Chapter 53: The Ends of the World, Useless Promises

Luck doesn’t fall from the sky. If a person can seize every opportunity, their luck will always be good. (Gu Long)
……
“My lord, everything is ready. We just need to change into the red clothes,” Shuang Rou reported under the moonlight.
Standing straight under the moonlight behind the July Long Sword was, indeed, the roof of the “New Xixue Restaurant.” July asked, “How long has it been?”
Shuang Rou calculated, “It’s been almost one and a half hours. If we hold the wedding ceremony now, he should die soon after.”
July looked up and said, “Rouer, do you think we’re really pitiful?”
Shuang Rou hugged her sword and said, “My lord, don’t listen to that silly scholar. He’s just trying to anger you.”
July shook his head. “Maybe he’s right about everything.”
Shuang Rou comforted him, “My lord, don’t be sad. Didn’t the Demon Lord promise you? From now on, do whatever you want. Just be happy. If necessary, forget the past and start over.”
July nodded. “Okay, let’s finish this first.” With that, he turned and leaped down gently.
When Shuang Rou pushed open the door, she was shocked to find the room empty—the silly scholar was gone.
July looked at the bloodstains on the floor. “Follow the bloodstains. He can’t be far.”
Shuang Rou nodded and rushed outside with July……
Meanwhile, in another room next to it, there was a man and a woman……
The man was dressed like a scholar, wearing a Xiaoyao headband—it was none other than Liu Yi! He lay weakly on the bed, his face pale, clearly due to excessive blood loss. The woman wore blue clothes, a white apron around her waist, and a crescent-shaped curved sword. She wore a white-blue canvas headpiece, with only one ear adorned by a thin silver chain. This was Jili’er from the Miao region.
Jili’er had stayed at home, but since she hadn’t heard from Liu Yi, she grew anxious. Following the route he had taken, she searched until she found this Luoxue Town. It was already very late when she arrived, with almost no one on the streets. She happened to come to the “New Xixue Restaurant” and saw Shuang Rou preparing red clothes, suggesting someone was getting married. Out of curiosity, she sneaked into the room.
Jili’er had undergone tremendous changes lately. Besides cooking and gathering herbs every day, she spent her free time practicing some magic techniques taught to her by the elf Nalan—Nalan said Jili’er’s weak body was suitable for practicing magic.
Jili’er used an “Invisibility Amulet” to rescue Liu Yi. It was fortunate for her, as though the amulet was useful, it became useless against those with greater skills.
Jili’er wanted to leave right away, but then she thought Liu Yi was unconscious. If she ran now, they would surely chase after her once they discovered her absence. So, she had an idea: the most dangerous place was the safest. She placed Liu Yi in the room she had just rented, then, with the help of the Invisibility Amulet, created some bloodstains to make it seem like she had fled……

Gillyel looked at Liu Yi, who was unconscious in bed. She had stopped the bleeding from his wounds, but it was already too late—he had lost too much blood and was at risk of dying at any moment. Even though Gillyel was the descendant of a renowned doctor, she couldn’t restore his blood volume. It seemed the magic trick used by the demons was truly deadly.

Kneeling by the bed, Gillyel gazed at the unconscious Liu Yi, feeling nothing but heartache. “How foolish you are, scholar,” she said to him. “If you had just agreed to her, everything would be fine. Why be so stupid?”

Liu Yi gradually opened his eyes and looked at Gillyel. “Is it you? Gillyel?”

Gillyel quickly nodded and moved closer. “It’s me. It’s Gillyel.”

Liu Yi weakly stretched out his hand and gently placed it on Gillyel’s cheek, smiling. “Though Red Crane Top is beautiful… it’s a deadly poison. The witch is pretty… but she has a heart as cruel as a serpent’s. Once someone is etched in Liu Yi’s heart… how can another person take their place?” His voice was soft, but his words were firm.

Gillyel quickly grabbed Liu Yi’s hand, saying sadly, “You’re so foolish, scholar.”

Liu Yi gathered all his strength to open his eyes and said softly, “The greatest regret of this life is that I can’t accompany Gillyel to the ends of the earth, to watch the moon and stars together, to enjoy the breeze among the flowers…”

Pausing after each word, hearing Liu Yi’s weak promises, Gillyel’s heart ached terribly. She could hold back no longer. “Stop, please stop talking. Gillyel is already very happy. Please stop.”

Liu Yi looked at Gillyel, straining to see her, as if the next moment would be their farewell, as if it would be forever.

Gillyel looked at Liu Yi’s pale face and forced a smile. “The ‘love poison’ of Gillyel is in your heart, scholar. If you die, Gillyel will accompany you too—forever, forever. Let’s never part, until the end of this world, okay?”

Liu Yi could no longer speak. The only thing he could express were the tears in his eyes. Happiness was fleeting, but having it for a while was enough. Liu Yi was satisfied because he had happiness, he had Gillyel’s love. He wouldn’t let go; he would hold on tightly. Suddenly, Liu Yi felt as if he had everything, floating, floating…

Gillyel felt her heart ache terribly, as if she had lost everything. The world suddenly seemed unworthy of contemplation. Gillyel tightly hugged Liu Yi and pleaded, “Scholar, don’t sleep. Please, don’t sleep. Please don’t…”

“Ah… How touching. If heaven has feelings, it too will grow old. If people have no feelings, it becomes eternal. If you want to save him, I do have a method. I wonder if you dare to try it.” It was Nalan in Gillyel’s mind.

Gillyel quickly sat up and asked, “What method?”

Nalan replied, “Have you heard of ‘blood transfer’?”

Gillyel shook her head. “No.”

Nalan continued, “You’ll need to cut open your wrists both of you. You’ll transfer half of your blood to him. But the chances of success aren’t high, because the two blood types might not mix.”

Gillyel looked at Liu Yi’s pale face and said softly, “Whether it succeeds or not, I must try if there’s even a sliver of hope. Even if the gods order Gillyel to die, as long as it can save the scholar’s life, Gillyel will have no regrets!”
Nalan sighed and said, “Ah, such devotion—no wonder there’s a bond across three lifetimes…” Her voice grew softer and softer until it finally faded away.
Gillyel paid no attention; her mind was entirely on Liu Yi. Finally, she moved Liu Yi inside a bit, then… gently lay down herself, holding Liu Yi’s right hand with her left, before drawing out her curved sword…
Everything was so peaceful. The moon still shone over the entire Snowfall Town, and the wind under the moon continued to drift with the clouds. Yet, a test of miracles was unfolding in the hearts of these young man and girl…