"What did you say?" Lui Zhiyuan's voice carried a hint of fear as he stared at the face of the man in front of him.
"She's already dead...she died before you brought her here. What do you think I can do?" The man held a string of beads with his eyes tightly shut.
He was sitting on a rocking chair, rocking back and forth as if everything happening in the world had nothing to do with him.
Lui Zhiyuan looked at the lifeless body of the woman on the makeshift bed.
He looked back at Jia Boyan, his heart beating fast against his chest.
He wanted to shake the man and force him to save Xia Mengqi.
But he didn't do that…he couldn't anger him, if there was someone who could save her, it could only be Jia Boyan.
The man had a weird temper, he could not afford to offend him.
Song slipped a hand into his pocket as he stared at the shut eyed Jia Boyan, "You can save her, Boyan, " he said with conviction
"Please, you can ask for anything, anything in the world, I'll give it to you," Lui Zhiyuan promised.
Jia Boyan finally opened his eyes, and a pair of phoenix eyes were fixed on Lui Zhiyuan.
The man's lips curled up with a smile.
"What do you think you can offer me, Lui Zhiyuan?"
Lui Zhiyuan stared right back at him, refusing to back down.
He had known Jia Boyan for centuries, but he could not think of what he would want off the top of his head.
This man…..
Lui Zhiyuan smiled confidently. "You can make your demands." Even if he had to go to the ends of the earth, he would get it for him.
Jia Boyan's smile widened as he stood up. There seemed to be a hint of interest in his face.
"Lui Zhiyuan, you're asking for the impossible. She's dead..."
"But she wasn't supposed to die just yet! You told me! She would live a peaceful life!" Song Jia could not hold back his feelings for a bit, and he snapped at Jia Boyan.
Jia Boyan turned away from him, not minding his outburst.
"And she's had a peaceful life the last few cycles? She lives....she dies....she lives again....the same process. And you can never go near her!" Jia Boyan turned to look at Lui Zhiyuan suddenly, his gaze zeroing in on him.
He could not help but suspect that Lui Zhiyuan had broken the rule. It wasn't like he hadn't done that before!
Lui Zhiyuan frowned, he hated being reminded of that damn curse.
Has it been a thousand years now? Or even more? He could not remember. He had lost count a long time ago.
"But she's just 25 now..."
"Fate is like that. She met someone she should never have met, and the course of her life shifted. All of this is up to the heavens. There's nothing I can do," Jia Boyan said, without any emotion showing on his face.
Song Jia's jaw tightened. "I don't believe that this is the end for her. She was only 25. Boyan, I am begging you, please bring her back!" Lui Zhiyuan said with difficulty.
Jia Boyan chuckled without much emotion, "The mighty Lui Zhiyuan, begging me?" He sneered coldly.
"You're asking me to make her reincarnate early? Just wait a few more years, and she will be back. Haven't you done it a few times already?"
"She was murdered, Boyan," Lui Zhiyuan said calmly.
Jia Boyan raised an eyebrow. "So?"
"She was murdered....she might not be able to come back after this....she has to live a peaceful life for her to get a second chance. That was what the divination said. She might... not get her second chance" Lui Zhiyuan explained.
Jia Boyan's expression remained unchanged.
"That's for the best. You've been stuck in this cycle for centuries. Maybe you can finally let go of her," he said calmly.
Jia Boyan really couldn't understand why Lui Zhiyuan kept holding on.
"I will help you find that person!" The words rushed out of Lui Zhiyuan's mouth.
Jia Boyan turned to Lui Zhiyuan, something flashed in his eyes.
It was the first time that he showed some emotion.
"Which person?" He asked, as if he didn't know what Lui Zhiyuan meant.
Lui Zhiyuan smiled. He had almost forgotten about this, but a few hundred years ago, Jia Boyan had been determined to find some woman.
He stopped, though, but Lui Zhiyuan knew he hadn't completely given up hope.
"Haven't you always wanted to find her, Boyan? I will find her for you, just bring her back. Give Lingyi a second chance," Lui Zhiyuan said, trying to strike a deal.
Jia Boyan stared at Lui Zhiyuan, trying to decide if he should trust his words.
"I couldn't find her back then. What makes you think you can find her now?"
"You've been living in seclusion all this time, Boyan. The world has changed a lot. It's much easier to find a person. Besides, I have the power and resources to find her. So....are you going to help me?"
A deep look settled on Jia Boyan's face as he thought about this.
Could he really find her? Was there really a second chance for them?
He walked towards the lifeless body on the makeshift bed and took her hand, muttering under his breath.
Lui Zhiyuan stood silently by the side, not daring to disturb the man.
A few minutes later, Jia Boyan's eyes snapped open.
"Her body can no longer be resurrected...and as for her soul, it's already on the way to the yellow river....I can bring her back, however, I cannot control who she'll be reborn as. I can make sure that she's reborn into this time period as a human, but that's the only thing I can guarantee," Jia Boyan finally spoke up.
Lui Zhiyuan did not ask any more questions. Jia Boyan had already agreed.
A small smile formed on his face.
"Will she be ...reborn as a baby?" He wanted to know.
Did he have to watch her grow up all over again, unable to go near her?
Jia Boyan shrugged. "She might even be reborn as a boy. I can't control it."
Lui Zhiyuan sighed, feeling drained all of a sudden.
He looked at Xia Mengqi, a doting look on his face.
"Lingyi, hold on. You will be back soon."