Vivian felt utterly lost. She swore—she truly just wanted to take a stroll to clear her head, with absolutely no destination in mind.

Yet her body moved as if beyond conscious control, carrying her straight to Li Wei’s doorstep before she even noticed.

Instinctively, she reached for the door—only to meet its stubborn lock, nearly bumping her nose.

Thankfully, she snapped back just in time. Darting, dodging, leaping—she slipped into a nearby corner before curious gazes could settle on her.

Only then did she realize: not a trace of presence lingered inside the house.

The moment she confirmed Li Wei’s absence, Vivian’s emotions tangled further.

Relief her disheveled state went unseen? Or regret he simply… wasn’t there?

Her hand pressed lightly against her chest as she recalled his ever-busy figure at the Dawn camp.

Watching him rush through mysterious tasks day after day, barely sparing her a word—that aloofness used to ignite sudden irritation.

But now… you don’t even have the chance to be angry with him? —No. Vivian, what are you thinking?

*He* should be the one regretting the separation. How could *she* entertain such cowardly thoughts first?

She shook her head sharply. *It’s just the fleeting weakness from the setback clouding my judgment.*

Snap out of it, Vivian!

What you should feel isn’t defeat—but relief. Relief you recognized your mistake facing a Commander *the first time*.

And joy—the joy of growth forged in real combat!

Every mistake is a lesson learned.

This expedition, handled steadily, held no real danger.

Just minor inexperience causing a tiny hiccup.

Besides… hadn’t she ultimately vanquished it?

And that Commander wielded a pseudo-Domain technique! Paying a steeper price only proved her strength, right?

Most importantly—this was Li Wei’s fault.

His overly smooth battles, his crushing victories… they bred inflated confidence and starved her of true judgment.

*Wasn’t that squarely his problem?*

Vivian clung to this reasoning.

Yet she’d forgotten… the moment she stepped into the boss room, Li Wei’s teachings flashing in her mind never included “just charge recklessly.”

If he heard her thoughts, he’d instantly label it stubborn denial.

Spoiled gamers act exactly like this.

Imagine: your ADC gets killed early lane, so you lash out at the support and curse the jungler. Then the jungler carries hard—ends godlike while your ADC sits at zero-KDA. Faced with a questioning ping… would a spoiled gamer apologize?

No. They’d double down: “With opponents this weak, gank bottom lane more! Why make it harder? Total rookie move.”

Vivian had zero awareness of her own stubbornness.

After soothing herself, she stared fixedly at Li Wei’s shut door, lips pressed tight, then walked over.

She pulled out a crimson emblem—the proof of the Commander’s identity, left after its defeat.

She’d toss it before his door. Make him see what she’d accomplished in the Demon King Citadel. Make him realize the time he’d cost her.

Conquering the Commander Tier? Effortless. Like taking candy from a baby.

Even those child’s-play battles granted her this power. Had she joined deeper expeditions sooner, glory would’ve come faster.

As she neared the door again, her fingers clutching the emblem trembled with hesitation—

“Vivian? What are you doing here?”

She spun around with a start.

A familiar, tall figure stood behind her.

His face remained strikingly handsome, eternally youthful radiance glowing vibrant. And whether illusion or not… the weariness and weight that once clung to Li Wei had vanished completely.

Bathed in sunset light, his presence seemed to shine *against* the fading glow—towering, just as she remembered from years ago.

The dizzying sensation made her step back involuntarily, heart trembling.

In her mind, the exiled Li Wei should’ve been lost, dejected, realizing his errors.

Even if not yet… he shouldn’t be *this* radiant.

For the first time, Vivian found Li Wei’s light… unsettling.

*Something’s off.*

Then she noticed it—slung gently on his back, a silver-haired little girl slept soundly, a blissful smile gracing her face.

The same child she’d seen at the merchant guild. His… “daughter” now?

Having once rested on those very shoulders—their solid, reassuring warmth—Vivian knew that smile was utterly genuine.

*Don’t overthink. He’s acting. Lulling me.*

Tiffany’s intel flashed in her mind. She fought to steady her trembling body, insisting it was all theater—but a bitter ache surged uncontrollably.

Her thoughts churned violently. Yet Li Wei regarded her with unnerving calm. After her silence, he asked gently:

“Did you just return from an Officer Tier expedition?”

The words pierced like an arrow. Shame-fueled resentment drowned the ache. She replied coldly:

“That’s none of your concern.”

*Was that sarcasm??*

*Only you’d be this bluntly infuriating.*

She realized—he didn’t know she’d faced a Commander Tier. Not deliberate mockery.

But she *had* to hold her ground. Not that she lacked will—just opportunity.

Commander Tier was effortless. Obviously, she belonged in Officer Tier.

Li Wei seemed unfazed. After a pause:

“So… what brings you here?”

“Just passing by,” Vivian lifted her chin. “To mention I effortlessly cleared a deep-zone expedition in the Demon King Citadel.”

Li Wei studied her. “But the path from Dawn to here isn’t exactly convenient.”

“Nor from the Citadel entrance.”

“?”

Vivian gritted her teeth. “…Visiting a friend.”

“Oh, I see,” he nodded.

“Is that *all* you have to say?” she snapped, stung by his nonchalance.

Li Wei tilted his head. “Didn’t *you* say it was none of my concern? And factually… it isn’t.”

He paused, offering a faint smile. “Or… did your expedition include a souvenir for me?”

*As if! Dawn’s barely keeping afloat!*

Flustered, she shot back: “This isn’t about spoils! Didn’t *you* say I wasn’t qualified for deep zones?”

Li Wei sighed softly. “I never said that. I only said you weren’t ready for the *true* Demon King Citadel.”

“What’s ‘not ready’? Aren’t deep zones part of it?” *He’s being stubborn again.*

Li Wei’s voice dropped, gentle yet firm:

“But my expectations for you were never about deep zones… or Officers.”

He’d always trained them toward one goal—

—the Demon Lord.

Not just *one* Demon Lord.

He shook his head. “Let’s not dwell. This discussion leads nowhere. Holds no meaning anymore.”

He’d left Dawn.

The past was past.

A shattered mirror cannot be mended; spilled water cannot be gathered.

Vivian froze.

Meaning…?

No… meaning?

*Huh? My success means nothing to you?*

*Then… what was I even proving?*

Staring at his placid face, her thoughts spiraled.

That twilight unease, that nameless dread—they flooded back. Was it real? Had she truly lost something?

But it wasn’t *her* fault. Shouldn’t *he* be at fault? Why no reaction? Why “no meaning”?

*This is wrong!!*

Li Wei regarded her, paused, then handed her a tissue.

“Wipe your face.”

*Wipe? What? Am I… crying? Over this?*

Too flustered to refuse his kindness, she took it and dabbed her cheeks.

Li Wei shook his head, stepped around her, retrieved a small mirror from the doorframe, and passed it over.

“Veiled Moon’s Sword Saint? Right now, you look like a child who’s been thoroughly bullied.”

Vivian stiffened.

In her rush, she’d only swapped armor for a dress—never checking herself properly.

Now she saw it: tears streaked with blood from a head wound. Utterly disheveled. Humiliating.

*When did I become this wretched?*

No wonder passersby stared with wary gazes.

No wonder his look held aloof pity. No wonder he called her success meaningless.

In his eyes, she wasn’t a victor—just a bullied child seeking comfort.

*But with him acting this way… does he still…?*

“Li Wei.”

She looked up suddenly.

Li Wei flinched at her almost-coquettish tone, stepping back warily. “Talk all you want. But don’t you dare cry.”

Her choked whimper died in her throat.

His expression softened slightly. “One thing first—your next words… aren’t asking me to return, are they?”

He’d retired. *She’d* declared she no longer needed him.

He had a daughter. A “wife.” A family.

Return to Dawn? Not even a dog would go back.

Vivian’s breath caught. Emotions tangled. Seeing his deliberate distance, her thoughts stalled—then snapped back. Teeth clenched, head lifted:

“Of course not.”

A faint, relieved smile touched Li Wei’s lips.

“Hearing that puts my mind at ease. You truly have grown, Vivian.”

Li Wei offered a faint smile, paused thoughtfully, then said earnestly:

“Actually, some of what you said holds truth. You’ve all grown up now. Without your consent, I unilaterally set your paths—that wasn’t necessarily good, nor fair to you.”

Blind indulgence and shielding you from every storm could become poison. That was the realization Li Wei had recently come to.

So even though he ached to give his daughter all the love and compensation he’d withheld, he forced himself to hold back.

Softly, he added, “Thinking it over… I likely did restrict you too much before. Parting like this might be for the best—for both of us. You’re grown now, with your own judgment. You deserve your own life.”

Li Wei met her gaze firmly.

“I won’t interfere in your life or choices anymore. But if one day you need me—to share a meal, or just chat casually—I won’t refuse.”

After all, she was his teacher’s child.

And he truly had watched her grow up.

…

Receiving praise long overdue, Vivian felt not a trace of joy—only a bitter ache swelling through her chest.

Yet she stilled. Perhaps Li Wei’s resolute stance stirred something in her; perhaps his words had touched a chord. She spoke softly:

“I know my choices. I know what I’m doing. You once said every journey begins with hardship. I’m only at the first step—I won’t be broken by this.”

These words were for Li Wei, and for herself.

Her eyes regained steel. She looked squarely at him.

“But after all that… what about you?”

“Do you plan to play this make-believe game forever?”

Vivian was genuinely puzzled. She’d assumed Li Wei fabricated a wife and daughter just to lure her back.

But his clear refusal to reconnect with Dawn left her angry and lost—was he manipulating her? Or hiding a deeper motive?

Surely he couldn’t actually crave that picture-perfect life of wife, child, and warm hearth?

Still, no matter his reason, Vivian couldn’t bear to see him sink. For the guidance that reignited her resolve, she owed him the same warning—to turn back from the wrong path.

*Make-believe…?*

Li Wei hadn’t expected those words. He froze, then turned to his daughter’s sleeping face, feeling her tiny arms cling to him even in dreams.

“…Perhaps,” he murmured.

*Chosen Hero and Demon Lord playing house.*

Setting aside the Demon Lord’s daily antics… these past two days had brought him a quiet, long-missed fulfillment.

This fragile, unreal home had given him real warmth.

Seeing his calm, Vivian’s composure cracked.

“You could’ve chosen better.”

“Your own impulsive mistakes led here.”

“Why endure humiliation now, just out of pride?”

She couldn’t stand it. Li Wei staying away was fine—but not this fall. Not watching the last remnant of that towering figure in her heart crumble.

*That girl is sweet, yes—but she’s not your real daughter.*

*And what wife could you find here? Even if you disdain her… is anyone better than her sister? Whom you rejected before, no?*

Reluctant as she was to admit it, Vivian still measured that woman against her sister.

*Suffering injustice?*

Li Wei glanced at Vivian—*her* face etched with grievance. *Wasn’t she the one hurting?*

Why assume *he* was the wounded one?

…Though, after the Demon Lord’s “exploitation” these days… maybe it counted?

How had she noticed? He was genuinely surprised—*that* perceptive?

Mistaking his silence for guilt, Vivian opened her mouth to say *You don’t need a hasty marriage or random wife for attention—*

“Darling~”

A crisp, lazy voice cut through the air.

“Do we have a guest?”

Vivian turned.

As recognition dawned, her pupils slowly contracted.