as he reached out to pull Huai Shi up from the ground. "Let's go... But have you thought of a toast?"

"To Death. How's that?"

"Not bad. Anything else?"

"To Freedom, then."

Huai Shi took one last look in the direction Ai Qing had gone, smiled softly, and walked forward.

He said, "I'm free now."

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