Many things happened after the descent of the goddess Nuwa. In addition to the Chaos being removed from Zhu Yan and replaced by Ying Long's original creation power, both his core and the scars on his back were also healed. Bai Jiu's divine blood awakened just as the heavenly rain fell upon the city, while they were still administering the cure for the plague, further healing the people and purifying the land. This, of course, granted him longevity, and Ying Lei, excitedly told him they could be a team or more like partners in crime for a long time and said he would teach him how to cultivate his own core, already formed by Yi Chen and Nuwa's divine energy.
Pei Si Heng had also been touched by the ash-purifying water in the Chongwu Camp dungeon and was granted a new kind of life that keeps his soul firmly fixed in his wooden body, so that he could remain in his human form permanently, much to Pei Si Jing's delight, now with the chance to right the wrongs of the past since she had his brother back, even if he was still a wood demon, but honestly no one cared about that.
However, the one who was changed the most was Wen Xiao herself. Nuwa realized that the Baize token hadn't been enough for her to fulfill her role as a goddess, as long as she remained human, so she integrating its energy directly into her body and creating a divine core that would grant Wen Xiao the true power to maintain the balance between the realms and fight her own battles if necessary, alongside her friends. She no longer needed protection, no longer needed a token to use her new abilities, and, furthermore, she could share her divinity, so she could choose and train the next goddess for when she felt the need to retire. The cycle of the Baize goddess no longer existed, for she was now a true goddess, but she could always choose a successor.
With so much divine power, she could grant Pei Si Jing immortality, so they could be together as lifelong partners and her team would remain vigilant and strong for generations to come, always ensuring justice that not even the King could try to ignore or stop, as Nuwa herself had commanded humans to respect the demons who do no harm and warned the demons in turn not to abuse innocent humans.
The Bureau was then finally able to judge humans who committed crimes against innocent demons, punishing them according to the severity of the crime, from a few days in jail to the death penalty if the crime was similar to the one Wen Zongyu attempted in Tiandu City. The same punishment system, of course, also applied to demons, as it already existed in the Demon Hunting Bureau, which had always been fair from the beginning, unlike the later-established and now completely disbanded Chongwu Camp. Members of Chongwu Camp who committed heinous atrocities were punished according to their crimes, as were court officials who proved equally guilty and cruel to demons and humans alike.
Afterwards, Fan Ying was appointed Prime Minister, specifically in charge of everything related to demons. Situ Ming remained in charge of the Demon Hunting Bureau along with Yichen and the demon hunting team became a sensation, a legend among legends, able to even summon gods. Thus the Bureau finally got the needed founds to restore it and bring it back to their former glory, to the time Yi Chen's family have been there and complete.
Fei, the fake Fei was left in Qing Geng's custody, just as she had requested, and the two of them went into the Wilderness to look for a place where they could stay without causing any more harm to anyone else, nor being bothered by others with malicious intent.
Zhu Yan, with his newfound power of creation, and Wen Xiao, like a true goddess, transformed the Wilderness, restoring it to something similar to the human realm over the years, turning it into a paradise for demons who eventually no longer wanted or needed to escape a dying realm. Thus, peace was established and the balance between the two worlds was renewed.
Li Lun remained in the Wilderness, helping Wen Xiao in every way possible to make it a better world and atone for his own sins. Pei Si Jing also remained with Wen Xiao as her guardian, teaching her from basic defensive moves to mastering offensive moves with a bow and dagger, and protected her during long periods of cultivation alongside Li Lun and their dear Xue Long.
Ying Lei and Bai Jiu remained together, running a joint business in the same building called Fangs of Fortune. One floor was a Teahouse and dining, and the other a clinic accessible to all, rich or poor. Pei Si Heng worked with both of them when he had nothing to do at the Bureau, where he was staying, or when he was not visiting his sister.
Zhu Yan and Yi Chen stayed together (along with someone else for the first year) between the Bureau and the Wilderness, spending half their time in each realm. At the Bureau, they trained new recruits (as they were now quite famous) and guarded the city, giving the people a greater sense of peace and the assurance that a divine dragon and a blessed great demon were watching over them. In the Wilderness, they helped the demons build a new way of life, full of hope and prosperity.
Twice a year, and sometimes even more, the entire team would reunite for celebrations or festivals, to spend time as the family they had become, even if they had partially go on different paths. Of course, it was practically mandatory for Yi Chen and Zhu Yan to dine at Ying Lei's Fangs of Fortune, while he remained at the Bureau, as Bai Jiu insisted that he visit at least once a day to fulfill his brotherly duties of looking after his younger brother, even when he grew into a full-fledged adult, with a happy mountain god as a very caring lover.
For Zhu Yan, it was about time they ended up together, as Ying Lei had worked hard to win Bai Jiu's affection during the years they spent working together. Yi Chen was also relieved that they had finally found their own happy ending, even if it had taken them a full ten years to reach it.
As for them, after the first year in where they share their lives with someone very dear to both of them, they mostly shared Yi Chen's room in the Bureau, which was still his ancestral home, but sometimes they stayed at Zhu Yan's Peach Blossom where they enjoyed greater intimacy. One night, Zhu Yan had a dream, something quite unusual for him as he usually rested next to Yi Chen, hugging him while he slept (as that was the one human habit he didn't know how to get rid of) and woke up crying with an intense emotion that Yi Chen had never seen him display before, apart from when they were making love.
"Xiao Yan... what happen? What's wrong? Why are you crying like that?" Yi Chen asked tenderly, hugging him and gently rubbing his back to try to calm him down. However, it took some time to calm him down, as Zhu Yan's endless grief suddenly manifested all at once.
"I have a dream..." Zhu Yan finally replied after the tears stopped running down his cheeks and his heart reached peace.
"It's okay... do you dream with Xue Long? I do, all the time, I miss him, but life needs to go on, he is fine where he choose to be..." He whispered as he hugged him and kissed Zhu Yan's forehead.
"It's not that... it's a dream about someone from my past... our past..." Zhu Yan said softly, and Yi Chen wondered who else it could be.
"My Zhu Yan, who can make you cry like this? I can't remember anyone who has affected you so much, unless it's Wan'er?" He asked, but Zhu Yan hugged him tighter.
"I've made peace with her before. It wasn't her..." He whispered as he closed his eyes, and then Yi Chen remembered. Someone from their past...? His older brother and his father?
"Is it... my brother and..."
"Yes... their death has weighed on my heart for so long. Even with you by my side, even with your forgiveness, their death still clings to me like a second skin..."
"Then... can you tell me..."
"Zhuo Yixuan spoke to me... he told me that although what I did was a sin, it was a sin committed only by Chaos, a force that even the gods have a hard time dealing with... he said he doesn't blame me, nor does your father, and that making you happy in his place, caring for you, protecting you no matter what, is how I've already atoned for that sin... he said he frees me from my guilt, as there is nothing to forgive. Their souls will eventually be reincarnated, and perhaps when they return to this world, you will be able to have them back, be a happy family again... that Nuwa will grant them that blessing... and you will know when that time comes." Zhu Yan explained, and Yi Chen sighed softly.
"I'd love to have them back... I miss them too..." Yi Chen whispered into Zhu Yan's hair.
"I feel free... so much lighter... for being forgiven, once again." Zhu Yan said as tears streamed down his face, but this time, Yi Che gently wiped them away.
"You were forgiven a long time ago, Zhu Yan, otherwise, I wouldn't be so madly in love with you..."
"Ah, Xiao Chen... come and seal that promise with a kiss, the way we both love it..." Yi Chen smiled before fulfilling Zhu Yan's wish. They kissed for a long time before one thing led to another and they discarded their clothes so they could explore and enjoy their ultimate form of love. They would never tire of it, never part, for their lives were bound by something heavenly.
The End?
Wait, it's not over yet! There's a story that hasn't been told. Who is Xue Long? Well, that baby dragon born from Yi Chen's essence that worked so hard to heal Zhu Yan's core, that adorable baby dragon that once protected him from Wen Zongyu, that grew and took form outside Zhu Yan's core, to keep them both safe, have also received his own power from Nuwa.
In a way, the little dragon became their son, since it was born from their demonic and divine energy and cultivated inside the sundial for a whole month under Li Lun's guidance until it reached human form. When he emerged from it, it had been as a gorgeous young man, dressed like Yi Chen in two tones of blue robes, tall, slender, adorable turquoise eyes, beautiful handsome face and blue hair with short bangs at both side of his face and Li Lun had been permanently fixated in him, as much at he had been with Zhu Yan before him. They had name him Xue Long (Snow Dragon).
Xue Long had great affection for Zhu Yan, and follow him everywhere for a whole year, just as Bai Jiu did for Yi Chen, as it was his duty to heal him when his core was damaged. But seeing Zhu Yan so happy with Yi Chen, his core fully heal, and the world was no longer in chaos, he decided to stay in the Wilderness and help Li Lun with his promise to protect demons. Of course, both Zhu Yan and Yi Chen greatly loved their 'son', but he also had the right to choose his own path, the one he found most comfortable.
Thus, Li Lun, while fulfilling his duty in the Wilderness, trying to repair the damage he had caused with his own hands, had someone at his side to help him and someone to keep an eye on him so he will never go astray again. The little dragon had deep ties with Zhu Yan and Yi Chen, so the goddess Wen Xiao constantly teased Li Lun due to his growing fascination (crush) with the young dragon.
However, Li Lun was aware that the Xue Long was not just any dragon, but also a divine being, not to mention that he had two fathers who could annihilate him the instant he attempted to make a move on him. But in the end, after eight years of patience and the little dragon slowly falling in love with him, Zhu Yan give in and approve of their relationship. Although Yi Chen was not as enthusiastic, he was easily persuaded by his mischievous lover.
It wasn't that they weren't under supervision, as during the half year that Zhu Yan and Yi Chen spent in the Wilderness, Xue Long stayed with them to live happily as a family. Li Lun would have to adapt or give up on him, but it wasn't like him to cave in or give up. So for the rest of the year, he had Xue Long to himself, he made the most of the opportunities, and go as far as Xue Long would let him, unable to go as far as he wished, given Xue Long stubborn and shy nature, just like Yi Chen, but satisfy with their growing relationship. Still, Li Lun was happy to have a second chance at life, a second chance to make things right and a second chance to love and be loved back.
Thus, only one wood demon named Pei Si Heng had no love interest, not because he lacked suitors, as they were all admired heroes, but because he hadn't yet been bitten by the love bug like the others. However, since he was immortal, in time, when the moment was right, he too would find his other half.
The End
AN: Thanks for reading this story so far and I hope it give you joy along their journey, as it did me and if you like it, please vote and comment, that will make me happy too. If you feel disappointed instead with this ending, that fine too, I will thank you for reaching the end nonetheless.