The "Death" of Ye Feng

As a wave of drowsiness washed over him, Ye Feng instinctively knew it was the False Death Pill taking effect. Though his water resistance abilities—gained from previous experiences—could keep him alive after falling into the river, his wounds were very much real. If he didn’t treat them soon, he would spend an entire day in unconscious, death-like slumber, and by then, he might already have turned into a desiccated corpse.

No... No! I have to take the Healing Pill now!

Desperate to fight off the encroaching drowsiness, Ye Feng bit his lower lip, trying to jolt himself awake. The sharp pain provided just enough stimulation to loosen the grip of his fading consciousness. Seizing the moment, he clenched the Healing Pill tightly in his palm. But just as he raised his hand to swallow it, the turbulent current slammed him into a reef. The impact caught him off guard, forcing his mouth open in shock. The river water rushed in like moths to a flame, flooding his lungs.

"Gurgle... Gah!"

Ye Feng struggled to bend his arm, trying desperately to get the pill into his mouth, but exhaustion finally overwhelmed him, severing his thoughts entirely.

Maybe this is for the best... At least I can rest now...

"H-How... How could this..."

By now, Xie Yuyan had been restrained by the surrounding bodyguards, while Li Mucheng stood motionless, her soul seemingly drained from her body. Su Yuxin was in an even worse state—after witnessing Ye Feng close his eyes and plunge into the river, she collapsed from sheer shock.

"Miss!"

Meanwhile, Ah Fu, having cleared the landslide obstruction, arrived with reinforcements. The moment he saw Xie Yuyan, he instinctively drew his weapon, but upon noticing both Li Mucheng and Xie Yuyan standing like lifeless husks, he quickly pieced together what had happened.

"Miss!"

Ah Fu approached Li Mucheng, whose eyes were hollow and unfocused. She didn’t react to his voice, as if she had shut out the entire world.

At a loss, Ah Fu realized that with Li Jing and Su Wanli already on their way, Li Mucheng couldn’t afford to lose herself now. Desperate, he gambled on the one thing that might snap her back to reality—Ye Feng’s name.

"Miss, the most urgent matter now is sending a search team downstream to look for Ye Feng! Wasting time here will only reduce his chances of survival! What’s done is done—you can’t back down now!"

"S-Save... Save Teacher..."

Ah Fu’s words pierced through the fog in Li Mucheng’s mind, a faint light flickering in her dull eyes.

Encouraged, he pressed on, "Yes! As long as there’s even a sliver of hope, you mustn’t give up! I believe Ye Feng will hold on too. But if we delay any longer..."

"I... I understand!"

Li Mucheng trembled as she turned her gaze toward the river’s flow, the events replaying in her mind. She never expected Ye Feng to protect Xie Yuyan, nor did she foresee him choosing to fall into the river himself. But none of that mattered now—she had to find him. No matter what.

"Quick... Send a rescue team! Follow the river and search everywhere! No matter what, bring Teacher back!"

"Understood! But Miss, let’s descend the mountain first. Master Li is already on his way, and we can search along the river as we go."

"Alright."

Without hesitation, Li Mucheng agreed. But as she turned to leave, her eyes caught Xie Yuyan, kneeling on the ground, her wrists shackled.

Gone was the eerie, unstable demeanor Xie Yuyan had shown earlier. Her pale blue eyes had regained their usual brilliance, but now they were fixed on her hands—stained with Ye Feng’s blood. Her lips moved in a barely audible whisper.

"How... How could this be? It was fine before... Why did it turn out like this? I just didn’t want him to leave me again..."

"Why... Why did you save me after everything I did to you? If I had died, you’d be free of my torment... Why...?"

Li Mucheng slowly walked up to Xie Yuyan and slapped her across the face. The sharp crack echoed as a red mark bloomed on Xie Yuyan’s cheek.

"Xie Yuyan... Was tormenting him once or twice not enough for you? Your selfish desires are what doomed him! From the very beginning, his heart belonged to you—and yet, you kept hurting him. Even so... he still saved you."

"If anything happens to Teacher... I swear I’ll make you pay."

Xie Yuyan hung her head low, unfazed by the slap. She remained seated at the cliff’s edge, staring blankly at the blood on her hands.

She knew—Ye Feng was dead. The moment he fell, his expression, his fading vital signs... She had completed countless missions; one glance was all it took to recognize death. Ye Feng... was gone.

"Ye Feng... is dead... He’s dead..."

"What?! Shut your mouth! Teacher would never—! If you dare spout another word, I’ll kill you right now!"

"Miss!"

Ah Fu quickly stepped between them, arms outstretched.

"Our priority now is finding Ye Feng. Every second we waste here—"

"......"

Li Mucheng’s nails dug deep into her palms, her knuckles whitening with suppressed fury. Finally, she turned away, leaving only a chilling command behind.

"Lock her up. If anything happens to Teacher... she will join him in death. And one more thing—"

"Keep a close eye on her. She’s no harmless captive."

After instructing the bodyguards, Ah Fu hurried after Li Mucheng.

"I’m sorry... Ye Feng... I’m sorry..."

Xie Yuyan stared at the blood as if she could still see him. She remembered the exhaustion in his voice when he whispered, "I’m tired."

"Ugh... Ugh..."

The usually cold and composed Xie Yuyan broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. To the shock of those around her, she pressed her bloodstained fingers to her lips.

I’m sorry, Ye Feng... I’m sorry...

......

"Splash... splash..."

As the river’s roar gradually faded, light footsteps approached the riverbank.

"So... the illusion wasn’t lying after all..."