Chapter 1: The Final Goodbye

Lu Xuan woke with a start, a sudden, sharp clarity that pierced through the fog of sleep. He blinked, disoriented, as his senses slowly reassembled. The familiar scent of tea, the distant hum of a bustling city, the faint rustle of the wind through an open window—these things felt real, grounding him in a way that the strange and unfamiliar worlds he had inhabited never had. It was as though the weight of centuries had finally lifted, and he had been returned to the place where it all began.

He sat up, slowly, cautiously, as though afraid that the very act of movement would shatter the quiet peace that surrounded him. The bed beneath him was simple, unremarkable—definitely not the lavish silks and plush mattresses of the countless royal palaces or extravagant mansions he had known throughout his various lives. This was an apartment, plain and humble, with worn wooden furniture and a small window overlooking a city street.

The first rays of sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting soft lines of gold across the room. He raised a hand to his face, feeling the familiar texture of his skin, the tautness of age that had settled in despite his many lifetimes. For the first time in as long as he could remember, Lu Xuan did not feel the pull of ambition or the weight of power. There was no war to fight, no kingdom to rule, no empire to build. For once, he was simply—himself.

His gaze wandered to the small, cluttered bookshelf in the corner, where dusty volumes lined the shelves. Some were classics from Earth's past, others were remnants of his many lives in distant realms, places where time and history bent and twisted in strange ways. Yet, none of that mattered now. The future—his future—had yet to unfold, and for the first time in centuries, Lu Xuan was free to choose what it would look like.

He sighed, leaning back against the headboard of the bed. There were no missions left to complete, no destinies to fulfill. No more disguises, no more pretenses. This was the end of the line, the final chapter. After so many lives spent climbing the heights of power, achieving impossible feats, and saving worlds from destruction, it seemed only fitting that he would end up here, in the mundane simplicity of a quiet city, far removed from the chaos of his past.

A thought flickered at the edge of his mind. *I'm done.*

He glanced at the clock on the wall. It was still early—too early for most people to be awake, though the city outside was already alive with movement. He could hear the faint sounds of cars passing by, the distant clatter of street vendors setting up their stalls. Yet, the world felt so distant, as if it existed in another reality entirely, one that no longer had any connection to him.

For the first time in his long existence, Lu Xuan felt an overwhelming sense of peace. He didn't need to conquer anything. He didn't need to prove anything. He was finally—truly—free.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, standing slowly, his body creaking with the stiffness of age. He took a moment to steady himself, stretching his arms overhead, feeling the pull of muscles that had once been honed for combat, for grand feats of strength and agility. They were still strong, but they no longer had a purpose. His mind, sharp and calculating as ever, found no joy in the games of strategy and manipulation that had once consumed him. All of that was behind him.

His footsteps echoed softly as he made his way across the room, his bare feet meeting the cool wooden floor. He opened the window, letting the fresh air wash over him. The street below was just beginning to stir—early risers heading to work, the sounds of the city slowly growing louder with the day's activities. But none of it mattered. Not anymore.

He closed his eyes, breathing deeply. The weight of centuries, of countless lives lived, of powers wielded and worlds saved, finally seemed to melt away. For once, there were no eyes upon him, no expectations. No one to serve. No one to lead. Just the soft rustle of leaves in the breeze and the distant hum of a city that did not know his name.

Lu Xuan turned back to the room, his expression softening, a rare sense of contentment settling in his chest. He had lived so many lives, each one a different story, a different version of himself. He had been an emperor, a general, a genius inventor, a master chef, a healer. He had seen the rise and fall of nations, the birth and death of civilizations. He had loved, lost, fought, and won. He had saved the world, and at times, destroyed it. But now, it was time to let go.

He reached over to the small table beside the bed, where an old teapot sat, still warm from his last brew. He poured a cup of tea, the fragrant steam curling up into the air. The act, so simple, felt grounding, almost sacred. He took a sip, savoring the warmth of the liquid as it slid down his throat.

*I've earned this,* he thought to himself, staring out the window once more. *A peaceful life. A quiet life.*

It was tempting to simply fade into obscurity, to become just another face in the crowd. No more grand schemes, no more legendary feats. But even as the thought crossed his mind, Lu Xuan knew that there were certain things he couldn't avoid, no matter how hard he tried. He had lived through countless lifetimes, and in every single one, he had been drawn back into the currents of fate. It was a force he could not escape.

Yet, for now, he would try.

He placed the empty cup back on the table, his fingers lingering for a moment on the smooth porcelain. He didn't need to plan his next steps, not yet. This was his time to enjoy the silence, the stillness. The world would continue without him, and that was exactly how it should be.

He walked over to the small closet and began dressing in simple, comfortable clothes—nothing too extravagant. He was no longer the man who commanded armies or sat atop mountains of gold. He was just a man now, trying to find his place in a world that no longer needed him.

Lu Xuan's eyes lingered on the open window once more. The world outside had no idea who he was, nor did it care. He was free. For the first time in an eternity, he was free.

"I'm done," he whispered softly to himself. "No more saving worlds. No more destinies. Just… peace."

And with that, Lu Xuan stepped out of the apartment, ready to live the quiet life he had long desired—if only the world would let him.

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In the distance, the sun climbed higher, casting its warm light over the city, unaware that the man who had once shaped the course of countless lives had returned home at last.