Tan Hua - Chapter 113: How Could I Ever Bear to Part?

Chapter 113: How Could I Ever Bear to Part?

The torch in Song Liqing’s hand fell to the ground, igniting the dry straw and hay in the prison. For a moment, the dimly lit dungeon was illuminated as if it were daylight.

“Pei Xingxu! What are you doing?!”

Jun Qiyu urgently shouted, immediately rushing forward.

However, he saw Pei Xingxu retreating, the sharp hook ready to pierce Song Liqing’s throat. Jun Qiyu halted, not daring to act recklessly.

“Don’t move!” Pei Xingxu shouted in agitation, “I told you not to move! Jun Qiyu, stand there! Don’t move, or I’ll kill him!”

Jun Qiyu trusted that Pei Xingxu would never harm Song Liqing, which was why he hadn’t been on guard and allowed Song Liqing to approach alone.

This was a situation Jun Qiyu had never expected.

“Pei Xingxu, are you crazy? He’s Liqing! You want to kill him?” Jun Qiyu questioned, “The person you say you love.”

“Yeah… I’ve gone mad.” Pei Xingxu said hoarsely, “I went mad the moment he left me and went with you! He left me without hesitation… and went with you! Why should I… Why should I still show him mercy!”

Jun Qiyu swallowed hard. Pei Xingxu’s emotions were too volatile; he couldn’t afford to provoke him further.

“You’re wrong. That day, I forced him to leave. He insisted on returning, wanting to be with you, no matter life or death. I imprisoned him in the Qilin Manor. The person you want to kill is me, not him. Let him go.”

Pei Xingxu hesitated for a moment.

“Liqing, is what Jun Qiyu said true? Were you forced by him? Are you… coming back for me?”

Song Liqing opened his mouth to speak, but his throat was constricted, and he couldn’t make a sound, only managing to utter one word.

“Yes…”

“No, you’re not!” Pei Xingxu trembled violently, “You’re lying to me! You clearly went with Jun Qiyu! You don’t love me! Do you know how much it hurt when I saw you leave? When I was imprisoned and had my eyes gouged out, humiliated by others, you should have been with Jun Qiyu, laughing and playing, right?”

When it came to Jun Qiyu, Pei Xingxu was filled with a hatred that could not be contained.

“The one who deserves to die is you! Jun Qiyu… You have everything. Why do you still want to take him from me? Why can’t you be content? You don’t want him, so do I not even have the right to love him? You’re always betraying me. You’re the root cause of everything! If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have turned into this monster! Only if you die, can Liqing and I be together peacefully! How about… How about you die for him? If you die, the world will be peaceful. I will never hurt Liqing again…”

Pei Xingxu’s face contorted with rage, and his already mutilated face became even more terrifying, unrecognizable.

Jun Qiyu gripped his long sword, but did not move.

He slowed his tone and tried to reason. “Calm down, Pei Xingxu. You are the king of Loulan. Loulan’s kingdom has suffered a great blow. Your people are leaderless. If you do not rise up to shoulder the responsibility of being a king, what is the point of drawing swords against me here? Do you want to watch Loulan disappear into oblivion?”

“Loulan King… Am I still the king of Loulan? I don’t deserve to be their king. I’ve lost my country. I have nothing left! Nothing at all! My only wish now is to kill you! Jun Qiyu, if you kill yourself in front of me, it will end all my grievances!”

Jun Qiyu furrowed his brow, vigilantly watching Pei Xingxu’s movements.

“Are you saying that if I don’t kill myself, you’ll kill Liqing? What do you think you will gain from this? Besides hurting the ones who love you, what will you get?”

“I don’t care!”

Pei Xingxu roared, coughing violently. His throat was dry, and despite the pain, he couldn’t bring up anything.

“Anyway… anyway, I’m going to die soon! The road to the underworld, he can walk it with me. Then we can be together forever… I won’t be lonely.”

Pei Xingxu forced an eerie smile, as though he was looking forward to it.

“You want Liqing to die with you? Is this how you love him?” Jun Qiyu said coldly. “Have you asked him if he’s willing?”

“He… If he loves me even a little, he will be willing.” Pei Xingxu muttered softly, as if talking to himself. “Right? My request isn’t much. Just a little bit of love…”

“Pei Xingxu…”

Jun Qiyu was about to speak, but was abruptly interrupted by Pei Xingxu’s harsh shout.

“Shut up! I will never allow him to be with you! Only death can separate you two… Hahaha! I knew it, Jun Qiyu, you fear death. Is there anyone more hypocritical than you? Liqing, do you see it? He’s a selfish, heartless man who keeps saying he loves you, but when it comes to weighing the pros and cons, he will always choose himself. He can’t even die for you, but I can…”

Jun Qiyu’s gaze darkened. No matter what difficulties he faced, he remained calm and composed, always finding a way to turn things around. But this time, it was clear that there was no solution that would satisfy both sides.

Jun Qiyu took a deep breath and said, “Fine, all the blame is on me. Swear to let Liqing go, and I will give you my life.”

“I, Pei Xingxu, always keep my word.” Pei Xingxu said firmly.

Song Liqing struggled against Pei Xingxu’s tightened grip and shouted, “Jun Qiyu… you can’t.”

“Liqing, I’ve done many wrong things. I used to think that as long as you were alive, I would have time to make it right. But now I understand that there is no turning back in this world. When you make mistakes, you must pay for them. Heaven has already arranged this for me. You don’t have to blame Pei Xingxu. No, this is my retribution.”

Jun Qiyu raised his sword, smiling faintly. This precious sword was forged with metal from beyond the realm, capable of slicing through iron as if it were mud. It had accompanied him on countless battles, yet now it had many small nicks. It had killed so many enemies, and now it would be used to kill himself.

“Liqing, do you know what I regret the most?” Jun Qiyu’s eyes were red, his throat tight. “I regret that you proposed the divorce in court, and I… I actually agreed.”

A sharp pain struck Song Liqing’s head, like a needle stabbing into his mind. It made his head throb painfully, and the past, things he had avoided thinking about, all rushed back, forcing him to be awake. He closed his eyes in agony.

The muddled feelings of the past few days suddenly became unbelievably clear.

When the pain subsided and he opened his eyes again, he found that tears were streaming down his face.

“Liqing, I’m sorry, the debt I owe you can never be repaid in this lifetime.”

Jun Qiyu raised the sword again, its blade gleaming in the firelight.

“Jun Qiyu!!”

Song Liqing’s heart stopped for a moment, and he screamed.

Clang—

A hooked iron was thrown to the ground.

Jun Qiyu paused in his motion because Pei Xingxu had actually released Song Liqing voluntarily.

“Hehe… Hehe…”

Pei Xingxu staggered back, leaning against the prison bars. He was laughing madly, his hoarse voice, but somehow even more sorrowful than crying.

As he laughed, he gradually stopped, his face becoming hollow with endless emptiness.

“If only I were a completely bad person… then I wouldn’t feel soft-hearted.”

Pei Xingxu muttered to himself.

His body was weak, and he slid down the prison bars, curling up into a ball. He covered his face, trembling all over.

He was crying.

At first, it was a suppressed sob, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably, then it grew louder, as if he wanted to release all his unwillingness and pain. The sound of his hysterical sobs echoed through the prison.

But because he had lost his eyes, no matter how loudly he cried, there were no tears.

“Liqing, you… You are the one I would protect with my life. How could I bear to hurt you? How could I ever bear…”