Chapter 72 Hope

When the maid saw Xia Yan open his eyes, she let out a cry of surprise and hurried out of the room. A moment later, Tao Lu walked over, accompanied by the maid.

After dismissing the maid, Tao Lu closed the door and said with a smile, "Xia Yan, you're finally awake."

Her smile was faint, but the corners of her eyes held evident joy.

"I actually didn't die?" Xia Yan gave a bitter laugh. "Tao Lu, why didn't the Winged People kill me? I hardly think they would spare my life."

"That is indeed the case," Tao Lu replied with a wry smile. "I wasn't sure I could save you either. Asa said that once you woke up, you were to go see him with me. Of course, there's no need to rush; we can wait a little longer. I want to have a proper talk with Xia Yan right now."

"Alright," Xia Yan nodded.

Tao Lu sat on the edge of Xia Yan's bed like an ordinary girl, her clear eyes gazing into his face without speaking for a long time.

How should it be described? It was just like gazing affectionately at one's beloved.

Instead, Xia Yan felt rather uncomfortable.

"Xia Yan, while you were unconscious, I kissed you once," Tao Lu said in an extremely gentle voice.

Xia Yan's expression froze slightly, but he remained silent, perhaps not knowing what to say.

Tao Lu leaned in closer, face to face, until they could feel each other's breath. Her eyelashes curved gracefully, and her cheeks flushed, clearly revealing her shyness.

Yet she did not retreat. Moving her lips slightly further forward, she pressed a gentle kiss to the corner of Xia Yan's mouth.

It was a very light kiss, devoid of the burning, inseparable passion shared between lovers.

For Tao Lu, a mere physical kiss was not a true kiss at all. The meaning of a kiss lay in the love resonating between two souls; if Xia Yan could not feel her kiss, could it even be called a kiss?

Their lips parted.

"Xia Yan, when I left your side, I worried a great deal about the future. But now, I feel much better," Tao Lu smiled sweetly. "After all, I am Tao Lu, a girl who fears nothing. Even those two old men of the Winged People cannot issue absolute commands to me until absolute development is achieved."

"The most terrifying thing in this world is being unable to resist orders from superiors, forcing oneself to do things one has no desire to do," Tao Lu affirmed. "Yes, far more terrifying than death."

"Now, however, I am not so afraid anymore," Tao Lu smiled, though her eyes grew dim. "It's just a pity that Xia Yan is drifting further and further away from me. If only I hadn't left your side back then, and had managed to capture your heart."

Xia Yan offered a bitter smile.

"Xia Yan, there is something I want to ask you," Tao Lu said with a solemnity never seen before. "If it were simply to stay alive, and meant imprisoning you for the rest of your life, would you be willing to stay by my side forever?"

Xia Yan knew that Tao Lu never spoke idly; whatever she said carried profound meaning.

"This is the only possibility for survival, Xia Yan," Tao Lu said. "I am being very selfish. If I can imprison you for a lifetime and keep you by my side forever, even Asa will not kill you."

"The reason he wants to kill you is because your threat is too great. We cannot determine your future allegiance, nor do we wish to harbor such a terrifying enemy," Tao Lu said earnestly. "But do not think the reason for your execution is this incident with the Wilbur family; that is nothing of any real consequence."

Xia Yan's body stiffened.

"If Xia Yan is willing to stay by my side forever, I will love you eternally, more than my own life." A tender warmth filled Tao Lu's eyes as she swore by her very life.

Xia Yan did not answer, because he did not know how to respond.

Tao Lu understood. And how could he not feel the same?

After a long, long silence, Tao Lu sighed softly and laughed at herself, "As expected. Xia Yan could never agree to this condition, nor could I ever accept it. If he did, would I still be Tao Lu? Would you still be Xia Yan?"

"I'm sorry," Xia Yan gave a wry smile.

"There is no need to apologize," Tao Lu shook her head. "Then let us discuss the second possibility. Given Asa's character, even if the proposal to stay by my side is rejected, there is still a glimmer of hope for survival. No matter how difficult, giving up is never an option."

"Alright," Xia Yan nodded.

"Xia Yan, prepare yourself mentally!" Tao Lu's gaze turned resolute. "If our negotiations with Asa break down, then let me be the one to kill you, Xia Yan. At least let me draw the final curtain."

Tao Lu believed that rather than letting Xia Yan die at the hands of others, she would rather kill him herself.

"Okay!" It was difficult for Xia Yan to respond to Tao Lu's words. He felt he owed her far too much, yet now, she was going to exhaust every effort to keep him alive.

What a difficult dilemma! Who could possibly resolve it? Even the gods would give up, yet in Tao Lu's eyes, that sliver of hope was never abandoned.

"Wait for me a moment, I'll be right back." Tao Lu flashed a faint smile at Xia Yan, opened the door, and left the room.

As she closed the door behind her, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye, followed instantly by a torrent of tears that she could no longer hold back.

Tao Lu tried to wipe them away with both hands, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not stop them.

Tears originate from the heart; how could mere physical actions interfere with them?

This girl refused to weep in front of Xia Yan; she refused to let him see her weakness.

If even she broke down in tears, what hope would he have left to survive?

When Tao Lu pushed the door open once more, all traces of tears had vanished from her face. The girl had recovered her usual confidence and smile, a smile that always put people at ease.

There was nothing Tao Lu could not accomplish. Even back in the Freedom District, when she defied the entire world and openly made an enemy of the Freedom District, she had never felt fear.

What was there left to fear? What was there left to ponder?

"Xia Yan, if you want to live, we must muddy the waters regarding this incident!" Tao Lu declared. "Asa is an extremely arrogant person; he is determined to kill you, but he will not kill you without reason."

"Is there any difference?" Xia Yan asked, puzzled.

"Yes!" Tao Lu nodded. "For instance, making you put up a desperate struggle rather than going quietly to your execution. As far as I know, the Wilbur family hates you to the bone and demands your life. However, if your actions in this incident cannot be classified as a direct provocation against the Winged People, but merely a private grudge with the Wilbur family, then Asa has no jurisdiction to sentence you."

"But I killed so many of the Winged People; a pureblood could hardly ignore that," Xia Yan argued, still confused.

"Not necessarily," Tao Lu shook her head. "You killed many Winged People, but you also helped Asa secure victory in the 'game,' putting an end to the Winged People's internal strife for at least a decade. You have sins, but you also have merits! Asa cannot deny these facts. As long as we can convince him on this point, there is hope for survival."

"Do you really think someone of his stature can be manipulated by our schemes?" Xia Yan remained unconvinced.

"Then we shall make him believe that your death is certain and that you are merely waging a hopeless, desperate struggle. To have no hope of survival—that very illusion is our hope of survival," Tao Lu smiled. "Just like that time in the Freedom District, when Wenzhe thought you were done for, yet you managed to claw your way out."

"Is that so?"

"Let us make this second desperate struggle!" Tao Lu affirmed. "As a pureblood, given his arrogance, Asa will surely accept your proposal."

"A desperate, doomed struggle born of folly?" Xia Yan murmured thoughtfully, as if a sudden realization dawned upon him.

"Let's go, Xia Yan. Let's go see Asa," Tao Lu stood up and took Xia Yan's hand. His body was still weak and could not possibly recover in such a short time.

"Alright," Xia Yan nodded.

Perhaps Xia Yan had once wondered what the consequences would have been had he agreed to Tao Lu's first condition. Would Tao Lu have accepted? Or would she have outright refused?

Yet he could never have agreed. Even though he had fallen in love with Tao Lu, he refused to be shackled for eternity.

That was not the life Xia Yan pursued; that was far more terrifying than death.

Though he had avenged Ding Li, and though he had fulfilled the agreed-upon conditions for the Demon race, Xia Yan had no wish to end his life here. Every person's future held countless beautiful prospects and aspirations worth pursuing and striving for.

This place could broadly be considered a study, assuming a room housing the collection of a large library could be called a study.

Asa was exceptionally fond of reading, particularly physical books. He always maintained that electronic books lacked the genuine tactile experience of reading.

For a pureblood, having a few eccentricities was entirely normal. Let alone building a study the size of a library, who would dare raise an objection even if he built one the size of a city?

When Xia Yan and Tao Lu arrived, Asa was already there, deeply engrossed in his reading. The title on the cover of the book appeared to be a volume of essays.

He closed the book, placed it on a nearby table, and looked at Xia Yan with a smile, showing not the slightest trace of murderous intent.

Yet Xia Yan knew full well that this pureblood desperately wished to kill him.

"Mr. Xia Yan, our first meeting. I am Asa, a pureblood of the Winged People. You may address me by my name," Asa said in an easygoing tone.

"Mr. Asa," Xia Yan addressed him directly. It was impossible for him to refer to a pureblood of the Winged People as a lord.

"Very well," Asa nodded. "Before we discuss official business, I should like to speak with you regarding a personal matter."

"Go ahead," Xia Yan replied.

"What is the nature of your relationship with Gong Kui, Mr. Xia Yan?" Asa inquired. "And what is your relationship with Emilia?"

For Asa, the latter question was of far greater concern. Gong Kui was simply too extraordinary a woman, but Emilia was different; her youth dictated that her mindset could not be overly sophisticated.

If Xia Yan truly were her lover, then for Asa, handling this situation would prove rather troublesome.

Though the probability of such a thing was so infinitesimally small as to be negligible, as a pureblood and the leader of the Winged People, he would not overlook it.