Tangxue stepped inside and asked, and answers lifted like leaves in a breeze—everyone wanted to see the Forest Capital. Even Dreamsound, her grudges crusted like frost on glass, didn’t refuse and wanted to go with her.

Since the whole family was going, Tangxue packed with a traveler’s heart, light as a sparrow, then set out with them, planning to visit sights that clung to memory like moss on old stones.

She’d planned to call Linyue Yao, but work chained her in place. For days she’d been in the city, helping other adventurers rebuild streets shattered like broken ribs.

A small sigh chilled Tangxue’s chest, then melted away. At the Forest Capital, their ten-person group carried stormlight—nearly half of them were dangerous. Hualuo Jingqing felt the thunder gather and gave an awkward smile like a cracked mirror.

It was supposed to be a simple dinner and an apology. How did her bring-the-world-trouble whole family arrive like a flock of blazing comets?

By the way, Qianya never spared Qing Feng Yuelian. Since she stood with an evil god and helped break its seal like ice shackles, then—relative or not—Qianya’s mercy froze solid and shattered.

“Tangxue, are you taking the whole family on a trip?”

“Mhm… that’s the plan.” Tangxue nodded to Hualuo Jingqing, calm as a pond in dusk light.

“Ah-ha… that’ll twitch a lot of nerves.” Hualuo Jingqing’s smile thinned like a winter sun.

A world-ending, walking weapon roaming like a stray lightning bolt—who wouldn’t tense up?

“I don’t care. My legs are mine.” Tangxue rolled her eyes, a pebble skipped across still water.

Who are they to leash me? Not even my mom. Who do they think they are?

“Tangxue! You’re here?”

“Mm, long time no see, Aunt Flora Eina~”

Joy bubbled up; Tangxue rose on tiptoe like a sparrow at the sill, waved toward Flora Eina’s silhouette, then ran to her, feet light as wind in grass.

They’d actually met not long ago. After Daiya’s wound closed like a healed seam, Flora Eina drifted, absent-minded as mist, and privately brought Daiya to thank Tangxue. This time was a pure invitation.

The dinner was at Flora Eina’s home. The house was small, but the yard opened like a quiet lake. Daiya took the chef’s knife; the fox-eared Beastkin, healed, had folded into herself like a shy fern, hiding at the sight of others—maybe for past deeds that cut her own people like thorns.

Tangxue found the table loaded with poultry and fish, silver and gold like scales and feathers. This fox’s taste was unique, a moonlit river. The craft? Superb.

Everyone ate with bright eyes and full hearts, praising Daiya’s hands, their words warm as steam. At night, the elves—always hungry for laughter—started a party, lanterns falling like little stars. They celebrated honored guests and survival, and welcomed new friends to the Forest Capital.

Because of the alliance, the Beastkin now lived on the same land as elves. Hualuo Jingqing stirred the World Tree’s power like a deep tide, reshaping the land so more lives could root and thrive.

Near midnight, at Qianya’s call, Tangxue stepped onto the open ground outside. Upstairs, everyone slept, their breathing a soft ocean tide. She slipped from her bed in pajamas, moonlight on her smile. “What’s up, Qianya?”

Qianya watched her face, hesitating like a cloud at dawn, then asked, “Tangxue, how’s it been lately?”

“Happy.” Tangxue nodded, warmth rising like tea steam.

“Good.” Qianya dipped her head, then turned her back to Tangxue and looked into the starry river.

“You’re leaving?”

“Yeah. Still work to do. Come with me?” Qianya turned, smiling like a crescent blade.

“...Sorry, Qianya. Before, I would’ve said yes. Now… I want more time with Dreamsound and the others. I owe too many people, too many promises. If I can pay it all back, and it’s not too late, I’ll catch up to you and go.”

Qianya exhaled, amused smoke in cold air. “I didn’t expect you to say yes.”

“Maybe you’re giving me that last hopeful thread just for your birth mother’s sake?”

“Don’t joke like that, Qianya.” Tangxue’s cheeks bloomed pink. “If she asked me like that… I might just say no without blinking and tell her, ‘Go yourself.’”

“Pfft, really?” Qianya’s eyes narrowed, doubtful as a cat over milk.

“Of course.” Tangxue leaned in, serious like a drawn line.

“Then I should punish you on her behalf?” Qianya hummed, feigning anger like a stage fox, then lunged. She caught Tangxue’s arms and pinned her to the ground, hands like iron vines.

“Ah!”

“Keep it down, Tangxue… If they hear us, they’ll get the wrong idea.”

“Eep…”

Tangxue’s face flushed, dawn red. She twisted her head with effort, eyes flitting like startled sparrows. “What are you doing, Qianya…”

“You’re already used to this.” Qianya studied Tangxue’s compliant stillness and hushed voice, her mood knotting like roots.

“You’re overthinking!” Tangxue snapped, crimson-browed, and tried to push her off like a wave against rock. But the gap in size and strength was a mountain; even her struggle only stirred the air.

Their eyes crossed like twin moons. Different colors, same pull.

“By the way, Tangxue—do you know Xuewei’s origins?”

“Huh?” Shame scattered like petals; Tangxue froze.

“If I remember right, her mother belongs to the Flower of the Other Shore’s…”

“Mastermind.” Qianya nodded, a slow blade.

“Then why choose the Kelinvier clan, whose power leans to light, to mate with?”

“Uh…” Tangxue’s gaze slid away like water off stone. How would she know…

“The Kelinvier blood comes from the ancient divine beast, the Vermilion Phoenix,” Qianya said, ember-steady. “It’s fierce and dominant, born to burn away cold death miasma. Undead can hardly survive where the Phoenix nests.”

“To see necromancy suppress Kelinvier blood is a first for me. Even if Bai Zhi’s line has thinned like watered wine, there still shouldn’t be an undead force that pairs with her.”

“Tangxue, have you truly thought about what Xuewei’s inheritance is?”

“I… haven’t.” Tangxue’s eyes drifted, a leaf dodging rain.

“I’ve felt no god’s legacy in her,” Qianya went on, voice low as midnight. “Yet her potential isn’t beneath any god. With enough undead, she could grow without limit.”

“You mean… a made god?” Tangxue’s tone sharpened, like a blade lifted from silk.

“Yes.” Qianya nodded, dark stars in her eyes.

“If I’m right, Xuewei’s mother centered the plan on her. Inside Xuewei is the seed to grow into a top god, endlessly. She may have sought to unseal the Hell Abyss for Xuewei. If Vecna broke faith, then Xuewei would be her final card.”