The glazed tiles shimmered in hues of purple and blue, like the tides of a vast sea. In those deep violet eyes seemed to be etched the passage of time, encompassing the world’s boundless ages and turmoil.
Bai Shuo looked up at him as if he were a deity.
Tian Qi’s gaze lowered, and as he returned to himself, he felt an odd sense of absurdity. This girl was a mortal with no notable destiny in the cycle of reincarnation. Across his tens of thousands of years of life, he had seen that look in someone’s eyes before, though he preferred not to recall when. He cast a detached glance at the kneeling Bai Shuo, then turned to leave.
He saved her only out of divine grace.
His black boots, adorned with dragon patterns, had just taken one step when they paused. Tian Qi looked down, noticing the trembling little hand gripping the hem of his robe.
The hem of his ancient, pale blue robe was stained with blood and dust. The small hand’s owner seemed to notice this, withdrawing it suddenly—only to reach out again, even more determined.
For reasons unknown, Tian Qi sighed inwardly and turned around.
He had only paused because of a sorrowful cry and had vanquished a demon that was slaughtering mortals. Whatever else had happened here, whoever this mortal girl was, he neither knew nor cared to know.
“Divine… Lord…” Bai Shuo’s voice was shaky, one hand gripping the edge of his robe while the other held Bai Xi’s tightly. Her upturned gaze, as Tian Qi turned back, was filled with hope, pleading, and sorrow.
“Please, Divine Lord, save A-Xi… please save her.”
The little hands trembled, yet clutched firmly at Tian Qi’s ancient robe, refusing to let go, as if releasing her grip would mean letting go of A-Xi’s life.
Unseen to Bai Shuo, a small spirit stood nearby, gazing tearfully at her, its eyes full of sorrow.
Tian Qi glanced at the spirit in mild surprise. This young girl, who had perished under the imperial tomb, bore the noble destiny of someone of high rank. But she was already dead, and mortal reincarnation was bound by its own path, like the Qian brothers nearby. Having sustained themselves with the demon’s power, they had now turned to bones with the nine-headed serpent’s death, the demonic power dissipating instantly.
“She is already dead. I do not interfere with mortal affairs nor alter the destinies of humankind,” Tian Qi said coolly.
Bai Shuo’s sobs caught in her throat, yet she was perceptive enough to hear the implication in his words. He could save A-Xi, but he scorned the idea of meddling in mortal life and death.
“Divine Lord, please save A-Xi!” Bai Shuo pleaded earnestly. “If you save her, I will repay you one day!”
“Repay me?” Tian Qi, who had lived as long as heaven and earth, had never heard anyone speak of repaying him—least of all a mortal child. A hint of amusement flickered in his gaze as he glanced at the Qian brothers, now reduced to bones, and asked Bai Shuo nonchalantly, “If I return to the mortal realm, it could be thousands or tens of thousands of years from now. How will you, a mortal with a lifespan of less than a hundred years, repay me?”
Thousands or tens of thousands of years? Bai Shuo’s trembling hand froze. In her understanding, a lifetime of a hundred years was a gift from the heavens.
“I… I…” Bai Shuo stammered, her voice shaky with fear but determination. “I’ll seek out mountains to worship and gods to learn from. I’ll strive to live for thousands or tens of thousands of years, mastering great skills so that when we meet again, I will surely repay you!”
Fearing Tian Qi might not believe her, she gripped his robe even tighter, lifting herself up as far as she could. “I am willing to dedicate my life to you, Divine Lord. As long as you save A-Xi, whenever you desire, even if it means my death, I will fulfill any task you ask!”
In her young eyes, a fierce flame seemed to ignite, burning brightly.
In Tian Qi’s violet pupils, her bloodstained, determined gaze reflected vividly. Suddenly, he spoke.
“Very well. I accept your promise. Should you ever break free of the three realms and ascend the path of the Way, I will grant you one chance to repay your debt on the peak of Purple Moon Mountain.”
With those words, a divine light flowed from his hand onto Bai Xi. The wound on Bai Xi’s neck disappeared instantly, and her spirit, seeing a flash of purple, was drawn back into her body.
The body in Bai Shuo’s arms suddenly grew warm, and she looked up in joyful surprise.
“Divine…” But Tian Qi’s figure had already vanished.
She stared blankly into the empty air. Only the silver-white full moon remained, the throne and purple moonlight gone, as if the black-haired, violet-eyed deity had been nothing but an illusion.
If not for the bones of the Qian brothers nearby and the bloodstains still on her hands, Bai Shuo might have thought everything that happened tonight was only a nightmare.
"Tian… Tian…" Bai Shuo murmured, but suddenly realized she couldn’t remember the deity’s name. A hint of urgency and fear flickered in her eyes.
"Shuo’er!" A loud, urgent shout came from behind her, as countless torches lit up the dim clearing.
Bai Shuo turned and saw her father’s gentle, worried face, and a wave of exhaustion overwhelmed her. She closed her eyes and collapsed to the ground.
Bai Xun leaped from his horse, catching Bai Shuo as she fell. His face turned pale at the sight of both daughters covered in blood. He quickly checked their pulses and only relaxed when he felt they were steady. His gaze fell on the two sisters’ clasped hands, and a sense of relief softened his eyes.
0 Comments