"It seems Caliera's memories are coming to an end..."
Lanqi and Talia had both regained control of their bodies, yet in this moment they once again did not belong to this space; they could only watch as this memory world, fading like a lingering trace, unraveled and dispersed.
In the very next instant, a turbulent current of spacetime surged anew. Amid a wave of vertigo and weightlessness, Lanqi and Talia felt their consciousness travel across a vast journey, everything before their eyes blurring into an accelerating haze.
Not until the faint, rhythmic clatter of train tracks echoed in their ears once more did their consciousness begin to return, the light slipping through their slitted eyelids pulling them rapidly up from the depths of sleep.
"..."
Lanqi's fingertips trembled slightly. He slowly sat upright and drew a deep breath as crisp, biting air flooded into his chest.
Having just awakened, his vision remained somewhat hazy, unable to adjust to the bright light.
The luxury compartment was spacious and private, dominated by warm shades of beige and brown. The train maintained its steady, familiar rhythm, letting in scarcely any noise thanks to the excellent soundproofing between the compartment and the corridor.
Squinting, he turned toward the glass window beside the table. The mountain wilderness on the outskirts of Brierda lay shrouded in a thin layer of mist. On the distant horizon, the morning sun had already risen, making the delicate frost on the windowpane glisten with a crystalline luster under the golden natural light.
What few wisps of drowsiness lingered in his mind were chased away completely by the chill.
Clasping his shoulder, he stretched his limbs, feeling far more awake.
"Judging by the scenery, the two of us couldn't have slept for too long; we're still in the mountainous region outside Brierda," Lanqi murmured to himself.
He remembered clearly that when he first arrived in Brierda, Botswana Province was covered in continuous mountains that took several hours to pass through completely.
The magic crystal screen embedded in the wall displayed the progress of the Brierda train; there was indeed plenty of time, as it was not even nine o'clock in the morning.
"Lanqi, that dream just now... what on earth was it?"
Talia kept her head down, strands of hair still draping over her brows and eyes as she muttered, sounding not yet fully awake.
"After Caliera finished the letter, she sent it out and transformed herself into the Fallen Land of Gentle Slumber. After that probably came the timeline of our fourth Shadow World,"
Lanqi mused on Caliera, who had vanished toward the Inverted Mirror Corridor, sorting through the chronological timeline of this memory.
Lankeluosi, who had originally prepared to face death in peace, read his old friend's letter and decided to retrace his steps across the Land of Eternal Night one last time, making a journey to Corridors Academy in the Demon Realm's Purgatory City.
Yet the moment Lankeluosi reached the academy's central control room, he saw the Mirror of Tiberius that Caliera had used. Using the three remaining charges she had left him, he saw through the Blood Clan's conspiracy, and in the end, he too marched to his death in the Horning Empire.
"But... she knew this letter would lead Lankeluosi to become the Black Sun Tyrant and suffer eternal punishment. How could she bear to send it with a smile?"
By now, Talia had awakened from the dream, yet she still could not shake off the empathy she felt for Caliera.
She had always been strangely attuned to this familiar magic power of Caliera's.
Just seeing Caliera's departing silhouette made her feel an ache deep in her chest.
Caliera had staked her life four times with Tiberius, Lord of the Inverted, leaving three of them for Lankeluosi—because it took only a single attempt for Caliera to see the Horning Empire's demonkin conspiracy in the Mirror of Tiberius, and only Lankeluosi possessed the strength to resolve that apocalyptic catastrophe.
Yet Caliera must have foreseen and guessed what kind of end awaited Lankeluosi; that was why she left behind Tamisha—a continuation of her own life—so that one day in the future, she might save Lankeluosi.
"Tata, if we were in Caliera and Lankeluosi's shoes and you faced that situation, would you choose to send the letter? Or would you choose to perish alongside Lankeluosi within the illusion of a peaceful dream?"
Lanqi asked Talia, who was sitting across the table.
"I would. But I would also fear that at the end of the journey, nothing would remain but eternal regret."
Talia felt she might not be capable of such absolute resolve as Caliera.
Back then, love bruised and battered to the core had turned Lankeluosi into the Black Sun Tyrant, living on like a walking corpse.
Yet she believed Lanqi could do what Lankeluosi did.
Because in the Shadow World, she had fully witnessed Lanqi's choices; he had taken every single step without the slightest hesitation.
"In truth, the end of life doesn't necessarily mean accumulating more and more. Rather, having started with nothing, as long as one has experienced beauty and fulfilled one's purpose, one can let go without regret. If you can see that clearly, perhaps it is enough to smile at the end of life's journey."
Lanqi ventured a guess at Caliera's state of mind.
The process of understanding Lankeluosi's state of mind in the Shadow World had also meant understanding the feelings of the friends around him.
Yet it was Talia who had experienced Caliera's journey in the final Shadow World, so she should understand Caliera's feelings even better than he did.
"Why wouldn't it accumulate more and more? Could Caliera be like you, devoid of desire and ambition?"
Talia truly could grasp Caliera's feelings.
Yet perhaps due to the difference in age, or perhaps the difference in eras, she could not entirely comprehend Caliera's mature perspective under the Blood Moon Ruined World.
"Whether it was afternoons spent rushing about or the long stretches of time they shared, everything meets an inevitable end. Caliera, possessing the Fallen Land of Gentle Slumber, understood this all too well. She could never wait until the day she and Lankeluosi might live in peace and health, sharing laughter together," Lanqi patiently explained his conjecture to Talia.
"A joy that is lost the moment it is obtained was what they persistently pursued, again and again. In the end, one realizes that what they sought was perhaps not that fleeting joy, nor the inevitable destination, but something far more important."
He believed that putting it this way, Talia would understand.
Just as the restoration of the demon nation was now at hand, even if Talia did nothing at all, she could probably sit back and wait for the demons to rebuild their country. And as long as she was willing to step forward, the demons of this age would immediately revere her as their final Demon King.
Yet Talia no longer felt there was anything so wonderful about restoring her nation.
A cherished dream she had once yearned for day and night had been laid down by her in the span of just two years.
"It seems there really is nothing that cannot be let go of, once you've found what you truly desire..." Listening to Lanqi's words and inner thoughts, Talia nodded slightly.
"In the era of the Blood Moon Ruined World, having lived through so many joys, sorrows, partings, and reunions, the two of them had long achieved a profound enlightenment. The burden of life could be laid down at any moment, and they had long ceased to entertain grand illusions or exorbitant desires for happiness,"
Lanqi continued speaking to Talia. Although his emerald-green eyes held not a shred of lingering attachment to the old dream, he remained deeply moved by the ending of Lankeluosi and Caliera.
"Though Caliera had nothing left in the end except her memories, she was still willing to offer up everything, and Lankeluosi was the same. Love was not something they sought, but something they already possessed. That was why they could learn to let go, unload their burdens, and feel their hearts gradually filled to overflowing."
Lanqi believed that having reached this point and comprehended all of it, they would ultimately transcend and bridge the divide between life and death.
Whether the sky was about to break into dawn or sink into twilight, they had walked step by step through the Blood Moon Ruined World.
Even in death, Caliera had left behind a little spark to illuminate the darkness for Lankeluosi and guide his way forward.
The story of Lankeluosi and Caliera was not necessarily a tragedy, but rather a gentle rain of grace bestowed upon each other's parched hearts.
Lanqi thought to himself.
Yet he noticed faint sobs coming from across the table.
Looking up, he saw Talia already tearful, the rims of her eyes flushed red.
"Tata, why are you..."
The emotional stirrings within Lanqi had actually been fully processed throughout the long journey of the Shadow World.
Talia, however, looked as though she was still immersed in Caliera's journal.
Before he could finish his customary teasing, he caught himself and stopped.
He took a handkerchief from his coat pocket and handed it to Talia.
"You..."
Talia reluctantly took the handkerchief, avoiding meeting Lanqi's concerned gaze.
"Laugh if you want to... Do you think seeing me like this is..."
Before long, she choked up again.
She knew that every time she shed tears, Lanqi would think to himself that she seemed so much like an ordinary woman.
"No, I'm sorry. I didn't think watching the film with you would make you cry like this," Lanqi said with a touch of guilt.
Whenever he genuinely brought Talia to tears, he felt completely at a loss.
Because he had always assumed Talia's personality was unyielding; the more one provoked her, the fiercer her counterattack would be.
Only when Talia began weeping did he suddenly realize that his domineering teacher, Talia, was, after all, this kind of woman.
A prolonged silence fell between them. Outside the window, new scenery continually unfurled, the light flickering over their cheeks, while the little black cat kept watch outside the compartment, lingering without returning.
"Tata, you..."
"Hm?"
Lanqi waited until Talia's breathing gradually stabilized, looking at her and preparing to speak.
Yet upon her profile, against her porcelain skin, the corners of her eyes were still tinged with faint crimson.
The soft pink and blue hues of dawn and sunlight filtering through wispy clouds brought forth a breeze laden with floral fragrance and crisp air.
Lanqi looked away. Faced with Talia looking at him with such vulnerability and reliance, he suddenly found himself unsure of how to talk to her.
Rarely had he ever felt Talia's countenance was this soft, like the gentle, warm sunlight of spring, her tears having washed her eyes clean until nothing remained but an ethereal, breathtaking beauty.
"What did you want to say just now?" Talia took the initiative, asking him softly.
"Well, as far as our journey goes, whether it's the commissions or our agreement, everything has now been fulfilled," Lanqi said, sitting across from Talia and listening to the faint rumble of the rail train.
Having helped her find her younger sister, brought an end to the Blood Clan's turmoil in the Creti Empire, and brought her loved ones back to Ikerite together, his work could be considered a complete success.
"..."
Talia fell silent.
In truth, even the restoration of the demon realm, which she had never officially commissioned Lanqi to do, was likely on the verge of being accomplished.
She did not even know whether Aetio would ask her to serve as the leader of the demon race when they reached the City of Flowers to meet him and Rosalinda.
Talia could not understand why Lanqi was so reliable at every turn, capable of helping her through anything.
Her stubborn, unyielding temperament was bound to bring even greater disasters upon her.
Yet by some twist of fate, here was someone willing to support her, making every single one of her wishes come true.
A treacherous courtier!
Someone like him is definitely a treacherous courtier!
And yet...
"Say, Lanqi... could you help me fulfill one last commission?" she asked in a tone akin to a quiet murmur.
"There's still an unfinished commission?" Lanqi replied immediately, his professional sense of duty welling up.
If another commission remained, he would have to redouble his efforts. If his work was not done, he could not enjoy his holiday with an untroubled mind.
"Back in the South Vantina Domain, I once lost a pigeon," Talia mentioned, fixing her gaze upon Lanqi.
"..."
Lanqi's lips instantly pursed into a wavy line.
"It was me. I am deeply sorry." Lanqi abruptly stood up and bowed deeply to Talia.
This time, he did not hesitate.
In fact, he had long planned to come clean to Talia once everything had concluded, but he had never found a suitable opportunity where they were alone together.
He had intended to wait until Talia was in a better mood before explaining the circumstances back then.
"I had guessed as much for a while now." Talia's voice carried little surprise, sounding surprisingly calm.
It seemed that from a certain point onward, she had noticed a few subtle clues, only she had never specifically verified them with Lanqi.
She knew that so long as she confronted Lanqi with the question directly, he would answer honestly.
"And that assassin who might have tried to kill you—that was me, wasn't it?" Talia raised both hands and cupped Lanqi's lowered cheeks, making him look straight at her.
"That's right." Lanqi did not avert his gaze this time, acknowledging his clever-by-half antics back then.
He felt a slight trepidation toward Talia holding his face in her hands, but he knew he had to face this head-on.
Looking back now, recklessly teasing Talia at the very beginning had truly been wrong of him; he ought to have apologized to her long ago.
"Pitting our wits against each other was truly amusing. Thinking back to our earliest encounters now actually makes me want to laugh," Talia said, her chuckles giving away neither anger nor joy as she released Lanqi's face.
"What can I do to make amends?" Lanqi asked Talia.
Since he had done wrong—both intercepting Talia's pigeon and playing tricks on her—he would accept his punishment.
"I'm cold. Solve this problem for me first." Talia turned her head away, wrapping her arms around herself as she gave her instruction like a mutter.
Only after resolving this would she consider whether to forgive him.
"..."
Lanqi thought for a moment. He first walked around the table, retrieved a blanket, and draped it over Talia.
"Emotional fluctuations can easily lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction. When you cry, intense emotions increase sympathetic nervous activity and adrenaline secretion, causing peripheral vasoconstriction and reduced cutaneous blood flow, which produces a feeling of chilliness. After you stop crying, parasympathetic excitation can also result in feeling cold," he analyzed while observing Talia.
"Of course, it could also be hypoglycemia caused by physical exhaustion. Sobbing accelerates breathing and consumes extra stamina, causing blood sugar to drop significantly, which also induces chills. You should have some hot food to replenish yourself. Furthermore, dehydration impairs thermoregulation; shedding tears loses fluids, and mild dehydration interferes with body temperature regulation, making you feel cold. I'll go fetch some hot drinks for you."
Lanqi solemnly explained the science to Talia, concerned about her health, and upon reaching his conclusion, he immediately prepared to head over to the service trolley to fix her something to eat.
Yet his speech nearly made Talia burst into laughter through her tears in exasperation.
Her soft chuckle brought Lanqi to an abrupt halt, not daring to touch the trolley again.
"Still cold," Talia repeated firmly.
The couch in the luxury compartment was very wide; although meant for one person per seat, it had ample room for two people to sit side by side if they wished.
Lanqi looked at her in surprise—
Talia lifted a corner of the blanket slightly and patted the sofa cushion beside her, gesturing for him to come in.
Just like that, Lanqi stood frozen for a few seconds. Seeing Talia, who had pulled back the blanket, seemingly growing colder, he finally sat down beside her.
"Hold me," Talia instructed bluntly.
Feeling guilty and in the wrong, Lanqi hesitated for a second before doing as told, reaching out to wrap an arm around Talia's waist and drawing her close to him.
And this time, Talia leaned against him with exceptional willingness.
Her body was surprisingly warm, yet perhaps because she had just cried, there was still a faint, trembling shudder to her touch.
"Let me rest a little longer," Talia whispered. With traces of tears still lingering at the corners of her eyes, a smile played upon her lips as she leaned against Lanqi's shoulder.
That completely unresisting intimacy seemed to tell him—
She had long ceased to blame him.
Chapter 866