The voice that spoke those words was Jingliu's, yet it held a fragility and brokenness never heard before.
Fifteen years had now passed since the two of them left the Xianzhou together.
In those fifteen years, Jingliu, holding Bai Heng's hand, had left their traces in every corner of the cosmos.
Was Jingliu happy?
The answer was undoubtedly yes.
She never sought a true cure for the Mara in the first place. As long as Bai Heng was by her side, even living eternally in darkness, she had no regrets.
But there was one small, lingering regret—
It had been so, so long since she had last seen his face.
Yes, the white veil that suppressed her Mara also hid Bai Heng's face, the one that so often wore a faint, gentle smile.
Though her hand still held his, her heart held a small, persistent longing for that face.
Finally, in the increasingly stable rhythm of their days, she felt the Mara within her growing more and more placid. And just moments ago, Jingliu mustered her courage and lifted a corner of the veil, casting a fleeting glance towards the figure leading her forward.
After a full fifteen years apart, that visage finally imprinted itself upon her eyes once more.
The soft, perpetual curve at the corner of his lips, and those silvery, vacant eyes—everything was as familiar as it had always been.
If there was one difference, it was probably the faint streaks of white now scattered through his once-jet-black hair.
And the moment she saw those silvery threads, Jingliu froze for a brief instant.
She realized the problem she had overlooked all this time.
—Time.
Fifteen years are but a blink for a long-life species' extensive lifespan, but for a short-life species, how many such spans does one life even hold?
And he, Bai Heng, was spending these precious, irreplaceable years entirely on her.
All in pursuit of an elusive, perhaps impossible, answer to curing Mara.
Jingliu didn't want Bai Heng to continue like this.
He was Luofu's finest physician, with illustrious achievements to his name. Had he not involved himself with her, he would still be a hero of the Luofu, the valiant physician who brought countless victories to Xianzhou. Those honors could have secured him a life of peace and comfort...
"I've already taken one fifteen-year span from you... how could I dare ask for more..."
Having laid bare the thoughts from the depths of her heart, she spoke these words, biting her nearly bloodless lips, tear stains marring her snow-jade face.
This Sword Champion of the Luofu, who in the eyes of countless Abundance abominations was akin to a god of slaughter, now appeared utterly vulnerable.
And in the live stream channel, a deep silence fell following Jingliu's words.
--+--
March 7th: 「So... this is why Jingliu pretended her Mara was acting up. She didn't want Mr. Bai Heng, a short-life species, to waste his already limited years on her...」
Black Swan: 「Exactly. Like the vast majority of people facing an incurable illness, they know their condition is terminal. While they still have breath, they don't want to burden their beloved ones any further.」
Black Swan: 「Jingliu is the same. Mara-struck is a problem that has plagued the Xianzhou for millennia, nearly synonymous with a terminal illness. Perhaps for those fifteen years, Jingliu was immersed in the happiness of being with Mr. Bai Heng. But upon seeing the marks time has left on him, she awoke to the reality. She doesn't want to become his shackles...」
Kiana: 「So she put on an act, pretending her Mara had erupted, trying to drive Mr. Bai Heng away... only to have him see right through it...」
Elysia: 「Wanting him to leave precisely because she loves him so deeply... that's a result too difficult to accept.」
--+--
The answer was a heavy one, leaving everyone in the stream feeling a weight in their chests.
They could understand Jingliu's actions.
Because for Jingliu, Bai Heng was the person she loved most.
And it was precisely this most beloved person who had abandoned everything he once had, just to stay by her side. While it was a form of happiness, it was also a torment to her heart.
If placed in a similar situation, perhaps many in the stream would have made a choice similar to Jingliu's.
[In the wind and snow, Jingliu laid everything bare before you. After this sudden realization, she no longer dared to cling greedily to the happiness you brought her, for in her eyes, it was an injustice to you.]
[You are Luofu's finest physician, you brought countless victories to Xianzhou. The honors you possess are enough to grant you a full and rich life. There is no need to waste your already brief lifespan on her, a long-life species trapped by Mara.]
"It seems you still don't know me well enough, Jingliu~"
Despite the heavy atmosphere, Bai Heng's words were as light and teasing as ever.
The corners of his lips curved upwards as he gently drew the person before him into an embrace.
"The truth is, I'm quite a selfish person, and I don't much care about what others think. So..."
"I don't care about what you dare to ask for, I only care about what I choose to give."
Amidst the trembling of Jingliu's crimson pupils, the man's words continued to echo in the wind and snow.
"Whether it's one fifteen-year span, or two, three, four."
"I would hand them all over to you."
"So, you'd better be prepared."
"From now on, I'm going to stick to you like a stubborn burr. No matter where you go, don't think you can shake me off again."
"...Do you truly not feel any longing for the peaceful life you once had on the Luofu...?" Her throat trembled, her voice faintly breaking. "...Even now, returning to Luofu, you could live a carefree life..."
"A carefree life? It seems you still haven't realized something." Bai Heng let out a soft chuckle. He reached out and gently pinched Jingliu's soft cheek before continuing,
"Do you really think that if I left you and returned to Luofu, I could live out a happy, peaceful, and worry-free life?"
"That's impossible. Because..."
"A future without you in it is simply not a future I want."
Those lightly spoken words, even amidst the howling wind and snow, reached Jingliu's ears with perfect clarity.
She gazed into Bai Heng's vacant, silvery eyes. A long moment passed before her tears gave way to a smile, and she slowly leaned against the chest of the person before her.
"Really... you truly are a fool..."
Bai Heng answered with a smile of his own.
"Yes, I am. I am exactly that selfish, hopeless fool."
"You need to prepare yourself. Because this selfish, hopeless fool is going to stay by your side for all the days to come."
"And I'm the kind that simply can't be driven away, no matter what."
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.