The green-robed figure carried Ren Qingchou swiftly away. Ren Qingchou felt this person moving faster and faster, finally striding quickly like flowing clouds and water, light and ethereal as if gliding through the air. Ren Qingchou was shocked—this person’s martial arts were far higher than what had been displayed in that single exchange with Yu Konghou. With such cultivation, this was definitely not some green youth. Who was this person?

However, the green-robed figure had used a sweat towel to cover his face—the covering wasn’t done with much care, but it was effective. Ren Qingchou could only see a widow’s peak of black hair on his forehead, yet he didn’t seem too old either.

Behind them, fierce flames blazed. Ren Qingchou could see Yu Konghou and Kuanglan Wuxing both wounded. If this person was willing to act, killing Yu Konghou and Kuanglan Wuxing would not be difficult.

Why was he running?

Why didn’t he kill them?

Ren Qingchou gradually gathered his strength, remaining silent. As long as he had a breath left, he would spend this life shooting one arrow at Yu Konghou for Xue Xianzi, and another arrow at Kuanglan Wuxing.

The green-robed figure didn’t guard against a dying person suddenly struggling. With a sound of surprise, he saw Ren Qingchou take a deep breath, break free from his arms, raise the “Sorrow and Joy Bow” in his hands, and shoot one arrow each toward Kuanglan Wuxing and Yu Konghou in the flames.

Those arrows were still “Gazing at the Moon.”

The “Life and Death Together” arrows flew like meteors, instantly piercing through the sea of fire, rushing separately toward Kuanglan Wuxing and Yu Konghou.

With two “clang” sounds, the dying Kuanglan Wuxing grabbed his strange halberd, swinging it in a circle to directly deflect both arrows. He didn’t even stand up—with one sweep of his long arm, he knocked away the two arrows that contained all of Ren Qingchou’s lifetime accumulated power. He gripped the strange halberd and thrust it heavily downward, planting it in the earth beneath him like a battle standard.

After Ren Qingchou shot the two arrows, blood gushed wildly from his chest wound. The five golden needles could no longer suppress his true qi as it collapsed and dissipated from the ruptured meridians. The Sorrow and Joy Bow fell from his hands to the ground. Both he and his bow crashed heavily to the earth, no longer able to move.

The green-robed figure was momentarily careless—Ren Qingchou had already fallen. With an “aiya” sound, he swept his sleeve-robe to scoop up the bloody figure from the ground, thinking “this is bad” to himself.

Within the fire circle, Kuanglan Wuxing sat upright holding his halberd in one hand. His face was scorched black and his whole body covered in blood, but not only had Yu Konghou not killed him, he was actually sitting cross-legged with both palms pressed against his back, circulating power to restore Zhu Yan.

When the green-robed figure looked back, he saw Yu Konghou’s clothes and hair all aflame within the fierce fire. His pink women’s dress burned fiercely in the flames, but during his power circulation, true qi burst forth from his entire body. The dress’s ashes scattered away, forcing out a fire-free circle and revealing snow-white undergarments. Those undergarments were definitely not ordinary—they didn’t burn. Under the flickering firelight, Yu Konghou’s appearance was slowly changing.

His figure gradually lengthened, the mask on his face cracked and split. That face carved like a peach was tearing apart. The loose white undergarments gradually became form-fitting, and his injuries from “Chi Mei Tu Zhu Qi” seemed to miraculously improve. The wound no longer emitted faint black qi. Under his true force, Kuanglan Wuxing took a spirit pill, his complexion rapidly improving. It was unclear whether Yu Konghou had cured his snake poison or given him some potent medicine.

Crackling sounds rang clear as the great fire ignited by black oil blazed fiercely, completely burning the sparse trees and grassland. The green-robed figure, obscured by his sweat towel, showed no visible expression. After stopping, he remained silent and motionless, staring intently at the changes within the fire.

Wind rolled black smoke, concealing the figures in the fire circle.

A moment later, a long whistle came from the fire. Two figures rose from the fierce flames like butterfly wings. Two streams of true qi rolled and surged, causing the ground flames to dim for an instant. Then the two figures supported each other’s shoulders and rose together, both fluttering their sleeves as they swept through a gap in the flames and disappeared into the darkness.

“The Rebirth Chronicle…” the green-robed figure sighed.

He removed the sweat towel casually covering his face and pressed against Ren Qingchou’s chest wound.

But “Ten Thousand Li Peach Blossoms” had penetrated his chest and been withdrawn—how could this be an ordinary injury? That small sword had spun in and twisted out, not only severely damaging Ren Qingchou’s meridians but also severing his blood circulation—it was a fatal wound. If Ren Qingchou had sealed his pressure points and quietly waited for treatment, there would still be a fifty-fifty chance of survival. But this youth had used that fifty-fifty chance to shoot two arrows at Yu Konghou and Kuanglan Wuxing.

Ren Qingchou gripped the Sorrow and Joy Bow tightly, still unwilling to give up, still staring in the direction Yu Konghou and Kuanglan Wuxing had departed. His throat could make no sound, blood pouring from his mouth.

The green-robed figure knelt on one knee. “Yu Konghou possesses secret arts and cannot be easily killed.” He looked at this youth and said softly, “But today his secret arts have been broken. There will be no next time.”

Ren Qingchou’s gaze slowly turned from the direction Yu Konghou and Kuanglan Wuxing had departed to look at the unfamiliar “senior” before him.

This green-robed person had delicate features, appearing young yet somehow not young. He slowly opened his mouth, trying to make a sound, but the only sound was blood gurgling from his chest wound.

The green-robed figure nodded. “I do not kill, but when these two meet their fate in the future, you will be informed.”

Ren Qingchou tightly grasped the Sorrow and Joy Bow left by Qu Zhiliang. His eyes still held determination—he didn’t want to die. He had not yet avenged Xue Xianzi, had not received a single word from Wen Hui, had not figured out where he was going. He was still so young. Anyone could see… with his character and understanding, he would surely become a master of his generation in the future.

But some youths… remain forever young.

He should have had everything in the future. The only thing he lacked was “the future.”

Ren Qingchou’s fingers left deep marks on the bowstring. The string cut into his flesh, leaving bloody traces. His gaze remained so determined—he had no regrets, yet he was so unwilling to die.

The green-robed figure lifted his robe and sat collapsed on the ground, holding him like a child against his chest.

Ren Qingchou’s grip grew tighter and tighter. A tear seeped from the corner of his eye—colorless and lightless, yet more vivid and piercing than all the blood on his body. The green-robed figure gently patted his back, as if soothing an infant. After a moment, the Life and Death Together small arrows on Ren Qingchou’s body slowly slid down into the dust.

Even in death, he still gripped his bow tightly.

The bowstring cut into his finger bones, the blood already drained.

A handful of yellow earth buries sorrow and joy,

A youth’s aspirations enter white bones.

Pitiful spring wind and new green grass—

Never to see next year’s fallen flowers bloom.