The Flowing Cloud Sect's defeat sent shockwaves through the Northern Domain. Sect Leader Zhao Gan was reduced to a废人, and two supreme elders fled with severe injuries. The news caused a massive upheaval, akin to a meteorite crashing into the sea. Qinglan City, once an obscure border town, became the focal point of the entire region overnight, all due to Shen Mo's name.
Under City Lord Xiao Zhan's diligent efforts, order was swiftly restored within the city, and prosperity even surpassed previous levels. Residents spoke of the earth-shattering battle, of Mr. Mo—no, Shen Mo—and his godlike power, their eyes brimming with awe and gratitude. It was he who curbed the Lin family's tyranny and shattered the Flowing Cloud Sect's threat.
Shen Mo, however, did not linger in the glory of victory. His first act was to publicly merge the yin and yang pendants. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the完整的 jade pendant, bathed in moonlight, projected a vast star map and a hazy coordinate pointing to the legendary "Skyfall Divine Palace," an ancient secret realm long lost to time.
He made no secret of it, announcing to all, "This artifact can only be activated by a kind-hearted individual unrelated by blood. To force it is to court disaster." By openly revealing this potent secret, he defused potential greed and strife, asserting control and demonstrating absolute confidence in his power. His magnanimity left the people in awe once more.
Next, he resumed his guise as a wandering physician and visited the modest hut where Su Xiao's mother lived. After several covert treatments, Su's mother's eye condition had nearly fully recovered. She could now see her daughter clearly and behold the bright sky once more. The elderly woman grasped Shen Mo's (disguised) hand, tears streaming down her weathered face, her gratitude beyond words.
Shen Mo found solace in this act of reparation for his past.
Finally, it was time to settle the matter between him and Su Xiao.
He shed all pretense and stood before her with his true visage at the dilapidated site of the orphanage that held countless memories. Overgrown with weeds and crumbling, the ruins whispered of time's passage.
Su Xiao had been waiting there. Clad in a simple, elegant dress, without makeup, her beauty remained pristine. Yet her brows now carried an air of tranquility and resilience. Seeing Shen Mo approach, her calm eyes rippled with emotion—a mix of excitement, joy, and indescribable complexity.
"A-Mo..." Su Xiao finally spoke, her voice trembling with emotion. Countless words condensed into this single confirmation.
"It's me, Xiao Xiao," Shen Mo replied, his icy gaze softening as he looked at her. "I'm back."
There was no elaborate recounting of perilous adventures, no dramatic emphasis on the vengeance exacted. Shen Mo briefly shared the inheritance from the cliff's depths and his three years of trials. Su Xiao, in turn, spoke of her waiting, her helplessness under coercion, and her profound longing.
"I know you're no longer the A-Mo from before," Su Xiao said, lifting her head to meet his gaze with clarity and resolve. "You've endured so much, shouldered so much. And I... I'm no longer the fragile girl who hid behind you, relying on your protection."
She gently traced the half-jade pendant engraved with "An" and continued, "These three years, watching the Lin family's true colors and the world's cold现实, I've come to understand the importance of strength. I don't want to be a burden to anyone anymore. I don't want to live solely under your shelter."
Shen Mo felt a stir in his heart as he witnessed Su Xiao's growth and determination.
"A-Mo," Su Xiao took a deep breath and declared her decision, "your path lies in broader horizons. Mine, I want to carve out myself. I want to cultivate, to grow strong, to have the power to protect myself and those I care about. I don't wish to exist merely as 'Shen Mo's woman.' I want to become someone who can stand beside you, at least... someone who can see your back as you stride forward."
Instead of seeking refuge in his embrace, she chose a more arduous path—one that would earn her respect.
Shen Mo gazed at her, recognizing the strength beneath her gentle exterior. He understood and respected her choice. After the cold vengeance, the lingering humanity in his heart would not allow him to clip the wings of her aspirations.
"Very well," Shen Mo nodded, offering no superfluous words. He produced several顶级丹药, ideal for her foundational cultivation, and a carefully selected, balanced玄阶功法, the *Sunnymind Canon*, placing them in Su Xiao's hands.
"This path will be challenging, but I will wait for you ahead," his voice was soft, yet weighted with promise.
Su Xiao accepted the丹药 and功法, her eyes glistening with tears, yet filled with resolve and hope. She returned the half-jade pendant to Shen Mo.
"May it continue to bless you with safety," she said with a gentle smile, like ice melting under spring sun. "I will strive to catch up to you, A-Mo."
No lingering farewells, no tears of sorrow. They exchanged smiles beneath the sunset's glow, their hearts in unspoken accord. They would walk separate paths—not in separation, but in pursuit of individual growth, to meet again on higher peaks.
Having settled all worldly entanglements, Shen Mo felt an unprecedented clarity and freedom of spirit. The obsession with vengeance had dissipated, and he found new purpose—to pursue martial perfection, explore boundless worlds, and... safeguard this hard-won peace.
Alone, he ascended Qinglan City's highest peak. Gazing down at the city's dwindling lights and the vast horizon beyond, he placed the half-jade pendant on a weathered rock, letting it endure the elements.
This was not abandonment, but a farewell. To the past filled with hatred and pain, to the fragile youth once named A-Mo.
"My path lies ahead," he declared, turning his gaze toward the infinite expanse marked by the star map, his eyes resolute and profound.