The month was almost up.
The suppressed San Ri Xiao Hun began to stir, its toxic effects gradually manifesting.
Ming Yue's body weakened day by day.
Although not as violent as the first outbreak, which had led to immediate unconsciousness, she was now entering a state of deep sleep, her conscious moments becoming fewer and fewer.
"All of you, find him! Search the entire Tian Xuan Continent if you must, but bring Qing Lan Shang Ren to me!"
Ji Shi You, in the front hall of Lan Yue Palace, threw a furious tantrum, driving everyone out.
Only three days remained until Ming Yue's poison would fully take hold.
But Qing Lan Shang Ren was nowhere to be found. Thinking of Ming Yue, lying in bed, lost in slumber,
Ji Shi You's mood turned volatile, filled with a murderous rage.
He had not slept for three days since Ming Yue had fallen into her coma.
He regretted not having detained Qing Lan Shang Ren earlier.
Now, he had fulfilled Qing Lan Shang Ren's demands, destroying the Tian Lang Kingdom and capturing Rao Di Sha. Yet, he had no way to find Qing Lan Shang Ren to cure Ming Yue.
To vent his pent-up frustration, he smashed everything in the front hall, leaving the place in ruins.
Ji Shi You returned to his chambers to see Ming Yue.
"Are you throwing a tantrum? I could hear your roaring from here."
Ming Yue lay weakly on the bed, her face ashen.
Seeing Ji Shi You enter, she managed a faint smile and spoke with great effort.
Her voice was hoarse, barely audible.
"You're awake? It's my subordinates' incompetence; I was reprimanding them.
Rest well, we will find Qing Lan Shang Ren soon.
Don't worry, even if we don't find him,
he will come to us if he wants Rao Di Sha's head."
Ji Shi You saw Ming Yue awake and sat by the bed, speaking cautiously.
He did not want Ming Yue to know that Qing Lan Shang Ren had vanished and could not be found.
"Don't try to comfort me; I heard everything.
Stop looking. I suspect he won't appear.
You don't need to hide it from me; I'm not afraid of death.
It's almost laughable. Before, I was filled with despair,
constantly seeking death, yet I couldn't die.
Now, I wish to live and spend my life with you,
but I am about to die. How ironic."
Ming Yue slowly raised her arm and caressed Ji Shi You's chin.
His stubble was thick from staying awake day and night by her side.
Looking at his bloodshot eyes, Ming Yue's own eyes were filled with longing.
She wasn't afraid of death; she was only reluctant to leave Ji Shi You.
"Nonsense, you won't die. I won't let you die.
Even if I have to turn this entire continent upside down, I will find Qing Lan Shang Ren and force him to hand over the antidote."
Ji Shi You wiped away his tears and prepared to go search himself.
"Don't go. Stay with me a little longer!
And don't let anyone else search. It's futile.
The Tian Xuan Continent is vast; how can it be easy to find one person?
If he intends to hide, he cannot be found.
As you said, if he wants Rao Di Sha's head,
he will come to us. Don't waste your energy.
I have one request for you. Can you promise me?"
Ming Yue held Ji Shi You's hand, not wanting him to leave.
She knew very well that Qing Lan Shang Ren wanted her dead.
She just didn't want to say it and make Ji Shi You sad.
"Tell me. You don't need to ask.
Whatever you say, I will agree to it all."
Ji Shi You, a man of iron will, looked at the frail Ming Yue,
unable to stop his tears, weeping like a woman.
"Since I came to Yue City, I've had one wish.
That is to return to Wu Man. While my mind is still clear,
I want to see Wu Man again, to see its mountains and its waters.
Then, I will have no regrets even in death."
Ming Yue's voice grew fainter.
After expressing her wish, she fell back into a deep sleep.
"Yes, yes, I promise. I will take you back to Wu Man."
Ji Shi You covered Ming Yue with the quilt and sent for Yun Shu and his brothers.
"I've decided to take Ming Yue back to Wu Man.
There are some matters I need to entrust to you.
After I leave, Yun Shu will act as regent.
You two will assist him. If I do not return within a month, Yun Shu will ascend the throne."
Ji Shi You's words caused the faces of Yun Shu and his two brothers to change drastically.
They understood the implication: Ji Shi You was already contemplating death.
"My decision is made. There's no need for further discussion.
Guard the Ming Yue Dynasty. This is the mark that Ming Yue and I
have left on the Tian Xuan Continent."
As Yun Shu and his brothers were about to persuade Ji Shi You, he refused them.
He turned and entered the bedchamber, and when he emerged, he was holding the sleeping Ming Yue in his arms.
He mounted his horse and rode out of the palace gates.
Two days later, on the border of Wu Man, horses galloped swiftly.
"Ji Shi You, have we reached Wu Man yet?
I can smell the scent of Wu Man; it feels so familiar!"
Ming Yue, who had woken from her slumber, asked softly.
"We have. In half a day, we'll reach Cang City.
You'll be able to see your Emperor and Empress, and return to the place where you grew up.
We'll see the osmanthus trees you love, and then we'll go to She Shen Cliff outside the city."
Ji Shi You's voice was hoarse. He had been riding non-stop for three days and three nights without rest. Fortunately, he had instructed the relay stations along the way
to prepare fresh horses; otherwise, he might have endured, but the horses would not have.
"Ji Shi You, I don't think I can hold on much longer.
I'm so tired, I just want to sleep.
I have one last thing to tell you. You must remember it.
If I die, you must live well.
Don't do anything foolish. Forget me, and you will meet a girl you love.
Live happily, for both of us."
Ming Yue's consciousness was already fading, her lips murmuring instructions to Ji Shi You.
But in her mind, images of her and Ji Shi You as children flashed by.
They ran and played in the wilderness.
Her bell-like laughter echoed in her ears, along with Ji Shi You's rough voice during his adolescent years.
"Ming Yue, don't sleep!
Wake up, Cang City is just ahead.
Look, you can see She Shen Cliff. Open your eyes and look.
Please, open your eyes. You'll see your parents soon.
Don't sleep, don't sleep, I beg you!
You can't just abandon me. I won't love anyone else.
What happiness can there be in this world without you?"
Ji Shi You felt Ming Yue's breath growing weaker in his arms.
He urged his horse onward, tears streaming down his face as he roared.
But Ming Yue could no longer hear him. Her wish had been granted.
She had returned to Wu Man, to the place where she was born and raised.
A satisfied smile touched Ming Yue's lips.
Her eyes slowly closed, and with the jolting of the horse, her arm drooped.
The dagger, which had never left her side, slipped from her sleeve and fell into the dust.
"Ming Yue!"
Ji Shi You abruptly reined in the galloping horse and cried out to the heavens.
His heart-wrenching cry, mingled with the whinny of the warhorse, echoed in the heavens and earth for a long time.
After a long while, Ji Shi You dismounted, holding the lifeless Ming Yue.
He bent down, picked up the Lan Yue dagger from the ground, and walked step by step towards She Shen Cliff.
His eyes were devoid of emotion, neither sorrow nor joy.
Holding Ming Yue, he slowly ascended to the summit of She Shen Cliff.
With each step, scenes from his past with Ming Yue flashed through his mind.
Gazing at the woman in his arms with deep affection, Ji Shi You gently brushed aside Ming Yue's disheveled hair.
He held her tightly in his embrace, then leaped from the summit of She Shen Cliff, plunging into the abyss.
"If this life lacks fate, let us meet again in the next, a wish I make."
In mid-air, Ji Shi You's gaze never left Ming Yue's face.
He murmured the words, and with his right hand, plunged the Lan Yue dagger deep into his own chest.
"Another lifetime, and it is finally coming to an end!"
On the summit of She Shen Cliff, Qing Lan Shang Ren appeared.
Standing where Ji Shi You had jumped, he looked down and muttered to himself.
Just then, a flash of light appeared, and the Moon God materialized.
Then, with another flash of light, the Moon God fled back to the Moon Palace in disgrace.