Military Counselor had been waiting for Li Tianlan at the foot of the mountain.

He had witnessed the surging waves as Li Honghe climbed the mountain and the magical change when the clouds and mist dissipated.

Now the waves were gone, and the change stopped. The sun was s.h.i.+ning brightly from above, and the wind was blowing through the intermontane gra.s.s and trees. Under the clear sky, the mountain was shaking, and the water was turbulent.

Lonely Mountain was still Lonely Mountain, but as the wind and clouds flew away, the smell of the secular world on the island in the center of the West Lake dissipated. Flowers and plants occupied his eyes. It was pure and natural, like a paradise.

Dressed in white, Li Tianlan walked across the landscape, as if he was perfectly integrated with the view.

“Your Highness.”

Military Counselor unconsciously addressed Li Tianlan respectfully. In the battle of Changdao, his performance was worthy of this t.i.tle. And his att.i.tude to Qin Weibai let the 12 Super Masters of Samsara really recognized his existence as well.

However, his boss’s att.i.tude…

Military Counselor lowered his head, and his eyes were wandering.

“Just call me by my name,” Li Tianlan said calmly.

…

Military Counselor did not speak but maintained a slightly respectful manner.

Li Tianlan turned and looked at the Lonely Mountain behind him.

The Lonely Mountain outs.h.i.+ned others above the charming and gentle surface of the lake. It was splendid and magnificent, but the old man at the top of the mountain had disappeared.

This was the Li family’s Lonely Mountain!

There was a flicker of firmness in Li Tianlan’s eyes. Then he turned around. “Go back to Huating.”

He first embarked on a s.h.i.+p.

And then he landed.

Most of the areas of the usually teeming West Lake were officially blocked due to the rumor of the fairyland. The surrounding scene was chilly and empty as Li Tianlan pa.s.sed.

An Audi of standard size and appearance pulled up to the side of the road. The driver, who was mute, bowed in silence and motioned for them to get on as he saw Military Counselor and Li Tianlan.

Military Counselor and Li Tianlan sat together in the back. The mute started the car, drove into the main street of Lin’an, and went straight to Huating.

Li Tianlan looked out the window at Lin’an.

Clouds of smoke floated over the battlefield of the border war, and people shed blood like water during their stay in Changdao. But now in the sun, Zhongzhou State was still prosperous.

Li Tianlan’s mind began to clear little by little.

“I have some doubts,” he said all of a sudden.

He was simple and straightforward.

He was not familiar with Military Counselor, but he didn’t bother to put out feelers. When he had doubts, he asked.

Unconsciously, Military Counselor felt the position of his chest. In his chest pocket, there was a letter.

He sighed softly and said with a smile, “There are a lot of things I can’t say. And I don’t know the truth about a lot of things, either.”

The answer was straightforward and yet vague.

Li Tianlan kept his countenance and asked, “What exactly does Samsara Palace want to do?”

There were many questions he wanted to ask, but in the end, he asked one that Military Counselor was sure to know.

“I can’t tell you.”

Military Counselor looked at Li Tianlan. The cloak covered his face, but his tone was sincere. “Your Highness, it’s an internal affair of Samsara Palace. And now you are the Young Governor of Sigh City.”

Li Tianlan suddenly fell silent.

“So, I have nothing to do with Samsara henceforth?”

After a long while, Li Tianlan continued to ask.

Military Counselor hesitated, reached into his chest pocket, and whispered, “Your Highness, Samsara has now fully withdrawn from Zhongzhou State.”

He continued, taking out an envelope from his chest pocket, “My boss asked me to give it to you.”

Qin Weibai fell into a coma right after Li Tianlan died.

So she must have written this letter before that.

It had long been in his chest pocket.

Li Tianlan took the envelope, opened it, and pulled out a white piece of paper.

The handwriting on the paper was delicate but slightly messy.

Without salutation or signature, it was just a simple and clear sentence.

“May you live the rest of your life unrestrainedly and satisfactorily, and your future has nothing to do with me.”

Had nothing to do with her?

Li Tianlan felt a sudden, sharp pain in his heart. It was as if a b.l.o.o.d.y scar had suddenly appeared on his living and throbbing heart. He was in anguish, unwilling to part from her.

He looked a little pale.

The light outside the window shone on the paper through the window, revealing despairing paleness.

Li Tianlan looked at this sentence over and over again.

After being reborn, he did not know what he had gained, but he clearly felt that he was losing something.

Li Tianlan was on the ropes.

He was about to lose the pillar that had sustained him from childhood to adulthood.

Meanwhile, he lost his future with her.

Li Tianlan folded the paper up very slowly.

Expressionless, he put the paper in his pocket and glanced at Military Counselor.

“Thanks,” said Li Tianlan in a deep and heavy voice.

…

Military Counselor shook his head.

He didn’t know what was written in the letter, but he had a hunch that it wouldn’t be good news.

Li Tianlan stopped talking. He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

Military Counselor looked at Li Tianlan and remained silent.

He was the knife bearer of Samsara in Zhongzhou State, but now the sword wasn’t unsheathed, how dared the knife to reveal its sharp edge?

…

The sunrise over the sea was the most spectacular.

The setting sun on the sea was the saddest and the most beautiful.

The sun was setting.

Qin Weibai sat quietly by the sea, watching the sunset reflected in the vast sea with a faraway look.

Coming out of a long coma, she seemed to be in a trance, and her delicate, perfect face was thin.

A blue fishtail dress clung to her body gently. She folded her arms around her curled legs, quietly watching the sunset and the sea at the end of her sight, like a mermaid on the sh.o.r.e that was eager to return to the sea, dazed and delicate.

Flaming Fire stood motionless behind Qin Weibai.

She carried a small fruit basket in her hand.

The basket contained Qin Weibai’s favorite fruits, snacks, and water, but none of them had been touched all afternoon.

Flaming Fire’s eyes were full of worry.

The boss hadn’t spoken since she woke up, except for asking the time.

She seemed to be in a trance or recalling something. The boss in this state seemed to exclude the whole world. Her sadness and joy had nothing to do with the entire world.

Flaming Fire grew to dislike Li Tianlan.

Flaming Fire approved of what Li Tianlan did in the final battle of Changdao, but she just didn’t like him.

Because everything changed since the boss met Li Tianlan.

She quickly and willingly changed from a G.o.ddess to a little woman.

She was no longer pure. She had happiness, anger, sorrow, and joy.

Flaming Fire did not understand such feelings.

How nice would it be if a person’s life could be peaceful all the time?

Flaming Fire lifted her head and looked around.

This was an island surrounded by a deep sea. When there was a dead calm, the serene, gentle, and everlasting sounds of waves could be heard everywhere. This was the headquarters of Samsara Palace—the most peaceful place for them all.

But Flaming Fire was a mess inside.

The sun kept setting.

The sea breeze was blowing.

Flaming Fire hesitated, intending to persuade her boss to go back, or at least change her clothes, but she did not dare to disturb her.

The phone rang abruptly.

Flaming Fire took out her phone and looked at the number, raising her eyebrows slightly. Without hesitation, she walked straight to Qin Weibai.

“Boss, it’s the call from Military Counselor,” Flaming Fire whispered.

She knew Qin Weibai had been waiting for this call.

Qin Weibai reached for the phone and pressed the answer b.u.t.ton, but said nothing.

“Boss.”

On the other end of the line, Military Counselor said calmly, “Great Master Wuwei went away. He asked me to give you a message.”

As Qin Weibai listened to Military Counselor’s words, there was a flash of sadness in her glittering and bright eyes. Then she asked, “How is Tianlan?”

“He’s fine. There should be no after-effects,” Military Counselor replied in a cautious tone.

…

“How about the letter?” Qin Weibai continued to ask.

…

“I gave it to him,” Military Counselor answered.

…

Qin Weibai stopped talking. She quietly squeezed the phone with force, and her delicate knuckles turned white.

Military Counselor was silent for a moment before she whispered, “He thanked me.”

The sounds of the waves seemed to grow louder.

The tide was in and out.

Qin Weibai silently hung up the phone and gently bit her red lip.

“Flaming Fire.”

She said faintly, “He’s angry.”

Flaming Fire didn’t speak.

“Well, he is such a proud man. I wrote him that letter, and he must have thought I wasn’t good enough. He is really angry.”

Qin Weibai looked at the distant sea and smiled gently, but she could not stop her tears from streaming down her face. She was so beautiful, so sad, and so stubborn.

“But it’s better than having him hate me.”

Qin Weibai thought of the night of the seventh day in Changdao.

She thought of the stars she saw in Li Tianlan’s arms.

The stars shone brightly.

Qin Weibai’s body trembled slightly, and her heart convulsed. She was in pain, but her eyes gradually became calm and clear.

“I don’t get it.”

Flaming Fire’s voice was soft, but her eyes were burning with anger.

It was her anger at Li Tianlan.

“Of course you don’t.”

Qin Weibai shook her head and wiped her tears. On this island, she seemed to be exceptionally weak.

“Neither can I understand Li Tianlan nor you, boss.”

Flaming Fire remained unruffled and said quietly, “I stayed with you for a long time, but I never understood what you wanted.”

“Well, I…”

In the afterglow of the setting sun, Qin Weibai smiled gently, as picturesque as a poem.

She looked up at the sky.

The cloudless sky was blue and pure. The setting sun was emitting orange light, rendering the sky gorgeous and beautiful.

The light fell from the high sky, clear and without shadow.

Qin Weibai quietly looked at the sky, as if watching Li Tianlan.

With deep love in her eyes.

Deep love was a kind of power.

Extreme and crazy.

Flaming Fire wouldn’t understand it.

Maybe no one would understand it.

What she wanted was very simple.

She just wanted to give her beloved man a sky without shadow, at the cost of her whole life.