If she were Vilard… facing a situation like this where losing seemed certain, what would she do?

…Wait.

Was it truly a certain loss?

Bai Youwei opened her eyes and followed the sword’s blade downward, looking at the dark crimson blood pooling beneath Vilard’s feet.

No…

He still had one thread of hope — as long as the position she struck happened to be where the shield was, his wounds would remain as they were, and he could stall for time with her.

If he stalled for time, he might actually survive. After all, her wound was in a vital area, while his injuries were only to his arms.

So for Vilard, whether he was struck in the leg or in the heart, the outcome was the same: either he died from a single decisive blow, or his injuries worsened and he died anyway.

He would not place the shield at his heart just because the heart was important — because the result would be identical!

He would only place the shield at the position most likely to be struck!

Just like right now: because she wanted to avoid the shield, she was preparing to choose his leg — and in fact, the shield was on his leg, wasn’t it?

Left leg, right leg — Vilard was gambling on a fifty percent chance of survival!

Bai Youwei worked through all of this and let out a long, deep breath.

She raised her head and looked at Vilard.

He was watching her intently, savoring every fleeting expression on her face.

“Have you made up your mind? Once you strike, the true king will be born. Whatever the outcome… I am, from the bottom of my heart, looking forward to it.” Vilard smiled. “What a beautiful world this is, don’t you think?”

“Indeed.” Bai Youwei raised her sword, answering with cold indifference. “If you were dead, it would be even more beautiful.”

Vilard narrowed his eyes, fixed on the tip of her blade. “It seems you’ve already made your choice.”

Bai Youwei smiled gently.

She had been cold and distant all along, yet now she smiled — like a soft white flower blooming on a barren frozen plain, seemingly delicate and fragile, yet having met the most cutting wind and most bone-piercing cold.

Vilard was momentarily stunned.

The next second, the sword pierced through his chest.

Astonishment flashed through his pupils. He instinctively looked at the wound — blood surged from his chest, soaking through the bandages, and simultaneously, agony swept through his entire body.

He strained to lift his head, wanting to see the girl before him clearly, but his vision had already turned dark and blurry. He could only hear her voice, bright and clear, tinged with a smile:

“You really didn’t place it on your chest.”

*Indeed…*

*You guessed right. I… didn’t place it on my chest…*

*So this is my ending.*

*Not so bad, actually…*

*Like a vivid and brilliant dream… This world really is beautiful…*

Thinking this, he slowly closed his eyes.

…

Bai Youwei watched Vilard die.

He became a puppet, and together with the sapphire throne, he began to sink — slowly sinking, descending… until he submerged beneath the pure white floor and disappeared.

She let out a long breath. She felt the restraining force that had bound her body finally dissipate along with him. She could finally leave this chair!

A square glowing passage appeared before her. Shen Mo, Tan Xiao, Cheng Weicai, and Pan Xiaoxin stepped out of it.

Bai Youwei’s excitement surged instantly. Without a second thought she jumped up and ran toward them, throwing herself into the arms of the man at the front!

“We won!”

The moment she opened her mouth she choked up. Her voice carried a sob she couldn’t suppress no matter how hard she tried, so she simply buried her face in his chest and cried openly!

“We all survived!!!”

Shen Mo held her, kissing her again and again. His eyes burned with heat, yet he was also a little caught between laughter and tears. “Your legs — are they all right?”

Hm?

Bai Youwei froze, her face wet with tears, momentarily not registering what he meant.

“Weiwei, your legs are healed!” Cheng Weicai said with a pleased smile.

Pan Xiaoxin also smiled: “Weiwei jie can walk again.”

Tan Xiao: “Hahaha, Weiwei is so happy she’s lost her mind!”

Bai Youwei’s tears streamed down in rivers. She sniffled, feeling both wronged and overjoyed at once, and rushed forward to throw her arms around Tan Xiao!

“I love you all!”

She hugged Cheng Weicai: “I love you all!”

She hugged Pan Xiaoxin: “I love you all!”

“I love you all! I love you all! I love you all!… Wuwuwu…”

…

*I thought I would save the world.*

*Later…*

*The world saved me.*

—