The man smiled, and the light of the setting sun slowly crept up to his brows and eyes, adding a touch of tenderness to his tough exterior.

"Thank you, Chen Hede. I've made a good acquaintance with you."

The two men parted ways in the alley, brushing past each other for a fleeting moment, as the setting sun fell on their shoulders, as if sprinkling a layer of golden light.

The mutual respect and camaraderie between men, the willingness to sacrifice everything for each other, is also an unspoken promise.

After everyone left, Chen Hede slowly turned his head, revealing a clear tear stain at the corner of his eye.

Before meeting Cheng Muyun, Chen Hede regarded him as an enemy. Who would have thought that the two would fight side by side, and that Cheng Muyun would even choose to sacrifice himself for others.

But now, Cheng Muyun is leaving, heading towards his own happiness, and on the road ahead, he will have lost another like-minded person.

But at least Cheng Muyun went to Xu Zhuohua, and he could give Xu Zhuohua safety, and that was enough.

In chaotic times, with someone guarding her, Xu Zhuohua was at least safe.

Chen Hede watched the sunset gradually disappear on the horizon and sighed silently.

In the years to come, he will do his utmost to make this country better and to ensure that people like Xu Zhuohua can live a life of plenty.

Even if it means being shattered to pieces, I would gladly accept it.

...

By the time Cheng Muyun was brought to the dock, it was already dark. Xu Zhuohua listened to the continuous gunfire in the city, and her heart pounded like a drum.

Fortunately, Xu Jixin kept sending telegrams to reassure Xu Zhuohua that Cheng Muyun was safe, which prevented her from running off the ship.

Upon seeing Cheng Muyun covered in blood, Xu Zhuohua couldn't help but burst into tears.

"How did you get injured like this?"

Cheng Muyun's lips were pale, clearly from excessive blood loss, but he still managed a slight smile as he looked tenderly at Xu Zhuohua.

"It's done." His voice was soft, but you could hear the joy of surviving a disaster. "Zhuohua, it's a success."

Xu Zhuohua's tears fell like beads from a broken string, one after another, as she gripped Cheng Muyun's clothes tightly and nodded frantically.

"Yes, it's done, Cheng Muyun, we've finally succeeded."

Xu Zhuohua lived in fear for more than a month, unable to sleep well every night, because she was terrified that history would come true.

At this moment, Cheng Muyun was truly standing in front of her.

She held her breath, but her heart was like a lit firework, exploding in bursts—excitement, ecstasy, disbelief, all the indescribable emotions surging and boiling in her chest, almost bursting out of her throat and turning into a choked cry.

From now on, there will be no need to worry about Cheng Muyun's life or death. The two of them will be like a grain of sand at the bottom of a river, gradually sinking to the bottom as time goes by, living a quiet life that belongs only to the two of them.

Although the road ahead is unknown, that is the meaning of life. If we follow the predetermined plot, it will be a meaningless journey for anyone.

Ignoring the bloodstains on his body, Cheng Muyun pulled Xu Zhuohua into his arms.

They have been waiting for this moment for a long time.

Everyone boarded the boat, and the moon was already high in the sky.

To provide cover, there were three identical ships. Only Cheng Muyun and Xu Zhuohua knew which ship they boarded, and they also didn't know where the ship was headed.

Just as they were anchoring, a call suddenly came from the side of the boat. The voice was soft and weak, like the call of a wild cat, which sounded very eerie in the dark night.

Although it was soft, it truly reached everyone's ears.

“Xu Zhuohua, Cheng Muyun, you cannot set sail. You cannot leave the shore now, or you will miss this opportunity.”

The sound reached Xu Zhuohua's ears inside the cabin, and her expression changed drastically.

Xu Zhuohua looked up and met Cheng Muyun's gaze. He had also heard it.

Xu Zhuohua picked up a pair of scissors, cut the bandage on Cheng Muyun's arm, and asked, "Do you want to go see him?"

Cheng Muyun nodded. "Right now, there aren't many people who know that we're all alive and that we're all on this ship."

The ever-cautious Cheng Muyun was worried that people outside would spread the news that Xu Zhuohua and he were alive, which would make everything they had done go to waste.

The two of them helped each other to the mast and looked towards the riverbank.

Along the dark riverbank, willow branches drooped crookedly into the water, and under the moonlight, they looked like tentacles reaching out from hell.

An elderly man with white hair, dressed in a gray-blue Taoist robe, stood among the willow branches on the riverbank, his bright eyes watching the two people on the boat.

For some reason, even though the riverbank was so far from the boat and the night was so deep, Xu Zhuohua still felt that the white-haired Taoist was watching him.

Upon meeting each other's gazes, Xu Zhuohua instantly realized that it was Daoist Yunxu.

The person who caused Xu Zhuohua to travel here.

What exactly is this "missed opportunity" he's referring to?

Xu Zhuohua grabbed Cheng Muyun's hand and said nervously, "That looks like Master Yunxu from Baiyun Temple."

Cheng Muyun gently held Xu Zhuohua's hand, offering her much comfort.

Should we let him onto the ship?

The man's eyes were clear and bright, reflecting the bright moonlight.

Xu Zhuohua suddenly felt a pang of tenderness in her heart. Cheng Muyun was always able to accurately capture her emotions and voice her hesitation.

"Is it okay? Aren't we running for our lives?"

Cheng Muyun said, "Okay."

Master Yunxu said that they had "missed an opportunity," and Xu Zhuohua must have taken it to heart. If she doesn't understand the situation clearly, this matter will become a thorn in her side.

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