Chapter 1019: The sky falls down (1/2)

Gu Qishao’s voice was harsh as he spoke from the flames.

“Long Feiye, you just have to look after Poison lass for this old man. Don’t worry about anything else! Even if the sky falls down, this old man can take it!”

One could only began to understand the power of the celestial fire after experiencing it in person. In actuality, Gu Qishao was at his limits. But it was impossible for him to die! No matter how many wounds or poisons he’d incurred in the past, he always survived just fine. His fierce objection was to remind Long Feiye of this fact. No matter how much he burned, he wouldn’t die. At most he’d just get burn injuries, but it wasn’t like this fire could reduce him to ashes. Maybe he’d just have scars all over his body.

And even if he did burn to death, he’d never allow Poison lass to take this kind of punishment, much less in their current circumstances! His statement was enough for Long Feiye to understand his intentions.

Long Feiye grabbed Han Yunxi and murmured, “Be good, will you? I won’t let him die.”

“Alright!” Han Yunxi nodded without hesitation. She had rarely been so docile. With time so tight, Long Feiye didn’t notice this abnormality and flew straight to the top of the furnace.

Seeing this, Gu Qishao cried out, “Long Feiye, what are you doing? You can’t understand human speech, is that it?!” His body was wracked with agony from all the burns. It felt like his skin was been scalded off layer after layer, a truly piercing pain. The suffering forced him to curl up into a ball, but he still shouted at the top of his lungs, “Long Feiye, you get back here! Get down! Have you burned your wits away?!”

He couldn’t die. Just then, his words were to stop both Han Yunxi and Long Feiye from trying to help him out. Shouldn’t Long Feiye have understood him? Moreover, Long Feiye had already wasted so much internal energy, so why should he suffer in vain? There were too many things waiting for him to do. Can’t that guy go coax Poison lass after making her cry like that? What’s she supposed to do if something happens to him again?

The more he thought, the more panic Gu Qishao felt. Infuriated, he hollered, “Long Feiye, you motherf**king get off there right now! Otherwise this old man will destroy you! Kill you!”

How could Long Feiye have lost his wits? Of course he understood Gu Qishao and knew he couldn’t die. Yes, he didn’t need to waste his strength for nothing. But he still landed on top of the furnace to circulate his energy again. He peered at the man engulfed in flames and muttered, “Gu Qishao, I definitely won’t break my promise to you.”

If the fire kept going, then Gu Qishao’s undying body would be exposed. Gu Qishao himself must have forgotten all about it, because he hadn’t made any plans.

“Gu Qishao, whether the sky falls or not has nothing to do with you!” Long Feiye said before a fireball formed beneath his hands. He used more internal energy than last time, so the flames quickly formed into a dragon and slipped into the furnace. However, Long Feiye simply stood with his hands folded behind his back, waiting for the celestial fire to counterattack.

Han Yunxi peered up at him expressionlessly. She was very calm, but her lips quirked into a smile when she felt the heat wave shifting its attention from Gu Qishao’s body to Long Feiye. Rather than waste time with these two men, she would prefer to wait for a chance of her own where Long Feiye couldn’t stop her. She now flew into the air to stand by Long Feiye’s side. Seeing this, both men were stunned. What is she doing?

Han Yunxi ignored them both and began to channel her internal energy into flame as well based on her memory of Long Feiye’s movements. Her gaze remained hooded as the genuine genius of her talent came into form as a tongue of flame beneath her hands.

“Han Yunxi, this crown prince orders you to stop this instant!” Long Feiye had never barked out such a harsh order. If he wasn’t so busy fighting back the celestial fire, his voice would be much louder.

Han Yunxi looked back, her face illuminated by the fire. Raising her chin, she arched her brow at him and challenged, “You think I’m afraid of you?”

If this was any other time, Gu Qishao would laugh at loud at her words, but now he was only shouting. His words were directed at Long Feiye, who couldn’t bear to scream at Han Yunxi even at a time like this. He himself knew he had no way to coax, threaten, or affect that woman.

Furious, he even leapt towards the air. “Long Feiye, this old man’s gonna slaughter you!”

But he’d hardly spoken when fresh blood bubbled out of his throat, sending him toppling to the ground. His entire body stiffened at the sensation.

Death!

Was this the feeling of nearing death? Why was his body so listless and exhausted? So full of pain? Why was it even getting hard to breathe? No matter how badly he was injured, he’d never felt anything beyond pain. This time seemed different from the rest.

Would he die?

Gu Qishao curled up within the flames and began to wonder about that for the first time. Gradually, he broke into a smile as if all the flowers on Earth had burst into bloom. He looked up at the furnace and saw that he was sprawled by its feet. It was impossible to see Long Feiye and Han Yunxi from this angle, so all he saw was a sky of flames. He knit his brows and did his best to circulate his energy as a way of self-defense, and to alleviate the pain. Even if he could endure one step longer, at least it’d give him a chance to catch a glimpse of Poison lass. That would be an image he seared into his heart.

Poison lass, if we have another lifetime, Qi gege will never wait for you again. Qi gege will look for you all over the world so I can find you first.

Despite his agony, he ignored it all and concentrated all his efforts on taking that final step. But reality proved that he could move no longer. He was left lying on the ground as his flame-soaked hands scrabbled for purchase against the earth. Still, they were unable to push him upright. Ever since finding out he was a freak, Gu Qishao had always yearned for death. To him, death represented rebirth. But in this moment, he suddenly regretted his choice. He didn’t want to die.

Han Yunxi, I’d rather stand behind Long Feiye’s back for a lifetime to protect your love as a couple, your kingdom for eternity, and your generations of offspring. I'd rather see you slowly grow older until you die from old age than place any extravagant hopes on a next life.

“Poison lass…” Gu Qishao muttered, but his voice was so soft that he couldn’t hear a word. Gradually, his fingers lost the strength to even scrabble and fell limp.

“Poison lass, Qi gege really...really likes you…”

“Poison lass, do you...even know…?”