In the distance, two figures slowly walked towards them.
Lin Fengxuan frowned at the sight. At the same moment, Lin Cangyun stepped in front of him, staring intently at the two approaching figures.
"You two arrive most conveniently!" Lin Fengxuan chuckled lightly.
"Our timing is no match for Mr. Lin's clever schemes!" Zhong Wuhen first glanced at Du Yuemian before fixing his gaze on Lin Fengxuan.
"You flatter me!" Lin Fengxuan remained unfazed and stated frankly, "You intend to save her!"
"What do you think?" Zhong Wuhen replied cryptically.
"I think you will not!" Lin Fengxuan shook his head and continued, "If you were going to intervene, you would not have waited until now."
Although Lin Fengxuan had no idea how long Zhong Wuhen had been observing from the shadows, he was certain that the other party had not merely chanced upon this scene.
Zhong Wuhen offered no denial to Lin Fengxuan's words, nor did he say more.
At this point, Zhong Fengya, who stood behind Zhong Wuhen, stepped forward and walked towards Du Yuemian.
As he was about to get close to Du Yuemian, Lin Cangyun suddenly blocked his path.
Zhong Fengya stopped, his murky eyes glancing at Lin Fengxuan, and said in a low voice, "You believe he can stop me?"
Even without revealing any aura, Zhong Fengya’s presence sent a terrifying pressure through Lin Fengxuan. After all, he was merely an ordinary man with some knowledge of Gu arts.
"Retreat!" Lin Fengxuan waved his hand, signaling Lin Cangyun to step aside.
Zhong Fengya moved forward, looking at Du Yuemian, whose breath was hanging by a thread. He sighed softly, "Had you not been burdened by the Du family's affairs, you might have already been breaking through the barrier to the Martial Ancestor realm by now."
Zhong Fengya felt great pity for Du Yuemian. If she had not spent the past year handling miscellaneous matters for the Du family and had instead focused on her cultivation, her strength might have reached a new height. However, given the current situation of the Du family, Du Yuemian had no choice but to step up.
"It is all fate!" Du Yuemian responded softly.
Her eyes were already beginning to lose their luster, and a deathly stillness was descending. Her remaining breath seemed as though it would cease at any moment. Yet, her body remained standing.
"Child Du, this old man cannot bear to see you perish like this." Zhong Fengya produced a small, round red pill and said, "This is a Blood Pill refined from Blood Ginseng, it can save your life."
"And the price I must pay?"
Though Du Yuemian's consciousness was blurring, she retained a degree of clarity. She knew that for the Zhong family, her demise would be a welcome event. While the Zhong family maintained a neutral stance in the provincial capital, they would never allow Du Yuemian to grow powerful if they could help it. Furthermore, with this opportune moment, they could eliminate Du Yuemian without others needing to act. Therefore, how could they let this chance slip away?
"Alas!" Zhong Fengya sighed again, a hint of helplessness in his voice. "Although it is despicable to propose this condition at such a time, it is your only option if you wish to live."
He then looked at Zhong Wuhen behind him and said, "The condition for saving you is... to marry into the Zhong family!"
Yes! Only if Du Yuemian agreed to marry into the Zhong family could Zhong Fengya save her. Ultimately, he was merely a subordinate of the Zhong family, and certain decisions were beyond his control.
At this moment, Zhong Wuhen also stepped forward. Looking at the dying Du Yuemian, he said softly, "Although I know it is adding insult to injury to propose this condition now, there is no other way!"
Zhong Wuhen had never openly expressed his affection for Du Yuemian before, because he knew he was not good enough for her. He was not without self-awareness. Yet, fate was unpredictable. Now, an opportunity to possess Du Yuemian had arisen, and he was tempted. Even he felt a sense of shame for the method.
Upon hearing this, Du Yuemian merely offered a faint smile. This price did not surprise her. But for someone who had lost herself once before, would she once again abandon her final conviction? This time, she would not. Although that person was no longer watching her, in her heart, his disappointed gaze remained.
"Thank you for your kindness!" Du Yuemian looked at Zhong Wuhen and smiled defiantly.
"Fine! I understand!" Zhong Wuhen turned his head away, not daring to meet Du Yuemian's gaze. However, his heart was filled with intense unwillingness. So, the person was willing to die rather than choose him?
"Can you escort me one last way?" Du Yuemian asked with a hint of pleading. Her only remaining worry was being controlled by Lin Fengxuan. Before, she had no choice. Now, she only sought death.
Hearing these words of farewell, Zhong Wuhen clenched his fists, his body trembling. She had chosen death!
"Grandpa Feng, escort... escort her on her way!" Zhong Wuhen uttered these words, nearly exhausting his strength. The sense of unwillingness was something he could no longer erase. So, there was a woman who, even in death, would not choose him.
"Child, why must you do this?" Zhong Fengya raised his right hand, a wisp of true qi flowing at his fingertips.
"Thank you!" With her words, Du Yuemian gently closed her eyes, shutting the windows to this world. At this moment, she had no regrets. But there was regret! And this regret did not stem from the Du family, but from that rapidly fading figure. "I truly wish you could see that I have found my way back to who I once was." This was the deepest wish hidden in her heart.
Watching Du Yuemian, whose resolve to die was firm, Zhong Fengya waved his right index finger, aiming it at her forehead.
"Alas!" But as the true qi entwined around his finger was about to end Du Yuemian's life, a long sigh, sounding from afar and drawing nearer, drifted through the air.
Hearing this voice, Du Yuemian felt a sense of familiarity. She then abruptly opened her eyes and saw a blurry figure.
"He... has... arrived?" Her consciousness was too hazy, and she could only judge based on her faint perception.
"He's here, that's... that's wonderful!" Feeling the familiar aura, Du Yuemian's last regret vanished at this moment. The strength that supported her to stand also disappeared. Her body, no longer sustained by that obsession, began to slowly fall. Her breath, along with the dissipation of her obsession, completely ceased.
While everyone's attention was drawn to the sudden arrival of that figure, he suddenly vanished. The next second, as Du Yuemian's falling body was about to touch the ground, she was unexpectedly caught in an embrace. A profoundly warm and secure embrace. But at this moment, she could no longer feel any of it.
"What a foolish woman!"