Volume One, Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Golden Coffin

Mo Qing took the golden spatial ring from the golden skeleton’s hand, coming forward to place her within it, so she could keep him company. Turning to the silent Mo De, she asked softly, “What should we do with this dragon?”

After a long moment of thought, Mo De summoned two strands of golden light: one he sent into the young dragon’s remains, the other to unlock the barrier around his blade’s scabbard, guiding the black flames within toward the dragon’s bones.

This time, the black flames burned gently, gradually melting the dragon’s majestic body into a pale golden liquid.

With the aid of the black fire, Mo De could sense the high quality of this metallic essence. If he continued refining, he might obtain a rare, high-grade metal, no less precious than the small golden sphere from before.

Yet he chose otherwise. With the black fire’s help and his own metal-affinity power, he reshaped the molten gold.

A pale gold coffin slowly took form in midair. Its walls were thick, its base broad—ample for the eternal rest of two souls.

He recalled the black flame to his scabbard, reclaimed the golden light, and lowered the golden coffin. With a final touch, he used his powers to smooth and embellish the details.

At last, placing his finger gently on the coffin’s lid, Mo De inscribed a line of words onto the surface:

Those who are parted shall one day meet again.

The coffin complete, Mo De looked to Mo Qing, signaling her to lay the two within.

The two skeletons rested quietly inside their golden tomb. Mo De circled the coffin once, sealing the joins with his power.

You will return to the familiar darkness—but this time, you are no longer alone.

After countless years apart, these lovers were at last reunited, embraced together for eternity.

And the young golden dragon, in another form, would still remain by its master’s side—guarding her, guarding him.

Mo Qing stowed the golden coffin away, turning the ring she’d taken from the woman over in her palm as she asked Mo De, “Where shall we lay them to rest?”

“Let’s find a place where the world won’t disturb them.” Picking up a glowstick from the floor, Mo De surveyed the room one last time, making sure nothing was left behind.

“I have two pieces of news for you, one good and one bad. Which do you want first?” Mo Qing’s voice interrupted his somber mood.

“Huh?” Mo De looked at her, puzzled. He had no idea what she was up to, and had no desire to humor her. Turning away, he started toward the opening, ready to leave.

“It’s an easy choice, just pick one.” Mo Qing wouldn’t let up, trailing behind him, toying with her new spatial ring as it danced nimbly between her fingers.

“The bad news,” he muttered, growing impatient with her persistence, though he really wasn’t in the mood to talk.

“The bad news is, you just lost a prime piece of high-grade rare metal. Don’t be sad, don’t be sad.” Mo Qing patted his shoulder in mock consolation.

“And the good news?” Heading toward where they’d found the ventilation duct, he asked perfunctorily.

“The good news is, good deeds are rewarded. The lady’s ring contains a map—still quite well preserved.”

Mo De froze at this, turning back to see that, sure enough, Mo Qing now held a map in her hands.

The entire map was sealed inside a transparent film, crafted with some special technique so that despite the ages, it remained intact, though the film itself had yellowed with time.

“We’re currently in the far north, nearly outside the Huaxia Domain,” Mo Qing said, pointing to the facility’s location on the map as Mo De leaned in to look.

“With a map, things are much simpler. Next, we’ll head south and return to the Huaxia Domain.” The clarity of a set destination lifted Mo De’s spirits considerably.

Perhaps because he’d lacked all human feeling as a child, now that he’d regained emotion, tragedy stories unsettled him. Even the most lauded classics or acclaimed operas—after the tears and catharsis, he would slip into a melancholy he couldn’t shake.

That was why Li Changsheng had taught him the trick of bottling up his emotions—any mistake on a mission could harm himself or his partner. So, when necessary, Mo De would tuck all those tangled feelings deep inside, to sort through at leisure another time.

He wanted to be more cheerful and optimistic—just not as carelessly carefree as Li Changsheng, whose optimism bordered on the absurd.

Mo De preferred happy endings, yearning for lovers’ unions. Pain and hardship should never be the final fate of the kind-hearted.

Though reality seldom obliged, he would always hope for it.

“Feeling better?” Seeing his mood lighten, Mo Qing shoved the map into his hands and strolled off, hands tucked in her sleeves.

“Yeah… you noticed, huh.” Realizing her antics had been to lift his spirits, Mo De rubbed his nose, a bit embarrassed.

“Young people are allowed to be sentimental. I too once sobbed over romance novels in my youth,” Mo Qing said with a knowing smile.

“You talk as if you’re not still young yourself.” Mo De couldn’t help but retort—she didn’t seem much older than him.

“Ha! Thanks for the compliment…” She accepted his teasing with a laugh, bouncing over to the vent as Mo De pried the grate open.

They both climbed up into the duct, finding it far more spacious than expected—just a slight stoop and they could walk freely within.

Closing his eyes, Mo De listened until he could pinpoint the direction of the airflow, then led Mo Qing toward the source of the breeze.

Together, one after the other, they followed the fresh wind out of darkness, striding on toward the light.

…

Dawn broke as the great sun rose in the east, casting golden hues upon the heavy clouds.

“Today, rain clouds will thicken significantly over our city, with erratic flows of anomalous energy. A massive downpour is expected to begin at eight. The defensive barriers will be at full power and will completely withstand the rainfall, so residents need not worry. However, the city’s daylight will be greatly affected, so please limit unnecessary travel…”

As the morning news played in the living room, Li Yanxi busied herself in the kitchen preparing breakfast. Each steaming bowl of noodles was topped with a fried egg, a slice of pickled vegetable, and finished with vinegar, garlic, and sesame oil.

“Dongdong, breakfast!” she called to Li Dongdong, who was sprawled on the sofa, but received no answer. Rounding the couch, she found the girl had drifted off to sleep.

“Get up and eat! Didn’t I say to sleep after breakfast? And your hair’s still wet—what if you catch a cold?” She shook Li Dongdong awake and dragged her over to the table.

“Wake up, wake up.” But even seated, Dongdong’s eyes stayed closed. Li Yanxi sighed, “Do you need me to feed you?”

“No, no… I’ll do it myself.” With a jolt, Dongdong finally woke. Slapping her cheeks to fight the drowsiness, she was determined not to be fed like a child—if word got out, her friends would never let her live it down.

A sip of the warm broth seemed to ease the exhaustion built up from their recent battles.

Li Yanxi fetched a towel from the bedroom, then, standing on tiptoe behind Dongdong, gently wrapped up her damp hair.

“You should eat too, Yanxi.” Seeing her sister bustling about, Dongdong urged her to sit.

“Next time after a bath, remember to dry or wrap your hair. No matter how strong you are, you can still get sick.” Yanxi slid into her chair, finished her lecture, and picked up her chopsticks for her first real breakfast in days.

On October 2nd, the city’s northwest defensive barrier suddenly cracked open, leaving a gap several kilometers wide and exposing the vulnerable city to countless dangers. The military immediately mobilized to hold the line and prevent beasts from beyond from flooding in.

Li Yanxi and Li Dongdong were, of course, alarmed by the breach. After a quick discussion, the sisters decided to lend support and ease some pressure on the military—they lived here themselves, and if things went wrong, it might be too late to act.

Disguises donned, they rushed to the northwest front, joining the defense. Several other nameless experts had come too, all intent on restoring the barrier and ensuring the lunar tide didn’t disrupt their own affairs.

Stepping out through the breach, the sisters stood together amid the chaos of the anomalous storm.

“Ascend,” Yanxi murmured, rising into the sky.

“Far Sight.” With the next word, her eyes shone with rainbow hues, scanning the battlefield for Dongdong, seeking targets and openings.

“Which way?” Dongdong asked, lifting her spear and removing its cover.

Yanxi didn’t answer directly, but simply raised a hand, pointing northeast, toward a dense fog that seemed almost tangible.

“Shared Sight.” As the words fell, Dongdong’s vision sharpened; the world seemed clearer, vaster.

Within the mist, she saw the looming figure of a titan. Spear in hand, she sprang forward, her weapon a coiled dragon striking through the haze.

She needed to finish this quickly—who knew what other monsters might emerge under a full moon’s tide?