Chapter 96: I Promise You

Chapter 96: I Promise You

Bai Yeye couldn't believe that his Brother Ruoshui was dead. In his mind, countless memories of the moments he had shared with Bai Ruoshui surfaced, each image linking to the next, weighing on him so heavily he could barely breathe. Just a few days ago, Ruoshui had gently told him that once this was over, he would take him on a trip.

It was impossible. They must be lying to him!

"You want me to be obedient, don't you? I promise you, I swear I won't leave here. Don't joke like that, okay? I'm begging you, I'll really behave." Bai Yeye looked at Bai Zhu pleadingly, hoping he would tell him it was just a joke, that none of what he had said was true.

Seeing him like this, Bai Zhu could no longer hold back the tears that had been welling up in his eyes.

"I wish it were a joke, but I'm sorry." Bai Zhu wiped the tears from his face.

Bai Yeye kept shaking his head. "Stop pretending. This is a joke, right? Let me contact Brother Ruoshui, please. I'm begging you. If I can just hear his voice, I'll do whatever you say."

Deep down, he knew it couldn't be a joke, but he simply refused to believe it.

Bai Zhu suppressed the grief in his heart. When he looked up again, his face was cold and hard. "I'm sorry, but I have to leave now. Take care of yourself. Don't make the clan leader suffer any more."

"Uncle Bai! Come back! Let me out!"

Bai Zhu steeled himself and left. Outside, Bai Xingxing was crying so hard his vision was blurred.

"Xingxing, we have to go. If anything happens, let me know immediately." Bai Zhu handed the heavy responsibility over to Bai Xingxing. Originally, they had only planned to send half of their members to divert the water, but now that a clansman had died, they would make everyone responsible pay in blood!

Bai Xingxing managed to choke out, "What about Brother Yeye? What about Brother Yeye?"

Bai Yeye was bound to lose control. Keeping him locked up in that cage will drive him crazy.

"I want to let him out too, but in his current state, it's even more dangerous for him out there. If something happens to him, the clan leader will be in even greater danger. Xingxing, I'm leaving him to you." Bai Zhu handed him the key.

Bai Xingxing sobbed, unable to control himself. How did things end up like this?

The news of Bai Ruoshui's death hung like a dark cloud over everyone's hearts. If not for Shen Yu keeping things together, the chaos would have been far worse.

Bai Yuanzhou hadn't eaten or drunk anything for two days, sitting in his room in a daze, surrounded by Bai Ruoshui's belongings. Only this could keep him steady; otherwise, he didn't know what he might do.

Shen Yu was spread too thin, so Shen Cun had no choice but to step in and handle the situation.

"Yuanzhou, Uncle knows nothing can comfort you right now, but please think of Ruoshui. How heartbroken would he be if he saw you like this?"

"Yuanzhou..."

Shen Cun had said all he could, but Bai Yuanzhou remained unresponsive.

Shen Cun let out a heavy sigh. What was he going to do with this kid?

Just as he was at his wit's end, Gu Yuankai dragged Wu Shao in.

Wu Shao didn't look well either. He still bore the bloodstains from that day, his face pale. When he saw Bai Ruoshui's photo, his pupils dilated.

"How dare you show your face here! It's all because of you that the Princess Consort is dead!" Gu Yuankai shoved him in front of Bai Yuanzhou, hoping that killing him might make Bai Yuanzhou feel better.

Only when he saw Wu Shao did Bai Yuanzhou show any reaction. He set down Bai Ruoshui's photo and lunged at him fiercely, grabbing Wu Shao by the throat.

"Why did you do this? Wu Xiu was your junior brother, and wasn't Ruoshui your disciple too? What did all those years of friendship mean? Why did you kill Ruoshui? Give him back!"

Wu Shao didn't resist. Dying now would be a relief for him. He hadn't been much better off than Bai Yuanzhou these past few days. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Bai Ruoshui being blown up trying to save him, and the pain made it hard even to breathe.

Shen Cun stood by, not knowing what to do. Wu Shao couldn't die just yet, but he couldn't exactly stop Bai Yuanzhou either. Otherwise, in his rage, Bai Yuanzhou might end up holding a grudge against him too.

"Stop!" Long Rui burst in and pulled Bai Yuanzhou away.

"Let me go! I want to get revenge for Ruo Shui!"

"Get Wu Shao out of here. Leave me alone with him," Long Rui shouted.

Shen Cun had no choice but to do as he said, leading Wu Shao and Gu Yuankai out.

"Long Rui, don't think I wouldn't dare fight you!" Bai Yuanzhou had completely lost it; anyone who got in his way was now his enemy.

Long Rui looked at him calmly. "Is that so? Then go ahead. Kill me."

"Why won't you let me kill him! Why!"

"Because he's not the killer. The killer is you—no, you're innocent too. More like Ruo Shui chose this path himself."

Long Rui was hurting too when he found out, but he knew that pain alone couldn't solve the problem anymore. He had to take care of his younger brother's affairs.

"What do you mean?"

Long Rui said calmly, "Ruo Shui changed your fate, shifting the disaster meant for you onto himself. Even without that Wu Xiu business, he would have faced this disaster sooner or later."

Bai Yuanzhou dropped to the ground. "Impossible... Why didn't I know..."

"If he was going to take the blow for you, how could he let you find out?"

Bai Yuanzhou let out a strange laugh. He'd never believed in fortune-telling before, so he had never sought it out. Later, after falling in love with Bai Ruoshui, he wanted to, but Bai Ruoshui stopped him.

Back then, Bai Ruoshui said they were fated lovers and didn't need outsiders to divine for them. He believed it, so over the years, he only ever went with Shen Yu for big fortune-telling sessions, never for himself.

So Bai Ruoshui had known from the very beginning, keeping it from him the whole time.

Long Rui crouched down to look at him. "I'm telling you this not to blame you. I just want you to know that this life of yours was bought with Ruo Shui's. You can keep wallowing and throwing your life away, but that would be a disservice to him."

"Then what am I supposed to do? Pretend nothing happened and just go on living my life? Why did he do this to me? I'd rather it was me that died." Bai Yuanzhou laughed and cried at the same time. So it was him who had killed Bai Ruoshui.

This news hurt him far more than the earlier revelation. He had planned to avenge Bai Ruoshui and then end his own life. But now, he couldn't even die.

Long Rui let out a long sigh and slowly stood up. "Yuanzhou, I know this news is too cruel for you, but if you can't take care of yourself, what meaning does Ruo Shui's sacrifice have?"

Bai Yuanzhou picked up Bai Ruoshui's photo, tears falling onto his face.

He wiped away the tears, forcing a smile, like he was talking to Bai Ruoshui.

"I promise you. I'll take good care of myself."

----------------------------------------