Qingfeng and Mingyue, though skilled in medicine, had no research into this "Blood Falling" and were unaware of its effects. They couldn't understand why the young master insisted on taking it. "Young Master," Qingfeng asked, "if you knew, why did you still take it?"
"It was something she obtained with great difficulty, and I truly grew tired of this life," Wuqing replied, then coughed again. More blood flowed, his face growing paler. Qingfeng held him tightly, clearly feeling the warmth draining from his body. Panic, Qingfeng cried out, "Young Master, don't be like this! Let's go find him! He surely won't let you die."
"It's useless," Wuqing spoke slowly, a blood-stained blossom on his lips. He knew too well that as long as he lived, that man would relentlessly trouble him. This was the inseparable entanglement of family ties. If he could, he truly wished to be reborn into an ordinary family, not into the hands of that man. Unless he could personally kill him, thoroughly severing such ties, he could not find release. Since he couldn't kill him, only death offered him an escape. As he thought this, his gaze drifted, and Qingyao's beautiful face flashed in his mind. A smile touched his lips, and he whispered softly in his heart.
"Qingyao, if possible, let us meet again in the next life. In this life, I no longer have the ability to speak of love. The warmth you gave me was the only glimmer of light I saw, besides Master. I am willing to abandon this body and become a wishing tree, for you to pass by."
Qingyao and Mochou left the Fulai Inn and boarded the luxurious carriage parked outside. Little Fish asked with concern, "Has the young master's poison been cured?" They all cared for Wuqing, hoping he would at least be out of mortal danger.
"Yes, his poison is cured," Qingyao nodded. The carriage slowly departed. However, everything that had happened today seemed too smooth. What was the meaning of Wuqing's final smile and question? Thinking of this, Qingyao suddenly felt uneasy and shouted at Moyou, who was driving, "Hurry, stop the carriage, turn around and head back to the inn! Wuqing seems unwell. I fear that medicine might be problematic!"
"What?" This time, it wasn't just her; Mochou and Little Fish exclaimed, and Murong Liuzun's expression turned grim. He spoke in a deep voice, "Return to the inn."
Moyou received the command and swiftly turned the horses, the carriage speeding back and stopping at the entrance of the Fulai Inn in the blink of an eye. This time, not just Qingyao, but everyone leaped off the carriage. They rushed upstairs at full speed. The waiter and the innkeeper, bewildered by what was happening, stared wide-eyed as the group vanished like a whirlwind. The innkeeper asked, "What happened?"
"I don't know," the waiter shrugged, genuinely clueless.
Qingyao led the group onto the second-floor corridor. Before they even reached the room, they could hear Qingfeng and Mingyue's cries from afar: "Young Master, Young Master." It was indeed trouble. Qingyao's head buzzed. Had that man truly interfered? This damned scoundrel, to actually lay such a heavy hand on his own son!
Qingyao burst in. Qingfeng and Mingyue were weeping inconsolably. Wuqing's eyes were closed, and blood trickled from his lips. His face was as white as paper, his white hair accentuating a certain desolation. If it weren't for the trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, he would have looked like he was merely sleeping peacefully, so serene, like a newborn infant, his brow unfurrowed. Qingyao could no longer hold back and rushed over.
"Wuqing, Wuqing, what's wrong?" She shook him. Hadn't he said it was an antidote? Why was this happening? Why did he take it if it wasn't an antidote?
Perhaps it was because he had her constantly on his mind, or perhaps it was a final surge of life, but Wuqing slowly opened his eyes. Upon seeing Qingyao, his pupils gleamed. He smiled at her, seeing the teardrops like sparkling pearls in her eyes. He died willingly, for his death brought tears to someone.
"Thank you, Qingyao. I entrust Wuqing Valley and those people to you."
"No, Wuqing, why? If you knew it wasn't an antidote, why did you still take it?"
"I'm so tired, Qingyao. Do you know? I often couldn't sleep for entire nights, dreaming of killing him. But when the moment came, my hands trembled, they trembled continuously. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I hate myself. Now, I am finally free. Don't be sad. If you truly remember my kindness, please remember to visit me. I'm afraid of loneliness."
As he spoke, he forcefully lifted his head and saw the imposing Murong Liuzun. With a single glance, he recognized this man as Yin Xuan. He had finally arrived, and Wuqing could finally rest easy.
"Take good care of her."
After speaking, Wuqing turned to Qingfeng and Mingyue, "Qingfeng, protect her. Remember what you promised me?"
"Young Master, I remember."
He said that she was the young master's life. As long as she lived happily, the young master would be happy. Yes, the young master would be happy. Qingfeng could no longer hold back her tears and sobbed. Little Fish also couldn't help but rush in, taking Wuqing's hand and speaking earnestly.
"Young Master, I will remember you too. I will also come back to see you often, so there are two people in this world who think of you."
"No, there's me too, me too," Mochou spoke up. Moyou spoke up. Qingfeng and Mingyue spoke simultaneously. Murong Liuzun, though silent, his deep, secluded gaze conveyed his gratitude for what Wuqing had done for Qingyao.
"Thank you, everyone," Wuqing said happily, his smile sweet. He looked at Qingyao and raised a hand slightly, as if to wipe away her tears.
"Qingyao, bury me in the peach blossom forest. That will be my final resting place. I am very happy. Please don't be sad anymore. If possible, help me fulfill one wish. Please return the secret scripture of the Hua Jiang tribe to them, alright?"
After he finished speaking, his hand, unable to be raised further, slipped down, vanishing as gently as the wind. Qingyao was stunned, murmuring softly, "Wuqing, Wuqing, did I harm you? If it weren't for that pill, could you have lived a little longer?"
Qingfeng spoke from the side, "Miss, you don't need to blame yourself. The young master didn't have many days left to live anyway. That man set a time limit for the curse he placed on the young master. Unless the young master killed Miss, he could have survived. But how could the young master kill Miss?"
As Qingfeng spoke, her heart ached intensely. She took out a silk handkerchief to wipe the blood from the young master's lips and whispered, "Young Master, we should return. We'll go back to the peach blossom forest, and you won't be lonely. Qingfeng will accompany you."
Mingyue also said, "Mingyue will accompany you too."
Qingyao suddenly stood up and rushed out as if driven mad, "I'm going to kill him!" Yes, she would personally kill that man. Even a tiger wouldn't eat its cubs, so how could he bear to harm his own child? Why was this happening?
Murong Liuzun grabbed her, stopping her movement. "Yao'er, don't be impulsive. Storming into the palace like this will only cost you your life. Do you think Young Master Wuqing would want anything to happen to you?"
"But I must kill him! I will avenge Wuqing. Doesn't he care about power and wealth? I will leave him with nothing!" Her eyes turned blood-red, seductive, and she screamed in fury, completely losing her usual tranquility. The thought of Wuqing being killed by that man was unbearable.
"Yes, you can kill him, but not now, Yao'er, not now. We will escort Wuqing back to Wuqing Valley. Do you hear me? Take him back, and then we can make plans on how to kill him, or leave him with nothing." Murong Liuzun's deep, bewitching words, amplified by his internal energy, flowed into Qingyao's ears, gradually calming her frenzied, irrational heart. She turned to look at Wuqing, who seemed to be asleep, making it truly difficult for her to believe he was already dead. Tears flowed uncontrollably again. "Alright, let's take him back. I will kill that man, and I will certainly fulfill his wish and obtain that secret scripture." Her face instantly turned as cold as ice, her pupils dark and ominous, like a pair of wolf eyes in the desolate desert smoke, bloodthirsty and fierce.