You Died in Front of the Girl

"It seems we've reached the end of the road."

A calm voice echoed through the heavens and earth.

Compared to her innocent childhood and sickly adolescence, Xu Moli at the age of 20 had eyes as deep as dark pools, a countenance as cold and peerless as a celestial being, and a demeanor that seemed to descend from the heavens like a flying immortal. Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, gently tied with a jade hairpin. Her slender fingers gripped a sword, wielded to fend off enemies. Sharp, dominant, and incisive.

No one knew what experiences Xu Moli had endured, but every move she made carried a terrifying power, striking fear into the hearts of Demonic Path cultivators. However, human strength has its limits. As the Demonic Path cultivators set up a grand formation, Xu Moli, with her mere Foundation Establishment cultivation, quickly found herself trapped in a desperate situation, surrounded and hunted.

Was she about to die?

Feeling the dwindling reserves of her spiritual energy and her nearly shattered flying sword, she glanced at the tightly sealed Demonic Path formation around her. Xu Moli smiled, her smile carrying a hint of killing intent.

"Demonic Path cowards, come and fight!"

Ignoring the so-called offer of surrender, in the shocked and furious gazes of the Demonic Path cultivators, the female sword immortal unleashed her final, breathtaking strike, instantly slaying two early-stage Golden Core cultivators. Then, she was struck by a barrage of spiritual artifacts and plummeted straight down from the sky.

The girl knew.

Given the current situation, no one would come to rescue her.

But she felt no fear, nor any regret.

Long ago, she had prepared herself for the possibility of death at any moment, especially since she had already walked the edge of the underworld once.

However, thinking of bidding farewell to the world, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of reluctance. There was the Heavenly Sword Sect, her master Li Wanshou, the Black Stone City, and—

The man who had accompanied her for most of her life, warm and reassuring, yet now long gone.

Over these three years, Xu Moli had experienced many things and visited many places.

But no matter how breathtaking the new scenery was, it couldn't fill the void left by the man's departure.

What kind of feelings did she harbor for that man? Every quiet night, Xu Moli would ask herself this question.

Was it hatred? Perhaps, for his unannounced departure.

Was it love? It seemed similar, yet different from the love and affection commonly spoken of. It was an indescribable, inexplicable emotion, a longing to be together forever.

But now, it no longer mattered.

After all, she was about to die.

Strangely, as her life hung by a thread, Xu Moli looked at the Demonic Path cultivators rearing to attack and found herself thinking with a sense of relief.

Thankfully, the man had already left the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Otherwise, he would be in danger today, and might even die. That was a scenario the girl could never bear to witness.

"Riiip—"

A sound like fabric tearing abruptly echoed across the sky, causing the girl, who had calmly awaited her death, to pause. She looked up and saw the despairing sky torn apart by a dazzling sword light.

Upon closer inspection, she could make out a familiar, blood-stained figure, staggering toward her.

It was her most trusted elder brother.

It was her one and only hero.

It was the person she rejoiced for and grieved over.

But why, why was that person here!?

"No, stop... please stop!"

"It's not allowed, absolutely not... don't come any closer—!!!" Panic and despair instantly overtook the girl's usually calm expression.

She vaguely sensed something, something terrifying, something she absolutely could not accept.

But Xu Xi continued to advance.

Just like before, when the girl needed him the most, he moved toward her.

...

【Pain, too much pain】

【Your consciousness is overwhelmed by endless agony, almost rendering you incapable of thought, but you still remember your purpose: to protect your sister】

【You drive your wooden sword back to the long-lost Heavenly Sword Sect】

【You see the sect in ruins, your fellow disciples slain, your grown-up sister surrounded by the Demonic Path】

【Without hesitation, you swing your wooden sword, using the old techniques to cut down those who seek to harm your precious treasure. You are discovered, and you engage in a fierce battle with the Demonic Path cultivators】

Muscles screamed in agony.

Bones shattered.

Blood sprayed.

On the battlefield of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Xu Xi was drenched in blood, looking as though he should have died long ago, yet he continued to move forward, numbly swinging the wooden sword in his hand.

An yuan-ying level spiritual energy, not his own, condensed into a rainbow-like blade.

It cut down a later-stage Golden Elixir cultivator.

But at the same time, the counterattack from the Demonic Path cultivators cost Xu Xi his foot, sliced off and lost.

"That's Xu Xi, the Heavenly Sword Sect's top disciple! Quickly, everyone, kill him!"

A Demonic Path cultivator cried out in fear, recognizing Xu Xi's identity.

His feat of instantly defeating a later-stage Golden Core cultivator was too astonishing.

The Demonic Path cultivators were terrified, feeling immense pressure, and they all joined forces to attack Xu Xi.

"Elder Brother!!!"

Xu Moli called out the long-forgotten term, her expression more panicked than ever before. She wanted to break the formation and fight alongside Xu Xi.

But she was too weak.

Her attacks couldn't breach the formation's defenses.

She could only watch, her eyes wide with despair, as the blood-stained figure fell again and again, only to rise once more.

"Please, stop..."

Another sword strike sliced through the air.

Four Golden Elixir Demonic Path cultivators perished, and Xu Xi paid the price of having both legs severed.

He could no longer stand, forced to crawl on the ground with his hands, moving forward in a slow, grotesque manner.

Blood flowed constantly from the wounds where his legs had been.

The earth along his path was soaked with blood, leaving long trails of drag marks.

The Demonic Path cultivators were horrified, momentarily unsure who the true demon was, but they still mustered their courage and continued their assault on Xu Xi.

This time, Xu Xi paid with his entire body being burned black and his left arm completely destroyed.

He eliminated the remaining Golden Core Demonic Path cultivators.

"No, don't do this... why, I'm just a burden..."

The girl's eyes were vacant, kneeling on the ground.

She wept uncontrollably.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, falling onto her body, her thighs. It was an expression of utter despair, of complete breakdown.

"Please, stop... don't come any closer... please..."

"Waaaah—!!!"

Snot and tears flowed freely.

Her body trembled with fear.

Seeing the figure before her, burned to a blackened, half-destroyed state, crawling forward with a single arm, the despair nearly buried her soul.

Unable to breathe, unable to think, every movement filled with immense sorrow.

She could only shiver in wait for the tragedy to unfold.

Crack—

Finally, the "monster" burned beyond recognition, propped itself up with its remaining right arm and the wooden sword, and struggled to crawl towards the formation imprisoning Xu Moli.

With his last bit of strength, his final reserves of spiritual energy,

He stabbed through the entire formation with a single sword strike.

Xu Xi's cracked lips parted slightly, as if trying to say something, but his vocal cords had been burned away, rendering him mute.

But Xu Moli understood. She knew what Xu Xi truly wanted to convey.

"I've come to save you, Moli."

"I didn't lie to you."

Thud—

Almost as soon as the formation shattered, Xu Xi closed his eyes slightly, feeling exhaustion flood over him in an instant. He could no longer do anything, only wanting to sleep forever.

In the girl's despairing, crumbling gaze, Xu Xi's blackened body dissipated in the wind.

Leaving no chance for her to save him.

Her mouth gaped open.

Wanting to cry but unable to.

Only able to emit desperate howls, repeatedly cursing her own incompetence.

【You died】

【Simulation ended】