"Sis."

Ruan Lan wanted to keep persuading, but heard Ruan Tang softly say, "Listen."

"Then you have to promise me first, you absolutely can't lose hope."

Ruan Lan cautiously said, "You still have Yiyi and Ping'an to take care of. If you also leave, I won't take care of the kids for you."

"I won't be as foolish as Xu Lai."

"Really?"

Ruan Lan still remained skeptical, feeling an inexplicable sense that she would have to take care of her sister's kids before even getting married.

"When have I ever lied to you?"

"That's fine then. Also, Sis, my brother-in-law is actually not foolish at all. He simply did what a man should do."

Ruan Lan whispered, "Anyone can be selfish, but he cannot, because he is Xu Qingfeng."

In the Heavenly Court alone, since its establishment, countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals have sacrificed, including many Divine Generals.

For whom did they die?

Not for the Immortal Domain, but for the Great Emperor Qingfeng.

These Heavenly Soldiers and Generals shed their blood for the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Court is naturally bound to protect their races and Tao Lineage.

If Xu Lai only protects Haitang Court, it's naturally a breeze, and as Great Emperor Jin Shi thought, he has a great chance of laughing until the end.

But like this.

How could he face his fallen comrades?

How to confront the followers who worship him as a deity?

Wouldn't it be a betrayal to allies like the Green Sect, Taotie Clan, Qingqiu Nine-Tailed Fox, Twelve-winged Archangel, and others?

Xu Lai has been making his greatest effort to let creatures of different races survive during the Emperor's Fall Era.

"I know."

Ruan Tang crossed her arms, leaning against the white wall, her body gradually slumped to the ground.

Ruan Tang believed.

If she had firmly asked Xu Lai not to leave Haitang Court, Xu Lai definitely wouldn't have left, nor would he have died for the Immortal Domain.

But in the days to come, Xu Lai would surely fall into self-reproach and regret.

So Ruan Tang didn't stop Xu Lai from leaving. She didn't want to see her husband, who never felt ashamed of the Immortal Domain, living in a dark corner.

"In this world, there's no way to have it both ways, no betrayal to Buddha nor to the beloved."

Ruan Tang softly said, "Take Yiyi and Ping'an first, I will come to find you, and bring Bai Xue along."

Staring at her sister for a long time.

After repeated warnings, Ruan Lan finally went upstairs, picked up the still sleeping Yiyi and Ping'an, and called bai Xue, who was already prepared, from the back mountain.

Ruan Tang sent them to the foot of the mountain.

Taotie didn't persuade, leaving dozens of Teleportation and Sound Transmission Jade Slips.

"Safe travels."

Ruan Tang spoke very slowly.

Returning to the hilltop, she saw that Haitang Court was empty, devoid of life, with only the living room light on, the other rooms completely dark.

Ruan Tang did not enter the house, gathered her skirt, and sat on the forest path, watching the sea of Haitang flowers swaying in the moonlight, gradually losing herself.

Aside from the faint sound of the wind.

The entire world seemed to only have herself left.

"Buzz buzz buzz"

The phone vibrated, bringing Ruan Tang back to her senses, and she saw the number on the phone screen, it was her close friend Luo Chu.

Ruan Tang answered.

Luo Chu started speaking, "What are you doing at home? Come down to play mahjong."

"No."

"Where's the old man of yours, Qian Song keeps mentioning wanting to drink with him."

Luo Chu whispered, "We owe a favor to your husband, made a breakthrough."

"Breakthrough?"

"Ah, the cultivation stuff, you wouldn't understand."

"Xu Lai went on a business trip, probably... it will take a long time for him to come back."

"How long?"

Luo Chu laughed, "If it's a long time, Yaoyao and I will tie you back home."

"..."

Ruan Tang clenched her phone tightly.

Luo Chu always felt that tonight her best friend was a bit off, under normal circumstances, Ruan Tang would definitely laugh and tease a couple of times.

Luo Chu's heart suddenly sank, having a bad intuition.

When guarding Chang'an City with Qian Song before, she had seen too many separations of life and death, could it be that Xu Lai also...

No.

Impossible.

Xu Lai's boundary is so high, how could anything happen.

Luo Chu spoke solemnly, "Where are you, Yaoyao and I will come find you."

"At home, I'm a bit tired."

"Wait!"

Luo Chu hung up, leaving the two kids to her bewildered husband Qian Song, then drove towards Mount Haitang.

Half an hour later.

Luo Chu, together with Xu Yaoyao, climbed the mountain, seeing Ruan Tang sitting in the sea of flowers, her eyes devoid of any light, they knew something had happened.

"What's wrong, Tangtang."

"It's cold outside, let's go home."

The two women supported Ruan Tang back to Haitang Court, not daring to ask directly about Xu Lai, only probing indirectly.

With so many years of friendship, Ruan Tang naturally understood the thoughts of her two best friends, and softly said, "Xu Lai left."

"Leaving you and the kids behind?" 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Xu Yaoyao raised her brows, "Does he have someone outside, a total jerk!"

Luo Chu lightly tugged Xu Yaoyao's sleeve, the latter protested, "Luo Chu, why are you pulling me? If Xu Lai did something, can't I say anything?"

"He's dead."

"..."

Xu Yaoyao's expression froze, hastily apologizing, "Ruan Tang, I'm sorry, I... I didn't know, sorry, I knew Xu Lai wasn't that type."

Luo Chu's expression was grave, shifting the topic, "When will the funeral be held, where will he be buried, and the body? Do the kids know?"

Having gone through a lot, Luo Chu thought more than Ruan Tang.

Ruan Tang's eyes gradually gained some spirit, as if suddenly coming back to life.

Yes.

Xu Lai's body is still unknown, not even buried, how can she lose heart, at least let Xu Lai be laid to rest.

"Tonight you should rest first, tomorrow we will help you handle it together."

Luo Chu breathed a sigh of relief, it seemed her best friend wasn't thinking about taking her own life, but how exactly did Xu Lai pass?

"Hmm."

Ruan Tang soon closed her eyes, lying on the sofa and fell into a deep sleep.

She didn't dream, slept deeply and soundly. Clearly, the presence of Luo Chu and Xu Yaoyao made Ruan Tang feel much safer.

In the latter half of the night.

Luo Chu and Xu Yaoyao also couldn't hold on, falling asleep at the edge of the sofa.

Not long after, Ruan Tang woke up, glanced at her two best friends, left a farewell letter, and shattered a Transmission Array Jade Slip.

But it wasn't the Teleportation Jade Slip left by Taotie, rather it was the one Xu Lai had left.

In the skies above Earth.

Sensing the familiar aura transmitted by the Teleportation Jade Slip, a blurry consciousness emitted a monstrous killing intent.

The corners of this star were suddenly shrouded by dark clouds.

...

Ruan Tang went to the Heavenly Court.

Not the Heavenly Court that Xu Lai created after becoming Emperor, but the Sect Heavenly Court revamped later by Senior Sister Yu Guiwan.

On the back mountain of plum trees, buried were her master and two senior brothers, along with Senior Sister Yu Guiwan's tomb filled with clothes and a crown.

On the day of the grand wedding there.

Xu Lai once wanted to erase his senior sister's grave, but was stopped by Yu Guiwan, later Xu Lai didn't persist.

Ruan Tang thought.

If Xu Lai were buried here, he surely wouldn't be lonely, having his master and senior brothers accompany him, even Senior Sister had already reserved a spot.

Just arriving at the back mountain with only four tombs, Ruan Tang's heart was shocked, for she saw a fifth tomb.

Only five words were inscribed on that tombstone.

Tomb of Xu Qingfeng.