Since arriving in this world, Mingyue had never revealed her identity as a witch princess from the Great Desolation era to anyone.
Her witchcraft and spatial abilities could be disguised as supernatural powers. After all, in the apocalyptic environment, people were accustomed to such phenomena. With various ability users as comparisons, no one suspected anything, merely thinking her power level was quite high.
However, reincarnation and occupying another's body to revive was too astonishing; it was unlikely anyone would accept it. She feared being seen as a monster and the trouble it might bring. Thus, she had kept this secret, remaining tight-lipped and telling no one.
Ever since establishing a relationship with Ji Shiyou, Mingyue had been conflicted, hesitating whether to confess. Ji Shiyou's confession, describing her as an ancient clear spring, had deeply touched her. Ji Shiyou was unaware she was indeed from ancient times. He said he liked her purity and straightforward personality.
But he didn't know that in her first month in this world, Mingyue was completely clueless. She could only rely on the original owner's identity, living a life confined to work and home, interacting with very few people. She knew nothing of the social customs or ways of handling affairs in this world. Then, the apocalypse broke out. She naturally had no opportunity to experience the deceit and treachery of this world, nor to witness the fickleness of human hearts.
What she possessed was the sincerity and directness forged in the simple world of the Great Desolation. After the apocalypse, she witnessed the myriad aspects of life and the ugliness of human nature, but Ji Shiyou was always by her side. Sometimes, she couldn't help but wonder what she would have experienced in this world with her personality if she hadn't met Ji Shiyou. It was precisely because of Ji Shiyou's silent protection that she could so easily navigate that adaptation period without taking detours.
Therefore, she no longer wanted to hide anything from Ji Shiyou. She wanted to tell him her secret, even if he could no longer hear it. But in Mingyue's heart, Ji Shiyou was always present, behind her, constantly protecting her. It was as if a turn of her head would reveal him standing behind her with a slightly roguish smile, bringing her immense peace.
Holding Ji Shiyou like a lover, Mingyue whispered, revealing all her secrets. After a long while, she waved her hand, and a brilliant crystal coffin appeared. Mingyue carefully controlled the clouds to lift Ji Shiyou's body and placed him inside, then closed the coffin lid.
Her blood-red wedding dress suddenly shattered, the fabric fragments scattering like dancing butterflies. Mingyue was now clad in mourning attire, a white cloth on her head. She lifted the massive crystal coffin with one hand and walked step by step towards the summit of Yunmeng Mountain. Though her heart ached beyond breathing, she shed no tears. She knew that if she cried, Ji Shiyou would be pained. She wanted Ji Shiyou to leave peacefully, to know that she could take care of herself and would not cause him worry even in death.
Large snowflakes began to fall from the sky, formed from Mingyue's tears. Since she could not cry, she transformed her tears into parting snowflakes, wishing the heavens and earth to mourn and bid Ji Shiyou farewell. Everyone followed behind her, wiping away tears, and those who had once been helped by Ji Shiyou cried out loudly.
Reaching the summit of Yunmeng Mountain, the ground was covered in snow. Mingyue pointed with her free hand at the ground. The earth churned and receded, revealing a rectangular grave. Mingyue carefully placed the crystal coffin upright within the grave, cupped some soil in her hands, and sprinkled it onto the coffin. She did not use her powers but chose this method, wanting to bury Ji Shiyou with her own hands.
Wen Qingtian and the other team members came to help. Like Mingyue, they did not use their abilities. Handfuls of soil buried Ji Shiyou's smile within the crystal coffin, until a large tomb appeared. The others bowed deeply to the grave, remaining there for a long time. Ji Shiyou had died protecting the base; all they could do was engrave his memory in their hearts.
Placing the last handful of soil on the tomb, Mingyue knelt before it, her divine sense subtly moving. A white jade tombstone slowly rose from the ground. Mingyue used her finger as a blade, carving "Tomb of Ji Shiyou, Erected by his surviving wife, Mingyue" in large, vibrant characters. The dazzling red was stained with Mingyue's blood, stark and striking against the white snow.
Everyone bowed three times, bidding Ji Shiyou a final farewell. After the ceremony, Mingyue stood up, a chilling killing intent emanating from her like a tangible force. Clenching her teeth, her beautiful face contorted with hatred, her eyes burning with vengeful light. She waved her hand, summoning Qingluan, and with no words spoken, ascended into the air, landing on Qingluan's back. The Qingluan let out a cry, flapped its wings, and flew towards the direction of Qinglong Base, disappearing into the horizon.
Without a doubt, everyone knew Mingyue was heading to Qinglong Base to kill Zhao Wumian and avenge Ji Shiyou.
"Sister, take me with you! I want to avenge brother-in-law too!" Bajiu wiped the tears from his face and shouted anxiously. He also wanted to avenge Ji Shiyou. Ever since Mingyue had disciplined them, Ji Shiyou had cared for him meticulously. In his heart, Ji Shiyou was not only his brother-in-law but also like a father. He had cried the loudest just now, but in a blink of an eye, his sister was leaving him to seek revenge alone. He was frantic, but Qingluan was too fast for him to catch up.
"Brother Bajiu, get on, I'll take you to chase sister." Baobao, standing nearby, was also filled with guilt. If her sister hadn't entered the Floating Light Palace to save her, she wouldn't have been unable to stay outside, and Ji Shiyou wouldn't have died at Zhao Wumian's hands. Therefore, she also wanted to avenge Ji Shiyou. Seeing Mingyue disappear on Qingluan, she immediately summoned the Floating Light Palace and called out to Bajiu. The two leaped in, and the Floating Light Palace, like a streak of light, followed closely behind Qingluan.
"Take us with you!" Seeing Bajiu and Baobao flying away in the Floating Light Palace, Wen Qingtian and the others were anxious. Ji Shiyou's revenge was not just Mingyue's revenge; it was the revenge of the Mingyue team and everyone in the base. They could not stand idly by.
"Get in the car." Shi Henian drove the transforming vehicle, hovering in the air, and shouted at Wen Qingtian and the others. Seeing Mingyue heading to seek revenge on Zhao Wumian, he had quickly descended the mountain and retrieved the transforming vehicle from the base. The members of the Mingyue team hurried into the transforming vehicle, and Ren Jian also squeezed in casually, showing no sign of awkwardness.
"Why haven't you left yet? This is our base's business, it has nothing to do with you. Hurry up and get down." Wen Qingtian said grumpily upon seeing Ren Jian. He had been closest to Ji Shiyou and thus disliked Ren Jian intensely.
"Stop dawdling. If we delay any longer, Queen Mingyue will have already finished. What help would we be then? Drive, drive! I can't shake the position of Ji Shiyou's primary wife. You can never compete with a dead man, but after all, we are family. We can quarrel behind closed doors. How dare they kill my elder brother? This revenge must be taken." Ren Jian muttered while sitting there, not considering himself an outsider at all, showing no intention of getting out.
Time was of the essence, and Ren Jian had helped quite a bit during the previous battle with Zhao Wumian. The others no longer insisted. Shi Henian stepped on the accelerator, and the transforming vehicle spewed out powerful airflow, also flying towards Qinglong Base. When they arrived, they saw that Qinglong Base had already been reduced to ruins, with not a single intact building to be found.
"The battle is over already?" Bu Zhi asked in confusion.