When Jiaojiao heard this, a hint of deep meaning flashed across her eyes.

"Is it a dead end?" she asked.

Shen Yuanbai did not avoid Jiaojiao's gaze and nodded slightly.

The two men, one tall and one short, were standing inside and outside the hall respectively. They seemed to have communicated with each other in silent eye contact.

After a while, Jiaojiao suddenly said, "Shen Yuanbai, do you still remember what we said in the canyon? This time, I have come as promised."

What Shen Yuanbai promised that day was that if he was free one day and still alive, he would send a message to Qiao Jiaojiao.

"I have never forgotten." Shen Yuanbai replied in a deep voice.

Jiaojiao nodded with satisfaction, then raised her head and glanced into the room, and suddenly said, "Shengfen is very painful."

Shen Yuanbai raised his eyebrows slightly, imitating the tone that Qiao Jiaojiao used when she first confronted him, "You know this again?"

Jiaojiao raised her eyebrows, then awkwardly put her hands in front of her chest, imitating Shen Yuanbai's arrogant look at that time.

"Just now, Xiao Si wanted to go forward, but you stopped him. Aren't you afraid that he would smell the kerosene in the hall?"

"This Yuchao Palace, Xiao Si called it 'the place of beginning and end', I think it is very appropriate, I think you think so too."

"If you want to take away Prince Jin Yu and Wu Geng, take away the sins of the whole palace, and take away all the causes and consequences, what can be better than a raging fire to burn everything?"

"Of course, there may be another reason..."

When Jiaojiao said this, she slowly put down her hands and her expression became serious.

"Zhu Feng also burned himself in the fire, and it was completely for you. I guess you can't let it go, right?"

When Shen Yuanbai heard this, he raised his eyelids suddenly. He didn't expect that Qiao Jiaojiao even thought of this in his mind.

Jiaojiao saw the shock on Shen Yuanbai's face and knew that she had guessed right again.

Looking back at the past, Jiaojiao couldn't help but sigh:

"Life and death are unpredictable, so make your move without regrets."

"Look, Shen Yuanbai, there are so many lives between us. It is very rare that we can stand together and talk calmly today."

"I never expected the situation to reach this point, but I think this is indeed the final step."

"As for defying fate, your courage and bravery far exceed mine. Let's go—"

Having said that, Jiaojiao bowed to Shen Yuanbai in a formal manner and said in a gentle voice:

"I wish you freedom."

"I wish you freedom, I wish the mountains, moons, and plants freedom, and I hope this wind of freedom will fill the world and benefit all living beings."

Shen Yuanbai moved slightly to the left and did not accept Jiaojiao's greeting.

Seeing Jiaojiao standing up, Shen Yuanbai immediately concealed his emotions and said calmly:

"You have great love, I only care about myself, so I don't deserve your gift."

Jiaojiao tilted her head when she heard that, then smiled, "It's up to you."

Shen Yuanbai is already the last link that controls the world through the plot. For Yu Jiaojiao, Shen Yuanbai is willing to fight for death, and he is also fighting for freedom for the world.

Judging by her actions rather than her heart, she bowed.

Judging from the heart rather than the actions, he will not accept it.

Both of them have a clear conscience.

That’s all I have to say.

Shen Yuanbai's gaze stayed on Jiaojiao's face for a moment, and then he turned away resolutely.

At this time, Jiaojiao suddenly said in a low voice: "Shen Yuanbai, when he chased the wind and went to the fire, he said something."

Shen Yuanbai paused when he heard this, and Jiaojiao's voice came:

"I will repay your kindness on the Golden Terrace and die for you by supporting the Jade Dragon."

Shen Yuanbai did not turn around. His shoulders trembled slightly. Suddenly he raised his hands to cover his face and remained silent for a long time.

"Thank you for letting me know."

After a long time, Shen Yuanbai's hoarse voice sounded, with a hint of trembling, and then he closed the door of the hall, completely isolating the world outside the hall.

Jiaojiao looked at the inner hall which was lit by candlelight and saw Shen Yuanbai's figure reflected on the hall door, walking and busying himself.

Suddenly, two voices came from the hall, hoarse but angry, one cursing and the other begging for mercy.

"Haha, this is the Yuchao Palace. Shen Yuanbai, what if you kill me? This can't change the fact that the imperial sister has been held under me and toyed with by me for four years!"

"Tsk tsk, your face really looks 100% like the imperial sister. Do you know what I was thinking when you first came back? I—"

Snap——

The crisp sound of slapping interrupted Prince Jin Yu's obscene words.

"No, King Beigui, please spare my life! Spare me, my servant!"

Wu Geng's voice sounded immediately afterwards, filled with panic and fear.

But soon, only the humming sound was left in the hall.

Jiaojiao clenched her hands and stood alone in the courtyard. She opened her eyes wide and stared at the inner hall.

Suddenly, there was a whoosh sound.

Tongues of flame suddenly leaped up, and the inner hall was brightly lit!

Qiao Tianjing and others who were waiting outside the palace noticed something strange immediately and pushed the door open. They saw flames overflowing and quickly climbing up to the magnificent eaves of the palace, which was shocking to see!

When Qiao Tianjing saw this scene, his face was full of emotion but there was no sign of surprise, as if he had expected it.

Shen Yuanling looked around and did not see Shen Yuanbai in the courtyard.

His heart trembled violently, and he immediately remembered the question he asked Shen Yuanbai when he escorted him out of the canyon that day -

Are you going there to seek death or life?

He knew... He knew it would turn out like this...

Shen Yuanling's hands and feet were cold, and he couldn't explain his feelings at the moment. Shen Yuanbai was a brother, a relative, and also an enemy to him.

Looking at the Yuchao Hall surrounded by flames, I foreboded the moment of loss and farewell. It was like cutting out a piece of festering flesh from my body. The pain was still there, but a gap was left.

“Second brother!”

Shen Yuanling finally raised his voice and shouted. His voice was still clear, but it was filled with heaviness and sorrow that shouldn't have appeared on a young boy.

In response to Shen Yuanling, there was a sudden high-pitched wailing sound from the inner hall.

The flames burned their bodies and the pain pierced their bones. King Jin Yu and Wu Geng couldn't help but scream out in pain.

In the inner hall, the only voice missing was Shen Yuanbai's.

Jiaojiao knew that a man like him would not make a sound even if the flames completely engulfed him.

Jiaojiao looked up at the night sky, her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

She was waiting, waiting for the thunder to come, waiting for the will of this world to give up Shen Yuanbai, give up the son of destiny it created!

"Uncle Qiao, what time is it?" Jiaojiao suddenly asked quickly.

Qiao Bo had been estimating the time, and now he said with great certainty: "Miss, it will be midnight soon!"

At midnight, that is the legendary time when the gates of hell open wide!

Jiaojiao's heartbeat suddenly accelerated, and she immediately called out the Merit Mall, which was always floating beside her.

Upon hearing this, Shen Yuanling suddenly glanced at Jiaojiao sharply.

This is the fourth time Jiaojiao has asked about the time tonight.

He didn't know what Jiaojiao and his second brother talked about, but if there was anyone here who could change his fate, it would only be Jiaojiao!

He exhaled slowly, and the wailing in the hall became more and more shrill, as if a wild beast was roaring.

Just as everyone was listening attentively to the movements in the hall, hurried footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.

Qiao Er's anxious voice suddenly sounded: "Young Master!"