Chapter 91: Sun and Moon Traverse the Skies

Cangzhou City had suffered severe damage. Yi Jinxiang had to handle Heavenly Court affairs while also soothing the injured citizens. She couldn’t manage everything alone, so Wenren Sheng and He Mu stayed for a longer period.

In the blink of an eye, half a year passed, and Cangzhou City gradually returned to its former state. Wenren Sheng handed his master’s Heart-Protecting Treasure to Ye Lan. After that, many city matters fell on the shoulders of this new city lord.

Not long after Ye Lan took office, Cangzhou City reopened its gates.

In the past, they had hidden to avoid human slaughter. Now that the Heavenly Court had changed regimes, the conflicts between humans and demons in the lower realms had eased. Cangzhou City no longer needed to isolate itself from the world.

After reopening, humans gradually began moving in. With the war just ended, to prevent further incidents, the city divided living areas for humans and demons along the north-south main streets, giving the two races some buffer space for the time being.

Shan Yue and Yi Fang lived on the north and south sides respectively. They often visited each other, and over time, demons and humans followed their example. Relations remained fairly harmonious.

During this time, Wenren Sheng often sat atop Resting Gold Summit in Splendid Palace, quietly overlooking the entire Cangzhou City, as if he wanted to etch every blade of grass and tree into his memory.

He had spent a very brief yet brilliant three years in this “home.”

Today, he turned nineteen.

“Happy birthday, young hero.”

Shan Yue handed a delicate brocade box to Wenren Sheng with a smile.

“This is a sachet I made with some spices picked from Cangzhou. Take it back as a memento, young hero. If you ever want to return to Cangzhou, come find us anytime.”

Wenren Sheng’s eyes brimmed with tears as he took the brocade box. He stepped forward and hugged Shan Yue, crying, “I’m really going to miss you all…”

Yi Fang smiled and patted Wenren Sheng’s shoulder. “You two are immortals now. What’s there to miss? Just come back if you want.”

Wenren Sheng pouted, thinking this guy didn’t understand anything at all.

After hugging for a while, Wenren Sheng released Shan Yue and wiped the tears from the corner of his eyes with his hand.

“Next year, when I marry the Mountain God, I’ll definitely send invitations to everyone,” he said with sniffles. “You all have to come, okay?”

Shan Yue nodded and asked, “What about Lord Cangyu?”

“He’s waiting for me at the city gate,” Wenren Sheng said. “He said he doesn’t want to see me hugging and holding others, so he’ll wait outside.”

“Even that’s not allowed?” Yi Fang said in surprise. “How come your Brother is so strict with you!”

“Don’t talk about him like that,” Wenren Sheng retorted seriously. “He does it because he loves me and likes me. It’s not strict at all.”

Yi Fang was a bit speechless. He pursed his lips and said, “Alright, alright, I get it. You love him a lot, and he loves you a lot too, right?”

Wenren Sheng crossed his arms and nodded in satisfaction. “Exactly.”

“Can’t stand it,” Yi Fang said helplessly, waving his hand. “Then go reunite with the Mountain God. We have things to do too.”

Wenren Sheng also felt it was getting late. He glanced back at the sky. He had agreed with He Mu to leave the city before sunset, and now it was dusk.

He hurriedly grabbed his bundle and waved to the two of them. “Then I’m off! See you next time!”

When he rushed to the city gate, the sun was just setting. The evening glow cast golden light across the ground, bathing Wenren Sheng in bright hues.

He stopped in front of He Mu, panting as he said, “Brother, I… I’m late!”

He Mu leaned against the city gate, smiling as he steadied Wenren Sheng and pulled him into his arms, wrapping him in his outer cloak.

Wenren Sheng obediently hugged him and asked softly, “Did Brother wait a long time?”

“I’ve been waiting forever,” He Mu said in a pitiful tone. “I’ve been standing here at the city gate thinking, does Wenren Sheng not want to leave? Does he have someone he likes more in Cangzhou? Does he dislike Fragrant Ze Mountain and not want to go home with me?”

Wenren Sheng panicked at once. He quickly looked up, cupped He Mu’s face, and explained anxiously, “No, I don’t! I just… just talked a bit more. I don’t dislike Brother at all. I want to go home with Brother!”

Seeing Wenren Sheng’s face flush with anxiety, He Mu couldn’t help laughing. He quickly said, “I’m teasing you. I didn’t think that.”

“…………”

“You’re so mean!” Wenren Sheng didn’t want to pay attention to him anymore!

He stomped his foot in anger and turned to run. He Mu immediately pulled him back and hugged him again.

“I was wrong, I was wrong,” he coaxed repeatedly. “Shengsheng, today’s your birthday. Don’t be mad. Come home with me, okay?”

He Mu’s embrace was warm and strong. Wenren Sheng had still been upset, but after this hug, all his strength drained away. Bubbles seemed to bubble up around him.

The Mountain God was really so bad, always bullying him like this.

But… he still liked him so much. He really wanted to marry him.

At the thought of “marriage,” Wenren Sheng’s face burned. He leaned dazedly against He Mu, pondering what things they’d do after marrying.

They wouldn’t just become husband and wife; they’d become Dao companions. Could he still call him Brother afterward? Would he have to change to husband or something?

But that felt so embarrassing…

What would the Mountain God call him?

As Wenren Sheng thought about it, he grew drowsy. It was now the depths of winter. Hiding in He Mu’s cloak, he felt like he was back in childhood, wrapped in a blanket sleeping in the Rabbit Burrow.

“So sleepy…” Wenren Sheng mumbled. “I don’t want to do Sword Flight. Let’s just go straight home.”

He Mu naturally indulged him in everything. He cast an Earth-Shrinking Divine Curse. In mere moments, the two returned to Fragrant Ze Mountain.

Fragrant Ze Mountain was close to the sun, where one could see the clearest sunsets. Wenren Sheng turned and leaned against He Mu’s chest, gazing far off as the last inch of sunset faded from the horizon.

After a long while, Wenren Sheng asked softly, “Now that we’re immortals, can we be together forever?”

“Of course,” He Mu said, resting his chin on Wenren Sheng’s head. “I will love you unwaveringly.”

“……”

Unwavering love.

Wenren Sheng thought that the storybooks about him might not just be tales of a “hero.”

His story contained much love.

His clan leader, his master, his friends, his Mountain God.

He was but a speck of sand in the vast world. In the grand scheme of things, he remained insignificant at this moment, with only negligible power in his hands, unable to sway the course of fate by even a fraction.

But so what? One didn’t have to live only in the instant.

When others rejoiced for him or shed tears for him, his heartbeat echoed beyond this moment.

With that thought, Wenren Sheng suddenly pulled away from He Mu’s embrace.

He turned, gazing at He Mu with utterly serene eyes.

“Brother,” he said, taking He Mu’s hand. “I want to ask you something.”

He Mu lowered his gaze, looking at him with gentle eyes.

“Ask away, Shengsheng.”

Wenren Sheng took a deep breath and said slowly, “Your Dao Heart… is me, right?”

He Mu’s expression froze, and he opened his mouth.

“I…”

But before He Mu could answer, Wenren Sheng tiptoed up and pressed a kiss to his lips.

Of course, he didn’t need He Mu to answer. He had already heard it.

Because he saw it in He Mu’s eyes.

The reflection of himself in those eyes—from childhood to youth, from plain robes to splendid attire, finally transforming into crimson silk, twin shadows by red candlelight, sharing one boat beneath the starry river.

And in years to come, with sun and moon traversing the skies, long winds and lingering rains—

They would live together dawn to dusk, never to part.

— End of Main Story —