In a prolonged stupor and sleep, it seemed as if the long dream had finally reached its end.

Tong Shan's eyelids twitched as he opened his eyes.

He saw the afternoon sunlight outside the window and heard the noisy voices within the outpost.

"Hey, is the plant awake?"

A face covered with scars and bandages peeked out, grinning; it was Ji Liu, who made a playful gesture: "Actually, you've been in a coma for twenty years. Now it's twenty years later. Isn't that right, Little Xue?"

"Ah yes, yes, yes!"

Ji Xue in the wheelchair nodded frantically, beaming with joy: "The doctor said some parts were too badly damaged to save, so they helped you cut them off... Shan, you're a pretty girl now!"

Tong Shan's lips moved difficultly, his voice frail: "You…"

"Hmm?"

Ji Liu was stunned, then waved for Ji Xue to fetch the doctor and leaned in closer: "What's wrong? Are you uncomfortable?"

Tong Shan's voice was faint: "You… you're sitting on my oxygen... tube…"

Ji Liu looked down in panic, only to find nothing under him.

Turning back to Tong Shan, he then saw the mischievous smile on his lips.

He couldn't help but burst out laughing.

"Welcome back, Brother Shan!"

He bent down and embraced him warmly.

The chaos lasted for a little while, and after the visits from colleagues and the doctor's examination were over, he finally relaxed and heard a crisp knock on the door.

"Sorry, I was just in a meeting and came a bit late."

She waved the fresh flowers she had grabbed from the meeting room and casually tossed them into a vase before sitting down: "I didn't expect you to wake up after just two days. How are you feeling?"

"A bit weak."

"The Matrix is damaged, and there's Mutated Pollution. It's normal."

Lv Yingyue sighed: "If Mrs. Lou hadn't arrived so soon, you would probably be dead by now...

You should have heard her scolding Tong Ting back then; your Uncle Ji was so embarrassed and couldn't even respond. Hahaha, it was the first time I saw him so flustered."

Tong Shan managed a weak smile but couldn't resist asking:

"How is Spring City?"

"Peace has been restored, and Grandmaster Tao's lifelong wish is finally fulfilled.

The traces of mutation have almost disappeared in the last few days. They say scavengers have already started appearing around the area, the bolder ones are even considering climbing over the quarantine net to make a quick fortune.

Soon, once the Security Bureau's outposts are withdrawn, many survivors who fled Spring City in the past might move back.

Fellowship associations throughout Hai Province are mobilizing to seek support. Though remnants of the Mutated Pollution still remain and the past is not yet too distant, it's hard to see effective results.

In another decade or two, once people have forgotten their past, new settlements will emerge. A few decades more, and the prosperity of old times might be partially restored."

Lv Yingyue paused, then sighed wistfully: "But by then, it may no longer be called Spring City, right?"

"What about the past?"

Tong Shan asked softly: "What about Grandmaster Tao's sacrifice, will that be forgotten too?"

"Grandmaster Tao doesn't care."

Lv Yingyue patted his shoulder: "There is too much suffering in life, which is why people must learn to forget. Otherwise, they can't bear the burden of the past and move forward."

Tong Shan was silent for a long time.

"Many things could have been avoided."

He said, "If only...if only the Federation had acted sooner... no, if Central City had acted sooner... If they could control the Heavenly Governor, why couldn't they make decisions earlier?"

"Decisions?"

Lv Yingyue couldn't help but shake her head, "Sometimes, it only takes the courage of one man to make a firm decision, but sometimes, it takes the consensus of thousands.

Moreover..."

She paused and couldn't help adding a tone of contempt and mockery, "If those old fools could really control the Heavenly Governor, why would the Federation have fragmented to this extent?"

The Federation had been established for four hundred years and continued to this day. Despite the glory and prosperity that seemed greater than before, the internal splits and instabilities had never stopped.

Round after round of reshuffling, time after time of strife, presidents changing one after another, factions squeezing onto the stage one by one.

By now, it had already become unrecognizable.

For over a hundred years, no one had been able to attain the true supreme power of the Federation—the recognition of the Heavenly Governor.

If they couldn't unify as one and integrate the states of North Land to reorganize the Federation, then it was destined that they would not receive a response from the Heavenly Governor. But if they couldn't obtain the recognition and support of the Heavenly Governor, they absolutely couldn't reorganize the Federation and unify as one.

It was a tangled vicious cycle.

Just like the Empire's Earth Emperor.

Two matrices, as devices of the Superior, could now only be left vacant, sealed in the armory, used only as a façade and deterrent when necessary.

Who knew how significant the cost was behind the previous fleeting appearance.

The elder men of Central City, how could they possibly spend so much for this remote and uninfluential place unless it was absolutely necessary?

"Recently, many people have been saying that the Tianyuan White Deer itself represents the eternal cycle and reincarnation of the world. After four hundred years of the Tianyuan era, maybe it's time for the White Deer wilderness era to arrive."

She sighed deeply, "Have a good rest, Secretary Tong. Cliff City is fraught with myriad problems, and there is still a pile of troubles to come."

Lu Changsheng was dead.

But Lu Changsheng's death was just the beginning.

Sometimes, the grim lessons of predecessors can deter the vermin, but sometimes, the blood-drenched costs only awaken more ambitious individuals.

One Lu Changsheng had died; who could say there wouldn't be hundreds, thousands more Lu Changshengs emerging?

He had already physically proven that black and white could indeed be reversed, that the norms of this world could indeed be shaken.

From now on, who knew how many ambitious individuals lurking in the shadows waiting for their chance, and how many self-proclaimed righteous and legitimate disruptive forces would swarm onto the stage?

The troublesome autumn dragged on agonizingly.

This world was like a precarious pile of firewood, yet what it lacked the least were sparks that could ignite. One day, when the fierce flames spread far and wide, countless signals of smoke would cover the sky.

The Federation, the Empire, Central Earth, Thousand Islands... everyone had long been eager to act.

"By the way, let me tell you some good news before I leave."

As she got up to leave, noticing Tong Shan's gloomy aura, Lv Yingyue turned back and told him, "Ji Jue has been found."

Tong Shan stared in astonishment.

He instinctively tried to get up but failed and collapsed back down, not caring about his disheveled appearance as he hastily asked, "Where is he? Has he been hurt? What is his condition? How is he doing?"

"He is right next to you. However, his condition is hardly optimistic."

Lv Yingyue shook her head with regrets, "Who knows how long he was tormented in Jian Yuan's workshop before he luckily escaped. Now, his spiritual essence is overdrawn, his body severely harmed, and his soul is on the brink of shattering.

They say the rescue team found him in the rubble, nearly dead from blood loss. After rescuing him for so long, he has just passed the critical period and hasn't woken up yet."

As she spoke, she stretched out her hand, pressed Tong Shan back onto the bed, and finally patted his shoulder, "Wait until you're a bit better, then go see him."

The door gently closed.

In the silence, Tong Shan turned back, staring blankly at the sunlight outside the window.

After a long while, he started to chuckle.

Feeling relieved.

Click, click, click, click…

On the long journey, one could always hear the sound of wheels clattering against the tracks, but strangely, it did not irritate him and after getting used to it, it felt soothing.

It was like stepping across roads, heading towards the distance.

Afternoon sunlight poured in through the window, carrying with it watermarks and dust disturbances, pure and clear, coating everything with a golden edge.

Everything seemed to be immersed in memories, encased in an eternally gentle amber light.

Unchanged.

"And then? And then?"

She supported her chin, smiling as she asked, "What happened next?"

"And then, oh, then it was impressive!" Ji Jue snapped back to reality, continuing, "I immediately stood up, pointed right at his nose and scolded him, saying he was shameless. On behalf of the Embers and on behalf of Tian Yuan, I said today I would rid us of this scourge!

Then Jian Yuan, that guy, immediately started crying sitting on the ground, pleading and kowtowing, saying something like 'I'm so sorry, I wasn't cooking,' and asking to kowtow and take me as his foster father, utterly shameless, but I kicked him aside.

Unfortunately, he ran too fast, and I couldn't chop off his dog head…

And those from the Evil Cult, those from the Great Calamity, they're all chickens and dogs, kick them twice and they all run, not a bit of difficulty!"

"That's incredible."

She clapped her hands, full of joy and pleasure.

No matter how absurd and bizarre the things from Ji Jue's mouth were, she trusted without hesitation, tenderly caressing his hair, "You've really had a hard time."

"It was just a little thing, not difficult at all." Ji Jue laughed, "Besides, I had so many people helping me."

"You made a lot of good friends."

"Yeah."

"Although there seem to be a bit too many pretty girls…"

"There are quite a few men, too."

"It'd still be better if there were fewer."

"Mom…"

Then, she smiled again.

Hugging him, her long hair flowing like water in the sunlight, shining brilliantly, so beautiful.

It was much later when the clattering of the tracks abruptly ceased, and the distant city approached, the scene shifting from a deserted wasteland to houses, with the skyscrapers densely packed in the distance.

The announcement came from the speaker: "Coming up, the terminal station, Cliff City, please prepare to disembark…"

"Put on more clothes."

"Yeah."

"Take good care of yourself, don't make a mess again."

"Yeah."

"Study well, but you are already doing very well, so take some breaks for yourself."

"Okay."

"Find a girlfriend soon?" She affectionately drew closer, rubbing his cheek, "When two people are together, they won't be lonely, and no matter how big the problem, they won't be afraid."

"Yeah."

Ji Jue bowed his head, listening in silence.

Ignoring the arriving platform and the repeated urging of the departure bells.

After a long while, he finally mustered the courage to look up at her.

She was also looking at him, as if she had been waiting a long time, filled with hope and encouragement.

Ji Jue said, "Mom, I have to go now."

"I know."

She raised her palm, caressing his cheek, her fingertips gently tracing every scar, feeling the contours that were gradually changing, affectionate yet resigned.

"Have you figured out where you want to go?"

"Not yet."

Ji Jue hesitated, looking at her, "Do you think I can still move forward?"

"Of course."

She nodded decisively without hesitation.

"Traveling is like that, right? There will always be times of fatigue. If you feel confused and can't find the direction, just sit down and take a good rest."

She reached out her hand, for one last light embrace, "Whenever you are ready, just start walking the new path with courage, don't worry, and don't be afraid."

Ji Jue closed his eyes, embracing her.

Until she loosened her grip and took a step back.

Smiling, looking at him.

Ji Jue was startled for a moment, instinctively wanting to reach out and touch her, she stood there, holding his hand, so gentle.

"It's time to set off, Ji Jue."

She said, "Don't make your train wait too long."

From afar, the sound of a horn was heard.

Ji Jue stood at the door, turning back, looking at the figure waving to him from inside the car, watching him, with the same hopeful gaze as always.

For a moment, he could no longer hold back, wanting to turn around and rush to her, hug her, telling her that it was okay even if he didn't leave, he could stay here forever.

But she was watching him.

Slowly shaking her head.

So solemn and resolute.

Until he finally took the first step forward.

From her laughter of blessings.

Outside the car, the sunlight cascaded down like a waterfall, howling as it approached.

Engulfing everything.

Ji Jue opened his eyes.

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