Chapter 54: Evil God's Seed · Fire (Six)

“Jasmine… Jasmine…” Calling out Jasmine’s name, Yun Che’s heart clenched. The severity of the poison erupting within her was more than ten times worse than four months ago. After all, merely dealing with two Spirit Profound Realm practitioners had caused her immense pain last time. This time, however, she had instantly killed a True Dragon of the Monarch Profound Realm. The profound energy she had unleashed was simply on a completely different level.

Jasmine must have known the consequences of killing the Flame Dragon. Yet, she had no choice but to act. If she hadn’t, Yun Che would have died, and with his death, she would undoubtedly perish as well.

A sharp pang of self-reproach pierced Yun Che’s heart. While infiltrating the Flame Dragon Cave, Jasmine had tried to dissuade him three times, specifically warning him that True Dragon treasures bore powerful imprints left by dragons and were not easily acquired. Yet, he had gone regardless. He indeed possessed ample courage and daring, but he had perhaps unconsciously overlooked one crucial fact: he was no longer the Yun Che who had once dominated the continent. He was merely a novice at the fourth level of the Elementary Profound Realm, facing an incredibly fearsome Monarch Profound Beast. Even a moment of carelessness would cost him his life, and drag Jasmine down with him.

And now, those consequences had finally come to pass.

“I’m so sorry, Jasmine… I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have ignored your warnings, I shouldn’t have been so reckless…” As he felt Jasmine’s body changing in his hands, Yun Che’s heart tightened further. He whispered apology after apology to her, but at this point, no amount of regret or remorse could reverse the situation.

Jasmine’s lips trembled slightly, but the sound she uttered was barely audible. Her body grew colder and colder, imperceptibly becoming semi-transparent.

Although Jasmine’s body was a semi-ethereal, semi-corporeal entity that existed by relying on Yun Che’s life force, it was the vessel for her soul. If this body were to disappear, Jasmine’s soul, having lost its vessel, would disperse and then be completely consumed by the virulent poison.

“Jasmine! Jasmine!”

Yun Che gritted his teeth, his left hand desperately unleashing the purifying power of the Sky Poison Pearl. With his right, he shook her body, praying to awaken even a sliver of her consciousness. Finally, he saw her pallid lips part slightly once more. Yun Che froze, then quickly pressed his ear to her mouth.

“I… don’t… want… to die… I haven’t… avenged my mother… and brother… yet… I haven’t… killed them all… I don’t… want… to die…”

Jasmine’s voice was incredibly weak, almost imperceptible even with his ear so close. Yet, that faint whisper intensely stirred Yun Che’s heart.

Four months earlier, when Jasmine first officially appeared before him, he had felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity about her—a feeling that she was very much like his former self. She was clearly so young, impossibly beautiful, and claimed to be a princess, suggesting she had grown up cherished by thousands. Yet, her beautiful eyes had always been filled with coldness and indifference. When she killed, there was no trace of fear or hesitation on her youthful face, only cruelty and an unchanging apathy.

Now, he finally understood what that resemblance to his past self was.

It was hatred!

On the Azure Cloud Continent, after he turned seventeen, he lived in the shadow of his master’s forced death. Back then, his heart had been brimming solely with hatred, endless hatred. His gaze, his coldness, his cruelty… perhaps they were very much like what he saw in Jasmine now.

But back then, he was seventeen, at least an adult. Jasmine, however, was only thirteen this year. He couldn’t imagine what kind of hatred could transform a girl who should have been an angel into such a cold and cruel devil.

In her recent murmurings, her self-reference had shifted to “I” instead of “this princess.” This observation complicated Yun Che’s feelings. With Jasmine’s consciousness almost dormant at this moment, the words she spoke in such a state were truly from her soul. This implied that “this princess” was not her usual self-appellation but a deliberate choice, as if she used those words to constantly remind herself of something.

A sense of shared sorrow blossomed deep within Yun Che, compounding his profound guilt and self-reproach. He began to shake Jasmine’s body more vigorously, shouting, “Jasmine, wake up! Don’t lose consciousness! We made a deal; you gave me new profound veins, and I haven’t even done what you asked of me yet… Are you content to just leave like this?! And… you’re my master, Yun Che, but you haven’t taught me anything! You can’t be such an incompetent master! Wake up, wake up!”

But no matter how desperately Yun Che activated the Sky Poison Pearl or how hard he shook her, Jasmine remained unresponsive. Her small face had lost its last trace of color, and her body grew increasingly transparent. Though he could still feel her physical presence, Yun Che could almost see the sand on the ground through her chest.

A chill swept through Yun Che’s heart, and he clenched his teeth so hard they nearly shattered. He slammed a fist against his forehead, but the sharp pain offered no relief. *It’s all your fault!* he cursed internally. *Why didn’t you listen to Jasmine? Your life isn’t just your own anymore; it’s Jasmine’s too… And in the end, Jasmine had to use her life to save you! You killed her!*

Yun Che bit down on his teeth, fiercely cursing himself. Drops of blood slowly trickled from his forehead, where his fist had broken the skin, falling onto the scorching ground. Watching the quickly drying drops, Yun Che suddenly froze. “Blood… that’s right, my blood!”

Jasmine was connected to his life through absorbing his blood, and her semi-real body had formed because of his blood and life force. Furthermore, with his body integrated with the Sky Poison Pearl, his blood might possess exceptionally strong anti-poison capabilities!

Seizing this sudden glimmer of hope, Yun Che didn’t hesitate for a second. He extended his left arm, and with the fingertips of his right hand, he savagely slashed across it, opening a long, deep gash. Blood immediately trickled out. He carefully parted Jasmine’s bloodless lips with his fingers, letting his blood slowly drip into her mouth, while simultaneously pressing hard on his own shoulder to accelerate the blood flow.

Jasmine, I won’t let you die… absolutely not!

Even if it’s for the oath I swore that year…

Blood flowed rapidly, dripping into Jasmine’s open mouth. But immediately, strings of blood beads slowly seeped from the corners of her lips. Jasmine was completely unconscious and unable to swallow on her own.

Yun Che’s brows furrowed. After a brief hesitation, he raised his arm and bit down on his wound, sucking forcefully. After extracting a small mouthful, he leaned down and gently parted Jasmine’s lips again with his hand. “If you can wake up,” he whispered, “I’ll gladly accept any punishment…”

With that murmur, Yun Che lowered his head and gently pressed his lips against hers, carefully and slowly transferring the blood from his mouth into her own. He then gently blew air to ensure the blood flowed from her oral cavity into her body.

Though Jasmine’s lips were exceptionally pale, they were incredibly soft and smooth, making Yun Che instinctively want to linger. After transferring one mouthful of blood, Yun Che immediately returned his lips to his wound, sucking forcefully. Once his mouth was full again, he carefully transferred it into Jasmine’s mouth.

After several repetitions, the wound on his arm began to heal, slowing his ability to draw blood. Yun Che immediately extended his right hand and made another deep cut beside the first wound, and blood trickled out once more.

Blood was continuously transferred into Jasmine’s mouth. By the time the fifth wound appeared on Yun Che’s arm, nearly a fifth of his body’s blood had flowed into Jasmine’s system. His brain began to feel a heavy dizziness, and just then, he suddenly noticed that Jasmine’s body had stopped becoming illusory; instead, it was gradually growing clearer. The virulent poison reaction detected by the Sky Poison Pearl also slowly subsided, like a flame being doused by rain.

It worked… had it worked?!

A surge of joyous surprise filled Yun Che’s heart. Without hesitation, he reached out and made a sixth cut on his left arm. His entire arm was numb with pain, yet his heart swelled with joy. If his blood truly could save her, then there was nothing to be stingy about.

Losing more than a fifth of one’s body’s blood in a short period could lead to organ failure; over a third, to shock; and over half, to death.

Yun Che, possessing extraordinarily high medical skills, was well aware of these facts. Yet, his actions never showed the slightest hesitation or delay; he continued to inflict more wounds on his arm. He continued until he could no longer resist the overwhelming dizziness in his brain. His vision went blank, and he slumped against the stone wall behind him, losing consciousness.

In his hazy consciousness, the figure of a girl he had long tried not to recall slowly emerged.

During those seven years he lived consumed by hatred, he cultivated desperately to gain stronger power, injuring himself severely every day, teetering on the brink of death countless times. Each time, she would gently tend to his wounds, serve him delicious meals, mend his tattered clothes, and make his bed. The next day, she would silently watch him leave.

She was his sole source of warmth during that time, the only haven where he could find peaceful rest.

Yet, his heart at that time was consumed only by hatred. Apart from struggling back to her when gravely injured, he never offered her a moment of companionship, never bought her so much as a single hairpin, made no promises, and never even smiled at her.

Until that day, she lay in his arms and departed forever. Her gaze and her voice at that moment became a piercing pain he would never forget.

“…However many wounds you bear… that is how many wounds are in my heart… But… I have no regrets… To be the girl who accompanied you in your loneliness… Though it was painful… it was also truly blissful…”

“…Brother Yun Che… If, in the future, when you are lonely, there is a girl willing to stay by your side… then she… must be an angel sent to you by heaven… don’t let her get hurt again… okay…?”