388: (Final Episode) My journey is to the stars and the sea, and also to you.

Time flows at different rates in different dimensions.

To the residents of Black Iron City, the "Dragon Slaying Inn" has already become a legend.

That always smiling young boss, that incredibly beautiful boss lady, and that fat chef who, though greedy for money, cooked exceptionally delicious food.

They were like mysteries that appeared out of thin air, and also like the most brilliant lights of this city.

Night fell.

The inn closed.

The hustle and bustle faded away, leaving only the occasional "crackling" sound of charcoal in the fireplace.

"Phew—"

Wang Peng (Fatty) wiped the last stack of plates until they were gleaming, then slumped behind the bar, rubbing his lower back without any regard for his image.

"Brother Chen, isn't our business a bit too good?"

"That Dwarf King almost got into a fight with the Orc Chieftain just to reserve a table for tomorrow, and they even smashed the stone lions at our door."

"If they're smashed, make him pay."

Lu Chen sat in a rocking chair by the window, still holding that thermos he hadn't discarded even after coming to this other world.

He looked at the two purple moons outside the window, his gaze calm and deep.

"According to the current exchange rate, the compensation is enough for us to buy the Magic Mine next door."

"Hehe, I thought so too!"

Wang Peng instantly perked up, pulled out a holographic abacus, and his fingers flew across it.

"Once we buy the mine, we can start 'Magic Power Generation' and then promote 'light bulbs' in this world. That's another windfall!"

Looking at his money-grubbing best friend, Lu Chen shook his head helplessly.

No matter where they were, or how much time had passed.

Fatty would always be that same Fatty.

As long as he was around, life would always have a warm, lively atmosphere.

"Alright, stop calculating."

Su Qingying walked down from upstairs.

She had changed into a set of white loungewear that looked a bit strange in this world but was incredibly familiar to Lu Chen.

That was how she used to dress back on Earth.

"Tonight is New Year's Eve."

Qingying walked to Lu Chen's side and gently took the thermos from his hand.

"According to the rules of our hometown."

"It's time to eat dumplings."

"New Year's Eve?"

Wang Peng was stunned for a moment, then slapped his thigh hard.

"Holy crap! I totally forgot! How many years has it been since we left? What year is it on Earth according to the Cosmic Calendar?"

"It doesn't matter."

Lu Chen stood up and walked to the table.

There, flour, meat filling (dragon meat, no less), and several bottles of treasured Earth Erguotou were already laid out.

"No matter where we are, or what calendar we use."

"As long as we are together."

"Today is New Year's Eve."

The three of them sat together and started making dumplings.

Lu Chen rolled the dough, Su Qingying wrapped the filling, and Wang Peng was responsible for causing trouble and sneaking bites.

There were no earth-shattering magic effects, nor any blessing from Higher Dimensions rules.

It was just an ordinary, even somewhat clumsy, New Year's Eve dinner.

But Lu Chen felt it tasted better than any state banquet he had ever attended in Lingxiao Hall.

"Brother Chen."

Wang Peng asked indistinctly with a freshly cooked dumpling stuffed in his mouth.

"Say, what do you think that kid Xinghe is doing right now?"

"Could he be in that 'Heavenly Court,' munching on an artificial star while thinking about us?"

Lu Chen's hand paused slightly.

He looked up, his gaze seemingly piercing through the thick walls and the barriers of dimensions, looking toward that distant shore.

"Him..."

Lu Chen smiled.

He smiled with immense pride.

"Right now, he's probably busy drafting a constitution for that 'New Universe'."

"That kid has more ambition than I do."

"I just wanted to be an administrator."

"He—"

Lu Chen pointed at the ceiling.

"He wants to connect all the 'servers' into one single network."

"Let's not worry about him."

Qingying placed a dumpling in Lu Chen's bowl, her eyes gentle.

"Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes."

"He is already a qualified leader."

"Yeah."

Lu Chen ate the dumpling and raised his glass.

"Come."

"To the past."

"To that silly kid who was writing code in a rented room."

"To the future."

"To that brat who is fighting in the starry sea."

"And..."

Lu Chen looked at the two people beside him, tears shimmering in his eyes.

"To us."

"To this damn, yet absolutely magnificent..."

"Fate."

"Cheers!!!"

The crisp sound of clinking glasses echoed in the late night of this foreign land.

After a hearty meal.

Wang Peng was already snoring loudly, fast asleep on the bar.

Lu Chen held Qingying's hand and went to the terrace.

The night wind was cold, but their hands were held tight.

"Qingying."

Lu Chen looked at the sky full of stars.

In this magical world, the arrangement of stars was completely different from Earth.

But he still felt it was beautiful.

"Do you remember my slogan from back then?"

"I remember."

Su Qingying leaned on his shoulder and whispered.

"I provide the brains, the country provides everything else."

"Yeah."

Lu Chen sighed with emotion.

"Back then, I felt the country was my backing, my everything."

"Later, I felt the system was my reliance."

"And then, I felt that power was the truth."

"But now..."

Lu Chen turned around and cupped Qingying's face in his hands.

His gaze was more brilliant and more affectionate than the starry sea across the sky.

"Having traveled through the myriad worlds and witnessed the birth and death of dimensions."

"I've finally realized."

"What 'everything' truly is."

"It's not authority, not eternal life, nor omniscience or omnipotence."

"It's..."

Lu Chen lowered his head, his forehead against hers.

"When you look back."

"That light is still on."

"That person is still there."

"Qingying."

"Hmm?"

"Thank you."

"For accompanying me through such a long and crazy dream."

Su Qingying smiled.

Tears slid down her cheeks and dripped onto the back of Lu Chen's hand, burning hot.

"Silly."

"This isn't a dream."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Lu Chen's lips.

"This is..."

"Our life."

A long time later.

Their lips parted.

Lu Chen held Su Qingying tightly in his arms, as if he wanted to meld her into his own flesh and blood.

He looked up at the deep night sky one last time.

There, a shooting star seemed to flash across.

A new civilization was being born, and an old story was coming to an end.

"The world is vast."

Lu Chen said softly.

"In the future, we'll go to even more places."

"To see what lies beyond The Fifth Layer."

"To see what lies at the end of magic."

"My journey is the starry sea."

Lu Chen looked down at the lover in his arms, his voice infinitely tender.

"And also..."

"You."