Nonsense! How could my adopted son be a villain?

Lan Jian fell silent, her lips pressed together, her expression turning cold.

At this moment, the transformation formation was nearing its end. Liu Zhu's soul had become very faint, while Si Yuan, who had fallen into a deep sleep, began to show some subtle changes. The scales that were originally dull and lacked luster now had a faint sheen; and the cracks on his horn seemed to have decreased in number.

Liuzhu lightly touched the unicorn horn, revealing a relieved smile.

But at this moment, Si Yuan, who had fallen into a deep sleep, struggled to wake up. Under Liu Zhu's surprised gaze, he managed to transform into human form and gently embraced her.

Liu Zhu's spirit was so faint it was almost dissipating, and Si Yuan holding her was no different from holding a ball of air.

But he smiled contentedly, nuzzled Liu Zhu's cheek against his own, and said with a hint of reproach, "Saving you was my own choice, but you always try to make sure we're even."

"But I want you to owe me, so I won't have to find excuses to bother you."

"Liu-soo, I've loved you for a long time. I love you so much that I'd rather live and die with you than live alone in this world."

Si Yuan gently embraced her, and a soul bead emitting a faint light emerged from his chest and disappeared into the twigs.

As if receiving some command, the vines that had been quietly surrounding the two of them began to twist and turn, layer upon layer enveloping the cave where they were.

Xu Lingguang looked around and discovered that the vines and branches were gradually turning black and withering.

Si Yuan, who was in the center, gently stroked the withered branches of the flowering vines and said apologetically, "I've raised you for so long, but I couldn't get you to bloom. I'm sorry."

The vine branches trembled and a slender branch slowly wrapped around him and Liu Zhu, as if they were snuggling together.

Meanwhile, the gray-black color gradually spread to Si Yuan's body.

His body decayed inch by inch, yet he still gently embraced Liuzhu. Liuzhu's soul was reduced to a wisp of residual consciousness, looking at him with confusion, as if asking why.

Si Yuan smiled, boldly touched her lips, and said with satisfaction, "I think this is perfect, everyone's happy."

As he finished speaking, he and Liuzhu vanished into thin air at the same time.

The withered vines seemed to sense their owner's passing, and they all trembled, making a rustling sound, like a mournful cry.

Just then, pale yellow petals drifted down and landed on Xu Lingguang's shoulder. He picked up a petal, looked up, and stared in astonishment as countless pale yellow petals fell like rain.

"The flowering vine is in bloom..."

The withered and decaying branches were covered with small yellow flowers, which then quickly fell, the petals falling like shattered stars.

Xu Lingguang reached out to catch the petals, only to find that they turned to ashes as soon as they landed in his palm.

Not just the flowers, the entire flowering vine was turning to ashes.

Pale yellow petals drifted and twirled with decaying ashes, falling to the ground only to be swept away by passing winds.

In the end, not a trace was left.

Only one exceptionally beautiful star-shaped fruit remained.

Legend has it that the Flower-Turning Vine never flowers or bears fruit, and its lifespan is endless. However, if the Flower-Turning Vine is watered with the blood of a Qilin (a mythical creature), it will bloom.

When it blooms, the vine turns snow-white, and its branches are covered with small yellow flowers, which bloom for seven days. After seven days, the flowers fall like shattered stars, leaving only a single fruit that does not rot or decay, which is called "Shattered Star".

It is said that the Star-Shattering Fruit can recreate the magnificent scene of the Flowering Vine blooming only once in its lifetime.

Xu Lingguang picked up the broken star fruit from the ground and saw pale yellow petals and ashes dancing in the fruit. At the end of the petals, a qilin and a tall figure could be vaguely seen.

Xu Lingguang was still in shock as he handed the broken star to Lan Jian, murmuring, "What you said was actually true..."

Lan Jian looked down at the shattered stars in his palm, her expression indifferent, but her eyes seemed to be filled with the chill of a snowfall, the ice and snow still unmelted, and even her voice was permeated with the coldness of ice and snow: "Keep it."

There was no sadness in his tone; in fact, he seemed colder than usual.

But for some reason, Xu Lingguang felt that he was very sad, and the snow in his eyes seemed to be melting into water.

He stammered, "The flowering vine can bear fruit. Maybe if we plant the fruit, it will sprout again next spring..."

"Shattered stars will not sprout."

Lan Jian said, "Why keep things that are useless?"

Xu Lingguang didn't know what to say for a moment, so he simply put the Shattered Star Fruit away himself.

Liu Zhu and Si Yuan perished together. The vine that had lived for countless years and possessed a spirit, after obtaining the Qilin Soul Pearl and absorbing all the turbid energy of Fengling City, bloomed once in its lifetime and sacrificed itself for its master.

Only Mu Yun's grandfather remained in the cave.

Just as Xu Lingguang was about to try to wake the other person, he saw that Grandpa Muyun woke up first.

The white-haired old man slowly opened his eyes, and when he looked at Xu Lingguang, his eyes were clear and bright.

He looked at the place where Si Yuan and Liu Zhu had fallen, and sighed, "So many years have passed, and finally, in my generation, I have fulfilled the last wish of my ancestors."

After speaking, he looked at Xu Lingguang with a very kind gaze and said, "Thank you for taking care of Muyun, young friend." He then beckoned to Muyun, "Come here."

Mu Yun was clearly excited to see her grandfather, but she pretended to be unwilling and hummed twice before jumping into her grandfather's arms.

The old man caught him, weighed him in his hand, and said, "He's gotten quite a bit heavier."

Mu Yun rolled around in his palm, whimpering and rubbing against his fingers.

Although Xu Lingguang didn't want to disrupt their family's happy time, he had a lot of questions on his mind, and Chong Xue seemed depressed and didn't want to talk, so he had no choice but to ask for the answers himself.

"Sir, what exactly is going on?"

Xu Lingguang looked at the array plate that had clearly lost its spiritual light and asked, "Has the seal on Fengling City been broken?"

He was also puzzled as to why Grandpa Muyun would seal Fengling City.

Upon hearing his words, Grandpa Muyun's smile faded slightly. He placed Muyun on his lap before answering Xu Lingguang's question.

"Our Treasure-Hunting Rat clan has always been entrusted with the mission of our ancestors to find the whereabouts of the Qilin's remains. Young friend, you must already know this since you've managed to find your way here, right?"

Xu Lingguang nodded: "The Qilin's remains were stolen by Liuzhu?"

Grandpa Muyun nodded: "I also investigated for a long time before I found a clue. I came to Fengling City to investigate this matter."

But just as he discovered that the person who stole the Qilin's corpse was Liuzhu, a strange change occurred in Bongryeong City.

"During the night of the Ten Thousand Beasts Manor incident, I discovered the traces of a Qilin. While following the Qilin's trail, I encountered Liuzhu. Liuzhu recognized my identity and made a deal with me."

"She said she had a way to revive the Qilin, but because the Qin family had selfish motives, they let the Qilin escape while she was weak, disrupting her plans. So she needs my help to seal off Fengling City, firstly to prevent the Qilin from escaping, and secondly because the Qilin summoned the Fanhua Vine. The Fanhua Vine had become sentient, but while protecting its master, it was corrupted by the Qilin's turbid energy and almost went out of control. If Fengling City is not sealed, either of them escaping will cause a catastrophic disaster."

"So I agreed."