Star Dou Great Forest, core area.
The morning mist rose from the surface of the Lake of Life, dyed a pale golden veil by the rising sun.
Lin Shuo sat cross-legged by the lake, his eyes half closed as a seven-colored halo slowly revolved around him.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay at his feet, its tail lazily sweeping back and forth across the grass. Its amber vertical pupils were half-lidded as it enjoyed the rare morning quiet.
Today was the last day of the break. During the days he had spent back in the Star Dou Great Forest, Lin Shuo hadn't deliberately pushed himself to cultivate. Instead, he had devoted most of his time to Gu Yuena and the Three-Eyed Golden Lion.
Life had been peaceful and tranquil, like a wanderer returning home from his studies abroad, greedily soaking up the warmth of home.
But his cultivation had never truly stopped.
The halo formed from the Star Luo Spirit Pearl had grown increasingly solid in his chest, like a sleeping seed quietly awaiting the day it would break through the soil.
Lin Shuo could feel that whenever he circulated his Soul Power, the halo trembled faintly with his breathing, drawing the surrounding energy of heaven and earth into his meridians at a faster rate.
That evening, Lin Shuo opened his eyes after cultivating and saw Gu Yuena standing not far away.
The setting sun slanted through the ancient trees, gilding the hem of her plain white dress with a pale golden glow. Her long silver hair fluttered gently in the evening breeze.
"Big Sis Nana." Lin Shuo rose to his feet.
Gu Yuena walked over to him, her violet eyes resting quietly on his face.
Her cool, otherworldly features revealed little emotion, but Lin Shuo knew her too well. He could tell at a glance that something was on her mind.
"You're leaving today?" she asked. Her voice was as cool as ever, but Lin Shuo caught the faint difference in it.
"Mm." Lin Shuo nodded.
Gu Yuena said nothing, only lowering her eyes slightly. The setting sun cast a faint shadow of her eyelashes across her cheek. Even after two farewells, she still hadn't grown used to Lin Shuo leaving.
Each time he left, the independent space returned to the same cold world where she was all alone. The wound left by the Asura God still ached faintly in her chest, but what hurt her more than that wound was the silence of being by herself.
In the days without Lin Shuo, she had grown used to being alone.
But over the twelve years she had spent with Lin Shuo, she had grown used to having him by her side. She had watched him grow from a swaddled infant into the handsome young man he was now; she had also watched him quietly take the burden that belonged to her onto his young shoulders.
"Big Sis Nana." Lin Shuo's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Gu Yuena looked up and met his pure-black eyes. The golden light of the setting sun shone in them, along with her reflection. Then Lin Shuo reached out and held her tightly.
"If you miss me, call for me with the Reverse Scale. No matter where I am, I'll come back right away."
"I'll always be here."
Gu Yuena's body stiffened slightly, then slowly relaxed.
She simply stood quietly, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Her silver hair slipped from her shoulder and mingled with Lin Shuo's short black hair.
After a long while, she raised a hand and gently brushed his cheek.
"Go." Her voice was so soft that the evening breeze nearly carried it away. "I'll always be here waiting for you."
After saying that, Gu Yuena fell silent. She simply stood there, Lin Shuo's figure reflected in her violet eyes, as if she wanted to etch this moment deep into her memory.
Yet Lin Shuo didn't let go.
"Big Sis Nana." He rested his chin lightly on her shoulder. His voice was lower than usual, carrying a relaxed warmth he showed only in front of her. "Today's the last day of the break."
"And it's almost dark."
"So?" Gu Yuena's brow lifted ever so slightly.
"So I'm not leaving tonight. I'll set off early tomorrow morning. I'll still have plenty of time to get back to the academy."
Lin Shuo finally released her and stepped back half a pace, looking at her earnestly with his pure-black eyes. "It's the last day. I can't leave you alone."
Gu Yuena parted her lips, as if to say something, but in the end she didn't.
"...Do as you like." She turned away, her silver hair tracing an arc before Lin Shuo and hiding her face as she turned it aside.
The corners of Lin Shuo's mouth lifted slightly.
The surface of the Lake of Life reflected the starry sky above. The stars were far brighter than those seen in the human world, densely scattered across the entire firmament. Lin Shuo and Gu Yuena leaned side by side against a large tree by the lake. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion curled up on Lin Shuo's other side, its tail twitching now and then in its sleep.
The first rays of morning sunlight pierced the canopy of ancient trees, scattering flecks of gold across the Lake of Life. The mist had yet to clear, and pale wisps of vapor still rose from the water.
Lin Shuo opened his eyes and realized that at some point, his head had come to rest against Gu Yuena's shoulder. Her silver hair brushed his cheek, carrying a faint, cool fragrance.
He straightened and saw that Gu Yuena was still sitting as she had the night before, her violet eyes quietly gazing at the lake. He couldn't tell whether she had stayed awake all night or had only just woken up.
"Good morning, Big Sis Nana." Lin Shuo's voice was hoarse with sleep.
"Morning." Gu Yuena turned her head slightly, her gaze lingering on his face for a moment. "Time to go?"
"Mm." Lin Shuo stood and rolled his stiff shoulders. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion padded over and rubbed its head against his leg, its amber vertical pupils full of reluctance.
"Be good. I'll bring you something tasty next time I come back." Lin Shuo crouched and rubbed its ears. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion gave a low whimper, but let go of his leg all the same.
Lin Shuo rose and looked at Gu Yuena.
In the morning light, her silver hair flowed like a waterfall, and her violet eyes were as clear as water. Her plain white dress fluttered gently in the breeze off the lake. Her cool, otherworldly features revealed little emotion.
Lin Shuo hugged her tightly.
"I'm leaving, Big Sis Nana."
"When all this is over, let's spend some time living in the human world together. Not as the Silver Dragon King, and not as the Lord of Soul Beasts. Just as Lin Shuo and Gu Yuena, going out to see the world beyond the Star Dou Great Forest."
Before Gu Yuena could respond, Lin Shuo used his spatial power and vanished from the lakeside.
Silence returned to the shore of the Lake of Life. The Three-Eyed Golden Lion lay nearby, its tail listlessly sweeping the ground twice. Gu Yuena reached out and gently stroked its golden fur, her gaze fixed on the spot where Lin Shuo had disappeared.
"He'll be back soon," she said softly, though it was unclear whether she was comforting the Auspicious Beast or herself.
The morning sunlight streamed through the leaves and fell across her silver hair, surrounding it with a pale golden glow. The corners of her cool, otherworldly lips curved in the faintest smile, one no one else could have noticed.