Chapter 100

Chapter 100: The Resolute Love of Long Yi (Part 4)

The afternoon sun casts their shadows together on the ground, creating a peaceful, loving ambiance. But this tranquility is suddenly shattered by an attacking blade.

A flash of gold catches Leng Jiu's eye. She instinctively moves to intercept, catching the blade with one hand and striking the sword-holder's hand with all her might, while simultaneously kicking towards the attacker’s abdomen.

The assailant, surprised by the blood on her hand, gets hit squarely by her kick, dropping the sword and stumbling back.

Holding the sword, Leng Jiu coldly confronts the assailant, "Long Yi, what more do you want?"

Long Yi stands outside the pavilion, silently staring at her with icy, determined eyes, devoid of his usual frivolity. He's conveying his resolve to Leng Jiu.

Gong Yawei is not frightened by the sudden assassination attempt but is alarmed by Leng Jiu's bleeding hand. He immediately calls for a hidden guard: "Quick, fetch a doctor!"

When the hidden guard hesitates to leave due to Long Yi's threatening presence, Gong Yawei urgently commands: "Fetch the doctor now, that's an order!"

Reluctantly, the guard departs, summoning additional guards for protection.

Long Yi mockingly laughs at Gong Yawei's anxious behavior: "Isn't the Prime Minister usually above worldly concerns? Why so flustered over a woman now?"

Unintimidated by Long Yi, Gong Yawei coolly retorts, his usual icy demeanor returning: "I've not offended you, Your Highness. Why do you seek to harm me? Was it also you last night?"

Long Yi provocatively responds, "What if it was me? Why provoke anyone else but her? Since she won't let me kill you, I'll do it right before her eyes!"

Leng Jiu tightly grips her sword, exasperated: "Are you done?"

"Not yet," declares Long Yi, as he gathers a threatening energy in his hand: "I vowed to kill him. Today, I'll make you watch as he dies before you."

Gong Yawei shields Leng Jiu behind him, displaying an unprecedented determination: "Attack if you must, Your Highness, but you shall not harm Leng Jiu!"

Long Yi sneers, "Feeling protective?" Suddenly, his murderous intent intensifies, repelling the hidden guards, some severely wounded. He then strikes Gong Yawei's chest with a powerful palm charged with lethal intent.

Gong Yawei faces Long Yi unflinchingly, ready to accept death without fear. His calm indifference suddenly makes him seem more imposing.

In a critical moment, Leng Jiu pushes Gong Yawei aside and raises her sword to intercept Long Yi's palm with her chest, thrusting fiercely with a decisive, blood-stained blade.

The sword pierces through fabric and flesh, coming out the other side. Leng Jiu, initially resigned to a fatal outcome, freezes when she sees Long Yi's hand stop at her chest without force. Realizing she has stabbed Long Yi in the chest, she looks up in shock to see his bittersweet but relieved smile, understanding he provoked her to this action.

Long Yuli raised his hand and firmly grasped the sword blade piercing his chest, pulling it out. He tossed the bloodstained sword aside, his expression unchanging as if the wound wasn't his.

Blood continuously flowed from his chest, soaking his garment. He didn't even glance at it, but stepped closer to the stunned Leng Jiu. Gently caressing her face, he kissed her lips, then her nose, and finally her forehead. Closing his eyes contentedly while embracing her, his voice hoarse, he asked, "I stabbed him once, and now you've returned the favor. Is it fair now?"

"I know I'm not in your heart, and I understand your indifference. But after today, will you remember me? Will you find a small place for me in your heart?" Long Yuli's voice was almost pleading, but his plea remained unanswered as he lost consciousness and collapsed.

Just before he hit the ground, a dark figure appeared, catching him and swiftly leaving using lightness skill. Only the blood and the sword on the ground bore witness to what had transpired.

As Long Yuli fell, Leng Jiu reached out into the air, not knowing what she was trying to grasp, but ultimately catching nothing. She watched him fall with a lonely, bitter smile, watched him disappear from her sight, and then her mind went blank.

Gong Yu walked over and for the first time, took the initiative to embrace Leng Jiu, holding her quietly, without saying a word. His heart was filled with shock and helplessness. The sight of Long Yuli kissing her in the maple forest had been agonizing. He had thought of giving up, but ultimately couldn't ignore his feelings. He accepted her despite knowing Long Yuli's existence. He tried to ignore it, but it was always there.

Clinging to his stolen happiness, he tried to overlook everything else, content with just being with her, even if it meant staying in the shadows. But today, he finally understood that someone else loved her just as much, unable to accept another's presence. Unlike him, who chose to turn a blind eye, the other man proved his love in such a decisive manner. At that moment, Gong Yu realized his love was not enough.

Embracing her quietly, he remained silent for a long time, then sighed helplessly, taking her wrist, "Let's apply some medicine."

The doctor arrived promptly, and Gong Yu instructed him to treat Leng Jiu's wounds while he watched. Leng Jiu extended her hand, allowing the doctor to apply medicine and dress the wound carefully, not to cause her pain. However, she felt nothing, just like a puppet.

Leng Jiu's hand was bandaged like a rice dumpling. The doctor gave many instructions, but she didn't hear a word. Gong Yu, however, took them seriously. After the doctor left, he asked everyone else to leave, embracing Leng Jiu again and finally spoke, "If it hurts, say it. If you want to cry, cry."

Leng Jiu, with a dazed look, turned her head towards Gong Yu. In her eyes, there was no sadness, no pain, just a bit of bewilderment and shock. She murmured to Gong Yu, "That sword... it pierced right through his heart."

Gong Yu snapped back to reality, suddenly recalling the location of the wound and the unstoppable flow of blood. Shocked, he gasped, "Could it be that..."

"I killed him!" Leng Jiu leaned on Gong Yu's shoulder, her voice muffled, "He forced me to kill him!"