Arc 3 – Chapter 178, Vicious Princess Wants to Reverse Fate (72)

Shangguan Qi didn't respond but suddenly plunged, pursued closely by Mu Yan. As Shangguan Qi teetered on the edge of madness, Mu Yan stepped ahead, pinning Shangguan Qi between the stone wall and himself.

Lifting his eyes, he warned his lifelong friend sternly, "How much longer will you let the people of the Shura Palace accompany your madness before you come to your senses! She... she's already dead!"

The 'she' Mu Yan referred to was none other than the person everyone had been incessantly searching for over the past half a month, the notorious princess of Zhou who drove Shangguan Qi to madness - Zhou Min!

Mu Yan thought Shangguan Qi would react as usual, becoming unstable at the mere mention of Zhou Min's possible death, his eyes turning bloodshot, lashing out like a cornered beast. 

But at that moment, as soon as Mu Yan finished his sentence, Shangguan Qi, trapped between the stone wall and him, suddenly looked up and gave him a faint smile of resolute calm.

That smile swept away the biting cold wind.

That smile illuminated the night.

That smile completely isolated him from the world.

Stunning yet hollow, sorrowful yet decadent.

Mu Yan had never seen such a bewildering smile on him before. But seeing it now, he felt that the smile, beautiful yet hollow yet lonely, was a mask for the deep sorrow and silent screams of despair Shangguan Qi was experiencing.

"She said I was always so fierce towards her that it tired her out. Now that I think about it, I've never really smiled at her... not even once..."

"She said everyone has an angel by their side who carries them through the pain when they need it most. But, I've lost my angel..."

"She said if I pushed her away again, she would never look back. But I didn't push her away. Why, then, did she leave me without a backward glance..."

"She said as long as she was there, she would never let me die. But why do I feel that living is worse than dying..."

"She said, Shangguan Qi, if you can't cry, if you dare not feel pain, I will cry for you, I will feel the pain for you. But why, when my heart is already in shreds, has she not appeared to shed tears for me..."

"She said she would never lie to me, never leave me. But why can't I find her..."

"She said, I love you, but don't want my heart and efforts. But how can I return the heart I've already given out without feeling this pain..."

"She said, forget me... But she doesn't know. From the moment she entered Valley of Divine Physicians five years ago, I secretly etched her vibrant image into my heart. My aloofness was just fear of getting too close because we were destined to be unable to coexist! But the heavens always play such tricks on everyone. This past month, with her stubbornness and persistence, she engraved her name on my heart, every inch of my bones, and every inch of my flesh. As long as I breathe, my body and heart call out her name - Zhou Min, Zhou Min, Zhou Min..."

Shangguan Qi leaned weakly on Mu Yan's shoulder before him, recounting everything she had said. His entire being seemed to have been drained of all life force, desolate and helpless, sad and painful. Yet, in the end, he started to laugh like a madman. The louder his laughter, the more eerie and chilling it became.

"Zhou Min! Zhou Min! Zhou Min -! You're a liar, a liar! You enticed me, thinking you could just leave as you please. I disagree; I disagree. You are mine in life, and even in death, you are still mine! Mine..." Shangguan Qi initially seemed as fragile as a crystal that would shatter at the merest touch, but in an instant, he sent Mu Yan flying toward the left guardian of the Shura Palace with a single palm strike. When he looked up again, Shangguan Qi's eyes were as red as a demon's, and he leapt into the air.

The words from his mouth, amplified by his profound inner strength, echoed across the land, startling all the animals in the forest. The forest was filled with continuous cries and roars from various animals. Against the backdrop of the sharp, piercing cries of the animals, Shangguan Qi's vow was like a curse, making the people in the valley shiver with goosebumps, their scalps tingling with fear.

Such a Shangguan Qi made them feel fear and shock from the bottom of their hearts!

Everyone present didn't know whether the princess of Zhou should be glad that she was already dead or pray that she was still alive...

Standing at the edge of the valley, Yin Mei watched the man disappearing into the night sky, her heart aching so much she could barely breathe. She loved him too! But his heart was firmly held by another woman. Over the past half a month, she had been by his side. From the day he woke up, he had been staring at the Qingfeng sword he had ordered to be retrieved.

She knew that sword belonged to another woman!

When Mu Yan flew up, he saw Yin Mei standing in the valley, tears streaming down her face. Her gaze followed Shangguan Qi until he disappeared, and she didn't retract her gaze.

"Let's go back... Also... Never mind, it's nothing..." Mu Yan walked up to Yin Mei, wanting to tell her not to keep her heart set on Shangguan Qi. But looking at Yin Mei, he couldn't say it. If it were that easy, he would have freed himself long ago.

Mu Yan looked at Yin Mei with a gaze filled with suppressed, deep affection, but he could only silently watch over her when she wasn't looking.