"You should make everything shorter and just kill me." Qi Longhai spat out, staring at Yang Delun with cold eyes. A roaring pain in his heart made him weak. As he sat inside the prison ward, he looked at the familiar face before him with pain.

"Longhai, let me explain." Yang Delun wanted to grab the man, hold his hands, and tell him the truth. But there was something in him that wasn't able to do so, knowing that he was the one who had hurt Qi Longhai. Even though Yang Delun had told Qi Longhai that he would never betray him, in the end he had done just that.

"What is there to explain? The fact that you betrayed me, that you have been lying the whole time? Delun, this is my own fault, believing that you could be trusted. There is nothing to explain, you have already shown me the truth." Qi Longhai's words were venomous, sending a streak of pain to Yang Delun.

Deep in his heart, Yang Delun knew. Qi Longhai hated him, and rightfully so. As he came to this realization, there was a feeling of relief in his heart. Since this was the case, then Yang Delun would exchange his life. Deciding this, there was a fleeting feeling of lost within him.

Qi Longhai still loved Mo Chou. That was why he was so angry with him. Yang Delun realized that no matter how much he tried, he would never be able to replace Mo Chou. Yang Delun was not the one who Qi Longhai loved, he couldn't compare to Mo Chou.

"Longhai, I really do apologize for my actions. Mo Shen had a good reason to rebel and I chose what would benefit this nation more. I know that deep down, you will still choose Mo Chou, and I know that you resent me for what I've done." Yang Delun spoke, looking at Qi Longhai's cold figure. The man's face was pale and sickly. "I have your medicine prepared, please drink it." Saying this, Yang Delun looked at the door as Xi Feng appeared with a steaming bowl of tonic.

Xi Feng silently stood, handing the drink to Yang Delun. "I prepared it according to your words." Then, she stared at Qi Longhai. Since Yang Delun had asked for the tonic, then he had already made up his mind. Xi Feng would be unable to stop him, only able to help him.

Qi Longhai stared at the bowl of medicine that Yang Delun brought for him, a bitterness rising in him. Yang Delun had already betrayed him, continuing to acting like this would only make it harder for Qi Longhai. As Yang Delun gently tilted the bowl for Qi Longhai, he could only open his mouth and drink the medicine.

As soon as Qi Longhai drunk the bowl, there was a tired feeling spreading within him. It became harder for him to open his eyes and he knew at once that Yang Delun had drugged the medicine. "Delun!"

"Longhai, close your eyes for a bit. When you awaken, everything will be solved." Yang Delun lightly smiled while saying this, his eyes gentle. As Qi Longhai's eyes closed, Yang Delun grabbed the man and held him within his arms.

"Have you thought it through?" Xi Feng asked, her voice soft.

"He hates me. Not to mention, his heart has never belonged to me. I was not his first one, I was never the one he loved. Now that Mo Chou is free, even though I will die, at least their story can continue." Yang Delun's hand softly caressed Qi Longhai's face, showing a sad smile.

"Then I cannot change your mind. I will guide you, lay him on the bed, Delun." Xi Feng could only lightly shake her head and say this. A love this deep, who would be hurt in the end?

Yang Delun lifted Qi Longhai's body easily. Even though the man was taller than him, his body was light from the long years of the acting poison. Placing his body onto the bed, Yang Delun stared at Qi Longhai's face. This is it, after this, the man will no longer have to suffer in agony.

Yang Delun felt his emotions overcome him and he gently bent down and kissed Qi Longhai's lips, his eyes suddenly watering. If Qi Longhai had loved him, if the beginning had been different, Yang Delun would have given up everything to be this man's partner.

Xi Feng gave him a moment before she then said, "To give away your life force, place your hand over his heart. Force the energy from within your heart to move and exit your hand and into his body. You will suffer internal injuries. I don't know how long your body will last after giving away your life force. While Fengmian taught me how to do it, I have never seen it with my own eyes. I only know that after you give away your life force, a fox demon's body will turn into beads of light with their death."

Yang Delun nodded his head. "I see. Then let us begin." Yang Delun brought up his right hand, placing it onto Qi Longhai's chest, and began doing as Xi Feng instructed, following her orders.

Yang Delun could feel his body getting weaker by the second, but he continued to push his energy out. A stream of blood spilled from the side of his mouth, but Yang Delun continued pushing. The blood dripped from his mouth onto his clothes, his face turning pale and lifeless.

Xi Feng didn't stop, continuing to instruct him. Her heart was heavy, but this was not her choice to make.

On the other hand, Qi Longhai's condition had visually improved. His face was no longer pale, his body also seemed to have regain the lost weight he had shed, filling out his sunken face.

A wave of blue energy was seen in the air, flowing from Yang Delun and into Qi Longhai's body. Yang Delun's hand shook, a searing and hot pain running in his heart. More and more blood spilled from Yang Delun's mouth, but he still persisted.

Qi Longhai shifted, as if he was about to wake. Yang Delun saw but did not do anything. His body was too weak to move, only able to slowly kill himself in this process.

Qi Longhai's eyes flickered, blinking fast as they tried to force themselves to stay open. As he finally opened his eyes and focused, he met the image of Yang Delun, blood spilling from his mouth, his face terribly pale and pallid. Qi Longhai tried to move his hands, only to realize that while he was now awake, he couldn't move his body.

What was happening?! Why was Yang Delun like this?

It was then that Qi Longhai suddenly touched the blue light emitting from Yang Delun's hands, how his body felt as if it had gotten so much stronger in merely a moment. No! Yang Delun, what was the man trying to do? Kill himself? Qi Longhai realized in that moment that no matter what, he loved Yang Delun. Betrayed or not, the truth remained that his heart had already changed with the appearance of this man.

"Delun!" Qi Longhai spat out with difficulty, his voice both loud and abrupt. He couldn't let Yang Delun do this. There was still so many misunderstandings between them. Yet, even as he wanted, Qi Longhai could say nothing else but this one word.

Yang Delun looked at Qi Longhai's open eyes, but he was unable to say anything else. He lightly smiled, feeling the blood drip from his mouth, his heart aching in slow beats.

"Delun, this is the last step. To seal your energy within him, you must give him one drop of your blood. Feed it to him, and that will force your energy to remain within his body." At long last, Xi Feng finally said the end.

Yang Delun lightly nodded his head, his breath weak and shallow. His hand trembled and shook as he took it away from Qi Longhai's chest, bringing his finger to his mouth and biting it. Right away, blood spilled from his finger, and Yang Delun slowly pushed his finger and forced Qi Longhai's mouth to open, a drop of blood entering Qi Longhai's mouth, even as he struggled to escape.

With this final step, Yang Delun finally felt all the energy drain from his body. He could feel his heart slowing down and his body changed its form, unable to hold his human form, turning into his demon form. Black fox ears appeared on his head, fangs growing from his mouth. Unable to suppress it anymore, Yang Delun turned his head, spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Lightly smiling, Yang Delun's breath was weak. But still he smiled, a bright light within his eyes as he turned to look at Qi Longhai.

"Longhai, I have lied to you about so many things. I am a half-fox demon, I have never told you this. There is so much that I wish I was able to tell you, but I had been too afraid then." Yang Delun gasped, trying to stretch his lifeline out as much as possible. "Longhai, I'm so sorry for betraying you. I know that you love Mo Chou with all of your heart, that even though he has hurt you so, he is still the one you love."

No, it's you! Qi Longhai wished he could say this, but he was unable to make any noise even as he opened his mouth. He wanted to hold Yang Delun, ask him why he had been so foolish. But he could only lay as Yang Delun spoke to him. His eyes suddenly watered. Was this man going to leave him? Had he sacrificed his life knowing the outcome? Qi Longhai wanted to stop Yang Delun. At least give him time to speak of his true feelings.

"Once Mo Shen becomes the Emperor, Mo Chou will be free to love who he wants to. I hope that you two will be able to achieve the happiness you were never able to have. I don't have time to say everything I want to. Longhai, I know you blame me, but now you can live your life to the fullest." Yang Delun heavily gasped as he spoke, his shaking hands gently wiping the tears away from Qi Longhai's eyes.

Looking up at Xi Feng, Yang Delun said, "Xi Feng, please tell my aunt that you were unable to do anything but help me. Tell her that she must promise to protect Longhai, even though my life would have ended."

Xi Feng sighed, shaking her head, "Master will be heartbroken. Delun, although you two weren't the closest, your well-being was still her priority. Unfortunately, I cannot meddle in your decision, only help you." She slowly walked over, using a cloth to wipe away the blood on Yang Delun. Looking at Qi Longhai, she finally nodded her head. "Let me give you two a moment." Then, her hand moved quickly, pressing Qi Longhai's acupuncture.

Qi Longhai took a deep breath, suddenly able to move his body. Sitting up, he scolded, "You fool! Did you think that by giving me your life, I would be happy?! How could you be so selfish, ending your own life? Did you want to leave me behind to suffer?" Qi Longhai felt wet tears dropping from his face as his arms reached out to Yang Delun, the man collapsing into Qi Longhai's arms.

"I'm sorry." Yang Delun mumbled, tears finally dropping from his eyes. He leaned onto Qi Longhai's body, his breathing so slow, it was going to end in any moment.

"Delun?" Qi Longhai asked with confusion, watching as beads of light floated from Yang Delun's body. It was then that Qi Longhai noticed how Yang Delun's arms were starting to vanish.

"Delun!" Qi Longhai held onto Yang Delun with fear, a panic in his heart that ached.

"Longhai, I have to leave now. I hope that you will live a happy life until the day your breath ends." Yang Delun pulled away from Qi Longhai, smiling as his body began to disappear, vanishing into a blue light that slowly disintegrated.

"No! Delun, I love you. Please, stay with me! You taught me to survive after everything, how do I continue to live when you gave me a purpose?" Qi Longhai desperately reached for Yang Delun's body, only touching thin air.

More than half of Yang Delun's body had disappeared, his face barely visible. "I know that you will be happy. You must be happy. I will watch you even when I am dead, standing by your side to protect you. So promise me, Longhai, that you won't lament and move on in your life."

As Yang Delun said this, his figure had fully disappeared into light, leaving nothing behind but a blue light that floated in the air. But left behind, there was the light shadow of a figure standing before it disappeared.

"Delun!" Qi Longhai reached, unable to catch the light. Weak, he collapsed onto his knees. His eyes roamed, but Yang Delun was nowhere.

Xi Feng watched lightly shaking her head. Who else had met their ending today?

-

"Fengmian, wait!" Tang Qingshan spat out blood as Lu Fengmian kicked him in the stomach.

What was happening? This wasn't Lu Fengmian. There was a light within his eyes that made Tang Qingshan's blood chill. No, this wasn't Lu Fengmian.

Tang Qingshan didn't have time to think as Lu Fengmian approached him, his sword flickering in the air.

Lu Fengmian was moving fast, so fast that it didn't feel as if he was even in control of his body. As Tang Qingshan bled more and more, even as Lu Fengmian wanted to stop, his body continued to move.

Lu Fengmian wanted to stop yet his body moved without him controlling it. No! Anymore and Tang Qingshan would really die. Lu Fengmian didn't want to kill him, he couldn't bear to kill him.

In that moment, there was a silence as Lu Fengmian thrusted his sword.

Tang Qingshan froze as he looked at Lu Fengmian's eyes, the dark light that finally faded. Tang Qingshan dropped the sword he held, a clanging against the ground.

With shaking hands, Tang Qingshan reached to hold Lu Fengmian's sword that had made its way past his armor, stabbing deep into his heart. With trembling fingers, Tang Qingshan wrapped his hands around the blade, a look of rest on his face as blood spilled from his mouth.

So, this was the ending?

Reflected in his eyes, the past image of a man stood. With long white hair flowing in the sky and cold blue eyes, he held a dagger and pushed it into Tang Qingshan's chest. There was a smile on his face, a smile of ridicule as he pushed the dagger deep into Tang Qingshan's heart. Behind him, lightning and dark clouds filled the sky, striking down on the ground. Hundreds of people laid dead on the ground, their robes burnt and destroyed. Yet the man before him smiled with cruelty, leaning closer to his ears.

"I hate you."

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"Though harsh, I hold an umbrella for you... These hardships, I merely wish you be safe... We may be parted but close are our hearts..."

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