A Promise of Love and Death Hidden in Her Heart, Unregretful Devotion to Shield Her Comrades

The candlelight in the tent remained soft. Lin Zhixia, nestled in Ah Yin's arms, gradually stopped sobbing. The weakness from her advancement still lingered in her body, but leaning against her mother's warm embrace, her breathing slowly steadied.

Liu Erlong walked slowly to the bedside, her gaze falling on Lin Zhixia's pale yet resolute little face, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She recalled the day Lin Zhixia had handed her a sealed last letter. The young girl's eyes had been resolute as she repeatedly urged Liu Erlong to keep it hidden, especially from Tang San and Gu Zhinian—if Gu Zhinian were ever captured by the Spirit Hall Empire and used as a threat, she would personally kill him to quell the war, then take her own life to follow him in death.

At the time, Liu Erlong had thought it was merely a moment of impulsiveness. But today, seeing her exhaust all her Soul Power to heal the entire army and still resort to Explode Ring; seeing her endure the piercing agony of advancing her God-level Spirit Bone without retreating even a fraction, she finally understood that this resolve had long since been carved into her very bones.

"Zhi Xia," Liu Erlong said, her voice carrying a barely perceptible tremor as her eyes locked tightly onto her. "Was it truly worth it?"

Those seemingly weightless words struck Lin Zhixia's heart like a heavy hammer. She lifted her tear-blurred eyes and saw the heartache and concern in Liu Erlong's gaze, instantly understanding the unspoken meaning—was it truly worth it to stake her life for Gu Zhinian, for this war, for the people around her, even preparing to die for love?

Lin Zhixia did not hesitate in the slightest. She nodded gently, her voice still weak but carrying an unshakable firmness.