Chapter 60
The endless stars continued to glow.
But now Zhao Yuanzhou finally understood.
For thousands of years, countless stories had spread across the Great Wilderness.
Stories claiming Ying Long had been punished.
That he had fallen because of rebellion.
Because of arrogance.
Because he had brought disaster to the world.
Yet all of it was wrong.
Terribly wrong.
Ying Long had never been punished.
He had chosen this.
Chosen pain.
Chosen sacrifice.
Chosen death.
Not because anyone forced him.
But because he loved the world enough to save it.
A dragon.
A being feared by countless creatures.
Yet he understood humanity better than most humans ever could.
To carry suffering so others might live.
To walk into darkness so others might see the light.
To die willingly so millions could survive.
That was not punishment.
That was love.
That was compassion.
That was greatness.
Beside him, Zhuo Yichen’s tears would not stop.
The vision of Bing Yi kneeling beneath the stars.
The vision of Ying Long smiling as he disappeared.
The promise of meeting again.
It hurt too much.
Yichen lowered his head.
Shoulders trembling.
For once, Commander Zhuo was not strong.
Not composed.
Not fearless.
Just heartbroken.
Without saying a word, Zhao Yuanzhou stepped forward.
And wrapped his arms around him.
Immediately.
As though it were the most natural thing in the world.
Yichen leaned against him.
The tears finally escaping freely.
The demon rested his chin against Yichen’s hair.
One hand gently stroking his back.
Neither spoke.
Neither needed to.
The stars already understood everything.
After a long while, Ying Long’s voice returned.
Gentle.
Fading.
Yet warm.
“Bing Yi chose the same path.”
The scene around them shifted.
They saw Bing Yi standing alone.
Guarding the world.
Guarding the people.
For ages beyond counting.
The loneliness was endless.
Yet he never abandoned his duty.
Never abandoned Ying Long’s final wish.
The sword became his companion.
His promise.
His grief.
Ying Long smiled.
“You understand now.”
His gaze settled upon Zhao Yuanzhou and Zhuo Yichen.
For a moment, it felt as though he wasn’t looking at them.
But through them.
Seeing every lifetime.
Every separation.
Every reunion.
Every sacrifice.
The dragon’s eyes softened.
“You resemble us.”
Yichen instinctively tightened his hold on Zhao Yuanzhou’s sleeve.
Ying Long continued.
“Not because you suffer.”
“Not because fate is cruel.”
“But because you are both willing to give everything for one another.”
Silence followed.
The truth settled gently into their hearts.
Ying Long suddenly laughed.
A quiet laugh.
Filled with relief.
“I was worried.”
Zhao Yuanzhou looked up.
“Worried?”
“If you had chosen only yourselves…”
The stars around them dimmed briefly.
“This illusion would have become your prison forever.”
Both froze.
Then understood.
The trial had never been about power.
Or strength.
Or survival.
It was about choice.
Whether they would cling selfishly to each other…
Or continue protecting the world they loved.
Ying Long looked pleased.
“You chose correctly.”
His form began growing transparent.
Time was running out.
His consciousness was fading.
Soon even this final remnant would disappear.
Ying Long turned toward Zhuo Yichen.
The ancient dragon’s expression became serious.
“The Yun Guang Sword.”
Yichen immediately straightened.
The dragon looked toward the shattered fragments floating among the stars.
“People misunderstand its purpose.”
“It was never created to kill.”
“It was created to protect.”
Yichen stared silently.
For years he had carried the sword.
For years he had believed its purpose was judgment.
Punishment.
Execution.
Yet now-
he understood.
Protection.
Always protection.
Ying Long smiled.
“Remember that.”
The shattered fragments glowed brighter.
Then the dragon raised a hand.
Far in the eastern reaches of the Great Wilderness, a faint silver light appeared.
“A dragon scale remains there.”
The image appeared before them.
Divine.
Radiant.
“Find it.”
“It can repair all things.”
The scale shone like moonlight.
The final hope for the Yun Guang Sword.
The final hope for Yichen.
His voice became weaker.
Fainter.
Then Ying Long looked directly into Zhuo Yichen’s eyes.
“There is something else.”
The atmosphere changed.
Even Zhao Yuanzhou seemed to sense the importance of these words.
Ying Long spoke gently.
“A mortal cannot survive demonic blood forever.”
Yichen already knew..
The black veins beneath his neck pulsed faintly.
A reminder of what waited for him.
The dragon continued.
“To live…”
“You must fully accept Bing Yi’s inner elixir.”
The words echoed heavily.
No hesitation remained.
No middle path.
Human or demon.
Life or death.
Yichen listened quietly.
Then glanced toward Zhao Yuanzhou.
The demon looked worried.
Waiting for his answer.
Thousands of years ago.
Fang Hua Xing had died because the world refused to accept demons.
Thousands of years later.
The same question stood before him again.
Human.
Or demon.
For the first time-
Zhuo Yichen smiled.
A calm smile.
A peaceful one.
He looked directly at Ying Long.
Then at Zhao Yuanzhou.
And finally spoke.
“If my heart remains the same…”
His fingers intertwined with Zhao Yuanzhou’s.
“…what difference does it make?”
“I’ve spent my whole life worrying about what I should be.
“But now I know.”
He looked toward the stars.
Toward Bing Yi.
Toward Ying Long.
Toward countless years of love.
“I only want to live.”
His gaze returned to Zhao Yuanzhou.
“With him.”
The words shattered the last of Zhao Yuanzhou’s restraint.
He pulled Yichen into his arms.
Holding him tightly.
As if afraid he would disappear.
Again.
Ying Long watched them.
Smiling.
The same smile he once gave Bing Yi.
The smile of someone finally seeing the ending he had hoped for.
Then he extended his hand.
A fragment of luminous dragon bone appeared.
Ancient.
Sacred.
Filled with endless power.
It floated toward Zhuo Yichen.
Resting gently in his hands.
The dragon’s final gift.
His final blessing.
His final farewell.
The stars began fading.
One by one.
Ying Long’s form slowly dissolving into light.
Yet his final words still reached them.
Soft as a whisper.
“Live well.”
“Both of you.”
And then-
the last trace of the ancient dragon vanished into the heavens.
Leaving only stars.
And the promise that somewhere, after countless lifetimes of sorrow…
love had finally found its way home.