After the Hejian King handed himself in and pleaded guilty, he was placed under house arrest in the capital. Ever since, every five years, another rebel king would be defeated. They were gradually eroded away like spring rain, silent yet relentless.

The Dongsheng Empire's national fortune grew ever more prosperous, faintly showing signs of peace and flourishing splendor.

An old man knelt before the dragon throne, reciting his written plea of guilt. After finishing, he fell silent, awaiting judgment.

The Dongsheng Emperor did not speak. Instead, the Heavenly Maiden, empress of the Dongsheng Empire, was the one to speak. She parted her crimson lips. "You are the last remaining rebel king. Before you, all the others voluntarily entered the capital to plead guilty. Why did you wait until today?"

The old man remained silent for a few breaths before slowly speaking. "If not for those Hidden Guards, I might not necessarily have lost. Even if defeat were inevitable, I could at least have held on until I died of old age. Once I'm dead, everything in this world has nothing to do with me anymore. Who would care who wins or loses then?"

The entire court of civil and military officials glared at him in fury.

His thinking was simple. He harbored a gambler's luck, wanting to rule as king and tyrant until his lifespan was exhausted. As for what would come after, he had never given it the slightest thought.

"After I die... let the floods rage for all I care."

"That gentleman was indeed correct," muttered the Heavenly Maiden. "From the very beginning, you never intended to become emperor. Battle after battle, you simply refused to give up the good life you already had. Once accustomed to luxury, how could you be willing to return to poverty?"

The old man suddenly raised his head and stared straight at her. "Heavenly Maiden, how do you intend to deal with me?"

He noticed strands of gray already mixed into her hair. The empress wasn't young anymore.

He had never imagined that the Dongsheng Empire would be restored under the hands of a woman.

"By right, you should be treated the same as the Hejian King and the others, placed under house arrest in the capital but still enjoying good food and comfort," the Heavenly Maiden said with a smile. "But you are the last rebel king to enter the capital and plead guilty. Naturally, you cannot receive the same treatment. If that were the case, how would future generations view your actions? So I grant you death and the extermination of your entire clan."

"What?!" gasped the old man, staring at the Heavenly Maiden in disbelief.

Exterminate his entire clan? Had he known that coming to the capital would lead to such an outcome, he would rather have died on the battlefield!

Guards had already stepped forward to escort him away. The old man, his face filled with unwillingness, roared in fury, "If I must die, then I want to die knowing the truth! Where is the leader of the Hidden Guards!? I want to see him! If not for those Hidden Guards stirring trouble in the shadows all these years, how could the rebel kings have fallen so quickly!?"

He hated it! If those rebel kings had not fallen, he could have continued using the excuse of cleansing the court to remain a local tyrant-king. How could he have fallen to such a miserable end?

The Heavenly Maiden merely looked at him with cold mockery, offering no response. She waved her hand. "Take him away."

***

A few days later, with the execution of the last rebel king, the fractured forces within the Dongsheng Empire were reclaimed one by one. The entire nation celebrated.

The Heavenly Maiden arrived at a small courtyard. From afar, she could already see two figures inside, playing chess.

"I won again, Mister Fang. You're really not good at chess. I've already beaten you 3422 times!"

"Come, come, another round!"

The Heavenly Maiden smiled faintly and walked over to watch the game. When her gaze brushed over their faces, a trace of emotion arose in her heart. That gentleman looked exactly the same as before, but the little girl from back then had already grown old. Yet, the gentleman was still as steady as ever, and the girl was still as lively and reckless as she used to be.

The Heavenly Maiden secretly sighed. "Who would have thought that she's the one after the Hidden Guards?"

She then pointed at the chessboard and instructed, "Mister Fang, you can't move there. You should go this way."

Little Yu looked up and glared at the Heavenly Maiden. "A true gentleman knows not to speak when watching a game of chess!"

The Heavenly Maiden laughed. "I'm not a gentleman at all."

She felt helpless inside. These two were both terrible chess players, but that gentleman's chess skills were especially atrocious. Compared to his other methods, it was like two extremes.

After a while, Fang Chen sighed and said, "This game isn't worth continuing."

He then flipped the chessboard over.

Little Yu immediately flew into a rage. "Huh?! You're cheating!"

Fang Chen ignored her and instead looked at the Heavenly Maiden. "The last rebel king has been executed?"

"He has," answered the Heavenly Maiden, nodding. "That's why I came to inform you. Dongsheng's territory has now been fully reclaimed."

Little Yu chuckled upon hearing that. "So fast? I thought he could hold on a bit longer."

She took a jade token from her bosom and tossed it to the Heavenly Maiden.

The Heavenly Maiden accepted the token; surprise hung on her face. "This is...?"

"With this jade token, you may command all Hidden Guards," Little Yu said with a smile. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

The Heavenly Maiden fell silent for a few breaths, then said, "You think I'd kill the hound once the hunt is done?"

"It's not about whether you think so, but whether your entire court will fear the Hidden Guard Division. Mister Fang has taught me that a person should know when to step back."

She explained, "I only founded the Hidden Guard Division to verify the methods he taught me. Now that everything is accomplished, I'll step aside and hand it to you. As for him and me... of course, we'll finally begin our true journey across the world."

Little Yu giggled playfully. "So many years have passed. I've already grown old, yet he hasn't. I'm afraid that if I don't leave now, I won't have much time to accompany him."

"Where to first?" Fang Chen asked with a smile.

"Peach Blossom Village. I haven't gone back to see Mother in many years," Little Yu replied with a smile.

***

The next day, atop the towering palace walls, a lone figure stood high above, gazing at the two figures slowly disappearing into the distance. A twinge of envy rose within her.

When the two finally vanished from sight, the Heavenly Maiden let out a soft sigh and turned away. She knew that this farewell might well be their last meeting.

***

Peach Blossom Village.

Peach blossoms bloomed brilliantly across the mountains. Ever since that incident decades ago, the place had become a must-visit destination for scholars and poets alike. What had once been a tiny village had now developed into something even more prosperous than a county seat.

Li Dazui carried out a small stool and sat in front of the tavern, glancing at his grandson bustling about before chuckling softly, leisurely enjoying the street scene. Suddenly, he saw two figures walking toward him from afar, stirring an intense sense of familiarity.

Li Dazui rubbed his eyes, then stood up in disbelief and hurried over. "Mr. Fang?"

He could hardly believe his eyes. How had this man not changed at all? He himself was already at death's door, yet the other still looked in his twenties, radiant and youthful.

"Shopkeeper Li, still hale and hearty, I see," Fang Chen said with a smile.

"It really is you, Mr. Fang!" Shopkeeper Li exclaimed excitedly.

After chatting for a bit, he watched Fang Chen and Little Yu leave.

Shopkeeper Li shook his head and sighed. "Why do I never have the courage to ask Mr. Fang why he doesn't age?"

Returning to Peach Blossom Village, Fang Chen and Little Yu settled down there for a time.

***

More than ten years later, Little Yu saw off the aged Li Meiyan. Some years after that, her eldest sister fell ill and passed away first. A few years later, her brother-in-law Xu Tianhuan also died, seemingly from lingering grief.

After Li Meiyan's passing, Fang Chen and Little Yu would occasionally travel the mountains and rivers, returning every three to five years.

Before she knew it, her remaining elder sisters had passed away one after another. Even Little Yu herself had a head full of long white hair.

Little Yu glanced at her reflection in a lake's water and sighed. "Even if martial attainment reaches its peak, it still cannot withstand time, which cuts like a blade."

She looked at Fang Chen beside her and softly asked, "Mister Fang, are you an immortal or a mortal?"