Xiling Yan stood in black clothing in the wind, with Wuying and Wuxing behind him, along with the guards of the entire Hu’er Pavilion.
Facing him stood the triumphant Qin Shu and myself, being held captive. I never expected my emotions would ultimately implicate him.
Xiling Yan’s gaze fell upon me, his eyes concealing deep feelings. Then, with a cold expression, he looked at Qin Shu and said: “Let him go, and I’ll give you everything you want!”
“Why aren’t you surprised to see me?” Seeing his calm demeanor, Qin Shu revealed a hint of confusion.
Xiling Yan gave a cold laugh, expressionless: “Are you disappointed by my reaction?”
“Wrong!” Qin Shu shook his head. “I’d be disappointed if you couldn’t guess!”
No!” Qin Shu flatly denied: “I just don’t think killing a child would demonstrate my capabilities. I want to watch him grow, cultivate him into the most outstanding talent, and then slowly destroy him with my own hands. Do you understand now?”
Qin Shu’s emotions finally calmed down.
He grabbed me and pushed me in front of Xi Lin Yan, holding a dagger against my neck coldly: “Fine, now that you know everything, hand over all the industries under Shi Liu’s name, or I’ll let her soul be destroyed along with Shi Liu’s fortress!”
Xi Lin Yan’s face changed dramatically, crying out: “Don’t!”
Qin Shu impatiently urged: “Hurry up and hand things over while I’m still patient!”
Xi Lin Yan composed himself, staring at Qin Shu sharply: “Even if you get the items, do you think you can leave here safely?”
“Haha…” Qin Shu laughed, then calmly asked: “Why not?”
Xi Lin Yan coldly said: “Do you really think you can escape safely from so many people?”
Qin Shu’s smile grew more sinister: “I think the one not understanding the situation is you. Have you forgotten who trained these people? Want to see if they’ll listen to me?”
Xi Lin Yan was shocked. I suddenly remembered to warn: “Xi Lin Yan, be careful! Wu Ying is Qin Shu’s man!”
Xi Lin Yan smiled helplessly: “Silly woman, isn’t it too late to say this now?” As he spoke, Wu Ying had already restrained him from both sides. Xi Lin Yan got excited and coughed again, inevitably having blood stain his lips.
Here, everyone was Qin Shu’s carefully trained chess piece, and none of us could help.
I was instantly provoked and raised my head: “Bet? Who’s afraid? Tell me, what are we betting on?”
Xi Lin Yan gave a sly smile, “Let’s bet that if we safely escape this situation, you’ll marry me. How about that?”
Is this… a proposal?
Seeing me not responding for a long time, he couldn’t help but urge: “Hey, damn woman, are you going to bet or not?”
“Is this how you propose?” I glared at him unhappily. Just when he thought I wouldn’t agree, I smiled and said: “Fine, I’ll bet with you!”
“Deal!” Xi Lin Yan confidently stood up from the ground, then turned to look at Uncle Qin: “Out of respect for taking care of Xiliu Fortress and me all these years, I’ll call you Uncle Qin one last time. You’ve always wanted to destroy Xiliu Fortress and the Xi Lin family. Now I’m giving you this opportunity, make your move!”
Uncle Qin laughed: “You think I need to do this myself?”
As soon as the words fell, a sword flower scattered, forcefully shaking off the soft sword in my hand. Before I could react, I saw a silver light flash, and Qin Shu’s sword directly pierced towards me.
Blood, blood all over the sky, dyed my vision red. I seemed to see the manjusaka in the garden again, the bright blood color, carrying the breath of death, step by step eroding all my reason and thoughts.
Then, I watched as Xi Linyan slowly fell before my eyes. With heartbreaking pain and desperate sadness, I cried out: “No—”
No, I haven’t had time to tell him my feelings, I haven’t had time to let go of the past, I haven’t had time to fulfill our bet. No, Xi Linyan, you cannot leave me like this.
Cold liquid slid down my eyelids, droplet by droplet falling on his pale face. Blood spread out, unable to distinguish whether it was his blood or my tears.
“Fool!” Xi Linyan barely raised his hand to wipe the moisture from the corner of my eye, smiling faintly: “Didn’t I say not to cry for me, so what are these?”
Tears flowing, I spoke with a thick voice but stubbornly said: “You’re mistaken. It’s just rain, I’m not crying! Xi Linyan, listen to me, you must not have anything happen; otherwise, I will never forgive you in this lifetime!”
“Fool, how could I die? I haven’t even told you I like you… With his cough, a large amount of blood surged from his throat.
I desperately tried to stop him: “No, please don’t speak anymore, a doctor—yes, I’ll go find a doctor for you…”
“It’s useless…” Xi Linyan weakly shook his head: “I just… lied to you again… The poison of ‘Tilting City’s Love’ hasn’t been resolved, even if… even if you find a doctor… they can’t save me!”
I couldn’t help but let go of his hand, stand up, stagger back several steps, and angrily say: “You, you bastard—”
Xi Linyan weakly laughed: “You’re right… I am a bastard, so, Xin… Xin’ran, don’t be sad for me, because… because it’s not worth it! Cough, cough…”
I don’t know how I suddenly found the strength, I pushed Mu Zixu and ran outside, with Mu Zixu anxiously calling behind me: “Girl, where are you going?”
I turned my head, looked at him, and said word by word with utmost seriousness: “Xu, I’m sorry, I can’t marry you!”
“Why?” he was shocked.
I looked at him and slowly raised my lips, revealing the most brilliant smile, “I suddenly realized that all these years, my dependence on you was just a habit, it was not love. Now, I want to find my true love. Dear, bless me!”
In the moment I lowered my head, tears slid down my cheek. Actually, what I wanted to say was: Xu, I’m sorry, please forgive my selfishness. I have fallen in love with someone else!
I don’t know how I can cross over again, but I believe I can, I will definitely return to that person’s side, that fool who is himself incredibly stupid, yet still desperately calls me an idiot…
In this world, there are those who are passionately in love (6)
I ran wildly, without a target, without direction, thinking in my heart: perhaps, if I keep running like this, until I’m exhausted, until I lose consciousness, I might return to Xi Linyan’s side.
“Child, stop running, I have a way to send you back!” The vast voice rang in my ears again. I was first overjoyed, then angry. It was this voice that misled me, making me believe Mu Zixu was in trouble, that Bei Ting Zihan was his past life. In the end, all of this was completely wrong.
I stood in the middle of the street, shouting madly at the sky, “Who are you? Who are you exactly?”
The vast voice was silent for a moment, then spoke again with a hint of guilt: “Child, I’m sorry, I got the wrong target!”
I laughed coldly: “Sorry? What use is sorry? Can sorry bring everything back to the starting point? If not, then what’s the point?”
“I cannot change what has already happened, but I can let Xi Linyan live again, and let you return to be reunited with him…”
“Are you serious?” I asked joyfully.
“Of course!”
I said excitedly: “Then what are you waiting for? Quickly send me back!”
“Not so fast, there’s something I haven’t made clear!”
“Then hurry up and say it!” I urged impatiently.
“When he wakes up, Xi Linyan will forget everything, including you.”
Do you still want to go back?”
What? What?
How could this be…
“Actually, you can stay in the modern world and live like before. If you want, I can erase your memories of crossing over and send you back to the wedding scene, letting you continue the unfinished wedding with the person you once loved!”
“No!” I refused without thinking. Doing as he said would be deception, deceiving both Mu Zixu and myself. I don’t want that!
