The day after Lin Rou had violated Bai Qingran, he felt waves of aching soreness throughout his entire body.
Bai Qingran was completely unaware of the vile and filthy things that had happened to him.
Now, pressing his fingertips against his throbbing, swollen temples, his heart was filled with melancholy over the uncontrollable situation before him.
“Alas…”
Bai Qingran let out another extremely faint, helpless sigh.
This sound, as weak as a steel needle, pierced straight into Xiao Tao’s heart.
She did not know how many times he had sighed like this during this period.
In Xiao Tao’s perception, Bai Qingran was like a beautiful flower gradually withering away.
Silently, little by little, he lost his former beauty and luster, leaving behind only a body tormented by imprisonment.
Young Master Bai… Could it really be that he has to be locked up here for a lifetime?
This question was like a thorny bramble, tightly entangling Xiao Tao’s heart.
She could not break free.
Every moment, every second, Xiao Tao endured the pain of blood dripping from her heart.
Poor, powerless Xiao Tao.
She had pondered it day and night for a long time.
In this despairing situation that made one want to vomit, the only person who could bring a glimmer of hope to Bai Qingran was probably Yan Qingge, who had once shown her a moment of kindness.
As a true disciple of the Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect, Yan Qingge possessed a sufficiently powerful background and enough confidence.
She could be said to be one of the few people in the Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect who did not fear Nalan Qingjue’s threats.
Although Bai Qingran had verbally denied knowing Yan Qingge when asked, Xiao Tao’s intuition told her that Yan Qingge might be his last and most reliable lifeline.
It was just that if she truly spoke to Yan Qingge, whether it could help Bai Qingran or not was one thing.
The act itself would be no different from betraying the sect.
Once Nalan Qingjue found out, Xiao Tao would probably have only death awaiting her.
At the dining table, Xiao Tao listlessly picked at the grains of rice in her bowl with her chopsticks.
Her heart was filled with the nauseating stench that came before death’s arrival.
Yet, amid the layers of foul odor, she could not help but fantasize about Bai Qingran running freely across the heavens and earth, laughing heartily.
The more beautiful the fantasy, the more hideous and twisted reality seemed.
Xiao Tao raised her head.
Those sightless eyes stared directly at Bai Qingran.
She suddenly opened her mouth and asked, “Young Master Bai… if one day I am no longer by your side, will you miss me?”
Bai Qingran’s action of picking up food with his chopsticks stiffened for an instant.
He slowly raised his head.
His red pupils were filled with confusion and bewilderment.
But the tone in his voice remained gentle.
“Xiao Tao, if one day you are no longer by my side, I will be very sad. You are a good girl. Being able to meet you in the Xuan Phoenix Sacred Sect is one of the few blessings I have had in these past few years.”
The starting point of this relationship had not been pure.
It could be said to be filled with Bai Qingran’s calculations for freedom.
But during their long time together, this pitiful girl had earned Bai Qingran’s sympathy.
In this female-dominant world that placed particular emphasis on strength, Xiao Tao, who had been born blind, must have suffered greatly.
Bai Qingran could easily imagine it.
Essentially, both Bai Qingran and Xiao Tao were existences ruthlessly trampled by those in power.
Two souls suffering similarly had developed a feeling of mutual pity for each other’s hardships.
These words fell into Xiao Tao’s ears.
She only felt her nose suddenly turn sour.
Her growth experiences had taught her one thing: you are just an unwanted piece of trash, an existence that can be bullied at will.
Yet Bai Qingran’s kindness toward Xiao Tao, though not as grand as a life-saving grace, for Xiao Tao who had always lived in darkness, a tiny bit of kind light was enough to illuminate her entire world.
It was enough to make her throw caution to the wind and fly toward that flame.
Such a good person like Young Master Bai should not be imprisoned here.
The humble thought in Xiao Tao’s heart grew wildly like weeds.
She suddenly and forcefully scooped a large mouthful of rice into her mouth.
Then she picked up a large portion of vegetables with her chopsticks and stuffed them into her mouth.
This action was rough and sudden.
It choked her, causing her to cough violently.
Bai Qingran quickly stood up and went behind her, gently patting her back.
“Xiao Tao, slow down. Don’t rush. If it’s not enough, I’ll make a bit more…”
Xiao Tao buried her head very low.
A salty tear rolled into her bowl.
She gave a muffled “Mm” in response.
As she chewed the rice mixed with tears, she thought, It’s good that I can still eat the food made by Young Master Bai for this last meal.
Bai Qingran would never know that Xiao Tao had already treated this meal as her final one.
After tidying up the bowls and chopsticks, Xiao Tao sat in the room for a long time.
There was a sheet of white paper on the table before her.
She wanted to write something.
Perhaps she wanted to tell Bai Qingran the truth, hoping he would always remember her name.
Perhaps she fantasized about the heartbroken, grief-stricken expression Bai Qingran would show upon seeing her suicide note.
But when she picked up the brush, it felt as heavy as a thousand pounds.
In the end, Xiao Tao wrote nothing.
Young Master Bai is already suffering enough. Why use my death to make him even more sorrowful?
When the Sect Master executes me, I will beg her not to tell Young Master Bai.
A dead person’s last wish—the Sect Master should be willing to grant it as a favor.
Quietly leaving the room, Xiao Tao arrived at the foot of Lingxiao Peak.
Sure enough, Yan Qingge was right there.
Xiao Tao hid in the grass.
Her heart pounded like a war drum.
The bone-chilling cold brought by death made her entire body tremble uncontrollably.
Charge out! Charge out!
The only way to let Young Master Bai escape this sea of suffering is right ahead!
Xiao Tao clenched her teeth.
She twisted her still-trembling legs with all her might.
Gathering all the courage she had in her life, she suddenly rushed out from the grass.
Hearing the noise, Yan Qingge turned her head.
After seeing clearly that it was Xiao Tao, her eyes instantly lit up.
“True Disciple Yan, p-please… please…” Xiao Tao stumbled and crawled toward Yan Qingge.
But before she could finish her words, a gentle voice abruptly interrupted her.
“True Disciple Yan, it’s been a long time.”
The person who spoke was Lin Rou.
This voice made Xiao Tao’s entire body freeze.
She felt as if ice-cold, ferocious venomous snakes were crawling all over her body.
An enormous sense of frustration made Xiao Tao clench her teeth tightly.
So close… So close!
Yan Qingge paid no attention whatsoever to the suddenly appearing Lin Rou.
She quickly walked toward Xiao Tao. “Peak Master Lin, I have urgent business with this girl. Whatever you have to say, let’s discuss it later.”
“Even if it concerns Immortal Lord Bai?”
Lin Rou’s voice was not loud, yet it landed perfectly in both of their ears.
Yan Qingge’s movements suddenly stopped.
She turned her head to look at Lin Rou, her eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.
Xiao Tao’s body trembled.
A wave of unease crept into her heart.
Is Peak Master Lin appearing now to help Young Master Bai, or has she guessed my intentions and come to stop me?
Lin Rou’s gaze casually swept over the people from the Red Sun Phoenix Heaven Sect behind Yan Qingge who were curiously looking over.
The corners of her mouth curled into a playful smile.
“True Disciple Yan, some words are not convenient to say here. Why not come sit at my Yao Furnace Peak?”
Yan Qingge’s brows furrowed.
She did not dislike Lin Rou as a person, but this unfathomable scheming made her somewhat resistant.
Yet…
The matter concerned Bai Qingran.
She had no choice at all.
Seeing Yan Qingge nod in agreement, Lin Rou smiled slightly and looked at Xiao Tao.
“Xiao Tao, go back and take good care of Immortal Lord Bai. I do not feel at ease with you not by his side.”
Then, Lin Rou smiled as she looked at Yan Qingge.
“True Disciple Yan, please.”