He continued hoarsely, "As for the danger, there's nothing I can do about that. It would be too false to say I can keep myself safe now, but I'll work hard and do my best not to hold you back. Humans have a saying: 'giving up eating for fear of choking.' I think being too afraid to enter a relationship because of danger is exactly that."
Song Zhou said nothing.
Lu Ao continued, "I think the reason two people should be together is that they both like each other, not because the relationship is safe and risk-free."
Song Zhou looked at him. "Have you thought it through? Even if this is my life—dangerous and tedious, sometimes disappearing for days at a time, with no telling when I might disappear for good..."
"I have!" Lu Ao cut him off quickly. "I'm not afraid of any of that. Everyone dies eventually. Even Dragons are no exception. Nothing lasts forever. We will all reach that irreversible end; the only difference is whether it comes sooner or later."
"Our lives are destined to be long. If I have to find someone to spend my life with, I hope it will be you. Rather than wasting away my whole life, then regretting, right before I close my eyes, why I didn't choose you when I was young and stayed lonely for my entire life."
It was the first time Lu Ao had said so much in one breath. Blood kept seeping from his lips and running down to his chin.
His lips itched. He wiped them with his sleeve, and a bright red stain immediately spread across his fishskin clothes.
The blood lent a direct metallic tang to his words.
Song Zhou stared at him and sighed soundlessly. Then he suddenly leaned over, pinched Lu