God of Death's Keepsake

"No, I need to leave immediately, but I can't let anyone find out." Gu Qingshan decided to be blunt.

Anna folded her arms and looked at him seriously.

He didn't look like he was lying.

"Is it urgent?" Anna's teasing expression faded, and she asked in a serious tone.

"Extremely urgent," Gu Qingshan said.

"Then come with me." Anna thought for a second, then made up her mind.

There was something strange about this young man. She felt an inexplicable fondness for him.

The first time they met, he'd mixed several drinks that were especially pleasing to her.

In the battles that followed, he'd shown S-rank potential.

He was also connected to the Federation's secrets and the truth behind its large-scale military mobilization.

For both personal and public reasons, Anna was willing to try helping him.

The two spoke in low voices, unaware that the security personnel watching them were utterly astonished.

Just yesterday, Princess Anna had poured an entire glass of wine over the Senator's Son's face, simply because he'd tried to take her hand and perform the Kissing Hands Ceremony.

Today, Her Highness was letting a man lead her along, standing close to him as they whispered to each other.

The princess didn't look the least bit displeased. On the contrary, her face was full of curiosity.

As people speculated, they saw the princess walk to the floor-to-ceiling glass and lower her head to operate her personal Light Brain.

Before long, the roar of machinery came from afar.

In mere moments, the roar grew louder.

A few seconds later, a Flying Shuttle painted a blazing red stopped in midair with a thunderous rumble.

The shuttle adjusted its angle slightly, faced the princess, and opened its hatch.

"Get ready to board," Princess Anna said, turning around.

Gu Qingshan glanced at the shuttle and nodded.

This was the Blazing Flames, a high-speed Flying Shuttle—the fastest in the world. Only five had ever been made.

As the Imperial Princess's personal vehicle, it accompanied her wherever she went.

Anna placed her hand against the floor-to-ceiling glass.

The glass melted in an instant, dripping outward like water.

"Let's go," Anna said, turning back.

"Okay." Gu Qingshan checked the time.

Two minutes left. They'd make it.

He and Anna leaped into the high-speed shuttle together.

"Princess! Princess! Where are you going?" The old man panicked and called out repeatedly.

The security personnel were all dumbfounded, too.

They'd never dealt with such a willful person under their protection. She didn't care a whit for diplomatic etiquette. She'd simply decided to leave.

"Where am I going? Oh, I'm going to practice archery with my archery coach. I'll be back when the banquet starts."

"Oh, right. Please ask my father to pay for this glass. Thank you."

With that, Anna closed the hatch.

The Blazing Flames roared to life, shrinking into a black dot before disappearing into the sky.

The old man turned and shouted at everyone, "What are you standing around for? Track the princess's location at once! If anything happens to her, it'll be the start of a war between two countries!"

The security personnel snapped out of it and hurried to work.

Aboard the shuttle.

Gu Qingshan checked the time displayed on his retina.

A minute and a half left.

He looked over at Anna, who was focused on piloting the shuttle and avoiding the crowded skies above the capital.

A row of liquor bottles sat in the cockpit.

Beneath the liquor rack was a long case, neatly packed with all sorts of cold weapons.

Scimitars, daggers, Meteor Hammers, knives, short spears, axes, whips, tridents—every kind imaginable. They all looked well-made, not mere decorations.

—There was also a sword.

Gu Qingshan's hand twitched involuntarily.

Normally, only weapons forged with special techniques and Spiritual Power methods in the Cultivation World would be recognized by the system as swords.

But Gu Qingshan couldn't help wanting to pick it up and try it.

He gripped the Sword Hilt.

Ding!

"This is a decorative item that cannot be used to slay demons and vanquish devils," the system prompted.

Gu Qingshan sighed.

He put the sword back.

It had been a long time since he'd touched a sword. These days, he dreamed of having one—a real sword.

Forty seconds later.

The Blazing Flames came to a stop on a mountain cliff outside the capital.

"Thanks for helping me this time," Gu Qingshan said softly.

"Don't bother thanking me. I want to drink Scorpio Palace," Anna said, unable to resist licking her lips.

She had no idea how captivating she looked.

Gu Qingshan shook his head with a laugh. "No problem. If I make it back this time, I'll treat you."

"Hmm? What do you mean by that?"

Anna sensed the ominous undertone in his words. She turned from the screen and looked at Gu Qingshan.

"If I make it back, I'll tell you a secret and buy you a drink," Gu Qingshan said.

Twenty seconds remained.

Gu Qingshan prepared himself.

He didn't mind Anna witnessing this secret.

From the very first time they'd met, he'd decided that Anna's tragic fate from his previous life would never come to pass again.

Ten seconds to go.

"I'm leaving," Gu Qingshan said.

Anna sensed something and suddenly reached into the fiery red mass of her hair, pulling out a thin black cord.

A uniquely shaped pendant hung from it, rising slowly from her fair neck.

She slipped the pendant around Gu Qingshan's neck and said earnestly, "Stay alive."

Surprise flickered in Gu Qingshan's eyes.

He wanted to say something more, but a flash of light suddenly swept over him.

Gu Qingshan vanished before Anna.

A moment later.

A shadow silently approached from afar and stopped in front of the shuttle.

It rose to its feet and became a man in sunglasses with his hair slicked straight back.

"Princess, this is an official visit. Your sudden departure will cause a great deal of controversy."

Feng Huo De spread his hands, speaking with a mixture of helplessness and reproach.

Anna sat quietly inside the shuttle without saying a word.

Feng Huo De looked at the princess, feeling a little perplexed.

Usually, whenever he tried to reason with her, they ended up arguing.

What was going on today? Her Highness didn't even have the slightest trace of disdain on her face.

The princess looked so dejected, as if she'd suffered some kind of blow.

Feng Huo De thought for a moment, then softened his tone. "Your Highness, this is a small matter. You can ignore it if you want. Are you all right?"

Anna lowered her head and remained silent.

Feng Huo De was just about to call for the medical team when Princess Anna finally spoke.

"Hode."

"I'm here, Your Highness."

"Have you ever lost someone very important to you?"

"Ah, yes. A long time ago."

"For some reason, I'm suddenly afraid I'll never see someone again."

What was wrong with the princess? Why was she saying such strange things?

Feng Huo De grew anxious and couldn't help examining the princess closely, searching for the slightest clue.

Suddenly—

"Your Highness, where's your Life-Substituting Contract!" Feng Huo De cried out.

Princess Anna said nothing.

Feng Huo De felt cold sweat trickling down his spine.

He dropped to the ground and said in despair, "It's over."

Princess Anna gazed into the distance and said softly, "It's all right."

She didn't know whether she was talking about Gu Qingshan or herself.

Wrapped in a luminous membrane, Gu Qingshan traveled continuously through the Void Turbulence.

He rubbed the pendant around his neck, a hundred tangled feelings welling up inside him.

The pendant bore a carving of a serene old man, resting his chin on one hand as he dozed on a stone, leaning on a long-handled scythe.

This was the Life-Substituting Contract, the God of Death's Keepsake.

When the owner of this item was on the verge of death, the God of Death would prolong his life.

Such a miraculous, heaven-defying power didn't come free.

The God of Death would draw twice as much life force from the previous owner of the item.

—The God of Death never made a losing deal.

Gu Qingshan clutched the pendant tightly.

This rare treasure had existed for ten thousand years. It was a legendary artifact.

He never would have guessed it was in Anna's possession.

And even less would he have guessed that Anna would hang it around his neck.

That girl was so reckless.

If something happened to him, she'd be doomed.

Gu Qingshan gave a bitter smile, his gaze gradually growing resolute.

He'd owed Anna his life in his previous existence. Even though he'd eventually become a Great Sword Immortal, she'd already passed away, and he'd never had the chance to save her.

This time, that would never happen!

Ahead of him, an opening edged with light slowly spread wide.

Gu Qingshan flew inside.

Thanks to One Life, One World, Icarus for the tip. I can't manage ten chapters a day just yet. I have to maintain the quality of the story, and more importantly, the next five or six days are the busiest time of my year. It just so happens that I got a recommendation at this time (awkwardly covering my face). Things will get better after this, and I'll do my best to increase the number of updates while maintaining quality. Thank you for your understanding. I humbly ask for your recommendations...