101 Tragic News, Collapse, I Like You (5)

“Tell me, what happened to that girl?” Blood smeared across his face, Xuan Ye clutched the massive foot pressing down on his chest like a vengeful spirit, his eyes bloodshot and burning with fury.

“Tell me, what did you do to her?”

He struggled fiercely, his mind consumed by a single thought—Xiao Xi.

“Hmph.” With a heavy step, the Golden Lion stood impassive, bending down to look calmly at Xuan Ye, feigning innocence. “What girl? I don’t know anything about her.”

“Pft...” Xuan Ye coughed up blood again as his chest caved under the pressure. Weakened beyond measure, yet he still gripped the Golden Lion’s foot with desperate strength. He refused to surrender; he simply wouldn’t accept it.

“How could you not know? How could you possibly not know?” he roared, teeth clenched tight. Blood pooled beneath him in a vivid scarlet stain. He struggled with all his might, but the massive foot on his chest remained unyielding.

“You’re done for, kid. What exactly are you babbling about?” The Golden Lion’s eyes flickered with a rare emotion. Xuan Ye’s expression mirrored that of a wounded beast—mad, helpless, utterly desperate.

“Four years ago, a man and a woman fell from Sky Island. The man was rescued by Karp, but the woman... you, Golden Lion, took her away. How could you not know? Tell me, where is she? Where is she?”

Xuan Ye’s eyes cracked with terror as he gasped for breath, his face contorted in agony, his voice torn with hopelessness.

“Four years ago... Sky Island... Karp...” The Golden Lion’s expression faltered, as if recalling a distant memory. He frowned and looked down at Xuan Ye. “You’re from Sky Island?”

“Tell me where she is!” Xuan Ye stared intently, pushing himself to the limit. The change in the Golden Lion’s face confirmed what he feared.

“She’s gone,” came the cold reply.

“Gone?” Xuan Ye released his grip on the foot and clawed at the ground, bending over as he tried to rise, eyes blazing with murderous intent. “What do you mean gone?”

“Gone means gone. Or maybe she’s dead.”

The blow struck like thunder. Xuan Ye collapsed heavily onto the ground. His grimace froze in place as he whispered, “Dead? Dead?”

“Whatever. You’re dying anyway. Farewell, nobody,” the Golden Lion sneered, shaking his head in disdain. He raised a withered wooden staff, aiming it squarely at Xuan Ye’s heart.

“Impossible... you killed her. You killed Xiao Xi.” Suddenly, a furious fire erupted within Xuan Ye. His eyes turned blood red, flames roared around him, and a wild, violent aura shot up into the sky.

“Lie down!” The Golden Lion’s expression darkened, his foot pressing down with renewed force, cracking the ground anew.

“I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you...” Losing all reason, Xuan Ye writhed beneath the Golden Lion’s foot like a desperate insect.

Despair, rage, murderous intent—Xuan Ye’s heart shattered completely. His only thought was revenge.

He had waited so long. How could she die? He hadn’t even seen her once more, hadn’t heard that familiar “Brother!”

“Ah... give me back my sister! I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you...”

Transparent tears streaked his cheeks, mingling with the blood. Xuan Ye’s heart was crushed to ashes; now, his sole purpose was vengeance.

“You’re not worth keeping alive.” The Golden Lion’s eyes gleamed with killing intent. The power emanating from this kid was terrifying—he barely contained it. If given a few more years, the outcome was unthinkable.

“Die!” He raised his sword high and thrust it down.

“Whoosh...” A gust of air stirred as a figure appeared beside Xuan Ye, pushing with all their might. The sword pierced through.

“Pft...” Scalding blood sprayed, a sorrowful beauty frozen in time.

“I’ll kill you... I’ll kill you...” Despite the agony, the sword pierced Xuan Ye’s shoulder. Yet atop him, a frail figure had been pierced through as well.

“Mingxin Slash.” A voice strained with pain, blood blooming like a crimson flower. The fragile figure wielded a sword, turning to strike back at the Golden Lion.

“Whoosh...” The Golden Lion retreated, frowning.

“Cough... cough...” Blood spattered across Xuan Ye’s face. Perhaps the searing pain rekindled his clarity. He opened his eyes wide, stunned.

“Tao... Tao Tu...”

Gazing down at the bloodied figure collapsed on his chest, Xuan Ye shook his head, disbelief clouding his features.

“Too... close...” Blood dribbled from his lips; her delicate face was pale, her chest wound gushing with blood.

“Tao Tu, how... how did you...” Bent over, Xuan Ye cradled her, anxiety etched deep.

“You were so terrifying just now. You must live...” Resting on his chest, hearing his pounding heartbeat, Tao Tu’s eyelids grew heavy. She longed to sleep...

“Hey! Are you alright? Are you okay?” Reaching out, Xuan Ye’s hand was stained crimson. Lowering his gaze, his pupils shrank—her heart was mangled beyond repair.

“This can’t be real... it can’t be...” He shook his head, clutching her chest, eyes moist.

“I... I love... you... you have to live... live...” Her frail fingers twitched, trying to touch his stunned face, but... it felt so far away...

The delicate hand fell limp onto the ground. Xuan Ye froze, unable to believe it.

“Tao Tu? What did you say? I didn’t catch it...”

“What? Say it again...”

“What’s wrong? Don’t sleep... I want to hear you say it once more...”

Silence. The figure in his arms lay still. Panic surged through Xuan Ye as he hurried to lift Tao Tu, but all he saw was a peaceful face, eyes closed in eternal rest.

No breath, her body growing cold, the familiar scent of her hair fading as if carried away with her soul.

“Don’t joke... don’t die... don’t...”

“This isn’t real, it can’t be... Xiao Xi won’t die, and neither will you...”

His eyes lost their color, tears streaming down. In that moment, Xuan Ye’s heart died.

“Ah... ah...” He shattered once more, crying out to the heavens like a helpless child lost in agony.

“Whoosh...” Just then, a terrifying translucent thread sliced through the earth, hurtling toward Xuan Ye.

“Ding!” A shadow appeared instantly. Ghost Spider, wielding twin swords, spanned several meters on the ground, blocking Xuan Ye’s path.

“Hiss... another Navy,” a sharp voice sneered as a figure stepped forward, revealing himself fully.

“Doflamingo.” Ghost Spider’s expression darkened; he clearly held some unease toward this man.

“Hiss... Has that old hag Crane died yet? She’s been on my tail nonstop lately!” Doflamingo grinned wickedly, flanked by Trebol and Diamante as they approached Ghost Spider directly.

“Doflamingo, let’s kill the Navy Sky Bird and this little bug today. Consider it the price for that old hag Crane hunting us,” Trebol sniffed, offering a suggestion.

“Not a bad idea!”

“Captain Moria, what do we do?” Nearby, a group of pirates revealed their ambitions.

“No rush. The Navy may have an ambush here. Our real target is the New World,” the large figure of Moonlight Moria said cautiously.

“What about the Golden Lion?”

“Fool, that guy’s beyond me.” Moria showed rare self-awareness, knowing he was no match for the Golden Lion.

“So we...?”

“Leave. Head to the New World!” Moria surveyed the three factions without hesitation, choosing retreat.

...............................................................

Thanks to “April’s Memories” for the generous tip of 2000 Qidian Coins. Here’s a chapter in gratitude.