A new day had dawned.

However, this new day was to become Chen Hao's last day.

Underneath the broad canopy of a leafy tree, Ye Yuqiao nestled in Chen Hao's embrace, with their backs against the trunk.

Since their meeting the previous night, they had never parted, unwilling to waste even a single moment.

Ye Yuqiao had wanted to plead with the Dust King, but she decided against it. For her, it was better to spend time with Chen Hao than to waste it on the Dust King's mercy.

They wished they could finish a lifetime's worth of conversations, wished they could fulfill a lifetime's worth of kisses. However, they found that the more they spoke, the more they had to say, and the desire to kiss one another only grew stronger.

The Dust Realm had no distinct seasons, it was forever spring, with wildflowers in the woods blooming every day, emitting a romantic fragrance, and the breeze was as soft as rain every day.

"Yuqiao, after I'm gone, for my sake, you have to live well," Chen Hao whispered into Ye Yuqiao's ear.

"You're so cruel!" Ye Yuqiao's voice was incredibly hoarse, "How can I live well without you?"

After a long while, Chen Hao said, "I remember a couple of days ago, Yi Ning asked me a question. She asked me if I hoped that you would one day fall in love with someone, someone who would treat you as well as I do."

"Do you hope so?"

It took a long time before Chen Hao finally uttered a "hmm."

Ye Yuqiao lifted Chen Hao's arm and bit it hard, angrily saying, "Bastard!"

"Actually, I really hope not," Chen Hao kissed Ye Yuqiao's forehead, "but what I hope even more is that you'll be happy and joyful in the future."

Ye Yuqiao let go of Chen Hao's hand, sat up from his embrace, and said coldly, "Then I promise you, I'll fall in love with someone else in the future, okay?"

Chen Hao's face showed a bitter expression; he looked quite awful and after being stunned for a moment, he finally said a "hmm."

Ye Yuqiao turned back to look at him, her eyes filled with resentment. After staring steadily for a while, tears fell again from her eyes, then she collapsed into Chen Hao's arms and said in distress, "Bastard, how can you say such a thing, asking me to fall in love with someone else? Do you think letting go of someone in your heart or falling in love with someone is easy? Do you know how much I like you, how you've moved into my heart and can never be driven out?"

"I'm sorry!" Chen Hao apologized once more; since the previous night, he had said sorry so many times.

"Fool, I know you're looking out for me. But happiness and joy are defined differently by different people, do you understand?"

Chen Hao nodded and once again mentioned sorry.

"Stop saying sorry to me, I hate it!" Ye Yuqiao pinched Chen Hao's cheek, "You've done nothing to apologize for, you've been wonderful, and I should be thankful. Thankful for your care and love, for everything you've done for me, thankful for loving me!"

"Then I'll just say thank you," Chen Hao showed a rare smile on his face, "I should thank you too. Thanks for entrusting me with the Nether King's Heart, for letting me meet you, for making me a better person. And of course, most of all, thank you for loving me."

After smiling, Ye Yuqiao sighed wistfully, "Chen Hao, do you have any regrets?"

"Yes! My biggest regret is not being able to accompany you to eternity."

"What else?"

"I haven't helped you defeat the Ghost King; I haven't ridden horses with you all over the Netherworld; also, I haven't married you. I remember you said that after we defeat the Ghost King, you'll marry me."

Ye Yuqiao looked at the Dust King Ring in Chen Hao's hand, "If only we had two Dust King Rings, I could wear one too. It turns out there were so many things we had yet to do together. My biggest regret is that I won't live to see the day I marry you, to make you a king's man."

Chen Hao chuckled, saying, "Right, I forgot, I once aspired to be a king's man!"

..

..

Time flew by swiftly, and the setting sun gave way to the night.

Less than an hour remained until the deadline given to Chen Hao by the Dust King Chen Ji.

Chen Hao walked through the woods, holding Ye Yuqiao's hand as they went to say farewell to Lin Huashan and Yi Ning.

With death approaching, fear had ebbed in his heart, replaced by a tranquil despair. The reluctance in his heart was all reflected in his gaze that continued to linger on Ye Yuqiao.

In the moment before he left, he just wanted to take one more look at Ye Yuqiao.

Ye Yuqiao, with her head lowered, clung to Chen Hao, her face as pale as death.

"Could you smile for me?" whispered Chen Hao in Ye Yuqiao's ear, "You are most beautiful when you smile, whether it's a heartfelt one, a shy and timid one, or a bewitching one."

Ye Yuqiao lifted her head and turned to look at Chen Hao. After a brief pause, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, struggling to show her smile. Following that, two streams of tears fell from her eyes.

"What about now, smiling through tears?" asked Ye Yuqiao in a tone of despair, "Is it still beautiful?"

"Still very beautiful, but so heartbreaking," said Chen Hao, his eyes reddening. Then he closed his eyes and kissed Ye Yuqiao's forehead. Taking a deep breath, he sobbed, "I'm sorry, I won't be able to be with you anymore, I'm truly sorry."

With that, Chen Hao hugged Ye Yuqiao tightly and said, "I really, really don't want to let you go!"

At that moment, the forest wind, with the night's arrival, brought a chill, and its howling sounded like a cry. Amongst the wind's tearing, someone was holding a weeper, leaving behind the thin silhouette in the shroud of night.

Before long, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao found Lin Huashan and Yi Ning.

Upon seeing Chen Hao, Lin Huashan and Yi Ning cried even harder.

"Chen Hao, I'm useless!" Lin Huashan said through her tears, pausing with every word, "I pleaded with the Dust King, but not only did I fail to convince him to set you free, I ended up angering him. I was expelled from the mountain, depriving you of your last chance of survival."

Ye Yuqiao, with her head bowed, let go of Chen Hao's hand she had been tightly holding and sent a silent message, "Take the time to say goodbye to them properly."

"Are you sure you won't get jealous?" Chen Hao teased.

"Stop being annoying, just go," Ye Yuqiao said, burying her head lower, not wanting Chen Hao to see the expression on her face at that moment.

Chen Hao stepped forward, gently embraced Lin Huashan and said, "Silly girl, how could this be your fault? I should be thanking you for pleading with the Dust King on my behalf. From now on, take good care of yourself."

After Chen Hao spoke, Lin Huashan broke down completely, collapsing onto the grass and bursting into loud sobs.

Chen Hao smiled wryly before turning to Yi Ning, who was weeping profusely, and said, "Remember to take the knife later and stab me for the sake of avenging your father, King Ning. After you've had your revenge, also live well."

Yi Ning stared at Chen Hao for a long time before finally nodding.

Chen Hao turned back to look at Ye Yuqiao, just as he was about to leave. Suddenly, he felt a powerful force surge from the Dust King Ring on his right hand into his body, shocking his Yin Soul like an electric shock.

"Ah!" Chen Hao let out a scream.

Ye Yuqiao immediately lifted her head to look at Chen Hao.

"Are you leaving now?"

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