23. Farewell Beneath the Silver Moon

When the Silver Dragon King struggled against the pressure of the world's will, her resistance only provoked an even harsher backlash. Her body—still not fully recovered from the war against the Gods—was forced to bear an increasingly unbearable burden. As a result, the adult form of the Silver Dragon King collapsed, shrinking into that of a six-year-old girl.

That girl was Na'er.

Not only did her body regress, but her memories as the Silver Dragon King were also sealed by the will of the world. Di Tian, who witnessed it all, could do nothing but obey the will of nature. With a heavy heart, he could only watch as Na'er was taken far away from that place—far from Tianyu.

However, fate had plans of its own.

Some time later, Na'er—now living as a child with no memories—happened to encounter Tianyu. At that time, she was cornered by three adult men in a narrow alley. Tianyu, who happened to be passing by, heard the commotion and immediately stepped in.

As soon as Na'er saw Tianyu, her heart beat strangely. A sudden sense of relief surged through her, as if she had found something that had long been lost.

That was the first meeting of the two soulmates of the Dragon God in their new lives.

Tianyu asked where Na'er's family was, but the little girl could only shake her head. Her memories were blank—she only remembered her name: Na'er.

Without a second thought, Tianyu took her home. His mother, Long Ruyin, felt sympathy for her and decided to take Na'er in and care for her.

That night, during dinner, Tianyu innocently asked, "Na'er, do you want to be my little sister?"

Na'er nodded, without hesitation.

From that moment on, she lived with them, sharing a room with Tianyu. In the warmth of this small family, Na'er felt safe for the first time in her life.

A few days later, the seal on Na'er's memories began to weaken. Glimpses of her past surfaced in faint dreams.

The first dream came when Tianyu succeeded in condensing his first spirit ring. As the sun began to set, Na'er, asleep at the time, dreamed of a giant silver dragon soaring through the skies. She thought it was just a normal dream, but from that point on, something inside her began to awaken.

A few months later, today, the seal on her memories finally broke. Her body reacted violently—a high fever struck, but it was no ordinary illness. The will of the world had released its seal and returned her memories. Now, Na'er—or more accurately, Gu Yuena—remembered everything.

Now, Gu Yuena stood in front of the bedroom door she shared with Tianyu, unsure of how to explain the truth to him. She knew Tianyu was the reincarnation of the Golden Dragon King, but she wasn't sure if his memories had returned. After experiencing the warmth of family these past few months, Gu Yuena had grown somewhat fond of Long Ruyin and Tianyu, even if only a little. After all, she was a being who had lived for millions of years.

"It would be easier if Tianyu already remembered everything," she thought. "But if he hasn't... how am I supposed to explain this?"

Gu Yuena knew that the clumsy lie she told earlier would never fool Tianyu. Even though Tianyu was just a child, his mind was already as sharp as an adult's.

She let out a long sigh before finally opening the bedroom door slowly. Inside, Tianyu was sitting at the edge of the bed, gazing at the night sky filled with stars.

Hearing the door open, Tianyu turned with the usual smile he showed every day. "Na'er, you're back. Is your fever gone?" he asked with a tone full of concern.

Gu Yuena froze for a moment. Has he really not remembered? she thought, observing Tianyu's innocent expression.

"Yes… I'm feeling better," she replied slowly, trying to match Tianyu's seemingly ordinary demeanor.

Tianyu patted the bed. "Come rest. You must be tired after the fever today."

That night, after Long Ruyin had fallen asleep, their room was filled with a different kind of silence. Gu Yuena quietly watched Tianyu, who was sitting cross-legged on the bed.

Her chest felt tight with conflicting emotions — the desire to stay with this little family and her duty as the Silver Dragon King. With a heavy heart, she slowly got up from the bed.

Her small feet padded softly across the cold wooden floor. Under the pale moonlight, she paused in front of the window, glancing one last time at Tianyu who was fast asleep. His face looked so peaceful, unaware that his little sister was about to leave his side.

"I'm sorry… big brother," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

With practiced movements, Gu Yuena opened the window to their room. The night breeze drifted in, brushing against her silver hair, which shimmered under the moonlight.

"Enter," she said firmly, her voice completely different from the childish tone she had used until now.

From the darkness, a tall, imposing figure floated in gracefully. Di Tian, the Beast God, knelt before her with utmost reverence.

"My lord," he murmured in a low, respectful tone, "you have finally awakened fully."

Gu Yuena nodded slowly. "I can't stay here any longer. My presence will only bring disaster to them."

Di Tian lifted his head, his golden eyes glowing with devotion. "Will you not say farewell… to that human?" He glanced toward Tianyu, who was still asleep.

Gu Yuena clenched her small fists. "No. This is better. We have a greater mission." Her voice trembled slightly, but was full of resolve. "Take me to the Star Dou Forest. I must fully recover my strength."

Before leaving, Gu Yuena took a small piece of paper from the pocket of her pajamas and placed it on the nightstand beside Tianyu's bed. The letter contained only a few simple words: Thank you for everything.

At her signal, Di Tian summoned a cloud of black mist to envelop them both. As the mist faded, the room fell silent once more. Only Tianyu remained, still asleep — and the piece of paper, the last trace of the little sister who had lived beside him.

After a while, Qian Renxue appeared in a semi-physical form. "They're gone. You don't have to pretend anymore."

"Why did you pretend to be asleep when she left?"

Tianyu slowly opened his eyes, revealing crimson-red pupils that gleamed like blood-red jewels under the moonlight. "I wasn't pretending to sleep."

His hand clenched tightly under the blanket. "I was holding myself back from stopping her."