The Dawn of Hope

Though she had anticipated it, the ease with which her request was accepted still made Wendy unable to suppress a small smile.

The profound uncertainty that had weighed on her heart for days now began to settle.

She then continued, her voice gaining a touch of resolve.

“I wish for my parents to live in peace and safety.”

“That is only right.”

“I want those aligned with the Shogunate Faction to face justice.”

“We will not allow illegal organizations to operate unchecked.”

“I simply want to live my life without incident…”

Wendy’s words grew increasingly unreserved, as she began to meticulously describe the tranquil existence she envisioned.

She pictured evenings spent watching television at home, followed by days at school sharing stories with friends. They would go shopping after classes, buying beautiful clothes and enjoying delicious snacks, perhaps even upholding justice as a member of the Knight Order.

Yet, dreams, by their very nature, must eventually yield to reality.

After voicing every aspiration she could conceive in that moment, Wendy offered a wistful, bitter smile.

“I suppose… after saying all this, it should be enough, shouldn’t it?”

“Almost. Now, I have a few questions for you.”

“Ask away.”

At this juncture, Wendy felt an overwhelming sense of liberation.

Since other outcomes were beyond her reach, preserving her final shred of integrity before the end seemed a commendable choice. At the very least, it would bring her heart some measure of tranquility.

“Firstly, I need the location of your parents and their daily routines. Additionally, I need to know if they are also members of the Shogunate Faction, and how much they understand about your involvement. It would be even more beneficial if you could provide any movements of other Shogunate Faction members.”

“?”

Wendy froze, taking a considerable time to grasp the meaning of Xie Shenhong’s words.

“You… you’re actually going to help me?” Her expression was etched with disbelief.

“Of course. However, I cannot directly fulfill all your demands, nor can I guarantee absolute success. But I will do everything within my power.”

Xie Shenhong regarded her with a gaze that was both gentle and deeply concerned.

With such assurances, even in her profound despair, Wendy was no longer so foolish as to misinterpret the situation. Xie Shenhong not only intended to spare her but was also prepared to offer comprehensive assistance, resolving all her worries.

“Why are you helping me?” She was utterly bewildered once more. “Helping me to this extent?”

“If I didn’t go this far, it wouldn’t truly count as helping you, would it?”

“Do I possess such value?” She still struggled to comprehend. “Is it for the intelligence I hold? But surely, coercion could also extract that, couldn’t it?”

“Wendy, you haven’t committed any truly heinous acts. Why would I resort to such methods?” Xie Shenhong reached out and gently stroked her head. “As for your ‘value’… from the very beginning, Wendy, your sole desire has been to become a citizen of this Kingdom, to live within its borders, and to uphold its laws, hasn’t it?”

She nodded, her movements stiff and automatic.

“Then that’s all there is to it. One of the Knight Order’s fundamental duties is to safeguard the Kingdom’s citizens.”

“But I was always a spy, cultivated by the remnants of the Sakura Nation!”

“Wendy, the truth is, the Sakura Nation no longer exists. You are inherently a citizen of this Kingdom, merely threatened by individuals intent on rebellion. Yet, you possessed the will to resist and even planned to expose these rebels. It is only right for the Knight Order to protect you and your family.”

She found herself utterly speechless.

“I won’t deny that this judgment is highly subjective, and it certainly includes a personal desire to assist someone I know. However, even from a purely pragmatic, interest-driven perspective, helping you is incredibly advantageous. After all, there are many wavering individuals like you within the Shogunate Faction—and indeed, among all Sakura Nation remnants.”

“Rather than a policy of total annihilation, which might force them onto a path of mutual destruction or desperate, reckless acts, it is clearly a superior strategy to make them understand that surrender can also lead to a good life. Why wouldn’t we embrace such an approach?”

“Even taking a step back, the simple fact that I *want* to help you… that in itself is a perfectly valid reason. Humans are creatures who require spiritual solace. At the very least, your gratitude, your thanks, and your eventual happiness will be the impetus that brings me joy and contentment.”

So…

Xie Shenhong’s words trailed off.

Unable to restrain herself any longer, Wendy collapsed into her embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.

“Sister Shenhong, thank you.”

After countless apologies and expressions of profound regret, she finally received the words of gratitude she had so deeply yearned for.

“Let’s strive together from this moment on.”

What a joyous sensation.

The feeling of being thanked, of being relied upon and trusted.

Both sensations filled Xie Shenhong with profound contentment.

Everything she had articulated earlier had been her most genuine sentiments.

However, she did not allow her happiness to lead to complacency.

While using Wendy as an assassin was merely treating her as a disposable pawn, even if the Shogunate Faction held little regard for Wendy, if Xie Shenhong failed to act with serious caution, there remained the potential for disastrous consequences—a situation where “good intentions pave the way to hell.”

After all, her own power was insufficient. This was not born of self-doubt, but rather her deliberate decision to transform into Xie Haizhu to compensate for this inherent deficiency.

‘Was this a waste of time?’ she mused.

‘Was it fundamentally still self-doubt, a lack of trust in her original power?’

Perhaps.

Yet, ever since her return from Qilin City, Xie Shenhong had meticulously re-evaluated everything.

She remained ignorant of what the former Xie Shenhong or Xie Haizhu truly were.

No matter how extensively she investigated, no matter how much she understood their past actions, she could never truly fathom their innermost thoughts.

She could not become the Xie Shenhong or Xie Haizhu of yesteryear.

However, she had ambitions she wished to pursue, and a person she yearned to become.

More precisely, as Xie Haizhu, she aspired to become a truly competent Saintess.

As Xie Shenhong, she desired to become a genuinely useful individual.

In the past, however, she had lacked a clear standard, merely drifting along, pursuing the elusive shadows of her predecessors.

But now… she had finally achieved clarity.

No, perhaps she had understood it all along, only failing to consciously realize it.

Like the rest of the world, she had always held that Haizhu in deep reverence.

Yet, it was not Haizhu’s immense power she admired, but rather her unwavering courage to step forward during the Kingdom’s gravest hour.

Throughout life, everyone inevitably encounters difficulties to some degree.

Strong individuals might possess the resilience to navigate their predicaments independently.

But the vast majority of people are inherently vulnerable.

They hesitate, abandon choices, and ultimately resign themselves to passive methods of coping.

In truth, many matters are utterly insignificant. Perhaps they would simply pass after a night’s rest, or be resolved by merely voicing them aloud.

Yet, these individuals never made the attempt.

Instead, they plunged headfirst into an abyss of darkness, not only failing to seek a path but lacking even the courage to lift their gaze.

‘Just like my former self.’

Recalling that period now, she could only perceive her past self as utterly ludicrous.

Therefore, she did not wish for others to suffer the same fate.

She yearned for others to also emerge from the oppressive darkness.

For her, the blond youth she had encountered back then was the very embodiment of dawn.

He was the sun.

He was hope.

Thus, she, too, wished to become a beacon of hope for others.

She… aspired to become a Saintess capable of bringing hope to all people.

****

Meanwhile, observing Xie Shenhong and Wendy delve into their heartfelt conversation, Light turned his head toward the individual holding a telescope.

“Surely you believe us now, don’t you?”

Marco nodded in silence.

Had Wendy intended any harm toward Xie Shenhong moments ago, he would have, without hesitation, followed orders and eliminated her.

But now… he paused in thought, then simply turned and walked away.

“Where are you going?” Light, sensing something, swiftly called out to him.

“To do what I must.”

Marco departed without a backward glance.

It wasn’t long before he reached the rooftop of a towering building, retrieved a sniper rifle named “Eagle Soaring the Skies,” and aimed it at a young man below whose bangs were distinctively streaked with red.

Yet, before his finger could even caress the trigger, the target within his scope vanished without a trace.

“You couldn’t possibly be so naive as to assume that when I provided you with this sniper rifle, I wouldn’t have any contingencies in place, could you?”