Chapter 1134: Would rather miss you in this lifetime (1/2)

Tang Li stood rooted to the spot, his face wreathed by the light of the roaring flames as Su Xiaoyu’s sobs echoed in his ears.

Big sis Ning fell into the pit, she fell in…

He wanted to try one more time to calm down, but those cries and that name seem to burrow into his head, ensnaring his eyes, his ears, and his heart.

Big sis Ning fell in…

Everyone looked into the pit, seeing it deep and filled with flames. Who could hope to survive the drop? Han Yunxi’s eyes darted between the fire and Tang Li and had trouble accepting the truth. Her mind turned blank, and even the detox system had stopped sending her pings. It was unclear whether the distance between her and the poisoned person had gone beyond her range, or if the flames had simply burned her to ashes. She unconsciously tightened her gip on Su Xiaoyu’s hand until she was nearly crushing the girl’s fingers. But Su Xiaoyu didn’t feel any pain as she sobbed nonstop, muttering “Big sis Ning” over and over again.

Gu Qishao and Gu Beiyue were staring blankly at the flames too. They knew it wouldn’t be easy to rescue the hostages, but they never predicted this outcome!

The person was gone!

They didn’t catch a glimpse of her before she vanished from their eyes!

Gu Qishao had always been the immoral and careless type, but he suddenly felt miserable when looking at Tang Li. He didn’t want to stare any longer and walked to the side to settle into a crouch. Gu Beiyue was a doctor and used to the realities of life and death. He could show pity for every patient and helplessness for the eventuality of demise, but his heart ached to see Tang Li’s hopes dashed and his eyes dim!

Long Feiye stood with hooded eyes before walking in front of his little brother and pulling him into his arms. But unlike the past, Tang Li didn’t start sobbing into his shoulder. He remained wooden, staring at the flaming pit with vacant eyes. He was trying his best to recall the last time he’d seen Ning Jing. What did she look like? What was she wearing? How did she do her hair, and what kind of things did she say? That was back in Three-Way Black Market when she was used to dressing in loose-fitting robes. She was already pregnant then, but he had no clue at all.

Back then, she said, “Someone come, cut off his left hand!”

And his last words to her were, “Ning Jing, you’ve won.”

He was forced to undo the bracelets tying them together within ten paces.

Ning Jing, if I had found out about your feelings earlier, I would never have unlocked those bracelets. Even if I lost a hand or my own life!

Tang Li thought back to the first time they met and how Ning Jing had been dressed as a man. Neither of them knew the other’s identity. He lied to her and said he was Chang Li, a disciple of Shuangqing Mountain. She’d frowned and said it was a bad name, too sentimental.

“All meetings hope to be long without ever parting,” he’d blabbed back then. “We only met by chance today in passing. There’s no telling if we’ll meet again in this lifetime, much stay long without ever parting. Miss, I shall take my leave now.”

But she’d stopped him and said, “Wait, didn’t you need to borrow a ride? Climb on! I’ll take you for a trip so we won’t have to part!”

Silent tears trickled down Tang Li’s face.

Ning Jing, if I’d known this day would come to pass, then I wish I never got on your carriage. I’d rather brush past your shoulder and miss you forever in this lifetime. Maybe then I wouldn’t have to bear the pain of parting ways.

He recalled the day he went to marry Ning Jing at Myriad Merchant Hall. He’d teased one of the servant girls outside while Ning Jing remained stubbornly shut up in her rooms. He’d blocked the door and warned, “Ouyang Ning Jing, if you don’t come out, I’ll just block up the door and refuse to leave. I, Tang Li, won’t marry anyone else except you, Ning Jing, in this lifetime!”

She had burst out of the doors without even remembering to put on her wedding veil. This was the first time she’d met anyone in women’s robes with her hair done up, her brows painted, and a broad forehead and bright eyes over a pair of deep crimson lips. As luminous as the spring, as beautiful as the harvest moon, she’d been a feast for the eyes!

He’d been floored by the sight as he realized she was absolutely beautiful.

Tears soon flooded his face, turning Long Feiye’s robes damp. He pressed against Tang Li’s nape, hoping the man could draw momentary comfort from his shoulders. But Tang Li moved his hand aside and intoned, “Let me calm down. I need some peace and quiet on my own.”

Peace and quiet...Jing Jing…[1]

Everyone looked at Tang li while feeling wretched. But Tang Li didn’t react. He walked to the wall and crouched down, cradling his head in his hands with a mutter. “I need some peace and quiet on my own, let me calm down alone…”

There were still tears streaming down his face, but his expression looked lost and blank, a completely different person from a few minutes ago.

This…

Han Yunxi immediately sensed something amiss and walked over to crouch in front of him. “Tang Li, what’s wrong?”

Ignoring her, Tang Li simply muttered, “I want peace and quiet...I want Jing Jing, I want to be with Jing Jing alone…”