Chapter 20 —

The afternoon sun streamed through the hotel's floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating Yin Li and Lu Miaoyin as they packed their luggage.

Last night, Yin Li had simply prepared a few changes of clothes for herself and Lu Miaoyin using the Heaven-Creating Brush—she herself had changed into a modest women's suit, looking somewhat like a child trying to appear adult. Lu Miaoyin, on the other hand, had changed into a simple dress and pure white stockings, looking like an ordinary girl next door.

“Mommy, what are we going to eat? Miaoyin wants something sweet!” Lu Miaoyin skipped and hopped, pulling Yin Li's hand, her gray eyes sparkling like a curious little rabbit.

Last night's experience had instilled in her a strong sense of dependence on Yin Li. Although much of her past memory had been worn away during her long years in prison, her intuition told her that this “mother” before her would protect her.

Yin Li smiled and ruffled her hair. "Okay, let's go to the dessert street in the city center. Mom will take you to try some specialty desserts from the Nine Provinces Continent—like ice cream cake, or imported honey crystal jelly from the Illusionary Magic Continent. Let's walk, and get familiar with Yuejiang City along the way."

The two walked hand in hand out of the hotel, blending into the afternoon streets like sisters.

The streets of Yuejiang City were wide and bustling, with street vendors hawking various snacks, and the air filled with the aroma of roasted chestnuts and grilled meat.

Yin Li deliberately avoided the familiar area of ​​the West District—it held memories of her patrolling as "Lin Jiangxing," now a distant memory, only adding to her melancholy and worries.

...

They soon arrived at the dessert street, and a shop called "Sugar Dream Workshop" immediately caught Lu Miaoyin's eye—the shop was decorated in a dreamlike style, with colorful candy lights hanging on the walls, looking quite luxurious, perfectly suited to the aesthetics of an immature child.

Yin Li ordered a double-layer strawberry ice cream tart and a plate of honey crystal jelly, then led Lu Miaoyin to sit by the window. After the desserts arrived, the two ate and chatted:

"Mommy, this jelly is so smooth, it tastes like drinking water!" Lu Miaoyin scooped up a spoonful of jelly, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons.

The jelly was crystal clear, melting in her mouth, carrying the unique floral honey fragrance of the Illusionary Continent.

Some of the parents nearby, hearing Lu Miaoyin's address to Yin Li, either widened their eyes in disbelief, or dismissed it as child's play.

Watching her enjoy her meal, Yin Li's gloom dissipated slightly. She tasted the ice cream herself; its cool sweetness reminded her of the afternoons Lin Jiangxing often spent sneaking away to play.

"Miaoyin, Mommy will teach you many things from now on, such as reading, arithmetic, and how to control your supernatural abilities. Your brother is asleep inside you. Once everything is over, Mommy will try to wake him up, and then our family will be complete—"

At this point, Yin Li stopped speaking. She suddenly realized that Lu Miaoyin only had a mother, but it seemed she didn't have a father!

"Um…it's not a big problem. That shed skin is still in the storage ring. If little Miaoyin asks, we'll use it to answer."

However, Lu Miaoyin, immersed in the pleasure of the dessert, didn't notice her "mother's" earlier unease. She simply nodded, replying with her bulging cheeks:

"Yes! Miaoyin will try her best and not cause Mommy any trouble!"

After finishing the dessert, Yin Li used the Xuan power of the Heaven-Creating Brush to forge identity documents and a large sum of money, and went to the suburban residential area of ​​Yuejiang City, where she took a fancy to a small detached villa. The house had a simple exterior and a small garden. The interior was cozy, with three bedrooms and a study. Yin Li bought it directly with her "funds," and the real estate agent, understanding the situation, didn't ask any further questions.

After settling Lu Miaoyin in, she did some simple tidying up, ensuring there was basic furniture and supplies.

As it was getting late, she told Lu Miaoyin to eat dinner and go to bed early before heading out alone to her appointment.

...

Night fell, and Yin Li entered the familiar alley. The sign for the "Guests Are Welcome" restaurant was still lit, but the atmosphere was unusually quiet tonight.

She pushed open the door, and the familiar decor came into view. Looking closer, she saw Liu Hongyu and He Yuanyuan already sitting at a table in the corner. Seeing her enter, they both stood up with complicated expressions.

He Yuanyuan's eyes were red, as if she had just been crying; Liu Hongyu **** a smile and invited her to sit down.

“Miss Yinli…please sit down. We ordered some dishes, the same ones as last time, but no drinks.” Liu Hongyu pushed the menu forward, his voice slightly hoarse.

Yinli sat down, and the three remained silent for a moment. The waiter brought the dishes: earthworm skewers, silky squid, fiery mushrooms, and a pot of tea.

Yinli picked up a skewer of squid; it was tender, but tasted bland.

“Eat something first, we can talk while we eat,” He Yuanyuan said, her voice trembling.

She looked at Yinli, that silver-haired, golden-eyed loli-like face reminding her of Lin Jiangxing, yet strangely unfamiliar.

“We…we are so grateful to you for saving us. Those memories, though painful, let us know what really happened. Although your appearance has changed—in our hearts, you are still the Brother Lin who brought us into this industry.”

Liu Hongyu nodded, a complex mix of emotions welling up: gratitude, guilt, and fear intertwined. As a newcomer, he once regarded Lin Jiangxing as his elder brother. But now, this "elder brother" has become someone else due to some unavoidable reasons.

“Miss Yinli, we know you inherited some of Brother Lin's memories and emotions. But the Association's higher-ups… they won't acknowledge your original identity. Furthermore, we two have tried our best to conceal the truth for you, but they clearly don't believe us—headquarters has already dispatched an investigation team, determined to uncover the truth. The plans of the Dragon People, the Molten Beast, and the Silver Dragon Princess… once exposed, the entire Nine Provinces Continent will be shaken.”

He Yuanyuan bit her lip and continued, “We two… have very complicated feelings for you. You saved us, but the higher-ups won't acknowledge your achievements or your human identity. We're afraid… afraid the higher-ups will find you and see you as a threat—even more afraid you'll be drawn into an even bigger vortex.

Therefore, we hope… we hope you can use that pen to completely erase all memories of 'Lin Jiangxing' and 'Yinli' from our minds. Let us forget all this and return to ordinary lives. If the Association finds out about us, we won't reveal anything.”

Upon hearing this, Yinli's chopsticks froze in mid-air, her heart filled with mixed emotions: she was shocked by their request, moved by their protectiveness, and yet bittersweet at this farewell. She had hoped this meeting would confirm the well-being of her former companions, perhaps even allowing them occasional contact... but now, given their limited abilities, they were not only unable to help in the face of crisis but might even become a hindrance—so she chose to forget them, determined to sever the last ties between them to achieve their goal of protecting themselves.

In Lin Jiangxing's fragmented memories, the mentor-disciple bond they shared as "cleaners" was now about to be erased by her own hands…

Yin Li's throat tightened, forcing a smile: "Are you… sure? This will make you forget a lot, including the days we patrolled together."

Liu Hongyu's eyes welled up with tears: "Sure. Miss Yin Li, you have your path, we have ours. Forgetting might make our lives more peaceful. But… you must be careful."

He Yuanyuan nodded, tears streaming down her face: "Thank you, Brother Lin…—do it."

Yin Li took a deep breath, writing the command in her mind: "Eliminate all traces of Lin Jiangxing's existence except for mine…"

The profound energy surged silently, the energy within the Heaven-Creating Brush suddenly decreasing by thirty percent.

Then, a trace of confusion flashed in their eyes, quickly returning to normal. When they looked at Yin Li again, their gazes were as if they were looking at a stranger.

"Little girl, are you sitting in the wrong place?" Liu Hongyu scratched his head in confusion, looking at the unfamiliar little girl sitting next to his girlfriend.

He Yuanyuan reached out and patted Yin Li's white head, humming contentedly, "What? This little girl is so cute, she's obviously lost from her parents—what kind of child would find this place?"

"...Sorry, I'm in the wrong seat."

Yin Li pulled away from He Yuanyuan's hand, quickly stood up, and left without looking back, leaving Liu Hongyu and He Yuanyuan sitting at the table, staring at each other in bewilderment.

…………

Walking out of the alley, she habitually reached for her phone in her pocket, only to find it had vanished into thin air following the command she had given.

"Now, no one will recognize 'Lin Jiangxing' anymore…"

Looking at the bright moon in the sky, she felt a strange sense of emptiness and loss—she knew she was now all alone. "Heh... I don't seem to be as distressed as I imagined. Compared to Lin Jiangxing, I'm perhaps closer to that 'Silver Dragon Princess' now—from now on, I will officially begin my own life and ****."

"First, let's start by restoring Xiao Miaoyin and her brother..."

(End of Silver Dragon Arc)