Death… and me

"But, I've never liked anybody else besides you," Gu Du Xing stated in an anxious manner. "I visited the Lower Three Heavens a while back. There were so many beautiful women there. But, none of them were as beautiful as Sister Xiao Miao. Ji Mo and Luo Ke Di couldn't take their eyes off those women. But, I didn't even look at them."

Gu Du Xing hadn't even blinked once before betraying his two brothers. He had conveniently ruined their impression in the process of expressing the extent of his love!

"But… this isn't right." Gu Miao Ling pushed herself, and wiped-off her tears. Gu Du Xing's words had turned her tears into a gentle laughter even though she was feeling miserable. "Little Brother, you must know that married couples always stay together. I'll remain imprisoned in this cave for my entire life. So, I request you to stop being so foolish."

She stopped Gu Du Xing from saying anything else. She then added in a sad tone, "Little Brother, Sister Xiao Miao is very grateful for the way you feel. You know what… I won't be afraid of this cave anymore. But, you mustn't continue to tread on this path in such a foolish manner.

"My dear Little Brother, you must look for a lovely young girl who'll always be beside you through the hardships of life; someone who'll grow old with you… That's how husband and wife should be.

"You must return quickly. Don't stay here for too long. Don't be so willful all the time; learn to be mature," Gu Miao Ling looked at Gu Du Xing affectionately. She gazed at him for a long time until tears started to flow from her eyes. Then, a satisfied smile appeared on her face. "Sister Xiao Miao will live a life that's going to be sustained by your confession. So, this life will not be in vain."

"No!" Gu Du Xing exclaimed loudly. "I just have to become an Emperor level expert, right? Sister Xiao Miao, wait for me. I'll reach the Emperor level within two years. I take a vow. I vow on my ancestors' souls. I…"

"How dare you!" Gu Miao Ling retorted in a stern voice. "Don't dare to speak further. I'll die right here in front of you."

Gu Du Xing looked at Gu Miao Ling. He replied with a gentle smile on his face, "Sister Xiao Miao, if you really want to die here and now — then we can become husband and wife right now."

Gu Miao Ling's body trembled as she interpreted the meaning concealed in his words.

She threw herself at the railings as she shouted, "No, you mustn't. I forbid you. I forbid you from doing that."

Gu Du Xing extended his hands through the railings. Gu Miao Ling blushed. Her ice- cold body trembled as he embraced it.

"Sister Xiao Miao, I was just a Third Grade Sword Great Master when you were imprisoned here. But now, I'm a Fifth Grade Revered Sword Artist. I shall succeed in becoming a Sword King within six months. Do you believe me?" Gu Du Xing stated in a gloomy tone.

"Fifth Grade Revered Sword Artist? Really?" Gu Miao Ling looked at Gu Du Xing in amazement.

"Yes!" Gu Du Xing said proudly. "I didn't use any shortcuts to reach this level. I practiced each and every step with the utmost dedication," he said. Then, he leaned towards Gu Miao Ling. He brought his lips close to her ear and spoke softly, "I met an unusually talented person. He taught me to reach the higher grades faster… Nobody knows about this, okay?"

Gu Du Xing had made-up all this on the spot in order to reassure Gu Miao Ling.

"Really?" Gu Miao Ling looked at him with her big round eyes.

"Absolutely! Or else, I'll vow!" Gu Du Xing raised his hands to take a pledge.

"Don't!" Gu Miao Ling stopped him. She then said in a soft tone, "I believe you."

"Well then!" Gu Du Xing said with a satisfied smile. They felt extremely warm and happy even though they were separated by the unbreakable ice-cold railing.

"Oh! By the way, that talented person became my Big Brother later on. He has given me something for you." Gu Du Xing wanted to reach out to his bosom to take something out, but he didn't wish to let go of Gu Miao Ling. Therefore, he had to make an extremely weird posture to take the thing out of his clothes.

Then, he placed a small jade box in Gu Miao Ling's hands… as if it was a precious treasure. Then, he quickly hugged her again.

"What is this?" Gu Miao Ling bent her neck as she fiddled with the small jade box.

"Don't open it now. First go inside. Then, open it," Gu Du Xing explained in a low voice, "This is a tiny piece of fire essence."

"What?" Gu Miao Ling was dumbfounded. Fire essence was one of the most wonderful treasures. Even a fingernail-sized fire essence was enough to eliminate any degree of cold.

And, this was what Gu Miao Ling needed the most.

Chu Yang had almost gotten into a fight with the Sword Spirit to save this precious fire essence. After all, not even a fragment of it would've been saved if the Nine Tribulations Sword had absorbed it.

Fire essence was so rare that only a fist-sized chunk of it was found in the national treasury of the Great Zhao Nation even though their treasurers had been accumulating rare items for hundreds of years.

And, Chu Yang had still given all of it to Gu Du Xing.

"This too…" Gu Du Xing reached into his bosom, and took out a jade bottle.

"What is this?" Gu Miao Ling was unable to find words to express her happiness.

"Vitality Spring Water," Gu Du Xing said. "My big brother also gave this for you. You'll drink this now, okay? This is a fine item. I've heard that drinking this will increase one's vitality and life force. In fact, even the scars of any injuries you may sustain won't remain after you've consumed this."

Gu Du Xing continued to explain things about the Vitality Spring Water. He looked quite delighted.

Gu Miao Ling already knew about the Vitality Spring Water since she was the daughter of the Gu Clan Lord. However, she didn't speak a single word. She simply gazed at Gu Du Xing; she wanted to listen to her beloved's explanation.

She had realized; [He looks so immersed in this… He must've worked really hard all this time. How many ordeals and sufferings has he gone through?]

[Only six months has passed.]

Gu Du Xing had progressed from the Third Grade Sword Great Master to Fifth Grade Revered Sword Artist. Most people would be shocked by his progress, and would only admire his talent. However, all Gu Miao Ling could think was this, [I wonder what sort of brutal training he must've gone through to level-up so fast.]

Gu Miao Ling couldn't help but feel her heart ache.

"You fool… you shouldn't be too hard on yourself." Gu Miao Ling looked at the box that contained the fire essence. Then, she rubbed it; it made a gentle sound. "But now, I should be able to wait here for a few years since I've this with me now."

"No!" Gu Du Xing dissented. "It would be my sin to let you stay here even for an hour."

"Well, shouldn't you leave now?" Gu Miao Ling let go of him. "It seems like someone is coming over to ask you to leave."

Gu Du Xing turned around to see a Clan's elder walking towards him with long strides. He went pale, and gritted his teeth, "Ah, this bunch of old bastards."

"You mustn't speak like that." Gu Miao Ling shook her head. She then said, "All of us are from the same clan. Also… this is our home."

"Haa!" Gu Du Xing looked at the sky, and let out a deep sigh.

"I'm going inside now," Gu Miao Ling said in a gentle voice. She stared profoundly into his eyes, "You have to take good care of yourself… Little Brother."

"You're still calling me Little Brother?" Gu Du Xing asked in an anxious manner.

"What else should I call you… if not Little Brother?" Gu Miao Ling frowned. "I haven't agreed yet."

"Huh?" Gu Du Xing retorted, "Sister Xiao Miao, you mustn't go back on your words like that."

"I can't go back on the words I haven't said yet… can I?" Gu Miao Ling looked at him as she whispered gently, "Sister Xiao Miao can't escape this place. But, you're free. You shouldn't hold yourself back for Sister Xiao Miao's sake if you ever come to admire another girl. You must pursue her with all your might. We… I… even if I can come out of this cave someday… nobody knows how many months or years away that day is. Please don't let the prime years of your youth go to waste."

"I don't want anyone other than Sister Xiao Miao," Gu Du Xing's voice shivered. "There may be many beautiful women in the Nine Heavens Continent. In fact, there may be hundreds and thousands of astonishing beauties. But, I won't choose anyone I find attractive."

Gu Miao Ling let out a giggle, "You fool! Wouldn't a girl have to like you back even if you like her?"

After that, she went back inside. Her beautiful eyes were still looking at him as she slowly faded away into the darkness.

The Elder exclaimed from a distance as he arrived, "Young Clan Lord! Everyone is waiting for you."

Even the guard who was hiding on the other end rolled his eyes in resentment when he heard this, [You old fogy! Are you rushing for your funeral? It was such a touching scene… Can't you see that even I'm crying?]

"Alright!" Gu Du Xing replied. Then, he turned his head to look towards the cave. But, Gu Miao Ling had already gone inside.

Gu Du Xing kept staring at the cave for a while. He then yelled out, "Sister Xiao Miao! Wait for me… I'll definitely come back for you. I'll marry you, and make you my wife."

Gu Miao Ling wailed as her face went pale, and her body turned limp inside the prison-cave, [This little sweetheart!]

She shivered as a burst of chilly air attacked her. She took out the small jade box, and opened it. Suddenly, her entire body was enveloped in the heat that came out of the box. And, she began to feel warm and comfortable as a result.

She brought the fire essence close to her body. She didn't feel even the slightest bit of cold anymore. She felt as if she was sitting in front of a stove in cold winter.

This gentle warmth protected an area of about three feet around her; everything else was still freezing as before.

This warmth contradicted the coldness she had been enduring until a while ago. The difference was of that between Heaven and earth.

It was obvious that one person could easily sustain their bodily warmth even under these harsh circumstances by using this fire essence.

Gu Miao Ling reached out, and gently caressed the fire essence. Her face revealed a bright and beautiful smile, [Du Xing, I'll wait for you. Even if you don't want… or need me… I'll still continue to wait.]

After that, she sat down quietly. Each day had passed like a year to her since the day she had been imprisoned. But now, her heart felt a ray of hope for the first time; she felt calm.

[There's a stubborn guy waiting for me out there; he's deeply in love with me. I mustn't break down; no matter what. I must strive-on under any circumstances.]

[Du Xing, I'll not let you down.]

Gu Miao Ling sat down cross-legged. Then, she began to circulate her martial energy, [Du Xing is working really hard. So, I too must strive to help him.]

Gu Du Xing turned around to face the guard. He bowed to him and said, "Brother, I request you to take good care of her." His sword-like eyebrows slanted upwards as he said, "I'll never treat you unjustly if you do this for me."

The guard was flattered. He waved his hands and said, "Young Clan Lord, why are you saying such words? Young Miss will never suffer any grievances here; I assure you."

"Thank you very much."

Gu Du Xing cupped his hands together. Suddenly, he shot-up like a sword; it seemed as if he had aimed to pierce through the blue dome of Heaven.

[For this love – I'll wait. I'll strive-on.]

He then arrived in front of his clan's troops after several leaps and landings. And, he had brought an imposing aura along with him.