At the entrance to the Forbidden Land in the Mirage Domain, Ku Zu turned toward the River of Time. Wei Nu swept past him, and he reached out to stop her. Her face shifted, changing into Zhaoran's.
Ku Zu's pupils contracted. "Zhaoran?"
While he was distracted, Wei Nu charged into the Forbidden Land.
The next moment, Lu Yin emerged. Seeing Wei Nu rush past, he took a step to the entrance and let out a breath. "I'm still too late."
Ku Zu finally came to his senses. "Who was that just now?"
"Wei Nu," Lu Yin replied.
Ku Zu was astonished. "Wei Nu? Zhaoran?"
Lu Yin nodded and sighed. "She was Wei Nu, but you could also say she was Zhaoran."
Ku Zu looked toward the Forbidden Land, his expression complicated.
Zhaoran had been by his side for many, many years.
He had been born ugly, but through sheer determination, he had clawed his way forward. Others thought he was invincible, but in truth, he too needed peace of mind.
Zhaoran had stayed with him when he was at his most vulnerable. In those years, her world had revolved around him, and his world had revolved around her.
They had shared neither romantic nor familial love. They had been more like two lost fledglings huddling together, their hearts leaning on each other.
As his cultivation improved, he came to understand that he wasn't the one Zhaoran was waiting for. Soon after, war broke out. He charged into the Eternal Clan to fight for humanity's chance of survival, and that was when he and Zhaoran parted ways.
The next time he saw her was at the Heavenly Sect.
Ku Zu hadn't said anything to Zhaoran, though. The past was behind them, and Lu Yin was the one she had been waiting