Arrows rained down, flying haphazardly in all directions.

Several ash-like shadows appeared on the high platform at some point, spinning around like the wind.

Within a few breaths, all those wearing Nuo ritual masks lay dead in pools of blood.

Only the monk remained calm throughout.

It's like the only bright spot in this chaotic and turbulent world.

Shen Qingyu clapped her hands and smiled.

"Look, someone's coming to his rescue. Even the most fearless ghost is afraid of a hail of arrows."

Before he could finish speaking, a hail of arrows flew toward their location.

I don't know who the archer was; this is indiscriminate attack.

Shen Qingyu executed a nimble knee slide.

He used stone pillars to shield himself.

He didn't forget to smile at Ayan.

"Young lady's medical skills are truly remarkable. I've finally regained my strength."

The drama on stage has already spread to the audience; it would be unwise to continue watching.

Shen Qingyu didn't wait for her. When the arrows stopped flying, she covered her head with her clothes, crouched down, and rolled off the ground.

He appeared to be a noble young man, yet he seemed to have considerable experience in escaping danger during a chaotic battle.

Ayan glanced at the Western Rong people on the stage, her face turning cold.

Useless trash.

Since that's the case, only she can help them.

As arrows rained down on the pavilion again, Ayan followed Shen Qingyu and retreated.

Frustrated, who is the person shooting arrows from the shadows?

As she dodged the arrows and ran, she pulled a bone whistle from her neck and blew it.

A sharp, piercing whistle exploded in mid-air.

In the blink of an eye, a person wearing a blue mask with fangs flew over from the direction of the bamboo garden.

This person had excellent lightness skills; he touched a few points on the tree branches with his toes and arrived in front of us in an instant.

The smile on Ayan's face froze before it could even appear.

The figure was actually coming for her.

They were so close that they could already see the dark crossbow gleaming coldly on the raised arm!

In her shock, Ayan instinctively pulled Shen Qingyu next to her to shield her from the arrow.

But that person reacted much more quickly than she did.

Not only did she fail to catch him, but he also shoved her hard, pushing her right under the crossbow!

A muffled thud.

A red flower bloomed in her chest cavity.

She didn't feel anything when she saw the Western Rong Nuo woman being shot to death by arrows.

So this is what it feels like to be pierced by an arrow or crossbow bolt.

She was pulled back two steps by the force of the crossbow.

Shen Qingyu, who was beside her, moved further away from her in disgust.

It was as if they were afraid of getting blood splattered on their clothes.

On the opposite stage, a monk in white robes watched her silently.

His expression was one of compassion.

How hypocritical and laughable.

…

Dao Ci flicked his sleeve, and the two flying arrows were caught in his sleeve.

The next instant, the sharp arrow changed direction and pierced into the pool with a whooshing sound.

Amidst gurgling blood-red bubbles, two people tumbled to the surface from underwater.

There was someone hiding at the bottom of the pool.

After the master finished doing all this, he put his hands together in prayer.

He silently recited a Buddhist mantra.

A gray figure swept over from the corner of the stage.

"Master, the woman from Beiting has been shot with an arrow. However, she was not one of our people."

The white-robed monk's gaze sharpened.

He stood on the stage of Qingyin Pavilion, high up, with a far-reaching view.

Just now, I saw the man with the fangs and blue mask shoot an arrow at Ayan.

They weren't one of their people.

The man was very skilled in light footwork, and hit the target with one arrow, but did not linger in the fight.

Stepping on the bamboo tips, they had already lightly disappeared into the vast Song Garden.

.

Soon, people who had received the news rushed to the scene.

The embroidered-clothes servants, Qin merchants, the head of the Song family, and other guests.

Ayan lay under the tree, barely alive.

A metal crossbow bolt pierced her chest, and blood soaked her clothes.

She was like a flower bud soaked by the rain, pale, weak, and shivering.

Qin Shang's face turned ashen as he flew over and pulled her into his arms.

"Quickly, find a doctor, find a doctor—!"

When Qi Su squeezed into the crowd, this was the scene of life and death.

In the original book, Ayan died from a feathered arrow.

An arrow pierced his chest, and he fell from the city wall.

She became the male protagonist's eternal white moonlight.

He died from a crossbow bolt, but since it was an arrow anyway, he died a worthy death.

Without the fall from the city wall, this tragic love story loses some of its poignant and tender quality.

Qi Su clasped her hands together and prayed for her.

May you go to hell after you die, and taste the pain of all those who died because of your worm poison.

May you be trapped in this suffering forever, in this life and for all eternity, unable to escape.

Amen. Oh, she hasn't gotten better yet.

But it's okay, it'll be over soon, it won't make a difference if it takes a little longer.

Jinghe, do you see? She's dead.

She will bear all your pain. You will no longer suffer.

…

Ayan leaned against Qin Shang's chest, reaching out her bloodied hand to touch his face.

Finally, my gaze shifted and landed on that white figure in the crowd.

His lips moved, and he uttered a few words.

With red-rimmed eyes, Qin Shangchao looked around.

"Master Daoci, please come closer!"

Qi Su: ...I have a bad feeling.

The white-robed monk bent down and approached the dying girl.

Blood foam seeped from the corner of Ayan's mouth.

"Master," she said with difficulty, her eyes shining with a strange light.

"The Black Water Gu has been stolen..."

Song Garden...it wasn't me..."

"Be careful...be careful of her..."

Her pupils slowly dilated.

He gripped the beaded string hanging on his left hand with his right hand, and in his dying moments, he squeezed it tightly.

The wooden beads crumbled into powder, releasing a strange fragrance, and the broken wood shavings scattered on Dao Ci's kasaya.

Ayan's hands fell limply to her sides.

His pupils were half-open, and he was completely silent.

"Nannan—" Qin Shang cried out in anguish.

He held the lifeless body of the girl tightly in his arms.

His clothes were stained with blood.

He held her tightly, his eyes glazed over, as if their blood could merge into one, never to be separated.

He still remembered the first time he saw her on the border of Beiting.

Both he and she were illegitimate children, possessing so-called noble bloodlines and lowly origins.

Life was tough for everyone.

She wasn't nearly as composed back then as she is now.

She is sensitive and insecure, and easily provoked, howling and barking like a little animal with its claws outstretched.

When we met again later, she was wearing that serene mask.

No matter what happens, his expression will not change.

But in his heart, she will always be that sensitive and delicate little animal he first met.

No matter how bad the weather is outside, and no matter whether we can find food tomorrow.

The two of them can always lean on each other for warmth, and never be separated.

After an unknown amount of time, Qin Shang's broken expression slowly returned to normal.

He stood up, holding the girl in his arms who was gradually growing cold.

His dark eyes swept silently across Dao Ci's face.

In her final moments, her last words were spoken to him.

.

Qin Shang carried the girl away without saying another word.

The monk, covered in blood, stood there, his face pale.

The Prefect of Song pulled the monk up from the ground.

"After causing such a scene, have you achieved your goal?"

"The Embroidered Robe Envoys have all gone to chase after that masked man, and the Song family has also sent many experts there. You don't need to worry about the Black Water Gu; the word has already been spread. All the food, drink, and water used in the manor these days will be boiled before use."

His Highness had already told him to relax his guard at Song Garden.

As it turns out, today's banquet was leaked like a sieve.

The Western Rong sent people to infiltrate, the Northern Court sent people to infiltrate, and there were also Embroidered-Robe Envoys.

A bloody battle ensued right inside Song Garden.

But then he saw the young monk, whose arm he was supporting, tightly gripping his hand.

"Lord Song, take me to rest."

With each breath, there was a faint smell of blood in his mouth.