Jun Yinglian's Scheme . . .
Cha Eun Xiao was gripped by fear. He swiftly retrieved some supreme dan beads and placed two of them into Jun Yinglian's mouth.
His cultivation was relatively weak, and although he understood the nature of the problem, he felt powerless to provide a substantial solution. The only glimmer of hope lay in the efficacy of his dan beads. They might, at the very least, buy him some time to devise a better plan.
However, Jun Yinglian was at a dominant level of cultivation. Even Zhan Yunfei and Zhu Jiutian, who had recently reached the ninth level of the Dao Origin Stage, as well as Shuang and Han, who were at the same level as Jun Yinglian, were unable to assist her. Only Xuan Bing or the three grand elders of the Cold Moon Palace could potentially aid her.
Despite understanding the perilous nature of her situation, Cha Eun Xiao endeavored not to show excessive distress. He attempted to console her while infusing her with energy by channeling the East-rising Purple Qi, hoping that this ancient and extraordinary martial art could alter her fate and save her life.
Jun Yinglian managed to produce a desolate yet beautiful smile as she whispered, "I am fine... truly... I am well aware of my own condition... It simply went awry when I learned of our reunion. I don't know why... Perhaps it will improve with time... Cough, cough... I had resolved to lay down my life, whether I emerged victorious in the fight or not... However... Cough, cough..."
Every word she spoke was utterly sincere. Nevertheless, when heard by others, her words held a deeper meaning.
"Even in such a dire situation, you still aim to console me? You refuse to let me worry?" Cha Eun Xiao thought, feeling increasingly anxious. He realized that the dan beads were proving ineffective, and the East-rising Purple Qi had limited success in restoring the flow of spiritual qi within Jun Yinglian. It appeared to be scarcely more effective than doing nothing at all.
"Damn you, East-rising Purple Qi! Weren't you acclaimed as the number one martial art in the universe or something of the sort? What good are you when you're needed the most?" Cha Eun Xiao silently lamented.
In the silence, East-rising Purple Qi might retort, "Damn you, fool! You're too weak to comprehend the extent of your own insignificance. You genuinely believe you can save that formidable figure with your pitiful capabilities? If you weren't so weak, I might assist you in exposing the little ruse your woman is playing on you. You better grasp that!"
But none of Cha Eun Xiao's efforts seemed to make a difference. He found himself utterly helpless.
"Lian Lian, listen to me. Your qi flow has been disrupted. It's not a significant problem. Try to gather your spiritual qi on your own. Encourage it to flow. You'll be all right!" Cha Eun Xiao exclaimed, his anxiety causing him to perspire. He persisted in infusing her with energy and trying to uplift her spirits, unwilling to let her surrender.
Jun Yinglian's acting skills were truly exceptional. Even Cha Eun Xiao, an expert in disguise, was taken in. He was overwhelmed by the dreadful thought, "I can't lose her just after we've been reunited, can I? Is this our farewell...?"
"It's okay. Nothing is going wrong. I feel great," Jun Yinglian gently smiled and reassured, "Eun Xiao, you said that you would accompany me to travel the world. I believe I may go to a place where you'll eventually join me."
"No, no, no, no, no," Cha Eun Xiao exclaimed, his voice frantic and incoherent. "I meant I would do that in my next life, right? This is my second life, isn't it? I'm right here beside you. Come on, please. We're going to spend a long time together. The world is small. Listen to me! You'll be fine. You'll get better. We'll stay together until the lands waste away, the sky collapses, the oceans dry up, and the rocks melt."
Jun Yinglian coughed severely, and her face inexplicably turned red for a fleeting moment, like a brief resurgence of her vitality before death.
"But... I don't know... are you serious about it? Is it for real..." she asked, her voice weak and feeble.
"Absolutely! I swear! I'm serious!" Cha Eun Xiao replied, his anxiety palpable. "Stop talking now, ssh... calm yourself first... adjust your breath... we have plenty of time now."
"I'm scared... I don't want to hear another 'next life' promise again..." Jun Yinglian appeared soft in her gaze, her eyes fixed on Cha Eun Xiao as she said, "I have some questions."
"Of course! Ask me!" Cha Eun Xiao worked harder to infuse her with energy, concerned that her condition was deteriorating.
"Did you... truly... cultivate the Pure-Yang Martial Art?" Jun Yinglian inquired.
"Yes! I did! I swear! If I lied about it, I am a filthy animal," Cha Eun Xiao swore with growing anxiety, his words becoming increasingly disjointed.
"Did you... Did you like me?" Jun Yinglian's eyes lit up.
"I did!" Cha Eun Xiao nodded. "I liked you... I liked you!"
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"You're not lying?"
"I'm not!"
"Then... Cough..." Jun Yinglian coughed before quivering. "Did you ever... think about... marrying me?"
Her eyes sparkled as she stared intently into Cha Eun Xiao's eyes. This was a question she had carried in her heart for half her life but had never mustered the courage to ask. She was afraid of disappointment and didn't want to be desperate. She feared that if she asked, she might lose the opportunity to remain at least friends with him.
"I did!" Cha Eun Xiao gritted his teeth and confessed, "I considered more than just marrying you. I thought... maybe I could quit cultivation... and marry you. But... I gave up on that idea."
"Why?" Jun Yinglian frowned.
"I couldn't allow myself to become a useless nobody. You always liked powerful people! If I lost all my cultivation... how could I be with you for the rest of my life," Cha Eun Xiao said with a hint of bitterness.
"Even if you lost your cultivation, I wouldn't mind! I like you, not your cultivation! It's always been just you!" Jun Yinglian was angry. "How could you misunderstand me like that?"
She was so angry that she scolded him carelessly, and her words were quite loud. Realizing her mistake, she began coughing severely until her lungs trembled, and in a lifeless voice, she said, "Cough, cough, cough... You're so annoying."
"I was wrong. I was wrong... Okay?" Cha Eun Xiao sincerely apologized.
"Now that you're... back to life... how will you... treat me?" Jun Yinglian asked.
"I will marry you! That was the first thought I had after I was reborn! It was the only thought in my head initially!" Cha Eun Xiao decisively declared.
Jun Yinglian blushed. "Cough... Cough... I doubt it... You must be lying again. You just want to make me happy."
"I'm not lying! I'm not! I wouldn't lie about that!" Cha Eun Xiao insisted with anxiety.
"You must be lying. I'm dying, so you're just pitying me... comforting me... You don't want me to die with regrets," Jun Yinglian looked disappointed, sad, and bereaved, and she added, "You have so many beautiful women around you... They are young, beautiful... They are soft, gentle, and obedient."