Heavenly Era, Year 55.

Holy City: Su Luoluo, age 69; Yi Zhongyu, age 72; Li Yuxuan, age 78; Xia Jiawen, age 82; Zhai Xing, age 89; Shangqing, age 91.

Holy City: Lin Yunting passed away from illness at 83; Blanche passed away from illness at 79.

...

Ocean City.

"Extra! Extra! Breaking news!! The Kingdom's greatest navigator Su Xiaobai is retiring! The Lighthouse is now sealed!" The newsboy's cries echoed through the streets.

As the day turned to dusk, the newsboy finished selling papers and walked home with a few copper coins, only to be suddenly dragged into an alley by several people.

"Don't take it! Don't take it! Please... I haven't eaten in days..." The newsboy retreated repeatedly but couldn't stop the burly thugs, who beat him up and snatched the few copper coins he had left.

He sat up from the ground, sobbed a few times, and staggered out. As he got closer to the village, the peach trees grew densely, and a red brick house lay deep in the peach grove, like a paradise on earth.

At that moment, a young man was sitting on a chair in front of the house, basking in the sun. Without a veil, his full head of black hair was visible, with light pink petals falling on his forehead, and a pale soft blanket draped over him.

The newsboy looked at the young man for two or three seconds, holding his breath.

"Um... hello, this is your weekly paper," the newsboy softly handed over the newspaper.

Su Ming'an then picked up the veil and covered his face.

"It's okay, I've been delivering your newspaper for almost a year, I had already guessed you were Captain Su Xiaobai. You've hidden away here, not worried about food or clothing, still so young... It's easy to guess who you are." The newsboy lowered his head: "You don't have to wear the veil, I won't stare."

This Captain Su Xiaobai, known throughout the kingdom for nearly twenty years, is the most legendary navigator; every treasure he returned from voyages made this place the strongest kingdom nearby. It's said he ushered in a new era, prompting people to chase the trails of sea monsters and mermaids, sparking a wave of nautical adventure.

He never encountered storms and never lost to pirates, seemingly blessed by a high deity. Some even say he is an Ocean Angel incarnate.

But, unfortunately, he retreated bravely in his prime, along with his deputy captain Shuangshuang. Although considering the timeframe, he is indeed not young anymore. Yet rumors say... this Ocean Angel does not age, despite the veil, his hands remain tender like a young man's.

This made people increasingly curious, but they couldn't find the traces of this legendary navigator after his retreat.

The newsboy secretly lifted his head and vaguely glimpsed a pair of indifferent black eyes.

At this moment, Yuanyuan came out of the house, her head down, still playing a game until she bumped into Su Ming'an's back, only then did she let out an "ah" and covered her head.

"Don't play on your phone while walking," Su Ming'an supported her, her steps faltered a bit, a few strands of silver floating in the air.

"Hmm?"

"I said, don't play on your phone while walking," Su Ming'an repeated. Her hearing was already quite poor, always unable to hear sounds: "Before, you were still reading comics late at night, your eyesight is getting worse, you need to sleep well after midnight..."

They were heroes of the Kingdom, a grand ducal estate situated inside the Royal City. Yet, they chose to reside in this ordinary village, not living by the rhythm of sunrise and sunset, relying on trips to town for food and clothing, lying on chairs playing phone games and reading comics daily. Whenever Yuanyuan felt like it, she'd cultivate a few flowers, plant a patch, though most would not survive.

If they truly embraced the idyllic life of farming and weaving, they probably couldn't grow a single grain. Yuanyuan even joked this was modern survival skills; apart from grabbing the phone, there was only buying and buying.

"Although Du gave you unlimited hotspots, you can't play from morning till night. I thought you withdrew from seafaring to experience a simple farming life, but instead, you're home all day playing games..."

"Once I finish the daily quests, I won't play anymore. By the way, there are still comics in my room..." Yuanyuan's eyelids didn't lift.

"It's been years, you've read them several times."

"You don't get it, some comics need to be savored to be appreciated..."

They exchanged several rounds of dialogue before Yuanyuan noticed the newsboy, she frowned: "Ah... he heard everything."

The newsboy was somewhat dazed: "What are you talking about? What hotspot?"

Yuanyuan cast a glance at the child, suddenly saying: "By the way, Xiaobai, didn't you say you were tired of going to town for supplies? This newsboy has been delivering papers to us for a year, seems alright, why not let him run errands for us?"

Su Ming'an's fingers slightly tensed.

This was merely a way to frame aging. It wasn't about running back and forth being tiring, but rather... he felt his body was beginning to experience leg and foot difficulties. Including Yuanyuan as well...

"Great! I promise to complete the tasks!" the newsboy, upon hearing this, flushed with excitement, as if assuming a major responsibility.

"Don't go yet, I'll apply some medicine for you." Yuanyuan fetched the medical kit to help the newsboy apply medicine.

The newsboy stared at Su Ming'an, his face slightly reddening.

Yuanyuan glanced: "Kai, that's Big Brother, not Big Sister. Although he wears a veil, you know he's the captain, shouldn't mistake him."

The newsboy sheepishly scratched his face: "No... No."

"How old are you this year?"

"Twelve."

"Twelve... not attending school yet?"

"I have no relatives... always running errands for people, nowhere to live."

"Seems like, despite the Kingdom's wealth, the lower tiers remain like this; still those who can't eat enough."

"No... No, the uncles and aunties on the street are kind, offering meals. Ginger, the fabric shop owner, she's especially good-hearted, even giving blankets when I sleep under the bridge."

Yuanyuan's fingers paused, perhaps "sleeping under the bridge" evoked a response, she suddenly lifted her gaze to Su Ming'an: "Xiaobai, I've noticed he's often bruised. With him now helping us, why don't we adopt him? This way, it's more reassuring, preventing the possibility of him revealing our residence."

"Your body aged, but not your soul, yet you truly act like an elder, considering adopting kids." Su Ming'an's gaze remained fixed on the book in hand: "If that's your wish, of course, I respect it. Ask him if he's willing."

He considered it Yuanyuan's impulsive goodwill, given she had done many charitable acts over the years, including founding welfare homes, supporting children's education... Seeing someone more unfortunate now likely reminded her of her own past, suffering from domestic violence. Had she met a benevolent adult in her childhood, her pain might have lessened.

The newsboy, having wandered the world for long, finally encountered someone willing to accept him. He immediately kneeled on one knee, vowed to Yuanyuan, promising to always remember her kindness.

Su Ming'an provided money, instructing the newsboy to find a school, treating it as an investment for a local helping hand when Yuanyuan could no longer manage.

After the newspaper boy left, filled with gratitude, Su Ming'an looked at Yuanyuan's white hair: "...You still haven't used the Life Authority? Chao Yan always remained young; you can return to youth now too."

"You can't understand my desire to experience aging. Don't worry, when I really reach the critical point, the Life Authority will activate." Yuanyuan shifted the topic: "What we should worry about now is you. It seems your body is aging faster than mine, aren't you going to seek a deity to exchange your body?"

"Can't go back too often, lest Shadow notices." Su Ming'an sipped his tea, assessing his physical state: "I'll go back to change when it's really not usable."

They sat beneath the peach blossom trees. These trees were all planted by Su Ming'an, and by now, they were lush with branches and leaves, the spring breeze sweeping across a sky full of spring light.

He held a book on "On the New World," and she held a "Comic Party," quietly drinking tea and reading. Gradually, gradually... for some reason, she felt her eyelids grow heavier.

The peach blossoms in the sky fell upon her eyelids, her eyelashes fluttered briefly, and then she suddenly felt the world spinning...

"...Yuanyuan, Yuanyuan?"

Su Ming'an's voice startled her; she had slumped onto the stone table. She dazedly lifted her head, only to realize some blood had trickled from her mouth, and a ringing in her ears left her almost unable to hear.

Su Ming'an carried her back inside, placing her on the bed: "What's good about being an elderly person, full of ailments, frequently fainting... You've experienced it this once, next time, live well as a young person."

"You don't understand..." She lay by the bed and soon fell asleep. Recently, her sleeping time had been increasing; she would nod off after just a short while awake.

Su Ming'an hadn't looked intently at her face for a long time, but it was quiet now.

[When people grow old, they develop many wrinkles and spots. No matter how beautiful someone was when young, everyone looks the same once they are old...] This was something Yuanyuan said twenty years ago. He couldn't remember many details, yet he just happened to remember this sentence.

Just like now, wrinkles climbed up her brows, blotches painted her cheeks, and her lips began to lose color.

But looking at her like this, he didn't have any concept of "she's already old." Since becoming an Observer, she has stepped into the ranks of the Longevity Species; essentially, she can't be considered a Zhai Star Human, but rather exists between the Low Dimension and High Dimensions. For her long years, a few decades meant nothing, even if she experienced the aging of mortals, it didn't mean she truly aged.

Of course... visually, he realized, so she aged, in this manner.

"...Actually, I understand." Su Ming'an whispered to himself: "For you... it's really... decades, after all..."

He reached out, trying to smooth the wrinkles on her face.

He suddenly understood why she insisted on experiencing aging; it was to fill her own life. Without these years, he might never have witnessed her current appearance.

She had filled in what was missing for him.

He stood there for a long time.

The peach blossoms fell, resting on the window sill.

...

Year 57 of the Heavenly Era.

Above the currents of the West Sea, a few cannon shots rang out; in the distance, a realm created powerful tools, driving iron beasts to shuttle along the coasts of various nations, the shadow of the ironclad ships cast over the great Kingdoms, symbolizing new upheaval and shifts in power dynamics.

The markers of civilizational conflict shattered the balance of fifty years, forcing the Kingdom of Celt to face an unprecedented challenge. The people of the Kingdom of Celt, unafraid of the threat of invaders, built walls and iron weapons, adopting new technologies and thoughts through reform.

The third Queen, Loriyati, held multiple speeches to reassure the populace. News alerting of foreign threats traveled swiftly, reaching even the remote villages.

"Ming'an... Ming'an!" Yuanyuan shook Su Ming'an who was on the bed.

Su Ming'an opened his eyes, his entire body seemingly frozen, only managing to sit up after a while.

"I called you so many times... and you wouldn't wake up." Yuanyuan tightly held his cold hand: "Is your body nearing its limit?"

"The body can last a few more years, it's alright, to me that's very soon." Su Ming'an held his forehead: "It's just that I've troubled you, having to face a weak me."

He suddenly found it funny. He used to laugh at Su Rin for being an old man; now it's his turn to have a frail body like an old man's. What goes around comes around. Fortunately, Su Rin wasn't around, otherwise, he would surely come to tease him.

Looking at Yuanyuan with her full head of white hair, he almost seemed to see an image of them walking hand in hand into the sunset... not knowing whether it would be his body that wore out first or her lifespan that would end first.

But for some reason, a heavy premonition weighed increasingly on his heart.

"Little Kai went to school, his grades are quite good." Yuanyuan opened the food box.

"Mm."

"He brought some preserved fruit before, try some, it doesn't taste quite the same as those we've had in those few countries."

"Mm."

Su Ming'an took the preserved fruit, and suddenly, taking advantage, pressed down on Yuanyuan, his expression serious.

Yuanyuan looked at him in astonishment, the preserved fruit in her hand falling to the ground.

"What's wrong?"

"Yuanyuan, honestly tell me..." He coughed several times, staring into her eyes: "Can your Life Authority... really reverse aging for you? No matter how much happiness I accumulate, it would wear out; how could it possibly withstand a thousand years of malice. Did the deity give you any special task? I've wanted to ask this question for a long time, but you always avoided it."

Otherwise, why did the deity say at that time, [If you can't enjoy a happy life, Chao Yan will be your safety net]. That sentence was so cryptic; things can't be that simple.

It was too beautiful, too happy, so happy it made him feel fearful.

Yuanyuan remained silent for a long time, just when Su Ming'an thought she didn't want to answer again, she spoke: "...Yes, the deity did explain something."

Su Ming'an pressed further: "What is it?"

"The deity said, first let you live a happy life, until about a hundred years, take you to the Nine Serenities, see how much evil you can withstand, then multiply it by ten to roughly estimate if it's enough a thousand years later, to determine if this kind of happy vacation is feasible. If not, then I need to..."

Su Ming'an asked: "Need you to do what?"

Yuanyuan sighed, her fingers twisting the blanket, and suddenly said:

"Do you know where Chao Yan went?"

Su Ming'an paused, but still answered: "The deity said, Chao Yan went to a safe place to sleep, leaving the Life Authority for you."

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