Step by step, a gentle breeze leads to a smooth path

A year later, a 'god of death' with a face full of scars appeared on the border, and there were many legends about him. His usual words and deeds exuded a noble air, and from behind he seemed like a god who had fallen to earth, but when he killed, he made people tremble with fear.

Some say he's a demon who crawled out of a mass grave, killing anyone he encounters. Others say he was originally a wealthy scion of a powerful family, but after losing a power struggle, he became addicted to drugs and was abandoned here to fend for himself. The indigenous tribes of the border call him the 'Angel of Slaughter,' because he kills only the most ruthless and insane demons.

Years later, the no-man's-land underwent a dramatic transformation, and the endless fighting was brought under control. One after another, drug lords succumbed to serious illnesses and addictions; faced with death, money and power became mere fleeting clouds. They were all locked in 'concentration camps' built deep in the mountains. Those who had once wielded immense power and disrupted the order were forgotten, their fates tragic.

Until neighboring countries resolved their differences and disputes through dialogue and negotiation, there was a familiar face among the troops who had set up camp, but the departing 'Angel of Death' did not know it.

Song Tingnan returned to Songjia Village and met Jiang Qianqian, only to learn that the follower from his student days had married a border medical worker and decided to stay on the border long-term.

Song Tingnan remained calm, saying that everyone has their own path to follow.

Having not returned home for many years, and with Song Wanli already deceased, she sat for a long time before his grave, carrying a pot of fine wine, reminiscing about her time with the Song family, feeling as if life were a dream. It wasn't until her master, Gao Haoran, supported by Song Mingxiang, called her home for dinner.

After the meal, the master and apprentice talked for a long time. "Tingnan, we are both people who have experienced killing. Do you still have faith in your heart?"

Song Tingnan knew her master's worries. After she returned, she became the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her master was worried that she would have too much power and would not be able to control herself.

“Master, I was once willing to give everything, even my life, for my beliefs, principles, and goals. But times change, circumstances change, feelings change, and the methods change. This is what I learned from surviving on the border – adapt to the enemy’s changes.” She made no promises; life is unpredictable.

The living environment is more complex than before, and human nature is much more complex. There are no eternal laws in the world. Gao Haoran said after a long silence, "Ting Nan, I am very fortunate to have become your master, but you must walk your own path well from now on. Your master can teach you nothing more. I only hope that you can grasp your principles and stance as a person."

Song Tingnan nodded. After telling her master everything that had been on her mind, she felt much lighter.

She truly crawled out from under corpses. To avoid those bisexual men, she disfigured herself; to avoid constantly being on guard against poisoning, she willingly became a drug addict. Her previously learned skills, including lip reading and ventriloquism, proved extremely useful, especially in controlling others and altering memories. This allowed her to single-handedly distinguish between good and evil, avoiding many detours, and thwarting one conspiracy after another... She ventured into certain forbidden zones, breaking free from constraints, ultimately becoming a pioneering trailblazer, developer, and leader.

"Master, I'd like to visit the nursing home. Is he alright?"

Gao Haoran naturally knew who 'he' was. "You should go and see him; his time is running out."

As Gao Haoran said, after meeting Song Tingnan, the former Taoist Liu Dayong closed his eyes with satisfaction. He changed his course halfway, but in the end, he did not make the wrong choice.

Once again embarking on her journey, Song Tingnan, without any regard for personal relationships, "brought along" her brothers: Zheng Xiangqian, who was in politics; Song Mingfu, who was in the military; Song Mingli, the philosopher; Song Mingcheng, the lawyer; as well as friends, classmates, senior brothers, and comrades-in-arms whom she had met at various times; and of course, the handsome "war correspondent" who worked seamlessly with her.

Because she knew that to go far, the era of individual heroism was over; it was necessary to form a united force and reject internal strife. Just as an insignificant ant can survive on Earth for hundreds of millions of years, while its contemporaries, the dinosaurs, have long since gone extinct.

Song Tingnan leveraged his advantages as the 'alpha wolf,' allowing them to pursue their own paths and achieve the most perfect division of labor and cooperation.

(End of the book)