When Qin Ruqing returned to her dormitory courtyard, she saw someone quietly standing at the door.

The person blended well with the night, silent like a shadow but strangely noticeable.

How could a shadow be so powerful?

Qin Ruqing quickly recognized it was Tang Zifeng.

Her eyes lit up, and her previously heavy steps became light as she walked over.

“Why are you still awake?”

Tang Zifeng looked at Qin Ruqing gently and said briefly, “I heard some noises outside, so I came out to check. I found your door open and you weren’t here. I just waited.”

“Fifth Lingyu knocked on the door in the middle of the night, and they went out to talk privately for a while.” Qin Ruqing didn’t hide anything and stated the facts.

Seeing Tang Zifeng nod, she suddenly turned and, extending her tone, asked:

“Little Tang, did you eavesdrop?”

Qin Ruqing called him Tang Zifeng or Brother Tang when she was serious, but she called him Little Tang when she was happy or playful.

Tang Zifeng pressed his lips together and appeared a bit awkward, saying, “I eavesdropped once before, but not this time.”

Qin Ruqing responded with an “Oh,” deliberately frowned, and showed a hint of annoyance, “Is that so…”

“Because the first time I saw him looking for you, I was worried he might mean you harm or say something to deceive you. Also, I was curious.” He quickly explained, spilling all his reasons, including his own secret curiosity.

Qin Ruqing chuckled, “You’re so honest. I’m not angry; if you eavesdropped, so be it. What’s something you can’t hear?”

Tang Zifeng’s anxious expression froze. Qin Ruqing laughed again.

Having been woken up and with her mind busy, she didn’t want to sleep, so they both sat on the roof.

Qin Ruqing looked up at the moon while Tang Zifeng observed her profile and said confidently, “You have something on your mind.”

“Director Xiling, did Fifth Lingyu tell you something bad?”

Tang Zifeng had always been perceptive, so Qin Ruqing wasn’t surprised.

She smiled and highlighted the key points of the conversation from tonight.

“So, the price you paid before in the small floating island was a promise, and this promise was recorded by him with rules?”

Tang Zifeng spoke in a flat tone, as if he were indifferent.

Qin Ruqing nodded. “He intentionally mixed truth with lies, but I know it’s true.”

Fifth Lingyu was difficult and liked to joke around, but his noble background and arrogance made him too lazy to lie.

He used a joking tone to tease her and see her reaction, but his words were definitely true.

This was what made Qin Ruqing the angriest.

She had always known that dealing with someone from a noble background was like walking a tightrope over a cliff—one wrong move and she’d fall into a deep abyss.

She had never trusted Fifth Lingyu. Although he seemed like a fun person who joked around and was approachable, he actually had all the traits of a higher-up: self-centered, arrogant, and indifferent to others’ lives.

Qin Ruqing always thought he was a dangerous person.

Although dealing with him seemed casual, she was always very cautious.

But she hadn’t expected that from the very beginning, from the moment he made his promise, she had already been schemed against.

“He said the cost is just that he takes half of the inheritance we gain, but I don’t think it’s really that simple.”

What seemed like a “tiny” cost could actually be a “huge” one.

Thinking about this made Qin Ruqing angry again, and she couldn’t help but grind her teeth.

Suddenly, she felt a cool touch on her hand.

Looking down, she saw it was Tang Zifeng’s hand.

His hand was delicate and slender, with neatly trimmed nails.

It was the hand of a refiner.

Tang Zifeng looked at her seriously and said, “Qingqing, don’t be afraid. Rules can be avoided.”

“Rules tied to promises are usually contract-like rules. As long as you have something more powerful than him, you can avoid or even replace those rules.”

Tang Zifeng had learned a lot from Minghua over time.

“You can definitely do it. He’s not as good as you.”

His statement wasn’t just comforting; it was confident.

Qin Ruqing looked at Tang Zifeng’s calm, obsidian-like eyes and suddenly burst into laughter. “I know, so I’m just angry but not too worried.”

“He’s confident in the contract and doesn’t care about spending a little to make me cooperate. After all, noble backgrounds are rich and generous, and they think they’re making a good deal.”

“Ha, I just went along with him and took full advantage!”

“He might think he’s overestimating my appetite and understands me well. But he doesn’t know that my appetite is beyond his imagination!”

“Raising a tiger isn’t just about feeding it a few pieces of meat; you also have to worry about it turning on you one day. Since he’s so confident, let’s see how it goes!”

Tang Zifeng looked at Qin Ruqing warmly. She was always so vibrant.

Full of life, ambition, and energy, her brilliance couldn’t be hidden even in the thick night.

After enjoying her spirited mood for a moment, Tang Zifeng reminded her, “Be careful with the Immortal Tomb.”

“I’ve heard Master Minghua talk about it. She wanted me to get a complete inheritance from the Ruins, but she advised me not to approach the Immortal Tomb.”

“The Immortal Tomb is a burial place for ancient powerful beings. These figures were significant and, even if they have fallen, their legacies and families continue. Moreover, they might not be completely gone.”

After a pause, Qin Ruqing smiled and continued naturally:

“It’s like the vengeful spirits we encountered in the Soul Cave. Even though their bodies are gone, their souls and consciousness still exist. Ancient powers in the Immortal tombs are even more so. These lingering spirits with a trace of consciousness will be kind to their own bloodline, but for those completely unrelated, they won’t be welcoming at all.”

“So, those who enter the celestial tombs must come from ancient and prestigious families. They have the advantage. For people like us, we might be eaten by the spirits as soon as we enter.”

Tang Zifeng nodded; it would be strange if Qin Ruqing didn’t think of these things.

But he added, “They might have methods to avoid vengeful spirits in the Immortal tombs. If you plan to enter the Fifth Family’s domain, pay attention to this.”

Listening to the tone, Qin Ruqing turned her head with a look of surprise in her eyes:

“Tang Zifeng, did you guess I’m going to Penglai Island?”

Tang Zifeng actually smiled slightly: “Why not go? They’re using you, and you’re using them in return, aren’t you?”

“In my words, celestial treasures are the biggest prize of the current age. It would be a waste not to go.”

When he said it would be a waste, he even used Qin Ruqing’s usual tone, slightly raising his voice with enthusiasm and excitement.

With wide eyes, Qin Ruqing looked at him sparklingly.

“Wow, Little Tang, you really understand me!”

Qin Ruqing stood up on the roof, full of excitement, and placed her hands on her hips:

“Celestial training is such a great opportunity. It would be foolish not to go! They’d better underestimate me and keep thinking I’m just a bit capable but nothing special. That way, I can keep taking advantage!”

After her excitement, Qin Ruqing lowered her head, keeping her hands on her hips, and asked a question she’d been curious about all night: “Tang Zifeng, aren’t you worried about me? Although I have high hopes, there’s a big chance I might fail.”

I might even die.

Tang Zifeng looked up at Qin Ruqing, his gaze seeming to lift her up from below.

“I am worried about you. But I think you should rise straight to the top.”

“I’m thinking of maybe creating a magical tool for you so that even if you have to confront the celestial masters, you can still escape smoothly.”

Qin Ruqing felt such a gaze, like being wrapped in gentle, vast sea water—cherished and strong.

She felt a surge of joy and said cheerfully:

“Quickly refine it, quickly! I’m ready to use it! Hahaha!”

After chatting with Little Tang, Qin Ruqing’s frustrations vanished, and she went to bed satisfied.

The next day, she found that the items she needed had already been delivered by the servants of the Celestial Bureau, and Fifth Lingyu didn’t show up.

Qin Ruqing didn’t mind at all.

When she was about to leave, she “coincidentally” ran into Director Feng. Seeing Qin Ruqing, Feng Qinxue smiled, dismissed the attendants, and straightforwardly asked:

“Would you like to stay with the Feng family?”

Qin Ruqing, who was always polite to the people she respected, responded honestly:

“I know my place. Even if I went to the Feng family, I wouldn’t compare to their pearl. Naturally, I’d like to go somewhere that highlights my worth more.”

Wanting to go to a place that highlights her worth was the plain truth.

Feng Qinxue wasn’t offended; in fact, she found it amusing.

“You’re indeed an interesting child,” she said with a twinkle in her eye. “It seems Fifth Lingyu has told you everything?”

Seeing Qin Ruqing’s implied agreement, Feng Qinxue smiled and kindly reminded her:

“I heard you have a good relationship with Fifth Lingyu in Xiling? He’s not as careless as he seems. Don’t trust him too much. Besides, there’s serious internal strife in the Fifth family, with the clan divided into two factions. Being caught in the middle may not be as pleasant as coming to my Feng family.”

“Would you reconsider? If you agree, I can speak to Fifth Lingyu on your behalf.”

Qin Ruqing didn’t feel any turmoil about the idea of being poached.

This beautiful lady seemed more like a seductress.

The offer to poach her seemed more like a casual remark.

She wasn’t concerned about her words, so she just listened without taking it to heart.

Qin Ruqing was more focused on the content of Director Feng’s words.

You two Celestial Families are really at each other’s throats, even taking the time to undermine each other?

Great, keep fighting! Fight hard!

The harder you fight, the less you’ll notice me.

Thinking this, she bowed politely and said, “Thank you, Director Feng, for your kind offer. However, I’m not suited for being a wallflower.”

Feng Qinxue smiled, as if she had expected this, and didn’t press the issue.

After Feng Qinxue left, the Feng family actually sent servants to deliver items to Qin Ruqing—compensation for the assassination attempt she had encountered in the Fragmented Space.

In a way, this was the Feng family’s way of dealing with the Fang family issue quietly.

Qin Ruqing opened the modest box and found that it contained a spatial magic tool filled with numerous items.

Qin Ruqing raised an eyebrow and exclaimed, “These are all good things, very nice!”

With two sets of items, Qin Ruqing accepted everything without hesitation and felt no psychological burden.

She had never planned to do much with the Fang family, and all her objectives had been met.

Receiving this “compensation” unexpectedly felt like a steady profit.

Qin Ruqing was pleased and said, “I’ve made another big gain.”

After counting her things, she walked out and saw her third sister Qirong and Little Tang already waiting at the door.

They turned around and looked at her as she made a noise.

Qin Ruqing smiled, walked over, and focused on Tang Zifeng, asking a crucial question: “Tang Zifeng, are you going back to the Tang family or…”

Now that the grand event was over, no matter what the next plans were, they had to return to their clan first. After all, the “certificate of honor” and rewards from the event needed to be brought back home!

Tang Zifeng smiled lightly: “I’m going back to the Qin family.”

Returning to the Qin family.

Those words were very meaningful, and even Lu Wei and Qirong caught the implication.

Qirong leaned in and asked, “Brother Tang, are you not leaving this time?”

Lu Wei also seemed to have guessed something, looking at Tang Zifeng with a mix of surprise and delight.

“I’ve already taken care of everything with my clan before leaving.”

It turned out that the Tang family’s qualification and quota for forging were restricted by the Forging Association.

Now that Tang Zifeng had achieved the top rank in the way of forging, all penalties were offset.

He also forged a flying ship capable of crossing the Broken Veins Mountain on behalf of the Tang family, winning first place in the event and bringing home a complete honor for the way of forging.

Now, the Tang family was firmly at the top in Xiling.

He had fulfilled his mother’s wishes and repaid the Tang family’s nurturing.

Tang Zifeng’s gaze moved from Qin Ruqing to Lu Wei and Qirong, his voice relaxed and determined:

“I’ve broken free from my chains.”

Lu Wei once commented that Tang Zifeng’s past and experiences were his chains, like rotting and inflamed flesh from wounds.

To be truly free, he had to cut those chains and remove the rotten flesh.

So, even though Qin Ruqing and the others had returned to the Qin family from Xiling and Tang Zifeng desperately wanted to go with them, he did not.

The chains were not yet broken, and his heart was still troubled; that was avoidance.

Tang Zifeng was never one to avoid things.

He chose to face his past directly and personally cut away all that bound him.

Now, finally free and unburdened, she could head towards her heart’s desire.

It felt like all the tangled lines had finally formed a perfect circle.

After hearing this, Qin Ruqing’s eyes softened.

She walked over to Tang Zifeng and embraced him, knowing that only a hug could express her feelings.

With her cheek against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, Qin Ruqing said seriously:

“Congratulations, Little Tang.”

Calling him “Little Tang” felt more fitting for such a joyful occasion, so she said it with excitement!

Feeling the soft hair brushing her cheek and being close to a slender but strong body, Tang Zifeng hugged her back with a gentle yet firm embrace.

He closed his eyes, his heart filled with many emotions.

The hug was brief, and after they parted, Qin Ruqing, glowing with happiness, clenched her fist and said, “Great, I’ve made a huge profit!”

Though the words were somewhat vague, everyone understood.

Years of hard work had honed her skills, and now, bringing back a master refiner to the clan was a significant gain.

Lu Wei and Qi Rong were also amused.

Lu Wei stepped forward to hug Tang Zifeng and said softly, “Brother Tang, congratulations!”

When it was Qi Rong’s turn, he patted Tang Zifeng’s back, making a loud noise, and said, “We can finally reunite!”

The team was finally back together.

“Yoshi!” Qin Ruqing called out, “Let’s go home!”

They had achieved so much and gained so many treasures at the conference; they had to go home and show off.

As the huge red sun cast four vibrant silhouettes, they were:

Red as fire; Purple as dawn; Black as the mountains; White as the clouds.

The fiery figure in the middle declared with excitement:

“Let’s go!”

It was both a return home and a new beginning.