Long Yifan’s face froze for a second. His eyes flickered with guilt.
"I..." he began, but the words stuck in his throat.
Mr. Gu crossed his arms. "You hurt her once, Long Yifan. We haven’t forgotten."
Mrs. Gu nodded, her face calm but cold. "She never told us what happened. But we had investigated the past."
"Wait, you were the boy whom she had chased when she was a teenager!"
Long Yifan looked down. "Yes."
Gu Jihu took a step forward. His eyes were sharp now. "Why didn’t you tell us before?"
"I didn’t think I deserved to," Long Yifan said quietly. "Not after what I did..."
The battlefield was silent again. The enemies were tied up, the danger was over—but now, a different storm was brewing.
Gu Jichun looked torn. "But you protected her just now. You saved all of us..."
"That’s why I came back," Long Yifan said. "Not just to fight. But to make things right."
He turned to Gu Jin, who was still sitting peacefully inside the barrier, shining with golden light. The spirit flower above her head had almost fully bloomed.
"I never stopped caring about her," he said. "Even after I left. I thought leaving would protect her... but I only hurt her more."
"Jichun, you have 10 minutes to tell me everything." Gu Jihu said coldly.
Gu Jichun gulped and decided to say everything.
"Ugh...Gu Jin fell for Long Yifan at first sight and had chased him for a year or so. But Long Yifan rejected her each time."
Gu Jihu’s forehead twitch, and he turned toward Long Yifan.
"Then what are you doing here now? Didn’t you reject her before? Why are you suddenly chasing her?"
Long Yifan lowered his head and said in a soft voice,
"I loved her too. I still love her. But due to my mother’s promise...I didn’t dare to show her my feelings and went on with my marriage with Gu Aihan."
Gu Jihu’s face darkened. A storm of anger boiled in his eyes.
"You what?" he said, voice low and dangerous. "You loved her, but still left her for someone else?"
Long Yifan looked down and said nothing.
That silence made Gu Jihu snap.
A punch slammed into Long Yifan’s face, hard enough to make him stumble back a few steps.
Gu Jichun gasped. "Jihu—!"
Gu Jihu grabbed Long Yifan’s collar and punched him in the stomach. The force was so strong that Long Yifan bent over, coughing.
"You don’t get to say you love her!" Gu Jihu shouted. "You don’t get to protect her now and act like everything’s fine!"
"I know," Long Yifan said weakly, still coughing. "I know I don’t deserve her..."
Another punch hit his cheek. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
"You made her cry every day for a year!" Gu Jihu yelled. "You made her lose sleep! You made her think she wasn’t good enough!"
"I know," Long Yifan whispered again.
"But you didn’t just break her heart," Gu Jihu growled. "You crushed it... and then walked away."
Long Yifan didn’t fight back. He didn’t raise a hand. He just stood there and took it.
Mr. Gu didn’t stop his son. Mrs. Gu didn’t either. They both watched quietly.
Even Gu Jichun bit her lip and said nothing.
Gu Jihu landed one final punch, sending Long Yifan flying across the battlefield. He hit the ground hard, skidding in the dirt, his clothes torn and his lip bleeding.
He lay there, breathing hard, his face bruised and body aching.
But still... he didn’t get up to fight.
Gu Jihu wiped the sweat off his forehead and shouted, "Stay down! That’s what you deserve!"
Long Yifan looked up slowly, his eyes full of pain—but not for himself.
"I know I can’t undo the past," he said, voice shaking.
"But if I can stay by her side now, if I can protect her future... then I’ll take every hit. I won’t run again."
Gu Jihu clenched his fists. He was breathing heavily, still furious.
"If you didn’t have the Long’s blood, I would have never let you near my Jin!"
Long Yifan stayed silent.
Mr. Gu intereved and said,
"That’s enough. Let’s hand our enemies to the Magic Association first."
Long Yifan calmly stood up and helped her.
The Gu family didn’t pity him.
If they did...who would pity their daughter?
Birds chirped softly in the trees, and the wind carried the fresh scent of spring flowers.
Gu Jin’s long lashes trembled.
A soft glow shimmered around her body, like the last sparkle of golden light from her breakthrough. Then, slowly, her eyes opened.
She blinked a few times, confused.
Gu Jin turned her head. "Jichun?"
Gu Jichun ran over and grabbed her hand.
"Your epiphany is finally over! Do you know how worried father and mother were!"
"I..." Gu Jin looked around and realised that she had an epiphany while making the pills and then...
"What about the alchemy competition?" Gu Jin asked.
"You had an epiphany and were in a meditative state for the past 1 month. They are waiting for you to confirm the result whether you have made the Earth Rank pill or not." Gu Jichun informed.
Gu Jin smiled faintly. "I see..."
Then she looked down at her hands again. "Where are the others?"
"They’re nearby," Jichun said.
"We’ve been staying in this forest to let you rest. Brother Jihu and Mom and Dad are guarding the area. They didn’t let anyone disturb you.
There is also Long Yifan. He didn’t leave, not even once. He stayed beside you all the time!"
As Gu Jin stood up slowly, Jichun supported her with care.
A soft rustling came from the bushes nearby.
Gu Jihu rushed forward, followed by Mr. and Mrs. Gu. Their faces were filled with relief and joy. Mrs. Gu gently pulled Gu Jin into a hug.
"You’re finally awake," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank the heavens..."
Mr. Gu gave a small nod, his arms behind his back, but even he looked softer than usual.
"Good. You’re safe. That’s all that matters."
Gu Jin smiled a little. "Sorry for making everyone worry."
"You almost scared us to death!" Gu Jihu said, though his voice cracked a little. "Do you know how long you were sitting there like a statue?"
Jichun giggled. "He came here every day and stared at you like a guard dog."
Gu Jin chuckled softly. But then her eyes shifted.
Another figure stood a little farther back, under the shade of a large tree. He didn’t move forward right away.
His clothes were simple but clean, and his expression was quiet—serious.
Gu Jin nodded at him.
The Gu Family led Gu Jin out of the gates and returned to the arena, which was still filled with many audience.
Seeing them, Gu Jin was surprised.
Why didn’t they leave?
Then, someone in the crowd shouted—
And just like that, the silence broke.
The whole arena exploded into cheers. People stood up, clapping and waving. Some even cried out in joy.
Gu Jin stood still, a little stunned. Her heart felt warm.
"They waited...?" she whispered.
"They all saw your epiphany," Mr. Gu said softly.
"They’ve been waiting for your answer," Gu Jichun added. "To see if you really made the Earth Rank pill."
Just then, a group of new judges walked up to the center stage.
They wore long robes with golden embroidery, showing their high status. They bowed respectfully to Gu Jin.
"Gu Jin," the head judge said, an old man with a long white beard.
"May we confirm the pill you created during your breakthrough?"
Then they showed her a pill, and Gu Jin nodded.
After a long moment, the old judge stood up straight.
He looked at the audience and raised the pill high.
"Everyone! This is an Earth Rank pill!" he announced loudly. "Gu Jin created it before her epiphany. Her control, energy, and understanding of alchemy... are far beyond her age!"
The audience went wild with excitement.
"She’s going to the nationals!"
The judge turned back to Gu Jin and smiled.
"With this, you are officially the champion of this competition," he said. "And from today on... you are a member of the National Alchemy Team."
Gu Jin’s eyes sparkled. She bowed politely. "Thank you."
Her family stood behind her, proud and smiling.
Even Mr. Gu’s serious face had a small smile. Mrs. Gu had tears in her eyes.
Gu Jihu folded his arms, but there was pride in his gaze. And Jichun was jumping up and down with joy.
From the edge of the stage, Long Yifan watched quietly.
He didn’t step forward. He didn’t speak.
But when Gu Jin turned slightly and looked at him, he gave her a small, soft smile—and mouthed the words: