83 Don’t You Dare (2/2)
”Ah!”
Tie Cheng's grief-stricken and indignant cry, followed by his hopeless wailing, shot through the sky and into Meng Fuyao's ears.
She took in a deep breath and looked up into the sky. A vague smile could be seen spreading onto her face. It was peaceful, warm, tolerant and extensive, just like the dream that was perpetually drifting above her.
Her eyes turned moist.
The village that was left behind, the idea that was resolute, and the hope that was fluttering in her dreams, were calling out for her. Was this outcome going to enable her to return to the start?
If she was destined not to escape death, why should she drag others along with her?
That... was good too.
”Sir,” she called out, reaching a hand out to grab the approaching man in black. ”No need.”
The man appeared rather shocked, as Meng Fuyao looked at him calmly. ”They want me dead. Once that's done, they won't touch you anymore. I can't drag you down.”
”You're joking, Miss,” the man responded after a short while. With a slight smile, he asked, ”Do you think they'll let me go? I've killed so many of their people.”
Meng Fuyao remained silent for some time. ”We'll die together then. I was planning to get you to convey a message, but it looks like that's not happening. I only have a request, that is, please destroy my corpse and don't let me fall into the Rongsmen's hands.
”Alright,” the man in black sat, hands pressing down on his knees, ”Master had ordered me to protect you. Whether I live or die, I would've completed my mission.”
Meng Fuyao smiled and bent her body, knocking on the city door and speaking through the gap, ”I know you've tried your best, Tie Cheng, don't cry.” She paused for a while before continuing in an unsteady voice, ”Please forgive... I'll repay you in the next life.”
In the next life, in the next life.
To those whom I care about, have stopped for, gazed a second time for, and thanked before, please forgive me for giving up. As for the next life... let's hope fate allows it.
Meng Fuyao shut her eyes and pulled her sword out.
Her sword, Destiny Rebellion, had taken countless lives, and it was finally her turn.
The thin yet snow-bright sword body reflected the pale yet resolute mien.
”Cha!”
Amid the bloodied sand before the city gate, the lonely figure of the man in black could be seen shielding his eyes from the dazzling sword that was held horizontally across her fair neck.
Both armies made no sound as they waited apathetically for the girl to end her life.
Meng Fuyao shut her eyes slowly.
She had already bid her farewell to whomever she could; as for those whom she couldn't, she could only keep it in her heart.
Having her life in this other world end at age 18, before she could fulfill her wishes, was something she hadn't imagined. Nevertheless, as things had progressed thus far, she actually felt calm, as though she was one with the water and was about to reach its end.
Just like that.
She pulled her sword back, its ray flashing by.
”Cha!”
”Meng Fuyao! Don't you dare die on me!”
A red object, carrying a gust of fishy stench, whizzed toward her and slammed onto the tip of her sword blade.
The object felt soft, but it approached with such violence that Meng Fuyao, who was already extremely feeble and powerless, lost grip of her sword. In spite of that, the sharp blade had left a slit across her neck, where blood slowly poured out.
Meng Fuyao lowered her head to look at the ground, spotting a crooked ear through her hazy and bloodied vision. Someone had thrown a severed ear to save her life.
”Mother... how melodramatic... couldn't you have come up with something more novel...” Meng Fuyao mumbled while struggling to support her own weight. ”Which bastard dared to stop me from dying a martyr?”
”You're the bastard.”
A black-and-red whirlwind rolled over, as an extended hand seized Meng Fuyao's fallen sword and then pulled her up and onto a horse saddle.
”Woman, I keep you out of my sight one moment, and you get yourself into trouble.”
Meng Fuyao rested against the gear and coughed. Having no mood to entertain Zhan Beiye and his scowling face, she murmured, ”You came alone? Leave, don't make me kill another innocent being...”
”Why don't you take a clear look at who you're talking to?” Zhan Beiye asked unhappily. ”Are those third-rate soldiers my match?” He tore a section of his sleeve and wrapped it around her neck before scanning through her injuries. Upon figuring that the entire fabric of his clothing wasn't going to be enough to wrap her wounds up, he frowned in uncontrollable anger.
He whipped his head around, his pupils black as a stormy night. His aura was akin to raging flames as he ordered, ”Dark Wind Horses, kill all of them. Don't just jab a few holes out of them if you can flatten them, and don't just flatten them if you can pulverize them.”
”Dark Wind Horses?” Meng Fuyao repeated, almost bursting into laughter amid her half-conscious state. ”Blind boasting isn't the right way to go. They're your specially trained soldiers, huh? But this is Wuji and not Tiansha...”