After leaving the Guiyuan Sword Sect, Qiao Xuan leisurely roamed the mountains and waters before returning to Xuanhe Valley.

Xue Ming didn’t ask what Qiao Xuan had been up to. Every day, it lazily basked in the sun, while Qiao Xuan grew more comfortable with its company, often lying on Xue Ming’s back, daydreaming or casually petting the dog.

The days passed simply and pleasantly.

Three days flew by in the blink of an eye.

That evening, Qiao Xuan suddenly spoke, “Let’s set off.”

Xue Ming stood up and shook its fur, its deep voice rumbled, “Where to?”

Qiao Xuan glanced at it with a smile, “To the final seal.”

As for where the last seal was, Qiao Xuan already had an idea. He knew Xuanhe Valley like the back of his hand, and if the seal were anywhere, it would be there…

In the center of Xuanhe Valley stood a mountain peak, the main vein of the valley. At the base of the mountain was a cave, the only place in the valley Qiao Xuan had never been. His master had never allowed him to go there, claiming it was his retreat.

At the time, Qiao Xuan didn’t care.

Looking back now, it seemed like just an excuse to keep him away.

Everything was prepared, and this day was inevitable. There was no point in delaying further.

With Qiao Xuan on its back, Xue Ming walked through the night, arriving at the base of the mountain. The stone door of the cave was tightly shut, but Qiao Xuan didn’t move forward. He stopped in his tracks, as he saw Shu Chen sitting in front of the door.

Qiao Xuan squinted slightly.

Shu Chen opened his eyes, stared at Qiao Xuan for a moment, and stood up. “You still came.”

Qiao Xuan wasn’t surprised. He raised an eyebrow with a smile, “Have you been sitting here this whole time? What if I didn’t come? Or came years later? Wouldn’t you be bored out of your mind?”

Shu Chen’s gaze darkened, and he said solemnly, “I promised Senior Brother to protect the seal. I won’t let you mess around.”

Qiao Xuan stared at him for a long moment, then suddenly sighed and said with emotion, “I remember back when we were in the Nanyue Kingdom… it was only three years ago, really. You were so cold and indifferent back then, like nothing in the world mattered to you—void of emotions, even if everyone in the world died, you wouldn’t bat an eye. Day in, day out, you talked about the laws of the heavens and fate. You didn’t care about saving the world, let alone the people around you. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have watched me walk to my death without any reaction…”

Shu Chen fell silent, his gaze dim.

Some people and things, once missed, are missed forever.

Qiao Xuan shrugged and smiled. “Honestly, I didn’t understand you at the time. I couldn’t figure you out. But now, I think I get it a little… You couldn’t stop what you wanted to stop, couldn’t keep the person you wanted to stay. Even if you lived a thousand years, it wouldn’t matter. After a long time, you’d just accept it, right? If it were me, would I have done better? So I never blamed you.”

Shu Chen was startled and looked up in surprise. His expression was conflicted and full of sorrow, but he said nothing.

Qiao Xuan smiled brightly at him, his gaze firm and unwavering, “But I’ve thought it through now. I don’t want to end up like you. So, no matter what, I want to give it a try. At least that way, I won’t regret it later, don’t you think?”

Shu Chen stood there, and suddenly, he let out a bitter laugh.

Yes, of course, he understood. If it were him, and someone told him he had a chance to change everything, wouldn’t he seize that slim hope too? Wouldn’t he risk it all, even his life?

Even he couldn’t do what he was asking of Qiao Xuan.

He had become nothing more than a walking corpse because he had no other choice.

But Qiao Xuan… Qiao Xuan still had a chance.

Even if that chance was faint.

He had no right to stop him.

And, after all these years… Senior Brother had carried everything on his shoulders. Last time, Shu Chen could only watch helplessly as everything happened. Was he really going to stand by and let it happen again in this life? Was he truly willing?

No.

Shu Chen took a deep breath and stepped aside. “I’ll take a gamble with you.”

Qiao Xuan grinned, “Alright.”

Shu Chen waved his hand, and the stone door slowly opened.

Qiao Xuan, with Xue Ming beside him, walked inside. Just then, he heard someone call his name from behind.

Turning around, he saw his master, dressed in white as pure as snow, his silver hair flowing like a waterfall. His master looked at him with gentle eyes and softly said, “Xuan’er.”

Qiao Xuan smiled, “Master, are you here to stop me?”

I’ve always listened to you.

But this time, I’m afraid I’ll disappoint you.

Taichu shook his head, his voice calm, “No.”

Qiao Xuan looked surprised.

Taichu gazed at him with a faint smile, a trace of helplessness in his eyes. He softly said, “I know you’re upset that I didn’t tell you… But in the end, this is something you must decide for yourself.”

He raised his hand, gently pressing a finger to Qiao Xuan’s forehead.

Qiao Xuan blinked in confusion, and suddenly, everything in front of him blurred.

………………

Qiao Xuan shook his head, blinking his eyes. When his vision cleared, he was shocked!

This wasn’t the quiet mountain cave or the serene valley of green grass and fresh air.

He was sitting on a gray leather sofa, in front of a minimalist marble coffee table. On the table was a glass vase, and beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows was a stylish courtyard…

This was his home on Earth.

And in his hand, he held a phone, mid-game, playing familiar music.

Qiao Xuan tried to move but quickly realized he couldn’t control this body. He understood that this wasn’t a new world but his own memories. Everything had already happened. Now, he was merely a spectator.

Like watching an old movie.

He looked around. These memories felt distant, almost foreign, as they had faded over time.

It had been over a thousand years since he left this place.

So much had happened during that time, and the memories of his past life had become blurry. Besides… his past life had been so absurd and ridiculous, even his death was accidental. There wasn’t much worth remembering.

Everything long forgotten and meaningless—why did Master want him to remember all of this again?

Qiao Xuan thought hard but couldn’t recall anything special.

Just then, the villa door opened, and a stern-looking middle-aged man walked in. He cast a cold glance at Qiao Xuan on the sofa and said, “Why are you back?”

It took Qiao Xuan a moment to remember that this was his father. His father had always been like this, disapproving of everything Qiao Xuan did. Qiao Xuan rarely returned home, living on his own outside to avoid the unpleasantness. He couldn’t even remember why he came back this time…

Not that it mattered. He didn’t have to answer because this was a memory—he just had to watch.

Qiao Xuan decided to go with the flow, as if he were rewatching the past.

………………

The young man on the sofa put down his phone.

Qiao Xuan grinned, “Dad, aren’t you happy I came back?”

The middle-aged man glanced at him, his tone indifferent, “Qiao Xuan, I can’t control what you do outside, but you should at least remember who you are and show some restraint.”

Qiao Xuan didn’t bother moving, lounging in the sofa, and impatiently smiled, “I know, I know. I’m always careful. It’s just that I like men—what’s the big deal? Besides, I’m not planning to take over the company. Even if there’s a bit of gossip, it won’t affect the company, so you can relax. Come on, it’s modern times, open your mind a bit. You’re starting to sound like an old relic…”

The middle-aged man didn’t smile. His eyes turned stern, “You’re my only son. Everything you do reflects on the Qiao family’s reputation. How can I trust you when you’re like this? I’ve told you before, settle down, and I’ll arrange a position for you in the company. You’re not young anymore, it’s time for you to get some experience…”

Qiao Xuan impatiently interrupted, smirking, “No thanks, I can’t handle that kind of confinement. Clocking in every day sounds like a nightmare. I’m fine the way things are.”

The middle-aged man gave him a disappointed look, said no more, and walked away, frustrated.

Qiao Xuan mumbled under his breath, so quietly only he could hear, “Just your official only son, huh…”

Why did he even come back?

As expected, nothing but disappointment.

Boring. He might as well go out and have some fun.

Just as he was about to call someone, his phone rang. A cheerful voice came through, “Qiao Shao, we’ve got the place booked, just waiting for you. When are you coming?”

Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up, “I’m on my way.”

He cheerfully drove his sports car to the venue.

Before long, Qiao Xuan arrived at an upscale club. In one of the dimly lit private rooms, a group of people were singing. When they saw Qiao Xuan, a young man immediately waved him over, “Hey, you finally made it! We’ve got a surprise for your birthday.”

The young man was Xu Zhen, one of Qiao Xuan’s good friends. Xu Zhen laughed as he pushed a handsome man toward Qiao Xuan, patting his shoulder with a suggestive grin, “Your job tonight is to keep Qiao Shao company.”

The handsome man smiled softly and raised his glass to Qiao Xuan, “Qiao Shao, my name is Mo Yuanning. Cheers.”

Qiao Xuan squinted at the man. Wasn’t he that up-and-coming star from a popular web drama? It seemed Xu Zhen had some connections… Mo Yuanning looked good, just his type. Xu Zhen knew him well. Qiao Xuan raised his glass and downed it in one gulp.

That was a sign of interest.

Mo Yuanning had a great sense of humor and could hold his liquor. Despite it being his first time with the group, he blended in quickly, chatting easily with everyone.

Qiao Xuan drank a lot that night.

As the toasts were exchanged, someone nearby joked, “You know who I ran into the other day? That Zhang kid. Compared to Qiao Shao, he’s so out of his league. Not even worthy to shine your shoes, haha…” Qiao Xuan’s expression turned cold.

Xu Zhen quickly noticed the shift, giving the guy a push and scolding him, “Hey, today’s Qiao Shao’s birthday! Don’t ruin the mood with nonsense. Forget about those outsiders.”

The guy froze, realizing his mistake. He awkwardly slapped himself lightly and apologized, “I’ve had too much. I’ll punish myself with three drinks.”

Qiao Xuan suddenly smiled, “It’s fine.”

After all, those illegitimate children of Old Qiao weren’t exactly a secret. No point in hiding it… But as the guy said, they were nobodies, no threat to him. No matter how wild and reckless Qiao Xuan got, none of them could even dream of taking what wasn’t theirs…

Qiao Xuan raised his glass, “Come on, let’s keep drinking.”

Mo Yuanning glanced sideways at him, gently holding his wrist, “You’ve had enough…”

Qiao Xuan nonchalantly shook off his hand and downed another glass.

………………

The next morning, Qiao Xuan woke up in the suite of the club, his head throbbing. He had no idea how he got back—he must have blacked out.

He stumbled into the living room, surprised to find Mo Yuanning still there. Mo Yuanning turned to him with a gentle smile, “Good morning, Qiao Shao.”

Qiao Xuan blinked, a little dazed. He hadn’t expected Mo Yuanning to still be around. He stared at Mo Yuanning’s handsome face… After a moment of thought, he smiled, “How about adding me on WeChat?”

Mo Yuanning met his gaze, a small smile playing on his lips, “Sure.”

Some things didn’t need to be said outright. Mo Yuanning clearly understood the game. After all, it was just a mutually beneficial arrangement.

After exchanging contacts, Mo Yuanning left for an appointment.

Qiao Xuan casually saved Mo Yuanning’s name in his phone and then leisurely headed out for lunch.

A month flew by.

During this time, Qiao Xuan met with Mo Yuanning a few more times. A new lover was always exciting, and Mo Yuanning was good company. It was a nice way to pass the time… But sometimes Qiao Xuan couldn’t help but wonder how long this interest would last.

He was never able to stay interested in one person for too long. Maybe he really was someone who got bored easily.

Or maybe he was just too bored.

Always looking for something new and thrilling.

That’s probably what the boring life of a rich heir was like.

One day, Qiao Xuan and Mo Yuanning arranged to meet at a café. As soon as he walked in, his gaze drifted to the window seat on the right, and he froze for a moment.

By the window sat an extraordinarily handsome man.

He wore a white shirt and gray jacket, simple and clean. His head was slightly turned, and his cold, aloof face was flawless… Anyone next to him would undoubtedly pale in comparison.

Qiao Xuan had seen his fair share of beautiful people—countless attractive faces in the entertainment industry—but he had never seen someone so stunning.

Words couldn’t even begin to describe it.

He didn’t remember how he walked away. Even after sitting down, he was still in a daze.

So much so that when Mo Yuanning arrived, Qiao Xuan was completely absent-minded.

Mo Yuanning took off his sunglasses and waved a hand in front of Qiao Xuan’s face, smiling, “Qiao Shao, what are you thinking about?”

Qiao Xuan snapped out of it and looked at the person in front of him.

Up until today, he had thought Mo Yuanning was quite good-looking, interesting to be around, and a decent companion. But now, he found him utterly dull. On closer thought, it had already been over a month…

Qiao Xuan tapped his fingers on the table, smiling, “I’ve enjoyed our time together. If there’s anything you want, feel free to ask.”

Mo Yuanning’s smile faded slowly, “I…”

Qiao Xuan smiled, “I heard from Xu Zhen that you’re vying for a role. If you want it, I can help you.”

Over the years, even though he’d been messing around and getting scolded by Old Qiao for not being serious, he had a good eye for investment. He’d made quite a bit from the film industry and had some connections. Helping Mo Yuanning get a role wouldn’t be hard.

Because Qiao Xuan was always generous, despite his wild ways, he had a good reputation. Many people were willing to be close to him.

Mo Yuanning hesitated, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back. In the end, he just said, “Thank you, Qiao Shao.”

Qiao Xuan smiled, “You’re welcome.”

After lunch, Mo Yuanning left quickly.

Qiao Xuan didn’t mind. He took a deep breath and casually glanced back at the window seat. The man was still there.

Normally, Qiao Xuan wouldn’t approach someone he didn’t know, especially someone so mysterious.

After all, there were plenty of people eager to approach him.

He liked to play but didn’t like to make the first move.

But this time…

If he didn’t do something, he’d definitely regret it, right?

Life is short, and you should enjoy it while you can. For someone this beautiful, why not make the first move?

With that thought, Qiao Xuan stood up and walked over.

The man sensed someone approaching and raised his head to glance at Qiao Xuan.

Their gazes met, and Qiao Xuan found himself looking into the man’s light-colored eyes. His gaze wasn’t sharp, just calm and detached as he looked at Qiao Xuan… But for some reason, Qiao Xuan’s throat tightened, and he felt a sudden wave of nervousness.

But, after all, hadn’t Qiao Shao faced plenty of challenges before?

It was just a simple conversation, no big deal.

Qiao Xuan cleared his throat, flashed a slight smile, and pulled out his business card, “Hello.”

Even though Old Qiao saw him as a spoiled, carefree second-generation heir, Qiao Xuan still had a proper job—a director at a well-known film investment company.

Usually, he didn’t make much of it. The company was just something he and his friends set up for fun. But today, he suddenly thought it might come in handy.

“You’ve got a great look. Have you ever considered a career in entertainment?” Qiao Xuan smiled.

It wasn’t entirely a lie. With looks like his, the man would instantly overshadow most of the current stars.

The man shook his head, his expression indifferent.

Rejected… But Qiao Xuan wasn’t surprised. With such stunning looks, if the man had any interest in entertainment, he wouldn’t have a hard time breaking in.

But that wasn’t really Qiao Xuan’s point. It was just an excuse to strike up a conversation. He put the business card away, smiled confidently, and extended his hand, “My name is Qiao Xuan. Do I have the honor of getting to know you?”

The man paused, then after a moment, extended his hand as well. His thin lips parted, and he uttered two cool, quiet words, “Chu Yun.”