Nothing Lasts Forever

He rose to his feet, light flooding his eyes once more. All he could recall was that recent sinking sensation and those fragmented, unpleasant memories—but not their actual content.

He walked straight to the infirmary. Jian Yiru was still lying there. He'd heard from Lian Fulan that a while ago, she'd still be conscious for a few hours at a time, but as her condition worsened, the comas grew longer. Now, she might be...

Yan stepped forward. His senior sister's face was deathly pale, yet her entire body was wrapped in layers of black mist so thick no light could penetrate.

It felt somewhat familiar. Frowning deeply, he pinched his chin while using his other hand to try and gather a wisp of the black mist. He held it before his eyes and asked instinctively, "Have you asked Brother Xian about this?"

"Brother Xian? You mean that senior?" Lian Fulan was a bit surprised. She rubbed her eyes and looked closely; the person before her really did look exactly like Yan, and his voice was very similar too. "You don't know? After he brought you back with Senior Brother, he hasn't shown his face again. He mentioned going somewhere, so he probably isn't at the Sub-Institute right now. I've looked for him a few times..."

Yan fell silent, thinking hard. He then took Jian Yiru's hand and carefully observed the black mist. He had Lian Fulan help turn her over, so her back was facing up. Sure enough, there was a deep wound that exposed the bone. The black mist was seeping in from here, and ordinary methods simply couldn't remove it. Jian Yiru's current condition also didn't allow them to wait for Su Xian to return.

Yan took a deep breath and placed his finger at the top corner of the wound. Immediately, a bony hand covered in festering flesh extended from it and pressed down. Jian Yiru let out a pained grunt. Then, as Yan's hand moved downward, the bony hand followed suit. The black mist was rapidly gathered, and a trace of color returned to Jian Yiru's face.

Yan's hand didn't move very slowly, nor did it meet much resistance. The black mist around Jian Yiru dissipated, condensing into a black sphere in Yan's palm, leaving her lying there completely exposed.

Yan turned around, sticking the black sphere to his shoulder. He then tapped a small, black protrusion beside it. The black film coating his body's surface quickly coalesced, revealing two large, limpid eyes. He nudged the black sphere toward it. The eyes looked at the sphere, then at Yan's profile. It opened its maw wide and swallowed it in one gulp, not forgetting to lick its lips. After rubbing against Yan's face, it fell back asleep.

By then, Jian Yiru had regained some awareness, and Lian Fulan had stepped forward to roughly wrap her up. "Junior Brother... thank you." Sensing the wound on her back and looking at Yan's cold, turned-away figure, she asked with some reluctance, "Your memories... they've come back, haven't they?"

"Just some scattered fragments..." Yan lowered his head slightly, his voice weakening.

"It's not what you expected, and it makes you feel terrible, doesn't it?" Looking at Yan's back, Jian Yiru felt a pang of sorrow. "It's okay, it's all in the past. A lot of things aren't just about how they appear on the surface. Don't always think the worst. If there's something you can't get past, and you want to talk about it, your senior sister is more than willing to listen."

Hearing that Yan's memories had partially returned, a strange expression crossed Lian Fulan's face. She made an excuse and left, leaving the two of them there.

Seeing that Yan said nothing and no one else was around, Jian Yiru carefully climbed off the bed. Stumbling, she wrapped her arms around his back from behind. "Senior Sister knows you've suffered many blows, but you've endured. The past is a fact that cannot be changed, but we all still have a future. There is still a path ahead. The fog always has its thin spots; the light will always break through. If I cannot be there with you to see that light, it can." As she spoke, Jian Yiru broke off a piece of her own dragon horn. It transformed into an amulet, which she placed around Yan's neck. "Don't worry, your wife allowed me to do this."

Yan naturally placed his hand over Jian Yiru's and held it tightly.

"Walk outside with me," Jian Yiru said, letting go of his hand and looping her arm through his to support herself. "I've been lying down too long. I want to see the outside."

Yan helped her walk outside. The long-missed sunlight fell upon her face as she felt the gentle breeze.

Some have left, but others remain. The departed are gone, never to return. The living must not drown in sorrow over the loss of the old. To live is to ensure they are not forgotten. To live is to carry their share forward.

The wind was pleasant. The sunlight was not harsh but soft. Exhaling a long breath of stale air, she felt both body and mind empty. Walking under the sun like this was warm and comfortable.

Jian Yiru had just woken up. She appeared spirited on the surface, overjoyed to be recovered and by Yan's side, but her body was still weak. Leaning on Yan, she could only manage a few steps. Her feet felt heavy, forcing her to shuffle slowly. She grew tired quickly but didn't want to stop.

She didn't want to stop, and he knew it. He bent down and carried her on his back. She was never heavy, and now she was even more slender, weighing little more than a full bamboo basket.

They cherished this fleeting peace immensely. No one knew what tomorrow might bring, or even the very next second. So, one must live well in the present, not clinging to the past nor dreading the future.

"Junior Brother, she asked me to give this to you. She said if your memories returned and you remembered her, to give you this." Jian Yiru slipped a bronze mirror from a fold in her robe into Yan's clothing, pressing it against his chest.

"Also, Junior Brother, that Lian Fulan seems a bit off. You should be cautious. I don't think she's bad, more like she's hiding something. But it's never wrong to be careful."

As she spoke, Jian Yiru pulled out several envelopes. "I found these when I went to tidy up your place while you were away. They're unopened. The aura on them feels strange, like the Mountain Lord you mentioned before. Let me open them for you."

Yan nodded.

The envelope was opened and placed before Yan. The first few letters contained normal inquiries, but the last one seemed off. The handwriting was scrawled and shaky, with some rose-red spots. Yet, the Mountain Lord, a great demon who had taken human form long ago, possessed many refined human tastes. Yan remembered his handwriting, written with both hands, was always extremely neat. The final line, "I will come find you," felt particularly strange.

However, he didn't mention this to Jian Yiru. It wasn't that he couldn't tell her; he just didn't want to ruin the beautiful atmosphere.

As dusk fell, Jian Yiru grew tired again. Yan escorted her back. He intended to stay with her overnight but was drawn outside by a sound.

Mu Han stood outside. "I heard your memories have returned. I suppose you've regained some reason."

"What brings Senior Sister here?"

"Times are turbulent lately. With the great clans contending, sacrifices are inevitable. As the largest public-facing power, the Sub-Institute can directly influence the course of both sides. Yet, it refuses to take a side, so it's bound to face suppression from both factions."

"What does Senior Sister mean?"

"Lately, Heaven Beyond Heavens has been in a weakened state, and their situation has worsened even more recently. According to its internal power divisions, this place leans more towards the influence of your father, Shang. As for how he's faring in Heaven Beyond Heavens... he's currently under house arrest. It seems when he first ascended, he flew into a rage and killed many indiscriminately. He also previously offended the Celestial Clan.

No one can harm him directly, so they target his affiliated factions. The Celestial Clan won't step forward openly; they have pawns in many places. Most likely, they'll have them incite the ignorant. It might well be Heaven Beyond Heavens itself."

"So what Senior Sister means is that the situation is unfavorable now..."

"It's more than that! The fact that the Old Dean is in his period of decline has been exposed. Furthermore, there seems to be a strange faction within Heaven Beyond Heavens; its depths cannot be probed, but it's very dangerous. They will likely become the main force against the Old Dean. Add to that a true divine army. The current Sub-Institute can't handle this. I suggest you quickly take all those with potential and pledge allegiance to the Wind Clan. They won't refuse. Under the Old Patriarch's protection, nothing will happen."

"But what about the others..."

"You can't even look after yourself, yet you worry about others? I'm just analyzing the situation for you. With this child in your belly, you could even flee with me to the Celestial Clan. Frankly, the life or death of this place means nothing to me. I just don't want the child to lose its father. He will be the Supreme Sovereign of both clans; his state of mind cannot afford such a flaw." Having said that, Mu Han turned and left. "Think it over carefully yourself."