Flashback - His death

The sword sank into Bai Yue's chest easily. Too easily. As it pierced her heart, Ji Mo Yuan froze, his mind reeling. Gods. What had he done?

"Thank you," she breathed out, her voice so weak, hoarse, and full of relief that he doubted it was real.

But it was, he swiftly realized with a pounding heart, and those words were the last Bai Yue would ever say in this lifetime.

He pressed his eyelids shut and murmured a prayer for her tortured soul, wishing for her next life to be full of light and happiness. He hoped she would live the life she deserved and be her own master.

His prayer, however, was suddenly cut short when pain erupted in his abdomen. He lowered his head, bewildered, and his eyes widened when they saw the sword sticking out of his stomach.

A bead of blood rolled off the sharp tip of the blade and crashed against the tiled floor of the palace.