During the Tang Dynasty, Chang'an was essentially square, resembling a chessboard, with the eastern and western markets and 108 administrative districts arranged within it. Two areas in the northern part stood out notably: the Imperial City and the Prefectural City. Broadly speaking, the Imperial City was where the emperor and his consorts lived, experienced daily life, and encountered political dramas, while the Prefectural City served as the administrative and governmental center. Blackstone City adopted this model, but without distinguishing between the Imperial and Prefectural Cities—instead, it established two equally matched districts: the Fei Lin City and the Fang Shi City, striving for balance and equality, neither extending beyond the other by even an inch or rising a single inch higher. Zhao Guanshou assigned them residences in a secluded courtyard in the corner of the Fei Lin City, also square in shape. From the back gate of the courtyard, a gently sloping ramp led up to the city walls—once climbed, the view stretched endlessly. Inside, the residential compounds of the districts rose in clusters, while outside, the Blackstone Mountain and the Golden Mine rose abruptly from the plain, narrowing the sky beneath them. Li Jiniao had already moved into the side room with two chickens, and the grandeur of the occasion left him not only pleasantly surprised but genuinely nervous and humble, making him feel that the Changdong group was now utterly unapproachable. He quickly went over their interactions, reflecting on several shortcomings—such as at their first meal, eating far more of their dishes than he should have, and especially favoring meat strips over others; and when he had offered to share a ride, his gratitude seemed insufficient. Determined to offer a sincere apology, Li Jiniao even considered a double blessing—perhaps he could also present Zhun Sihai to the Changdong group, since Zhun Sihai had been constantly like an angry cannonball, and Li Jiniao had long since grown tired of him. Yet, upon their return, the Changdong group was busy settling in and seemed to have no time to engage with his greetings. Li Jiniao stood awkwardly at the entrance of their main hall for a while before finally returning to his room. Everyone shared the same courtyard, so he would express his thanks another day. — The main house is spacious, resembling a "return" layout: as soon as you enter, you're greeted by a large living room, with a variety of snacks neatly arranged on the coffee table. The bedrooms and bathrooms are spread out on three sides, each opening directly onto the living room. This means that when you close the door, you have private space, and when you open it, you're in shared areas—balancing both cohabitation and privacy. When snow falls and the weather turns cold, Ye Liuxi shivers and rushes quickly to take a hot bath—the water is supplied through pipe systems with a bell pull, though there are occasional leaks at the outlets. However, the bathrooms lack flush toilets, and only separate men's and women's restrooms are located in the courtyard corner. Probably due to the sheer scale of the underground drainage and sewage infrastructure project, even the advanced Black Stone City cannot achieve full coverage. After her bath, Fei Tang remains indignant, spitting with frustration. "That girl, He Hu! What a performance! I was so deeply embarrassed at the time. Though I told Dongguang it was out of sheer urgency, I still felt ashamed—men hitting women is never graceful, isn't it, Old "Gao Shen usually stays quiet, but when called upon, he always speaks: 'At first, I was a bit surprised, but then it all made sense. Old Zhao had already planned for Xi Xiao to enter the realm through the pile of corpses and Yadan formations. Having someone stationed there to watch over her wouldn't be out of place at all.'" Fei Tang pretended to listen to Gao Shen's opinion, yet he was completely immersed in his own emotions and didn't care what Gao Shen actually said: "I've been feeling guilty, so I've made Xi sister do all sorts of tasks—never anything heavy! I even taught her three steps to strengthen herself. I never thought she was actually from the Yulin Guard! Maybe when we leave, there'll be a steel-wheeled vehicle bringing her back to Black Stone City. And yet, I still left her half a bag of rice!" The way he gritted his teeth was as if he had left her not just half a bag of rice, but half of Hong Kong itself. Fei Tang finally summed up: "Women are truly something—my heavens, they're absolutely terrifying. Just thinking about it makes me feel all prickly all over." Ding Liu “Fetang said, ‘No, it’s terrible—extremely terrible!’” Yeflux scanned the hall and noticed Changdong wasn’t there. “Where is Changdong?” she asked. Dingli looked up. “My elder brother said he felt a bit stuffy and went out for some fresh air… Oh, West Sister, Fetang just told us all about the camellia incident. My elder brother is truly pitiful—he was beaten senseless! He even had blood and bruises all over his head.” Yeflux turned to Fetang, furious. “You didn’t even make a fuss about the little thing that happened to your brother—how could you possibly feel uncomfortable?” She raised her hand as if to give him a slap. Fetang moved swiftly, instantly wrapping both hands around her head—indeed, the quick-drawing practice over the past few days has paid off. “West Sister! Calm down! Calm down! I wasn’t exaggerating—I was trying to create a sense of sympathy. Once I described it vividly, everyone felt so moved and compassionate. I just wanted my brother to feel warm and cared for.” Dingli tossed her peanut shell aside, gave a clap, and stood up, pulling Yef She always led Ye Liuxi to the back gate, pointing toward the city wall: "Look." The snow continued to fall, now lighter and sparser, delicate and faint. Under the soft glow, Ye Liuxi saw Changdong's silhouette. Ding Liu murmured, "See, Xī-jū? He's so lonely, so moved—paired with this wind and snow, he's like a lone wolf quietly healing his wounds. You just want to pull him into your arms and comfort him endlessly." Ye Liuxi stared at her for a while. "Are you ready to die?" Ding Liu asked, startled. "What?" "You're standing here, gazing at my man with all these trivial thoughts, and expecting me not to get angry?" Ding Liu replied, "Did I really say that? I didn't mean to. It's just what my mind thought. Come on, come on, hit my head!" She reached out randomly, stretching her head and arching into Ye Liuxi's arms. Ye Liuxi truly didn't dare to touch her head, had to step back, and as the moment grew chaotic, her head brushed gently against his chest. Ding Liu remained still, then after a moment lifted her head with a smile that carried deep meaning. "Oh, Xi-jie, you're so full of energy!" Ye Liuxi gritted her teeth, realizing she still couldn't fully contain Ding Liu. Seeing that she had made her point, Ding Liu said, "Xi-jie, I'm only speaking from the best intentions. Chong Dong is deeply affected—he needs you to comfort him, to cheer him up. This is a golden opportunity to deepen your bond. You absolutely can't miss it." Ye Liuxi looked up at Chang Dong. "Maybe he just wants to be alone for a while." Ding Liu sighed impatiently. "Two years ago, my Chong Dong lost his fiancée, had twelve teammates fall in the same crisis, faced relentless criticism and physical attacks from the entire network, and even had to sell off his entire estate—yet he didn't take his own life. That shows he's already come to terms with it. In the remote village, he had to personally end the life of Kong Yang, and I understand that he's been emotionally fluctuating. But he's already accepted this outcome. Today, he merely learned some new truths—how could he possibly "Yexiaoxi stared at her, "You go back now!" Ding Liu sighed, "You treat me like a precious treasure, but who's going to compete with you? Sister Xi, don't worry—Dongguang is way too old for me. I'm only eighteen; he's at least ten years older. I simply won't be interested!" Suddenly, she became enthusiastic, eyes half-closed, gazing up at the snow, and shouted, "I'll find someone who will completely outshine Dongguang—definitely!" —— Yexiaoxi approached Chang Dong. Chang Dong had long since made it a habit: when he wasn't in a good mood, he didn't like to just sit idle—he always found something to do. Most of the time, he'd draw and carve designs based on the shadow play box. Now, however… he was gently gathering the thin layer of snow that had accumulated on the wall into small piles, then forming a glass-bubble-sized head and attaching it, creating a clumsy yet simple snow figure just an inch tall. Yexiaoxi asked, "Not feeling well, are you?" Chang Dong looked up at her: "Not really. I've heard so many stories all at once—I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, just need to get some fresh air..." He paused suddenly, reached up and gently touched her hair, then furrowed his brow. "Did you just wash your hair?" "Uh-huh." "Then hurry back inside. It's snowing and windy—your hair's still damp, and by morning you'll definitely have a headache." Yexiowei wasn't buying it: "I've heard plenty of stories too—I also need some fresh air." Chang Dong said: "You really are..." He couldn't help it—he pulled her closer, turned around to shield her from the wind, and in the process, took off his hat, tilting it casually over her head. He was particular about his own hat being straight, but didn't mind hers at all. Yexiowei felt a warm glow in her heart. She reached out to wrap her arms around his waist, only for her arm to be suddenly caught by him. "Hold on," he said, "wrap yourself from inside—your hands will be cold outside." She still hadn’t quite understood. Changdong had already pulled open the jacket’s zipper, and Ye Liuxi realized, leaning into him, her hands wrapping around his torso from within the jacket. Only then did Changdong drape the jacket over her. Warmth spread through her body, and inside, something joyful and content surged, as if ready to take flight. She looked up at Changdong and said, “I really, really like you.” Changdong was suddenly flushed at the roots of his ears—there were things he wasn’t used to saying aloud—but she was different. She simply wanted to speak, and she did so with openness and passion. He couldn’t help but lean down and kiss her. The kiss was passionate, the air crisp, the scent of fresh snow lingering around them, occasionally with icy snowflakes caught between the warm lips and tongues, melting instantly. It took a while before he released her. Ye Liuxi rested her head on his chest, watching the snowline shimmering in the endless dark, and after a pause, said, “Changdong, I’ve made up my mind.” "With a serious tone, Chang Dong thought she was about to say something important— "For you, I'd be willing to give up this vast realm." Chang Dong didn't understand: "...Wait, Liu Xi, don't you have a plot of land at home?" Liu Xi was puzzled: "How big my heart is, that's how big my land at home becomes. If it weren't for you holding me back, if I weren't hesitating, I'd have drawn my sword to claim the throne and rule the land—what would one acre of land matter? Wouldn't the whole realm come eventually?" Chang Dong found himself both amused and touched. Her heart was indeed vast, yet still as poor as ever; her ambition had grown from mere extravagance to encompassing the entire realm. Yet she truly was a tonic—this evening, she had been gloomy, but once she arrived, she had lit up his entire world. Liu Xi added: "Shall I tell you one more thing to make you happy?" "Go on." "My former boyfriend... he literally killed me by hanging me." She looked at him with a proud, eager expression, as if expecting a reward. Chang Pausing a moment, she said, "I've never seen anyone hung who was this happy." Ye Liuxi added, "And in fact, I'm not even from Qingzhi." She recounted the questions she had asked Zhao Guanshou. Changdong pondered for a while, "What Zhao Guanshou said, take it as reference—don't believe it all." "Why? Does he sound insincere?" Changdong shook his head, weighing his words carefully. "First, everything should be based on what you remember. Every day you can't recall something, that missing half of your memory becomes a blank page, and others can paint over it however they wish. Therefore, you must stay steady—don't let others steer you off course." "Second, I think... Zhao Guanshou's words are a bit too fair and perfect." Generally speaking, people tend to be partial and defensive when speaking, much like the Japanese film "The Tale of the Roaring Gate," where the same event, as told by different people, varies widely, and each person strives to cover up their own biases and embellish their version. Zhao Guanshou, however, was remarkably open and unreserved—he directly said, "Don't you think we'd rather have killed you?" and did not hesitate to reveal the less-than-commendable act of having the Yulin Guard send a confidential report to Jiang Zhan. It seemed as though he was tirelessly demonstrating one point: Ye Liuxi, my words are all true—look, even the less-than-honest actions I've taken, I'm now disclosing to you. Do you still doubt me? Excess can be as detrimental as deficiency; having no flaws is often the most glaring one. Once suspicion arises, certain details begin to seem unconvincing. “You yourself mentioned that people with amnesia don’t lose their temperament. From the moment he said I fell in love with Jiang Zhan and then ended up being hanged without a struggle, something has felt off to me…” “You still have your pride and spirit—when someone doesn’t come your way, you don’t linger, you just carry off one leg. Look how clear your mind is! You harm others, but never harm yourself. I want to emphasize this again: as long as you’re standing, you won’t let me even think about taking your leg.” Yefu Li laughed, lying in his arms, then nodded. “But in Zhao Guanshou’s words, Jiang Zhan gave me the impression that he didn’t care about you at all—killing you with complete indifference, and even having Qingzhi by his side. How can you have such confidence in someone like that? Knowing full well that your life was in danger, you still didn’t leave, and ended up being hanged without resistance?” Yefu Li suddenly realized: “Yes, that’s exactly what I find strange. How could I have pursued a man so passionately, only to fall short? Is Jiang Zhan really blind?” Changdong: “...Don’t be so confident. Even if you go after Fei Tang and Gao Shen, you’ll still fall short.” Fei Tang would probably be so startled that he’d pack up and leave overnight. As for Gao Shen, Changdong could easily imagine him: standing with his hands behind his back, stepping back ten to eighteen meters, and delivering serious replies like, ‘Miss Xi, I don’t feel anything for you.’ Ye Liuxi was momentarily taken aback but didn’t get upset. “Is there anything else amiss?” “Don’t you think about it yourself?” “Isn’t it you who help me think through things? Besides, women tend to overthink—when they do, they lose their beauty.” The excuses are always so well-justified, Changdong truly had to admire her. After a moment’s hesitation, he voiced his biggest concern. “There’s also this: the foundation of Bogu has collapsed, the Scorpion’s eyes and the Camellia have encountered each other, taking people and vehicles with them—yet, why are only I left behind?” Ye Liuxi replied, “Maybe you’ve been buried under the sand so deeply that the Sc "No." "Why?" Chang Dong hesitated: "I'm afraid you might take it as a sign of concern if I say it, but this is a crucial part of our analysis—something we can't overlook or omit." Ye Liuxi wanted to smile. "At that moment, I was holding onto Kong Yang as we escaped. You know, when people feel their chances of survival are fading, their only wish is to die together. In that very instant when I lost consciousness, I was literally straining every muscle to hold onto Kong Yang's hand." He had seen several news reports about couples who died together in accidents, their bodies so tightly embraced that they were nearly impossible to separate. "Afterward, I thought it was just a matter of fate—something beyond our control—and accepted it. But now, with all these twists and turns, I've started to wonder: if the people from the Scorpion Eye had spotted Kong Yang, they surely wouldn't have missed me, since I was holding her hand." Ye Liuxi felt a chill running down his back: "So you're saying..." Chang Dong nodded. That night, someone must have... separated his hand from Kong Yang's.