Chapter 341: The Battle (II)
Chapter 341: The Battle (II)
"If you will keep hesitating, more innocent lives will suffer." Xu Wei spoke when he noticed the turmoil brewing within her.
Xiang Ling looked up at the Shadow Lord, trying to understand what he was trying to say through his words. "You know why I’m here." She said. It wasn’t a question, because they both already knew the answer.
Xu Wei slowly nodded his head and a very small smile curved the corners of his lips. "Before coming here, I struggled a lot to find a way to win this war, save myself and my people... and you. But now, I feel like the answer has always been right in front of me."
"Ah Wei..."
His name left as a whisper past her lips while her eyes went slightly wide. She felt a dreadful feeling taking over her as she started realizing exactly what might he be talking about.
Xu Wei stepped closer to her and all she was able to see was the smile playing on his lips. It was a genuine smile that reached his eyes as well. She could see the relief he was feeling, could sense that he was ready to let go, and this realization only made her more anxious.
"Don’t do this." She whispered while trying to step away, to keep distance between the two of them. But his shadows emerged and surrounded her, keeping her frozen in her place while he came to stand right in front of her with merely inches separating them.
"Ah Wei..."
This time her voice broke as she called him and a single tear spilled from the corner of her right eye. She watched as he reached out and brushed away that tear, his touch gentle and full of care. This only made her heart break more.
She no longer doubted herself, at this point she knew for sure that she wasn’t ready at all. She couldn’t make herself hurt Xu Wei, especially when she could see just how broken and hurt he already was.
What he needed was a chance, a gentle guidance, not to be killed ruthlessly on this battle ground. Yet, she couldn’t find a way to really save him.
"I’m sorry for hurting you like this, Sister Ling. Maybe if we have never met, this might have been easy for you." He said while holding her face with his hand that was now resting against her right cheek.
Xiang Ling shook her head as she reached out to hold his hand that was cupping her face. "Don’t say that. I will never regret meeting you in that Black market. What I regret is failing to protect you like I promised in the Mortal Realm. I’m the one who failed in keeping my words. I’m sorry, Ah Wei."
More tears spilled from her eyes and he was once again quick to brush them away. She could sense that seeing her cry was making him hurt more, so she tried to hold back her tears.
"Ah Wei, will you listen to me? Go away, leave this battle and run away to some far away place. Hide and buy me some time. I promise I’ll give my all to find a way to save you..." she trailed off when he started shaking his head in disapproval. She felt like someone was carving on her heart with a sharp dagger as she heard him speak.
"I’m tired of running and hiding. That’s what I have done for most of my life. I even feel tired of living. Truth be told, I’m actually feeling relieved to know that I’ll be dying by your hands."
"Don’t say that!" Xiang Ling requested while she shook her head as grief and helplessness took over her. "Please don’t give up, Ah Wei. Please. I can’t do this. I just can’t."
She felt her knees giving away as the weight of her responsibilities and her feelings became too much for her to bear. But just as she felt herself falling, he was there to hold her up.
"I know I’m being selfish, Sister Ling. But I can’t help it. When I saw you here, I realized that you are my only option of breaking free from all these shackles. Please do it for me. Please release me from all these burdens. Let me finally rest. Please."
Xiang Ling looked into his familiar dark orbs and found him begging for his freedom. If she felt this weak, burdened, and desperate, then she could only imagine what he might be feeling.
She reached out to cup his face with her hands as she confessed, "I came here expecting a big fight between us, for us to battle along with our armies. I didn’t expect you to give up like this, leaving me completely defeated."
Xu Wei smiled softly as he rested his forehead against hers. "Sister Ling, you know that I can never fight you. I will never fight against you." There was silence for a few moments before he added, "My most loved memory in my entire life of several thousands of years is meeting you. What I cherish most is the love and care I received from you. I wish if there’s a second life for me, I will have the blessing of meeting you again as a friend."
This time, there was no stopping the tears that rushed down Xiang Ling’s cheeks. She knew it was time. And he knew it too.
The battle that had subsided to some faraway place during their emotional farewell conversation returned, the battleground returned where hundreds had already died and more would be dying if she didn’t finish what she needed to.
The Celestial Stone Dagger appeared in her hand, making her feel its immense power with every single cell in her body. She channeled her qi in the dagger, bringing it to life while she and Xu Wei stood there holding each other.
She must have looked completely emotionless and dead from inside as she plunged the dagger right into Xu Wei’s heart with all her force...!