"Mother," Mei's father called, stepping forward.
Grandma's body stiffened.
The sound of that voice, the one she had buried in memory, the one she had cried for through countless lonely nights tore straight through her heart.
"Wu… Zhen?" she whispered.
Slowly, as if afraid the world would shatter, she stood.
When her eyes fell on him, her breath left her completely.
Grandma lips trembled, her knees weakened.
"Wu Zhen…" she whispered again, as if saying his name aloud would make him vanish.
He closed the distance between them and wrapped her in his arms.
Grandma collapsed, her body folded against his chest as a broken soft cry came from her, the kind of cry that came from years of grief, and waiting.
Years of believing she would never see this face again.
"Is this really you?" she sobbed. "Is it truly you… or am I dreaming?"
Wu Zhen held her tightly, his own eyes burning as he sobed, "It's me, Mother. I'm here...I'm alive, I came back to you."
Her hands gripped his clothes desperately, as if she feared he might be taken from her again if she let go.
"I prayed," she cried. "I begged the heavens… every day. I buried two sons… I buried my husband… and I thought I would die alone in this world…"
Her voice broke completely.
"I never believed," she whispered, "that heaven would still have mercy on me."
Wu Zhen pressed his forehead to hers, his voice shaking.
"I'm sorry. I made you suffer. I'm sorry I came back so late."
Around them, no one could move.
Yuyan's eyes overflowed. She covered her mouth, unable to stop the tears.
Tian Yu felt something heavy twist inside his chest. He turned his face away.
Even Leng Yun stood in silence, his eyes red with emotions.
At that moment, the sound of footsteps reached them.
Yuyan, Tian Yu, and Leng Yue — who had been silently watching the reunion between mother and son — all turned.
Four figures emerged from between the trees.
Two young men.
A woman carrying a child of about two years old.And a young girl walking beside them.
When Leng Yue saw one of the young men's face, a knowing smile slowly curved his lips.
Yu Wing, however, froze.
He had not expected to see anyone else near the place where he had hidden his grandmother.
"Grandma…" he called quietly, stepping forward with caution.
The sound of his voice finally pulled Grandma from Wu Zhen's embrace.
She turned.
At the same moment, Mei's father froze completely.
When Grandma turned, Mei's father finally saw them.
He stood there, unable to take his eyes off the young man who mirrors his face. And behind him the woman he had searched for, prayed for, mourned for.
For a moment, the world seemed to tilt.
Then, Mei's mother murmured "Wu Zhen…" she called, her voice shaking.
The sound of her voice was enough.
Wu Zhen rushed forward and gathered her into his arms, lifting her without even noticing the child still in her hold.
"I missed you," he said, his voice breaking. "I thought I had lost you forever… all of you."
She pressed her face into his chest, crying, her body trembling as if all the pain of the past years was finally being released.
Yu Wing stood a short distance away, watching them, his chest tight, his eyes burning as he took in the sight of his parents holding each other again.
After a long while, Mei's mother slowly pulled back, still holding Wu Zhen's hands,
"Yu Wing," she called softly.
Then Yu Wing stepped forward. Trying to hide his tears.
She placed his hand in Wu Zhen's, saying
"This is your father."
Wu Zhen looked at his son, and his voice came out in a whisper.
"My son… you were pregnant" he said as more tears flow down his eyes.
Yu Wing's fingers trembled in his father's grasp.
He had imagined this moment many times in his heart, but now that it was real, he did not know what to say. His throat felt tight, and his eyes blurred as he looked at the man who had given him life, the man his mother had spoken of in years.
"Father…" he finally said, smiling through tears.
The word was small, but it shattered the silence between them
Wu Zhen pulled him into his arms without hesitation, holding him tightly, as if trying to make up for all the years they had lost. Yu Wing closed his eyes and held on, his shoulders shaking as tears slipped free.
His mother stood beside them, one hand pressed to her mouth, crying openly now, the baby resting in her arms as she rocked her gently, her tears falling onto her hair.
Jai Yu and Yun Qing stood close together, both of them silent, watching them with tears in their eye.
Grandma remained near Wu Zhen, her hands clasped tightly together, her lips trembling as she whispered his name again and again, as if afraid he might disappear if she stopped saying it.
Wu Zhen finally loosened his hold on Yu Wing and reached for her again, pulling her in his embrace.
"My family…" he whispered. "I thought I had lost you forever."
Yu Wing watched his parents hold each other, the weight of the years lifting from his chest at last.
Not far away, Leng Yue stood quietly with Yuyan and Tian Yu. None of them spoke. They simply watched, giving the family the space they needed.
Yuyan's eyes shone with tears as she leaned slightly into Tian Yu's side.
"After everything they endured… they found each other again."
Tian Yu nodded slowly. "Not everyone is given such mercy."
Leng Yue folded his arms, his gaze steady on the scene before them, a faint, thoughtful smile touching his lips.
"Let them have this," he said softly. "They've earned it."
They remained where they were, guarding the moment in silence, while laughter and quiet sobs blended in the air — the sound of a shattered family finally becoming whole again.
As the reunion continue happily, the few people she had been hiding with watched them with admiration.
"She is so lucky," the little boy whose father had been killed whispered.
"And Yu Wing looks so much like his father," another added softly.
Their voices were filled with longing and quiet admiration.
At that moment, Yuyan suddenly stiffened.
"War is coming," Leng Yue murmured.
"No," Yuyan said, her voice low and sharp, her eyes fixed on the trees ahead.
"War is here."
Before anyone could understand the meaning of her words, an arrow shot out from the forest.
Tian Yu moved without hesitation, his blade sliding it into two pieces.