Chapitre 91: True Affection in Adversity (1)
The two walked at a leisurely pace, with Lan Yixuan holding Xian Yue's hand as they traversed the dense thicket, weaving around the towering trees that obscured the sky. The sun, suspended in the center of the sky, gradually descended towards the west, casting a warm orange glow upon the ground. They found themselves on a vast expanse of lush green grass, the tender blades barely reaching their calves, with a sheer cliff face looming ahead.
Lan Yixuan halted, releasing Xian Yue's hand, and pointed toward the steep precipice. "What you seek lies beyond that edge."
Following the direction of his finger, Xian Yue glanced back at him before stepping onto a low mound and sprinting towards the cliff.
Lan Yixuan moved a few steps forward and found a relatively clean spot to sit. It was evening, and the verdant grass was quite dry, with minimal moisture lingering in the air.
The setting sun hung like a perfect orb, illuminating the expansive grassland, where the green seemed to stretch endlessly, dotted here and there with small wildflowers. The sky was no longer a velvety blue but ablaze with vibrant hues reminiscent of a fierce fire, casting a brilliant light upon the earth, harmonizing beautifully with the vivid green below. In the distance, a steep mountain peak loomed, shrouded in mist.
As they approached the cliff, the vegetation became increasingly sparse, with a few stunted trees scattered at the edge. They stood only waist-high, their stout trunks topped with sprawling branches that formed a rounded canopy resembling a mushroom. Xian Yue felt an uncanny resemblance to the embrace of the Grim Reaper, as if the thick trunk were grasping her, pulling her inexorably into the dark abyss.
Standing at the precipice, Xian Yue surveyed the surroundings but found no sign of the dragon fruit. Turning around, she noticed Lan Yixuan partially engulfed by the grass, his eyes squinted and his brow relaxed. Yet, she could read a hint of weariness etched upon his features. Xian Yue parted her lips, her neck straining as she intended to inquire, but ultimately refrained from asking anything.
Deep down, she still believed in Lan Yixuan; this place surely held the dragon fruit.
The moment Xian Yue turned away, Lan Yixuan opened his barely closed eyes. On the cliff, her petite, frail silhouette was bathed in a faint golden hue, her white garments billowing in the breeze like flags, imbued with an icy elegance. A small finger resting on her knee twitched slightly before her eyes gradually shut once more.
After a moment's hesitation, Xian Yue took a few more steps forward, her right hand grasping the nearby squat tree for support, leaning against its sturdy trunk. Unlike the misty mountains across the way, she found her vantage point afforded a clear view of the cliff face—a towering height of several thousand meters, smooth and devoid of any footholds. Xian Yue swallowed hard, feeling a pang of trepidation. This place was undeniably perilous, with no foothold at such a dizzying height, yet she found herself more composed than before.
"Feng Xian Yue," Lan Yixuan murmured, plucking a blade of green grass and holding it in his palm. His eyes narrowed into a thin line, his voice subdued, as if suppressing something within.
Xian Yue did not turn. Something was breaking through the earth; in an instant, tender leaves sprouted from the barren cliffside with astonishing rapidity. The orange sunlight caught the small, palm-sized green leaves, reflecting light and revealing the fiery, bright eyes of the dragon—a sight so vivid it momentarily thrilled her. "Lan Yixuan, the dragon fruit has borne fruit!"
Lan Yixuan opened his eyes. Through layers of green, he could only see Xian Yue's hand waving excitedly, her animated voice carried to him by the wind. Yet, not seeing her figure left him uneasy. Rising to his feet, he brushed off his trousers, his palms tinged with a dull yellow hue. Lan Yixuan furrowed his brow, spotting her form at the cliff's edge and exhaling in relief.
The sprawling green leaves began to converge, and in their midst sprouted a small, pointed tip that quickly unfurled like bamboo shoots after rain, transforming into a glistening, translucent red crystal, shimmering with radiance, enfolded within layers of green foliage.
Xian Yue's eyes remained fixed, observing every unfolding moment with a blend of urgency and delight. The outer layer of leaves gradually fell away, releasing a rich, intoxicating fragrance that filled the air. All her thoughts were consumed by the dragon fruit on the cliff, completely oblivious to the roots of the tree that bore her slowly being uprooted from the ground.
As the leaves fell, the glistening fruit was revealed, not too far from Xian Yue yet still just beyond her reach. She stretched out her hand repeatedly, falling short each time.
Watching Xian Yue at the cliff's edge, Lan Yixuan beheld her eager, elated expression. His previously tranquil heart surged with an unfamiliar turmoil. He was both frustrated and annoyed with her yet couldn't bring himself to act harshly. Seeing her brow furrowed brought him some solace, even as his own heart ached, wishing for her discomfort to mirror his own.
After several failed attempts to grasp a single dragon fruit, Xian Yue felt a wave of impatience wash over her. Leaning against the tree, she closed her eyes in contemplation, a smile suddenly lighting her face. She raised her left hand and deftly tore a strip of fabric from her sleeve. The white cloth fluttered in the air like a nimble dragon. With a graceful flick, she wrapped it around three dragon fruits, a triumphant smile spreading across her face as all three fruits became her prize.
"Lan Yixuan," she called, waving the strip of fabric adorned with the dragon fruits in a position where he couldn't quite see, her smile radiating pride. Meanwhile, the once sturdy tree began to tremble, as if echoing the fate of the dragon fruits at the cliff.
"Feng Xian Yue!"
"Feng Xian Yue, are you there?"
"Sir!"
White Zhanfeng and his companions had disregarded whether Xian Yue and the others had exited the royal tomb. Upon entering the thicket, they called out their names, driven by both hope and a need to quell their rising panic. The echoing calls reverberated through the desolate valley, tinged with anxiety and trepidation.
Lan Yixuan turned around and spotted Leiyun clad in gray from a distance. He waved his hand. Upon seeing him, Leiyun's eyes widened in surprise, momentarily frozen before dashing toward him.
"Sir!" Leiyun exclaimed, looking Lan Yixuan up and down, relieved to find him unharmed aside from faint traces of blood on his shoulder. "I'm glad you're alright."
The sight of those familiar bloodstains eased his worries; it meant Xian Yue was safe as well.
"Where's Xian Yue?" White Zhanfeng glanced around, not spotting her. He rushed over to Lan Yixuan, demanding an answer.
Having journeyed through dust and turmoil, White Zhanfeng was anxious, hastening his steps, his face lined with fatigue. As he reached Lan Yixuan, he quickly moved to stand just behind him.
Hua Chuxue, with her head bowed, stood anxiously behind Lan Yixuan, her fingers intertwined in uncertainty.
"There!" Lan Yixuan pointed towards the tree Xian Yue was climbing. His usually gentle gaze was now filled with urgency, eyes widening in terror. Without a second thought, he pushed past White Zhanfeng, racing towards the edge.
White Zhanfeng followed the direction of Lan Yixuan's finger, feeling as if a knife had sliced through his face. Frowning, he turned, the enveloping purple fabric blocking his view. As the vibrant cloak billowed past him, he caught a glimpse of a hand waving from the cliff and instinctively followed the movement. His gaze landed upon another hand emerging from the fractured roots below.
"Be careful!" he shouted. The ground seemed to cave beneath him as he rushed forward, the air charged with urgency. Having witnessed Lan Yixuan's ashen face, Bai Ao recognized the gravity of the situation. He redirected his focus entirely onto White Zhanfeng, and as he raised his head, he swiftly clasped his shoulders, his voice booming, "Do not go!"
The elder of the Bai family commanded a presence akin to royalty, yet his eyes betrayed an unspoken dread, one that White Zhanfeng was oblivious to.
For someone with White Zhanfeng's abilities, breaking free from Bai Ao's grasp was no challenge. He hesitated only for a brief moment, then forcefully pried Bai Ao's hands away. "Elder, don't force my hand!"
Watching his beloved woman plummet from the cliff without acting would haunt him for a lifetime.
Bai Ao was compelled to release White Zhanfeng, but that brief delay granted Hua Chuxue the precious moments she needed. Seeing Lan Yixuan charging madly towards the cliff followed by the trembling tree, she immediately realized the gravity of the situation. A sinister smile twisted her lips, radiating glee.
This time, whether Feng Xian Yue lived or died was of no concern to her; as she noticed White Zhanfeng preparing to assist, she swiftly positioned herself before him without a moment's thought.
"Do not go!"
That command was issued under the pretense of royalty, yet Bai Zhanfeng remained unfazed, his expression stern and resolute as he coldly commanded, "Get lost." He respected Bai Ao, but he held no regard for Hua Chuxue's royal status.
"You are a member of the Bai family; even in death, you can only sacrifice for the Chu Kingdom."
Seeing the unwavering determination on her face, Bai Zhanfeng realized that reasoning with her was futile. The term "venomous heart" perfectly encapsulated the woman standing before him. Was she beautiful? To him, she was nothing but grotesque.
"Was this all part of your scheme?"
Bai Zhanfeng questioned icily, showing no mercy to the delicate. He harbored no compassion for her, especially not in this moment, wishing instead to stride over her lifeless body, unleashing his Iron Sand Palm directly at Hua Chuxue. If not for his concern for Bai Ao standing behind him, he would have exerted all his strength.
In terms of skill, Hua Chuxue was no slouch either, nimbly evading Bai Zhanfeng's frenzied onslaught. While she wasn't completely at ease, she managed to avoid injury.
"Young Master."
Lei Yun, sensing the urgency, rushed in. Just as he did, the ground beneath him shifted ominously. With a resounding crash, dozens of men clad in black emerged from the earth, encircling Lei Yun.
Xuan Yue fastened three dragon fruits to her waist and prepared to pluck more when she suddenly heard Bai Zhanfeng's piercing scream. Startled, she turned, only to find that the tree she had been clinging to had detached from the ground, with only a few slender roots clinging to the soil. Without a second thought, driven by her instinct for danger, she released her grip. In the next instant, the tree she had been holding was hurled into the air, its trunk resembling a gray-black specter, bound in thick ropes of the same hue.
This was all a meticulously crafted trap—this was Xuan Yue's immediate thought, but she had no time to ponder who orchestrated it.
With a graceful leap, she soared like a swallow, her eyes sharp as lightning. Yet, the cliff provided no safe landing. Frowning, she realized that with no solid ground beneath her, she needed to find something to grasp onto.
Her toes found a tiny protrusion, no larger than a thumb, yet it felt as fragile as the peak of an iceberg. As her foot landed on it, her palm barely grazed the stone wall. Her pupils constricted as she realized the walls were slick with moisture, more slippery than she had anticipated.
A jolt of alarm coursed through her heart. Ignoring the risk, she pressed against the wall with all her strength. Her palms cracked open, blood seeping forth, but it changed nothing. Her grip slipped, and her body, initially inclined towards the wall, suddenly leaned backward, slipping further down the stone face, her entire being suspended in the air.
"Ah."
Xuan Yue cried out, acutely aware of her body plummeting. She desperately sought balance, yet could find no foothold. She understood the cliff's towering height; if she fell onto the rocks below, she would surely be shattered to pieces.
Her eyes widened as she watched herself drift further from the edge, panic flooding her heart. She could distinctly hear the clashing of weapons above, each sound echoing like a hammer striking her heart. They had all been intercepted; no one would come to rescue her. Slowly, she closed her eyes, succumbing to despair and pessimism. The only thought lingering in her mind was the grim realization that she was doomed.
"Brother Xuan!"
"Young Master!"
Both Hua Chuxue and Lei Yun shouted in alarm as the battle above intensified.
In the blink of an eye, Xuan Yue's descent abruptly halted in midair; a hand gripped hers firmly, suspending her aloft. A shockwave surged through her, and as she looked up, disbelief washed over her as she gazed at the violet figure above.
There stood Lan Yixuan, his soft sword embedded deep in the smooth rock, his left hand clutching the hilt while the other held her hand tightly. Stunned, she stared at him as if petrified. The sunset had never seemed so dazzling; it bathed Lan Yixuan in a gentle golden light. Yet, in his eyes, she could read an unwavering resolve to defy death.
"Who permitted you to die?"
Lan Yixuan's brow furrowed slightly as he glanced at the dazed Xuan Yue. His lips curled upward, radiating warmth, yet he remained composed and unruffled in this life-and-death moment. He bit his lip; Xuan Yue felt something blur her vision, and when the taste of salt reached her lips, the familiar briny tang stirred a deep urge to cry.
Lan Yixuan's shoulder, still unbandaged from Xuan Yue's bite, was abruptly torn open from the sudden strain. Blood stained his shoulder and dripped from his arm, splattering onto the hand that gripped Xuan Yue's.
The mountain winds howled, threatening to whisk Xuan Yue away, and she closed her eyes, listening to the rhythmic drumming of blood dripping from Lan Yixuan's shoulder. Why did she feel as if blood was seeping from her own body?
Lan Yixuan bit his lip, cold sweat beading on his forehead. This was no flat ground but a sheer cliff, and given his injury, the pain was excruciating. A normal person would have long since succumbed.
"I told you, half of your life is mine."
Lan Yixuan enunciated each word deliberately.
Those nine words resonated with familiarity, spoken in the same tone by the same person. Despite her disdain for such domineering behavior, Xuan Yue found herself unable to feel animosity now. The decision she had just made stirred a tumultuous wave within her. She gazed up at Lan Yixuan, acutely aware of his waning energy, his face pale on one side and a ghastly hue on the other. This was the most disheveled she had ever seen him, yet it ignited an uncontrollable longing in her heart. She stared at his face, feeling something inside her soften and collapse like something immersed in warm water.
With a slight smile, she realized that in this life-and-death moment, he had grasped her hand, ready to forsake his own life for hers. This realization brought her an inexplicable joy.
Lan Yixuan held the hilt of his sword with one hand while refusing to release Xuan Yue with the other. He glanced around, taken aback; he had never encountered such a smooth cliff face before.
Xuan Yue's hand had just been cut by the stone, blood oozing from the wound. Her palm was slick with sweat, rendering it no different from the cliff wall—slippery and treacherous. No matter how tightly Lan Yixuan gripped her, it was in vain. In this precarious position, even with their extraordinary skills, they were rendered powerless against the fierce wind.
Lan Yixuan's eyes were gently closed, and his right arm had gone numb from the pain, feeling almost like it no longer belonged to him. However, in this precarious situation, he had no choice but to endure. Drawing a deep breath, he felt the soft sword lodged in the crevice of the rock begin to slide down slightly. His complexion shifted as he exerted himself, pushing the sword's hilt inward with sudden force, maintaining the standoff.
Xuan Yue's thumb silently slipped from Lan Yixuan's palm; the viscous blood not only failed to bond their hands tightly together but also caused them to pull apart increasingly. Frowning, she sensed the growing speed of their separation and knew that Lan Yixuan must have noticed. Tilting her head back, she shouted, "Lan Yixuan, let go! You must release me!"
Lan Yixuan lacked the strength to respond verbally. He glanced at her, frustration evident on his face, as if silently demanding her to be quiet.
Xuan Yue's brow furrowed tighter, her eyes narrowing into slits. In this brief moment, no one could have devised such a flawlessly intricate plan. While Hua Chuxue was skilled at deception, whenever it involved Lan Yixuan, she could never remain composed. Aware that her time to reach the Valley of Death was limited and that she had to pry the route from the King of Chu, she realized that if she were indeed behind all this, Lan Yixuan would have already leapt from the cliff. If her adversaries were sent by her, there would be no sounds of combat from above.
Knowing she would come to the Valley of Death, understanding her desire to procure the fire dragon fruit, and predicting her climb up that tree—such meticulous calculations could rival even Lan Yixuan's prowess. Everything he did was merely to place her in peril; how could he allow anyone to rescue her? Without the assistance of Lei Yun and Bai Zhanfeng, both she and Lan Yixuan would have been utterly exhausted and unable to ascend.
"Lan Yixuan, if I were you, I would let go. You are cunning, treacherous, ruthless, and selfish; you would stop at nothing to achieve your goals. A swift death would bring peace, and I would never recklessly endanger my life to save yours."
Lan Yixuan nodded gently, "I understand."
He smiled faintly, "Only Feng Jiulan could compel you to act so recklessly."
Lan Yixuan's lips began to pale, his entire being growing increasingly weary. With a mocking smile, he scoffed, "Xuan Yue, how could I ever fall for a woman like you?"
Women from all corners of the world adored him, yet he was inexplicably drawn to one who did not reciprocate his feelings and was willing to risk her life. "Do you like me?"
Xuan Yue's heart fluttered. If Lan Yixuan refused to release his grip, neither of them would survive.
"Lan Yixuan, let go! I do not want you to die alongside me, only to be bound to you in the underworld."
Bai Zhanfeng and Hua Chuxue stood back to back, their expressions cold as they surveyed the dozens of black-clad figures surrounding them, exuding a chilling aura.
In the moment Lan Yixuan leapt off the cliff without hesitation, he and Hua Chuxue ceased their internal strife, focusing instead on the sudden onslaught of these formidable, skilled, and energized adversaries. Bai Zhanfeng was aware of Hua Chuxue's capabilities, knowing she was his equal. He had intended to rescue someone while Hua Chuxue held the rear, but now they found themselves ensnared, their original plan rendered futile. If they were struggling, one could only imagine Lei Yun's predicament.
"Look into their eyes," Hua Chuxue remarked, her fox-like gaze fixed coldly on the hollow, soulless eyes of their foes. "They are being controlled."
Having engaged in battle moments prior, Bai Zhanfeng pieced together some of the puzzle. These foes were so formidable that even when wounded by his iron sand palm, bleeding profusely, they swiftly recovered and continued to fight—something beyond what a normal human could endure.
"What do we do now?"
He had only heard of such dark sorcery and had never witnessed it firsthand, but to have Hua Chuxue, a princess of the inner court, recognize it, filled him with hope that she might know a way to counter it.
"One swift strike, sever their blood vessels."
As Hua Chuxue's words fell, her agile body sprang into the air. She had encountered such undead beings before; she herself was one. Yet evidently, that person was not ruthless enough. These individuals were merely half-dead; when controlled, their blades were unbreakable, but in their everyday state, they were no different from ordinary people. They would bleed, and as long as their blood vessels were cut, there would be no way for them to continue fighting.
What a brutal move! Bai Zhanfeng was taken aback but saw the bloodshed that followed Hua Chuxue's passage. Her long nails served as the finest weapons, effortlessly slicing through their vessels, and indeed, those foes collapsed to the ground. Clenching his teeth, he realized he was only staining his hands with the blood of evil men; these people sought to end Xuan Yue's life, and they had to be dealt with.
With this thought, he unleashed his iron sand palm, aimed straight at their throats, and within moments, a majority had fallen, the once-vibrant green grass now stained crimson. Lei Yun naturally followed suit.
"I'll go rescue her!"
Bai Zhanfeng bellowed, and Lei Yun leaped in front of him, serving as his protector, escorting him to the edge of the cliff.
"That would be best," Lan Yixuan internally reassured himself, gazing at the ground a full five meters below, realizing that if he did not let go, they would inevitably die together. He no longer possessed the strength to continue.
Not being moved was indeed fortunate. Lan Yixuan was cunning, treacherous, and selfish; he would stop at nothing to achieve his aims, yet here he was, devoid of Feng Xuan Yue's lack of concern for her own safety.
"feng Xuan Yue, are you ready?"
He gently inquired, his weakened form becoming increasingly apparent, his grip loosening. Xuan Yue's heart raced, and she shrieked, "Lan Yixuan, what are you planning?"
If he merely intended to release her, there would be no need for such movements: "I forbid you! I forbid you!"
She cried out twice in succession, panic surging through her. Wanting to shake her head, she hesitated, fearing it would only add to Lan Yixuan's burden. Her bright eyes, glistening with tears, bore into his. "Lan Yixuan, if you dare to do that, I will jump down immediately!"
Watching the tears on Xuan Yue's face meld with the dried blood, Lan Yixuan's lips curved upward in a peculiar sense of delight as he softly murmured, "Hypocritical."
Xuan Yue could not quite catch what he said, only catching the movement of his lips, mistaking it for instructions. Her heart raced even more, clinging tightly to Lan Yixuan's hand, refusing to let go.
"Bai Zhanfeng, Lei Yun, if you don't hurry, I'll fall!"
Xuan Yue didn't care whether they could hear her, nor did she know if they could defeat their foes to save her. All she wanted was for them to rescue her, along with Lan Yixuan, who truly couldn't hold on much longer. Had she foreseen this outcome, she would never have heeded Hua Chuxue's words to come to this Valley of Death, dragging Lan Yixuan down with her, falling into someone else's trap. Who was it that wished to see her dead? Did they merely desire her demise?
She attempted to ponder further, but her thoughts began to short-circuit, leaving her mind blank as she gazed up at Lan Yixuan. His complexion had transcended mere pallor; guilt swelled within her. Since their acquaintance, it seemed she had only been a burden to him.
"Fear not, my lady. I am here to save you."
Hearing Bai Zhanfeng's voice, Xianyue's heart soared with joy, akin to the revival of a withered tree in spring. "Lanyi Xuan, did you hear? Bai Zhanfeng has come to rescue us."
Bai Zhanfeng stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at Lanyi Xuan and Xianyue suspended in midair. He finally grasped the situation; no wonder their remarkable skills had yet to allow them to ascend.
Xianyue maintained her upward gaze and addressed Bai Zhanfeng, "Do you have any flying daggers? Stick them into the crumbling wall and move quickly."
Even in this moment of life and death, Xianyue's tone towards Bai Zhanfeng was far from cordial.
Upon hearing Xianyue's voice, Lei Yun swiftly handed all his flying daggers to Bai Zhanfeng. With his heart racing, Bai Zhanfeng bent low and shot the daggers with pinpoint precision, embedding them around Lanyi Xuan and Xianyue.
"You go up first," Lanyi Xuan instructed Xianyue.
After a brief moment of hesitation, with no room for negotiation, Xianyue insisted, "Let go. You go up first."
With the flying daggers supporting her feet, she was barely able to hold herself up. Even if he released his grip, she could cling to the stone wall and avoid falling. Her concern lingered; if she ascended first, Lanyi Xuan might not be able to follow. Despite knowing his formidable strength, she worried, as Lanyi Xuan appeared exceedingly weak at that moment.
Lei Yun turned around, picked up a large blade from the ground, and began to connect it with others. He removed his clothes and wrapped the elongated blades, lowering them over the cliff. "Young master," he called.
Bai Zhanfeng seized one end from Lei Yun's hands, feeling he had greater strength than Lei Yun. With many of the black-clad men already dispatched, Bai Ao maneuvered around the fallen bodies to stand beside Bai Zhanfeng.
"Climb quickly," Xianyue urged, eyeing the gray-black silhouette hanging in the air, less than a meter away from Lanyi Xuan. If he could just grasp it, Bai Zhanfeng would surely pull him up.
Lanyi Xuan glanced at Xianyue, drew the sword from the cliff with his left hand, then forcefully leaped, seizing the long spear that Bai Zhanfeng had cast down.
Xianyue let out a sigh of relief. However, in that same instant, a dark figure emerged from the opposite side of the cliff. Its voluminous black robe appeared somewhat sinister against the dimming sunset. Xianyue's gaze shifted back to Lanyi Xuan, and by the time she sensed something was amiss, the figure had already reached his side. Behind him was a slender thread of silk, the lithe figure resembling an eagle spreading its wings, launching an attack toward her.
"Die!"
Xianyue looked up at the shadow hanging in the air. As the wind lifted the figure's hood, she was met with an unfamiliar face, yet the eyes—dark, profound, and icy—were as sharp and predatory as a wolf ready to pounce, evoking a chilling instinct to remain vigilant. The more she stared, the more familiar it seemed.
Her gaze fell on the jade bracelet on her left hand, and she couldn't help but smile.
"Xianyue!"
Bai Zhanfeng shouted, his eyes wide with anger as he witnessed Xianyue's falling body. It felt as though all strength left him, and he released his grip on Lanyi Xuan's hand.
"Brother Xuan, come up quickly!"
Hua Chuxue stood at the cliff's edge, her heart suspended in anxiety.
In the silent valley, the piercing sound shattered the air. Lanyi Xuan turned around to see Xianyue plummeting behind him. Ahead, the ground beneath the setting sun was littered with corpses, the tender green grass soaked in blood, a horrifying sight.
"Don't let go."
"Ah!"
Bai Zhanfeng's grip, initially loosened, tightened suddenly. Gritting his teeth, he glanced at Lei Yun, who stood frozen, watching Xianyue's descent. His heart felt as if it had been plunged into ice. His vision darkened, instinctively shifting towards Bai Zhanfeng, fearing he would release his hold.
As a loyal servant, it was his instinct to protect his master.
Bai Zhanfeng took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and with a sudden pull, sensed that the other end had slackened significantly. Alarmed, he looked in the direction of the gray-black silhouette, but saw nothing; the pale figure atop the cliff was now invisible, leaving only a purple robe fluttering in the air.
"Brother Xuan."
"Young master."
Bai Ao looked into Bai Zhanfeng's ashen eyes, sensing that this man's heart seemed to die alongside him. Alarmed yet helpless, he grasped Bai Zhanfeng's hands firmly, his tone lacking the usual commanding authority, replaced by an earnest plea. "Feng'er, the Bai family cannot do without you."
The figures of Bai Zhanfeng and Bai Ao gradually blurred into one until nothing remained visible. He could hear no sounds. In a daze, he turned to see Bai Ao's worried expression and unexpectedly laughed. But as he did, tears welled uncontrollably in his eyes.
Bai Laozizi was taken aback, moving his lips to speak but finding no words. The men of the Bai family were all equally passionate.
"Bai Laozizi."
His voice trembled, choked with emotion. "I am unworthy of her."
He had witnessed Lanyi Xuan sacrifice his life for him on multiple occasions, yet he had not reciprocated. Each of them bore significant burdens; Lanyi Xuan would forsake everything for Feng Xianyue, but he could not do the same.
He had always spoken of his love for Xianyue, yet only at this moment did he realize how shallow it was compared to Lanyi Xuan's.
With a cold gaze fixed on Hua Chuxue, who crouched at the cliff's edge, he pushed Bai Ao's hand away. "What remains for me now is but responsibility."
He had lost—lost thoroughly and comprehensively, with a sense of resignation.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone