As I spoke, I took a few steps forward. At this moment, Jun He also stepped in front of me. With anger on his face, he said to Bai Xiangjun, "My mother died because of your son. Since I'm not going to die today, you'll go down and greet her on my behalf."
Seeing us approaching, Gu Yuan pulled Bai Xiangjun behind him and said in a calm voice, "I know my mother has committed unpardonable sins, but as her son, I can't just stand by and watch her die."
After hearing this, Jun He scoffed and said, "Then where were you when she killed Bai Qi? As the grand master of the hall, could you just watch your mother kill Bai Qi and do nothing?"
"I'm sorry... I won't shirk my responsibility for Bai Qi's death."
"You have no way to shirk it," Jun He took a step forward, pointed his finger at Gu Yuan's nose and scolded.
Gu Yuan didn't say anything more. His deep eyes turned to me.
I didn't avoid his gaze. Instead, I looked at him firmly. Gu Yuan had never seen me so angry before. The friendship between me and Bai Qi was not just an ordinary one.
Back then, I almost fell out with Gu Yuan because of Bai Qi. So it's not hard to tell that if there's no explanation today, I definitely won't let it go.
Gu Yuan looked back at Bai Xiangjun. The wound on her chest was so deep that the bone was visible. She was seriously injured.
"Mother, you once taught me that those who do wrong must pay the price. So... I'm sorry. I'll take away this evil skill of yours."
Before Bai Xiangjun could say anything, Gu Yuan placed his palm on the wound I had just scratched. Immediately afterwards, Bai Xiangjun's body began to tremble violently.
"Hahaha... Yuan'er, you're really my good son..."
With a shrill scream from Bai Xiangjun, she slumped to the ground like a boneless hen.
"Now that I've taken away her skills, from now on, she won't do any more evil. Please spare her life, Lan Lan."
I folded my hands behind my back and watched this scene coldly, with no sign of emotion on my face.
"Is that it?" I asked coldly.
"What else do you want?"
"First, I want her to kneel and apologize in front of Bai Qi."
Gu Yuan looked at Bai Xiangjun. At this moment, she was like a useless person. There was no way she could get up.
"Lan Lan... I know you're full of hatred, but you've also heard the saying that the son pays for the mother's debts. I'll pay for everything."
Saying that, Gu Yuan knelt in front of Bai Qi and kowtowed three times on the ground.
However, this wasn't the result I wanted. While Gu Yuan was away, I walked up to Bai Xiangjun.
A thick gloom surrounded me. I held the dagger Bai Qi had given me, and every word I said was gritted through my teeth.
"I'm going to take your life." As I spoke, I stepped forward.
I lifted the dagger and aimed it at Bai Xiangjun's heart again.
"Goddess, wait..." A sudden ethereal voice came from the air.
Before my dagger could pierce Bai Xiangjun's heart, it was knocked away by something the size of a pearl.
A spark burst from the blade, and it deviated from its original direction.
The dagger grazed Bai Xiangjun's shoulder. Seeing this, I immediately slapped her chest with my other hand.
Bai Xiangjun was severely hit. She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, along with her inner core.
"Don't..." Bai Xiangjun tried to crawl over to get her inner core back.
However, I tightened my palm, and I grabbed the inner core before her.
"Give it back to me..." Bai Xiangjun lay on the ground and roared at me desperately.
"Sure, I'll give it back to you. But only if you kill yourself in front of Bai Qi."
"Lan Lan..." Gu Yuan wanted to say something else. I angrily threw the dagger in my hand at him.
The dagger was stuck obliquely on the ground. Gu Yuan stood still and looked down at the dagger. He swallowed the words he was about to say.
"Unless Bai Qi comes back to life, please don't say anything more." My voice was cold to the bone. I never thought that one day I would talk to Gu Yuan in such an attitude.
"You and Bai Qi will meet again if you're fated. Goddess, your hands are not for killing, but for saving lives."
The ethereal voice came again. Following the direction of the voice, a man in a black robe appeared in front of me.
"The Ten Kings of Hades?" I blurted out. I didn't expect him to come.
He nodded at me, then turned his eyes to Bai Xiangjun and continued, "This person has been dead for a thousand years. Please hand her over to me and let me take her back to the underworld for punishment."
"No... As long as Bai Qi doesn't come back to life, no one can take her away..."
"Hahaha... Goddess, everything is predestined. As long as you and Lord San are kind-hearted, you'll surely meet again if you're fated."
Jun He quickly walked to my side and whispered, "The Ten Kings of Hades are always fair and just. I believe he'll give Bai Qi justice."
Gu Yuan turned around and stood in front of me. His face was full of apology. He knelt in front of me on both knees again.
"Lan Lan... Please let the Ten Kings of Hades make the decision."
Seeing Gu Yuan kneeling, I frowned slightly. My heart was filled with mixed feelings.
I took a deep breath, looked at Bai Xiangjun's inner core, and crushed it into powder in front of her.
Seeing the inner core disappear, Bai Xiangjun's mask slipped off. She seemed to be in despair.
"Bai Xiangjun, you've done so many evil things. If Bai Qi can't come back to life, I'll definitely break into the underworld and dig out your heart."
Seeing that I agreed, the Ten Kings of Hades pulled Bai Xiangjun away.
I glanced at Gu Yuan out of the corner of my eye. Although I was so reluctant to part with him, I didn't show it at all.
Jun He and I walked straight to Bai Qi. He picked up Bai Qi, and the three of us disappeared at the entrance of the cave.
Gu Yuan was left alone at the entrance of the cave. From afar, I heard a sorrowful dragon's roar.
I had already made up my mind. Since he gave me freedom, I would live freely.
...
When I got home, I was in a daze. As soon as I stepped into the hall, I fell to the ground.
People around me were calling my name, but there was a constant ringing in my ears, and the sound was getting louder and louder.
Until I couldn't hear the voices of the people around me at all. All I could see was darkness in front of me.
I don't know how long this state lasted. Just when I thought I might be dead.
Suddenly, a clear voice came to my ears. The voice was like the spring water in the mountains, clear and pleasant.
"Lan Lan..."
Following this call, I suddenly opened my eyes. It seemed that I was in a green grassland. I looked around, trying to find the source of the voice.
The voice was very close, as if it was right next to my ear, but it was also very far away, because I couldn't catch where it came from.
Hearing this voice, I wanted to cry, but I held it back. A sunny smile appeared on my face.