Lu Xiao's eyelids trembled slightly before finally opening.
A cream-colored ceiling greeted his vision. Thick curtains covered most of the window, leaving only a faint line of night light slipping into the hotel room. The pale beam cut through the darkness like a thin blade, revealing fine dust drifting slowly in the air.
The scent of wood and soft perfume filled the room.
The place felt unfamiliar… yet familiar enough for him to immediately realize where he was.
A hotel.
His body felt heavy, as if every bone had been filled with molten lead. The Gu Poison was still alive within his veins—creeping slowly like a parasitic creature, gnawing away at his vital energy bit by bit. He drew a deep breath, his jaw tightening as he endured the pain, then forced himself to sit up.
His muscles tensed.
Pain shot sharply from his chest to the tips of his fingers, but compared to before, his condition had slightly improved. Breathing heavily, he finally leaned back against the headboard.
Click.
The door opened quietly.
Lin Yuan entered without a sound, his steps light like a shadow. His expression remained calm, though faint exhaustion lingered in his eyes.
"You're truly foolish," he said flatly, without preamble.
"In that condition, you still tried to protect that girl."
His tone was cold, but not entirely devoid of concern.
Lu Xiao's memories slowly returned.
The battle against Zora…
the explosion of energy…
the smell of blood…
Suddenly, his eyes sharpened.
His pale crimson irises flickered with unrest.
"Yunxue…" his voice came out hoarse and dry. "Where is she?"
His hand unconsciously clenched the bedsheet, wrinkling the fabric. Even in his weakened state, his vampire aura pulsed unstably—wild and restless, like a beast that had lost something precious.
Lin Yuan stopped a few steps from the bed.
He did not answer immediately.
His gaze darkened slightly.
He knew the truth.
The girl had gone into the contaminated zone—the nest of mutant experiments—only to find a way to save Lu Xiao from the Gu Poison.
If this vampire learned everything…
even with a half-destroyed body, he would rise and go after her.
Finally, Lin Yuan spoke, his tone calm and controlled.
"She'll be back soon."
A short answer. Not entirely honest, yet not a lie either.
Even death itself seemed reluctant to touch that girl.
He leaned against the table and tossed a small glass bottle toward Lu Xiao.
"Drink this. It'll make you feel a little better."
Lu Xiao caught it with slow reflexes. The thick crimson liquid inside shimmered faintly like fresh blood.
Cold sea whale blood.
His brows furrowed in disgust, but without complaint he drank it anyway. The liquid felt piercingly cold as it slid down his throat, then quickly spread throughout his body.
A few seconds later—
the pain that had been tearing through his veins gradually eased.
His breathing steadied.
The Gu Poison was still there… but temporarily suppressed.
Near noon, the hotel door opened again.
Xue Yunxue entered alongside Luo Shixin. Her body felt refreshed and light after absorbing the Silver Wolf crystal core Luo Mei had given her.
The moment she saw Lu Xiao sitting awake on the bed, her eyes immediately lit up. Relief was clearly written across her face, as if the heavy weight crushing her chest had finally lifted.
"You're awake!"
Lu Xiao smiled gently. Xue Yunxue hurried over, kneeling beside the bed as she examined his pale face. She held his cold hand gratefully.
"Are you still in pain? Do you want something to eat?" Her voice was filled with sincere concern.
Lu Xiao gently patted the top of her head, warmth spreading through his otherwise cold heart.
"I'm fine," he said softly.
Earlier, he had worried that Yunxue had not yet returned, but seeing her healthy and cheerful now brought him immense relief. Yet Luo Shixin standing constantly at her side stirred both reassurance—and a faint trace of jealousy.
Noticing Lu Xiao still looked weak, Xue Yunxue quickly headed toward the small kitchen in the hotel suite.
Soon, the sounds of cooking filled the room—the chopping of knives, the sizzle of a pan, and the warm aroma of food gradually spreading through the air. Before long, the dining table was filled with dishes designed to restore vitality.
Everything was prepared especially for Lu Xiao.
And of course… for Luo Shixin, who had just returned from the brink of death.
Luo Shixin frowned slightly at the spread. Every dish was rich in protein and vitality-enhancing ingredients. It seemed this rut cycle would be even harder to endure than before.
He would definitely need an ice bath after this meal.
As they sat at the table, Xue Yunxue suddenly realized someone was missing.
Xiang Shuai.
The Serpent Prince.
Normally, he would already be causing trouble in the kitchen, stealing food early, or making irritating comments at the table. Now the room felt strangely empty without him.
She lowered her gaze briefly, an uneasy feeling creeping into her chest.
She had sent several messages that morning.
None had been read.
Was the snake truly busy… or had something happened?
Xue Yunxue actually wanted to return to Wulong City immediately.
But Lu Xiao's condition made that impossible. The Gu Poison inside the vampire remained active—not raging as before, but still alive… like a breathing parasite within his bloodstream.
His aura fluctuated constantly. Sometimes calm, sometimes suddenly violent, making the air in the room feel oppressive.
She could not leave yet.
Not before finding an answer.
That night, her hotel room was silent. Her three beast companions were occupied with their own matters. Only the soft hum of the air conditioner and the dim ceiling light accompanied her.
Xue Yunxue lay down, but sleep would not come.
Her thoughts kept returning to one thing.
The ancient document.
Her eyes slowly opened.
She sat up and opened her dimensional storage space. A soft glow appeared as an old book materialized in her hands—thick, heavy, and cold, as if something alive rested within it.
Its cover was cracked with age.
When she opened it, strange symbols filled the pages. Curving lines like plant roots intertwined, forming unfamiliar patterns.
"What is this…" she murmured.
She activated the chakra computer.
A holographic screen lit up, scanning page after page.
The analysis ran quickly.
Then stopped.
No matching data found.
No language detected.
No recognizable symbolic system.
As if the writing… did not belong to this world at all.
At that moment, a small voice sounded in her mind.
'What are you doing, Sister Xue?'
Moa had finally awakened.
The little spirit's consciousness felt weak, as though recovering from deep exhaustion.
Xue Yunxue let out a soft sigh.
'You slept for too long.'
'I nearly ran out of energy from the power explosion I used,' Moa complained. 'My spirit body isn't stable yet.'
Its attention quickly shifted to the book in Yunxue's hands.
Then it fell silent.
For a long time.
'…Where did you get this? Is this the book from Pei Yu's secret chamber?'
Its tone changed.
No longer casual.
'Yes. Unfortunately, I can't read a single word.'
Moa sighed deeply.
'Of course you can't. No beast human in this world can read it.'
'Why?'
'Because this isn't a language of this world.'
Silence slowly descended.
'These are Fleur characters,' Moa continued softly. 'The language of the Fleur World—the origin world of pure plant elements… my homeland.'
Xue Yunxue stared at the page once more. Her chest tightened slightly.
"So… what exactly is this book?"
Moa's voice turned serious.
"This is not merely a record. It is the Core Scripture of the Wood Element — a sacred text containing the secrets of the holy plant element. Within it are recorded countless ancient formulas, poisons, and healing methods."
He paused briefly.
"A book like this should have vanished thousands of years ago."
But Xue Yunxue's attention had already shifted elsewhere.
Lu Xiao.
"Is there any record about Gu poison in it?"
The question made Moa fall silent for longer.
The pages of the book slowly turned on their own, guided by Moa's consciousness as it read through them.
The air in the room grew heavier.
After a moment, Moa's voice sounded again—lower than before.
"Yes… there is."
Xue Yunxue's heart immediately began to pound.
"Gu poison is not merely poison," Moa continued. "It is an energy parasite. It survives by devouring the vitality of its host while strengthening itself. The stronger the host… the more perfect the poison becomes."
Xue Yunxue swallowed.
"So… that's why it didn't kill him immediately?"
"Correct. The poison is 'growing.' Once it matures… it will completely take over the host's body."
The air seemed to freeze.
"…Is there a way to cure it?"
Moa fell silent.
For a long time.
When he finally spoke, his voice sounded heavy.
"There is one method of neutralization."
Xue Yunxue's hand unconsciously tightened around the book.
"What is it?"
"Gu poison originates from a modified life-wood element. Therefore, the only thing capable of neutralizing it… is a purer source of life."
He paused, as if giving Yunxue time to understand.
"The heart-core blood of a maiden with the wood element."
Xue Yunxue's breathing faltered.
But Moa continued softly.
"And that maiden must still be pure. Otherwise, her life element will no longer exist in its perfect state."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Xue Yunxue slowly lowered her head.
"…You mean me."
It was not a question.
Only a near-soundless statement.
"Yes," Moa replied quietly.
Her heartbeat grew louder.
"Then… will I die?"
The question came out naturally.
Without dramatics.
Only fact.
Moa did not answer immediately.
"Extracting heart-core blood is extremely dangerous," he finally said. "Most do not survive."
The words lingered in the air.
"Most?" Yunxue whispered.
"Some have survived," Moa continued. "If their body is strong enough… or if someone stabilizes their life energy during the process."
A small hope.
But a fragile one.
Xue Yunxue looked at her own hands.
With her healing ability… could she restore herself before truly dying?
At last, Xue Yunxue understood what she needed to do. And now she suspected that Lin Yuan — perhaps even Lu Xiao himself — had already known this method but chose not to tell her.
That cruel merman had made her struggle through the laboratory while already knowing the answer and refusing to share it. The thought annoyed her so much that she briefly considered frying his fish tail for breakfast tomorrow.
—
Several days later, the time to return finally arrived.
Xue Yunxue and her three beast husbands prepared to leave the city. Their belongings were packed, their injuries nearly healed, and their temporary affairs considered settled.
They boarded Xiang Shuai's private aircraft.
The engines rumbled low before the plane slowly lifted from the runway. The metallic body shot into the morning sky, slicing through layers of white clouds glowing beneath sunlight. Silver light swept across the cabin windows, making the world below appear distant and small.
Xue Yunxue stood by the window, gazing at the sea of clouds without truly seeing them.
They had departed as five.
Now… only four remained.
A faint emptiness settled in her chest.
She exhaled softly.
Yet beneath that sadness was a trace of warmth. It had been nearly ten days since she left Wulong City. She wondered how Yun Wu was doing now. She had not even managed to send any news in the past few days.
A quiet melancholy surfaced. Spending so much time with her beast husbands had naturally formed bonds between them—or at least with four of them. Lin Yuan, however, still sometimes looked at her with open hostility.
The aircraft continued flying steadily.
In the main cabin, Lu Xiao and Lin Yuan sat facing each other. The atmosphere between them appeared calm—yet tense, like two predators pretending not to notice one another.
Xue Yunxue walked closer.
Her steps were light, but her gaze… sharp.
Extremely sharp.
Her eyes locked directly onto Lin Yuan.
The merman slightly raised an eyebrow, feeling as though an invisible weapon had been aimed at him.
"What?" he said lazily. "Stop staring at me like that before I actually gouge your eyes out."
His tone was cold, yet the corner of his lips curled faintly.
Xue Yunxue merely rolled her eyes, completely unintimidated.
"Come with me," she said shortly. "There's something I need to discuss with you."
Lu Xiao immediately lifted his head.
"Why not speak here?" His voice was calm, but his crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
The vampire's aura turned subtly colder.
He clearly disliked the idea of Xue Yunxue going somewhere alone with Lin Yuan. The merman was too unpredictable—and far too willing to cross boundaries.
"It's fine," Xue Yunxue replied lightly. "There's something I need to discuss with him privately."
Her words deepened the silence.
Lu Xiao's gaze slowly shifted toward Lin Yuan.
Cold.
Silent.
But unmistakably a warning.
Lin Yuan sighed and raised both hands as if surrendering.
"I won't hurt her or do anything strange," he said casually. His blue eyes glimmered mischievously. "If I try anything, you'd probably rip off all my beautiful scales, wouldn't you?"
Lu Xiao did not smile.
He did not answer either.
Which somehow made the threat feel even more real.
Xue Yunxue turned around without waiting for anyone's response.
Her steps were quick as she walked down the rear corridor of the aircraft cabin. The constant hum of the engines vibrated softly through the metal floor beneath her feet. Dim cabin lights stretched long shadows that followed every step she took.
A few seconds later, Lin Yuan stood and followed her at an unhurried pace, hands tucked into his pockets as if he were merely taking a casual stroll.
The sliding door closed behind them with a soft sound.
Click.
The air instantly felt different.
Lin Yuan raised one hand. Bluish spiritual energy quietly spread outward, forming a transparent layer around the room. The engine noise dulled, and the outside world seemed to drift far away.
A spiritual barrier.
No one could eavesdrop now.
Xue Yunxue immediately turned around.
Her eyes were sharp—no longer gentle as usual.
"You already knew, didn't you?" Her voice was low, clearly restraining emotions on the verge of spilling over.
Lin Yuan tilted his head slightly.
"What do you mean?"
His innocent tone sounded far too perfect.
And that alone made Xue Yunxue's anger flare.
"I mean," her voice rose, her breath trembling slightly, "you already knew that my heart-core blood is the antidote to the Gu poison inside Lu Xiao's body."
Silence fell between them.
Lin Yuan's expression did not change.
But his eyes darkened slightly.
"Why didn't you tell me from the beginning?" Xue Yunxue continued. "If you had said it earlier, Luo Shixin wouldn't have been almost killed in that laboratory!"
The words came out harsher than she intended.
The guilt in her chest had never truly faded.
Lin Yuan slowly raised an eyebrow.
"Injured?" he said lightly. "He looked perfectly fine to me."
The answer was like oil poured onto fire.
"That's because he received the best treatment!" Xue Yunxue shot back immediately, her fists clenching unconsciously. She held herself back from revealing her healing ability.
Lin Yuan watched her for several seconds before letting out a long sigh.
"Fine," he finally said, his tone turning more serious. "Let's say that was my fault."
He stepped closer, though still keeping a safe distance.
"But think about it," he continued calmly. "If I had told you the truth from the start… would you have believed me?"
Xue Yunxue fell silent.
Lin Yuan went on, his voice low, almost gentle.
"And even if you chose to believe me… what do you think Lu Xiao would have done?"
A faint smile appeared on his lips, devoid of warmth.
"Even if it were the truth, he would have denied it. Desperately."
Silence filled the room again.
"He would never allow you to risk your life for him," Lin Yuan said quietly. "You know that, don't you?"
The words struck perfectly.
Xue Yunxue could not refute them.
She imagined Lu Xiao's crimson eyes—stubborn and cold, yet whenever it concerned her, he never hesitated.
Yes.
The vampire would have refused without question. Everything Lin Yuan said made perfect sense.
"Now that you know the truth… what will you do?"
The question hung in the air like a thin blade.
Xue Yunxue lowered her gaze. Her fingers slowly intertwined before her chest. Lu Xiao's face appeared in her mind—those red eyes always cold to others, yet gentle toward her, always treating her carefully.
She exhaled softly.
"If… I take my heart-core blood… will I die?"
The silence instantly froze.
Lin Yuan's eyes narrowed sharply.
For the first time since the conversation began, his expression truly changed.
This girl… was seriously considering it.
"Hm." He leaned back casually, though his gaze grew deep. "I can't be certain."
He slowly raised one hand.
Dark blue energy pulsed beneath his skin, then—
CRK.
Long, sharp claws extended from his fingertips, as sharp as blades from the depths of the sea.
A cold aura instantly filled the room.
"However," he said calmly, "if you want me to be the one to extract it… I will try to make sure you stay alive."
Xue Yunxue instinctively stepped back half a step.
Her heart pounded violently.
Was this merman actually planning to cut open her chest right now?
"No!" she answered quickly.
Her tone was firm, without hesitation.
Lin Yuan stopped.
"You're sure?"
"If I must extract the heart-core blood," Xue Yunxue said slowly, meeting his gaze directly, "I will choose the most competent person to do it."
Not someone who might act based on emotion… or hidden intentions.
Lin Yuan's claws slowly retracted back into his skin.
He clicked his tongue softly, clearly disappointed.
"What a pity."
He then turned to look out the aircraft window, his voice growing heavier.
"The Blood Moon phase will arrive in one week. You don't have much time."
His gaze sharpened again.
"And don't even think about doing anything foolish."
Xue Yunxue frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Lin Yuan snorted softly, then looked her up and down with an unreadable expression.
"Obviously, you must preserve your purity until the heart-core blood is taken," he said flatly. "Do you think I don't know what's been happening between you and that eagle?"
Xue Yunxue's face immediately heated.
"W-what do you mean—"
"Don't get too close to him," Lin Yuan interrupted. "That arrogant man can barely restrain his rutting cycle as it is."
His tone held no mockery.
It was a genuine warning.
Xue Yunxue froze.
A… rutting cycle?
For beastmen, that phase was not merely biological—it was a brutal instinctual drive. Without a bonded partner to soothe them, the pain could feel like flames burning from within.
And Luo Shixin…
He was the most mature among them. Yet precisely because of that—the pressure on him was the greatest.
Had he… been restraining himself all this time for her sake?
Lin Yuan noticed the shift in her expression and smiled faintly.
"You finally understand."
—
The next morning, the aircraft finally broke through the last layer of clouds and landed in Wulong City.
The moment the cabin door opened, the morning wind swept across their faces.
Xue Yunxue took a deep breath.
The air of Wulong felt different—fresher, more humid, carrying the scent of living soil and trees. Unlike the capital, which was filled with metal, energy smog, and invisible pressure.
For the first time in days, her chest felt slightly lighter.
The aircraft slowly powered down in the courtyard of their residence.
Yun Wu was already standing at the entrance, waiting.
His sharp gaze examined each person who stepped down.
Lu Xiao — his face pale, almost translucent, his vampire aura weakened like a flame running out of fuel.
Luo Shixin — standing upright as always, yet his shoulders slightly stiff. Fatigue hid beneath his disciplined military posture.
Xue Yunxue — thinner than before, her steps light but clearly exhausted.
And Lin Yuan… still wearing a sour expression as if the world owed him something.
Yun Wu's brows furrowed slightly.
Where was that troublesome snake?
Xiang Shuai was usually the loudest whenever they returned. His absence made the atmosphere strangely quiet.
But Yun Wu held back his question. Something had clearly happened to them. He could feel it.
He had just opened his mouth to speak when Xue Yunxue walked past him.
Without a smile. Without greeting.
Her steps were weary, like someone moving only because her body still remembered how to walk. She headed straight upstairs.
Yun Wu froze.
That was not like Xue Yunxue at all.
—
The bedroom door opened softly. The moment she stepped inside, a familiar scent greeted her.
Clean sheets. Fresh air. Not a speck of dust anywhere.
Xue Yunxue looked around the room faintly.
Had Yun Wu… cleaned it while she was away?
The thought made the corner of her lips lift slightly. Her beast husband… had done his duty well.
Without even changing clothes, she let herself fall onto the soft bed.
Her body sank into a warmth she had not felt for a long time.
Safety.
Her eyelids grew heavy. Within seconds, her breathing slowed.
She fell asleep.
-------
In the living room downstairs, the atmosphere was completely different.
Yun Wu stood with his arms crossed over his chest, staring at the three men before him.
A serious aura filled the room.
"I want to know," he said calmly yet firmly, "what exactly happened in the capital."
Luo Shixin stepped forward. As the most rational among them, he began explaining.
He told everything—about the ambush.
About the assassination attempt on Xue Yunxue. About Zora's appearance.
About how Lu Xiao had nearly lost his life while protecting Xue Yunxue.
But there were parts he deliberately left out.
The illegal laboratory.
And his final battle alongside Xue Yunxue.
Yun Wu listened without interrupting.
The longer he listened, the heavier his breathing became.
That name… Zora.
"When I was still an officer," Yun Wu said slowly, "I once faced Zora's troops. But… I never encountered him personally."
His tone revealed something rarely seen from him—
wariness.
Luo Shixin nodded faintly.
"The Dark Authority has always been mysterious. Until now, the military has only identified two of their commanders."
He paused briefly.
"Zora… and Mo Yin."
The second name made the air feel noticeably colder.
"Are they truly colluding with the rebel army?" Yun Wu asked.
Luo Shixin exhaled quietly.
"That's the rumor," he replied. "But even the military… has no confirmation."
He looked toward the window.
The skies of Wulong appeared peaceful.
Too peaceful.
"What's certain," he continued softly, "is that they've begun moving more openly."
And if the Dark Authority was no longer hiding…
then the war that had long existed only in the shadows—
was slowly rising to the surface.
-------
A thick blanket covered Xue Yunxue entirely, leaving only a narrow space for her breathing. The outside world felt distant—muffled by warmth and the uneven pounding of her heart.
Night had already fallen.
Under the darkness, the faint glow of a small screen reflected in her eyes.
Page after page of the ancient book turned slowly.
"Slower, Moa… repeat that part," she whispered softly.
Moa's voice echoed directly within her mind, cold yet clear, reading ancient characters nearly forgotten by this era. Every sentence sounded like a forbidden secret meant to remain buried.
Xue Yunxue bit her lip.
Sleepiness crept over her, yet she forced herself to stay focused.
The thick blanket covered most of her body. Only dim light slipped through the fabric, reflecting ancient symbols within her gaze. The room felt warm, yet her fingertips remained cold—whether from exhaustion… or something within her slowly losing vitality.
The ancient pages continued turning.
The paper was rough and yellowed, carrying the faint scent of old soil buried for decades. Each symbol seemed alive, pulsing faintly beneath her stare.
"Is that truly the only method to neutralize the Gu poison?" she asked inwardly.
Moa's voice answered softly, like an echo from somewhere very far away.
"Yes… only that."
The brief answer felt heavier than a death sentence.
Yunxue's breath stalled.
She closed her eyes, then quickly flipped to the next page—as if refusing to accept reality.
Among dozens of recorded formulas, one title made her pupils shrink.
Rebirth Elixir.
Her heartbeat quickened.
A potion capable of reviving a body that had already died… as long as death had not exceeded six hours.
Her grip tightened unconsciously around the book.
The list of ingredients appeared clearly:
— Ginseng root from the Eternal Ice Mountains.— Golden phoenix feathers.— Ancient herbs even Moa needed time to identify.— And… tears of a nine-tailed fox.
Xue Yunxue fell silent for a long time.
Herbs might still be possible. She possessed the ability to cultivate and accelerate plant growth.
But the three main ingredients…
Almost impossible.
The Eternal Ice Mountains were not a place ordinary people could enter—and how could ginseng even grow in frozen wastelands? The golden phoenix existed only as myth to most beastmen. And the nine-tailed fox…
She was not even certain such a creature truly existed.
Yet slowly, the corner of her lips lifted.
Perhaps the black market could provide them.
A place where the "impossible" merely became a matter of price.
And if the elixir succeeded…
Then if her body died when her heart-core blood was extracted—
she could be revived.
A mad plan.
A gamble against death itself.
Unfortunately, the Rebirth Elixir could not remove Gu poison. If someone died from it, they could indeed be revived—but the poison would remain.
Death would only become a pause… not a cure.
Suddenly—
Click.
A tiny sound.
So soft it nearly blended with her breathing.
The bedroom door opened slowly. Light footsteps entered without haste.
Xue Yunxue did not notice.
She was too absorbed in her notes, quickly writing down ingredient names.
The figure stopped beside the bed.
Silent.
Watching the blanket-covered mound rise and fall with her breathing.
A faint frown appeared.
One step closer.
A hand reached out—
And—
A swift pull.
The blanket was yanked away.
Cold air rushed against Yunxue's skin like icy water.
She jolted, instinctively retreating. Her long hair fell messily across her shoulders, her eyes widening in shock—
And met someone's gaze.
Lu Xiao.
He stood there, tall and calm, his shadow stretching across the dim floor. His face remained pale as always, but his crimson eyes watched her with careful scrutiny.
"What are you doing?" he asked softly, almost a whisper.
"Me?… I'm not doing anything. I was just reading," Xue Yunxue replied.
Lu Xiao's sharp gaze shifted to the open book lying on the bed. He sat beside her.
His piercing eyes studied her face. He had waited for this girl for nearly his entire life. Yet he knew the Blood Moon phase was approaching. Whether he would survive it or not… he did not know.
It felt as though he was counting down his final days, determined to spend as much time as possible beside her.
Xue Yunxue looked at him.
This arrogant, prideful vampire now appeared weak and fragile.
The sight made her heart ache.
"May I stay here and keep you company?" Lu Xiao asked gently.
Xue Yunxue's face instantly flushed.
Was this vampire planning to sleep in her room?
Although her current body had yet to reach nineteen, in her original world she had been twenty-three. She clearly understood what could happen when a man and a woman stayed together in the same room overnight.
Lu Xiao seemed to sense her unease.
"I promise nothing will happen between us," he said softly. "I only want to stay by your side a little longer."
Understanding dawned on her.
The vampire clearly believed his time was running out.
Without hesitation, Xue Yunxue agreed.
Throughout the night, Lu Xiao sat quietly on the sofa, watching Xue Yunxue continue reading the ancient book until she eventually fell asleep like a child.
His crimson eyes dimmed.
Sadness filled them.
Would he truly die like this… after spending a lifetime searching for her?
He had missed her for so long, nearly falling into despair. There had been a time when he gave up searching for a cure to the Gu poison within his body, preparing himself to die.
Yet unexpectedly, just when he accepted death—
he finally found her.
And now, tragically, it was too late.
His remaining time could be counted in days.
And that realization filled him with unbearable regret.