Chapter Thirty-Six: Not Betraying the Buddha, Not Betraying You

  The earth was trampled under the horse's hooves, humming gloomily. Xuan Yu had just drawn his sword to attack Bi Hai Zhan when he wanted to call out, but saw the gate open and a person walking out of it.

  A robe of deep blue, billowing in the wind, reveals a slender figure. The hand holding the sword hangs at his side, swaying back and forth with each step, a few loose strands dancing in the breeze, a melancholy face, narrow eyes shining bright and clear.

  Walking up to Xuan Yu's neat formation, Qian Jue Se raised her head and looked at the person on horseback who had been on her mind day and night.

  "Qiu Se? The Wang Dynasty has brought you back?" Xuan Yu excitedly sheathed his sword and dismounted his horse. "While I wasn't paying attention, they actually snuck you away!" Xuan Yu wanted to go forward and hug the person he loved, but saw Qian Qiu Se dodge him.

  "Unparalleled beauty? Don't blame me anymore, okay? This time no one can take you away from my side! Forgive me, I will protect you well." The injured Xuan Yu stubbornly believed that Qian Jue's departure was due to the Wang Dynasty taking advantage of his illness and snatching her back.

  "Great King, Absolute Beauty has arrived today to challenge you." Qian Jue Se grasped the sword in his hand tightly, not looking at Xuan Yu's astonished eyes.

  "Despicable! Xing Chen, I'll exhaust all the power of Loulan to seek justice for the absolute beauty!" With a deep vow, Xuan Yu gazed resentfully at the city in the emerald sea.

  "Prince, this has nothing to do with the royal family. I'm doing this for my own sake." Qian Jue Se drew out his sword and held it horizontally in front of his chest, taking a deep breath. "Xuan Ye, I'm calling you by your name one last time because I'm thinking of my loved one's name. But as the Grand Marshal of the kingdom, I also cannot betray my lord or the people. Xuan Ye, retreat! Don't destroy the world and its people for just one person. I don't want to be a beauty who brings calamity." Qian Jue Se looked up with tears streaming down his face, "Xuan Ye, be a good prince, don't make me lose hope in the underworld. Wait for me there, I'll go first." A beautiful smile bloomed on his face as he swung his sword towards his own neck without hesitation. "No!" Xuan Ye rushed towards him with all his might from a distance, but even at top speed, he couldn't stop the blood from gushing out. He watched in horror as Qian Jue Se fell before him, like the last flower of summer, gone with the wind...

  He picked up the unconscious person, covering the neck that was constantly gushing out fresh blood. Xuan Yu kept murmuring "I knew it would end like this... even if I die, I won't let you take this path... Qian Jue Se, stop fighting, wake up and look at me..." The person who laughed every day was now crying uncontrollably...

  "Right, you don't want to leave the royal court," he said. "I... I won't be a prince anymore, how about we ride our horses to the ends of the earth? Okay... we won't leave, we'll stay in your general's mansion... Heh, then you'll have to support me..." On the neck that was slowly drying of bloodstains, Xuan Yu saw a black stone and picked it up. Qian Jue Se engraved fourteen small characters on it: "In this world, how can one achieve both wholeness and integrity? I will not betray the Buddha nor will I betray you."

  He clutched the person in his arms tightly, gently rubbing against his already cold cheek. "My absolute beauty..." Looking up at the sunset that seemed like blood, Xuan Yu's grief and indignation choked him. "Return my absolute beauty to me!! Ah......" A mouthful of fresh blood spurted out, staining the silver armor a bright red, making it look so glaring.

  Qian Jue Se's news of self-destruction before the array was transmitted back, immediately shocking the entire dynasty and also surprising Mo Mo. Immediately called Chen Yu, walked to an open space and sat down.

  "Master, are you thinking of asking if Qian Juese can be saved?" Chen Yu didn't wait for Mo Mo to speak and had already guessed. He lowered his head in contemplation. "Master really wants to revive him?" A hint of doubt was caught by Mo Mo in the clear eyes.

  "Of course," Mo replied without hesitation.

  "Chen Yu knew he wasn't qualified to ask about his master's affairs. But, Master... why?" Chen Yu's words made Mo Mu furrow her brow in thought for a while, also wondering "Why did I want to save him?"

  "Consider us good friends, I suppose?" After seeing a clearly restrained contemptuous expression on Chen Yu's face. She thought again. "If he hadn't died, it's possible that she would have married him." Trying to make herself look more determined, Momo made a comically exaggerated expression with her eyebrows furrowed and the corners of her mouth slightly upturned. Chen Yu slowly turned his face to one side, trying not to let his dark expression provoke Momo further.

  She clenched her right fist and slammed it into the palm of her left hand. "For his love, Xuan Yu and he are truly in love!" She finally thought of a reason that made herself somewhat convinced.

  "Master. No matter what reason you find, I don't know the method of resurrection." Chen Yu said. Made Mo very angry. Gave him a punch on the shoulder. "Then where did your nonsense come from!"

  "I don't know, but someone does." Chen Yu's words successfully pulled Mu Mu back, "Who?"

  "It's all empty." Chen Yu had already stood up and walked to Mo Mo's side, saying "Master, have you really forgotten him?"

  "I've completely forgotten anyway!" Why does he always say Xiao Ran? Mu Mu muttered to herself.

  "If the master wants to revive, he must first find Xiao Ran. Chen Yu looked at Mo Mo's confused face and said with a somewhat sour tone, 'The young master is waiting for you on Tianji Mountain, always looking forward to your return.'"

  "Huh... who is Xiao Ran?" Mo Mo asked again about that somewhat familiar yet strange name.

  Chen Yu didn't say anything else, just gave Mo Mo a faint glance. "Young master, it's really not worth it." After walking for a while, feeling that Mo Mo hadn't caught up, he stopped and said, "Master, it's best to go to the General's mansion now, Qian Jue Se's corpse can't wait."

  "Huh? Oh, okay." Momo thought desperately about that Xiao Ran, but the thoughts flashing through her mind couldn't be grasped no matter what. She stomped her feet in frustration and chased after Chen Yu who was ahead of her.

  "If the master wants to see the young master, go find him at Tianji Mountain." Chen Yu didn't look back and led the way with his curved knife in hand, heading towards the General's Mansion.

  The General's mansion was a somber white, with large mourning characters on the spirit hall that pierced one's eyes. In front of the hall, beside a coffin, was Xuan Yu who had been heartbroken to the point of madness. He clung to the edge of the coffin and refused to let anyone cover it, staring at the person inside. Since that day, Xuan Yu, who had not eaten or drunk anything, could only stand with the support of the coffin.

  Qian Jue Hu knelt in front of the coffin, her plain white clothes a stark contrast to her normally elaborate attire. Her eyes, devoid of makeup, were red and puffy like peaches. From time to time, she would place one or two sheets of yellow paper money into the burning incense pot, as black butterflies danced around the hall. The mourning clothes on her chest were already soaked through.

  When the singing official shouted "Princess Mo Ran pays her respects", she looked up at Mo Mo's sympathetic face, furrowed her eyebrows and bowed slightly to return the courtesy. At this time, Qian Jue Fox was disheveled and exhausted, with a painful expression on her face. She lowered her gaze to stare at the brazier, as if intentionally avoiding Mo Mo's attention. After half a moment, she raised her head and looked at Mo Mo with a weak gaze, muttering "Thank you, Princess..."

  "Bear with grief and change, take care of yourself." Momo could only think of these eight words to advise. She always felt that the enchanting woman who was second in the Jianghu ranking wasn't the person in front of her, but rather because there were fewer male favorites by her side. Turning her head to look at the person still leaning against the coffin with a dazed expression, Momo's heart felt some pity.

  "Master, the princess has arrived." Yatrandi whispered on the side. "Master, it's the princess, the one who reincarnated you."

  "...Rebirth..." Repeating someone else's words, it had already lost all meaning to Xuan Ye. "Rebirth... Ah! Mo Mo?" As if thinking of something, he suddenly turned around, and with a dizzying spin, was caught by Yatrandi beside him. After taking a moment to steady himself, Xuan Ye stumbled and staggered towards Mo Mo, "Mo Mo, I know I've wronged you, but this has nothing to do with Jue Se's matter. If you can help me bring Jue Se back to life, no matter what you ask of me, I'll do it." His urgent words left Xuan Ye slightly dizzy.

  "Alright, don't worry, you need to rest now. Arte, help your master down." Momo sneaked a glance at the wooden man Chen Yu beside him, feeling a bit guilty.

  Seeing Xuan Yu's departure with peace of mind, Mo Mo asked in a low voice, "Where is Tianji Mountain?"