We'll Never Be Apart

Long Xuanye slowly opened his eyes.

Seeing this, the white-robed figure softened his demeanor and spoke gently.

"How are you feeling?"

Without waiting for Long Xuanye to answer, he continued, "Cai'er needs to complete the Sanctuary's trial, and you—"

"Although our Assassin's Sanctuary hasn't yet determined your exact identity or discovered why your family abandoned you, your talent shouldn't be wasted here on the frontier alongside Cai'er."

"You both need to grow stronger. Staying apart for now is best for both of you."

His words were reasonable and heartfelt.

The other two assassins nodded. As far as they were concerned, the mission was finally about to be completed.

What did the fragile feelings of children matter in the face of cruel reality?

Besides, they were only going to be apart temporarily.

Silence settled before the thatched hut.

Long Xuanye leaned against Cai'er in her arms without saying a word.

Saint Cai'er lowered her head, her expression impossible to read.

The assassin who had tried to persuade them thought they'd accepted the arrangement, and felt a little relieved.

But the next moment—

Two voices rang out in unison, unwavering and firm.

"I won't leave Cai'er," Long Xuanye said. Though his voice was weak, every word was clear.

"I'll help Cai'er complete the trial."

At almost the same time, Saint Cai'er raised her head. Her grayish-white eyes held a resolve unlike anything they'd seen before.

"I'll protect Xuanye."

Her words rang out with conviction.

"If any more demons come, I'll kill... every last one of them."

When they finished speaking, they looked at each other at the same time.

Long Xuanye and Saint Cai'er were both a little surprised, yet somehow... it also felt only natural.

They smiled.

One had a face smeared with blood and managed a pitiful smile.

The other was drenched in sweat and smiled despite her disheveled state.

The air before the thatched hut seemed to freeze.

The white-robed figure and the other assassins all stiffened.

Looking at the boy and girl leaning on each other, they were momentarily at a loss for words.

Then they noticed that Long Xuanye and Saint Cai'er had somehow clasped hands tightly.

The assassin who'd tried to persuade them instinctively took a step forward.

Just then—

Two entirely different auras, like drawn blades, locked onto them in an instant!

One came from Long Xuanye's body. From within his seemingly frail frame emanated a terrifying aura born of Chaos.

The other came from the girl in his arms. A pure, absolute killing intent seeped from the gray dagger in Saint Cai'er's hand. It made no sound, yet was enough to leave anyone shaken to the core.

The assassin's foot stopped dead in its tracks.

The white-robed figure's pupils abruptly contracted.

He stared intently at Saint Cai'er.

His gaze brimmed with shock.

The Reincarnation Spirit Furnace... Cai'er had actually been able to actively draw on its power to this extent just to protect this boy!

This was more effective than any deliberately arranged trial in the Sanctuary!

The conviction he'd held so firmly began to waver.

Perhaps... letting them stay together wouldn't be bad for Cai'er, either?

She might not get to undergo the most perfect training, but the Spirit Furnace could be awakened. Besides... she'd be a little happier this way... no, much happier.

Why not let them be?

The white-robed figure was silent for a long while before finally letting out a helpless sigh.

In the end, he'd softened.

He exchanged a glance with the colleague beside him and saw the same helplessness and compromise in the other's eyes.

"We'll report this matter to the Sanctuary truthfully."

Leaving them with those words, the white-robed figure said no more. He flashed out of sight and vanished into the woods.

The other two assassins gave Long Xuanye and Saint Cai'er a long look, then turned and left as well.

In the blink of an eye, only the two of them remained before the thatched hut, leaning on each other.

As the tension eased, Long Xuanye could no longer hold on. His strength gave out, and he slumped limply into Saint Cai'er's arms.

"Xuanye!"

Cai'er immediately reached out to support him. Her brows furrowed slightly, and her voice carried a hint of reproachful irritation.

"Why didn't you tell me? Why did you face the enemy alone? What if something had happened to you?"

Long Xuanye lowered his head a little sheepishly, his tone faintly coaxing.

"Sorry... I didn't want you to worry."

He couldn't help feeling helpless himself.

He didn't know when it had started, but he'd gradually grown used to Cai'er fussing over him with such concern. He even found himself unconsciously acting so dependent on her.

Seeing his head droop, Saint Cai'er's stern tone softened.

She sighed helplessly and reached out with her other hand to gently stroke his head.

Her fingers tenderly smoothed the damp strands of hair clinging to his forehead.

"Xuanye..."

"You really are impossible."

Sunlight filtered through the sparse leaves, scattering dappled light over them.

Cai'er's palm was warm. Leaning against her, Long Xuanye caught the faint, refreshing scent of grass and trees about her. The exhaustion from the life-or-death battle seemed to fade amid this brief tenderness.

After resting for a while, Long Xuanye struggled to his feet.

But his legs gave way, unable to muster even the slightest strength.

Seeing this, Saint Cai'er immediately braced most of his weight against her slender shoulder.

But the world before her eyes was still blurry. After only two steps, she staggered, nearly taking them both down with her.

Long Xuanye reacted swiftly, reaching out in time to catch her around the waist.

They smiled at each other.

He leaned his weight against her, while she used his support to find her way. Step by step, they supported each other and slowly made their way back to their little home.

As soon as they stepped inside, Cai'er gently patted the back of Long Xuanye's hand.

She lifted her head and looked at him intently with her grayish-white eyes.

"Xuanye."

"Home isn't this house. Home is wherever you are."

"Let's move somewhere safer."

Long Xuanye paused in surprise.

Then a smile spread across his face, and he nodded firmly.

"Okay."

He didn't know that the white-robed figure had already cleared all the demons from the surrounding area, and that this place was perfectly safe.

But whatever Cai'er decided, he would agree without hesitation.

As long as he was with Cai'er, he was happy to go anywhere.

Still, he couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

He'd wanted to slowly turn this little thatched hut into their real home.

The trace of sadness in Long Xuanye's eyes vanished in an instant.

He looked at Cai'er, at his own reflection in her grayish-white eyes, and warmth spread through his heart.

Cai'er had seen what he was thinking. She reached over with her free hand and gently rubbed his cheek.

Her fingertips were cool to the touch, yet they made Long Xuanye feel at ease.

"Don't be sad."

Cai'er's lips curled into a gentle smile.

"Actually, even though I'm a little reluctant to leave, when I think about it, traveling all the time sounds pretty fun."

"Look—"

As if by magic, she pulled a ring from her clothes and waved it before his eyes.

It was a silver space ring, engraved with a delicate Forget-Me-Not pattern.

"We can get a little tent and move somewhere new every so often."

"We can put everything we need to furnish a home in the ring and take it with us."

"Wherever we go, that's home."

"We... won't ever be separated by anything again."

Long Xuanye didn't say a word.

He just nodded.

A few days ago, he'd still been the transmigrator who knew how to weigh his options. He'd even considered leaving Cai'er behind and walking away on his own.

But now...

Never again.

The two of them could take down even a fifth-rank demon together. What could possibly stop them?

Cai'er gazed at Long Xuanye and rested her head against his chest.

She was no longer the Cai'er she'd been before.

Duty and righteousness—

None of it mattered anymore.

Because Xuanye was here.

"We'll never be apart," he said.

"Okay," she replied.