I returned to the Yao Clan.

The Yao Clan was already desolate. After thousands of years, only a few Yao remained.

In the fierce battle of the past, there were hardly any strong Yao left. The Yao's cultivation was already slow, and after such heavy damage, even after a thousand years, they hadn't caught their breath.

They were somewhat surprised to see my appearance, followed by panic.

"Ali? How did you come back? Has the seal been broken?"

"Is the Ghost Clan coming back again?"

"All the powerful Yao have died. How can we resist?"

I lowered my gaze, and my eyelashes trembled slightly.

"Close the entrance to the Yao Clan. No one is allowed in or out."

A fox Yao hesitated, "But... should we join forces with the human clan?"

Thinking of the faces of those people, I smiled coldly, "They don't need our help, and there are no more people like Jiang Yuebai among the humans."

Upon hearing my words, the Yao Clan members looked at each other and fell silent.

The entrance to the Yao Clan was closed as agreed. I lay on the cold jade bed, but Jiang Yuebai's face filled my mind.

It had been a thousand years, but his face became clearer...

I followed Jiang Yuebai at first just to watch the show, but for some reason, I ended up fighting alongside him.

Jiang Yuebai was quite scheming.

But it was also because of his scheming that the situation for humans improved slightly.

However, a crisis arose again because of the birth of a baby.

It was a child of both the human and ghost clans.

The child inherited the appearance of the human clan but had the same bloodlust as the ghost clan.

Right after birth, the child bit off a piece of flesh from its mother.

In her terror, the mother forcefully killed the child.

Jiang Yuebai's face also looked grim. This meant that human women would be taken by the ghost clan as reproductive tools.

People were terrified and began killing children with ghost clan bloodlines, looking at them as if they were demons crawling out of the abyss.

Jiang Yuebai thought that everyone hated the ghost clan as much as he did.

Until a woman escaped with a child of both human and ghost clans.

The woman left a letter saying that the child was innocent and that not all members of the ghost clan were cruel. Perhaps they could coexist.

Jiang Yuebai trembled as he read the letter, his face turning pale.

It was the first time I saw him so angry.

Then, for the first time, confusion appeared in his eyes.

He asked me, "Xiaobai, even though she lost loved ones and her homeland was destroyed by the ghost clan, why can she still speak of coexistence with them?"

At that time, I didn't know what love-struck meant and could only clumsily comfort him, "Are you wavering? Do you want to give up?"

Jiang Yuebai looked at me for a long time, then smiled, his gaze becoming even more resolute.

"No, I won't give up now, and I won't in the future."

After that day, Jiang Yuebai's attacks became more frequent.

Even though he was powerful, he began to get injured, not to mention the people who followed him.

I followed behind Jiang Yuebai, watching his green robe become soaked with blood. I firmly grabbed onto him.

"That's enough. We should retreat today."

Jiang Yuebai forcefully shook off my hand, his eyes turning bloodshot, filled with a terrifying madness.

"Retreat? Can't you see that we have repeatedly repelled the ghost clan?"

I slapped him hard across the face and shouted, "Jiang Yuebai, look behind you. The casualties have exceeded our expectations!"

Jiang Yuebai was somewhat bewildered. He looked at the corpses scattered behind him and those humans who had exchanged their lives for victory, clutching their chests in pain.

The wide land was already littered with corpses, and the blood-soaked ground had not dried for a long time.

Jiang Yuebai stared at the horrific scene, standing still like a statue.

I embraced him tightly and transformed into apale white fox, nuzzling against his chest.

"Jiang Yuebai, you've done enough. You've fought for our people with all your might. It's time to consider another way," I whispered.

He slowly raised his hand and gently stroked my fur. His touch was warm, contrasting with the coldness of the battlefield.

"Xiaobai, I... I don't know if there's another way anymore," he murmured.

I looked up at him with my fox eyes, filled with determination.

"There is, Jiang Yuebai. We've witnessed the atrocities committed by the ghost clan, but we've also seen the possibility of coexistence. We must find a path that doesn't involve endless bloodshed."

He sighed heavily, his gaze filled with exhaustion. "Xiaobai, do you really believe that such a path exists?"

I nodded, pressing my head against his chest once more. "I believe in you, Jiang Yuebai. You have the wisdom and compassion to find a way."

He remained silent for a while, lost in his thoughts. Then, he looked deep into my eyes.

"Xiaobai, I will trust in your belief. We will seek peace, not just for our people, but for all the clans."

From that day on, Jiang Yuebai changed his approach. He sought diplomatic solutions, reaching out to the leaders of other clans, both human and non-human.

It was not an easy journey. Many were skeptical, and some even rejected his proposals outright. But Jiang Yuebai persevered, using his intelligence and charisma to sway hearts and minds.

Gradually, a fragile alliance formed, united by the common goal of coexistence and peace.

Years passed, and the animosity between clans began to fade. The wounds of the past were not forgotten, but they no longer dictated the present.

It was during this time that I left Jiang Yuebai's side and returned to the Yao Clan. I believed that my presence there was needed, that I could help my kin heal and rebuild.

Now, as I lay on the cold jade bed in the desolate Yao Clan, memories of Jiang Yuebai and our shared journey flooded my mind. I knew that the path we had chosen was a difficult one, but I also knew that it was the right one.

I closed my eyes, feeling a renewed determination within me. I would protect the Yao Clan and honor Jiang Yuebai's legacy by continuing to advocate for peace and understanding among all the clans.

It was time to rise once more, for the sake of a better future.