Mu Mu had been channeling his inner energy for Feng Jiu’er — this was already the third day.

Over these three days, he had spent at least ten hours every day channeling his energy for Feng Jiu’er.

No matter how deep a person’s cultivation, they could not endure such strain. In a mere three days, he had become haggard and wan, without even a trace of color in his face.

He had hidden away in a cave beside a mountain stream, and even Ye Luosha and Liuli had taken two days and two nights of searching before they finally found him.

The moment they set eyes on Mu Mu, both of their hearts clenched tight. Ye Luosha was so furious she nearly struck out at Feng Jiu’er. Liuli’s vision went black, and she nearly fainted dead away.

The Young Palace Master’s back still carried wounds from before — the lacerations left by the Palace Master’s vine rod — yet to their horror, over these three days and three nights, he had paid them absolutely no attention.

The wounds had festered and even begun to rot, a horrifying and ghastly sight.

Yet still he paid them no mind. Day and night, apart from channeling energy for Feng Jiu’er, he was deaf and blind to all else.

Even when Ye Luosha and Liuli arrived, he ignored them completely, not sparing the two of them so much as a single glance.

In truth, having pushed his energy this far, he had no remaining strength to spare for anyone.

Only during his meager rest periods each day did he cradle Feng Jiu’er in his arms, leaning against the stone wall — and even then, he could only draw on those one or two hours to rapidly rebuild his strength.

Yet that great hand never loosened its grip on Feng Jiu’er’s pale, limp hand, no matter what.

Not long after Ye Luosha had first arrived, she had been unable to hold herself back and had been about to act against Feng Jiu’er.

If things continued this way, Feng Jiu’er would not be saved — and even Mu Mu himself would perish from complete exhaustion of his vital energy.

Yet just as Ye Luosha moved to strike, Mu Mu suddenly opened his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, “If she is no longer here, I will go with her.”

His voice was barely a whisper — likely because his vital energy was nearly spent and he had almost no strength left — but even the faintest of voices carried the full weight of his conviction.

Ye Luosha knew him well. He said he would follow Feng Jiu’er, and he meant it.

What she could not understand was why the child she had raised — cold and detached for more than twenty years — could now be driven to such madness over a single girl.

“You… you actually…” When she caught sight of the chain on Feng Jiu’er’s hand, a surge of rage nearly overwhelmed Ye Luosha, and she almost fainted on the spot.

“You actually gave this girl the only thing your parents left you!”

How could he!

Yet the chain was now clasped around Feng Jiu’er’s wrist. If Mu Mu had not given it to her, there was no way she could have come to wear it.

“She is my future wife.” Mu Mu exhaled slowly, and once again gathered his strength, pouring his vital energy into Jiu’er’s body.

The few words he had just spoken had nearly cost him his breath. He dared not say even another half-sentence now.

Ye Luosha was furious — so furious she wanted to tear apart this girl before her who was not yet fifteen or sixteen — yet at the same time she felt utterly powerless.

The child she had raised, she understood in her heart: what he had said, he would carry out.

Ye Luosha and Liuli could only stay by Mu Mu’s side. And so they remained — one full day and night.

Now it was the night of the third day. Mu Mu looked as though he had very little strength remaining — in fact, he could collapse into unconsciousness at any moment.

As for Feng Jiu’er, her complexion had genuinely improved, just slightly. But even that small improvement was being sustained at the cost of Mu Mu’s life.

At last, on the third day, Mu Mu could not draw in his next breath. His mouth opened, and a rush of blood poured out.

“Young Palace Master!” Liuli was so frightened she leapt up from the ground and rushed over frantically, trying to find something to wipe away the blood — but the Young Palace Master clearly did not want her to come near.

She turned back to look at Ye Luosha, her voice urgent. “Palace Master, please think of something — the Young Palace Master… he cannot hold on!”

Ye Luosha’s expression was grim. If she could think of anything, she would have already used it.

This wretched boy truly did not care for his own life at all — he had thrown everything to the wind and was pouring his entire being into saving Feng Jiu’er.

Yet by doing this, could he truly save her?

In the end, the only inevitable outcome would be that both of them perished together.

“Mu’er, give up. She cannot be saved.” Ye Luosha’s face was full of worry as she looked at his pale face and the blood seeping continuously from the corner of his lips, her heart aching beyond words.

“Mu’er, I know you cherish this girl. But she truly cannot be saved. Can you channel your energy for her forever? The moment you stop, she will die instantly. How long can you sustain her life?”

Mu Mu said nothing. This child had been obedient since he was small — always obedient. The few times he had been otherwise recently had all been because of Feng Jiu’er.

By this point, Ye Luosha had stopped thinking about whether she was angry or not. If Feng Jiu’er could survive, at least her child would also survive.

Her only thought now was to keep her child alive.

“Mu’er, consider it a plea from me — let go. I cannot bear to lose you. The world cannot do without you.”

Mu Mu still said nothing. Ye Luosha fell silent for a long moment, and then her expression suddenly darkened. She raised her hand.

“Master cannot bear to watch you suffer like this any longer. If the final outcome is to lose you regardless, then I may as well give you a swift end.”

Her hand descended toward the top of Feng Jiu’er’s head, the palm on the verge of striking down.

“Master will send her off first. If you truly wish to follow her — then… there is nothing Master can do.”

If he continued to channel his energy, death was unavoidable. She would eliminate Feng Jiu’er first — perhaps then, her child might still have a chance at survival.

She was gathering strength in her palm. Mu Mu’s heart lurched with a shudder, and in his panic he coughed up several more mouthfuls of blood.

“Master, no… she…” Every time he opened his mouth now, blood poured forth without stop.

Yet in his desperation, even while spitting blood, he could only force out a hoarse cry: “Master… you must not…”

“I cannot keep watching you suffer!” Ye Luosha steeled her heart and brought her palm down.

Mu Mu’s face changed drastically. Frantic urgency overwhelmed him, and his breath suddenly went into violent disorder — his own vital energy rebounded and sent him flying backward.

“Young Palace Master!” Liuli rushed over at once to steady him.

Both of Mu Mu’s eyes had lost all their light. Through blurred vision, he could only see Ye Luosha’s hand poised above Feng Jiu’er’s head.

His voice was so hoarse it could barely be wrung out: “Cannot… hurt her… she is… a Phoenix Maiden…”

Feng Jiu’er was a Phoenix Maiden?

The vital energy Ye Luosha had nearly unleashed was forcibly drawn back. She looked at Mu Mu, who had slipped into a half-conscious state, and frowned. “Is she truly… a Phoenix Maiden?”

Mu Mu clenched his palm with all the strength he had left, his sharp nails digging into flesh — trying to use that pain to keep himself conscious.

Yet in the end, it was not enough to hold off the all-consuming dizziness.

“She is… a Phoenix Maiden… Master, save her… I beg… you…”

The last word fell from his lips, his head tilted to the side, and he lost consciousness. The blood at the corner of his mouth had never stopped flowing — it continued to trickle down from the edge of his lips, drop by drop…