Watching Nie Wangqing collapse unconscious, a flicker of disdain flashed in Hong Yimei’s eyes.

“A ‘shield’ so willingly sacrificing herself for her master is rare… but…”

No sooner had the words left her lips than Hong Yimei gripped her horse-slaying saber with both hands. Sinister aura flared from the blade. She swung it down hard toward where Hua Zhaoxue had fled.

Zzzzt—

A sound like thick cardboard torn by a blunt knife. The air split. Trees shattered along its path. In mere breaths, the blade arc—steeped in sinister energy—appeared behind Hua Zhaoxue.

Rushing forward while carrying Tian You, Hua Zhaoxue instinctively sensed the lethal blade aura. Her face paled. She set Tian You down hastily, stepped forward with her slender foot to shield him, and raised her fair hand, summoning the last trace of Qi Energy to meet the attack.

Zzzzt—

She pushed her body to the absolute limit—but her cultivation was too far behind. The blade arc exploded before her palm. Blood mist sprayed from her lips. Her slender frame flew backward like a withered leaf in a gale, crashing hard into a massive tree.

“Tian… Tian… You… Hurry… Run…”

With her final trembling breath, Hua Zhaoxue cast one longing glance at Tian You. Her face turned deathly pale. Overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion, she slipped into unconsciousness.

Tian You stared blankly—at her fallen form, her torn robes, the bloodstain on her delicate lips, her body drifting down like an autumn maple leaf…

“Hahahahaha!!! Hua Zhaoxue! Hua Zhaoxue! So even you meet your end today!”

As Tian You stood frozen, Li Bai—robed in white, eyes wild with madness—ignored him and hurried toward Hua Zhaoxue, muttering obscene words. Behind him, Hong Yimei advanced slowly toward Tian You, her gaze burning with lust and greed.

Just as Li Bai’s fingers neared Hua Zhaoxue’s body…

Just as Hong Yimei’s hand reached for Tian You’s shoulder…

Time… froze…

In an instant, the world shifted. Boundless silver light erupted around Tian You, flooding sky, earth, and forest in radiant monochrome. Li Bai vanished. Hong Yimei vanished. Hua Zhaoxue’s broken form vanished.

“You… have you finally returned…”

A voice, impossibly gentle, drifted from everywhere and nowhere—genderless, yet brimming with infinite tenderness.

…

From snow-white sleeves emerged hands too exquisite for this world, softly covering Tian You’s eyes.

“I… I’m sorry…”

Tears soaked those delicate fingers. Though memoryless, though clueless, hearing that voice and feeling that touch wrapped his heart in crushing guilt. The apology spilled out unbidden.

“Shh…”

A slender finger pressed gently to his lips.

“No need for such words. We have always been one.”

“You—the noble gentleman revered by millions. I—the Asura feared by billions.”

Vision cleared. Only endless silver remained.

Tian You did not turn back. He dared not.

Only in a daze did he glimpse a few strands of white-gold hair…