Chapter 78: Clear Sky

Not ordinary guns—special rounds inside.
Mu stubborn—God-Making Plan three years—SI wasn’t unprepared.
SI wasn’t a research org—still poured the institute’s strength—tools against ability users.
One bullet—Mu’s life.
Yi Ke looked back—familiar faces—smiled: “You came.”
Whole SI came—so fast—must be Bai Yanci’s message.
In the crowd—Bai Yanci wasn’t there.
Great enemy—no time—step by step toward Mu—full alert.
After moon war—she left Spirit Tide jade pendant at Spirit Tide Pool—guard barrier again—only Qiyang Sword to earth.
Freed from binding—looked down at foster mother—eyes ice.
“You lived a thousand years—you’ve heard this.”
Mu cold eyes: “What do you want to say?”
“When the wall falls—everyone pushes.”
She saw unwillingness flash—thousand-year plot—one morning fail—cloud to mud—Mu would hate.
“When you took me from the orphanage—I was grateful—grateful you took me from that mortal hell.” Cold laugh. “I never thought what I called freedom was one conspiracy into a bigger one.”
Mu unchanged—her face colder: “You say God-Making Plan is for humanity’s fate. A thousand years ago as High Priest—you wanted supreme power in gods’ name. If you’d gained divine power—earth would be a second moon palace.”
“God-Making Plan—scam hiding ambition. So many loyal ability users—buried for your greed.”
Here Mu’s mind pierced—suddenly laughed.
First low—then louder—mad laugh.
“If I can’t be true god—die with you all!”
Jiang Ran shouted: “Qingzhu!”
“Got it.” Lin Qingzhu fired without hesitation.
Gunshot—bullet in Mu’s chest—she seemed not to feel—still stared—no pain.
Mu strengthened subordinates with experiments—strengthened herself too.
Light on Mu—Yi Ke understood: “Unless the consciousness is destroyed—her life never ends.”
Human ability user Mu was dead—mind hung on the phantom—last thread.
Consciousness phantom—only true god can end—her war alone.
After moon war—God-Slaying Array spent her power—nothing left for Mu?
“Ke-ke—use construction.” Voice she’d longed for—behind—Bai Yanci walked up—shoulder to shoulder.
“Only understand construction’s essence—then cast.” Bai Yanci summoned Moonlight—pointed at Mu—warm spring in her eyes. “Ke-ke—remember power from a thousand years ago—then construct.”
“You.” Mu staggered from the shot—phantom in hand—formed a Qiyang Sword copy.
Mu unwilling—phantom Qiyang raised—at Bai Yanci: “Noble great immortal—willing to live beneath her—forever in her shadow?”
“She’s not shadow—she’s my light.” Bai Yanci cold back. “Director Mu—forgot—your people were handled by Yang Yufei.”
“What!” Mu couldn’t believe.
She’d strengthened bureau forces with consciousness—especially Liu-ge—near great immortal.
Experiment succeeded!
Bai Yanci slow: “Years I had Yang Yufei watch you—finally made ability-suppression devices. Thanks for the inspiration—our experiment succeeded.”
Three years ago—Bai Yanci raided the lab—took samples—Yang Yufei decoded—effective countermeasures.
Every step—a planted thread.
Mu nearly mad—hate at Bai Yanci—fallen-god plan forgotten—wanted the great immortal torn apart.
Yi Ke understood Bai Yanci at last.
Construction—ancient art—infinite possibility. Use Milt’s power from a thousand years ago as mold—construct prime phantom.
Success—divine power briefly at peak—crush a consciousness phantom—easy.
But a thousand years ago—however War God demonstrated—she never finished construction’s last step.
She looked back—complex at Bai Yanci.
Bai Yanci only looked back gentle—no hesitation in her eyes.
“Ke-ke—you can.” Bai Yanci’s voice light—fighting Mu—soothing her.
Bai Yanci again: “If you fail—I take you away—to earth’s end—never return—Mu will never find you.”
Her lover handed power to her—she could save—or be selfish.
No mission one must do—even gods needn’t pay destined price.
“With great power comes great responsibility”—empty words for the free—few truly live it.
But she laughed—remembered herself as SI team leader—the busybody.
Then only human—a special ability user—didn’t know she was god.
When the world’s in crisis—someone must stand up. Even if not true god—she’d stand—as before.
Eyes closed—remembered War God’s construction essentials.
First—believe.
Second—great love.
Pale white light in her palm—brighter and brighter.
Thousand years ago clearer in mind—now white robes—then red fire—supreme power.
She believed—she alone could bring peace to the world.
Construction—complete.
Great light—eyes opened. Light poured in—more sacred on her.
“Sister—let me.”
Qiyang in hand—to mad Mu.
Mu wouldn’t quit—screaming: “You can’t beat me! I’m the winner!”
Light hand—in divine flow’s gap—seized the consciousness phantom easy.
Death near—Mu blank—madness fell.
Before life and death—dignity worthless—Mu knelt to the god worshiped a thousand years: “Holy Lady—please—for raising you—spare my life!”
“Life?” Cold at the foster mother of her human years—no pity.
Pity belongs to the kind—not rotten to the root.
Mu saw hope—rushed: “Don’t you remember—the darkest pain—who took you out—who gave you new life?”
Long pause—slow: “Aunt Mu—do you remember what you taught me?”
“What?”
Next second Mu white—heard word by word: “Mercy to the enemy is cruelty to yourself.”
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Phantom shattered—Mu’s life ended.
Jiang Ran acted—all who aided Mu to holding cells—SI full authority.
Qixie had taken them—leader Yang Yufei had no objection—trifles not her head—glad for peace.
Outside the lab—ruin.
Battle scars—building collapsed—instruments broken—all told how hard they’d fought.
But rain had eased.
Downpour now—only threads on the ruins. Sun through cloud gaps—parted mist—clear sky.
Yi Ke looked up—soft: “Sister—the rain finally stopped.”
“Yes—it stopped.” Bai Yanci glanced at her—on the lover’s profile—gentle. “Want to visit SI?”
She smiled: “Fine—if you want to go—I’ll keep you company—why not?”
“…If you want to go—say so—don’t use my name.”
Bai Yanci helpless glance—but met smiling eyes—sighed with a laugh: “Can’t win against you.”
At first she wouldn’t return to SI—afraid to bring danger. Mu dead—greatest threat gone—no worry—followed Jiang Ran to the familiar address.
Funding came—SI finally had its own building—not squeezed on one floor at the police station.
Jiang Ran led upstairs—stopped at an office door.
She looked up—nameplate—her name.
Stunned—then laughed: “I’m gone—and you kept my office? The chief’s idea?”
“The chief—and all of us.” Jiang Ran soft. “We hoped you’d come back someday.”
She didn’t answer—knew what that meant.
Everyone thought her dead—still kept the empty office. As long as the plate with her name remained—she lived somewhere in the world.
Unless something was held onto—memory would fade. Forgetting—true death.
Back from the dead—they’d never seen it either.
Knock—Lin Qingzhu ran in: “Team leader—the chief’s here!”
Three years—Ji Chengfeng’s hair much grayer—fine lines at the eyes.
As always: “Little Yi—will you return to SI? Pay and bonus doubled.”
Under hopeful eyes—she gripped Bai Yanci’s hand—shook head light.
“Thank you, Chief—but the rest of my life—I only want to be with my girlfriend.”
When Jintian was in trouble—she’d still act. More time—for the person beside her.
They’d missed countless days together—she wouldn’t miss the future.
Ji Chengfeng said no more—nodded—took a small badge from his robe—handed it: “I thought—you should have this.”
Medal for officers fallen in duty—given to kin.
Her only kin in name was Mu—too sensitive—the badge stayed with Ji.
She took it—bowed the full police salute to the chief.
“Chief—until we meet again.”
Leaving SI—sun just right.
Neither used transport—walked side by side on the street.
Yi Ke chattered gossip from Lin Qingzhu—which new shop was good—which influencer fell.
Bai Yanci listened—answered now and then—always smiling.
No moon talk—no unfinished follow-ups—no future threats. Just ordinary chat—like the most ordinary lovers.
Sun on them—warm and bright.
Three years—too much—each thing felt like the sky would fall.
Standing at the end looking back—all like smoke.
However hard before—it’s past. Days ahead—only better.
Without noticing—they reached the suburbs.
Dusk—distant mountains—wind in grass—heart stirred—Bai Yanci stopped.
Bai Yanci turned: “Actually—I thought you’d stay.”
“Then you guessed wrong.” She laughed—asked back: “You threw Qixie to Yang Yufei—hands-off boss now?”
“Yang Yufei manages well—these days she’s not fixated on old matters—fine to leave it to her.”
Silent—just watched Bai Yanci—a long while.
Sun on Bai Yanci’s profile—soft and cool—couldn’t look enough.
“Sister—I still have one question.” Met her eyes—soft. “When did you remember the War God part?”
Bai Yanci didn’t answer at once—curved lips: “Guess—guess right and I’ll tell you.”
“Don’t tease!”
Bai Yanci only smiled—bright in dusk—wouldn’t say.
She stared—then laughed too.
The answer didn’t matter anymore.
What mattered—Bai Yanci was here—she needn’t fear the dark—could face shattered memory—fight every shadow.
Even deepest night—light would rise for her.
No more chasing the answer—tiptoed—kissed Bai Yanci’s forehead: “Past, present, future—I stay with you—you won’t shake me off.”
Bai Yanci’s arms around her waist—pulled closer—hearts beating near: “Ke-ke—I swear—I will never leave you.”
Sky darkening—pale sun on tangled hair—gentle golden edge.
Bai Yanci bowed—drew her close—deep kiss.
Sun sank behind mountains—last light on their overlapping shadows.
Whatever fate turned—however time changed—they would meet again at the hour written for them.
—End—