He was dying.
Could he not, at least, be allowed to spend the final moments of his life in peace?
Bai Ran clenched her fists, a bitter feeling churning in her heart.
Long Jinhan lowered his gaze, his eyes dimming slightly. He took out the communication jade pendant again.
"Withdraw the people from the Nine Stars Divine Palace."
"Yes."
In truth, no matter how much Baili Xiao had sacrificed, or what inhuman suffering he had endured, it had nothing to do with Long Jinhan.
Even if Baili Xiao stood before him with only half a breath left, Long Jinhan would not hesitate to kill him.
But alas, the one Baili Xiao had sacrificed for was his own little girl.
Without Baili Xiao, he might never have been able to hold his little girl in his arms like this again.
"This life is already the last."
Bai Ran hung her head, her expression unreadable.
"As long as Baili Xiao kills me, I will be able to return to my original body."
"All my souls will be reunited."
However, in return, Baili Xiao would die.
For when Bai Ran's soul was complete, his death would arrive.
She would be reborn, he would perish.
Bai Ran pressed her lips together, a heavy stone seeming to press down on her heart, making it suffocatingly dull.
At that moment, the sound of Zhong Zi's voice echoed from outside the room: "Master, someone wishes to see you..."
Bai Ran straightened her body, composing herself: "Who?"
There was a moment of silence outside the room, and Zhong Zi spoke hesitantly: "A woman."
"She looks like a maidservant of that Divine Monarch Baili..."
Bai Ran froze, exchanging a glance with Long Jinhan.
Long Jinhan concealed his presence, and Bai Ran opened the door: "Take me to her."
Zhong Zi nodded, then glanced back into the room: "Has the Demon Lord left?"
If the maidservant of her fated person were to meet the principal party, who knew what sparks would fly...
It was likely that even Black Crow City wouldn't be enough to contain their clash.
Bai Ran lied with calm composure: "Yes, Long Jinhan left earlier."
As long as Long Jinhan deliberately concealed his aura, no one could detect his presence.
Hearing Bai Ran's words, Zhong Zi finally relaxed: "That maidservant looks very anxious, as if something has happened."
Her expression was serious. Could it be that something had happened to Baili Xiao's body?
When Bai Ran finally saw Baili Xiao with her own eyes, she realized she had underestimated the severity of the situation.
"Miss Bai! Please save the Divine Monarch! Save him!"
Wu Si knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. Blood splattered from her forehead, but it did not deter her actions in the slightest.
Bai Ran frowned and reached out to help her up: "There's no need for this."
But no matter how hard Bai Ran tried, Wu Si stubbornly refused to get up, continuing to kowtow.
"Miss Bai, please..."
"Save the Divine Monarch..."
"He... he's not going to last much longer..."
Bai Ran raised her hand to stop Wu Si's falling head: "You must let me see him first before I can find a way to treat him."
"You promised to save the Divine Monarch!"
Wu Si lifted her bloody head, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Bai Ran nodded and finally helped Wu Si to her feet: "Where is he?"
"Follow me!"
Bai Ran took a step, but was stopped by Zhong Zi: "Master... could this be a trap?"
Everyone knew that Divine Monarch Baili was a lackey of the Divine Emperor, fighting for him in all directions.
Now, his maidservant came alone; could this be a ploy to make Master let down his guard?
Perhaps there were people hidden by the Divine Emperor, waiting for Master to fall into their trap?
Wu Si, who hadn't gone far, trembled, then turned back, her face showing a hint of panic.
"I'm not lying, truly!"
Bai Ran pursed her lips and looked at Zhong Zi: "If that's the case, then you shall accompany me."
Zhong Zi was unaware of Baili Xiao's situation, so his worry was understandable.
Having him accompany them would also allow him to witness firsthand, understand the truth, and lower his guard.
Zhong Zi naturally could not refuse: "Yes."
Wu Si led the two out of Black Crow City and wandered around a deserted village outside the four cities.
"Is your master really here?" Zhong Zi stared at Wu Si, his gaze unfriendly.
How could a dignified Divine Monarch of the Divine Realm stoop to such a place?
Wu Si pressed her lips together, her voice very low: "It's true, but I secretly brought the Divine Monarch out..."
If the Divine Monarch remained in the Nine Stars Divine Palace, the Divine Emperor would continue to exploit him.
Finally, Wu Si stopped in a secluded alley. She pushed open a wooden door, her eyes turning red.
"Miss Bai, the Divine Monarch is inside the house."
Zhong Zi scanned the surroundings of the house, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
The few of them stepped into the house and saw a man lying on a bed.
"This is the Divine Monarch Baili of the Divine Realm...?"
Zhong Zi looked at the person on the bed, somewhat disbelieving. Why was he so different from before?
In the past, just looking at him from afar, one could feel his nobility and sanctity.
His azure eyes, as pure as ice and snow; his pure white robes, always with a piece of black jade at his waist.
But the person before him was gaunt, his lips purplish-black, and his eyes tightly shut.
His tall frame was squeezed onto a mottled and worn-out bed.
"What... happened to him?" Zhong Zi's mouth hung open, feeling an inexplicable sorrow at the scene before him.
How could such a pure and noble person fall to such a state?
Wu Si bit her lower lip, tears falling drop by drop: "Divine Monarch, Divine Monarch he..."
"Divine Monarch..."
Overwhelmed by grief, Wu Si could not stop sobbing and choking, unable to utter a complete sentence.
Bai Ran looked at Baili Xiao's face, feeling a tightness in her chest.
She sat on the edge of the bed, gently withdrew his hand, and then took his pulse.
Baili Xiao's eyelashes fluttered, as if sensing the movement of his hand. He weakly opened his eyes.
In an instant, he saw the person before him – it was his beloved Ran Ran...
Baili Xiao's lips moved, his voice extremely low. Bai Ran had to lean in, listening carefully to his words.
"What did you say?"
"I'm... sorry."
After hearing him clearly, Bai Ran felt a pang in her throat and bit her lip: "Why do you say sorry..."
Baili Xiao's breath was faint, as if he could leave this world at any moment.
"I... in every life, I... failed you..."
"I'm sorry..."
With that, his eyes closed.
Bai Ran lowered her head, the hand taking his pulse trembling. He had failed her in every life, so he had to apologize?
The one who should have apologized was her...
An endless wave of grief and desolation washed over her. Bai Ran looked at the person on the bed, her heart aching unbearably.
She stood up, and Wu Si immediately stepped forward, her body trembling as tears streamed down her face: "Miss Bai..."
"How much longer can the Divine Monarch live..."