Red light illuminated half the forest.
Xiao Wu stood in the light. The wound on her shoulder vanished bit by bit, but her face grew more and more translucent. A hundred thousand years of accumulated Soul Power, life, and soul flowed along the patterns of light toward Tang San, pushing him somewhere no one else could reach.
Tang San knelt on the ground, his hands digging hard into the soil.
"Stop!"
The Mysterious Heaven Skill, the Blue Silver Emperor, the Clear Sky Hammer—every method he could think of was shut out by the power of the sacrifice. For the first time, he hated how weak his Soul Power was. So weak he could not even stop the woman he loved from dying for him.
Xiao Wu reached out and gently touched his face through the red light.
"Brother, let me protect you this time."
"I don't need you to! Xiao Wu, take it back. We'll leave together!"
"It's too late." Tears filled her eyes, but her smile was peaceful. "If you live, I haven't lost."
Tang San tried to catch her hand. His palm touched only a patch of warm light.
Bai Jin did not try to dissuade Xiao Wu.
His Fourth Soul Ring shone almost white as the Reverse Cursed Technique traced the patterns of sacrificial light backward. He could not forcibly reclaim the Soul Ring and Soul Bone she had already given up. He could only catch the faintest thread of life before Xiao Wu's essence scattered completely.
That thread was weaker than a strand of hair. It could snap at any moment.
The lingering fragrance of the Lovesick Heartbreak Red surfaced then, shielding the last trace of warmth in Xiao Wu's heart.
Bai Jin closed his fingers, sealing that warmth firmly inside the Soft Bone Rabbit's body.