The spider sighed when she studied the energy in the forest. Everything happened so suddenly that she was confused. The Dusk Soul Forest would have some turbulence in the coming days.

The death of the wolf king was only the beginning of a tragedy. If this conflict didn’t end, many more would die. Anyone could be dragged into this, including Phoe. Once it started, the storm would suck everyone in unless an outsider intervened.

“You’re Himmel Soan, right?” the spider asked.

“Do you know me?” Himmel Soan was surprised. He was certain he had never met the spider before. How could she recognize him right away?

“A person will show up and change everything. It may end either way.

“That person can’t decide if it will be a good or bad ending. That’s determined by the nature of the incident.

“That person may be the icing on the cake.”

The spider paused briefly and sobbed. “She told me that.”

She?!

Himmel Soan immediately realized it was Gina. She indeed trusted him and knew he would be looking for her. That was why she made all the arrangements.

But why?

Why couldn’t she tell him directly why she left? Was everything that had happened here part of her plan? Why would she do that?

The more he looked into it, the more certain Himmel Soan was: Gina’s disappearance was far more complicated than he believed it to be.

The closer the truth was, the more perplexed he became, but he knew it wouldn’t be long before the truth was revealed.

“What else did Gina tell you?” Himmel Soan asked.

“She told me your name and said she was waiting for you. Happy and sad things can both happen.

“She believed you would meet again, but until then, she wanted you to use your wisdom to solve the mystery.

“That’s all she said,” the spider told Himmel Soan the instructions Gina had given before departing.

Her job was done. As for how Himmel Soan would think, it wasn’t her concern.

All she cared about was Phoe. She wouldn’t let anyone mistreat the phoenix.

“Phoe, I’ll help you get back at them!” said the spider.

“No! Don’t! White, just stay here with me. Will you do that? Just like this…” Phoe stopped abruptly.

The spider was gradually turning transparent. “I don’t have much time left. I’m not the tiger’s match, but I can get rid of the ice snake for you. You’ll need to take care of the rest.

“Phoe, goodbye.”

The spider was becoming even less visible. The next moment, she exploded, turning into tiny dots of light. Half of them entered Phoe, while the other half transformed into a sword, which flew into the sky before turning in the ice snake’s direction.

They heard a scream, and the ice snake disappeared, too. The dots of light dissipated.

The last bit flew into Himmel Soan’s ear. “My task is done.

“One more thing: there are two keys. One is in Stelladom, and the other is on Earth.”

The spider was gone forever.

Phoe was devastated. The wolf and the spider were both very important to her, but they left her one after another. Yagon was also going to leave soon. Who else could she depend on now?

“White told me she was still alive because she had a mission. Once it is completed, she’ll be gone.

“I thought it was only a joke and told her she could stay around forever if she didn’t finish the mission. But she only shook her head, saying it was the purpose of her life. Every extra day was a blessing.

“White completed her mission just like that…” Phoe told the story between broken sobs and falling into Firey’s arms.

Himmel Soan also felt conflicted. It seemed Gina knew he would come here and had left hints for him, but why would she do that?

Did Gina have to leave for some reason?

And those keys…

What were they for?

Could they solve the mystery?

There was nothing left on Earth now, and he had searched the planet hundreds of times. Where could the key be?

How could he find the key in Stelladom?

Instead of answering his questions, Gina created more problems for him. He didn’t know what to do. Should he look for her in the new continent or go back to Stelladom to find the key?

It was such a difficult decision.

“I can’t be at two places at the same time. Gina, where are you?” Himmel Soan sighed.

Somewhere else in a courtyard full of cherry blossom trees, many pupils dressed in white were practicing sword skills with a woman. However, she hadn’t made a move for a long time. She only looked up at the sky.

Petals danced in the air. None of the pupils spoke or changed their poses. They held their positions in silence.

Slowly, a drop of tear slid down the woman’s cheek.

She was crying. Despite being the most talented and beautiful woman in this world, she was crying.

Why?

For whom?

The pupils had a lot of questions, but none of them dared to say anything. They even lowered their heads because they couldn’t bring themselves to see her face.

“People have sorrow and joy; they part and meet again. The moon dims or shines; it waxes or wanes,” she murmured.

She didn’t know why she cried or said those things. Those words just slipped out of her mouth. Her eyes soon became cold again, and she moved on to the next stance.

The pupils followed suit.

No one said anything about what happened just then.