Yu Jin Chang An (With Jin's Chang'An)

Grand Finale (Old Version) Part 1

[T/N: This is the old version of the finale. There is a new and improvised version. This can be skipped. Posting in case anyone would be interested in reading. The final chapter is quite long so chopping it into 2 parts.]

On the day of Li Shuang's secretive burial, a light rain fell from the sky. Beside the coffin, walked the personal guards who had served Li Shuang, along with many soldiers she had commanded in the past. Surprisingly, few from the Grand Marshal's residence attended, and the Grand Marshal himself was absent. Only Li Ting walked alongside the coffin, stumbling with each step. Qin Lan, by his side, had to steady him several times to prevent him from falling.

Li Ting's throat had gone hoarse from days of crying. As the coffin was lowered into the simple grave, he hoarsely cried out, "A-jie...." His voice fell on the coffin like raindrops but was soon drowned out by a shovel of earth.

Li Shuang, even though she is the adopted daughter of the Grand Marshal, she had died with a stain on her reputation in the prison cell. For the Grand Marshal's residence, even mourning her death openly was impossible.

So everything was kept simple—a plain coffin, a basic grave. There were no honors from her lifetime achievements, not even comparable to any soldier who had fought for the country.

Li Ting knelt on the ground, his white mourning attire stained with mud, while Qin Lan supported his arm, silent and solemn.

Today, Luo Teng finally returned from the northern border, still dressed in mourning attire. His armor carried the cold of the north. His eyes were wide, unblinking, as he stared at the guards covering Li Shuang's coffin with soil.

"I'm late. I should have been here sooner!" He said, and without hesitation, he struck himself across the face with tremendous force. His rough skin immediately swelled from the impact, but he didn't stop. Blow after blow landed on his own face, the sound cutting through the rain like a whip, echoing in the silence of the gathered crowd. Except for Li Ting's choked sobs, there was silence.

Suddenly, a gust of wind stirred in the drizzle. The soldiers present became alert, but before they could react, a figure leaped into the grave. With a powerful strike, he knocked the heavy lid of the coffin flying.

The force of the heavy lid sent one of the guards flying, knocking him down. He was pinned under the lid, but at that moment, no one paid attention to him. All eyes were on the intruder in the coffin.

Inside the coffin, there was another wooden coffin, slightly longer than a person.

The intruder remained motionless inside the coffin. Though he had just sent the heavy outer coffin lid flying, when he saw the inner coffin, he seemed drained of all strength, as if he had used up all his energy. He was breathing heavily, like a trapped beast.

Li Ting, through his tear-blurred eyes, recognized him. But before he could speak, many people suddenly emerged from the dense forest, breaking the secrecy of the burial site.

They wore the emblem of the Emperor's Qinglong Guards around their waists. They drew their bows and arrows, aiming directly at Jin'an.

But Jin'an seemed oblivious, his black eyes fixed on the sealed inner coffin without flinching.

He could smell the scent of the Gu master inside the coffin.

His jade silkworm within told him, yes, this was Li Shuang.

Jin'an's gaze locked onto the scene, unable to look away. The shouts of the archers, the booming voice of Luo Teng—none of it registered with him. For Jin'an, the only reality was the sound of wind in his ears and the raindrops before his eyes.