Langshan Sect – The Grand Court
The Lan Family stood with dignity inside the main court of the Langshan Sect. At their side were Master Ren Zhou and Lady Mei Ying.
Azhai Rong had already been thrown into the prison, his fate sealed. The cell was bound with layers upon layers of powerful sealing talismans—no one could enter, and no one could escape. The seals were so absolute that even Azhai Rong's voice could not seep beyond those walls.
Statements from Master Ren Zhou and Lady Mei Ying were inscribed onto countless scrolls, printed into great proclamations, and distributed across the entire empire.
By dusk, every hand held those parchments...records of every vile deed stretching back to Lin Chaoyuan himself, laid bare for all to see.
Joy erupted across the land.
Laughter rang in the streets, people embraced as if a festival had descended upon the nation. Congratulations poured from every corner; markets swelled with jubilant crowds. And when the news spread further...that the great High King Yu Sui and Mo Yan had returned in rebirth, and would soon be presented before the people.....excitement surged to a fevered peak.
Every street, every household, every bazaar—was alive with celebration.
---
Far away, within the sacred sandalwood groves, a figure stirred.
His eyes flickered open against the sting of the rising sun.
It was none other than Wuzu, burning with fever, her body battered from a grievous fall.
Around her circled her faithful Fire Fox, its flames restless, watchful.
Wuzu lifted her gaze to the sky.....it was clear, vast, the thick white clouds shifting to announce the changing season. For the first time, she felt warmth flowing through her body. A heat unfamiliar… a heat that belonged not to a spirit-beast, but to a human.
For Wuzu had always been a vulture's soul bound into human form. When Su Tao Jue sealed the Black Heaven Gate with the great forbidden spell, every trace of demonic power linked to it was locked away as well.....the curse upon Yu Sui, the dark essence of Wuzu, even the Living Crown itself.
Which meant one undeniable truth....
Wuzu was now fully human.
And the curse upon Yu Sui was broken.
Staggering to her feet, disbelief shone in her eyes. She turned to her Fire Fox, voice trembling:
"Chee Won… am I truly human now…?"
But before she could speak further, the fox spat a blazing fireball straight at her face.
The heat seared her skin, and she yelped in pain, stumbling, shouting, running in frantic circles.
---
Later, at the riverbank,
Wuzu knelt by the cold waters, splashing her face again and again, still scolding her fox between gulps of breath.
"You couldn't just say it? You had to burn my face with fire first?!"
Yet beneath her complaints, joy overflowed. She was laughing, truly laughing, for the first time in her life.
But she knew what must come next—she had to reach Lao Duan and Yu Sui as quickly as possible.
She turned to the Fire Fox and commanded, "Find Yu Sui's whereabouts."
The beast's eyes gleamed. A glowing butterfly of pure flame emerged from its forehead, fluttered into the air, and set off ahead.
Without hesitation, Wuzu followed.
---
Xueyan Huo Sect – The Academy Grounds
Within the academy halls, the atmosphere was charged with anticipation.
Yu Sui and Mo Yan had undergone careful examination; the Twin Phoenixes still circled high above the skies, unwilling to depart. For Yu Sui had yet to forge a sigil or conduct any sacred ritual.....until then, the phoenixes could reside only in the open heavens.
Inside, medicine was administered to both Yu Sui and Mo Yan.
Nearby, Su Nian, Duie, Lao Duan, Wey Xiong, Yin Fengxian, and Su Ri sat together, endlessly chatting, laughing, trading stories as though making up for centuries of separation.
The instructors had long since withdrawn. The great courtyard of the academy swelled with students...an announcement had been made:
High King Yu Sui and High King Mo Yan had returned.
The crowd burst into joyous cries. The downfall of Azhai Rong had already granted them peace of mind, but now the presence of their sovereigns filled them with hope like never before. All that remained was the arrival of Master Ren Zhou and Lady Mei Ying.
Even within the Legacy of Peach Blossom Academy, the proclamations had reached.
Masters Chang Shi and Zu Gushion raised their cups in unrestrained cheer.....the halls seemed to sing with song, brimming with delight.
The scrolls were carried further, even into the Hei Lin San Sect.
There, behind closed doors, the parents sat with Master Lee Wen. When they read the truth, their hearts finally unshackled from years of torment, they too shed tears of relief. Peace, at long last, had returned to them.
Master Lee Wen's wife entered quietly, bearing tea. Yet the comfort of warm cups was nothing compared to the far greater joy awaiting those weary parents…