Chu Wanning knew that his time had come.
He had seen so many people, friends and foes, depart before him, naturally and unnaturally. During TaXian-Jun's reign, death had become a less fearful phenomenon, even a welcome ending for those who suffered long time in the Emperor's hands.
Then again, Chu Wanning refused to see his remaining disciples die before him. This was the last thing he could do for Xue Meng. This was the last time he saved him. They did not even have a chance to share a word of farewell.
Summoning Jiu'ge had taken all that he had, and he had foiled TaXian-Jun's grand scheme yet again, but Chu Wanning still had to do something. He could not die yet. He could do it. He must do it.
Mo Ran leapt lightly on top of the barrier, his black purplish eyes emitted both fury and delight. Chu Wanning had stared into this pair of eyes millions of times, in many occasions throughout these years. And yet in the last moment, he felt like he had never really looked into Mo Ran's eyes, into his soul. Just how many things have been left unsaid between them? If only, ah, if only…
Chu Wanning closed his eyes, his eyelashes trembling. When he opened his eyes again, he steeled his resolution.
"Mo Ran, come closer." he said, his fingers were touching the guqin at the intended strings, ready to launch his final attack. Yes, this was the last thing he had to do. He had to kill TaXian-Jun. Then, he could finally die.
Truthfully, Chu Wanning did not expect Mo Ran to come closer. It would have been easier if he did not obediently approach him, but he surprisingly did. Chu Wanning's chest tightened. The black eyes stared into his, as if challenging him. What would you do, Chu Wanning? Now that you already know the truth, you know that this man before you had been manipulated mercilessly by an unknown mastermind and turned into a killing puppet, could you still bear to kill him?
Mo Ran was also his disciple after all.
Chu Wanning was unwilling to let him die before him.
At the end, the fingers moved to other strings and he healed Mo Ran instead of killing him. That was it. He had failed himself and given in to his selfishness. Even worse, he did not feel any regret.
"I've healed the wound from Xue Meng," he heard himself say. "Just let him go, Mo Ran. Else, who would you go to in the future if you want to reminisce about the past?"
Mo Ran needed someone to tell him about the good things from the past. He would not remember them anyway, but if someone could do this for him, then he…
Chu Wanning closed his eyes as the last bit of energy left his body. The barrier crumbled under him and he fell just like that, faster and faster heading into the cold waters of the Heavenly Lake.
"WANNING!!!"
Strong familiar arms pulled him into an embrace. Chu Wanning opened his eyes weakly and was again face-to-face with Mo Ran. Even as he lay there in his arms doing nothing, his insides were already in the process of ripping apart. He was dying. Blood flowed from all seven orifices, turning his usually cold and composed face into a mess.
Chu Wanning had lost to his own resolution. Still, he could not help but mock Mo Ran for the last time.
-You underestimated your shizun.
"If I made up my mind to leave, you can't stop me… even if you tried…"
When you brought me back to life in the past, you only managed to do so because I was willing to come back.
"I wanted to stay… keep you company for a few more years…"
-I wanted you to change.
"… try to teach you… not to commit any more sins, but now…"
-I wanted to stop you from doing even more mistakes in your life.
Even Chu Wanning's flow of thought was breaking off. He did not know anymore what he said and what he did not. Mo Ran seemed to be terrified.
"Perhaps… it takes my death for you to.. stop doing evil…"
-Or not. Mo Ran… I am willing to give my life, have my soul be scattered and gone forever, just for you to turn back.
TaXian-Jun did not believe him. He still tried to save him. And yet, powerful as he was, he still had some limits. At this point, Chu Wanning was already beyond saving. The spiritual power did nothing to alleviate his wounds. It sank uselessly and dispersed into thin air. TaXian-Jun tried again and again, but Chu Wanning knew it was useless.
-Mo Ran, Mo Ran, if you ever cared for me…
"Mo Ran, if you still have any clarity in your heart… then please… please forgive…"
-Forgive me for failing as your shizun. But most of all…
Chu Wanning lifted a trembling hand and poked at Mo Ran's forehead lightly with a fingertip, sending the rest of his soul fragments into his body.
"Forgive yourself."
Chu Wanning made his last bet. He refused to believe that Mo Ran's heart was beyond saving. If there was nothing else he could do for him in this life, then at least in his death, his soul… If his soul could still suppress the black flower in Mo Ran's heart… No matter what stage…
Hearing his last words, TaXian-Jun roared in laughter.
"HAHAHAHA!!!! FORGIVE MYSELF??? CHU WANNING, YOU ARE EVEN CRAZIER THAN ME!!! HOW NAÏVE, HAHAHAHAHA!!!"
Chu Wanning felt a mouthful of blood coming up his throat but he swallowed it down. No, he did not wish to see Mo Ran acting like this. In the last moments of his life, he wanted to see the slightest hint that Mo Ran would change. He would not give up on this hope, never.
It became increasingly difficult for Chu Wanning to draw his breaths.
"Mo Ran, stop laughing. I can't bear to see you like this.."
This is not you. You were once an innocent youth who felt compassion toward earthworms… I should have believed in you. And yet I called you deficient by nature and beyond remedy. Mo Ran, I am sorry… I should have believed in you, I should have treated you better…
"It was I who wronged you. I won't blame you, in life or in death…"
His eyelids grew increasingly heavy. He could barely keep his eyes open. Blood blurred his sight. And yet, Chu Wanning refused to close his eyes.
"Do you truly hate me that much… that you would not even grant me a moment at peace.."
-At the very end? Mo Ran…
Chu Wanning wanted to shake Mo Ran, give him a slap to forcefully drag the innocent youth back to the surface, but all of that was only wishful thinking. He could only pathetically begged at the end.
"Mo Ran… don't do this anymore… wake up… turn back… turn back…"
-Turn back…
Chu Wanning exhaled one last time and the light in his eyes was finally extinguished.
This was how Yuheng of the Night Sky, Beidou Immortal, greatest cultivator of his era, died. His death was never publicized. The world continued to suffer in TaXian-Jun's hands. The last hope of humanity had died with Chu Wanning.