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Then, that time on the water. A helping hand. Meng Fuyao's long hair graceful floated on the surface of the water with her graceful movements. The moment they made eye contact, Zong Yue's heart stopped as it reminded him of his childhood friend. Emotions he could not understand rushed up as he threw away his very important waistband just so he could quickly escape.

Whether he left back then, the wheel of fate had already started to spin. They had once again met at the Wuji Red Stone Hill where she had stopped and robbed with her half-assed martial arts.

Suddenly, Zong Yue wanted her to stay. And so, he used an excuse to make her stay as a maid.

She was definitely a talent. With her, they went from King De's residence to Yaocheng where he had witnessed her crying over the pain of others, watched her save normal citizens and saw that sly her in front of Magistrate Su. He had seen how she made the bailiffs surrender, ordered them to fake information, find evidence from a corpse as well as ferociously choke the throat of Ah Shina.

Such a vicious yet kind, deceitful yet sincere lady.

Such a casual yet respectable lady where she would choose to lock her feelings to disperse the poison instead of obeying another.

Zong Yue gradually realized that Meng Fuyao was Meng Fuyao, she was not Ru Han. Despite the similar dazzling gaze, despite their strong character, what remained in their heart was vastly different.

Ru Han had rejected gentleness with her fortitude, but she had embraced gentleness with her fortitude.

When Yaocheng was surrounded, Meng Fuyao actually chose to feign surrender, and she entered the enemy's camp alone. As the citizens of Yaocheng spit upon her in despise, she forged ahead. A heart filled with righteous ardor was but forsaken by the masses, almost forced to take her own life outside the gates of the city.

He was at Qiongcang picking herbs back then. When he received the news of her adversity his hands trembled and the stinking passion flower he had finally picked after a grueling process fell down the abyss.

But he could not care less, rushing down the mountain. Within a few days, he had exhausted a couple of horses to death as he rushed to Yaocheng. A journey that had almost caused his old injuries to relapse.

To see her fine and well, a long sigh of relief escaped from his lips. It was also as though something in his heart was gradually collapsing.

When the news of Zhangsun Wuji 'death' arrived, Meng Fuyao broke down. Yet, she still remained standing in a calm and collected manner. She refused to cry — she would let the enemies shed those tears.

Zong Yue watched as she quietly and emotionlessly made it through and was reminded by the Ru Han that vowed to get revenge against her father. Using her frail hands that never lifted anything heavier than a spoon, she carried the heavy monument of achievements. Dragging herself forward, she made it through 3,000 miles. When she had reached the palace hall, she was crushed by the monument as she attempted to put it down. Blood spilled from her mouth, but all she did was wipe the blood away and continued carrying the rock another three rounds around the crowded market.

Till this day, he could not understand how Ru Han was able to carry that monument. The girl that had never trained a day in her life.

Such ladies.

Braving through the storms yet staying resolute.

Their unique charm came from their perseverance.

Zong Yue always thought that he admired such ladies and wished that ladies that had Ru Han's strength, and even more gentleness than her, would always be protected and loved. He did not want to, once again, witness the sorrowful end that Ru Han to replay itself.

But, was that really the case?

Last night, after Zhangsun Wuji's gentle questioning, it was as though the hazy thoughts had become clear. He was able to look into his emotions — those 'cold' yet lingering thoughts he had, crystal clear.

Ru Han was the fiance he had no fate with and never loved. The number of times they had met could be counted with one hand, but he still remembered. He remembered the pain, the guilt when he had let her down, but it was those feelings that slowly blurred her face in his memories.

Meng Fuyao, on the other hand, was a companion in life's journey. Her presence was a scenery that would attract people to chase after, and would become more and more pronounced and clear as time went on.

But why? Why was he so afraid? Why was he so afraid that she would end up the same as Ru Han? Even though he knew she was not?

Because he cared, he was afraid to lose her.

Those longings were hidden deep, long frozen by the experiences he had. But finally, spring came and warmed his heart. Those frozen emotions started flowing again.

That wave finally started moving. But unfortunately, the wave would no longer be able to wash up the bank of longing, for the thousand-mile-long bank that belonged to her reflected the light of another moon.

Zong Yue smiled. His pale lips gently pressed onto the ocarina and played 'The Parting Song'.

Her by myself, the pain of parting.

A melody, a silent sigh.

Zong Yue played his ocarina through as the moonlight reflected on him. Meng Fuyao sat beside him, with her hair dancing in the air, quietly observing his side profile as she was reminded of the lady who committed suicide by hitting her head against the wall and their tragic fate.

She was reminded of the privilege that was favored by the god-like figures—Zhangsun Wuji, Zhan Beiye, Yun Hen, Yan Jingchen.