The only way to reach dawn is to endure ten hours of darkness.
Now, the morning light breaks, and the darkness recedes.
The day has finally broken.
The sun rises as usual.
In Xuanzhu County after the storm, the air is filled with a fresh scent, the cool sea breeze gently caresses, smoothing out all the unevenness.
Maybe some people have disappeared, but the things they loved will continue forever.
This long-abandoned mansion once again welcomes its mistress.
Click-clack.
Passing through the yard to the bedroom door, Mu Qingmei raised her hand to knock, but her body stopped involuntarily. An inexplicable sense of nervousness gripped her heart like an invisible hand.
Firstly, she did not bring good news.
Secondly, she didn't know how to face the person inside.
Until last night, she had always thought of herself as the strongest in Xuanzhu County. Although the Dongyang Public House had Mr. Copper-Iron who had reached the Peak of Perfection, she never felt the need to confront them head-on. After all, no matter how strong a martial artist is, they're still just human. Humans can be defeated, and she wasn't scared at all.
The result was that when Mr. Iron attacked, she not only couldn't delay him, but even her self-defense depended on whether he intended to kill.
Useless.
A big useless person.
A worthless steel scrap.
Although Mu Qingmei never boasted in front of them, Yin Minghong had kept her in the inner circle, hoping she could protect their safety.
But she couldn't do anything.
Instead, she shamelessly survived.
The person who shouldn't have died, yet...
"Is it Qing Mei? Come in."
The voice from the room interrupted Mu Qingmei's low mood. She took a deep breath, patted her face to maintain a calm expression, and pushed the door open.
The bright morning light streamed through the windows, shining on the double bed with two pillows. The air was filled with a fresh and elegant scent, and the room's decorations had a lazy and casual charm. The wind chimes swung, emitting an ethereal tune. The girl sitting at the desk turned and smiled calmly at her.
"You're prettier than when you're at work," she said with a smile.
Mu Qingmei blushed. At work in the newspaper office, she used Combat Technique to temporarily alter her facial muscles to disguise herself, and would revert after work to guard against unknown surveillance. Now that everything was laid bare, she no longer needed to bother with such disguises.
But hearing Qing Lan's words, much of the tension and unease in her heart dissipated instantly. She bounced over and said, "Qing Lan, sister, you haven't slept yet... huh? What are you writing?"
"Well, I couldn't get used to it, and I couldn't fall asleep lying down..." Qing Lan had no intention of hiding it, generously showing Mu Qingmei her work: "Come over and see if I missed anything?"
Mu Qingmei thought Qing Lan was just not used to the bed, so she paid it no mind. She pulled up a chair and sat beside her, and upon looking down, she was stunned.
"Early May, Yinyin Yin met Xuanzhu White Night for the first time"
"Mid-May, Yinyin Yin met Xuanzhu White Night for the second time"
"Early June, Yinyin Yin and White Night conspired to set Half City on fire"
"Mid-June..."
What was written were records of repeated collaborations between Yinyin Yin and Xuanzhu White Night.
"Qing Lan, sister, why..."
"I'm just afraid I'll forget," Qing Lan picked up the ink pen and gently asked, "Is there any other omission?"
Mu Qingmei blinked, dumbfounded as she looked at Qing Lan.
Actually, she had vaguely anticipated this last night, but Wen Hong had declared a conclusive statement in front of her, and most importantly, Zhengwei had maintained the beautiful story even until the last moment, so she forced herself not to consider this possibility.
That absurd, comical, and laughable possibility.
She suddenly took Qing Lan's hand and said, "Let's quickly restore the operations of the newspaper office these days, and try to publish the report on Chairman Jing in the next issue, okay?"
"Report what?"
"Report that Chairman Jing is Yinyin Yin, who has been secretly helping White Night—"
"Besides you guys, who else would know the name Yinyin Yin?" Qing Lan withdrew her hand and shook her head. "Now everyone has finally overthrown the Silver Blood Association, and you want to tell them that the chairman of Silver Blood was actually helping them all along... The solidarity they've painstakingly built can't be broken so easily."
"Unless..." Qing Lan's eyes suddenly sparkled brightly, "You're here to tell me good news."
Facing Qing Lan's seemingly talking eyes, Mu Qingmei suddenly felt unable to meet her gaze. She pretended to be seriously looking at the "Yinyin Yin Task List" and shifted her view, saying, "Thanks to the heavy rain early this morning, the fire in the inner city has been mostly extinguished, and the outer city was basically unaffected."
"Then what about the people in the inner city?" Qing Lan asked worriedly, "Could it be..."
"White Night has already organized a workers' guard team to maintain order, on one hand detaining the powerful and wealthy merchants and landlords who need to be judged, on the other, protecting their safety."
Mu Qingmei assured, "The outlet for vengeance has already ended. After sunrise, White Night has already been restoring order, letting everyone go home to rest and prepare for work. Those who deserve punishment will get it, and the innocent will receive appropriate treatment."
"Qing Mei, I want to expand the reporters' department," Qing Lan suddenly said. "He told me before that public opinion is a natural shackle on public power. I trust you, but I don't trust White Night, and I need to witness your sincerity with my own eyes."
Mu Qingmei naturally had no reason to refuse and continued, "Most people in the Silver Blood Association have been brought to justice, except for the Ting Family who sailed away overnight. Other family chambers of commerce have almost not escaped; they were either captured during the organized suppression when guards and servants defected, or they were caught while fleeing, only a very few managed to get away."
Qing Lan suddenly asked, "Where is Silo now?"
"She went to find someone from the Wanghai Prince's residence," Mu Qingmei said, "However, there's a Martial Artist at the Peak of Perfection from the Wanghai Prince's residence, who was the only one to escape from the inner city that night. It seems that the big shots from the Wanghai Prince's residence sneaked into the outer city with him. The city gates are being checked more rigorously now, but they probably won't catch them."
"She..."
"We have people protecting her nearby, don't worry." Mu Qingmei understood Qing Lan's concerns. "When she chose to stand by our side last night, White Night would definitely protect her."
Qing Lan asked some more questions about the newspaper, and after Mu Qingmei answered them one by one, she softly asked, "Then... have you heard any news of him..."
Mu Qingmei was silent for a moment, only speaking when the light in Qing Lan's eyes began to dim, "The good news is we haven't found his body. The bad news is we haven't found him either."
This outcome had clearly exceeded Qing Lan's expectations, and she gently exhaled, "That's good then..."
Mu Qingmei couldn't help but ask, "So there's really no need to clear President Jing's name?"
"He doesn't care about such things." Qing Lan lowered her head, watching as the golden sunlight spilled onto the spotless paper, outlining each word with a dazzling golden edge. "Besides, he really enjoys this drama."
"Before he returns, let's continue acting out this play well."
Mu Qingmei looked at Qing Lan's exquisite and bright expression and suddenly felt as if she should also fall in love... perhaps even a sweet one...
"Oh, right." She suddenly remembered something, "Yin Yin... according to President Jing's agreement with White Night, we were actually supposed to send you to Yanjing, but things are too busy now, and we don't have the manpower."
"After some time, we'll try to retrieve President Jing's assets for you, then send someone to accompany you to Yanjing—"
"No," Qing Lan shook her head, "I won't go to Yanjing."
Mu Qingmei wasn't surprised, "Are you really not going? After White Night took over Dongyang, this is not a safe place. This commission is also for your good..."
"But he taught me to have self-respect, self-love, confidence, and independence, not to live just to survive," Qing Lan looked at her, her face showing no sadness but only a determination like the morning sun, "But to be reborn."
"I will stay here, continue fulfilling my duties as the editor-in-chief of the newspaper, and watch over this land for which he fought, and then..."
"Wait for him to come back."
Mu Qingmei gazed at Qing Lan's gentle and serene expression, and her eyes suddenly turned red as she hugged Qing Lan and rubbed against her.
Qing Lan chuckled helplessly, "I'm not crying, why are you?"
"But, but..."
Mu Qingmei, looking like a crying cat, sniffed, "Your ending shouldn't be like this..."
"It's not the end yet." Qing Lan tapped her forehead, "He said, even death can't separate us. Alright, you go and get busy, I still have to write..."
"No way!" Mu Qingmei wiped her tears and put Qing Lan on the bed, "Look, you've got dark circles, didn't sleep again last night, quickly sleep and recharge!"
"Actually, I don't—"
"Actually, I'm sleepy too." Mu Qingmei yawned, quickly took off her boots, and climbed onto the bed, "I'll rest here for a while too, I'll leave after watching you fall asleep."
Qing Lan felt a little helpless but finally accepted Mu Qingmei's kindness, obediently lying in bed, but after a few seconds, she suddenly said, "Yin Yin..."
"Hmm?"
"Does this name have any special meaning?"
"I don't know much, but it's said to be the name of an assassin." Mu Qingmei replied honestly, "He used to work for White Night but made a huge mistake, and White Night has been searching for him. I don't know why President Jing had to use his name to contact White Night."
Qing Lan murmured, "An assassin... perhaps, that's what he thinks."
Mu Qingmei was taken aback, then couldn't help but smile, "If he is an assassin, then he is... the strongest assassin."
To wield the people as a blade.
To hone the edge with words.
To sheath with White Night.
He only needed to strike once.
To completely disperse the Silver Blood cloud that blanketed the land of Dongyang for over a hundred years.
Suddenly, Mu Qingmei felt that Yin Yin and Jing Zhengwei had a lot in common.
Both had contributed greatly to the people's benefit;
Both had committed considerable transgressions;
And in the end, both disappeared quietly, without a trace...
So what is their difference? Is it that Jing Zhengwei could conclude grandly on the riotous night, whereas Yin Yin could only be buried in an unknown mound?
Suddenly, Mu Qingmei felt a warm figure burrowing into her arms.
She looked down to find Qing Lan had already fallen asleep, but her body naturally turned and leaned on her, her head gently resting against her chest.
Qing Lan's eyelashes slightly trembled, her previously tense face slowly relaxing as she slept sweetly and serenely.
Mu Qingmei blinked, suddenly recalling Qing Lan's earlier words.
'A bit unused to it, can't sleep when I lie down.'
She flicked open the curtain rope from afar, pulling down the curtains to prevent the sunlight from waking up this finally-asleep adorable sister.
Perhaps.
This is the true difference between Jing Zhengwei and Yin Yin.