Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Drink~"

Inside the dense forest of Qichuan, looking at Shen Lang lying on the snow, his eyes still wide open but unconscious, Wei Shuyu let out a shrill scream.

"It seems that the beacon tower is destined to be a shadow he can never shake off in his life."

"To escape that past, he sealed that memory deep in the heart."

"If the fire hadn't been kept burning, we would never have been able to know the torment he was going through."

Murong Xue walked up to Shen Lang and slowly extended her long, sharp fingernails: "Cold-bloodedness is his disguise; cruelty is his choice to conceal his emotions."

Shen Lang, even if you can lead the Chu Kingdom to its peak, even if you can break the old rules and regulations of this world, you still cannot face your true self.

Ultimately, you value relationships and loyalty more than anyone else; you just keep them hidden.

Suddenly, a long, scarlet tongue popped out from the smiling mouth beneath Wei Shuyu's demon mask.

"Alright, it's time to enjoy this feast. The flesh and blood of the Duke of Zhenguo of Great Chu must be quite delicious."

Murong Xue: "Then let's divide it up and eat it. After tonight, there will be no more Shen Lang in this world."

With death looming, Shen Lang seemed oblivious.

In the empty pupils, only the spinning top of fate continues to turn...

"Wake up, hey, wake up."

In a daze, Shen Lang was awakened by a sudden, rapid shaking.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw Sun Lang and his former colleagues from the elite vanguard battalion, all looking at him with smiles on their faces.

"Old Sun?"

Am I already dead?

Sun Lang immediately slapped his head.

"What nonsense are you talking about, Lao Shen? I don't want to see you reunite with us so soon."

The familiar gestures and smiles gave Shen Lang a sense of long-awaited reunion.

He got up and sat on the ground, glanced around, and finally looked at Sun Lang again, asking in a teasing tone, "How are you all doing over there?"

Sun Lang waved his hand: "Don't even mention it. Only ghosts can stay in that place. You, a living person, should definitely not come and join the fun. Even if you do come, don't come so early, or I'll get mad at you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang's expression darkened: "But, I miss you all, I really..."

"Old Shen, you absolutely mustn't pull this on me. I'm warning you, you haven't finished with what you promised us. If you come now, you'll be breaking your promise."

"Yeah, Lao Shen, didn't we agree back then? You were supposed to live on for us, to live and change this unjust world. How can you just give up now?"

The comfort from his former comrades gradually helped Shen Lang rediscover the warmth that life should have.

"what……"

He smiled nonchalantly, as if he had figured everything out.

Sun Lang, a cigarette dangling from his lips, replied with a smile, "Old Shen, the brothers have all entrusted their lives to you, so you absolutely mustn't give up halfway."

We've seen your wife, the Empress, and she's a good emperor. Are you willing to abandon her to come find us?

"Alright, live on for us now, and change this world for the better. We've felt the effects of what you've done all these years."

Shen Lang: "Old Sun, back then at Fengsui Fortress, you weren't actually wrong..."

"No, we were wrong," Old Sun quickly interrupted him. "What if we had persisted a little longer, until you and the Empress got married?"

"Wouldn't we be able to enjoy the good life together? Wouldn't it be incredibly prestigious to go out and tell people that you served in the army alongside the current emperor?"

"Yeah, hahaha—"

Laughter immediately erupted all around.

After the laughter subsided, Sun Lang said seriously, "Old Shen, the rights and wrongs are in the past. We were foolish back then, which is why we forced you into this situation."

Now that it's all in the past, I should thank you. At least we left with our heads held high, without being gossiped about or called traitors.

You should have moved on from this by now. There's no need to dwell on the past anymore, especially since you have many people around you who need your protection.

Your wife, your prince, your children, and the countless talents you've nurtured—these are the people you should truly care about.

"We're already dead, so stop worrying about us. Just get out of here. I'd really look down on you if you fell to those two living dead."

Upon hearing this, Shen Lang slowly stood up and took two steps back.

As the sun sets, its afterglow falls upon ninety-nine familiar faces.

Behind me are the steps of the beacon tower; once I walk down them, I can completely leave that past behind.

Beside him, the spinning top was still turning, but it was already showing signs of stopping.

"Brothers, please accept my bow, Shen Lang!"

Shen Lang cupped his hands and bowed deeply to the brothers of the Sharp Knife Battalion.

Sun Lang waved his hand dismissively: "Hurry up and go, stop dawdling, and remember not to come back."

Shen Lang got up to leave in an instant.

"Old Shen! Catch!"

Suddenly, Sun Lang stood up and threw a cold knife at Shen Lang.

The moment he raised his hand to catch it, it was the dazzling display of military might.

"I've kept the knife you used to stab me back then, and now I'm returning it to you!"

"Take care of yourself."

No longer confused or hesitant, Shen Lang decisively turned and stepped onto the stairs.

The spinning top beside him also stopped completely at that moment.

Behind Shen Lang, all the figures of the Beacon Tower and the Sharp Knife Battalion instantly turned into dust and scattered between heaven and earth.

Suddenly, a beam of light appeared before Shen Lang's eyes, instantly enveloping him...

"Tai Xu Jun Yao!"

Just as Murong Xue and Wei Shuyu were about to kill Shen Lang, Shen Lang suddenly conjured up a weapon.

With a single, devastating slash, the blade's energy shook the mountains, instantly cleaving Murong Xue and Wei Shuyu's bodies into dust.

The resurrected Shen Lang had an incredibly calm and determined look in his eyes.

He gained many insights from that life-or-death moment.

For the rest of his life, he will never again feel the slightest bit lost.

"Not putting out the fire?"

Shen Lang raised his eyes for a moment, and Bingzhu directly slashed through the two balls of inextinguishable fire in the void, extinguishing them in an instant.

With everything settled, Shen Lang turned his gaze westward towards Qichuan.

"Murong Ke, is this the trap you set? Prepare for your end!"

……

"puff……"

On the other side, Murong Ke, who was manipulating the puppet technique, was suddenly attacked by the undying fire and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"what happened?"

Just as I was wondering what was going on, two undying flames appeared before my eyes.

"Wei Shuyu and Murong Xue, their physical bodies are completely destroyed. Damn it, I underestimated you, Shen Lang. Even a living dead who has broken through the limit cannot do anything to you."

Stepping out of the tent and looking at the empty full moon, Murong Ke let out a long sigh.

"What will become of the Great Yan Dynasty in the future?"

Suddenly, a fast horse galloped toward him.

Murong Ke looked up and his heart tightened.

Those are scouts from Yanjing. Could something urgent have happened in the palace?

"Reporting to Your Highness, the Second Prince, His Majesty... he passed away seven days ago!"

"what!"

Upon hearing the devastating news, Murong Ke felt a wave of dizziness and lightheadedness.

"This is terrible! Why did they have to choose such a crucial moment?!"

He was filled with resentment, but his face remained calm and composed.

Did His Majesty leave a will before his death?

Scout: "His Majesty has abdicated in favor of the Thirteenth Prince, Murong Jun. He requests that His Highness the Second Prince return to Yanjing immediately to attend the late Emperor's funeral."