A month later, life seeped back into the world. Sprouts pricked the once-dead earth like green needles. The piled stormclouds pulled apart like a torn curtain. Everything leaned back toward steady days.

“Feeling any better? You’ve rested almost a month—did the fog lift?” Qianya leaned against the window, sunlight warm as honey, smiling at the blue-haired girl in pajamas yawning on the bed.

“A little dizzy.” Xuewei muttered, lips puffed like a sulking sparrow.

“Wasn’t asking you. Don’t butt in.” Qianya shot Xuewei a look, sharp as a flicked pebble. She still couldn’t fathom how that girl had skin thick as rhinoceros, squeezing into Tangxue’s bed almost every night.

To be honest, she wanted that too. But shame tangled like thin silk; even a kiss made her hesitate for ages, like standing on thin ice.

“Meh.” Xuewei pulled a face, then dove back under the quilt like a hibernating cat. Even with Tangxue up, she clung to that warm nest; laziness grew on her like moss.

To most beings, the cataclysm a month ago felt like a freak sky-change, a storm that flared then faded. The disaster was halted before it could flood the world, fast as a tide turning. Once the seal was repaired, the worst-hit nations slid into rebuilding like seedlings after rain. The demons fared the worst. Demon King Jiuqi was still in recovery, her throne smelling of iron. A pack of unruly wolves tried to topple her, and in a single month nearly a hundred uprisings sparked. Jiuqi crushed them like stamping brushfires, yet stubborn heads only trusted what their eyes could see, claiming the Demon King was merely lingering on.

So Qianya had to steal time to help Jiuqi quell riots along the borders, like dousing sparks on dry grass. Jiuqi had guarded the seal almost alone before; a debt like frost on Qianya’s sleeve.

Well… Jiuqi did it for free in the end. Still, it shaved a few thorns off Qianya’s path.

“Tangxue, the elf named Hualuo Jingqing is here to see you…” Dreamsound’s voice drifted from outside, soft as dew.

“Ah—oh… I’ll head down in a bit!”

For the record, Tangxue never showed Dreamsound any resentment, never dug up what she’d done. Maybe that made Dreamsound meek around her, like a breeze bowing to trees.

Or maybe—because of Qianya?

Since Qianya arrived, Dreamsound’s expression carried a strange mix, like rain over sun. The two barely spoke, yet somehow said everything in silence. Each time she met Qianya, shame pricked like thorns. But they crossed paths often; familiarity smoothed it like river stones. Dreamsound found her footing again and wore the mother’s mantle.

After Tangxue left, Qianya leaned on the window and watched the far sea, its skin glittering like scales. This can’t go on, she thought; I need to end Vecna.

Vecna’s seed sleeps inside Tangxue, buried like a black pit in snow. Once she’s recovered, we take the last step. Only by pinning Vecna down for good can I lift this world’s curse.

“After I finish it all…” Qianya looked at her palm, face calm as still water.

She couldn’t tell if her will had sharpened like steel, or if Rain Moon Willow chose to end herself. Maybe both.

Now only one voice lives inside her. She could keep walking as Rain Moon Willow if she wanted, a borrowed mask. She didn’t. But she’d keep the promise: break the curse of Absolute Zero, leave this world, then find Yueyu’s elder sister, Dawn Sugar Snow— and plant a punch right in her face.

“Morning, little Tangxue~ Your spirit looks bright, like a clear noon. Seems this month treated you well…”

“Do you want something?” Tangxue shot Hualuo Jingqing a glare, sharp as a needle. This old fossil never brought good news when she showed up.

“Ahem.” Hualuo Jingqing coughed, embarrassed, like dust shaken from an old book. “I’m just here to pass a message. Daiya wants to apologize. She hopes you can come to the Forest Capital.”

“What’s there to apologize for…?” Tangxue blinked, a sparrow in fog. She’d never crossed paths with this Daiya from start to finish. Why apologize to her?

“Right, and I found information on that bull-headed mask.” Hualuo Jingqing’s gaze turned serious, like granite before storm. “He might be older than me. When the world faced annihilation, he could have left, but for some reason he chose to stay. In short, he’s a tough old immortal. ‘Omniscience’ seems to be his Authority. But that ‘omniscience’—isn’t really omniscience. He can only know what lies within his knowing. Anything beyond his imagination gets replaced by nothing.”

“I’m not… all that concerned about him.” Tangxue’s voice eased like water.

It’s over. Dreamsound and Yaya are fine. Qianya and Xuewei are safe. That’s enough. I can still drop by Mom Linyue Yao, say hello, bring the kids food like warm buns. For Tangxue, this was the life she once only dreamed in the dark.

“Ah, did I dig too slowly? Fair. You already wiped that cult in one sweep.” Hualuo Jingqing sighed, her breath like a leaking bellows.

“So, Tangxue, when will you visit the Forest Capital?”

“Now, I’ve got nothing else to do.” Tangxue lowered her head to tidy her dress. Sea wind lifted her hem like waves. Pale-blue starlight dotted her pleated skirt. The blue crystal at her chest caught the distant sea and held it like a lake. Tangxue closed her eyes.

“Flora Eina Auntie, is she doing better?”

“Her? She’s never had any issue.” Hualuo Jingqing gave Tangxue a strange look, a leaf tilt. “What’s the matter, Tangxue?”

“It’s nothing. I overthought it.” Tangxue shook her head, light as willow.

“Tangxue, going out to play? I’ll come along.” Qianya drifted down from the sky, her wings glittering like red crystal. Even Hualuo Jingqing, used to elves, stared in a daze.

“I recall you’re the Blood Elf Queen of the Blood Clan…”

“Yes, Senior Hualuo Jingqing.” Qianya dipped in a neat bow, the gesture crisp as a blade, proper to an elder.

“Ah, skip the courtesy. I keep feeling you’re more my elder…” Hualuo Jingqing muttered, half a laugh.

Qianya carried a mature, seasoned air, like wine deep in the jar. Even with Tangxue, it was hard to treat her as a peer.

“Hehe~ then why not call me big sister, Hualuo Jingqing?” Qianya’s smile flashed fox-bright.

“I’d rather not. It’s been ages since I called anyone ‘sister.’” Hualuo Jingqing shook her head, a slow swing of grass.

“Miss Qianya, do you remember your last visit to the Forest Capital?”

“No idea. I guess… close to a thousand years?” Qianya waved it off, casual as drifting cloud.

“Sounds about right… Back then, your mother brought you over.” Hualuo Jingqing’s memory surfaced like old parchment.

“The past can sleep. I’m going to have fun with Tangxue, not swap old stories.”

“Fair enough.” Hualuo Jingqing smiled faintly, like tea steam. “Pardon me, my old habit slipped.”

“Tangxue, why not call everyone? With more people, we’ll have more reason to throw a feast.”

“Sure. I’ll go ask them…” Tangxue turned toward the island cottage, footsteps light as tide foam.