boyutpedia 870. Life and Death Separation
870. Life and Death Separation
"Xiao Zhi... this, here... what's going on?" Huo Xuan's eyes showed unfamiliarity with everything around him, as if he had no idea how he ended up here.
The gentle tone in his voice perfectly matched Huo Xuan's demeanor, and this voice made Huo Zhi's heart feel as if it were being tightly gripped.
Xiao Yan remained silent at this moment; anything he did now would be superfluous. Deep down, he trusted Huo Zhi. He knew that such a decision was cruel to everyone, but he couldn't interfere or do it for her.
Even faster than Xiao Yan had expected, Huo Zhi's hand only paused for three breaths. After Huo Xuan finished speaking, Huo Zhi didn't even give any further reply.
Huo Zhi gritted her teeth, raised her hand and swiftly and steadily swung it, the blood-red blade cleanly severing the head in one stroke!
Huo Xuan's body was already on the verge of collapse after being subjected to multiple impacts, so there was naturally no way he could block Huo Zhi's decisive sword strike.
Seeing the expression in Huo Xuan's eyes vanish quickly, tears streamed down Huo Zhi's face. As Huo Xuan's body collapsed, many images flashed through her mind once again.
She was the pride of the Yan Clan, and at the age of ten, the bloodline of the Dou Di descendant within her had fully awakened. Confirmed as the next possessor of the Crimson Lotus Karmic Flame, the clan's regard for her underwent a dramatic transformation in a short period.
When Huo Zhi was being protected, she learned that before her, there had been another young man from the Yan Clan who was just like her—that person was Huo Xuan. At that time, Huo Zhi met her brother for the first time.
After her initial attempts to cultivate the Heavenly Rank technique failed and she was questioned by the unfamiliar elder of the Yan Clan, Huo Xuan walked to her side and gently patted her head: "Xiao Zhi, don't worry, you can't rush the cultivation of techniques. Take a few days to rest first."
The boy, five years her senior, possessed a maturity far exceeding her own, shining like warm sunshine on Huo Zhi and letting her know that she was not alone.
While Huo Zhi was undergoing arduous training on the lava iron chain, tormented by the raging fire poison from the earth's core, Huo Xuan specially went there to accompany her in her training and to protect her safety. During that time, although Huo Zhi was in pain, she was not lonely.
"Xiao Zhi, don't worry. Whether here or in the future, I will definitely protect you."
The fact that both Huo Zhi and Huo Xuan share the same bloodline as descendants of the Dou Di created an extremely strong sibling bond between them.
Huo Zhi was the only daughter in her family, but the truth is that she felt genuine brotherly care and love from Huo Xuan. Huo Zhi had also asked Huo Xuan why he protected her so much.
At that time, Huo Xuan replied: It's too hard to make Huo Zhi bear the responsibilities of the Yan Clan at such a young age.
Huo Zhi later learned that Huo Xuan had undergone the same training she had experienced at the young age of nine. However, Huo Xuan always maintained a polite and reassuring demeanor when facing his clansmen. If Huo Zhi was an immature prodigy of the Yan Clan, then Huo Xuan was the truly perfect successor. Huo Zhi's only thought was to wait until Huo Xuan became the clan leader, and then diligently assist him.
Because of the Red Lotus Karmic Fire, Huo Zhi was separated from her clan for several years, completely parting ways with her family. When she returned to the Yan Clan, she realized the importance of family even more. And it was Huo Xuan who came to take her home again.
Back in her family, she once again felt protected. This time, she learned that her brother also had someone he liked, and she, too, harbored her own feelings. However, out of shyness, Huo Zhi only confided in Huo Xuan.
But this warmth didn't last long. As the Yan Clan cautiously investigated the spies within their ranks, on that day, the Yan Clan was plunged into a bloodbath. Countless members of the Yan Clan vanished completely after that battle.
Before their clan was wiped out, Huo Zhi and Huo Xuan stayed together. Faced with such a devastating change, Huo Xuan fulfilled his promise to Huo Zhi.
"Xiao Zhi, there's an opening on the east side. I'll cover you, and we'll break through together!"
At that time, Huo Xuan's figure was both majestic and gentle. They had agreed to break through the encirclement together, but in the end, Huo Xuan got separated from them. Back at the resting place, Huo Zhi waited in vain for Huo Xuan. Only then did Huo Zhi realize that her successful escape from that encirclement was solely due to Huo Xuan sacrificing his life for hers.
If it were someone else, they might have preferred to let Huo Xuan live, since he was the true first heir of the Yan Clan. But Huo Xuan himself chose Huo Zhi.
This indirectly led to the fact that after that incident, Huo Zhi devoted all her efforts to the Yan Clan. Even knowing that Xiao Yan had been resurrected, she never thought of going to the Starfall Pavilion to see Xiao Yan again. There was no other way; the Yan Clan needed Huo Zhi for too many reasons.
Huo Zhi never expected to encounter Huo Xuan again in the Heavenly Tomb, and this time, her brother had sacrificed himself for her again. Huo Xuan's words from that last time still seemed to echo in Huo Zhi's ears.
"Most of my soul has dissipated; this is my last strength... Never think of avenging me again... You must live on!"
That brief reunion was already the final farewell.
Years ago, Huo Xuan made a promise to "protect Huo Zhi," which he fulfilled twice with his own life.
But just now, Huo Zhi hardened her heart and cut off her brother's last hope of resurrection.
No, to be precise, Huo Xuan has no hope of being resurrected. Huo Xuan himself told Huo Zhi that he was beyond saving.
Moreover, judging from the extremely eerie black flames on Huo Xuan's body, her brother hadn't truly returned. Huo Zhi knew that it was merely a means for Tang Qiying to survive, a way to buy time and make her hesitate by using Huo Xuan's identity. Therefore, Huo Zhi forced herself to strike with that sword.
When Huo Zhi was talking with Xiao Yan, she had already made up her mind to kill Tang Qiying with her own hands to give her brother peace in the afterlife. But now that Huo Zhi had actually done it, endless pain still overwhelmed her.
From now on, there will truly be no possibility of him and his brother ever seeing each other again.
"I'm sorry, Brother Xuan..." A whispered voice, so soft it was almost inaudible.
Seeing Huo Xuan's lifeless body, Huo Zhi stood there stunned, overwhelmed by extreme grief. Pain, self-blame, and sorrow could no longer be contained at this moment, shattering her last shred of strength.
She seemed to have all her strength drained away, and only with Xiao Yan's support did she not collapse.
Tears, like pearls from a broken string, streamed freely down her cheeks.
Silent weeping, each sob tugging at the heartstrings.
(Thanks to Carbon Treasure)