The snow-covered summit of Mount Everest remained silent.
William sat alone.
His eyes were closed.
The icy wind struck his face again and again, yet he paid it no attention.
For the first time in years...
His cultivation was not his greatest concern.
His thoughts wandered elsewhere.
Marriage.
Responsibility.
Family.
Until recently...
Those words had belonged to another life.
A life that had disappeared together with the smoke rising above his village.
Yet...
Now they stood before him once more.
Not as memories.
But as a future.
William slowly opened his eyes.
Below him...
The Earth looked peaceful.
As though the tragedies that had unfolded upon it had never happened.
He quietly rose to his feet.
"I can't protect the future by clinging to the past forever."
His voice disappeared into the wind.
With a single step...
His figure vanished from the summit.
Meanwhile...
In the other side
Angela and Victoria continued walking through the quiet gardens surrounding the sect.
Neither spoke immediately.
Eventually...
Victoria smiled.
"I should probably introduce myself properly."
"I'm Victoria."
Angela returned the smile.
"I've heard William mention you."
Victoria laughed softly.
"I hope only good things."
"He spoke about you with respect."
Angela answered honestly.
"I think that's even better."
The two women exchanged a quiet laugh.
After a short silence...
Victoria looked toward the distant sky.
"You know..."
"He's changed."
Angela listened attentively.
"I don't mean recently."
"I mean since our parents died."
Her smile slowly faded.
"There was a time when my brother laughed much more often."
"He worried about ordinary things."
"He dreamed about ordinary things."
She lowered her eyes.
"Then..."
"Everything disappeared."
Angela quietly held her hand.
Victoria continued.
"I know he told you about his wounds."
"But there are some things he still cannot put into words."
"He blames himself."
"For everything."
Angela nodded gently.
"I noticed."
Victoria smiled sadly.
"If one day..."
"...he suddenly becomes distant..."
"...don't mistake it for rejection."
"He isolates himself whenever he thinks he'll burden others."
Angela quietly remembered William's expression beside the graves of Jack and Maria.
She understood.
"I won't."
Victoria looked relieved.
"Thank you."
Several hours later...
William returned.
Angela immediately noticed the calmer expression on his face.
"You look different."
William smiled faintly.
"I had some time to think."
She nodded.
"Then..."
"I suppose it's time for us to begin learning how to live together."
William quietly agreed.
"I think so."
Andrew suddenly appeared beside them.
"It seems your peaceful days are already ending."
The two looked toward him.
Andrew chuckled.
"The Evergreen Family has already begun preparing your official introduction."
"Many neighboring families have requested meetings."
"Some wish to congratulate you."
"Others simply wish to satisfy their curiosity."
William sighed quietly.
"So it begins."
Andrew smiled.
"You asked to avoid political struggles."
"And Manuel has already fulfilled that promise."
"He rejected every meeting carrying hidden motives."
"The remaining visitors..."
"...come only out of genuine respect."
William nodded.
"I'll meet them."
"But only after I become an official member of the family."
Andrew looked pleased.
"A sensible decision."
That evening...
Manuel gathered the family elders once more.
"The wedding will take place one year from today."
"Until then..."
"William shall cultivate freely."
"No one is to burden him with unnecessary responsibilities."
The elders bowed.
"As you command."
Manuel continued.
"As for Angela..."
"She will continue her cultivation as before."
"I expect no one to treat her differently simply because of the engagement."
Again...
Every elder agreed without objection.
After the meeting ended...
The estate gradually returned to its peaceful rhythm.
Servants continued preparing for the future celebration.
Elders resumed their daily duties.
Young disciples trained as they always had.
Yet...
A quiet excitement spread throughout the Evergreen Family.
For the first time in countless years...
Their future seemed brighter than ever.
Late that night...
William stood alone beneath the countless stars.
He looked toward the endless universe.
The Path of the Strongest still stretched farther than he could imagine.
Ancient successors.
The Throne of the Universe.
The mysterious second cause of death Andrew had refused to explain.
The Identity Body.
The Infinite Realm.
Everything remained waiting somewhere beyond the horizon.
William slowly closed his hand.
"I'll reach all of it."
His voice carried no arrogance.
Only certainty.
"But first..."
He looked back toward the earth
"I'll learn what it truly means..."
"...to protect a home once again."
The cold night breeze quietly swept across the planet
And beneath the endless stars...
The next chapter of William's life had finally begun.