But because the material was harder than ordinary metal, that wooden sword had never broken.

If Bea hadn't mentioned it, he wouldn't have known it was from this kind of tree.

Beatrice sighed and said:

"It's said that if no one cuts it down, the Bitpala can live for ten thousand years."

"In the North, Bitpala has another meaning."

"Bitpala can live for ten thousand years, just like my love for you."

Beatrice gently stroked the trunk and added:

"In the North, if a couple marries and loves each other until death, their children will plant this kind of tree over their grave."

"It's to pray that their parents, after leaving this world, can still embrace each other in the afterlife."

Louis nodded.

The two walked deeper into the forest and quickly arrived at the clearing.

They saw a chair in the heart-shaped clearing.

"It seems we aren't the only unexpected visitors here."

Louis looked at Beatrice and said:

"The cleanliness of this wooden chair suggests someone has been taking care of it regularly."

Beatrice said, "They must be very skilled, at least a landmark-level expert."

"Considering the height of the Bitpala here, it must have been growing for at least 100 years."

"The one who sits in this clearing should be the one who planted the tree."

"Taking into account the usual marriage age and the time they spent together, at least add another 20 years."

"120 years, this is not something anyone below a landmark-level can casually touch."

Louis shook his head and said:

"No need to guess, look here."

Beatrice walked over and saw a gravestone on the ground.

There were a few lines of small characters on the gravestone.

"I met Xilin here"

"We married the same year, happily in love, accompanying each other through spring planting and autumn harvest"

"5 years later, Xilin still left me"

"I ultimately couldn't bring her back to life, if I had taken that step earlier, would things have been different"

"I returned here and planted this farm with 7,000 Bitpala, leaving the center in the shape of a heart"

"Every day thereafter, I became accustomed to walking here alone"

"In this deepest, unknown to outsiders place, sitting on the chair in the middle of the heart"

"And the direction this heart points is where we fell in love and parted in death"

Beatrice was stunned for a moment, subconsciously looking towards the direction the heart-shaped clearing pointed.

"Lady Xilin's former residence?"

Louis sighed:

"It should be Xilin's husband, right?"

"How wonderful, even though Lady Xilin spent most of her life lacking love."

"At least in the end, someone loved her deeply and engraved their love for her on this land."

What a romantic love story.

It's just that the content of the story is not pleasant to dwell upon.

After all, the end of this story is destined to be a tragedy.

"It seems that the one who has been maintaining this land is Lady Xilin's husband."

Beatrice furrowed her brows and said:

"But it's odd, there are some things that don't make sense."

Louis said:

"Like what?"

Beatrice said:

"If Lady Xilin's husband is still alive, why did his former residence end up in the hands of Viscount Anzi?"

"And as far as I know, Lady Xilin's husband completely disappeared from social circles shortly after she died, suspected to have died too."

Louis shook his head and said:

"Perhaps he had his reasons for staying hidden."

But the love isn't false.

This forest has a single type of tree and not much weed.

It shows that someone regularly comes to flatten the land here.

He could even imagine Lady Xilin's husband quietly sitting in the center of this clearing, reminiscing every happy memory with his lover.

Just thinking about it, it's too painful.

"But, Beatrice." Louis turned his head to look at his lover and said, "We don't need to witness others' love, we'll guard our own love."

He held Beatrice and said:

"Let's go, we shouldn't disturb their peace."

Louis didn't retrieve the hot air balloon, instead used a magic spell to disassemble it in the air.

The two soon left the forest.

Walking in the center of the city of Byron, he felt that time was passing so quickly.

In the blink of an eye, it was already dark.

The two prepared to go back to their room to rest.

As they were about to leave this commercial area, Louis, feeling something, turned his head to look toward the crowd.

A person in a mage's robe, wearing a simple yet elegant gentleman's jacket, was passing through the crowd.

He only caught a glimpse of that side profile.

But even with just that side profile, he immediately recognized the man's identity.

"Lady Xilin's husband?"

Yes.

Even without seeing his full face, that aura and attire couldn't be deceiving.

Louis clicked his tongue in amazement.

Seeing him look so young, this person is probably beyond an entry-level archetype.

A regular archetype couldn't maintain such a youthful appearance at over a hundred years old.

"Louis, Louis, what are you looking at?"

Beatrice's voice came from beside him.

Louis turned to her and said:

"Nothing, I just saw something very interesting."

...

Night gradually deepened.

In the now empty living room of Lady Xilin's old residence, accompanied by a faint glow, a man appeared.

He lifted his head, quietly observing the living room, and murmured to himself:

"I'm back, don't worry, Xilin, it won't be long, it'll be over soon, I promised the Emperor..."

A blade suddenly swung out of the shadows, as a heavily armored Dark Crow Guard attacked mercilessly.

He was the guard stationed at Lady Xilin's residence, meant to prevent uninvited guests from uncovering the secrets of the Cangqing Mechanical Corps.

The archetype level granted him the courage to strike, but the blade tip was halted by a slender finger the moment it descended.

"Shh, we need quiet here."

His lips curved slightly, exuding a roguish charm.

The light of magic glittered at his fingertips, instantly engulfing the Dark Crow Guard.

The pained expression on the Dark Crow Guard's face gradually became calm, his gaze fixed on the young man:

"Emotion magic? Are you from the Love God's dark side?"

The young man's lips curled into a mocking smile:

"How could I be from the Love God's dark side? My sole purpose in surviving is to grant them equal death."

"Little crow, sleep peacefully, I have no desire to clash with the Empire."

"When you wake up, you will remember nothing."

The Dark Crow Guard's eyes gradually dimmed.

Suddenly, another long blade stabbed at him from within the young man's shadow.

But the young man didn't even move.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the effects of emotion magic had already enveloped another Dark Crow Guard.

"Using shadow power in front of me, do you think you are the Emperor?"

He smiled calmly, completely ignoring the two Dark Crow Guards struggling to break free from the magic's effects, as he lay quietly on the living room sofa:

"Xilin..."

He said softly.

But in the next moment, his expression changed slightly, the playful smile slightly restrained:

"This guy is more annoying than a sticky plaster!"

He got up and left the room, quickly reaching the outskirts of the city with the help of magic effects.

He looked coldly at the man in tattered leather armor and said:

"The last embers of the Scorching Sun, do you truly want to go down with me?"

A man dressed in worn-out iron armor, unshaven, stepped out:

"Rudelson's recent deeds warrant my personal intervention."

If Louis were here, he would immediately recognize this man.

Aaron Owen.

A man appearing quite ordinary.

Of course, he had nothing to do with being ordinary.

More people in the outside world knew him by his nickname—

Knight of the Scorching Sun.

Ironically, in today's fallen Eternal Fierce Sun, no one should claim the title of Knight of the Scorching Sun anymore.

But he was different.

Knight of the Scorching Sun was a title bestowed upon him by the outside world.

His blazing light became the final redemption for the Sunset Church.

Aaron looked calmly at the young man and said:

"Lay down your weapons and submit to arrest."

The young man shook his head and said:

"You should be grateful that I don't want to fight here."

Aaron said, "Even if you escape now, you won't hide for long."

The young man snorted softly:

"Then let's give it a try!"

His figure gradually faded away.

Aaron watched the young man's fading figure.

Long before the two met, Aaron had already left.

What remained here was merely a memory imprint, a reflection of that Mage.

"Such a technique... is beyond what an archetype should possess."

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