Gu Jin's voice grew quiet. "When the higher gods ordered me to leave… I didn't even get to say goodbye to you."

Maybe before she didn't feel any particular hatred toward those so-called gods, but after she regained her memories, her heart was filled with resentment.

The god city was an existence far above the universe and the dimensions themselves.

It was a place that administered law and order to all the other universes and dimensions.

Gu Jin was a god there too. She was a child who had inherited her mother's position as the goddess of justice.

However, many schemers were dissatisfied and raised concerns about her decisions.

Each of Gu Jin's decisions was presented as a fault, to the point that the gods were furious and decided to punish her.

Long Yifan's hands clenched slightly. "I followed you. But they punished us for that, didn't they?"

Gu Jin nodded slowly.

"Yes. The ruler of gods cursed us. He said that for all eternity, we would never be able to stay together. Every life we lived, something would pull us apart."

Long Yifan's expression darkened.

"And he kept his word. Every lifetime since then… we either forgot each other or missed each other by fate."

Gu Jin's eyes grew distant as she recalled the visions.

"In the mermaid world," she said softly, "you chased me for five hundred years. But I never accepted you. I didn't even remember why you felt so familiar."

Long Yifan smiled bitterly. "You were so beautiful, swimming away every time I got close. And when the sea kingdom fell, we died before I could ever tell you who I was."

Gu Jin nodded sadly. "Then came the dwarf world. We were both known for our skills, but we never met. Not once. Our paths just… never crossed."

Long Yifan sighed. "That one hurt in a different way. Knowing you were alive somewhere, but never seeing you."

Gu Jin's voice trembled slightly. "In the elf world, we did meet. We even loved each other. But our families were enemies. We couldn't be together."

Long Yifan nodded. "You were the elf princess, and I was the general of the opposing tribe. We fought on opposite sides. I still remember your eyes that day on the battlefield."

Gu Jin smiled sadly. "I remember too. I couldn't kill you."

They both stayed quiet for a moment before Gu Jin continued, her tone growing heavier.

"The demon world was worse. You searched for me constantly, dreaming of a girl you didn't recognize. I was right beside you the whole time, but you never knew."

Long Yifan groaned softly. "That curse really played with us."

Gu Jin nodded. "And then came the mafia world…"

Her voice lowered. "You were Ye Fui, my assistant. You loved me silently for years, but I was too cold, too numb to notice."

Long Yifan smiled bitterly. "You never even looked at me properly. But I couldn't leave. I stayed because even if you didn't love me, being near you was enough."

Gu Jin closed her eyes, guilt flashing across her face. "I'm sorry for that life."

He touched her cheek gently. "Don't be. Every life we lived brought us closer to breaking the curse."

She opened her eyes and whispered,

"And in the mage world, we almost did it. We nearly got married before everything went wrong."

Long Yifan nodded grimly. "The Mighty Mage competition. That was the end."

They both fell silent again, the memories weighing heavy in the room.

There were plenty of many other lives... painful and heavy to remember.

Gu Jin finally looked up, her expression firm.

"But now… it's different. We remember. Both of us. Maybe this is the lifetime where we finally break the curse."

Long Yifan smiled faintly, his eyes shining. "Then let's make sure we never let go again."

Gu Jin nodded. "Never again."

Long Yifan smiled softly, but his eyes glimmered with a shadow of pain. A quiet rage. A promise of revenge.

He remembered everything now. The dreams, the past lives, and the truth behind their suffering.

The moment he recovered his memories, a single name echoed in his mind...Chang Yin.

He was the same god who had caused everything. The same schemer who had once wanted to make sure that his own son would sit on the throne of the God of Justice.

Back then, in the heavenly realm, Chang Yin had pretended to be loyal, pretending to respect Gu Jin and the other gods.

But in the shadows, he twisted everything. Every fault, every rumor, every misunderstanding...he planted them all. He wanted Gu Jin to fall so that his son could rise.

Now, Long Yifan understood that the same man, under a different identity, still existed in this world. His heart burned with fury.

"This time," Long Yifan whispered to himself, "I'll make sure Chang Yin pays for everything he's done."

Gu Jin tilted her head slightly. "What are you thinking?"

He smiled softly and placed a hand on her cheek. "Just thinking about how far we've come."

She didn't question him further, but her eyes showed she felt something too.

Long Yifan drew her into his arms gently. His touch was steady and protective. "Now the real game begins," he murmured near her ear.

........................

While they rested inside the mansion, Lady Ling sat far away, staring out of her window with a satisfied smirk.

She had already started preparing for their wedding. Her mind was full of plans and schemes.

Once Gu Jin and Long Yifan married, she would finally have the excuse she needed to send them away.

She planned to send them of needing to "bless" the family by visiting the Forbidden Land...a place where the elements themselves were sealed.

Inside that land, all elemental powers would be suppressed.

Without their elemental strength, Gu Jin and Long Yifan would be completely vulnerable.

And there, Chang Yin, the same god now reborn in this world, would be waiting.

Lady Ling's eyes gleamed with excitement as she imagined it. "Once they step foot there," she whispered to herself, "they'll never come back."

The days passed quickly. Soon, it was time for Gu Jin and Long Yifan's wedding.

The entire Gu family mansion was decorated with red lanterns, white ribbons, and glowing spirit flowers.

The air was filled with laughter, and guests filled every corner of the hall.

Lady Ling had personally overseen every detail. To outsiders, she looked like a kind elder helping a young couple, but in her heart, every move was part of her trap.

Gu Jin and Long Yifan played their roles perfectly. They smiled, they acted gentle toward each other, and even laughed together.

To everyone watching, it seemed like a perfect love story.

But beneath those smiles, both of them were alert.

That night, when no one could hear them, Long Yifan leaned close to her and whispered, "She's preparing something. I can feel it."

Gu Jin nodded calmly. "Let her think she's winning. The more confident she becomes, the easier it will be to strike back."

Long Yifan smiled faintly. "That's my Gu Jin."

Two days later, the wedding began.

The ceremony was held in a grand crystal hall surrounded by a floating garden. The sunlight streamed through the glass dome, scattering rainbows everywhere. Spirit birds sang softly in the air.

Long Yifan stood on the stage with the priest, his expression calm and strong.

The doors opened.

Everyone turned to look.

Gu Jin walked in slowly, dressed in a beautiful white gown that shimmered with silver threads. Her long hair was tied in a graceful bun, and small white spirit blossoms decorated her veil.

Her eyes...those sharp red eyes that had once looked cold...now held warmth and peace.

The moment she stepped into the hall, even the air seemed to quiet down.

Long Yifan stared at her, his heart pounding.

For a moment, he forgot everything...the curse, the revenge, the pain. All he saw was her.

Gu Jin reached the altar and looked into his eyes.

The priest raised his staff and began to chant the ancient words of blessing.

"Do you, Gu Jin, promise to stand beside Long Yifan in this life and the next?"

Gu Jin's voice was clear and steady. "I do."

"And do you, Long Yifan, promise to protect and cherish Gu Jin in all worlds and times?"

Long Yifan smiled softly. "I do."

"Then by the bond of soul and element, may you be united in this life and beyond."

The priest lowered his staff, and the two exchanged rings.

A quiet hush filled the air.

Then, Long Yifan leaned forward and kissed Gu Jin softly.

Applause broke out. The entire hall filled with cheers, laughter, and joy.

Mrs. Gu wiped her eyes, smiling happily. "My daughter finally looks at peace."

Even Gu Jichun laughed, saying, "They look so perfect together!"

Lady Ling, watching from a distance, smiled faintly. "Yes," she murmured. "Perfect indeed… for their final act."

After the ceremony, music filled the hall. There were games, dances, and laughter everywhere.

Gu Jin and Long Yifan played along, speaking with guests and accepting blessings. But both of them knew this happiness wouldn't last long.