After passing the Jade Gate Pass, the carriage moved slowly along the Sima Road. Though the wind and sand remained, now there were openings in the sand like burial eyes above the sky, and in the night, sudden, fleeting tendrils would gather and stretch out. Still, Fei Tang exhaled deeply—this was truly her own territory, her home. All the demons, the alchemists, the Fei Lin Guard—those had been locked behind that great gate, never to emerge again. With the world transformed, the earlier dangers now seemed distant and fading. Fei Tang sniffed, eager to speak, but Ye Liuxi remained expressionless, her gaze fixed ahead, saying simply, "Don't speak." She remembered the route—straight ahead, then turns, passing the Yadan terraces—until she reached the camp. The camp was still there. Chang Dong’s specially modified guest vehicle was there, and the business vehicle that had come from Gaosheng as well. Fei Tang was so moved she nearly cried—after all this time, the vehicles had not accumulated even a single layer of dust, perhaps thanks to the strong winds and daily brushing by the wind. By tomorrow, things should return to normal in this area. Then we'll need to take Changdong and Dingliu to the hospital. The accommodation vehicle is comfortable for lying down and sleeping, but not as good for driving as a business sedan. FeiTang has decided to drive the business sedan, and Ye Liuxi will help him carry Dingliu over first. When it came to Changdong, Ye Liuxi instructed FeiTang to keep an eye on his phone: "I'd like to be alone with him for a while. Just keep track of the time and call me after fifteen minutes." The round trip back from the camp would take at least 15 minutes—Dragon Zhi's time was precious, like a small piece of bread in a famine year, something that had to be carefully measured and saved. FeiTang had a lot of questions he wanted to ask, but hesitated to speak, so he simply stayed with Dingliu in the business sedan. After closing the door and raising the window, Ye Liuxi slowly leaned over and lay down beside Changdong. The wind, filtered by the enclosed vehicle, no longer sounded sharp. This was a temporary vehicle, and lying down was uncomfortable— Ye Liuxi quietly listened to Chang Dong’s breathing. Perhaps he was in pain, or perhaps being dazed was better—no need to face all the anxious turmoil. She reached out, gently brushing her fingertips over his face, tracing them along his eyelashes, then down his slightly furrowed brows, across his nose, to his lips. His lips were cool, so Ye Liuxi leaned in and lightly kissed them—this was the first time they had kissed, simply to warm his lips. She thought of nothing—no thoughts of Long Zhi, no anticipation of the separation in one hour, no concerns about what lay ahead after entering the pass. Isn’t that what it means to be focused? To love wholeheartedly, with no room for others’ shadows; to fight with full strength when wielding the sword, without distractions or hesitation. One hour, nine hundred seconds—each second pure, untouched by the noise of irrelevant people. … Fei Tang tapped on the window steadily from outside, saying, “Xī姐, it’s time.” Ye Liuxi’s body stiffened. It had really been that fast. In this moment, it felt like a steady stream of water that had poured down suddenly—reaching out to catch it, just as it was about to grasp it, it had already slipped through his fingers and vanished. She said, "I don't have time to explain anymore. Just follow my instructions—don't ask questions, don't urge me. Just do as I say. Do you understand how to save her? Listen carefully: apply pressure, wrap it tightly. You need to connect my hand to my arm—bind them as securely as you can." Fei Tang's voice shook: "Xī Sister, simply tying them together won't work. If a limb is severed, it needs to be reattached at a specialized hospital, with several hours of surgery. What you're suggesting—binding it on the spot—won't suffice." Ye Liu Xi laughed: "Do you think I want my hand to grow back? All I'm trying to do is make Long Zhi not notice." She placed her left hand flat on the ground: "Also, find a bag—try to catch as much blood as you can, don't waste it... Hurry up. Get everything ready—gauze, bandages, scissors, whatever you need." Fei Tang trembled as she opened the first aid kit, scattering alcohol wipes, gauze, bandages, scissors, and other supplies all over the floor—there simply wasn't time Ye Liuxi took a deep breath, raised the sword in her hand, and, stepping slightly upward from the position of her left hand holding Kui, made a gesture. The blade shone brilliantly, its white light blinding. It wouldn’t matter—this sword was swift. Perhaps she hadn’t even registered it, and it was already over… Ye Liuxi closed her eyes. Since she had known Changdong, he had always been the one taking care of her. She never imagined that one day he would fall—not just he, but everyone around him, all of them falling. Like the entire forest broken, leaving only her standing as a solitary tree, bearing the winds from all sides. It wouldn’t matter—now it would be her turn to care for him. Long Zhi and Zhao Guanshou’s swift-flying squad were waiting for her inside the pass. She would need to think carefully—what could she grasp, leverage, or rely on now? Once, the Scorpion-eyed people had called her “the Green Master.” The people of Black Stone City had deeply feared her, going to great lengths to craft a nearly flawless scheme. They had sent her out beyond the Jade Gate, She had personally witnessed the Eye Tomb devouring her father, yet remained calm, silent as she hid in the water cistern—unshaken. At such a young age, having wandered from place to place, eventually finding her way into the golden mine, she had successfully evaded countless eyes for years, only to emerge with Jiang Zhan, founding the Scorpion's Eye, and within a few years, become a veritable flood to the Black Stone City. What had enabled her? Could it be merely her gentle nature, her compassion for the weak and the poor, her inherent kindness? Strength alone would not suffice—those who had risen through hardship, who had stumbled and fallen repeatedly, would be more cautious, more attentive to survival. Long Zhi had infiltrated the Scorpion's Eye, posing as "Ye Liuxi"—such a coincidence. When she first heard that name, did she not feel even a single flicker of doubt or vigilance? She had repeatedly entrusted the Scorpion's Eye to Jiang Zhan upon entering or leaving the city—how could she truly trust him, how could she not fear a sudden betrayal, a scheme that might leave her completely exposed? It was unjust. In this so-called "Rivalry of the … Ye Liu Xi felt her right wrist grow heavy, then swung the blade down. She had not yet reached her last resort; she still held hope in her former self. A delicate coolness spread along her wrist, then surged into warmth— the blade had indeed moved too swiftly, almost severing pain itself. She heard Fei Tang’s startled cry, gradually shifting into a hurried, heavy breathing. Beneath her closed eyelids, her eyes moved swiftly and involuntarily. Memories surged, converging like winds and currents, filling the dry past: the blood trickling from her lips, the dark, ink-black tunnels of the gold mine, the fluttering scorpion flags planted across the city of Hu Yang, and Jiang Zhan’s excited introduction of Long Zhi— “Qing Zhi, you share the same surname with Liu Xi!” … After a long while, Ye Liu Xi opened her eyes. Fei Tang felt a sudden jolt—he had never seen her look like this: calm, thick, deep, with hardly any trace of emotional movement. For a moment, it felt strangely unfamiliar, even uncomfortable. Fei Tang felt a bit uneasy: "West, West-sister..." Ye Liuxi said nothing, simply looking down at her left arm—Fei Tang had wrapped it so well. Of course, this "good" wasn't about healing the injury; with his layers of bandages, the flesh at the wound site would surely die, but he had indeed met her request: the connection was secure, and he had already wiped it clean, rolling up his sleeve. For a short time, no one would be able to notice. As she pulled her sleeve down, the initial sharp pain gave way to a steady stream of cold sweat on her forehead, the area at the wound growing stiff and numb, spreading upward, making her feel as though her entire arm had vanished. "How much longer?" Fei Tang quickly checked his phone: "Two... twenty minutes." Ye Liuxi stood up, supporting herself with one hand—it was time to go. Fei Tang felt at a loss, wanting to reach out to her, yet unsure how to begin. He hesitated, then held the blood pack in his hands and offered it to her: "This... this one I've been holding, but I still feel so much of it has been wasted..." After losing so much blood, Ye Liuxi felt a bit dizzy and, after a moment's pause, walked straight toward the car. As Fei Tang watched her back, she suddenly cried out, "Xi-jie, can you wait a couple of days? After I take Dong-guo to the hospital, I'll go with you. I can also go find Liu Qi and ask him for some help..." She stopped mid-sentence, staring at the figure of Ye Liuxi who had just turned around. Ye Liuxi said, "I know Gao Shen is still very risky—I'll keep this in mind. Once Changdong wakes up, tell him..." She paused. Changdong had taken so much time to write down all these instructions, yet she hadn't even had the chance to leave a simple note. "Tell him to take good care of himself." If he suddenly passes away one day, then that would mean I've failed. Any outstanding matters between us—let's settle them down there underground. If he lives on, each day he lives is one more day I've managed to hold on. You must make sure he takes good care of himself, stays healthy and comfortable. Otherwise, I won't be able to face you when I return unexpectedly to find him half-dead, living only in a state of mechanical existence—don't blame me then. Fei Tang nodded. Ye Liuxi said, "Remember this exactly, word for word." She opened the car door and got in. The car started quickly and surged forward with great momentum, sending dust rising behind it. Fei Tang was coughing from the dust, yet still unwillingly ran after it for a while, only stopping when she felt something still unspoken. Suddenly remembering, she shouted, "Western Sister, could you please help with Ahe's language substitution?" Her voice was carried by the wind and mixed with sand, gently falling like a whisper across the quiet, deserted Yadan dunes. The car had already driven far ahead. — Back in the interior region at just the right time, the earth-fire now drifts faintly all around. I hadn’t noticed it before, but now I see it clearly—the sky here is darker than that of the regions beyond the passes. Ye Liuxi pushed open the car door and stepped out. Long Zhi said, “You don’t look well.” Ye Liuxi smiled, “When you’re about to die, will you look well?” Turning to Zhao Guanshou, he added, “Mr. Zhao, may I step aside and have a few words with you?” Long Zhi frowned, “What about?” Ye Liuxi replied, “Are you afraid? You’ve planned everything meticulously, your people surround you on all sides. If just a few words between me and him could turn the tide or even persuade him to switch sides, wouldn’t that make me rather exceptional? Very well—if you’re afraid, I’ll simply leave it at that.” Long Zhi scoffed, “What could I possibly be afraid of?” Ye Liuxi walked toward Zhao Guanshou. For some reason, Zhao Guanshou stepped back. Ye Liuxi was surprised, “Wait—aren’t you afraid too?” Rest assured, I won't hold you hostage. You're not worth much. Lady Long has put in so much effort to reach this moment—she won't soften toward anyone I hold hostage. She steps up to Zhao Guanshou's carriage, opens the door, and gets in. Zhao Guanshou hesitates, first checking on Lady Long's expression. Lady Long nods, signaling him to proceed as he sees fit. Zhao Guanshou gets in. Outside, the flames blaze fiercely, and everyone's eyes are fixed on this very carriage. Ye Liuxi, through the windshield, watches Lady Long's face: "Grandfather Zhao, I came here to negotiate a deal with you. If I can't reach an agreement with Lady Long, then I must explain—she's proud, and she's had her grievances with me in the past, especially during the Scorpion's Eye incident. Once someone develops personal interests, they can no longer see the big picture. As for the deal itself—do you remember the divination scroll my grandmother gave me? 'Golden piles, emerald encircling, a life of suffering and unfulfilled desires—everything I gain, everything I lose, all depends on my single thought.' Honestly, that doesn't sound Zhao Guanshou remained silent—precisely what he had been worried about. Regardless of whether it was a karmic omen or not, the abundance of gold and jade was surely a sign of good fortune. Taking advantage of this moment, Ye Liuxi gently relaxed his body and adjusted his state: "If I die tonight, our agreement falls through. But if I survive, listen carefully— I demand the silver silkworm string from Long Zhi's wrist. I will not allow her to move a single inch in Changdong. And you must secretly arrange to rescue Jiang Zhan and Gao Shen." Ye Liuxi opened the door, stepped down: "Consider this deal. For you, it's a solid win—three people exchanged for a whole city, numerous families, countless households." Zhao Guanshou urged urgently: "You're making assumptions! You might not even make it to tomorrow!" Ye Liuxi didn't turn around: "Exactly. It's an assumption—whether you're willing to buy this insurance for Black Stone City..." As he spoke, he drew his sword, took two steps toward Long Zhi, then stopped beside the shadow of the earth-fire, gently pressing the blade against her neck. A faint smile passed through Long Zhi's eyes; her hand, hidden beneath her cloak, trembled slightly. Behind her, the Swift-Feather Guards pressed their swords firmly against their handles, their expressions solemn. Ye Liuxi closed his eyes softly and said: "Remember—I haven't lost to you. In this world, except for myself, no one can kill me." Before the words had fully settled, the knife slid across the left venous line of the neck, drawing a steady flow of dark red blood. It clattered to the ground as the blade fell. Ye Liuxi collapsed to his knees, as if blood had surged into his airways, making it difficult to breathe. Instinctively, he reached up to cover his neck, blood gushing from between his fingers. Soon he lay flat on the ground, gasping in shallow, labored breaths, with a growing pool of blood spreading across his throat. A wave of gasps rose around them. Long Zhi sensed something was wrong, but hadn't quite reacted when, at the very edge of her feet, Ye Liuxi launched herself upward, sweeping her legs to knock her off balance, then immediately wrapping her arms around her, pressing down. Long Zhi bent her elbows to strike at Ye Liuxi’s ribs, but Ye Liuxi seemed completely unresponsive—her left arm tightened firmly around Long Zhi’s neck, her right hand holding a crosscut blade, the edge pressing against her abdomen.