I long to return home!

Two years later.

It's snowing heavily.

After days of recuperation, Xue Wu's damaged body gradually showed signs of recovery, and today his upper body can move again.

Another year is coming to an end, and the world is covered in a blanket of white snow. The entire general's mansion is also covered with a layer of frost.

In the main hall, Lei Mengying pushed her wheelchair out with both hands. The moment she opened the door, a cold wind blew in, making Xue Wu shiver. Fortunately, he was wearing a cotton coat.

"Finally, I can breathe some fresh air." Xue Wu stretched his arms and caught a falling snowflake.

Upon hearing this, Lei Mengying pouted, seemingly unwilling, and said, "What, is it so boring for me to read with you in the room?"

Xue Wu chuckled, recalling the books Lei Mengying loved to read—books about domineering CEOs falling in love with male employees, or stories of impoverished individuals being kept by wealthy women. Thinking back on the past two years, when he was often bedridden due to health issues, Lei Mengying would stay by his side, taking out these books and reading them with relish, leaving Xue Wu feeling utterly hopeless.

Xue Wu was speechless, unsure how to answer, and could only manage a forced smile to cover his embarrassment. But just then, Lei Mengying's expression changed, and she inexplicably asked, "How are you? Has your cultivation recovered at all?"

Xue Wu's expression turned serious. In the past two years, Lei Mengying had consumed countless rare pills, almost depleting most of the General's Mansion's resources. After being soaked in the medicinal pool for so long, Xue Wu's body was finally able to absorb a small amount of spiritual energy, and his cultivation level recovered to the fifth level of Qi Refining.

However, it was clear that the fifth level of Qi Refining was insufficient. His lifespan was being lost, and the damage to his foundation was causing Xue Wu's appearance to gradually age. If you looked at him now, you could still tell that it was the same person as before, but if it were five, ten, or twenty years later, without spiritual power to sustain his life, although he would not die, his appearance would change drastically.

Perhaps it was Lei Mengying's question that prompted Xue Wu to take a deep breath, close his eyes slightly, and form hand seals to examine his injuries.

A moment later, Xue Wu's expression turned to surprise. His damaged and dried-up foundation now had a trace of spiritual power and was slowly being repaired.

The foundation is being repaired... Xue Wu was puzzled. As far as he knew, there had never been such a heaven-defying treasure in the entire Tianyuan Continent that could repair a damaged foundation.

After recalling all the past events, Xue Wu suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of an answer he couldn't bear to accept. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked at the gaze directed at him, and he slowly reached out his hand to touch it.

Lei Mengying was startled, but without thinking much, she readily pressed her cheek against Xue Wu's. The instant they touched, Xue Wu gently stroked Lei Mengying's long hair and, sure enough, discovered a strand of white hair beneath her purple tresses.

Lei Mengying's pupils trembled as she noticed Xue Wu's actions. She tried to stop him, but Xue Wu still managed to pull out her white hair.

"It hurts." Seeing that things were not going well, Lei Mengying's expression changed. She rubbed the blanket and looked at Xue Wu in a cute and coquettish voice.

"You still feel pain." Xue Wu's voice suddenly turned cold. He gripped the strand of white hair tightly and said, "All these pills you've made for so long have been created using your own foundation as a medicinal ingredient?! You fool!"

Upon hearing this, Lei Mengying stopped acting cute, took a deep breath, squatted down, reached out and hugged Xue Wu, and whispered, "I'm a fool, do you love this fool?"

"Love." Without the slightest hesitation, the word came out of Xue Wu's mouth.

Lei Mengying chuckled softly, "Even I, this fool, love you, this idiot." With that, Lei Mengying raised her head and kissed Xue Wu.

...

Half an hour later, the two figures reappeared in the withered grove of trees not far from the general's mansion.

Lei Mengying, pulling her wheelchair, led Xue Wu to see the beautiful snow scenery. The displeasure they had felt earlier had vanished as they chatted and laughed, replaced by gentle words of comfort.

“The world is now at peace, and everything will get better. Where will you go from here on out?” Lei Mengying asked.

Upon hearing this, Xue Wu pondered for a moment before replying, "My cultivation cannot be fully restored in a short time, and my path will not be so narrow. The day my cultivation is fully restored, I will leave this place and go to the God Realm."

"And then what happened after you went to the God Realm?" Lei Mengying asked after a slight pause.

Xue Wu's expression was solemn. He touched the whip behind his head with his right hand, thought for a moment, and then replied, "After I go to the God Realm, I will find a way to find her. Then I will work hard to cultivate, find out the reason why I came here, change everything, and take you home to meet my family and get married."

Lei Mengying chuckled a few times, not pressing Xue Wu's questions further. She was already content with what he had said. She trusted that Xue Wu would give her an answer regarding the "she" he spoke of.

“But before that…” Xue Wu paused, looked up at the sky and earth where he was now, and smiled, “I haven’t had a good look at this world yet. I’ve lived for so long, and I still can’t bear to leave. I want to travel to every place on the Yuan Yuan Continent, see all the beautiful scenery, and leave no regrets.”

“Okay, I’ll go with you.” Lei Mengying smiled. She was a decisive person by nature. After thinking for a moment, she said, “After I go back and take care of all my affairs, I will accompany you on your journey through this mortal world.”

The two figures gradually disappeared into the distance. They walked for an unknown amount of time before the heavy snow almost completely covered them. A thick layer of snow accumulated on their bodies, and even their hair was stained white.

Looking at Lei Mengying, who was dressed in white, Xue Wu smiled and brushed the snow off her clothes, reciting:

If we get soaked in the snow today, we can be considered to have grown old together in this life.

The next day.

Lei Mengying remained decisive and efficient, brooking no hesitation, and finished handing over all the affairs of the manor in less than half a day. After temporarily placing the General's Mansion under the jurisdiction of Tantai Heiyu, she personally wrote a letter to the capital. She would temporarily relinquish her position as General Lei, and from now on, she would walk for herself.

Half a month later, Xue Wu's physical body visibly recovered, and he could now walk on his feet. Without continuing his recuperation, the two left from the General's Mansion that same day.

Like ordinary people in the mortal world, without any magical power, they travel around the world, visiting every mountain, resting when they are tired, eating when they are hungry, and finding an inn or a family to stay in when the night is deep.

Day after day, month after month, time left its mark on Xue Wu, and he looked to be in his thirties.

After spending nearly half a day exploring one state and visiting many places, they moved on to the next destination. After playing around for a month or two, Xue Wu took Lei Mengying to the Xiaoyao Sect to pay their respects to the sect, where the sect was still bedridden due to the punch they had received.

Three years later.

Xue Wu and Lei Mengying arrived at Luoyun Sect and met many old friends. On a mountain in Yunfeng, Xue Wu saw memories of the past; the small house where he once lived had now become an ice bamboo forest.

Without stopping, after bidding farewell to his senior brothers, sisters, and juniors, Xue Wu, accompanied by Lei Mengying, bowed before Lin Mubai's monument under the thatched hut and departed.

Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

After traversing every inch of the Wuji Empire, they left this place and continued their journey to the other two countries.

Although Xue Wu's cultivation level has recovered to the Foundation Establishment stage over the years, his appearance has not escaped the ravages of time, and he now looks like an old man. His hair is white, his face shows signs of vicissitude, and his white beard hangs down, a far cry from his former self.

Lei Mengying wanted to withdraw her spiritual power to accompany Xue Wu as he endured the marks of time, but was refused. She said, "There's no need. Wear nice clothes more often. It's pleasing to the eye and will improve your mood. When you're in a good mood, your injuries will heal faster."

During their trip, the two girls' appearances prompted an unintentional remark from a child: "Pretty sister, is this grandpa your father?"

Usually, upon hearing this, Xue Wu would chuckle and gently stroke Lei Mengying's forehead, taking advantage of the situation. Lei Mengying would then smile and explain, "This is my temporarily aging lover, my husband..." and then, in front of everyone, she would lightly kiss Xue Wu.

...