Chapter 85: Qinghuan Is Dead

The man in silver armor spoke a warning, and everyone fell silent, pricking up their ears to listen.

“Where is anyone?” Qin Tian looked at the silver-armored man, his expression complicated. The silver-armored man’s gaze toward Qin Tian was equally full of hostility.

“It is time you returned what you took from me, isn’t it?” the man in silver demanded, staring at Qin Tian.

Without changing expression, Qin Tian took a black iron staff from his spatial ring and handed it over. “I couldn’t use this thing anyway. Here, take it back.”

That black iron staff seemed strangely familiar, yet for the moment I could not remember where I had seen it before. By then, the sound of footsteps was drawing closer and closer. The silver-armored man clasped his hands behind his back and stared into the distance from which the noise came. With a powerful figure like him here, I thought there should be no danger, so I pulled Qin Tian aside.

“You stole someone else’s property, and last time you never even told me?”

Qin Tian gave an awkward laugh. “Heh... how could I possibly bring up something like that? I thought the staff looked pretty good, so I took it while I had the chance.”

“Damn it! Even thieves have their code. The Azure Dragon Gang may be made up of outlaws, but you’re still its leader. How could you do something like this? Don’t pull this kind of stunt again.”

Qin Tian nodded repeatedly, obediently promising he would not do it again. Just then, the others arrived. Even from far away, I recognized them at once: Murong Xue, followed by the Nine-Tailed Fox, Xiao Xiang Ke'er, and the brothers of the Azure Dragon Gang.

The silver-armored man was just about to strike when I hurriedly stopped him. “Don’t. They’re my friends.” At that, he withdrew the right hand he had extended.

“There is nothing more for me to do here. I am leaving. The Heavenly Demon Art must never fall into another’s hands.” His voice drifted from afar even as his body had already soared beyond the highest heavens.

“Are you all right?” Murong Xue asked between breaths.

“I’m fine. Didn’t I tell you all to leave?”

The Nine-Tailed Fox stepped forward. “We’re a team. How could you do this—throw us aside and run off on your own? If something happens, can’t we face it together? Is this your way of saying you don’t trust us?”

I waved my hands at once in explanation. “Ladies, that’s not it. I just didn’t want to drag everyone down.”

The Nine-Tailed Fox rolled her eyes at me and said nothing more. After Xiao Xiang Ke'er finished embracing Yu Jing, she looked at Xu Qinghuan lying on the ground and said, “What happened to Sister Qinghuan? You grown men can’t even take care of one woman!”

At once Murong Xue hurried over and examined Xu Qinghuan. After a long while, she stood and said, “Her pulse is very weak. It seems she has been poisoned. Strange... I’ve never seen symptoms like these before.”

“Can she still be saved?” I lifted Xu Qinghuan into my arms. Her face was deathly pale, her lips cracked, one hand hanging limply to the ground. I held the woman I loved tightly and thought, Qinghuan, nothing must happen to you.

“This...” Murong Xue hesitated. “I can’t guarantee it, but I can try acupuncture.”

She took out a packet of silver needles from her robe. I laid Xu Qinghuan flat on the ground, and Murong Xue began her treatment.

“She’s in terrible condition. I’m sorry. I did everything I could.” Murong Xue wiped the sweat from her brow as she spoke.

The moment I heard that, it was as though I suddenly understood something. I seized Murong Xue by the shoulders and shook her over and over. “Aren’t you the miracle doctor? You must have a way! Hurry—save her!”

“Old Li, calm down.” Qin Tian pulled me back.

“You won’t die. I won’t let you leave me. There has to be a way, there has to be...” Then I remembered what Leng Wushuang had said. She had told me that the Purifying Heart Incantation within the Heavenly Demon Art could save Xu Qinghuan. I immediately took out the third volume of the Heavenly Demon Art and flipped through it from beginning to end, but nowhere did I find the Purifying Heart Incantation she had mentioned.

“Wake her up,” I said to Qin Tian.

Qin Tian supported Leng Wushuang and shook her twice, but there was no response. I simply dragged her up from the ground and threw her into the sea.

“Old Li, what are you doing?” Qin Tian cried, then jumped in after her, helping Leng Wushuang swim back to shore. She woke at last. Seeing Xu Qinghuan lying on the ground and the look on my face, she seemed to grasp what had happened. After drying her clothes with her power, she came over to me and said, “The Purifying Heart Incantation is written in ancient script. That language vanished from the world long ago. I understand some of it, but whether I can save her... I’m not certain.”

“Not certain? You were the one who said the Purifying Heart Incantation could save her, and now you say you’re not certain?” I looked down at Leng Wushuang and questioned her word by word.

With a helpless sigh, Leng Wushuang said, “I’m sorry. I lied to you. The Heavenly Demon Art is very important to me.”

“Then save her now. If she can be saved, what does it matter if I give you the Heavenly Demon Art?” I said, placing the volume into her hands.

When I had just leafed through it, every line had already been engraved firmly in my memory. My memory was now monstrously strong, like data copied by a machine. Unless I were to lose my mind, the contents of the Heavenly Demon Art would remain in my head forever. To me, the third volume was no more than wastepaper. What did it matter if I gave it to her? With only one volume, how much trouble could she possibly stir up?

Leng Wushuang accepted the Heavenly Demon Art and began to read. Then she walked over to Xu Qinghuan, spread the volume open on the ground, knelt before her, and began chanting incomprehensible words.

A long time passed, and Xu Qinghuan showed not the slightest reaction. No one dared even breathe too loudly; all waited for Leng Wushuang to bring her back. The hope was a lovely one, but reality was cruel. Leng Wushuang closed the Heavenly Demon Art and said, “I’m sorry...”

“What do you mean? She can’t be saved? Didn’t you say it wouldn’t be too late if it was within twelve hours? Didn’t you say you knew the ancient script? How can she not be saved? Say something!” I knelt beside Xu Qinghuan and demanded answers. My heart was in unspeakable agony, as if someone were plunging a blade into it again and again. I clutched Xu Qinghuan tightly. “Qinghuan, you won’t die. You’ll get better, you will...”

With great effort, Xu Qinghuan slowly opened her eyes. “Idiot... you’re such a grown man, and you’re still crying. I’m not going to die. I want to stay by your side forever.”

“Yes. You won’t die. I won’t let you!” I kissed her forehead gently, feeling the warmth of her skin.

“Idiot... I still want to go with you to your world. Promise me... let me stay with you always, all right?” Her hand rose to caress my face.

I took her hand into mine and pressed it tightly against my cheek. A clear tear slipped from the corner of my eye. Xu Qinghuan lifted her other hand and wiped it away for me. “Idiot, don’t cry. I won’t die. Smile for me, will you?”

I forced out the faintest trace of a smile.

Her hand slipped weakly from my grasp.

My vision slowly blurred. The body of the woman in my arms was gradually turning cold. All the strength I had once possessed deserted me. I held her tightly, desperately, and after a long, grief-stricken cry, darkness flooded my eyes and I collapsed.