War Nearing Its End, the Smoke Clearing as Everyone Found Their Place

After Xu Tianran's death, although the war did not end immediately, everyone understood that many things had already been decided. Under the persuasion and encouragement of Ju Zi and her trusted former subordinates, the Sun Moon Empire's troops gradually laid down their arms. The remaining remnants of the Holy Spirit Cult were completely wiped out by Ye Guyi and Ma Xiaotao working together.

By the time Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong finished making their rounds through the postwar medical tents for wounded soldiers, night had fully fallen.

Tang Wutong walked ahead at an unhurried pace, with Huo Yuhao half a step behind her. When they reached the lakeside, Tang Wutong suddenly stopped.

The lake glimmered with a faint silver light in the darkness, while occasional coughs drifted over from the wounded soldiers' camp in the distance. Tang Wutong looked at Huo Yuhao and said softly, "I used to think your heart was too soft, that you couldn't let go of anyone." Her fingers moved from his chest to his cheek, her thumb gently brushing the faint mark on his cheekbone that had yet to fully heal. "But today, I realized that you simply remembered their kindness, remembered how good they were to you. You kept all of it in your heart, yet you could still tell me clearly—you only loved me."

Her voice trembled slightly on the final word.

Huo Yuhao held the hand pressed to his cheek and lowered his head to kiss her palm.

"Only you, Wutong," he said.

Huo Yuhao pulled her close, resting his chin atop her hair. The two stood by the lake for a long time. In the distance, Ye Guyi's Holy Light Barrier slowly lit up over the lake, dyeing the water a pale gold.

On the third day after the war, Huo