Chapter Sixty-Three: Hanging by a Thread

Looking at Yaoye collapsed on the ground, Xiong Xiao snorted coldly and began searching his body. "What's going on? How could it not be here?" Xiong Xiao frowned, puzzled.

Suddenly, the sound of something slicing through the air came from behind, striking at Xiong Xiao's back. He reacted hastily to the attack. Shocked, Xiong Xiao stared at the assailant before him as a tremendous force slammed into him. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he was sent flying. Struggling to his feet, Xiong Xiao cast a resentful glance at Yaoye lying on the ground, then gritted his teeth and soared skyward.

The newcomer was none other than Tang Ze, who had been searching tirelessly for Yaoye. Tang Ze watched Xiong Xiao flee into the sky, not daring to pursue. He hurried forward, scooped up Yaoye and Liu Xin, and sped toward the academy.

Yaoye slowly opened his eyes, his thoughts lingering on the moment when his senior sister took a blow for him.

"Where am I? Senior Sister! Senior Sister!"

"Yaoye, steady your mind quickly! I am working to remove the soul restriction from you!" Old Fu urged anxiously.

Yaoye quickly calmed himself, waiting until Old Fu finished his work and rose. Yaoye looked at Old Fu, who was pacing back and forth without pause.

"Old Fu? What’s going on? How is Senior Sister?"

Old Fu turned, forcing a strained smile. "Liu Xin is all right for now. But the restriction in your soul is a high-level demonic spell; I can't remove it yet."

Yaoye sprang to his feet. "No! Old Fu, you’re lying to me! Senior Sister must be hurt!"

Old Fu's expression became even more unnatural, confirming Yaoye’s suspicion.

"So there is a problem!" Anxiety surged in Yaoye’s heart, and he rushed desperately toward Liu Xin's room.

When he entered Liu Xin's room, he found Tang Ze and Zhao Mu both present. Yaoye nodded to Zhao Mu in greeting, though Zhao Mu opened his mouth, unsure how to comfort him.

"Vice Headmaster! What is Senior Sister's condition now? Please, you must tell me!"

Tang Ze looked at Yaoye's anxious eyes and sighed. "Very well, I’ll tell you. Liu Xin was struck in the back. Her heart vessels are severed; she may not survive the day."

Yaoye staggered back two steps upon hearing this, then rushed forward, grabbing Tang Ze's arm.

"Headmaster, you must be lying, aren't you? Senior Sister is just exhausted, she wants to rest for a while, isn't that it?"

Tang Ze did not know how to comfort Yaoye. Seeing the boy, barely more than ten years old, having suffered so much, even Tang Ze was moved.

"Yaoye, the truth is, this attack on you both was orchestrated by Liu Xin. What puzzles me most is that yesterday she informed me she had something important, and asked me to go to the woods—otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the chance to save you."

Yaoye seemed utterly lost, his face pale, limbs stiff, as he walked into Liu Xin’s room.

Tang Ze hurriedly took a letter from his chest. "Yaoye, wait. Here is Liu Xin’s final letter to you."

Yaoye slowly turned, took the letter, and without a word walked into the room.

Tang Ze sighed. "Zhao Mu, let’s go. Let’s leave them some time alone."

Zhao Mu’s face was dark, his fists clenched as he left the room. Outside, he encountered Old Fu, who had hurried after them. Lowering his head, Zhao Mu spoke softly:

"Old Fu, I want to intensify my training. Can you help me?"

Old Fu glanced at Yaoye inside the room and replied in a low voice, "Alas, this child has suffered so much. Tang Ze, keep a close watch on Yaoye’s movements. Don’t let anything happen to him."

Turning to Zhao Mu, he said, "Come. I will train you with all my strength."

Inside the room, Yaoye gazed at Liu Xin, her face pale as she lay motionless on the bed. Yaoye’s heart shattered. He remembered when he first entered the academy, how Senior Sister would bring him breakfast, always caring for him, tending to him tirelessly when he was injured.

Looking at Liu Xin lying bedridden, Yaoye despised his own weakness, his incompetence and carelessness. Because of his impulsiveness, the bear clan discovered the existence of the Creation Cauldron and suffered destruction. Now, his senior sister’s life hung by a thread—all because of him.

Yaoye struck himself hard several times, then gently stroked his senior sister’s face as tears streamed down. Seeing the letter she had left behind, Yaoye picked it up. The graceful handwriting filled him with remorse. His eyes glowed crimson, burning with hatred for the demon clan’s flesh and blood.

"Yaoye, by the time you see this letter, I fear I will already be gone. I’m sorry, Yaoye. I am of the demon clan. When I was five, I was sent to the academy. My mission was to find the heir to the Creation Cauldron. This time, the demon clan threatened my family, forcing me to help them take your life. How could I ever agree to harm the one I love? But, forgive me, Yaoye—on one side are my parents, on the other, my beloved. I truly didn’t know what to do, but I will give my life to protect you. I hope you can forgive me. I can only make it up to you in the next life."

Yaoye looked at the letter, pain overwhelming him, and muttered softly, "Senior Sister, how could you be so foolish?"

Seeing the tear stains on the letter, his heart felt as though it were being cut by knives. "Why didn’t you tell everyone? Why did you bear all this alone?"

Yaoye sobbed as he continued reading.

"Yaoye, forget me. You must persevere. The demon clan greatly fears your technique and wants desperately to destroy you. You must grow quickly. This continent needs you. Hold on! Farewell, Liu Xin."

Even at the last moment, Liu Xin was still comforting him. Yaoye gently placed the letter against his chest, holding Liu Xin’s body and weeping bitterly.