# Chapter 79: Epilogue – Forever and Ever
The moon sank and the stars fell. The east began to glow white—it was dawn again.
"General Xia, we must go quickly!" Lian Heng urged him. "If the Yongzhao Army comes back, we'll be in trouble!"
Man Cheng tightly embraced Zhongshan, shaking his head. With great difficulty, he lifted his exhausted eyelids and glanced at Weiyang. "You all... follow this narrow path out, and you'll see Fupeng Township. Then walk two more days, and you'll reach Jianqing City." He looked again at the yellow-bay horse that had accompanied him for years, standing by the roadside. "Lian Heng, ride my horse and take Weiyang away! I... I want to stay. To be with Zhongshan..."
Weiyang desperately pressed against the wounds on Man Cheng's body, but the crimson blood continued to spread, and she couldn't contain her anguish. She threw her arms around him and wept bitterly. "Man Cheng, if you don't go, I won't go either!"
Man Cheng had lost too much blood. Too weak to push her away, he only softly said, "Lian Heng, you must—without fail—deliver Her Majesty the Queen safely to the King... Take her away quickly!"
Lian Heng stared at the blade wounds covering Man Cheng's body, tears streaming down his face. He thought: *He's wounded this severely—even if we forced him to come, he wouldn't survive the journey to Jianqing. So much blood lost—who could possibly live through that? There's no choice but to leave him here to die!*
With a狠了狠心 (hardened his heart), Lian Heng stepped forward to pull Weiyang away. Weiyang screamed and struggled hysterically: "Man Cheng! Zhang Zhou is waiting for you there!" "Man Cheng—"
Zhang Zhou!
The mere sound of that name made my blood run cold and hot: his smile, his voice, his gaze—everything about him made me love him beyond reason!
But how I hate you, Zhang Zhou! You've destroyed my entire life. Dying here today is the punishment for loving you so stubbornly.
Love and hatred intertwined beyond resolution! Yet I'm both mentally and physically exhausted. I can no longer go on...
Man Cheng's expression flickered. He lowered his head to gaze at Zhongshan, and a tender, indulgent smile appeared on his lips. "No can do. If I leave, Zhongshan will be angry..."
Weiyang broke free from Lian Heng and seized Man Cheng, crying out: "Man Cheng! Cheng Zhongshan is dead! Don't do this! Zhang Zhou is waiting for you at Jianqing! What will he do without you? Man Cheng!"
Man Cheng's face was smeared with bloody mud, his eyes hazy and languid, his lips weakly parting. "Weiyang, I'm good for nothing now. I have nothing left to give..." His voice choked and turned hoarse. He knew—even if he survived, his left hand was crippled. The days of commanding the battlefield with a flip of his hand were gone forever. If Zhang Zhou intended to rise again, Man Cheng would be utterly useless to him. "Weiyang, I beg you—help him... please, please..."
Weiyang cradled his face in her hands, weeping so hard she couldn't breathe.
"Lian Heng, take her away quickly!" Man Cheng urged again.
Helpless, Lian Heng stepped forward and lifted Weiyang into his arms. "Man Cheng—" Weiyang struggled but couldn't break free. She死死地 (desperately) gripped Man Cheng's hand.
Man Cheng's gaze suddenly softened like gentle clouds at the edge of the sky. "Weiyang, actually... I regret it so much. I often wonder... if our child would be as cute as Mandu, if my child would have a smile just like yours, with a face exactly like Yingyou's. I... I truly, truly regret it so much... I'm sorry, Weiyang... I'm so sorry..."
"Man Cheng—" Weiyang's soul seemed to leave her body with the tears. The entire sky spun dizzyingly. "Man Cheng—"
Lian Heng lifted Weiyang onto the horse's back. The yellow-bay horse neighed, circled once around Man Cheng, then galloped wildly into the dense forest.
Man Cheng lay down and, with all his remaining strength, embraced his beloved tightly.
Zhongshan rested his head on Man Cheng's chest, quietly, deeply, listening to him speak.
"Zhongshan, look... in the end, I stayed by your side... I... will never leave you again. I'll repay everything I owe you in the next life. Every day, I'll tell you I love you... Zhongshan... I don't want to wait for the next life... But I have no choice... I... I regret it so much... I'm always doing things I regret. If only I had agreed to stay sooner..."
"Zhongshan, do you remember that small fishing village in Xiongzhou? You begged me to stay, and my heart wavered... If you had forced yourself on me then, held me tight and wouldn't let go, I would have stayed... If you had said you loved me, if you hadn't let me leave... I... would have stayed. I would have... lived out my days with you there... Why were you so lenient with me..."
"You fool. What did you sacrifice for me? What... did you sacrifice for me..."
"Zhongshan, I love you..."
"I love you... I love you..."
"What expression would you have, hearing me say I love you? What... kind of expression..."
"Zhongshan, I know you've waited so painfully. I'm going to that world to accompany you. I won't make you wait anymore..."
Sunlight filtered through the canopy, scattering golden specks that lingered on the serene faces of the two people quietly holding each other, dancing and leaping...
---
Outside the camp, a commotion erupted. Someone shouted: "Princess! It's the princess!"
Weiyang was dressed in rough clothes stained with mud, her face pale and haggard. Weiyang's brother, Yingying, rushed forward and embraced her frail body, then exhaled in relief. "Good that you're safe! I've been worried sick these past few days."
The man who had been gazing into the distance day after day, waiting茫然地 (blankly), asked in a hollow voice: "Where's Man Cheng?"
At these words, Weiyang's long tears fell unceasingly.
Lian Heng dropped to his knees, his voice breaking: "General Xia... his old wounds reopened, and he suffered blade wounds... He stayed behind at Sugarcane Slope Forest..."
Zhang Zhou took a step back and closed his eyes.
Peng Hong's eyes instantly reddened. He reached out to steady Zhang Zhou. "Zhang Zhou, you, you..." At this point, he choked up and couldn't continue.
Zhang Zhou's tears burst forth like a dam bursting.
All promises and hopes collapsed with a crash. Regret tore at his heart, yet there was no way to undo it.
Man Cheng!
Twenty years of everything about him exploded in his mind. Those desperate, helpless eyes—weren't they still before him? Every plea he had uttered now cut into Zhang Zhou's body like a blade, one knife after another, his heart aching as if it didn't belong to him.
Man Cheng, for over twenty years, everything about you has been in my sight. When you're before me, I watch you constantly; when you're not, I think of you刻刻 (every moment). A thousand past events, not one is unrelated to you. Without you, everything is meaningless. How am I supposed to live? So I'm terrified, so I've never been willing to let go of your hand. But only now do I realize—I wanted too much.
I made you so many promises! Why did I break them one by one? I had so many chances to give you happiness, yet I was selfish, blind to your suffering!
Man Cheng, it was I who destroyed your entire life!
Zhang Zhou suddenly turned and walked back into the tent.
Weiyang chased after him, grabbing his arm, crying: "Zhang Zhou! Zhang Zhou! Say something! Don't do this!"
Zhang Zhou gently pushed her away and, like a sleepwalker, put on his armor.
Shen Kang ducked inside the tent and blocked him. "My King, what are you doing?"
Zhang Zhou murmured vaguely: "I'm going... to find him."
Shen Kang roared: "The entire area north of Jianqing is occupied by the Yongzhao Army! Man Cheng is already dead!"
Yingying also entered, his eyes wide. "Where are you going?"
Zhang Zhou didn't answer him. Pushing past Shen Kang, he exited the tent, as Shen Kang continued to shout: "Are you mad? You'll die for sure if you go! When we rise again, we can avenge Man Cheng. Why throw your life away now?"
Avenging him? And then what?
He still wouldn't come back.
Man Cheng, I remember—the last promise I made to you was to leave this slaughter and turmoil together with you.
We would return to the carefree life we had in Anqing. I would be with you every day, love you well...
We would... never be apart, forever and ever.
I'm coming to find you now. Though I'm a step too late, please don't blame me.
Please wait for me...
Peng Hong watched Zhang Zhou walk toward Man Cheng's yellow-bay horse, panicked, and grabbed him. "Zhang Zhou!"
Suddenly, like thunder, a roar: "Zhang Zhou, take one more step, and I'll loose this arrow!"
Turning, they saw Yingying drawing his bow to its full extent, arrow nocked. "I'd rather make you recover from your injuries in bed than let you go die!"
"Brother—" Weiyang, her hair in disarray, her face streaming with tears, grabbed his tensed arm and pleaded: "Let him go."
"Yingying! He'll die for sure if he goes. Do you want to be a young widow? If he dies, what happens to the Yuanliao Army?"
Zhang Zhou's gaze was apathetic and hollow, drifting aimlessly.
This bustling world of struggle, tangled in worldly troubles and emotions—what is the point of it all?
A hint of a smile, both relieved and mournful, appeared at the corner of his lips. Then he turned back, gripped the reins, and stroked the yellow-bay horse. "Do you remember where your master is? Take me to him."
"Zhang Zhou! You—"
The arrow flew like lightning, *whoosh*, and pierced Zhang Zhou's left shoulder.
Zhang Zhou showed no sign of feeling it. He swung onto the horse's back. The yellow-bay horse, as if it had long been prepared to seek its master, lightning-like, kicked up dust and disappeared into the distance.
The crimson armor gradually vanished within the churning gray dust and the dim night curtain.
Peng Hong recalled the time after Anqing City fell. When Ddu's army found Zhang Zhou and Man Cheng among the surging, chaotic refugees, Man Cheng had climbed into the carriage and fallen into a heavy sleep with his head resting on Zhang Zhou's lap. Zhang Zhou continuously stroked Man Cheng's hair, his brow, his nose, his lips...
Later, Peng Hong heard that man, his face filled with happiness, softly say to the sleeping child on his knee: "Man Cheng, you won't suffer anymore from now on..."
Won't suffer anymore...
Won't... suffer anymore...
---
Sugarcane Slope Forest was shrouded in night. Occasionally, bird calls echoed. In the mountains, tiny points of light flickered—that was the Yongzhao Army's torches.
Dark, heavy clouds gathered, blocking the moonlight, pressing down on people's hearts until they couldn't breathe. It seemed it would rain.
The forest grew increasingly radiant and mysterious in the night.
---
# Flashback
Inside the Anqing Royal Palace, cries and wails erupted into chaos. Zhang Shun's Yuanliao soldiers had broken through the city gates. Zhang Zhou pulled Man Cheng as they ran toward the Queen's chambers, only to find the Queen had hanged herself. Jin Yin and the palace maids were all in tears. Zhang Zhou stepped forward, grabbed Jin Yin, and ran out with her.
Man Cheng urgently asked: "Where is Mandu?"
"Aunt Tao fled with him through the Jinliu West Gate."
The guard captain, Yan Jing, groaned. "Your Majesty, the Yuanliao Army has already broken through the Jinliu West Gate. The young lord's life is in danger."
Jin Yin's legs gave way, and she couldn't take another step, crying her heart out.
Zhang Zhou said: "I'll go find him."
"Zhang Zhou!" Man Cheng grabbed him. "I'm going with you."
Yan Jing dropped to his knees, tears streaming. "Your Majesty, if anything happens to you, how can I face the late King!"
Zhang Zhou managed a smile at Man Cheng. "Don't worry. I'll be back soon. Those people can't hurt me. Yan Jing, take them through the side passage into Ju'an Garden, then out through the back door of Xiqian Hall. That leads directly to Jiangmen Road."
Man Cheng wouldn't let go. "We'll wait for you in the alley by Jiangmen Road."
Zhang Zhou nodded. "Alright." Then he turned and ran toward the Jinliu West Gate. He wound through narrow paths, dodging around courtyards. More and more Yuanliao soldiers filled the palace. Guards fighting and Yuanliao soldiers locked in bloody combat, palace maids and servants fleeing in swarms, waves of people surging without end—寸步难行 (impossible to move an inch). Zhang Zhou retreated into the back gate of Qingzong Garden, surveyed his surroundings, then stripped armor from a corpse and put it on himself. He pushed open the door and walked out calmly. Seeing the Yuanliao soldiers rushing about and not noticing him, he sprinted toward the Jinliu West Gate.
"General! The brothers have captured a white-robed palace maid clutching a child!"
"That must be the Anqing young lord!" A horseman led several Yuanliao infantry forward. Upon hearing the news, the horseman burst into laughter: "Excellent! Everyone follow me! If we capture the young lord alive, the King will surely reward us!"
Zhang Zhou dared not lift his head. Mixing in with the infantry, he followed the horse and the crowd toward the front courtyard of Qingzong Garden.
A palace maid huddled in a corner, drenched in blood, her hands tightly clutching a child. The blood had clotted into a mass, and it was unclear whether they were alive or dead. Wasn't this Mandu?
Worried about Mandu's safety, Zhang Zhou couldn't maintain his disguise. He *swish* drew his blade. Before those several infantry could react,只见刀光如浪 (the blade light surged like waves), and they fell, blood splattering. The horseman was caught off guard. His mount took a blade and let out a cry as he was thrown from the horse. Zhang Zhou rushed forward and delivered a finishing blow, ending his life instantly.
"Mandu!" Zhang Zhou, anxious and frantic, grabbed Mandu. The child in his arms stared at him with wide tear-filled eyes, his voice hoarse from crying—he had no sound left.
He was alive! Just terrified out of his wits! Zhang Zhou exhaled in relief. "Aunt Tao..."
Aunt Tao had been stabbed multiple times and had long stopped breathing.
Zhang Zhou held Mandu, skillfully avoiding the crowds, and sprinted toward Jiangmen Road.
When he reached the alley, only one of Yan Jing's guards and Jin Yin remained!
Zhang Zhou froze. "Where's Man Cheng? Where is he?"
Jin Yin had collapsed on the ground, a living portrait of tears, completely unable to speak. The young guard knelt and kowtowed repeatedly. "Your Majesty got separated from us..."
"Got separated?" Zhang Zhou's vision went dark, dazed. "Did you get separated, or was he captured by Zhang Shun?"
"I... don't know... There were too many people at Xiqian Hall. At some point, Your Majesty just... disappeared... Captain Yan went back to look for him..."
Suddenly, people everywhere ran past, shouting: "The palace is on fire..."
Zhang Zhou turned. Above the golden-tiled roofs, columns of smoke rose everywhere. He handed Mandu to Jin Yin and tossed out: "Don't wait for me. The farther you go, the better." Then, without looking back, he sprinted toward the burning, ruined palace.
The Yuanliao soldiers had set fires. Most had withdrawn. Dead bodies littered the ground. Everywhere was destruction.
"Man Cheng—" Xiqian Hall's main hall—no!
Front hall, main hall, left hall, right hall, side rooms, front courtyard, corridors, under tables, inside cabinets, behind curtains, behind pillars, behind screens—none, none!
"Man Cheng—Man Cheng—" Zhang Zhou's heart burned with anxiety. He called out repeatedly. The fire grew fiercer, *whoosh whoosh*, flames licking the walls and curtains. Planks and beams *crash crash* fell, covering his voice. "Man Cheng—Man Cheng—" He screamed himself hoarse. Smoke stung his eyes red. He burst out of Xiqian Hall. His voice grew hoarser with each cry...
"Man Cheng!" He tugged at his throat that could no longer produce sound. Tears poured down endlessly. "Man Cheng! Man Cheng!" Shangteng Garden, Jinhua Garden, Yuxing Garden, Ju'an Garden... none, none! In the alleys, he turned over bodies one by one. Not him, not him...
He couldn't find him!
"Man Cheng..." Zhang Zhou knelt on the ground. Despairingly, he closed his eyes, allowing the billowing smoke to completely surround him...
"Zhang Zhou!" That voice—it was as if it didn't come from the distance, but from within his mind.
"Zhang Zhou!" In the dim, smoky haze, his figure grew clearer and clearer. The voice was real, that voice that crashed straight into his heart—
"Zhang Zhou!"
Those pure, bright eyes were filled with heart-wrenching tears. Those gentle lips slightly parted: "Zhang Zhou..."
Zhang Zhou ran over and embraced him with all his might.
Man Cheng, somewhat disbelieving, asked: "Were you... blinded by the smoke, or... are you crying?"
Zhang Zhou didn't answer. He fiercely held him, unwilling to let go. After a long, long while, he choked by his ear: "If I couldn't find you, I'd rather die."
Tears streamed from Man Cheng's clear eyes, rushing out in a flood.
—"If I couldn't wait for you, I would also... rather die."
**(The End)**