Bengtie: My death fueled their madness.

"Chimu...sir..."

"I'm sorry, we...we've brought shame upon you..."

Mianxue and Qinghan's gazes gradually became unfocused, and their words came out in fits and starts.

Qi Zhimu's shadow vanished, and looking at their current appearance, he was torn with inner turmoil.

"It is my honor to have been able to follow you all these years and fight for you to the last moment..." Mianxue managed a barely perceptible smile.

"It is...my honor." Qinghan smiled, like a crimson flower in full bloom.

Qi Zhimu was deeply shaken.

"Fight for me...?"

"Yes……"

In that instant, the space around Qi Zhimu seemed to slow down, and even the passage of time slowed down many times over.

He clutched his head, countless chaotic thoughts piercing his mind like sharp needles, bringing excruciating pain that could drive him to utter madness.

Bang!

He smashed his own skull with a single punch, and blood and bone fragments splattered like an exploding watermelon.

But the next second, the flesh and blood at the neck began to writhe, and a new head had already regenerated.

"If the price is falling into the abyss, would you still be willing to fight for me?"

Upon hearing these words, in the final moments of his life, Mianxue Qinghan's life flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern, bringing back memories of the past.

……

Astrological year 6285.

Qingyun School, the first day of the new school year, night, torrential rain.

The entire school was deserted, with very few people remaining.

At the exit of the teaching building, two little girls sat huddled together on a bench in the corridor, looking out at the rain that seemed to envelop the entire world.

After an unknown amount of time, a tall figure noticed the two and slowly approached.

"Hey students, it's past 7 PM, why haven't you gone home yet?"

Although it was their first meeting, the two children recognized him as the schoolteacher.

"Sir, our umbrella is missing."

"...Are your parents very busy?"

"My aunt said they went to trade in very far parts of the world and it would be many, many years before they came back."

"...And what about your aunt?"

"A year ago, a soldier from the Yunqi Army said that my aunt died on the battlefield."

"..."

Qi Zhimu's heart trembled slightly.

Having once served as a Yunqi (a type of cavalry), he knew these things best.

Quietly concealing the pity that flashed in his eyes, Qi Zhimu knelt down in front of the two and spoke gently.

"Would you like me to take you home?"

The little thief who stole the umbrella wasn't hard to find; we'll deal with him tomorrow.

"No need to trouble you, sir. My sister and I will just wait for the rain to stop." The gray-eyed girl looked up and gave a clean smile.

"Silly children, it is the duty of the school teachers to take care of you."

Qi Zhimu gently stroked her hair, and an umbrella appeared in his hand.

"Shall we go?"

"...Then we'll have to trouble you. Mianxue and my younger sister thank you, sir."

Under the rain, three figures, one large and two small, moved through the scene.

The umbrella was tilted slightly, completely enveloping the two children in dryness.

When they got home and finished showering, they found a steaming hot meal already laid out on the table.

The gentleman left only a note and then quietly departed.

That night, Mianxue and Qinghan ate what seemed like an ordinary dinner. The chill brought by the wind and rain, which the hot bath had failed to dispel, was now completely replaced by a deep warmth welling up in their hearts.

……

Astrological year 6289.

Mianxue and Qinghan have grown up a lot and have finally entered the class taught by Qi Zhimu.

Over the years, they have gradually matured and come to know that their loved ones will never return.

I know that there is a teacher at Qingyun School who has been caring for them like an older brother for many years.

In 6291 astrological year, they graduated from school.

In the year 6292 of the astrological calendar, they returned to their alma mater with gifts on Qi Zhimu's birthday.

To surprise him, I didn't contact him in advance.

As the sun set, Qi Zhimu saw them in front of his office.

Look at the beautifully packaged cake boxes they're carrying, and you'll understand everything.

"Thank you for your thoughtfulness. You could have contacted me in advance."

"Wouldn't it have been less of a surprise if I had told you beforehand, sir?"

"How could that be? I was just as happy while waiting for you to arrive."

"...Oh, but my sister and I will be participating in the Cloud Cavalry reserve selection this year, so we may not be able to visit you next year."

Qi Zhimu looked somewhat lost in thought.

"Sir, sir?"

"Sir, what's wrong?"

"...It's nothing, I wish you all the best."

"Then I'll take your kind words, sir. Little sister—"

"Dear Mr. Qi Zhimu, happy birthday!"

The two women spoke in unison, their eyes shining brightly.

……

Astrological year 6298.

"...Sir, we have passed the adult examination and the Cloud Cavalry enlistment assessment, and have joined the army."

"Sir, the general has given us... the highest-level mission order..."

……

Astrological year 6299.

"Sir... the black lines on the training phantom are too thin. Can a person really cut through these lines with such precision?"

"On the battlefield, life and death often hang in the balance in an instant. Only by being more familiar with the physical structure and weaknesses of the creatures than you are with them can you defeat them with a single blow."

The returning valiant guard placed his right hand on the short-haired recruit's hand, gripped the sword hilt, and corrected her posture.

"Different weapons have different optimal force application postures, and different people's real-time judgment and accuracy will be affected by factors such as strength and reaction."

"Only through rigorous training, making your body more familiar with that feeling than your brain, can you efficiently kill enemies on the battlefield and survive as long as possible."

"Grip the ground with both feet, tuck in your abs, pay attention to the degree of your torso tilt, yes, that's it, go for it!"

The long-handled sword precisely sliced ​​through the black line without the slightest error.

"...I did it..."

"That's the feeling, remember it."

"Thank you so much for your guidance, Lord Xiaowei!"

……

Until... the year 6300 in the astrological calendar.

A nightmarish crimson demon star, a nightmarish immortal tree, branches that seem endless...

On the brink of life and death, a thousand sword lights pierced through the air, severing the nightmare that shrouded them and rescuing them from the imprisonment of the immortal giant tree.

Throughout his decades in Yaoqing, in countless battles, he repeatedly pulled them back from the clutches of death.

Their lives had long since belonged to him.

……

Now, it is the year 6338 in the astrological calendar.

Blood stained the entire battlefield, and all that could be heard were desperate roars, agonizing screams, and wailing cries of despair...

They saw the familiar light again, and saw the monstrous creature that had devoured countless comrades and half of their bodies being annihilated by that light.

In their final moments, they were finally able to speak their hearts.

But he was asking – were they still willing to fight for him?

The answer is always obvious.

"May I never regret it..."

"May I never regret it..."

Mianxue and Qinghan's consciousness was almost completely gone, their voices as soft as mosquitoes, yet perfectly in sync.

Qi Zhimu slowly closed his eyes and gently embraced them.

Blood nourishes flesh, and flesh turns bones white.

Everything that was lost began to be restored, but they gained some things that were not originally theirs, things that would accompany them for life.