Raging energy vibrated within Lesser Cold Mountain.
The center of the battle between Liang Lin and Qing Dai was shrouded in black mist.
The situation inside was completely indiscernible.
"Qing Dai..."
I called out worriedly.
Finally, I got up from the ground, steadying myself against the wall.
At the same time, a gust of mountain wind blew past.
The black mist that had condensed at the center of the battle began to disperse.
I widened my eyes, watching the battle's core intently.
Limping, I moved closer.
As the black mist continued to dissipate, the scene at the center of the battle gradually revealed itself.
Gradually, I saw two figures.
One stood, the other knelt.
My tension made me hold my breath as I observed closely.
My vision became clearer and clearer.
Soon, I clearly saw the two.
The one kneeling was Liang Lin, the formidable general of the New Dynasty, clad in full armor.
And the one standing was Qing Dai, the one I held dear in my heart.
Seeing this, I let out a sigh of relief.
A smile appeared on my face.
It seemed the victor had been decided.
Qing Dai had won.
Just as I thought this, Liang Lin, still kneeling, stared at Qing Dai and spoke coldly:
"Princess Nine Sages, do not celebrate too soon. The New Dynasty is destined to rise.
When we meet again, this marshal will not lose!"
After speaking, Liang Lin even glanced in my direction.
And with that glance.
The pupils of his eyes contracted.
His body exploded with a "boom," and black energy surged.
Qing Dai, standing before him, was the first to be affected.
Qing Dai raised her hand to block, retreating repeatedly towards me.
"Qing Dai!"
I rushed forward.
Qing Dai quickly regained her footing and looked at me:
"Don't worry, I'm fine!"
As she spoke, she turned her head to look at me.
But as Qing Dai turned her head, I froze completely.
Because I saw Qing Dai's face.
Her entire face, without the mask.
Qing Dai had red lips and white teeth, her beauty natural and exquisite.
Her appearance could be described as utterly captivating...
For a moment, I was captivated.
"You, you're so beautiful!"
I blurted out subconsciously.
And at this moment, Qing Dai realized.
The mask she wore had been knocked off during the recent battle.
Now, her entire face was visible to me.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly covered her face:
"Quickly close your eyes."
Hearing this, I suddenly remembered.
What Qing Dai had told me by the river previously.
She had received a "death hex" from my past life.
The hex predicted that when she found me in this life,
I would help Qing Dai find the man she had waited ten lifetimes for.
However, she was not allowed to reveal her true face to me before I turned twenty, or before I reached the "Soul Palace" realm.
If she did, according to the hex, I would die because of her.
But now, I had unexpectedly seen Qing Dai's face.
I paused for a moment, but then smiled bitterly at Qing Dai:
"I don't think it's necessary to avert my gaze anymore, I've already seen it."
Upon hearing this, Qing Dai's eyes became noticeably vacant.
Only after two or three seconds did Qing Dai snap back to reality, and like a child who had made a mistake, she kept apologizing to me:
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
It was not intentional, not intentional..."
Looking at Qing Dai's continuous apologies, I shook my head:
"It's alright, Qing Dai. Besides, divination is a mysterious thing, don't take it too seriously.
And, it's the first time I've heard that just looking at someone would cause death.
It's not like Medusa, the Gorgon..."
"But..."
Qing Dai still wanted to speak.
I directly interrupted:
"There's no need to say more, Qing Dai. Without your protection, I wouldn't have survived until now.
Every day I live now is a gain.
And now that I've seen your appearance, you don't need to hide from me anymore.
Even if I truly die because of you in the future, I will do so willingly."
I said with a smile.
To be honest, I really didn't believe.
That so-called "death hex" was that accurate.
Even if it were true, what I said was from the heart.
Qing Dai had saved my life many times.
And now, she had saved me, Master, Old Mo, and the others.
So many lives.
And I, at this moment, had nothing to repay her with.
If one day, I truly died because of Qing Dai, it would be my willing sacrifice.
Qing Dai looked at me deeply, her eyes flickering, filled with melancholy and worry.
Seeing her staring at me like that, her hand still covering her face.
I took a step forward voluntarily, took her arm, and gently pulled it away.
As my hand covered Qing Dai's arm, her body trembled slightly.
I looked at Qing Dai's peerless beauty.
And continued to smile:
"This way is much prettier."
Seeing my casual demeanor, Qing Dai's red lips parted, still looking melancholic:
"You, are you really, really not afraid?"
I spread my hands:
"I live one day at a time, what is there to be afraid of?
If I am to die, I must at least help you fulfill your wish and find the person with the fire cloud pattern on their chest."
Qing Dai looked at me, her eyes and face revealing undeniable emotion.
And I continued:
"Thank you truly, today.
Otherwise, we might all have died here.
But now, we are all saved..."
After speaking, I glanced at Master, Old Mo, and the others lying on the ground, feeling a sense of having survived a great ordeal...