The sky was quiet.
Soft wind moved gently through the tall grass, carrying a calm that felt very different from the storms of the past. The sunlight was pale, as if even the world was still in mourning.
In a quiet corner of the land, two graves stood side by side.
Simple. Clean. Silent.
One for Yeluo Zhen.One for Xuanji Yin.
In front of them stood a young boy.
Qiao Yu Zhen.
He had grown quieter since that night. His eyes no longer held the innocence of before. There was something deeper now—something heavy.
He stood still, looking at the names carved into the stone.
For a long time, he said nothing.
Then slowly, he knelt down.
"I came… to say goodbye," he said softly.
The wind moved slightly, brushing against his clothes.
"I didn't understand before," he continued. "I kept waiting… thinking you would come back."
His hands tightened into fists.
"But now I know… you won't."
His voice trembled, but he did not cry.
Not this time.
"I don't know what happened that night," he said, his eyes fixed on the graves. "You didn't tell me. You couldn't tell me."
A pause.
"But I will find out."
His voice became stronger.
"No matter how long it takes… no matter how hard it is… I will find the one who did this."
The wind grew slightly stronger, as if responding to his words.
"I won't stay weak," he continued. "I won't just stand and do nothing."
He lowered his head slightly.
"I promise you… I will become strong."
For a moment, everything was silent again.
Then he spoke one last time.
"Rest peacefully," he said softly. "I will walk the path for both of you now."
He slowly stood up.
His eyes lingered on the graves for a final moment.
Then—
He turned around and walked away.
Without looking back.
Far away from that quiet place, life moved very differently.
The sound of voices, laughter, and footsteps filled a busy inn.
People sat around wooden tables, eating, drinking, and talking loudly. The smell of food filled the air, and the atmosphere was warm and lively.
The door suddenly opened.
Two figures stepped inside.
A young woman and a man.
The moment they entered, a few heads turned.
The young woman walked in calmly, her posture straight and confident. Her presence was strong, yet controlled. Her eyes moved across the room, observing everything without showing much emotion.
Wu Jinhai.
Behind her followed Wei Zhenyu, her loyal subordinate.
"We will rest here for a while," Wu Jinhai said calmly.
Wei Zhenyu nodded. "Yes, Miss."
They moved toward an empty table and sat down.
The inn slowly became quieter.
People began to whisper among themselves.
"Isn't that… General Wu's daughter?"
"Yes, that's her… Wu Jinhai."
"I heard she is very skilled… trained personally by the general."
Another voice joined in. "Of course. She is his most beloved daughter. He would give her the best of everything."
One man leaned closer to his friend. "They say she has both strength and intelligence. Not someone you should offend."
Wu Jinhai heard the whispers.
But her expression did not change.
Wei Zhenyu glanced around slightly, then lowered his voice. "They are talking about you again."
Wu Jinhai picked up a cup calmly. "Let them talk."
"They seem to know a lot about you," Wei Zhenyu said.
She gave a faint, almost unnoticeable smile. "They only know what they hear."
Wei Zhenyu nodded slightly. "That is true."
At another table, a group of men continued their conversation.
"General Wu treasures her a lot," one said. "She grew up in luxury. Everything was given to her."
Another shook his head. "But that's not all. I heard she is also very capable. Not just someone who relies on her family."
"Still," a third man added, "being the general's daughter gives her a powerful background. No one would dare to go against her easily."
Wu Jinhai placed the cup down quietly.
Her gaze shifted slightly, but she said nothing.
Wei Zhenyu looked at her. "Does it bother you?"
She shook her head. "No."
He waited for her to continue.
After a moment, she said, "A person's background is not their strength."
Wei Zhenyu smiled slightly. "That sounds like something the general would say."
Wu Jinhai did not respond, but her eyes softened just a little.
The inn slowly returned to its usual noise, though some people still glanced in her direction.
Wu Jinhai sat calmly, unaffected by the attention.
Outside, the world continued to move.
In one place, a boy had just said goodbye to his past.
In another, a girl stepped further into her future.
Two lives—
Moving forward on different paths.
Unaware of how closely their stories were tied.
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