The battle cries of gods, demons, and immortals had faded at last. The silence that followed wasn't the stillness of death but the hush of healing—the quiet between heartbeats when even heaven dared to breathe again. My world, the great unified empire built from ashes and light, now pulsed with growth instead of war.
It was on a soft sunrise morning, with mist curling over the palace gardens, that a single voice broke that calm.
"Chen'er..."
I froze. The tone was faint — trembling, clear, and familiar in a way that struck deeper than any sword ever could.
Yue Zhilan, standing a few steps behind, frowned slightly. "Who would dare enter the inner courtyard without announcing their name?"
I didn't answer. My chest tightened; every realm I'd conquered and every enemy I'd slain all seemed like hollow echoes beside that one fragile sound. I turned slowly toward the voice.
Then I saw her.
She stood under a willow tree, a woman dressed in worn robes of grey and white, her hair streaked with silver, her eyes kind — too kind for this world. She looked fragile, yet the world itself seemed to bow quietly around her presence.
In that instant, I wasn't a Sovereign, a ruler of countless stars. I was Chen Sheng again — just a son who once left home before he could say goodbye.
"Mother..." The word escaped me before I could stop it. It felt strange on my tongue, but my heart remembered.
Her eyes filled with tears. "My child, so many lifetimes... I prayed I'd see you again, even if only once." She was shaking now, her steps small and uncertain. "You've changed so much... yet I would know you anywhere."
When she reached me, her hands, calloused from ordinary work, touched my face softly. The warmth of her palms washed away every divine layer I'd built. My knees bent before I realised it, and I bowed my head, burying my face against her shoulder.
For the first time since I arrived in this world, tears burned down my cheeks.
She smiled through her own tears. "Even gods cry when they meet their mothers again, huh?"
I laughed weakly, clinging to her hand. "You... how? How did you come here?"
She explained slowly, her voice gentle as rain. "After your last breath on Earth, a light appeared before me. The heavens pitied my sorrow. They brought me here, but I wasn't meant to remember you immediately. Only now, when your soul has reached its truest form, could we meet."
So she, too, was part of this world — hidden, waiting for me to be ready.
Behind us, Yue Zhilan bowed deeply. "Respected Mother, this world welcomes you."
Even the sky softened; the sunlight turned golden, touching her shoulders like an old friend. Her presence was simple, untouched by power, yet no emperor, no saint, no god seemed greater.
She looked around the palace courtyards — the towers built from dragon stone, the lakes glowing with immortal light — and smiled faintly. "You built all this... but tell me, Chen'er, are you happy?"
That question cut through every armour I'd forged. For a moment, I thought of all I'd done: every battle, every victory, every crown piled upon my shoulders. And still, I found no simple answer.
"I think..." I began, my voice cracking, "I was searching for you, Mother. In power, in peace, in glory — but I never found what I lost."
She chuckled softly. "Then you've finally found it."
I helped her into the grand hall, yet even surrounded by celestial murals and divine aura, she seemed out of place — too gentle, too human, too real. She asked about my companions, meeting Lirael, Seraphine, and Yue Zhilan, each with a kind word and a small smile that made even the mighty bow their heads.
At one point, Mo Han dropped by, whispering to Kael, "She's... terrifyingly warm."
Even Elowen, who could commune with ancient roots, said under her breath, "Her aura heals more than spirit trees."
My mother simply laughed. "You've all watched over Chen'er. I thank you."
As night fell, she and I walked the gardens alone. Above us hung not one moon, but nine — each reflecting the different worlds I had conquered. Yet in that moment, they looked like home's lamp posts glowing faintly beyond the fog.
I told her everything then — how I died saving a child, how I awoke in this world, how I clawed through betrayals, blood, and destiny until I sat upon the throne of gods. She listened silently, never interrupting.
When I finished, she placed her hand on my heart and whispered, "My son... the hardest battles are not fought with swords, but with loneliness. Don't let your heart turn cold again."
I caught her hand and held it tight. "Stay here. Please."
She smiled that same tired, knowing smile. "I will. Not as a goddess or immortal, but simply as your mother."
The night breeze stirred the flowers around us, carrying their scent deep into the stars. For once, I didn't feel like a ruler of realms. I was a son sitting beside his mother, beneath a sky that finally knew peace.
And when dawn came again, golden light spilt over the kingdom like a blessing.
"Ding! Quest Completed: Reunion Achieved. Reward: Eternal Peace, +1 Soul Bond."
For the first time, I didn't care for the reward. My heart — finally — was full.