Capital Star, Gao Family Manor in the Military District.

Wei Feng passed through the empty wooden corridor and headed straight for Gao Zhe’s residence, seemingly very familiar with the place.

In the courtyard, a white-haired Alpha elder sat in a rattan chair, admiring the evening glow in the sky. His cheeks were gaunt, and a thick blanket covered his legs. He looked in very poor health and spirits.

Seeing that the tea had gone cold, the nearby housekeeper prepared to change it. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around in confusion.

A tall Alpha walked over facing the setting sun, carrying an unreal sense of illusion. The housekeeper was momentarily dazed, as if he had seen an old acquaintance from the past for a split second. Upon regaining his composure, his expression shifted drastically: “Who are you? How did you get in here?”

“With your family’s defense system, is it really that hard to get in? As for who I am—” Wei Feng looked at the elderly man sitting in the rattan chair with his back facing him, “You still remember me, right, Gao Zhe?”

The housekeeper snapped: “This isn’t a place where you can come and go as you please! Get out right now before I call the guards!”

Wei Feng didn’t even spare him a glance.

“You may leave,” Gao Zhe’s aged voice carried deep exhaustion.

The housekeeper was startled: “Master, this man is very dangerous—”

Gao Zhe: “Leave.”

The housekeeper could only bite the bullet and comply. Unwilling, he gave Wei Feng a lingering look and departed silently.

Wei Feng: “Your son has already been arrested. Aren’t you going to run?”

Gao Zhe: “I’m already over a hundred years old. I can’t run anymore.”

Seeing that he wasn’t surprised at all, Wei Feng pressed further: “You knew I was coming?”

Sitting in the rattan chair without turning around, Gao Zhe’s hands resting on the blanket slowly clenched. “Ever since I saw you on the advertising screen, I’ve been waiting for you.”

Wei Feng had a solemn expression, completely different from his usual careless demeanor. “Why did you betray me?”

Gao Zhe gazed at the setting sun on the horizon, the events of more than seventy years ago flashing before his eyes like a movie.

“At that time, I didn’t know the Meng family was conducting a large-scale secret massacre. That operation was supposed to arrest personnel researching illegal biochemical weapons and use it to sanction the Meng family. I thought Li Ye wanted to reorganize various forces, reshuffle the deck, and pave the way for you, Wei Feng, to rise to power.”

“After dealing with the Meng family, it would have soon been the Gao family’s turn. I originally only wanted the Meng family to shift the target away first, creating a little resistance to make Li Ye back down and give up his thoughts of reform. I didn’t expect the Meng family to be so insane… Everything that happened afterward spiraled completely out of control…”

“One wrong step led to another. By the time I discovered the shady dealings the Meng family was doing behind closed doors, it was already beyond salvation.” Gao Zhe sighed softly, “For all these decades, I have been filled with regret. Because of my single moment of foolishness, I harmed you, I harmed the Gao family, and I harmed everyone.”

“What you regret is leading the Gao family down the wrong path, not tipping off the Meng family,” Wei Feng exposed him mercilessly. “When I subdued Viper, you ambushed me from behind, resulting in the tragic deaths of tens of thousands of warriors from my Golden Feather Sparrow forces. Afterward, you even researched my clan’s genetics alongside the Meng family. Speaking of yourself so loftily—you’re actually just a hypocrite. Have you worn your sanctimonious mask so long that you even believe it yourself?”

Gao Zhe was completely broken by this single sentence, shouting in anger and embarrassment: “I didn’t want to! I had no choice!”

“If you were really as remorseful as you claim, you had every capability to blow up Viper when I was fighting him back then, correcting your mistake in time. As long as Meng Shan died, who else would have known that you betrayed me and betrayed Li Ye?” Wei Feng said coldly, “To put it bluntly, you were just using the Meng family as a tool, utilizing Meng Shan’s hands to achieve your own goals.”

Hearing Gao Zhe’s rapid breathing, Wei Feng added indifferently: “Essentially, you are no different from scum like Meng Shan.”

“Don’t compare me to him! At least I wouldn’t slaughter other species! Everything I did was for the sake of the family!” Gao Zhe’s chest heaved violently. “If you were standing in my position, you wouldn’t have done any better!”

“A family cannot exist apart from the nation. The ancestors of your Gao family once made monumental contributions to the empire, and it took generations of relentless effort to achieve today’s status.” Speaking up to this point, Wei Feng’s tone turned contemptuous, “Losing your beliefs and faith, placing family interests above the interests of the empire—what you call ‘protecting the family’ is actually pushing it into a pit of fire. The hard work of your ancestors was completely destroyed in your hands.”

“Shut up! What do you know?!” Gao Zhe suddenly gripped the blanket on his legs, roaring hysterically, “Anyone can preach grand principles! Do you really think protecting a family is that easy?! Someone born into an ordinary family like you will never understand!”

Wei Feng: “Why do you think Li Ye let you participate in the secret operation against the Meng family back then?”

Gao Zhe froze abruptly. In an instant, it was as if he had realized something, and his eyes involuntarily turned red.

However, regret was already too late.

“Your vision is still too shortsighted.” Wei Feng pulled out a gun and pressed it against the back of Gao Zhe’s head. “Fortunately, your descendant is better than you. You can rest in peace now. Come down with me to kowtow and apologize to the brothers of the Golden Feather Sparrow.”

Just as Wei Feng was about to pull the trigger, a piercing alarm blared. The faint humming sound of AI patrol guard engines echoed from all directions, and numerous guards rushed over from various corridors.

Wei Feng came back to his senses, looking around in confusion, momentarily unable to figure out the situation.

He broke through the Gao family’s defense system, ran in alone, and held a gun to Gao Zhe’s head?

Why had he been doing absurd things so frequently lately?

Wei Feng cursed in a low voice, running his hand through his hair in annoyance. Noticing the guard team moving toward him out of the corner of his eye, he thought that he might as well finish the job, shoot Gao Zhe, and make a run for it.

Halfway through their flight, the AI patrol guards suddenly stopped and landed on the spot. Countless starfighters appeared in the sky, swiftly surrounding the entire Gao family estate.

“Don’t move! Everyone drop your weapons and put your hands up!”

Fully armed soldiers blocked and intercepted the guard team at lightning speed, taking control of the situation.

Seeing this, the housekeeper hiding in the dark turned to flee, only to see Li Xiao leading an armed force walking grandly down the corridor. Terrified and pale, he turned around to cross the garden, attempting a detour, but within a few steps, he was tackled and pinned to the ground by soldiers rushing out.

“Let me go!” The housekeeper’s face was pressed against the cold ground, grimacing in pain.

Yi Lian, leading the team, walked up to Gao Zhe and displayed an arrest warrant: “Gao Zhe, you are suspected of colluding with the rebel faction leader Meng Shan, illegal detention and slaughter of military personnel, organizing and participating in illegal human experimentation, and multiple other major crimes. You are hereby lawfully arrested for investigation!”

Gao Zhe turned his head toward Li Xiao, who was walking over: “Jiajia wasn’t involved. I hope you won’t make things too difficult for him.”

Li Xiao: “As long as you actively cooperate, innocent personnel won’t be implicated.”

Gao Zhe said nothing further. After standing up, he followed Yi Lian away with trembling steps.

Everyone gets their due retribution. Meng Shan got what he deserved, and now it was his turn.

“You guys came just in time,” Wei Feng breathed a sigh of relief. “Otherwise, I would have been turned into a sieve.”

Li Xiao: “Who told you to charge in alone?”

“You think I wanted to?” Wei Feng rested his arm on Li Xiao’s shoulder as they walked out, “My mental state has been getting more and more abnormal lately. Do you know a good doctor who can check me out? Preferably someone who can seal away certain unclean old ghosts.”

Li Xiao: “…Doctors can’t do that. How about I introduce you to a priest to perform an exorcism ritual for you?”

Wei Feng: “Will that work?”

Li Xiao: “I don’t know, but paying money brings peace of mind.”

Wei Feng: “How can spending money bring peace of mind? Isn’t that taking my life?”

Li Xiao: “…”

Wei Feng: “Speaking of which, since the Golden Feather Sparrow has been exonerated, can you talk to your brother about giving me Old Wei’s pension money?”

Li Xiao: “Can’t do that.”

Wei Feng clicked his tongue: “Clones don’t have human rights?”

Li Xiao: “You’re not dead, what pension money are you asking for?”

Wei Feng chuckled: “Then pay me my salary. The annual salary of a Lieutenant General is quite a lot.”

Li Xiao: “Go to work, and you’ll get paid.”

Wei Feng: “…”

Couldn’t even pull off a single strand of wool.

Song Jin didn’t join in the confrontation, instead waiting in the main hall of the Gao family’s house. Looking at the surveillance footage sent back by 07 with a thoughtful expression, he sent a message to his father, Shen Sinian, in the family group chat.

Youngest: 【Dad, is it possible for a clone to acquire the memories of the original body?】

Cat Dad: 【Unlikely. If a clone could carry the memories of the original, wouldn’t that mean achieving immortality?】

Song Jin: “…”

Logic-wise that made sense, but Wei Feng’s current condition was clearly abnormal.

Jin Heng said that Wei Feng’s genetic self-repair capability was extremely strong, allowing him to break through the genetic lock and grow into a normal clone. If so, carrying the memories of the original body was not impossible.

Hearing footsteps nearby, Song Jin looked up and saw Li Xiao and the others returning, temporarily putting his doubts aside.

“Heading to see Gao Wanxin?”

Li Xiao nodded: “I have notified my brother. We’ll head over together.”

In the prison cell, Gao Wanxin heard the heavy metal door open. Turning his head toward the metal bars, he saw Li Xiao, Song Jin, and Li Ji walking in. His expression shifted slightly—a bad premonition.

Over the past month, he had reviewed the situation countless times to ensure he could handle any question with ease. Yet when Li Xiao and the others actually appeared, he felt that no amount of preparation was enough.

Having come this far, he could not let the Gao family be ruined in his hands no matter what.

Just as Gao Wanxin was guessing what they would ask, he saw Li Xiao walk up to the metal bars, looking at him, and say calmly: “Your father, Gao Zhe, has already confessed.”

The corner of Gao Wanxin’s eye twitched slightly. “He hasn’t done anything. What is there to confess?”

Li Xiao: “Back then, your father and Wei Feng signed a secret agreement together, but your father leaked the intelligence to Meng Shan before the operation, joining forces with Meng Shan to surround and wipe out Wei Feng, leading to the destruction of the Golden Feather Sparrow Legion. Later, he captured members of the Bique Clan, including Wei Mo, subjecting them to long-term detention, abuse, and illegal human experiments. He has confessed to all of this.”

“Impossible!” Gao Wanxin shouted in a low voice, “My father never did that!”

“He’s locked up right next door to you.” Li Xiao turned his wrist, and a surveillance video appeared in midair. “Should I connect it so you two can chat?”

Seeing his elderly father sitting in the cell, Gao Wanxin bit his lip and looked at Li Ji, who had remained silent, saying calmly: “Your Majesty, my father is advanced in age—”

“Did he get a mental illness again?” Song Jin chimed in with a smile, “Is the incidence rate of mental illness in Danse really this high?”

Gao Wanxin: “His mental state is indeed poor. He suffers from chronic insomnia and can’t sleep without medication.”

Song Jin: “A guilty conscience? His psychological fortitude is lacking—why didn’t he learn more from you?”

Li Xiao: “After Li Xun’s accidental death, you went to the classified database to retrieve the document signed by Wei Feng and the other two back in the day. Can you explain how you knew of that document’s existence?”

Gao Wanxin’s gaze flickered. “Li Xun told me before he died, saying that document was crucial, and entrusted me to retrieve it.”

Li Xiao: “Where is that document? Why didn’t you submit it?”

Gao Wanxin avoided Li Xiao’s scrutinizing gaze: “It was accidentally lost… It might have been taken by the Meng family spies hidden in my home—”

“Gao Wanxin!” Li Ji interrupted sharply before he could finish. “Things have reached this point, and you still quibble? Do you think we will believe you?”

Gao Wanxin’s hands tightened on his lap: “Everything I said is true!”

“We have already found the data saved by Li Xun,” Li Xiao said unhurriedly. “There are also people who can prove that Li Xun never collaborated with you. Your previous statement doesn’t stand at all.”

Gao Wanxin: “My collaboration with the Prince was secret. Naturally, others wouldn’t know!”

“The files contain numerous accusations against the Gao family’s crimes, as well as records of Gao Zhe’s past betrayal of the Royal Family. Was Li Xun stupid or foolish to collaborate with you knowing full well that the Gao family was dirty?” At this point, Song Jin’s casual tone turned cold, “I bet Li Xun’s accident back then was your doing, wasn’t it?”

“I didn’t!” Gao Wanxin raised his voice by an octave, yelling at Song Jin emotionally, “Li Xun wasn’t killed by me!”

“Even if you didn’t do it personally, you were the snitch who used the Meng family to harm him—just like Gao Zhe betraying Wei Feng, you and your father did the exact same despicable thing.” Song Jin continued to provoke him, “The tragedy of Li Su and his spouse was also your doing. The video submitted by Yan Qing captured that secret agreement, and fearing it would implicate the Gao family, you acted against Li Su and his spouse first. The Royal Family trusted you so much, yet who knew you were an ungrateful wolf.”

“Li Xun’s death wasn’t caused by me!” Gao Wanxin shouted at Song Jin as if venting, “If Meng Jian hadn’t killed Li Xun, how could I have let the Meng family remain arrogant until now?!”

Li Xiao: “What actually happened?”

Gao Wanxin gasped for air heavily. After an internal psychological struggle, he resignedly spoke: “Yes, my father was indeed very interested in researching Wei Feng’s genes, but he didn’t expect the Meng family’s methods to be so cruel. The research direction gradually strayed, and they began using ordinary people for experiments. My father tried to stop it, but failed.”

“Later, the Meng family became increasingly arrogant and vile. My father had several fierce conflicts with Meng Shan, but the Meng family held leverage over us. My father was caught in a dilemma, forced to endure out of fear of implicating the Gao family.”

“Thirty years ago, Li Xun reopened the investigation into the Golden Feather Sparrow case. I used the opportunity to detonate the underground base to draw his attention, while simultaneously destroying the base’s research data and Wei Feng’s tissue master sample. Afterward, I planned to find an opportunity to join forces with Li Xun to expose the Meng family and bring an end to this.”

Gao Wanxin’s face looked grim: “I didn’t expect Meng Jian to think that Li Xun blew up the base and strike him down first. By the time I arrived, it was already too late!”

Li Xiao thought thoughtfully: “Before Li Xun died, did he mention finding the true purpose of the Golden Feather Sparrow operation back then, which was why you immediately went to verify the secret agreement after his death to ensure it really no longer existed?”

“That’s right.” Gao Wanxin gave a bitter smile, “At the time, I thought Li Xun trusted me. Who knew he dug a pit for me before dying.”

“So my royal father and mother were really harmed by you?” Li Ji asked with a dark expression.

Gao Wanxin remained silent for a moment before speaking: “I merely leaked the news to Meng Jian that members of the Bique Clan were submitting evidence to His Majesty. Everything that happened afterward was his doing.”

“They trusted you so much! Are you even human?!” Li Ji was so enraged that he threw his teacup out.

The teacup hit the metal bars and shattered into pieces, scalding tea splashing onto Gao Wanxin’s face, yet he didn’t dare make a sound.

“Then what about Li Xiao’s origin?” Song Jin chimed in, “Was he really created by Li Su to improve genetic traits?”

Li Ji’s expression shifted slightly, staring fixedly at Gao Wanxin.

As it concerned himself, Li Xiao was also somewhat curious. From the information they had gathered, this possibility was very high.

Gao Wanxin looked at a corner of the room, his tone low: “Because His Majesty’s decision to have Li Xun reopen the investigation resulted in his death, His Majesty was plagued with extreme guilt and even developed depression, relying on long-term medication to maintain his state. Fearing he wouldn’t hold on, the Queen suggested cloning Li Xun to ease His Majesty’s illness.”

This truth completely caught everyone off guard.

Song Jin touched the silver earring on his ear tip.

No wonder he gave the earring to Li Xiao. If Gao Wanxin hadn’t tampered with things, Li Xiao originally should have been a second Li Xun.

Li Ji pondered with a stoic face: “It makes sense. If it were me, I would have done the same.”

Li Xiao: “…” No one asked for your opinion.

Song Jin: “…” This dead bro-con. Does he really not see any problem with saying that?

“The Royal Family does not allow clones to exist,” Gao Wanxin continued. “After discussing, they decided to let Jin Heng secretly create the embryo, claiming to the public that he was the young prince. All DNA data and records were fabricated with His Majesty’s permission. I felt it was a good opportunity, so I had Jin Heng fuse Wei Feng’s genes into it—to prevent the Royal Family from being utterly defenseless if Meng Jian used modified humans against them in the future.”

Li Xiao looked at Gao Wanxin’s ash-gray face through the metal bars: “If you and your father hadn’t valued your family prestige so heavily, you wouldn’t have made mistake after mistake, ending up in today’s state.”

Gao Wanxin smiled bitterly: “Until the very last moment, one always holds onto luck, thinking that we could both preserve the family and make up for past mistakes, bringing everything back on track.”

“What track is left?” Song Jin sneered, “You’ve completely lost your way amidst one wrong decision after another, destined never to return to the right path.”

Two months later, the Royal Family officially announced the investigation results of the Golden Feather Sparrow case and decided to select a date to transfer the remains of the officers in the Z152 underground base to the Martyrs’ Cemetery on Capital Star for a public memorial service.

On a clear and sunny day, millions of people crowded into District 3 of Z152.

Before dawn, both sides of the streets were packed with people who came to see off the Golden Feather Sparrow. The hospital where the abandoned base was located had been sealed off by the military after the incident, with nearby streets fully locked down and heavily guarded.

Patrol starfighters flew overhead from time to time, the roar of their engines vibrating through everyone’s eardrums. The street was solemn and quiet, filled with an atmosphere of gravity and respect.

At 9:00 AM, the spaceships of the Royal Family and the military landed at the nearby helipad.

At 9:30 AM, dressed in black, Li Xiao and Song Jin appeared, leading a grand procession including the families of the Golden Feather Sparrow soldiers, senior officers including Yi Yongning, Bique Clan members including Night Raven and Capital University’s Wei Yunjiang, and Gaofeng Clan members including Zhan Yue, heading solemnly toward the entrance of the abandoned base.

Countless media outlets scrambled to report the live scene, launching full livestream coverage. On the network, the viewer count in the Royal Family’s official livestream room surpassed ten billion, continuing to grow rapidly.

At 10:00 AM, Li Xiao and Song Jin entered the base with some family members and military troops.

Seeing the charred tunnels and the eerie, terrifying fodder base, many people at the back of the queue couldn’t hold back their tears.

Standing before that small door, Li Xiao asked Yan Qing and the old man walking beside him: “Do you really want to go in together?”

The officer who had been pinned to the stone pillar, having swallowed the shoulder rank carved with “Protect,” had been confirmed to be Yan Qing’s grandfather, Wei Mo.

Yan Qing supported his grandfather, nodding heavily and firmly. He thought he had made sufficient mental preparation, but when he saw that stone pillar with his own eyes, his eyes still turned red, and the old man beside him broke down in tears, unable to control himself.

Suppressed crying occasionally sounded in the quiet space; no one dared to speak loudly, for fear of disturbing the deceased.

Standing before the stone pillar, looking at the remains pinned above, Li Xiao said in a soft voice: “We’re here to take you home.”

All officers present and the troops outside the base raised their hands in salute simultaneously. Vehicles on the street sounded their horns together, church bells rang continuously, and all present citizens, along with billions of viewers in the livestream rooms, observed a silent tribute together.

Wei Feng led the people of Night Raven to personally lower the remains from the stone pillar. The military honor guard raised the coffins, solemnly escorting them back to Capital Star under the gaze of tens of billions of people online and offline.

At 4:00 PM, Capital Star Martyrs’ Cemetery.

Li Ji made an appearance at the public memorial ceremony dressed in black, and even King Song Yu and Prince Rong Shi of the Shengya Empire arrived.

Li Xiao stood at the front of the memorial lineup following Li Ji. As far as the eye could see, the field was filled with tombstones; most held only clothing, and more than half didn’t even have clothing, possessing only names carved upon the tombstones.

The Royal Family had released a notice searching for family members of the Golden Feather Sparrow soldiers two months prior, but not many were successfully contacted.

As the public memorial process reached its end, staff members distributed a glass of wine to everyone. Li Ji took the lead in pouring the wine before the tombstones, and everyone else followed suit.

Wei Feng’s gaze swept across the tombstones one by one. Under the setting sun, every name seemed coated in a layer of golden light, incomparably dazzling, awakening many distant memories.

He downed his glass of wine in one gulp and placed the empty glass in front of “his own” tombstone.

【Brothers, rest in peace.

Enjoy this slice of sunshine.

I will look forward to the day of our reunion alongside your descendants.】

A gust of wind blew past. Wei Feng seemed to see tens of thousands of soldiers saluting, shouting in unison “Copy that!”, a hint of a smile appearing on his solemn face.

Li Xiao noticed this scene and walked over to Wei Feng’s side after the ceremony ended: “You are not him; you don’t need to shoulder his destiny.”

Wei Feng pulled out a thin cigarette from his pocket and held it in his mouth, speaking with a bit of sorrow: “Of course I’m not him. He was a civil servant enjoying a high salary and great benefits, while I have nothing.”

Li Xiao: “…”

Wei Feng: “Can’t we really make an exception? Even half would do.”

Li Xiao: “No.”

Not far away, Song Jin, Song Yu, and Rong Shi stood under a tree waiting. As citizens of Shengya, it wasn’t convenient for them to directly participate in this ceremony.

As the ceremony ended, Song Jin spotted Li Xiao immediately amidst the crowd. After greeting Song Yu, he walked over.

Song Yu looked toward the monument, sighing softly: “It’s over.”

Rong Shi: “Mhm.”

Spanning over a century, traversing two major nations, endangering two royal families, and causing tens of millions of casualties—this man-made disaster had finally drawn to a close.

Song Yu: “There’s nothing urgent to handle back home anyway, why don’t we take a vacation while we’re here?”

Rong Shi felt there was more to his words: “Sure, where do you want to go?”

Song Yu thought seriously for a moment: “No place in particular. Why don’t we stay at the Danse Palace for two or three months first? It happens to be a good chance to discuss the marriage of the two kids with our in-laws.”

Rong Shi: “…” You’re just craving the desserts in their palace, aren’t you?

On the other side, listening to Wei Feng bargaining the whole way, Li Xiao casually said: “Next, there will be a nationwide screening for modified humans. The testing technology isn’t mature enough yet. If you can come help the military, salary and bonuses won’t be an issue. Additionally, the Royal Family will introduce a series of compensation policies for the Bique Clan, and I want you to assist in following up.”

Wei Feng clicked his tongue: “Assigning me so much work?”

Li Xiao: “Weren’t you the one chasing me for a salary?”

Wei Feng: “I’m the father of a prince after all, how can I work for others? Is there a position where I can get money for doing nothing?”

“No.” Li Xiao turned and walked away.

Wei Feng chased after him: “Hey, seriously, is there any suitable work for Ah Jiang and the others? Now that our identities are exposed, going out to rob people in the future carries a burden—we can’t bring ourselves to do it.”

“…” Li Xiao answered helplessly, “Screening modified humans. We’ll take as many as there are, with good pay and benefits.”

Wei Feng was overjoyed: “Really?”

Li Xiao: “Is there any need for me to lie to you?”

After saying this, he saw Wei Feng slightly narrow his eyes and smile. It felt completely different from his usual demeanor—the gaze looking over was peaceful and serene, conveying a senior’s gentle affection.

Just as Li Xiao felt puzzled, he saw Wei Feng suddenly raise his hand to pat his head, his tone becoming composed and restrained.

“So this is what it feels like to have a son.” Wei Feng rubbed Li Xiao’s head, “If I knew I could have such a cute son, I would have gotten married earlier.”

Li Xiao’s brows twitched: “Are you…?”

Just as Wei Feng was about to speak, he caught sight out of the corner of his eye of Song Jin clenching his fists and charging over fiercely, pausing slightly.

In the blink of an eye, Wei Feng snapped back to his senses. Seeing his hand resting on Li Xiao’s head, and Song Jin’s fist swinging over in the next second, Wei Feng hurriedly pulled his hand back to dodge, explaining: “It wasn’t me!”

“If you’re an Alpha, own up to what you do,” Song Jin cracked his knuckles with a cold sneer. “Daring to flirt with my spouse—do you want to lose an arm or a leg?”

Wei Feng: “…” Running away as soon as there’s danger, leaving me to clean up the mess every single time. Sooner or later, I’ll be screwed over by that unclean old ghost.

The Jiang brothers and Yi Anhe walked out of the cemetery following the crowd.

Jiang Chi inadvertently looked up and happened to lock eyes with a Beta dressed in a black suit across the crowd. Compared to the sturdy officers around him, the Beta had a taller, more slender, and well-proportioned build, with striking features. His cold white skin paired with rimless glasses and neatly styled black hair gave him a refined yet dignified appearance—looking every bit like a corporate elite, without showing the slightest vulnerability even among a group of military officers.

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Chi bristled.

“Holy shit, Wu Ya?!”

“Brother Ya?” Jiang Hao looked around excitedly, “Where?!”

Seeing Wu Ya’s face darken, Jiang Chi didn’t have time to answer and took off running.

“Stop right there!” Wu Ya shoved past the crowd to chase him.

Jiang Chi ran extremely fast, muttering under his breath: “If I stopped just because you told me to, wouldn’t I look stupid?”

“Jiang Chi!” Wu Ya gritted his teeth, took off his leather shoe, and threw it over. His elegant demeanor from earlier instantly vanished into thin air.

Hearing a sound behind him, Jiang Chi instinctively turned his head to look, only to get slapped right in the face by the shoe. Tripping over someone else’s foot, he tumbled awkwardly to the ground.

“Ugh!”

Wu Ya grabbed Jiang Chi’s collar and hoisted him up, saying through gritted teeth: “Back then when I begged you to come, you didn’t come. But when someone else asked, you came running?!”

Jiang Chi covered his face and explained: “No, there were many reasons!”

Wu Ya: “What reasons?!”

Seeing people around them looking over, Jiang Chi said: “It can’t be explained in a sentence or two!”

“Then find a place where we can talk and explain it clearly!” Wu Ya dragged Jiang Chi along, signaling his subordinate to drive over. He tossed the guy into the car and drove off.

Jiang Hao, who witnessed the entire process: “…” Brother, come back alive.

Seeing his eldest son get beaten, Yi Anhe couldn’t help asking worriedly: “Does Xiao Chi have a grudge with Wu Ya?”

Jiang Hao scratched his head: “Shouldn’t be a big problem. Couples fight at the head of the bed and make up at the foot of the bed, right?”

Yi Anhe: “…?!” What does that mean?

Jiang Hao wasn’t worried at all. His brother had no other merits besides being tough and durable—getting beaten once or twice was nothing. Suddenly remembering something, he turned to ask Yi Anhe: “Dad, I want to find a time to bring my wives over, can I? I haven’t seen them in a long time.”

Yi Anhe hadn’t even sorted out the relationship between his eldest son and Wu Ya when hearing this statement made his brain go blank.

“Wives… plural?”

Jiang Hao nodded innocently: “Plural.”

Yi Anhe: “…” It seems the wandering experiences of his two sons outside were both quite colorful.

As the sun set, all official proceedings came to an end. Li Ji prepared to return to the palace. On the way, he ran into Yan Qing chatting with a group of Bique Clan members, his footsteps pausing slightly.

Yan Qing felt something and turned to see Li Ji. After saying goodbye to the group, he walked over.

“Your Majesty, thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to attend the memorial service. You’ve worked hard.”

Although respectful, these words inevitably sounded distant. Li Ji nodded faintly, passing Yan Qing to continue forward.

As they brushed past each other, he stopped once more, whispering with his back facing Yan Qing: “I never blamed you for what happened back then. Let go of the past and live a good life.”

Yan Qing froze, turning his head abruptly, but Li Ji walked away without turning back.

Standing in place for a moment, Yan Qing gave a relieved smile and walked in another direction.

The people who came to pay their respects left one after another. As night fell, only Li Xiao remained before the massive monument.

Having pulled out the mastermind behind the scenes and uncovered the desired truth as wished, he felt as if his mission was complete, leaving him feeling hollow inside. His soul seemed stuck in a rift of time, wandering between his past life and present life, not knowing where to settle, liable to drift away at any moment.

Not far away, Song Jin leaned against the front of a car with his hands in his pockets, watching Li Xiao’s silhouette in the cold wind for a long time.

“Where do you want to go again?”

Li Xiao turned around, looking at Song Jin from a distance.

Song Jin looked at him fixedly: “It’s time to go home.”

Li Xiao returned to the front of the car, resting his forehead against Song Jin’s: “Why is your face so cold?”

“What temperature do you think it is right now?” Song Jin snorted lightly, pinching his face, “You’re not doing much better than me.”

Li Xiao grasped his slightly cool fingertips and kissed them: “Jin.”

Song Jin: “Hmm?”

Li Xiao: “Come wander with me.”

By the time Li Ji, Song Yu, and the others returned to the palace and waited left and right without seeing anyone, they finally realized that the two kids had dumped a pile of tedious follow-up work on them and fled overnight.

One year later.

Corona Borealis, a quiet and ancient town in the northern part of B900.

There weren’t many pedestrians on the street. Two tall Alphas walked side-by-side, looking particularly eye-catching. Wearing similar styles of T-shirts, broad shorts, and flip-flops, their cap brims were pulled very low, yet merely showing their jawlines attracted the attention of many passersby.

Passing young people—regardless of male, female, Alpha, or Omega—couldn’t help but steal a glance at them.

“That one looks good.” Song Jin ate his ice cream as he walked toward a small dessert shop by the street, pointing at the board a few times and saying to the young clerk: “Give me one serving of each of these five flavors of grilled dango.”

Hearing the pleasant voice, the clerk couldn’t help looking at Song Jin. This look was fine, but looking closely made his hands shake with nervousness.

There was actually such a handsome Alpha in this backwater place?!

Li Xiao walked over: “Ordering so much, how are you going to finish it?”

Song Jin: “One serving only has six dango, five servings is just thirty pieces.”

Li Xiao lifted two large bags in his hand: “Did you forget about these?”

Song Jin said casually: “We’re pulling an all-nighter tonight anyway.”

Hearing their conversation, the clerk glanced up at Li Xiao again from the operation counter, screaming wildly in his heart.

There’s actually another one?!

And these two are a couple?!

Noticing a certain spot out of the corner of his eye, Song Jin looked up. The menu rolling on the advertisement screen featured two Shengya flavors. He then asked the clerk: “Does anyone buy these two flavors?”

The clerk answered hurriedly: “Those are bestsellers in our shop! Many Shengya tourists have visited recently, and we locals like this flavor too.”

Song Jin: “Imported ingredients?”

The clerk nodded: “Didn’t our countries just establish diplomatic relations recently? The Empire issued discount policies—as long as you sell Shengya-related goods, you get an extra 10% tax reduction.”

Song Jin: “Then give me one serving of those two as well.”

The clerk’s eyes lit up: “Alright, coming right up!”

Under the clerk’s exceptionally enthusiastic gaze, Song Jin took his freshly bought dango and left contentedly.

The town wasn’t large. After browsing and eating for an hour, the two finished food hunting and returned to the villa in the mountains carrying a pile of snacks.

Calling it a villa was generous; it was actually an old wooden house. Apart from basic essential facilities, there was nothing inside. Song Jin gave it an affectionate nickname: the “Grass Shed.”

At night, the two climbed up the simple ladder to the roof, sitting on the middle platform, blowing in the late summer breeze while enjoying the night scene.

Under the brilliant aurora, the starry sky seemed activated—a complete visual feast.

Song Jin ate a dango and thought it tasted good, holding it to Li Xiao’s lips: “How old were you when you came here?”

Li Xiao opened his mouth to bite it: “Around twelve, I can’t remember clearly.”

Song Jin: “How did you find such a good place? You really know how to enjoy life.”

Li Xiao: “Discovered it unconsciously. But it was too remote back then, looking at it alone was a bit creeping.”

Thinking of that picture, Song Jin laughed aloud, leaning over to kiss him: “Where else have you been? I’ll walk through all of them with you.”

Li Xiao looked at him sideways: “So interested in the places I’ve walked through?”

Song Jin snorted softly: “I hope that when you reminisce in the future when you’re old, you won’t be alone.”

Li Xiao laughed softly: “Then it’s a deal.”

Just as they were enjoying themselves, Li Xiao’s terminal vibrated.

Song Jin: “Sent by your brother?”

“Mhm.” After reading the content, Li Xiao edited a text reply back.

Song Jin said leisurely: “It’s time to find him a partner, saving him from constantly missing you.”

Li Xiao: “Your brother is coming for a visit next month and asked us to go back.”

“Again?” Song Jin clicked his tongue, “Didn’t he just come a few months ago?”

Li Xiao: “Mhm.”

Song Jin roasted ruthlessly: “What kind of king acts like him, treating Danse like a cafeteria? If he keeps eating like this, Danse will be eaten into poverty.”

Li Xiao: “Then when are we heading back?”

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Song Jin lay down, resting his head on Li Xiao’s thigh: “Not going. How can the old man be more important than you?”

Seeing Song Jin getting sleepy in the wind, Li Xiao scratched his chin: “I heard from my brother that he developed dozens of new desserts again.”

Song Jin instantly perked up: “Then let’s go back tomorrow at dawn! Before my brother arrives, I’ll help test them first.”

Li Xiao: “…”

So, which one is actually more important—the desserts or him?