The little boy, after being beaten back to his original form by the monster leader, held his last breath, waiting for Xu Lan.
Now, it was time for him to truly depart.
However, in Xu Lan's eyes, he had always been a cunning young boy. Seeing him like this now, Xu Lan was startled, but more than that... he was touched.
"I never expected you to be such a thoughtful lantern," he said, rushing to Gu An's side and squatting down. The moment he reached out to grab Gu An's arm, a sharp pain shot through his chest.
The next second, he let go and lay down on his back.
At the same time, Gu An's eyes snapped open, and after a few dry coughs, she sat up and turned to look at Xu Lan, who was lying beside her, looking in immense pain. She exclaimed, "Xu Lan, why are you here?"
Her voice was so soft that she could barely hear it herself.
Xu Lan didn't know what was happening to him; his body felt incredibly uncomfortable.
Seeing this, Gu An forced herself to crawl to Xu Lan's side, grabbed his arm, and called out, "Xu Lan." Then, gathering her last wisp of demonic energy, she pressed his wrist.
Instantly.
The pain in Xu Lan's body subsided.
Gu An slumped, sitting on the ground and looking at the now-seated Xu Lan, she asked, "Are you alright?"
Xu Lan, seeing Gu An awake, smiled. "You're awake."
"Where is he?"
"Him?" Xu Lan understood Gu An's question, looked down at the no longer intact blood lantern on the ground, and said, "He entered your body."
"..." Gu An heard this, raised her hand to her chest, and recalling the events of not long ago, her eyes darkened. "I was already dead. It was him... who saved me."
Xu Lan: "..." He began to blame himself.
"What's wrong with you?"
"If I had arrived sooner, neither you nor he would be in trouble. You..."
"You came down on your own?" Gu An interrupted.
Xu Lan: "...." He dodged her gaze slightly. "Yes, but if I hadn't come down, you would have... died."
"If your master finds out you came to the demon realm, you're finished."
"It's fine."
"It's not fine. Why did you give your blood and memories to the blood lantern?"
"I told you, I'm willing to do anything for you. I know your purpose."
"He told me you were following me."
"...." Xu Lan lowered his head.
"Alright, you can go now."
"I'm not leaving. I'll take you back."
"Take me back where?"
Xu Lan knew that Gu An was weak now. If he told her about Shen Xian and Shen Yan fighting, she would undoubtedly rush back.
Therefore, he decided to tell her when he got back, so she wouldn't push herself.
"I'll take you back to the Heavenly Realm," he said.
"I'm not going back."
"Why?"
"No reason. You should go. I'm staying here." As she spoke, she picked up the eight inner cores and handed them to Xu Lan. "Take these back and tell Shen Yan that I did my best."
"What do you need the inner cores for?"
"I..." Gu An hesitated and then said, "As long as these inner cores exist, Shen Xian's taste will recover. Don't tell Shen Xian."
"Didn't Shen Yan drive you away? Why are you still... like this?"
"It wasn't him. He's helping me." Gu An, worried Xu Lan would press her for details, added, "In any case, don't ask so many questions."
"You?"
"When you get back, tell them I'm dead."
"...."
Seeing Xu Lan's expression, Gu An asked, "What's wrong?"
"You are about to become Shen Xian's wife."
Before returning, Gu An had always defined herself as a cultivator.
But, after being brought down by Shen Yan, and especially after the fight with those monsters, she realized she was a demon. She thought if she and Shen Xian were truly together, she would eventually implicate him.
For Shen Xian's future, she decided to give up!
"From now on, I won't interact with you cultivators anymore. As you said," Gu An forced a smile, "If I don't go back, his master will definitely erase his memories of me. Then, he will have another life, and maybe find a normal immortal maiden."
"Gu An, you worked so hard for him, and you're just going to... like this?"
"I've already been discovered. If I go back, my demonic aura will be exposed, and that will only implicate you. Are you stupid?"
"You?"
"Let's go. I want to go back to the ghost cave," Gu An said, forcefully shoving the eight inner cores into Xu Lan's hand, and standing up.
Xu Lan was stunned. He took the inner cores and stood up, asking, "You're really not going back?"
"No, not anymore. From now on," Gu An tilted her head up to look at Xu Lan, "Don't come to the demon realm again."
"You..."
"Go! If you don't leave now, I'll hate you forever."
Hearing Gu An's words, Xu Lan's heart sank. He then looked down at the blood lantern on the ground, which was no longer emitting any light and was completely shrouded in darkness, and said faintly, "Take care!"
Gu An turned her back. "Keep it a secret for me. Don't say anything. Thank you."
"....." Xu Lan's eyes held a hint of reluctance as he left.
"....." Gu An let out a sigh of relief, clutched her chest, and collapsed on the ground.
And so, Xu Lan returned to heaven, spreading the news of Gu An's death.
Because of this, Shen Xian harbored complete hatred towards Shen Yan.
Ghost Cave.
Gu An, enduring all her pain, used her demonic arts to restore the blood lantern and re-hung it in the cave.
"Your life, I gave it to you. How could I watch you die for me?" she said, looking up at the blood lantern.
The blood lantern swayed twice.
"Live well, you all..." Gu An coughed a few times, scanning the blood lanterns. "You are all the same. Memories are the most important things. You... are my most important friends." After speaking, she turned and left the ghost cave, heading towards the demon forest.
After days of internal struggle, Gu An still wanted to personally cure Shen Xian's taste.
Even if she were executed upon her return, she wouldn't care.
Because she had seen Shen Xian.
In an instant.
Gu An arrived by the lake and looked at the several monsters standing by the lake. She said, "I'm back again."
Hearing this, the monster leader frowned, turned around, and exclaimed, "You're not dead."
"Have you remembered my name?"
"Gu An!"
"..." Gu An gave a weak smile. "That's right, you still remembered my name."
"What are you doing here?"
"There are still two more. Do you want to hand your life over to me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"I'm not talking nonsense," Gu An blinked her eyes slightly. "I just want your life and his life." She pointed to the monster next to the monster leader.
The monster leader gave a wry smile. "Are you crazy?"