Lan Yan woke up early in the morning and the first thing she did was open the window to feel the breeze. She sighed, "It's so comfortable here."
At that moment, a system prompt echoed in her mind, "Host, time is up, please prepare everything."
Lan Yan had gotten used to mornings like this for the past ten years. Hearing the long-lost voice, she was still a bit taken aback. She muttered, "You really know how to ruin the mood."
System: "Host, this is my duty. Considering the host's bad temper, I'll give you an extra day. Host, I remind you again, this is just one of the worlds. System going offline."
This time, Lan Yan surprisingly didn't argue with the system, as it would be a waste of time. She pretended nothing was amiss and, turning to see Jun Yelan staring at her, smiled, "Yelan, shall we go back to Dingzhou today?"
Dingzhou held significant meaning for them.
Jun Yelan's hand, hidden beneath the covers, clenched slightly. He nodded, "Alright."
After they finished breakfast, the two of them hurried to Dingzhou.
Compared to the past, it had changed a lot. The people lived and worked in peace, and trade flourished.
Lan Yan, holding Jun Yelan's hand, walked along the bustling street and said, "Yelan, look, they're selling sachets there, so exquisitely made."
Her peripheral vision caught the sachet on Jun Yelan's waist, which she had made before. Jun Yelan had worn it for a full ten years.
Jun Yelan accompanied Lan Yan to look at the sachets and also bought a small sugar figurine from a nearby stall.
Taking the sugar figurine, Lan Yan took a bite and smiled, "It's so sweet. Yelan, you try it too." She held it to Jun Yelan's mouth. After he tasted it, she continued eating.
Jun Yelan couldn't help but smile. He continuously bought snacks from the vendors and handed them to Lan Yan.
Lan Yan was full. The two of them walked forward, and unknowingly arrived at the Matchmaker Temple. She remembered confessing her feelings to Jun Yelan there, responding to each other with a poem.
"Yelan, let's go in and pay our respects."
"Alright." Jun Yelan held Lan Yan's hand and walked inside.
It was still crowded here. They waited in the hall for a long time, but it wasn't their turn yet.
A young monk nearby said, "Your Excellencies, there's also nice scenery in the back mountains. You can go take a look and come back."
"Thank you, young monk." Lan Yan and Jun Yelan then headed to the back mountain.
The back mountain was all mountainous terrain, less crowded, but quiet and elegant.
Lan Yan quite liked it. "We've been to Dingzhou several times, and this is the first time we've discovered this place."
Jun Yelan's gaze fell on Lan Yan. He nodded, "The Matchmaker Temple in front is too captivating, so this place is overlooked. But that's good too, as it means no one will disturb us."
"Mm." Lan Yan's lips curved upward as she pulled Jun Yelan to explore nearby.
They didn't notice a stone tablet erected in the grass nearby, which read "Caution: Falling Rocks."
The two of them walked a distance and arrived at the foot of a mountain. Several couples were already standing there, seemingly all married.
Lan Yan and Jun Yelan stopped to rest their feet.
Jun Yelan helped Lan Yan sit on a wooden stool and massaged her calf. He said helplessly, "Your legs must be tired. Sit for a while, and I'll carry you back."
"Yelan, it's good that you're always here for me." Lan Yan always had so much fun, and the next day her legs would hurt so much she couldn't get up. After Jun Yelan discovered this, he carried her back on the way home.
Jun Yelan just smiled. Seeing that Lan Yan's calf was fine, he stopped.
At this moment, the sound of rolling stones came from the side. The couples nearby shouted, "Quick, run! Falling rocks are coming!" They ran towards Lan Yan.
Jun Yelan immediately grabbed Lan Yan's hand and they ran forward.
However, one of the couples stumbled and fell towards Lan Yan's back.
Jun Yelan quickly pulled the two people away, protecting Lan Yan.
But the falling rocks had already arrived. Lan Yan decisively ran towards Jun Yelan and was hit severely by the rocks.
She spat out a mouthful of blood. She was already leaving this world, and it was good that she could protect him one last time.
Jun Yelan froze. More and more stones began to fall. He picked up Lan Yan, dodged the rocks, and passed through the surrounding dust, reaching a safe place. "Yan'er!"
He looked at Lan Yan's pale face, and his heart ached.
Lan Yan forced a smile and shook her head, "See, I told you I was lucky, and my wishes would come true." She took off her money pouch and took out a copper coin from inside.
She wanted to protect Jun Yelan, and she had succeeded.
Tears welled up in Jun Yelan's eyes. He held Lan Yan's hand, the one holding the copper coin. "Yan'er, you'll be alright." He didn't want to delay any longer and prepared to carry Lan Yan down the mountain.
But Lan Yan held his arm and smiled, "Yelan, I just want you to be with me." As usual, she half-reclined on Jun Yelan's chest. "I'm sorry, I broke my promise. You must take good care of yourself in the future."
As she finished speaking, her hand dropped, and her eyes closed.
Jun Yelan stroked Lan Yan's cheek and smiled, "You never broke your promise." Blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. He set off fireworks from his sleeve; Xia Lian and the others would come.
Then, he took off his money pouch and placed it with Lan Yan's. "When we are together, that's good luck. When we are apart, there is nothing."
"Yan'er, I knew this day would come ten years ago. I had already made my decision back then." He had actually overheard Lan Yan's conversation with someone else. Although he didn't know what it was, he only cared about Lan Yan.
He tightly hugged the person in his arms and murmured, "If only there were a next life. Make sure I remember you and find you." He closed his eyes, and a fragment floated out from above his head.
When Xia Lian arrived, she saw the scene and knelt down, crying out, "Your Highness, Your Consort." She saw the note Jun Yelan left and buried the two of them next to the wooden house.
She also buried the two money pouches within.
At this moment, Lan Yan was with the system. Her memories of Jun Yelan were beginning to blur. "System, why are my memories getting worse?"
System: "…Host, you might be getting old." It couldn't tell her the real reason, otherwise Lan Yan would definitely not go to the next world.
Lan Yan felt like beating up the system. "I'm a young girl in her prime, how can you say that? Is that appropriate!"
The system decisively chose to remain silent and changed the subject, "Host, the next world will be the most difficult. Please work hard and do your best. I will now retrieve the plot for you so you can go as soon as possible."
"Fine." Lan Yan glanced at it casually, then walked to the end of the corridor and proceeded to the third world.
As soon as she arrived, she smelled a strong scent of blood, which was sickening. Opening her eyes, she saw a man lying in front of her. The death was gruesome, and it scared her into stepping back.
"What, scared already?" A sarcastic voice came from her ear, making her involuntarily turn her head. She saw a man in red, with stunning beauty!