CHAPTER 128: THE SLACKER PRINCESS REFUSES TO BE CANNON FODDER (FINALE)

On the contrary, deep down there was a sense of unease.

If Jiang Lai found out about all this, she would surely never forgive herself.

Fortunately, in this vast, cruel battlefield of wind and sand, all filthy deeds could be deeply buried under the yellow earth. He needed to fulfill the obsession in his heart, to comfort the spirits of his loved ones in heaven. So today, he was determined to complete all plans and reclaim everything that belonged to him.

When Jiang Lai was mentioned, Jiang Xiong’s face was filled only with desolation and despair.

The child he loved most was gone, betrayed by the very wolf in sheep’s clothing he had brought back himself.

"Jiang Ling, though the wrongs and debts have their origins, I was the one who killed back then. Why do you have to harm the innocent? You avenged your great feud, but pity my Lai, it was me who killed her...it was me...it was me!!"

After speaking, Jiang Xiong suddenly spat out a pool of fresh blood, splattering on the yellow sand, red and glaring.

The next second, he gasped for breath, pupils dilated, clutching his chest with one hand, mouth wide open as if wanting to say something, and finally, he collapsed heavily to the ground under Jiang Ling’s shocked gaze, lifeless.

Jiang Ling dismounted to check, only to find Jiang Xiong already dead.

He frowned deeply, trying hard to control the surge of panic and unease, slowly stood up and ordered for Jiang Xiong’s body to be properly settled and sent back.

Sharp as ever, after a momentary daze, he felt a gaze from behind, the presence so strong, filled with intense hatred, causing him to slowly turn around to see the figure in black armor behind him.

By now, the strong wind had gradually subsided, and across several meters of distance, he clearly saw a pair of tear-filled eyes, shocked, grief-stricken, resentful, and despairing.

At that moment, his heart nearly stopped beating, his throat felt as if gripped by an invisible hand, making it extremely difficult to utter a sound.

He stared incredulously at those eyes, instinctively stepping closer.

"Jiang Lai..."

Why, why was she here?

Had she seen everything that just happened?

What had he done?

Confessed all his secrets, used her to kill her father, Jiang Xiong’s body still lay on the ground, and Jiang Lai staggered forward, collapsing to her knees on the hard yellow sand, tears falling madly, trembling lips helplessly and despairingly calling out for Jiang Xiong.

"Father...Father, what’s wrong? Father, I’m Lai, won’t you open your eyes to look at me? Father...Father, I’m sorry, I wrongly trusted the villain, it’s all my fault, all my fault!!"

Saying this, Jiang Lai fiercely pounded her chest, while Jiang Ling hurriedly stepped forward, wanting to hold her.

"Jiang Lai, Jiang Lai... listen to my explanation, listen to me..."

Jiang Lai quietly watched him, eyes deep as a cold pond, hiding a turbulent hatred beneath.

She shed silent tears, yet smiled and asked him.

"Explain what? That you didn’t use me? Or that you didn’t harm my father? Jiang Ling, why don’t you kill me too."

Saying this, she drew the sword from Jiang Ling’s waist and placed it against her neck directly, and as Jiang Ling tried to snatch it, Jiang Lai stepped back, and a bloodstain appeared on her neck, the pain seeming to affect Jiang Ling instead.

He cautiously soothed her.

"Jiang Lai, I killed Father, don’t you want revenge? Point the sword at me, it is I who deserve to die, not you, understand?"

Now he just wanted to stabilize Jiang Lai, to control her, there would always be a way to handle things later on.

Jiang Lai’s tears were almost dried up.

She looked up at the sky, slowly lowered the sword.

"Jiang Ling, I was born a burden to my parents, as a daughter I never fulfilled any filial duty, as a wife I was kept in the dark by my husband, as a sister I shamelessly fell for my brother... Jiang Ling, living is too exhausting for me, I am about to die."

Just after she spoke, a spear behind pierced the cold air with dreadful force and stabbed fiercely and unexpectedly into Jiang Lai’s chest.

Her body feebly leaned forward, face ghastly pale, blood gushing from the wound on her chest.

She lowered her gaze to the spear at her chest, a smile on her lips, and then raised her head reluctantly to look at Jiang Xiong, wanting to say something, but her throat was already choked with blood.

"Jiang Lai——!!"

Jiang Ling screamed as he rushed over, holding the collapsing Jiang Lai in his arms.

Her body was so light, soft beneath the armor, but now pierced through by a spear. Jiang Ling’s hands were covered in blood, and frantic and helpless he tried to cover the wound, but no matter what he did, he couldn’t stop Jiang Lai’s hands from slowly falling.

"Medic!! Medic!!"

He screamed, a look of unparalleled panic and helplessness on his face.

"Jiang Lai, keep your eyes open, don’t die, hang in there a little longer, okay? Who did this... who..."

"Ling, hold me, I’m so cold."

Jiang Ling didn’t dare to hold her, but Jiang Lai used her last bit of strength to wrap her arms around his waist, her hat falling, black hair cascading down as she looked up at Jiang Ling with a difficult smile.

"Ling, you know...a story, once it has a tragic beginning, will surely end in tragedy. Between us, full of lies, it’s impossible to have a good ending."

Jiang Lai coughed up a mouthful of blood, the blood sliding down the corner of her lips, Jiang Ling helplessly wiped it, his eyes swelling red beyond belief.

"Jiang Lai, you can’t die, you can’t die, tell me how I can stop this? What should I do?"

Jiang Lai held him, and her hands behind his back slowly clasped the blade of the longsword, blood seeping from her palms, she whispered close to Jiang Ling’s ear, loving and gentle.

"Ling, the road to the afterlife is too lonely, accompany me, won’t you?"

Finishing her words, she fiercely thrust the longsword into Jiang Ling’s back, using all her strength, piercing through his heart as well.

Jiang Ling’s eyes widened, staring intently at Jiang Lai.

He still held her, unwilling to let go.

At this moment, Jiang Lai finally let out a relieved laugh, with her bloody hands she gently caressed Jiang Ling’s face one last time.

"That’s good, you’ve had your revenge, and I...have had mine."

With that, Jiang Lai’s hands fell, eyes closing slowly, life ceased.

In her final moment, Jiang Ling held her tightly, whispering softly like in a dream.

"You were the only family I had in this world."

"Jiang Lai, slow down, wait for me."

He bore no hatred for her, nor much regret.

Actually, on second thought, now that he had avenged himself, and Jiang Lai was gone, the world really held no meaning for him alone.

In the past, hatred sustained him, but now?

Death wasn’t so terrifying, at least, he still had Jiang Lai with him.

The yellow sand filled the sky, a man and a woman perished in each other’s arms.

After Heng Country’s brief retreat, Great General Jiang Xiong awoke severely wounded and led his soldiers to wipe out the rebels.