It seemed quite serious, so Tang Xiaomin decided to investigate.
"Lead the way."
"Yes."
Under Zhong Li's guidance, they traversed a long corridor and arrived at the Lakeside Pavilion.
This had once been the most serene and elegant place in the underworld. Later, Yan was confined here. Su Dan Novel Network.
The place had changed drastically, becoming dilapidated. Half of the roof was destroyed, and the garden below had been burned to ashes.
It was not difficult to imagine how much fury Jun Yan had unleashed during this period.
Fortunately, many undead warriors were arranged to guard it ceaselessly. He merely threw a tantrum, and there were no further disturbances.
Nothing had actually erupted, which was beyond Tang Xiaomin's expectations.
"Tang Xiaomin, you've finally arrived."
Jun Yan's deep voice boomed, causing the undead warriors on guard duty to instantly sharpen their senses and vigilantly fix their gaze on the dilapidated house.
Soon, Jun Yan emerged from within.
His flowing long hair was exceptionally carefree, complemented by his handsome face that exuded an aura of danger. His presence was still as commanding, instantly overwhelming the surrounding undead warriors.
In contrast, Tang Xiaomin, a twenty-one-year-old girl in a little black dress, appeared youthful and delicate.
A stark contrast was formed between the two.
"Tang Xiaomin, do you think this place, and these warriors you've arranged, can contain me?"
Within Jun Yan's enigmatic gaze, anger ignited, seeming as if it would erupt at any moment.
Contain him?
From the moment Tang Xiaomin had released Jun Yan, she had never intended to confine him for long.
"Disperse them all. No more guards are needed from today onwards."
Zhong Li's expression was grave, and he quickly reminded her.
"Miss Tang, this isn't advisable. He is Jun Yan. Letting him roam free will be very troublesome. Please reconsider."
"Trouble is trouble. Trouble will arrive eventually; it's unavoidable. What difference does it make whether it's sooner or later? Say no more, disperse them." Tang Xiaomin stated firmly.
She gazed calmly at Jun Yan before her, as if she could still see the figure of Ye Fengxing within him.
"Congratulations, you are free."
Turning, she left.
"Stop!"
Jun Yan called out to Tang Xiaomin, his tone laced with anger.
"What trick are you playing now?"
Having been deceived once, Jun Yan was always wary of Tang Xiaomin.
Tang Xiaomin spoke as she walked, without turning her head.
"I'm tired, and I don't want to argue with you anymore. The Underworld is yours again. I probably won't return, and it's all the same whether you transform it back to its former state or keep it as it is."
With this action, Tang Xiaomin was returning what she had possessed to Jun Yan.
When she had seized it, she had fought fiercely on the battlefield. Now, she relinquished it so easily.
Jun Yan still didn't believe it.
"How could you just let go? Tang Xiaomin, what is your objective?"
This time, Tang Xiaomin said nothing more. She had already said what needed to be said.
She left the way she had come.
This time, Zhong Li accompanied her. Even when they reached the Naihe Bridge, she did not look back at the Underworld.
Jun Yan, on the other side of the Naihe Bridge, personally witnessed Tang Xiaomin's departure.
What a heartless woman she was.
When Jun Yan faced a great catastrophe, she had eagerly rushed forward to her own death. It was Ye Fengxing who had saved her.
But she?
Without a word of thanks, she had turned around and killed her savior.
Cruel and venomous were insufficient words to describe her wickedness.
In his cycle of reincarnation, he had fallen deeply in love with such a woman?
"Ye Fengxing, oh Ye Fengxing, you are truly pathetic."
Tang Xiaomin was gone, and she had stated she would never return.
The Underworld was back in his hands; he was once again the lord of this realm.
Finally having reclaimed everything he had lost, he felt a sense of joy, yet something was missing, leaving him feeling hollow.
Could it be that after being human for so long, he had become sentimental?
...
"Miss Tang, letting Jun Yan off the hook like this is too easy on him!"
"That territory was what we, along with President Yan, fought for. We can't just hand it over!"
"Miss Tang!"
...
Zhong Li spoke unusually much, to the point where Tang Xiaomin's ears were starting to feel numb.
"Zhong Li, I have something to tell you. Jun Yan might have survived."
Zhong Li was stunned at first, then sheepishly shook his head.
"Miss Tang, I know you can't accept that fact. But President Yan has truly vanished."
"Besides, if President Yan were truly alright, why wouldn't he come back to find you? He loves you so much."
Zhong Li's reaction was the same as Lu Xing's.
Why Jun Yan hadn't come back to find her was a question.
"Tang Xu told me that he found traces of Jun Yan on Ye Fengxing's private island. Whether it's true or not, we must go and see for ourselves."
Seeing the bright gaze in Tang Xiaomin's eyes, Zhong Li couldn't bring himself to pour more cold water on her.
"Since Miss Tang is going, I will definitely accompany you."
Returning home.
Zhang Meiyu was sitting in the living room, gazing at a photo of herself with Tang Ye and Tang Xu taken at her birthday banquet last year, her memories stirred by the sight.
Tang Xiaomin felt regret over Tang Xu's death.
Especially since Zhang Meiyu had lost a son to save her.
Tang Xiaomin sat down in the seat opposite Zhang Meiyu.
"I personally sent him off on his final journey. If nothing unexpected happens, he has already gone through reincarnation and become a new life."
Zhang Meiyu placed the photo back on the coffee table in front of her. Because she had cried so much, her eyes were blurred, and she let go of the photo before she could steady it.
It was about to fall to the floor when Tang Xiaomin, with quick reflexes, caught it, thus averting the accident.
"Sigh," Zhang Meiyu sighed.
"I think I'm truly too tired and need to rest."
"Xiaomin, Tang Xu wasn't killed by you. He harbored no regrets about his end, so you don't need to feel burdened."
Zhang Mingming, Zhang Meiyu, was the one most heartbroken. Yet, at this moment, she was comforting Tang Xiaomin instead.
She was the one who most needed comfort.
At this moment, Tang Xiaomin was touched, feeling the maternal care from her mother.
The same was true for Zhang Meiyu. The more so, the more guilty Tang Xiaomin felt.
"If it weren't to save me, Tang Xu wouldn't have ended up like that. This matter is my fault."
It was rare for Tang Xiaomin to admit fault. With her strength, she didn't need to admit fault to anyone. She would rather fight someone, even if it meant fighting to the death, rather than admit fault.
Her bones were that hard, her disposition that stubborn.
Zhang Meiyu seemed to see the gentle and quiet Tang Xiaomin from the beginning.
"Xiaomin, Tang Xu killed you once, and now he died saving you. It's as if all of this was fated. He sowed what he reaped, and now he's getting the fruit. It's all destiny."
"Mom has never blamed you, not even for a second."
"Such is fate, you need not blame yourself."
Self-blame?
Perhaps there was some.
If she hadn't been drunk, if she hadn't gone onto the main road.
If she had dealt with Zhang Gu'er properly from the start, perhaps things wouldn't have turned out this way.