Du Xiaoyan, still sobbing uncontrollably, let out a sharp cry and threw herself forward, blocking Lianzhu Luo'er and Qin Ni'er. With wild abandon, she began hitting them both, even tearing the veils from their faces.
But her strength had long since been sapped by sorrow. No matter how fiercely she lashed out, her strikes were powerless. Lianzhu and Qin, though capable of defending themselves, didn't raise a hand. They simply stood there, stunned and silent, allowing Du Xiaoyan to vent her heartbreak upon them.
Her desperate interruption prevented them from reaching San Shao, who was now being supported away by Qiao Wei.
At that moment, San Shao turned his head with great effort. His eyes, heavy with unspeakable sorrow and love, locked onto Luo'er and Ni'er. His lips moved.
The words were no louder than a whisper—so faint even Qiao Wei couldn't hear them.But Luo'er and Ni'er understood.
Not through sound.
Through the movement of his lips—they read his silent farewell:
"I used to think that the love I chased so tirelessly was just a delusion.Like a dog chasing bones—not out of affection, but out of possessiveness.I was wrong.What traps a man isn't teeth or pride.It's love.Even my 'Heaven-Shrouding Hand'…cannot cover the sky above your heads."
Lianzhu Luo'er raised a trembling hand as if to hold him back… but couldn't take a single step forward.
Qin Ni'er stood frozen. She didn't realize she was crying until twin trails of tears slid silently down her cheeks.
Seeing the sorrow on the other two women's faces, Du Xiaoyan finally came to her senses. Her fists dropped. She turned, just in time to see San Shao's figure growing smaller in the crowd.
Grief surged within her like a tide. She dropped to her knees, clutching her head, and sobbed.
The fading silhouette of San Shao vanished into the bustling street, leaving behind three women, all shedding tears.
At a window seat in a teahouse overlooking the street, a woman in snowy white robes, with a long sword at her hip, sat still—staring down in shock. Her eyes streamed silently with tears.
The serving boy carrying her food quietly retreated, not daring to disturb her.
When the young man she had longed for day and night was finally lost in the crowd, she stood abruptly. Tossing a small piece of silver onto the table, she rushed out without even wiping away her tears.
As she ran, tears splashed against the wooden stairs like shattered pearls. Her lips pressed together, white from the force of her bite, holding back the sob building in her chest.
At the door, she looked once toward the direction San Shao had vanished, and once toward Luo'er and Ni'er. Her delicate hand fell to the hilt of her sword. Her knuckles turned white from the pressure.
The sword slowly slid from its sheath.
Her gaze toward the two women was filled with venomous hatred—so cold it could freeze blood.
Half the blade was drawn… then she stopped. With a shuddering breath, she slammed it back into its sheath and ran in pursuit of San Shao.
"Excellent!" A low voice praised from the shadows. Uncle Li slapped his thigh with enthusiasm. "San Shao's performance was absolutely masterful! He even fooled himself! If I were in that scene, I'd probably help him count the money he used to sell me out! What a born king—what a damn good schemer!"
Li Xiaoye pouted beside him. "Godfather, how can you praise him like that? He broke those girls' hearts! That Du Xiaoyan girl clearly loves him deeply, and he still tricked her!"
Uncle Li grinned like a fox. "You know nothing, kid. San Shao didn't just act—he concealed his edge beneath calm, masked his brilliance behind wounds, and used this moment to plant seeds of emotion in all three of them. The plan was flawless—beyond what Old Qiao and I had imagined.
"We had thought he'd kill Du Xiaoyan, maybe fake an injury to win Qin Ni'er's sympathy. But he didn't kill a soul. Instead, he used the bitterest of tricks—self-sacrifice.
"Now Du Xiaoyan will be hopelessly devoted. And Lianzhu and Qin—well, maybe not love, not yet. But they'll feel gratitude. And gratitude's just a short step from affection.
"That final line he left them with? Genius. It will grow in their hearts, and one day… boom. Love, loyalty, confusion. He planted trees in their souls."
He chuckled darkly.
"And even if they never love him, they'll still owe him. That debt of mercy? Not easily repaid. And Qin Ni'er—being an imperial bastard—could change his whole fate. She's a tree worth clinging to."
Li Xiaoye snorted. "He's as black-hearted as they come. That Du Xiaoyan clearly loves him to death, and he used her like a pawn. A cold, heartless man pretending to be warm and noble. You and Old Qiao—two demons—are just helping him become an even bigger bastard! You'll all be cursed for a thousand years!"
Uncle Li's face turned serious. "Little Leaf, don't speak nonsense. Evil thrives where goodness dies. That's reality. And if San Shao excels at being a villain, so be it. You think being remembered forever is a curse? I say it's success.
"I'm already infamous. And San Shao? He was born to shake the world. If he ever writes the history books, do you think he'll let them tell the truth?"
Li Xiaoye blinked. "You mean it's not just talk? You and Old Qiao really plan to help him rebel?!"
Uncle Li smiled coldly. "Of course it's real. The prophecy of the Demon-Eyed Asura wasn't made in jest. That vision was passed down from the Grand High Priest of the previous dynasty—Tai Gong Wang himself. A sage who saw eight hundred years past and future. Would a man like that speak lightly?
"Little Leaf, I've already offered you to San Shao. You need to be smart. A man destined to be king doesn't care about love—only legacy. You want to survive? You grab his heart now, before it's too late."
Li Xiaoye gritted her teeth. "Why should I? I don't even like him. I hate him! Cold-hearted bastard, no different from a real turtle! He doesn't care about anyone!"
Uncle Li sighed. "What is happiness, child? A warm husband? Peace? In this world? Bah. You think some kind soul will marry you and keep you safe through the coming war?
"You follow me now, hiding your talents, living by your blade. One wrong step and you're dead. What kind of future is that?
"And when I'm gone—who will protect you? I have wealth, yes, but what good is gold in chaos? When the armies come, they'll take it. You'll be left with nothing."
He looked at her, eyes filled with weary hope.
"But San Shao? He has power. He has cunning. He'll seize a piece of this world when it breaks. If you're at his side, even without love, you'll be safe.
"Isn't that enough?"
Li Xiaoye muttered, "But he's lazy. He has no ambition. How can he possibly want to rule?"
Uncle Li's grin turned chilling.
"He doesn't want to. Not yet. But the world will force him. People like him can't hide forever. He was born for chaos.
"And chaos is coming.
"The Emperor deposed the crown prince and raised a child instead—just because his mother's the Empress.
"The borderlands are starving. The court grows greedy. The people suffer. Prince Yu gathers allies in secret. The south teeters on rebellion.
"Even the great Qin Emperor is aging and senile.
"This world… is about to burn."