The pastel green floating carriage glided across a crystal blue lake, heading toward a village. The entrance resembled a wedding arch, but it was three times the size, woven thick with lush green vines. Tiny flowers bloomed along the vines—red, pink, blue, purple, and yellow. Each blossom had a brilliant white heart at its center.
The village seemed to have grown from the land. Trees, branches, and leaves were seamlessly intertwined with the surrounding buildings, as though nature itself had built the village, not people.
The carriage slowed as it passed beneath the arch and entered the village, because the roads were bustling. Other floating carriages glided by, and Celestials moved through the village paths in graceful motion, busy with their daily routines.
They wore robes made of light materials that floated gently with every breeze. The garments were pale—almost white—but tinged with soft hues of green, blue, pink, and other delicate colors.
Their hairstyles were simple, adorned with one or two modest accessories. Some wore nothing at all, letting small twigs or tiny blossoms decorate their hair.
Though their eye colors varied by cultivation level, their skin tones were uniformly flawless—porcelain-smooth and identical across every face.
Xuan Tian, sitting at the bow of his floating carriage, silenty taking his time in the familiar scenery. It had been almost a century since he last returned to the village. The last time he was here, he was honoring his parents' passing—a private ritual he observed every hundred years on the day they died.
The village hadn't changed in all that time. Its stillness gave him a feeling of freedom, peace, sanctuary… home. He had grown up here, until his parents passed away when he was only one hundred and fifty years old.
Xuan Tian's time here had been brief, but it was filled with love. He came late to his parents, a long-awaited child, and became the apple of their eye. They often argued over who spoiled him more—though in the end, his father would always give way to his mother.
Strangely, he couldn't remember their faces. He remembered everything else—their voices, their laughter, the way they smelled—but their faces were a blur. And when he tried too hard to recall them, it gave him a splitting headache so severe he would pass out from the pain.
The carriage continued its gentle glide through the village, until buildings thinned and people faded from view. It finally arrived at a much smaller lake, where the water was so clear, the bottom of the lake was visible.
In the middle of the lake stood a simple house—not too big, not too small—just right for a family of three. The carriage glided across the lake and came to a stop in front of the house.
Jing Xue, who had been trotting quietly behind the carriage since they entered the village, stepped forward and took a deep breath of the crisp lake air. He turned to Xuan Tian.
"Now that we're here, I'll go catch some fish at the lake… Ge."
Without waiting for a reply, Jing Xue bounded off toward his usual fishing spot. Xuan Tian sighed. At least he likes doing something here.
He stepped into the canopy and gently carried Lin Qian out, bringing her into the house.
Inside, he laid her in the guest bedroom and turned to leave—but a faint whisper stopped him.
He turned back and saw Lin Qian trying to sit up.
"Don't get up yet, doctor," he said. "You're wounded and need to rest. We'll talk when you're better."
"General," Lin Qian whispered, her voice urgent. "There are spirit pills in my pouch that can help with my wounds. I can't wait anymore, General. It is imperative that I tell you everything. I need your help."
Xuan Tian only knew Lin Qian for a while, when they went together to the Human Realm five years ago. He spent time with her, less than a month, but he understood Lin Qian's personality. She was a calm person. She wouldn't do this unless it was very important.
"I understand, doctor." Xuan Tian took a seat in the nearby chair. "Let's talk."
Lin Qian exhaled in relief. She quickly took few pills out and downed them. After a while, the effect of the pills could be seen. Her face no longer pale, her breath wasn't as ragged, the scars on her hands were healing rapidly.
When she looked at Xuan Tian again, she was back to the Lin Qian that Xuan Tian said good bye five years ago. Beautiful, calm, but sorrow filled her eyes.
After returning to the Celestial Realm five years ago, the three doctors resumed their regular lives—or at least, Lin Qian tried to. But she couldn't let go of her husband's death. She missed him terribly. And more than anything, she wanted revenge.
As days passed, the desire only grew stronger. She told no one. Not even Zhao Zhi or Xu Yun.
A year after returning, she couldn't bear it anymore. She made up her mind and went back to the Human Realm. She wanted to investigate Lingxu. She wanted to destroy them.
But she knew she couldn't do it alone. After careful thought, she decided to go to ICEB—and offered her help to bring Lingxu down.
Lin Qian arrived back in Baishan City exactly eighteen months after Lei Wen's death. The city stirred painful memories. Everywhere she turned, she saw traces of Lei Wen. When she passed the inn, she broke down.
It was raining hard. She was sobbing uncontrollably, the storm above mirroring the storm inside her.
Suddenly, she couldn't feel the rain anymore. She looked up to find an umbrella held above her. Turning, she saw it was Xu Yun. Her eyes were also filled with tears.
Not far from her, under a second umbrella, stood Zhao Zhi. He was crying too.
In that moment, Lin Qian realized she wasn't the only one still grieving.