A Thousand-Year Journey Through the God of War

"God of War, are you still thinking about her?" Xiao Lian suddenly asked halfway through the journey.

The God of War was momentarily confused, but quickly realized that Xiao Lian was referring to his deceased fiancée.

He said sadly, "Yes, we were at the point of discussing marriage, but I never imagined that the village would be gone like this, leaving me all alone. We should have had a happy home, but time can never be turned back."

"Some things will fade with time, until they're completely gone. You need a fresh start too," Xiaolian said gently. "Besides, so much time has passed; I think she'll understand you."

"But I can't forget her, and I can't get over this hurdle in my heart."

The God of War sighed and said, "I've always felt guilty towards her. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, she appears before me as if she were here again, making me reluctant to wake up."

"After guarding Xinye for three years, I thought that with my belief in slaying demons and monsters, I could sever all ties of love. But with Xiang'er traveling from a thousand years in the future, my heart has been stirred once again."

"You're too fixated on this. It definitely won't work. I think you're great in every way, but you're a bit too rigid, especially when it comes to girls. Besides, you're at the age where you should be settling down and starting a family. You really need to find a good girl. I think that's what your fiancée would want to see too."

"There were so many wonderful girls in the Temple of War before, but you didn't try to get to know them. This time, you definitely shouldn't miss out on Miss Xiang'er again!"

Xiao Lian thought for a moment and continued to comfort the God of War: "A love that transcends a thousand years is something that ordinary people like us wouldn't even dare to dream of. God of War, you must cherish this bond."

"Alright, I'll give it a try." The God of War smiled wryly. He knew that Xiao Lian was telling him all this for his own good, and he was filled with gratitude.

"Then, God of War, do you know what love is?" Xiao Lian suddenly asked.

The God of War was momentarily at a loss for words. Seeing that he couldn't answer, Xiao Lian continued, "Love is something that accumulates over time, it's the mutual attraction between two people, and it's something that you can only obtain by kneeling before Buddha in past and present lives."

As they were talking, the two of them had already ridden to the gate of Liu Bei's governor's mansion. The God of War said to Xiao Lian, "We've arrived here while we were chatting. Let's go in."

"Okay." A deep meaning flashed in Xiao Lian's clear eyes, and then she followed the God of War into the Prefect's Mansion.

What the God of War didn't know was that Xiao Lian had actually been interested in him before. She valued his character and personality highly. However, Xiao Lian was too shy, and the God of War was always troubled by his inner conflict. In addition, he was obsessed with slaying demons and monsters, so he missed a good match that heaven had once bestowed upon him.

The two entered the prefect's mansion and arrived at the room where Feng Xuexin and the others were. They saw that each of the women was holding a Phoenix Shimmer Glass Dress and standing there, admiring it.

Upon seeing the arrival of the God of War and Xiao Lian, the beauties immediately pulled Xiao Lian to try on the phoenix coronet and wedding gown.

The God of War had no choice but to go to the next room to see the dowry that the brothers of the War God Temple had brought to Xiao Lian. He was shocked to find that the room was so full that there was almost no room to step.

The God of War couldn't help but sigh, "These are all the heartfelt wishes of our brothers. Over the past few years, you've fought on the battlefield, slaying demons and monsters, and made outstanding contributions. You've truly given so much, and everyone has given without expecting anything in return. With Tiannu and Xiaolian's wedding approaching, the brothers have exchanged all their military merits for wedding gifts and dowries. This room is comparable to a ten-mile-long wedding procession!"

Just as the God of War was sighing, he suddenly heard Ma Yunlu calling from next door, "President, come quick!"

Upon hearing this, the God of War hurriedly ran to the next room and was stunned: This is too good! There were women dressed in phoenix-flecked glass dresses, surrounding Xiao Lian, who was dressed in a phoenix coronet and wedding gown, like stars surrounding the moon.

The God of War felt as if he had entered a fairyland, and all those in front of him were fairies from the heavens. For a moment, the God of War stared blankly, unable to come back to his senses, which caused the women to burst into laughter.

"President, don't just sit there and watch! You'd better hurry up and find a wife!" Ma Yunlu joked. "But Xiaolian won't do, she's about to marry Tiannu."

Looking at the beauties, the God of War blushed deeply. Xiao Lian was right; the girls of the God of War Temple were not only of good character, but each and every one of them was stunningly beautiful.

Looking back, it was the day of the great battle to defend Xinye.

Xiang'er crossed a thousand years from the crack torn open within that space-time tunnel.

One was born with the Qilin Holy Body, and the other inherited a thousand-year-old medical skill; one was a martial artist and the other a scholar, one strong and the other gentle.

The God of War's martial arts pacify the land, while Xiang'er's heart is pure and her spirit serene.

Two completely opposite yet perfectly blended divine lights suddenly converged in mid-air in Xinye!

Golden light wards off evil, and moonlight cleanses away malevolent influences.

Dressed in white, Xiang'er was like the pure moonlight amidst the chaos and calamity of the world. Her pure white spiritual power transformed into thousands of tassels of light, which shot straight up to the golden body of the God of War at the top of the city wall.

From that moment on, the image of Xiang'er standing on the city tower in white robes kept appearing in his mind. On that day, the golden light and moonlight merged, and two beams of destiny intertwined, freezing the beginning of their intertwined fates.

Laughter filled the air, neon lights shimmered throughout the hall, and beautiful women with bright eyes filled the room with joyful sounds.

The God of War's cheeks flushed, and he hurriedly averted his dazed gaze, involuntarily recalling Xiao Lian's heartfelt advice from the journey.

Long-buried memories slowly resurfaced. His deceased fiancée was an unresolved issue in his heart. He deliberately suppressed his feelings, focusing on Xinye, taking charge of the War God Temple to slay demons, believing that the rest of his life would only consist of the battlefield and the common people, and that he would never again be moved by romantic love.

But fate arranged for Xiang'er to traverse a thousand years, break through the rift in time and space, and rush to this chaotic world at the end of the Han Dynasty, forcefully entering his lonely life that he had lived for many years.

Ma Yunlu covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling with playful charm. She teased again, "Judging from your expression, President, could it be that you already have someone you like?"

As soon as the words were spoken, the women in the room joined in the commotion, their eyes meeting in unspoken agreement. They had all witnessed the catastrophe in Xinye, how Xiang'er had risked crossing a thousand-year time tunnel, exhausting all her spiritual power to rush to the city's aid, standing shoulder to shoulder with the God of War in the face of life and death. This bond that transcended time was evident to everyone.

Xiao Lian, dressed in a magnificent phoenix coronet and wedding gown, slowly walked out of the crowd. Her wedding dress shimmered with the light of sunset, and her eyes were gentle and serene. She looked at the embarrassed and flustered God of War, and her tone was exceptionally soft: "President, one cannot be trapped in the regrets of the past forever. May the departed wish you well year after year, and those who cherish you in the present should not be let down by you again and again."

"I am about to marry Tiannu, and from now on I will peacefully guard the rear of Xinye, assisting Sister Xiang'er in managing the city's medical care and people's livelihood." A trace of regret, hidden deep within, flashed across Xiaolian's eyes. That feeling buried deep in her heart had long been carefully sealed away. In the past, she admired the God of War for his integrity and compassionate heart, but he was entangled in his obsession, his heart filled with only past wounds. She did not want to force him, she only wished that he could break free from his inner turmoil and embrace their future together.

The God of War exhaled deeply, his chaotic thoughts gradually calming down. Which hero is without emotion? Which champion wishes to be alone?

"I understand your good intentions now." The God of War spoke slowly, his stubbornness and escapism gone: "The old friends have long since passed away, and I have been wallowing in guilt for years, delaying myself and ignoring all the warmth around me."

"Xiang'er crossed the Milky Way for a thousand years to keep our promise, helped me fight against my inner demons, repair my soul, and help me deduce the fate of Changbanpo. This fate is extremely profound, and I should not back down or avoid it any longer."

Looking at Xiang'er, who was surrounded by the women with unspoken understanding, the God of War stepped forward slowly, his past confusion, guilt, and timidity gone, his eyes firm and clear.

"Xiaolian really enlightened me on the way here." He spoke softly, his tone no longer heavy with emotion. "I let go of my old obsessions and will no longer be bound by the past for the rest of my life. You traveled alone through a thousand years of chaos, and on the long road ahead, it will be my turn to hold on tightly to this destiny."

Xiang'er's eyes flickered slightly, and ripples appeared in her clear eyes: "Have you truly broken free from the shackles in your heart?"

"It has already been resolved." The God of War looked out the window at the city of Xinye, where fireworks filled the air. The people in the city lived in peace and prosperity, and this stable and prosperous world was the result of his hard work in protecting it.

"The regrets of my past life cannot be rewritten, but I am determined to seize the destiny of this life. Calamity is imminent, a crisis is brewing in Changban, and the demons of Futu Island are waiting for their chance. From now on, I will protect all living beings, and I only wish to protect you and ensure your safety year after year."

A gentle evening breeze blew through the courtyard, swirling up fallen petals that fluttered about.

With the past overturned and obsessions dissipated, the long-sealed door to their hearts is completely opened, and a brand new chapter of destiny for the God of War and Xiang'er slowly begins.

Two marriages took place simultaneously at the Temple of War: one bidding farewell to the past and embarking on a thousand-year-old love affair; the other promising to stay together day and night, guarding the rest of their lives in Xinye.

Unbeknownst to everyone, deep within the Floating Demon Island, the woman in red and the four demon kings had already sensed the shift in the fortunes of Xinye City. A new conspiracy was quietly brewing in the darkness, and an even greater storm was sweeping towards Xinye.