postscript
Xiao Wei brought in the packed luggage. Mi gently laid the sleeping Ai Lian down, kissed Ai Lian's hair once more, tucked the blanket in, picked up the luggage, and jumped out the window. The cold wind blew the curtains up, making them float in mid-air. Xiao Wei went over to close the window.
"Let's leave the window open like this."
Xiao Wei turned around. Ai Lian, eyes closed, was still sleeping with a smile on her face. It was as if those words from before weren't spoken by her at all. Xiao Wei walked to the bedside and looked at Ai Lian, her eyes brimming with tears. This was the long-lived creature she had watched grow up, now lying there silently. "Miss, my Miss," Xiao Wei knelt by the bed, holding Ai Lian's gradually cooling hand, filled with regret for her past advice. If... if Ai Lian had no heartbeat...
Another day passed, and Ailian was awake less and less. Neither Grand Duke Swei nor the physician could see her or little Vivian. Since the day Ailian and little Vivian fell into a coma, Xiaowei had immediately carried them into Mi's room. Royal decrees frequently arrived, with Grand Duke Swei preventing anyone from seeing Ailian and Vivian.
Ailian remained bedridden for half a month without waking up. Xiaowei, seeing Ailian as frozen like an ice sculpture, informed Grand Duke Swei that Ailian would be buried in Lotus Lake. The news of Ailian's passing could not be kept secret, and soon the royal family also learned of it. King Ferran sent people to offer condolences and inquire about the well-being of Ailian's goddaughter, Vivian.
Aileen's body, surrounded by dahlias, was paid for by the royal family and nobles. The butler's grandson, dressed in black veil, impersonated Vivian and taught etiquette to the ladies. Upon hearing the news of Aileen's passing, the Queen Mother closed her eyes. The butler's grandson, once again impersonating Vivian, was exposed at the Queen Mother's funeral. A nationwide warrant was issued for young Vivian, not as a criminal, but as the kidnapped Lord Vivian.
Mi and Mo led Vivian through the thick fog, quickly leaving Ailian Castle. They bought three horses at the market in the west of the city and galloped towards the Snow Region. Just as Mi and his companions passed through Star City, an arrest warrant was issued, this time under the pretext of hostage-taking. The warrant described two people based on Mi's appearance. Mi didn't know if Vivian had been captured and interrogated, or if some supernatural being knew their whereabouts.
Mi and Mo both changed their appearances, becoming the burly Annes, with red hair, rough skin, and the dusty attire of adventurers. Little Vivian, her hair tucked into a hat, disguised herself as an adventurer's attendant, thus evading the checks in Star City. When the pursuit order arrived in Mai City, the description changed to match their appearance. This time, the fugitives being pursued were two: two red-haired female adventurers who had taken Lord Vivian hostage. Mi saw the latest pursuit order at the city gate, pondering which race's divine skill could describe their current state so accurately.
Since they couldn't evade capture no matter how they changed their route, Mi simply bypassed Maicheng and headed towards the snowy region. Xiao Weiwei's body, improved by the longevity seed, also persevered along the way, but the coarse food was unbearable for her. Xiao Weiwei watched as Mi and Mo silently ate their hard wheat cakes. These two women ate almost nothing, leaving the last of their food for her.
The three of them, in a chase with the manhunt warrant, reached the border. Before crossing, Mi shaved Vivian's head, turning her almost completely into a dark, thin, and chapped-skinned boy, a far cry from the royal noblewoman described in the warrant. Mi became a dark, thin bamboo pole, while Mo became a thick, chubby fellow. Little Vivian looked at the two men in surprise, the resistance in her eyes finally gone.
Mi spotted the mustachioed captain, Liz, from afar. At that moment, Liz seemed to sense something and turned to look at Mi. He broke away from the group, slick with oil, and walked towards Mi and his companions: "Where are your passes?"
The mustachioed captain took Mi's pass and tilted his head, gesturing for them to go to the other side. Mi and the other two followed the mustachioed captain to a corner exit, where a soldier in a dark bearskin coat asked him, "Captain, the goods have arrived?"
The mustachioed captain tossed over a bag of Gindri that Mi had handed him: "We haven't even left yet, there's no profit to be made."
Bearskin Boy carefully examined the special pass in his hand. He looked at the three androgynous figures in front of him with a puzzled expression, then tossed the money bag in his hand and opened the gate: "Remember to come back through here, Gate 17."
The snowy region had only one border crossing, with dozens of fence gates installed on a row of open ground, the fences carved with strange patterns. Mi didn't dare underestimate these inconspicuous wooden fences and quietly followed behind the mustachioed captain.
As soon as Vivian stepped out of the gate, she heard a sharp whistle coming from the border. The mustachioed captain pushed the rice out with force and led out a horse with its hooves wrapped in leather, urging them, "Hurry up."
Without waiting for a reply, Mi climbed onto the horse and rode off. Vivian was lifted onto the horse, while the other two horses were left at the border. The mustachioed captain cursed as he closed the gate, gave the black bear a wink, and then turned and led the two horses back.
What happened?
"The latest order is that the entire snowy region is closed; entry is permitted, but exit is not."
"This is the perfect time for hunting in the snowy region. Why not let people out? And where would anyone come in from?"
"Not allowed to leave? Not a single member of the Adventurers' Guild will be allowed to leave?"
The adventurers' guild members who were queuing were stopped and asked for information at the adventurers' guild's outpost. The horse that the mustachioed captain had brought was also taken away.
* * *
In Redstone Town, the starry sky shone brightly once more. Jane and Annie followed the shooting stars almost to the wasteland. This time, the Queen's Crown was clear and bright. The number of shooting stars had changed again. Two lines of shooting stars followed behind the crown, a line of two dim shooting stars gradually disappeared, a line of seven asteroids grew brighter and brighter, and nineteen halos surrounded the Queen's Crown, protecting it well at the innermost part.
“I need to go to Sun City,” Anne suddenly said sadly, her head bowed. “I need to bring her back.”
“Ang?” Janda suddenly looked up and stared at Anne. “Are you sure? She’s not even fifty yet.”
“Men are not to be trusted.” Anne turned and walked toward Redstone Town.
* * *
In the Royal Cemetery of Derek, the heavy rain concealed all sorrow. Two groups of people in black cloaks met; one group went to the side of Patris's grave, and the other to the side of Queen Agnes's grave. Both groups removed their hats before the graves, and small coffins were carried out, restoring the cemetery to its original state. Anne, having walked a short distance, turned back. She walked to Patris's gravestone and drew a queen's crown at its base. Then she stopped at Queen Agnes's gravestone and added a small inscription at the bottom: "Here lies a miller's girl." These were the words Agnes had spoken when he first went on an adventure with Anne: "Anne, if I die, please inscribe on my gravestone—'Here lies a miller's girl.' I don't know where I'll end up, but I'll always remember where I started."
Anne brought Queen Angnes back to Redstone and laid her to rest under the ironwood tree in the courtyard. This time there was no tombstone, only a wooden plaque hanging from the ironwood tree, on which was written in bold, elegant strokes: “I came from the mire, grew up in the mire, and one day I will return to the mire and flatten it.”
Beside the imposing tomb of Zara, the 17th lord of Lincheng, a small grave has been built, like a daughter nestled beside her mother. A parasol tree from the lord's mansion has been transplanted to Zara's grave, casting a large, dark shadow over the mother and daughter. Qiu personally repositioned the two tombstones. Zara—a warrior and comrade, a daughter, a mother, and a grandmother—has a small crown engraved at the base of her tombstone, marked with the number 17. Bertram—a daughter and a mother—also has a small crown engraved at the base of her tombstone, marked with the number 17.
For eighteen years, Mi and Mo have had a permanent residence in the snowy region, and Vivian has made many friends during that time. Now, she has formed a regular exploration team, and she leads her team to sweep across the entire snowy region, becoming the fearsome Queen Vivian.
"Vivian, the Flower Kingdom has closed its borders again." Ellie, who had returned from exchanging goods at the border, brought back the prey she had carried with her. The finest iron here, once the most sought-after product, was now being refused entry.
"What happened?" Cassius came out carrying a jar. "Did you get the catalyst I needed?"
"The Flower Kingdom is facing another succession crisis. Queen Ferran's princess from the Sea Kingdom, Little Ulrina, has yet to produce an heir. After Duke Delgado passed away, Grand Duchess Ulrina brought Little Ulrina's two nephews from the Sea Kingdom to the Derek Palace, and now she intends to make one of her nephews the crown prince." Bella, always well-informed, handed Vivian a letter: "If you still want to go back, now is the best time. This is a letter from Lord Eli of Lin City 2."
“Go back where?” Stoll came in carrying a plate of mutton. “Come and try the snow sheep I hunted today. You can only catch it where the spring grass grows first at the foot of the iceberg. I killed three snow monsters to get this snow sheep.”
“Storm, you went out alone again?” Cassius put down the medicine bottle, pulled Storm’s arm to check the injury: “If this continues, something bad will happen sooner or later.”
"Hehe, I'm fine. I just noticed that everyone's not very hungry, so I went out to find some fresh food." Stoll tried to pull his arm out of Cassius's grasp.
Vivian left her friend and headed towards another snow hut: "Mi, the snow border is closed. Eli suggests I go back now." She handed Mi Eli's letter.
"You can't conquer the Snowfield Border." Mi didn't read Eli's letter. The blonde beauty had always taken good care of Beatrice. Since taking over as the second city lord of Lin City, she had been making things easy for Vivian's team and constantly sending them messages from Sun City. However, three garrison cities were simultaneously defending the Snowfield Border, and Eli's power wasn't yet great enough to rule all three. Just coordinating the two city lords of Lin City 1 and Lin City 3 already consumed most of her energy.
"Is there anywhere else we can enter the Flower Kingdom? Now is the best time; I can't wait any longer." Vivian's eyes were resolute. Although Ferran had married the princess of the Sea Kingdom, no heir had been born, and now the Flower Kingdom was once again facing a succession crisis. Little Vivian decided to go back now and reclaim everything that belonged to her father.
"Vivian, let's go to the wasteland."
Vivian, along with her teammates whom she had known for eighteen years, set off westward along the snowy border. After crossing vast snowfields and countless rivers, they finally saw the Derek Wall. They traveled south along the Derek Wall, where the weather changed from frigid to scorching, and their enemies changed from Yetis to Sandmen, Steppenwolves, and various other wilderness creatures.
"You're going back already?" Mi looked at the tomboyish Vivian. Little Vivian had been with them for nineteen years, hunting and evading capture in the snowy region while receiving Mi's guidance. "Guided" wasn't quite right; Mi simply told her the history of Earth as stories, recounting the billions of years of Earth's reconstruction, the beginnings of humankind's era—especially the long Middle Ages—and the different thoughts and pursuits of humankind. She talked about government and religion, dictatorship and democracy, the establishment and collapse of rules, and ancient Eastern culture. Mi meticulously analyzed the causes behind seemingly small events, the basis of plunder, showing Vivian how to find checks and balances on power. She explained how humans went from blind obedience to obedience, and finally to submission, and what role resistance and suppression played in this process. Mi also told little Vivian the story of the twelve elders of the Witch Forest. Humans may only see the world before them, but her future held far more than that. And so, little Vivian grew up.
The wasteland remained unchanged. On the wasteland, Mi and Vivian parted ways: "Go, Lincheng 17 is your maternal grandmother's territory. They will support you. Go in from here. Your journey begins here."
The stone gate of Border Post 17 looked even more dilapidated and smaller. Strange patterns appeared on the constantly renovated city wall. A few logs were roughly tied together to form a wooden fence, and several small houses could be vaguely seen inside the gate. Vivian led her small team toward Border Post 17. A tall, thin figure peered out from the city wall, and the wooden fence was pulled open forcefully.
"Do you think she will become queen?" Mo asked, standing to the side.
“I don’t know, but I hope she can become queen.” Mi watched Vivian’s departing figure.
"Aren't you going back to help her?" Mo tilted her head and looked at Mi, who had always treated Xiao Vivian like a daughter.
“She has to walk her own path. The witch only provides the way, not the outcome.” Mi turned and walked into the depths of the wasteland. “Come on, Little Moon, I’ll take you to see some old friends.”
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