Chapter 42

On the day of my impending end, Ze Ling was looking for me, Ao Xiu was looking for me, and even Rong Si was looking for me.

They couldn’t find me because my form and spirit were on the verge of dissipating into nothingness.

I hid in the hole under the bridge, listening to the rain. The turtle had returned to its original form, crouching by my feet to keep me company.

Its eyes were filled with sorrow and sympathy.

“Ze Quan, you could have continued being the River God. Even if you didn’t ascend, you could have lived on after regaining your divine power.”

I reached out, my fingers so thin and translucent I couldn’t even catch the rain.

“The position of River God is yours now.”

“Your sister wants to go experience a new life.”

The turtle sighed. “During the time you went to ask Rong Si for help, in the freezing cold, Xie Yu was like a madman, jumping into the water every single day, swimming endlessly to find you.”

“His eyes were red, and his voice was hoarse from calling out for you.”

“I suspect he truly loves you.”

Yes, he loves me, which is why he couldn’t accept me leaving.

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

I felt a bit cold, so I hugged my knees and curled into a ball.

“Fate wasn’t enough; no need to force it.”

I poked the turtle.

“Buddy, see you in the next life.”

The rain suddenly stopped, and the sky cleared.

A rainbow arched across the bridge, magnificent and breathtaking. I couldn’t help but lean out to take a better look.

Suddenly, the festive sounds of suona horns and silk instruments drifted from the head of the bridge.

I leaned out even further to look.

The sky had cleared after the rain.

Xie Yu was actually riding a horse, dressed in traditional Chinese wedding attire, rushing eagerly toward the bridge.

He had come to get me after all.

Behind him followed a motley, struggling procession that could barely keep up.

An eight-bearer palanquin, a ten-mile red dowry.

He still remembered my offhand remark from back then.

We were watching a movie once, and the heroine was wearing a white wedding dress. I had made a face at it.

“Aren’t a phoenix crown and embroidered robes much more beautiful?” I said, stuffing popcorn into my mouth. “In the old days, wearing something like that looked like a funeral.”

Xie Yu had looked down at me with a smile. He hadn’t said anything, but he must have kept my preference in mind.

So… was Xie Yu… here to marry me?

Xie Yu was skilled in horsemanship; the way he rode looked exactly like a hero saving a damsel in a TV drama.

As the horse drew near, I ran onto the bridge.

I collided with his gaze, only to see the deep pain and reddened rims of his eyes.

He lowered his waist and reached out, pulling me directly into his arms.

Xie Yu’s tears fell instantly, scalding my earlobe.

“Are you stupid! You were dying and you still hid it from me?”

I was startled. “How did you know?”

“Your friend, that guy named Rong Si, told me.”

“I drove you away on purpose. If ascension was your heart’s desire, I wanted to let you go.”

“I wanted to fulfill your wish, but your friend came to tell me that you hadn’t wanted to ascend for a long time.”

Xie Yu sighed.

“You really don’t want to go? You’ll stay?”

I nodded. “The long, long years ahead—without you, they would be far too boring.”

He pulled me tight, almost embedding me into his body. His voice carried a heavy sigh. “That was too close. I almost lost you forever…”

His voice was filled with pain, anger, and endless self-reproach. “I only wanted you to have a better life.”

“Ze Quan, don’t ever do this again.”

“I can’t take it.”