Zhang Han was in a tight spot now. He didn't know what he could do to save both of them. On one side was his uncle, his best friend, his blood relative, Xiao Zhiyuan. And on the other side was that beautiful girl he fell in love with, Lily.
"Time is ticking, boy!"
Zhang Han really despised that man with his grating voice. Oh, how he badly wanted to smash that face.
"Xiao Han!" He looked towards Lily who called him and his eyes softened instantly. "I owe my master a lot for saving my life and I owe you a lot more for allowing me to see the beauty of feelings and emotions." She bit her lips before continuing, "I never thought I could love anyone. But your goofball personality took me by surprise."
Zhang Han's lips curled up slightly. Was it really a confession or he was just overthinking? But whether it was or not, he was certain this was not the place or time for all this.
"Let's talk after getting out of here," he said.
Lily shook her head. "No, this is my last chance to say it." Zhang Han's brows knitted up at her words. "I can feel ants crawling in my veins. I know it's poison." Zhang Han stared stunned at her. They actually poisoned her?! "There is no way I'm leaving this place alive."
"We'll find a cure. My grandmaster can find a cure for you," said Zhang Han trying to be optimistic.
Lily tried smiling at him, "As much as I fell for that optimistic outlook of yours, I have to tell you that I don't have that much time left."
"We'll find another way then," he had an inkling of where she was going with this talk and he was genuinely scared now. He didn't feel this kind of fear when he was cornered, outnumbered, hurt, or wounded. But now fear was crawling into his heart. "Just trust me. I'll do everything in my power to..."
"Xiao Han..." Zhang Han stopped rambling on when she called him again. "Thank you for coming into my life."
"No..." Zhang Han shook his head frantically.
"Thank you for making me feel like a human again," she added.
Zhang Han's eyes stung with tears but he held it back.
"Also, thank you for loving someone like me." Lily took a deep breath as tears rolled down her eyes. He asked her to hold her anchor to hold onto her sanity. That idiot didn't know he was that anchor she held with dear life just because she didn't want to turn into a monster he'd come to hate.
"Ah, such heart touching confessions. But it can't save you, kids!" Those words made Zhang Han's blood boil.
But instead of paying attention to them, he tried to coax Lily, "Don't you dare. Don't you even think about doing that."
Lily smiled at him through her tears and said, "I love you." He was stunned at his place again. "Save Yuan at any cost! You must do it!" Those were her last words before she chucked her head ahead making that blade at her neck dug deeper into her throat. Blood gushed down without any restraint as her whole body went limp.
"NO!!!"
"NO!!!"
Yuan and Zhang Han's screams rang out in the room.
*THUD*
With a thud, Lily's body fell down on the ground lifeless. Zhang Han kept staring at her lifeless body while Yuan's heart almost stopped beating. Someone just gave up on her life just to save him? Why? He didn't even deserve it!
While Yuan was still in shock, Zhang Han had lost all his caution. He was being so careful with his actions just because he had someone he wanted to save. But now, she was gone. All he wanted now was blood.
"AHHH!!" With a raging scream, he ran towards the person who held Yuan.
When the burly man saw Zhang Han rushing up to him, he tried to clit Yuan's throat. However, Zhang Han already was a step ahead as he threw a shard of glass he picked up cutting his handoff. He threw Yuan to one side and picked up his sword. He held the blade even, a perfect, undaunted horizon; leveled with his nose.
He stalled the oncoming strikes from the wretched attackers. His blade was now like a symbol of brutality. He who was eager to get it done with before was now taking his sweet time cutting their guts out without any sympathy or hesitation. He was humming a low tune with a weird glimmer in his eyes as his sword flashed around and the enemy fell down to his feet.
No, he didn't kill anyone of them. He wasn't gonna go that easy on them! Never! Ever! They could only crawl on the floor and beg for death because he certainly wasn't gonna allow them to die without suffering his wrath.
His whole body was again drenched in blood. Even his face was unrecognizable. He fell on his knees before Lily's body and held her up, hugging her close to his chest. "Why are you so stubborn? I said I'll find a way!" His tears finally fell down as he broke down.
Yuan's daze was only broken with Zhang Han's loud wrenching cries as he held Lily tightly in his arms. Yuan had seen Zhang Han's obsession with her. Even when Zhang Han said it was love at first sight, Yuan would only make fun of him. But now... Now, he didn't even know who was joking back then.
With wobbly legs, he came up to Zhang Han and said in a throaty voice, "I'm sorry, Xiao Han. This is all my fault. I'm really sorry! If only I had been the one to..."
Zhang Han glared at him, "Little uncle, don't you dare apologize for being alive." His tone and expression scared Yuan. "Your apology means that her death was in vain. If you blamed yourself then you're actually saying that she was a fool for saving you."
"I didn't mean that..."
"Whether you mean it or not, you need to remember this moment. She gave her life, not for you. She set herself free. This was the only freedom she could possibly have after everything she went through. She liked you a lot. She cared about you a lot. Don't let her down by looking like you're a burden on this world. If someone is willing to give their lives for you, at least act like you deserved it!"
Zhang Han's words struck a chord. Yuan contemplated those words before he got up and picked a scalpel from beside the bed he was tied to. As he went up to those groaning and crying people who had become prey to Zhang Han's brutal attacks, he crouched down beside them and said, "I'll never be the weak one again."
"AHHH!"
Zhang Han heard screams from behind him but he didn't turn to look at what Yuan was up to. He didn't care. He already knew the consequences of today.
Xiao Zhiyuan was never gonna be the same person ever again!