The entire Tao Hua Chuan Academy seemed to sway with the unseen blossoms of an eternal spring. Even the trees appeared to dance in the breeze. The grand corridors and walls, which usually breathed discipline, were now bathed in the glow of pure joy.

  Whispers of Mo Yan and Yu Sui’s return echoed everywhere. Some disciples looked on with astonishment, while others cheered. However, the warmth inside Lady Xian Li’s chamber far exceeded the celebration outside. There, Lady Xian Li, Lady Wang Ayi, Duie, Mo Yan, and Yu Sui sat together, sipping tea in peace. The atmosphere had shifted; through the open window, the breeze brought in the delicate petals of peach blossoms.

  Everything was spoken, everything was shared yet, some truths remained hidden in the shadows.

  Lady Xian Li looked at Mo Yan with maternal affection and said softly:

  "Mo Yan. Thank you so much for taking care of my Yu."

  But in that moment, her face grew still. The absence of certain souls was felt deeply. Yu Sui and Mo Yan sensed it too a flicker of emptiness in their eyes. To break the heavy silence, Duie spoke with his usual mischievous grin:

  "Brother Yu Sui! Come, let’s go visit our old haunt."

  A smile touched Yu Sui’s face as he rose to follow him. Mo Yan stood up to join them, but before he could move, Lady Wang Ayi signaled him to stay, letting Yu Sui and Duie go ahead.

  Once Yu Sui had left, Lady Xian Li spoke to Mo Yan with gravity:

  "Prince Mo Yan. Knowing that you are the son of Queen Guzuie has filled us with immense joy. The throne that has sat empty for years now awaits its rightful heir. Your mother was a legendary ruler, and your father, King Dao Shuling, was a man of noble heart and boundless compassion. He looked after the smallest needs of his people... until Lin Chaoyuan became the army chief. Mo, the people of Xuemo and the Linyan clan have great expectations of you. You don't necessarily have to be exactly like your father, but it is vital that you become an even greater King than him."

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  Lady Wang Ayi added, her voice trembling with emotion:

  "Mo, my son. I feel such pride knowing I raised the heir of a great sovereign. But remember, my child as beautiful as this world is, it is equally poisonous."

  In response, Mo Yan bowed to both women in silent assurance and departed.

  The Coronation and the Whispers

  Outside, a grand celebration had ignited within the Xuemo Sect. The markets were decorated, and by chance, the peach blossoms that had bloomed a few days prior added a poetic beauty to the festivities.

  The news of Lin Chaoyuan’s death spread like a long-awaited spring across the land. Children roamed the streets with sweets, and the darkness that had once stifled the kingdoms began to lift. Messages were sent to the Fuzi Xion and Linyan clans, bringing a newfound sense of peace and cooperation.

  As night fell, the square of the Great Goddess Temple overflowed with people. Laughing faces were everywhere. Amidst them stood Duie, Mo Yan, and Yu Sui, along with the two Ladies.

  Duie kept glancing at Yu Sui, teasing him with a knowing smirk. Yu Sui returned the mischievous look with a smile of his own. However, seeing the two of them smiling at each other, Mo Yan’s expression darkened. His eyes seemed ready to spit fire. When Yu Sui caught Mo Yan’s gaze, his smile vanished like a leaf in a storm. His heart sank as Mo Yan continued to glare at him with a cold, piercing intensity.

  Wiping the sweat from his brow, Yu Sui cleverly took a few steps back and stood closer to Mo Yan. Only then did Mo Yan’s face soften into a calm mask once more.

  Then, the ceremony for Mo Yan’s coronation began. Once again, the light blue banners of the Xuemo Sect fluttered in every street and corner. The people awaited their King, but many eyes were fixed on Yu Sui with a different kind of intensity. Whispers began to ripple through the crowd.

  "I heard he is the Ruler of Black Heaven," one man muttered. "But it's also true he is the son of Princess Wan Yi."

  Another man whispered back, "That's nothing! I heard the destruction at the Liuguang Sect was his doing. Some even saw him wearing the robes of Black Heaven. If you ask me, he is a demon."

  Suddenly, a heavy hand landed on the second man's shoulder. He turned around to find Duie staring at him with eyes like burning embers. Duie’s voice was as sharp as an arrow:

  "Would you like to shut your mouth, or should I cut it out for you right now? Huh!"

  Duie leaned in, his voice dripping with power:

  "If I hear this from anyone else's mouth, your throat will be the first one I slit. Understood?"

  He disappeared back into the crowd, leaving the man drenched in cold sweat and trembling with fear.

  Despite the whispers, many others looked at Yu Sui with love and reverence. They all knew the truth that it was he who had finally slain the monster, Lin Chaoyuan.