Chapter 92: Giving Up Dreams in Silence, Tears Dry—Whose Heart Shatters?

The white tiger turned, and a gust of wind blew past. The man in white was gone. What appeared before Liu Yi and July was a giant white tiger, its wings flapping continuously on either side of its body. The tiger turned to Liu Yi and July and said, “Lord Demon, my lady, climb onto the white tiger’s back. It’s fast and stable, and you won’t have to waste your energy controlling a sword.”
Upon hearing this, July’s face turned red as she hurriedly explained, “No, I’m not your lady. I just followed out of curiosity.”
Liu Yi ignored the tiger’s words and asked, “Can your body hold on?”
The tiger replied, “Don’t worry, Lord Demon. Although the white tiger’s recovery ability isn’t as good as yours, it’s still far beyond that of ordinary people. These minor injuries are nothing. It will recover on its own over time.”
Liu Yi nodded and said, “Alright.” Then he really climbed onto the tiger’s neck. It was soft and warm, giving a very comfortable feeling. After days of continuous travel—from Lotus Town to Changbai Mountain in the northeast, and back again—without any rest, they had then come to this desolate forest. It seemed they had been traveling nonstop for over half a month. Even someone with Liu Yi’s cultivation level felt tired. Thinking carefully, July was truly remarkable for having persisted all this time, relying only on a little knowledge of “Lanelfina Qing.” If she had flown back on a sword, she surely wouldn’t have been able to hold on.
Liu Yi turned to look at July and said, “Aren’t you coming up? Continuous travel has already drained your energy. Do you want to die in this desolate forest?”
July glanced at Liu Yi, stepped forward to the white tiger, and with a light leap, sat behind Liu Yi. The tiger let out a long roar and said, “Lord Demon, my lady… well, I’m setting off. Hold on tight.”
Whether intentionally or not, the tiger flapped its wings, suddenly spiraling upward into the air. July’s body tilted slightly, and she struggled to stay seated. She quickly wrapped her arms around the strong body—familiar, warm, not cold at all.
Liu Yi said calmly, “If you’re tired, just hold onto me and sleep. After traveling such a long distance, you must be exhausted.”
July didn’t speak. For some reason, she always had the feeling that the person before her was the one she loved—the one who had taken her heart ten years ago, the one whose shadow was etched in her heart. Every move he made made her see his figure; every word he said reminded her of him. Though… it was just a feeling, yet it felt so real. Only, she couldn’t prove it.
July hugged Liu Yi tightly, feeling waves of warmth. But she knew that despite their bodies being so close, there was an insurmountable gap between them, because he wasn’t him.
Meanwhile, Liu Yi’s heart was extremely calm, even he didn’t know why! Had his heart really died? Truly shattered? The tempting body behind him was pressed tightly against him, yet he felt nothing…
Gradually, July’s vision blurred. Perhaps she was truly too tired, as she actually hugged Liu Yi and fell asleep…

The sun set in the west, the waning moon shone in the sky, stars dotted the heavens, a gentle breeze blew, and white clouds floated quietly across the deep blue night sky. No one knew what tomorrow would bring, but they knew this night was beautiful.

In this silence, Liu Yi heard a voice behind him: “Are you okay in another world? Do you know how many times I’ve wanted to go find you? But I was afraid—really afraid. I was afraid of disturbing your happiness, afraid of feeling jealous of your love for Jili. I really wanted to forget you, but… that shadow is already etched in my heart. I can’t erase it. I don’t know what it is. If it’s love, I think it’s deep and unforgettable. If it’s not love, I think it’s one-sided…”

Hearing the voice behind him, Liu Yi suddenly felt a sting in his nose and his eyes grew moist. He had no words—it was emotion. He didn’t know she was dreaming again, perhaps repeating the dream she had every night for the past ten years…

Beautiful moments are always fleeting. Perhaps you can never forget that moment, but the flow of time will bury its existence, leaving it as a touch of emotion deep in memory.

The white tiger seemed to be asleep, but its wings kept flapping, still in the right direction. Liu Yi stayed awake all night. Perhaps he would laugh at himself for being so foolish—just because of one sentence, just because of that little emotion. He was afraid July would fall asleep and drop, so he didn’t close his eyes all night.

At that moment, July also woke up, but she didn’t pull her hand away; she continued to hold Liu Yi…

Liu Yi didn’t turn around. He said softly, “So, did you sleep well yesterday?”

July rubbed her face against Liu Yi’s back like a spoiled little girl and nodded. “Mm, I’ve never slept this well before.”

Liu Yi felt a pang in his heart. Perhaps she was hiding it—hiding that dream. She didn’t want others to know about her dream…

Liu Yi continued, “I have no relatives in this world. From now on, how about you be my sister?” It was the best solution he could think of.

July thought for a moment before nodding. “How old are you?”

Liu Yi thought for a while before answering, “Exactly thirty years old. Born in September of the Bingyi year.”

July said, “I think I’m a year younger than you.”

Liu Yi turned to look at her and joked, “I think you’re only twenty. You don’t look that old at all. But still, I’m your brother now.”

July smiled slightly. “Don’t you know as a swordsman? Those with high cultivation levels never age, remaining youthful forever. But people like you are rare. With such high cultivation, I didn’t expect you to have gray hair already at thirty.” Then she burst into laughter.

Liu Yi was silent for a moment, seemingly making a decision. “My gray hair was born for one person, given only one night’s time.”

July suddenly stopped smiling. That gray hair… she had seen it before. Damn it, why hadn’t she thought of it earlier? Ten years ago, Liu Yi’s hair had turned gray overnight because of his fiancée’s death. Could it be? She didn’t dare to think about it.

At that moment, Liu Yi turned around and slowly removed the “Wang Hun” mask from his face. A face as clear as carved appeared before July— a face so familiar, the one that appeared in his dreams every night for ten years. Yes, it was the face etched deep in his heart, impossible to erase. July was stunned—it was him, Liu Yi!

Suddenly, July released her arms around Liu Yi and said loudly, “No, this isn’t real. I don’t want to be your sister.” In an instant, two streams of tears streamed down—tears filled with ten years of longing, ten years of heartache, and ten years of love that could never be fulfilled. Finally, they burst forth in that moment.

Liu Yi wanted to say something but didn’t know where to start.

July gradually stood up and stepped back, shaking her head as she retreated. “This isn’t real. You’re so cruel. Do you know how I’ve spent these ten years? Do you know what’s in my heart? Why be so cruel? Why break a heart that loves you?”

“Her love is love, but mine isn’t? For ten years, not a single day has passed without you appearing in my dreams. Not a single day without seeing your figure. Some say the best thing in the world is time, because it can dilute everything, including love. But in my eyes, that’s not true. My love for you grows deeper day by day. I can’t escape it. I’ve thought about dying, but I’m afraid of meeting you and Jili after death. I can’t die. Why… why treat someone who loves you like this?”

“Sometimes… I really envy Jili for having your love, even though she’s dead. Hehe, maybe it sounds funny—envying a dead person. But if it meant I could have even half of your love, even if it meant sinking to the eighteen layers of hell, I’d do it with a smile.”

July stepped back step by step until she had nowhere left to go. Tears of heartbreak gently fell as she said, “Do you know? I thought you were dead. For over three thousand nights, I prayed, I blessed, hoping you’d be happy in another world. But you… why? Why treat someone who loves you like this? Why crush her hopes? Why break her heart? I don’t want to be your sister. No, never!” Suddenly, July raised the “Dance Moon” sword with her right hand, soared into the sky, carrying a broken heart and endless sorrow, disappearing into the white clouds…

Watching July vanish, Liu Yi’s eyes filled with tears as he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I really didn’t realize that once a person’s image is etched in my heart, there’s no room for another.”

Love is truly strange—indescribable and unfathomable. When it comes, you’re unprepared, even unaware. But when you lose it, you’ll surely realize—it’s love.

Part Two, Volume Seven: Wielding a Sword for the Beauty