“…The pale lips spoke intermittently, the pallid face looking extremely sickly, and the trembling fingers touched that flawless face with a touch of reluctance and sorrow. ‘Miss, why do you put yourself through this? Is it worth it for him?’ Lian’er wept uncontrollably, her heart aching as she looked at her frail and powerless mistress. ‘Silly Lian’er, you wouldn’t understand. Only I know if it’s worth it. I have no confidence in this medicine, but as long as there’s a glimmer of hope, I must try.’ Her smile was still radiant, though tinged with illness, yet it shone brilliantly. ‘I don’t understand! I don’t understand why you would travel far to find immortal herbs for a man you’ve never met, to test every herb! I don’t understand why you would now trade your life for his. If he wakes up, what then? Miss, you’re gambling with your life!’ Lian’er’s face was streaked with tears as she spoke loudly. ‘Lian’er, because I love him! I’ve fallen for a man whose name I don’t even know, a living dead man, a man without a heart…’ Her voice was faint, carrying the sweet scent of peach blossoms, her smile tragically beautiful. A red thread was tied around their wrists, binding them tightly, as blood was exchanged; she was transferring all the poisonous blood from his body into hers, betting with her own life! Her lips were stark white, her body trembling as she felt her blood drain away… ‘Miss, stop talking, please stop! Miss, do not cry!’ Little by little, Lian’er wiped away the tears from her mistress’s face. When had the mistress ever cried? Suddenly, she realized how beautiful the mistress looked at this moment. A breeze blew, and peach blossom petals danced in the wind, falling like a sea of flowers. The peach blossoms were withering… They stood amidst the falling flowers, the scene tragically beautiful… The mistress’s tears were like the peach blossoms all over the valley…
‘Here, this is the Tianya Valley!’ Willow Green exclaimed in surprise as they looked upon the fairy-like scenery. ‘Rabbit, look, that peach forest!’ Shui Shui exclaimed, never having seen such a beautiful peach forest, vast and occupying the center of the valley, a sea of pink in the distance. ‘Let’s go check it out,’ Wang Xie said coldly, tightly gripping Xiaotu’s hand, feeling her inner trembling. ‘Come, child, have some plum blossom cake, don’t think too much, we’re here for you,’ Xia Yu Ye said with deep affection, offering her the fragrant plum blossom cake to boost her confidence. The scent of plum blossoms lingered in her mouth, a taste of long separation that intoxicated her, as they walked heavily towards the peach blossom forest…
‘Who’s there?’ A vigilant voice rang out; Lian’er had heard footsteps. As they entered the peach forest, indeed there were people! A small maid in green watched them warily. ‘Bai Hua!’ No mistake, there on the chaise, that unparalleled face, so serene, pale and weak, tears blurred her vision, her body trembling! It was really him! Suddenly, she noticed a woman lying beside him, equally frail, seemingly on the brink of death. How many times in her dreams had she seen that face, that doting smile, that voice as tender as water; how many times upon waking, had she found her dreams shattered, left with only the cold emptiness of her room; how many times had the scent of a hundred flowers brought back memories of him, his white robes flowing; how many times had she turned around, expecting to see him amidst the sea of flowers, but he was not there. ‘Who are you?’ The weak voice asked, her brows furrowed, the woman in pink questioned Xiaotu. ‘I am his wife! He is my husband!’ Xiaotu lowered her head, unable to respond to this woman, stepping slowly towards Bai Hua, though the short distance felt endless. ‘Shh,’ Lian Yi’s face turned even paler, a bewitching smile played on her lips, confirming in her heart that he was not hers. She silently asked, ‘Is Bai Hua your name?’ Seeing her mistress’s face grow even paler, Lian’er blocked Xiaotu’s path, coldly stating, ‘Miss, please respect yourself, he is my master, not your husband!’ How could this be? That face, was there another like it in this world? She knew him better than anyone, ‘master’? The little maid was laughable. Willow Green stepped forward, forcefully pulling the maid away. Lian’er, enraged, shouted at Xiaotu, ‘Let go of me! What do you want? This Tianya Valley isn’t a place you can just enter! Hey! I said, he’s my master, how can you be so shameless!’ She flailed, but her strength was no match for the men, unable to break free. ‘Lian’er, do not be rude,’ Moon Lian Yi said shakily, hiding the hand bound by the red thread behind her. ‘You are his wife?’ she asked, leaning against a peach tree, her face devoid of any color. ‘Yes,’ Xiaotu did not look at the woman, walking over to Bai Hua, her hand touching his pale face, the man of her dreams. ‘Thank you, miss, for saving my husband, I am deeply grateful. If you have any requests, please make them.’ Xiaotu understood, this woman had fallen for Bai Hua, her eyes full of deep affection, seemingly without regret. Let her be selfish, Bai Hua was hers! ‘Hmph, what do you mean? Are you trying to take my master away?’ Lian’er said aggressively. ‘Of course, he is my husband, and now that I’ve found him, I will naturally take him with me!’ Xiaotu deliberately spoke loudly. Yes! Today, she was determined to take Bai Hua away! ‘You…’ Lian’er’s words were cut off. ‘Silence! The maid should not be insolent!’ For the first time, Moon Lian Yi raised her voice at Lian’er, her tone brooking no argument. Miss, why do you do this to yourself… ‘May I ask for one request?’ Her voice was hoarse, Moon Lian Yi’s heart ached as she watched Xiaotu touch Bai Hua’s face with such deep affection, an emotion that couldn’t be feigned. ‘Please, Miss, go ahead.’ If not for her, she might never have seen Bai Hua again in this lifetime; even a hundred requests would be worth it. ‘I want him to watch one sunrise with me, I hope you will grant me this.’ Her head lowered slowly, the bitterness in her eyes understood by none, her body swaying, her beautiful face like the withering peach blossoms. Just as she finished speaking, the woman like a peach blossom slid down from the tree…
‘No! Miss.’ Lian’er broke free from Willow Green’s grip, rushing to Moon Lian Yi’s side, her eyes filled with tears.” Here is the English of the provided Chinese text:
A hand slipped from her back, and a clear red thread appeared before everyone’s eyes, tightly binding the wrists of the two. The red thread seemed to pulse as if blood was flowing through it… “Blood exchange?” Xiaotu exclaimed in shock, her golden eyes filled with astonishment. She was actually using her own life as a gamble. Even “blood exchange” might not succeed. This delicate woman actually possessed such courage and determination. How deep, how profound must her love be? The red thread fell off, and the last trace of color disappeared from Lianyi’s face, leaving her cheeks frighteningly pale. Yet, her beautiful eyes remained fixed on the figure on the recliner, her only hope… By her ear was the sobbing of Pinger, and the last pulse of her own heart…
“Why?” Looking at the woman lying on the ground, Xiaotu’s heart was filled with mixed emotions. She hadn’t expected her affection to be so deep! Just a few short months…
“Because I love him!” The forced smile on her face was visible to all, revealing her helplessness, yet still so radiant. “Love? In just a few months?”
