Dusk Returns to the Ruined Building

Despite a thousand emotions and wine, time cannot be turned back!

In the mortal world, wine is poison that burns through the intestines, and love is a knife that scrapes the bones. The feelings in wine and the love in pain are truly hard to let go with time.

Love may not dwell on the past, but some past experiences are truly hard to let go of.

In the ancient city of Luowu, there is a very special yet ordinary little tavern located in the Sixing Palace area.

Why is it considered special?

This little tavern only opens at night and has a strange name—Soul Comes to Peace.

No one knows how many years this little tavern has been around, and very few people actually notice it.

Since entering Luowu Ancient City, Ning Menghuan has been sleeping soundly during the day and getting drunk at night.

Ning Menghuan was familiar with the boss and hadn't been here for many years. The boss had lost weight, but looked more energetic. The old man even had some black hair among his white hair.

Ning Menghuan knew that it was a sign of life's last gasp, and that the boss probably didn't have much time left, maybe a year or two, or even less!

It is not the gentle breeze that stirs the willows, but your presence that brings spring to all things.

The autumn scenery of Luowu Ancient City is the most beautiful, with thousands of red leaves surrounding the ancient city, a sight to behold!

But Ning Menghuan just happens to love coming to Luowu Ancient City in the spring, because it holds her unforgettable past!

Ning Menghuan's first love happened in Luowu Ancient City!

In Ning Menghuan's entire life, the only time she truly felt moved was through her first love.

Why do you say that?

When she lived alone in the desolate Manghuang, the place she would sometimes think of and the person she would miss were the souls that came to her and the person she met there.

Ouyang Hanqing was merely a passerby in Ning Menghuan's life, a fleeting encounter that brought only a smile.

On the night Shen Yichen was lost in passion at Qianxun Tower, Ning Menghuan came to Hunlai'an alone to drink again.

"Girl, I advised you back then, 'Better to be a wandering knight of the rivers and lakes than a lonely figure in the mortal world.' Don't you regret it now?"

"You old codger, calculate the cost of the drinks these past few days. I'm leaving tomorrow. Half my life has passed, and after all this time, how many more years do I have left?"

"Girl, are you talking about yourself or me? The drinks are on the house; this little tavern is going to close down eventually!"

Inside the Soul-Gathering Pavilion, only Ning Menghuan and the old man were present. It was past midnight, and Ning Menghuan had only a plate of peanuts and a table full of empty cups on her table.

The old man was slumped over the counter, a position he had been holding for who knows how many years; the area beneath him was worn smooth and had lost its original color.

"Girl, I think I smell beef. This smell seems familiar!"

The drunk Ning Menghuan suddenly sat up straight and quickly wiped away the tears on her face with her sleeve.

The soul has come to peace, and people have arrived!

The person stood at the door, motionless, lifting their foot, unsure whether to go in or back out.

"Sir, I seem to remember you. It's been decades. That girl came three times, but you've never come even once!"

Ning Menghuan slowly turned her head, smiled sweetly, and tears streamed down her face.

"The person who underwent tribulation has returned! I thought it would be the soul that returned!"

Ning Menghuan truly didn't know whether she was happy or sad. She was laughing and crying at the same time. Was she crying tears of joy? But it really didn't seem like it!

"I...I didn't know you were here!"

Carrying beef, standing at the door was a handsome middle-aged man. If Shen Yichen were here, he would recognize him; it was Ji Qingyang, the man who had attacked him, his sixth uncle.

Ji Qingyang's voice trembled slightly, and his raised foot remained untouched, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

"Isn't sleeping in the same bed with someone you don't love, lying to the person next to you, even more bitter than the taste of this wine?"

"I...I had a child with her. Yes, I'm sorry!"

"Are you apologizing to me? You should be telling her that you don't love her, yet you betrayed the Ji family for her sake. Your presence here means she already knows your love is not genuine or pure!"

Ning Menghuan tilted her head back and drank the wine, tears mingling with her throat. Only then did she realize that the wine from Hunlai'an was truly bitter!

"May I come in?"

Ning Menghuan did not respond.

After a long while, Ji Qingyang spoke again:

"Miss, may I come in and have a drink with you?"

Ning Menghuan smiled sweetly!

"Whose playboy is this, daring to drink with my sister!"

Ji Qingyang smiled.

"Girl, I have beef, you have wine, we can be friends!"

"I want to be your girlfriend, are you brave enough to drink with me?"

"Girl, if I get drunk, I'll make you my girlfriend!"

Ji Qingyang walked into Hunlai'an.

Past events may fade like smoke, but feelings remain; bygone days may seem like dreams, but love endures.

This is the story of Ning Menghuan and Ji Qingyang's first encounter. Two people in love, who had not seen each other for decades, yet both remembered everything from the past.

Some things are in the past, but they are really hard to move on from!

Ji Qingyang and Ning Menghuan ate beef and drank wine. Strangely, neither of them spoke; they just looked at each other quietly.

Are they friends? No. Are they lovers? No. They're probably both wondering what their relationship is.

Perhaps they are just familiar strangers whom I miss!

Sadly, neither of them knew where to begin.

Shen Yichen never dreamed that Ning Menghuan taking Ouyang Zhengxiong's palm strike for him at the Jade Yao Tower in Jianying City would be because of Ji Qingyang, his sixth uncle whom he had never met.

Shen Yichen never expected that Ning Menghuan would be his sixth uncle Ji Qingyang's first love, but Yixuan knew!

Outside the ancient city of Luowu, when Yi Xuan learned Ning Menghuan's name, he knew that Ning Menghuan had come to the ancient city of Luowu probably to see Ji Qingyang again.

So when Yi Xuan noticed the unspoken ambiguity between Shen Yichen and Ning Menghuan, he was genuinely excited and interested.

In Jianying City, Shen Yichen has already taken away his aunt Ouyang Zhiqing. Now... this fate is truly unpredictable!

Time has passed, and the ending has changed.

Soul Comes to Annei, this time Ning Menghuan is drunk and lies face down on the table.

Ji Qingyang quietly looked at Ning Menghuan, whose face was covered in tears. He reached out to touch her face and wipe away the tears, but he didn't dare. His hand hovered above Ning Menghuan's flushed face.

After a long while, Ji Qingyang withdrew his hand and sighed:

"The one you loved is dead. I'm sorry, I ruined the happy life you should have had!"

Ji Qingyang left, his eyes filled with tears. He had endured decades of hardship, his body and soul destroyed, but the only thing that remained was this unforgettable past.

This is the third and final thing Ji Qingyang did in Luowu Ancient City: he wanted to say goodbye to his former self.

As soon as Ji Qingyang stepped out the door, he was stopped. Well, it wasn't exactly a stop; someone wanted to see him—it was Ji Wumo, the leader of the Wulinling tribe, who was sitting in a wheelchair.

"You can't touch her!"

"Qingyang, you shouldn't have feelings in your heart!"

"Go back and tell my elder brother that this is my own business, and has nothing to do with the Ji family or the world!"

Ji Wumo was not Ji Qingyang's man; he was clearly Ji Qingyun's man. In fact, to be precise, they were both Ji Qingyun's men.

Ji Qingyun knew Ji Qingyang too well. It was Ji Qingyun who told Ji Wumo about Hunlai'an, and perhaps Ji Qingyang could be found here.

Ji Qingyang had no intention of seeing Ji Wumo, because his business was not yet finished.

"Qingyun told me to tell you that you have control over everyone in Yanquan, and he doesn't have much time left for you!"

"Don't tell my elder brother, Master. I've met her. If I want you dead, my elder brother can't save you!"

Ji Qingyang was truly filled with murderous intent, but after all, that was his master!

"I promise you!"

Ji Qingyang flew away from Hunlai'an.

Ji Wumo stared at Ning Menghuan, who was slumped over the table, for a very long time!

"Qingyang, I can choose not to speak, but whether the Holy Envoy Soul Messenger speaks or not is none of my business, isn't that right, Xian'er and Gui'er!"