"Brother Zeng, you..."
Zeng Yuan's appearance had changed little, but his words made both Mu Bai's and Sweet Potato Boy's hearts tighten.
"That's right. I can't leave Mu Lan. Wherever she goes, that's where I'll be. Believe me, apart from you few, Mu Lan and I have no other attachments in this world."
For a moment, an inexplicable sorrow welled up in their hearts, and Mu Bai and Sweet Potato Boy both fell silent. In the distance, Golden Roc and Xi Bazì stopped their roughhousing as well and came over to Mu Lan.
"Look, this year has reached its end, and spring will soon be here. Who's to say it isn't a new beginning?"
Slowly, Mu Lan turned and pointed beyond the valley, as though embracing this world one last time. Outside the valley, snowflakes had begun drifting down in flurries, slow and low, like a sinking mood.
Xi Bazì and Sweet Potato Boy turned to look. When they turned back, Mu Lan had already collapsed into Zeng Yuan's arms, a sweet smile on her face.
"My four good brothers, I'm going too."
Before Mu Bai and the others could speak to stop him, Zeng Yuan gave a happy smile, lowered his head to kiss Mu Lan, and closed his eyes in rapture, never to open them again.
When an Alchemist wanted to end his own life, who could stop him?
Now, with no protective formation barring their way, snowflakes drifted into the valley. It was like their wedding that year, when Zeng Yuan had risen into the air with Mu Lan in his arms, white orchids scattering across the sky like falling snow. Beneath the black velvet curtain of night, they had fluttered down into every corner of vast Spirit Command City, holding fine wine, their fragrance spilling everywhere.