CHAPTER 1855: CHAPTER 1848: A LATE CONFESSION

"They’re around the same age, could they become childhood sweethearts? When I went to see just now, Yichuan Yu was still tightly holding the little girl’s finger in his sleep," Tangmo said with a look of envy.

"I hope they can grow up in a peaceful era." Luo’er said with a hint of wistfulness.

"Do you think we can go back?" Tangmo gently leaned against his shoulder and finally asked.

"Of course, maybe the reinforcements are already on their way," Luo’er nodded and said.

"But..." Tangmo frowned slightly, her face full of worry as she said, "I’m worried the Wu Dynasty won’t let us go, I just feel uneasy. Especially after you brought back Yichuan Ying, I’m worried they’ll come knocking, this bunch can do anything."

"Don’t worry, they don’t have an air force, it’s not that easy for them to chase us," Luo’er smiled slightly and said, "Besides, even if we’re pursued. Anyone I want to take away, nobody can stop."

"I thought you planned to continue following the rules."

"As a representative of headquarters, I only interact with legitimate governments. The Wu family has such a conniving scheme, usurping national power. Hmph, now everything is in disarray, unrest inside and outside. Unless they solve these troubles, I, on behalf of headquarters, refuse to recognize their legitimacy, so there’s no need to play by their rules."

"I’ve gotten used to your gentle side, it’s rare to see you so assertive, how should I say, it’s always surprising."

"Any actions that obstruct the Advance Team’s mission should be rectified. This is a principle I have always adhered to, haven’t we been practicing this guideline all these years?"

"If the Wu dynasty’s troops attack, should we really face them head-on?" Tangmo asked uneasily.

"What, do you think we don’t stand a chance?" Luo’er asked back.

"Not really," Tangmo shook her head and said, "I mean, if we have to strike, we must be decisive, there’s no room for luck."

"Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."

Luo’er nodded gently.

Elsewhere, Cheng Ziang was led by Liseya through the forest to an open field. As soon as he stepped out of the woods, he heard the shrill cries of crows nearby.

As dusk fell, a strange smell pervaded the air. Cheng Ziang took a deep breath and instinctively covered his mouth and nose.

He looked up and saw a few silhouettes standing in the clearing, several meters apart. Two short black figures were opposite him, and the closest black figure to him was already lying on the ground.

Upon seeing this, something seemed to occur to Cheng Ziang, and he instinctively shouted, "Hun Jiansi!"

With that, he rushed towards the fallen figure.

The fallen shadow struggled, and upon hearing his call, trembled all over and excitedly turned back.

Cheng Ziang rushed to her, crouched down, and tried to help her up, but Hun Jiansi suddenly pushed his hand away. Her pale lips quivered as she said, "Don’t, don’t touch me, I’ve been poisoned, it’ll harm you."

Upon hearing her words, Cheng Ziang felt his heart skip a beat, instantly feeling drained of strength, involuntarily holding her in his arms.

"Why did you come looking for me?" Hun Jiansi lay in his embrace, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace, she closed her eyes and asked.

"I felt like I lost something and wanted to find it..." Cheng Ziang sniffled, his eyes reddened as he said.

"Is it me?" Hun Jiansi closed her eyes, seemingly smiling as she spoke.

"Yeah..."

"Hehe..."

Upon hearing his words, Hun Jiansi immediately showed a delighted smile, but then quickly frowned, gritting her teeth and panting, looking very painful, cold sweat streaming down her forehead.

"How could this happen?"

"Be careful...no, you’re a Nascent Soul Realm expert... but still be wary of that old woman... she uses poison..." Hun Jiansi spoke, her teeth continually chattering.

"You’re poisoned? Tell me how I can help, where’s the antidote?" Cheng Ziang asked frantically.

"I’m sorry I couldn’t protect myself..."

Hun Jiansi grasped his clothes tightly, rested her forehead on his chest, and weakly said with a guilty tone, "The old woman never prepares antidotes when she poisons. Ever since I got poisoned, I knew I wouldn’t survive... I’m just glad I held on until you came, promise me, kill them, or they won’t let you go..."

"No, no, no, this can’t be..."

Cheng Ziang panicked instantly, hugging her tightly, pressing his face against her head, as he continued speaking with a sob in his voice.

"Raise your head...raise your head, don’t look down, keep an eye on the old woman, keep an eye on Changyi, watch out for their ambush..."

Hun Jiansi struggled to keep her eyes shut as she raised her hand laboriously, trying to lift his chin and get him to look up. In her final moments, she was still thinking of Cheng Ziang’s safety.

"Tell me how to save you, quickly tell me how to save you, I can’t lose you, I don’t want to lose you, do you hear me, Hun Jiansi?" Cheng Ziang held her hand away, sobbing as he spoke.

"I hear you... but...but can I really be this happy..."

Hun Jiansi seemed unable to open her eyes, as black poisonous blood seeped from her mouth and nose, soaking Cheng Ziang’s clothes.

"Stop talking about irrelevant things, tell me how to save you. You’re from the martial world, you’re so clever, use that clever little brain of yours and think of a way!" Cheng Ziang cried out in urgency.

"Do you remember the story I told you? Master... died silently... died unnoticed... I thought I would, too, yet I didn’t expect that at my end, there’d be someone who remembers me..."

"You..."

In a moment of desperation, Cheng Ziang lifted his head, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the two figures not far away, shouting fiercely, "You two, hand over the antidote now, or you can forget about leaving here alive. Even if it’s to the ends of the earth, I’ll hunt you down!"

The two seemed intimidated by his intense emotion, looking at each other before the Ghost Hag cautiously spoke, "Come with us, and I’ll give the girl the antidote..."

"Don’t, don’t listen to her..." Hun Jiansi struggled to hold his collar, weakly warning, "They won’t let you go, kill them, kill them all, or you’ll never have peace..."

"Did the Wu family send you?" Cheng Ziang asked, narrowing his red eyes.

The two exchanged glances once more before Changyi spoke, "His Majesty hopes the Grandmaster and others would stay for now, it’s a turbulent time, not safe out there."

"Save her, and I’ll go with you," Cheng Ziang said.

Though emotionally stirred, Cheng Ziang was relatively rational. He didn’t say the Advance Team will go with them, only himself, playing with words.

After all, to save Hun Jiansi by betraying the rest of the Advance Team wasn’t something Cheng Ziang could do.

"Listen to me, listen to me, don’t go over...don’t go over..."

Hun Jiansi tightly embraced Cheng Ziang, trying to stop his movement. It consumed her last remaining strength, as she now had only a few breaths left.

"Cheng Ziang, I’m glad to have met you..."

Hun Jiansi’s voice was faint as a mosquito, forcing Cheng Ziang to lower his head to listen carefully.

"Though it was just a few months, I was very happy...never have I been this happy in my entire life...you never forgot me, you knew I would get lost, you came back for me..."

As she spoke, she choked up, tears mixed with black blood flowed down, staining Cheng Ziang’s chest.

"Do you know...when I found Master, I trembled all over, not because I feared his death, but feared I’d die so silently, with no one knowing me...my death just like flowers withering, in a sea of flowers, unknown...

"I’m so fortunate...to have held on until you came; I’m so fortunate...that you thought of me; I’m so fortunate...I...I..."

Even as she spoke, even as she smiled, Hun Jiansi couldn’t help but shed tears, speaking the words her heart most wanted to say.

"I...I don’t want to die..."