Once she reached close to the end of the book, her heart felt relieved. She found it. She felt thankful that the story continued even without her in it. She wanted to know what happened to everyone after she passed away. Even though she was relieved, she still felt uneasy about what to expect.

As she read, "The battle was over, and Crown Prince Liu LiJie was now throne as the new Emperor. However, before that came, the burial ceremony of the late Emperor was soon held, and the mourning period went on for a while before Huang Daiyu's burial ceremony could happen.

Once that was all over, Liu LiJie's official celebration of being the new Emperor arrived, and soon after, the marriage between Liu LiJie and Zhou Baozhai came. Then came Chen Bojing and Han Chuhua's wedding. Wang ZhangWei couldn't care less about anything that occurred. The only reason he stuck this long was for Huang Daiyu's burial. Once that was over, he departed.

Since everything was resolved, the little sect was no longer living in fear and was free to go wherever they wanted. However, they all chose to stay in the little sect but open their gates for anyone to come in and out.

Everything was turning for the good, and the new beginning was going smoothly except for Wang ZhangWei. At first, he wanted to roam around and face the lonely world on his own since the one he loved was no longer by his side.

He immediately appointed the new leader of the sect to Junfeng before leaving everything behind. Of course, Junfeng refused, but then he agreed that he was willing to be the temporary leader for him to roam around before returning.

It only took two years before he was forced to return as bandits were constantly tormenting the sect, which Junfend could handle one at a time, but soon enough, different groups of bandits were joining forces to overtake the sect. Once he returned, the title of the leader returned to him. Soon, his new focus in life was taking care of the sect and doing his duty as a leader to occupy his mind.

______

Three years passed by, and ZhangWei came to the capital city for business. Before he could return, Emperor LiJie and Empress Baozhai urged him to visit the palace once before he departed, once they heard of his arrival in the capital.

"So, how is everything going? We haven't heard from you for so long," LiJie said, pouring tea for them.

"It's the same old," ZhangWei answered, picking up his teacup.

"The bandits are no longer creating a ruckus?" Bojing asked.

"I already handled them all the year I came back," ZhangWei said indifferently. He then started swirling the tea in his cup. During the years, the three of them seem to have become friends. "How about you two?," ZhangWei looked at both of them. "How's your duties as the Emperor?" ZhangWei said to LiJie, "Or what about you? I heard you are now the great general?" he said to Bojing.

Both of them were slightly startled by his abrupt questions. They both smiled and said it was going well. They usually avoid this topic, but LiJie opened his mouth.

"Are you going to stay a bachelor for the rest of your life?" LiJie asked. Bojing looked at LiJie before cautiously looking at ZhangWei.

However, ZhangWei remained silent as they all knew the answer.

"You know she wouldn't be happy if she knew you were living like this. She would probably say something snarky to you," Bojing said, trying to lighten the mood, but then he started to smile, and soon smiles appeared on all of their faces as they started to reminisce. However, ZhangWei's smile slowly faded away.

"If she is unhappy with how I live, then that is what she gets for leaving me behind," he said under his breath. He knew he was being petty, but so what? It's not like she will come back to him and make a fuss with him again...

He then stayed for a couple more minutes before getting up and saying he was leaving, but then Baozhai and Chuhua arrived back from making some snacks for them all.

"ZhangWei, you are leaving already? Can't you stay and have dinner with us before leaving," Baozhai said, sitting down with Chuhua as the maids set down the plate of snacks. ZhangWei was quiet for a minute before saying, "I can't. I have to depart before night falls."

"Then stay a little bit longer. I haven't got a chance to talk to you yet," Baozhai said as she slightly frowned.

"Maybe next," he said.

"When will that be?" Baozhai asked.

"When I have to come back to the capital," he answered.

Baozhai sadly looked at him before saying, "Alright. Safe travels."

He then took his leave without looking back. They all stare at his back. He looked so lonely in this vast world without her.

Baozhai couldn't help but say, "He truly misses her. I hope in the next life, they can be together...."

______

Before he left the palace, he slowly walked toward the cold palace. Once he entered, he saw how empty and old it was. He stood there in silence as his eyes moved along the house to the broken well and then to the empty ground where she used to garden. He slowly walked towards the nonexistent garden. Then he saw her basking in the sunlight under the tree with her eyes closed while holding her watering bowl in her hand as the wind lightly blew her hair. Soon, her eyebrows frown from the bright light before opening her eyes. She then looked up in the tree to see him sitting in the tree and leaning his back against the tree as he was gazing at the clouds and occasionally glancing down at her.

"Young master," a voice awakened him from his memories. He then turned back and answered, "What's the matter?"

The shadow guard slightly bowed and responded, "Bao had heard that you had arrived in the capital and wanted you to spend the night with them."

ZhangWei nodded his head and said he would handle it as the shadow guard disappeared. ZhangWei then took one last look at the cold palace before leaving.

Once he arrived, Bao and LiMei greeted him at the front door. They were so happy to see him again.

"Young Master Wang, have you been well?" Bao said. ZhangWei nodded his head in response.

"Young Master Wang, have you eaten? I can set the table," LiMei said.

"No need. I came here to check on you two, and then I will be departing," he answered.

"Young Master Wang, you should spend the night. You must be tired," LiMei tried to insist.

"It's alright," ZhangWei gently declined the offer. LiMei nodded her head and no longer insisted. "How are you two?" ZhangWei asked.

"We are doing well, Young Master Wang," Bao answered, slightly bowing his head.

"Good," ZhangWei said. Ever since Daiyu passed away, ZhangWei has taken care of Bao and LiMei on behalf of Daiyu. He purchased her house and let Bao and LiMei stay there to take care of the house so whenever he came to the capital and needed to spend the night, he would go there. He would also send money monthly to them to take care of themselves.

Soon enough, ZhangWei bid them farewell before leaving and heading back to the sect.

As days passed into months and then into years, Wang ZhangWei remained unmarried for his entire life. However, he wasn't completely alone. The people who once cared for her would always take their time to visit him once in a while and tried to keep him accompanied, but to him, it didn't matter how many people came to visit him; his heart still felt completely alone as the person he wanted to accompany him was no longer with him..."

____

She couldn't express what she was feeling. Her heart felt this piercing pain as if she was stabbed in the heart before it was ripped right out of her chest. She collapsed to the floor, tightly clutching her fist next to her chest as the book was laid open on the ground next to her. With tears in her eyes, she couldn't help but painfully cry, "I'm sorry..."

She didn't understand why she was apologizing. It was just a story.

She closed her eyes, enduring the pain she felt in her heart. Once her tears fell down her cheeks and landed on the last page. A bright light glowed from her teardrops, and soon, words were starting to form. She glanced down and read the cursive words, "Your past life."

"My...past life?" she slowly said, staring at the bright words. She softly touched the words, and before she knew it, memories came rushing to her. She slightly trembled as these memories flashed through her mind. She finally regained consciousness. She touched her forehead as her body felt numb. Before she could even think, her phone started to ring.