Hibiscus as a Painting

Chapter 164

Upon hearing this, Dugu Xihui's worry lessened considerably, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

Zi Jin lowered her head slightly: "Prince Anle is truly heartless. I thought our relationship was different from others today, but seeing you like this is truly chilling..."

"Even a little mute has a day of fear?" King Anle glanced at Jun Lin, a faint mockery on his lips. "If he were truly afraid... he wouldn't have been able to manipulate the Crown Prince of Yue so easily."

Upon hearing this, Jun Lin shuddered. He stared blankly at Zi Jin, his eyes growing increasingly dim.

Zi Jin suddenly raised her head and said coldly, "You are all either using me or plotting to kill me... If I don't fight back, am I supposed to just die at your hands?! My life has been harder than anyone else's... so I can't die. If I really have to choose, I want..." Zi Jin said fiercely, word by word, "You...die!"

Prince Anle stiffened, his peach-blossom eyes fixed dangerously on Zi Jin, a flash of anger and malice in them: "You're ruthless!"

Zi Jin suddenly drew her sword from under the zither stand and sneered, "How could I be more ruthless than you!"

Seeing Zi Jin draw her sword, the slight anger in Prince Anle's eyes intensified instantly, and a murderous aura suddenly appeared: "It's been a few days, and you've changed quite a bit. You've learned how to wield a sword... I'll test your skills first!"

Prince Anle launched a swift attack, but Zi Jin flicked her wrist and released silver needles, which Prince Anle easily dodged. Zi Jin gripped her sword tightly and thrust it towards Prince Anle, each move ruthless and aimed directly at vital points. Zi Jin knew in her heart that the swordsmanship she had diligently practiced for half a year in "Bu Ri Valley" was utterly insignificant to Prince Anle; if she didn't use ruthless force, she would be defeated instantly.

With each move Zi Jin made, the Prince of Anle's eyes grew colder, and his attacks became increasingly ruthless. However, upon closer inspection, one could see that although his attacks seemed fierce, he always skillfully avoided Zi Jin's vital points.

Zi Jin tried hard to recall the sword techniques, but how could she possibly contend with a master like Prince Anle after only half a year of practice? Zi Jin gradually became exhausted, and although Prince Anle's eyes were icy cold, he did not even draw his weapon.

With a gentle slap on Zi Jin's shoulder, Zi Jin fell violently to the edge of the platform. As she looked up, she saw Si Kou Xun Xiang, whose face was covered by a white veil.

Although Zi Jin couldn't see Si Kou Xunxiang's face beneath the veil, she saw him standing there like a frozen statue, unmoved, gazing towards the ice coffin. It was as if he had stood there since the beginning of chaos, at the very start of heaven and earth, watching the person inside the coffin from afar. His cold demeanor made it seem as if he were a complete stranger to Zi Jin.

Zi Jinxin understood everything. It turned out that Sikou Xunxiang had also made his own choice. Oh well... never mind.

Zi Jin slowly lowered her head, a smile creeping onto her face, and then she slowly laughed out loud. The laughter sounded so pitiful and accusatory to everyone present.

Zi Jin's laughter grew louder and louder. Her head was lowered, obscuring her face. Why bother? ...Why bother? If she hadn't known, she wouldn't have cared. Now that she knew, it was herself... What was there to argue about? What was there left to argue about? In his past life... he had already done everything he could... In this life... what more did he want? ...You wronged him... you abandoned him first... You have no right to blame him anymore...

Zi Jin smiled sadly, and in an instant, she lunged forward with her sword, clearly intending to perish together with Prince Anle. Prince Anle was furious, dodged to the side, and struck Zi Jin with a backhand. Although this strike seemed fierce, it was precisely this strike that prevented Zi Jin from crashing into the ice coffin and saved her life.

Dugu Xihui had already sensed Sikou Xunle's reluctance. Among the group, his expression was solemn, and he secretly gripped the jade flute in his hand, his hand trembling slightly. He glanced sideways at the person sleeping in the ice coffin, staring at him for a long time, a resolute look flashing in his eyes.

Madam Yu secretly observed Dugu Xihui's every move. When she noticed Dugu Xihui's impatience, she smiled slightly to herself, but for some reason, a deep unease swept over her.

Zi Jin struggled to her feet, standing unsteadily, staring directly at Prince Anle. She had no strength left in her body, and couldn't lift the sword in her hand at all.

Seeing Zi Jin stand up, Prince Anle slapped her back, sending her staggering back three steps and crashing onto the zither platform. He said hatefully, "This little mute is getting more and more audacious. She even dares to plot to kill me?"

The sword in Zi Jin's hand had fallen, and she slumped weakly onto the zither stand, seemingly too weak to even lift her hand.

Anle Wang's heart skipped a beat, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes, but he said coldly, "I want you to remember this, and see if you dare to do it again!"

Unable to move, Zi Jin leaned against the zither platform. Suddenly, she raised her hand and released a flying needle. The King of Anle's expression, which had just softened, instantly darkened. With a flick of his sleeve, all the silver needles fell to the ground.

Zi Jin turned around and took out six silver needles. She then picked up the Jiao Wei Qin (a type of zither) in front of her, and the silver needles suddenly slipped from her grasp. Prince Anle, caught off guard, leaped away and dodged the silver needles.

Zi Jin pulled a dagger from her boot and stabbed at Prince Anle, but before she could get up, she felt a sharp pain in her back... She turned around abruptly, only to be struck in the chest again by a jade flute. Zi Jin, unwilling to give up, gripped the dagger tightly and stabbed at Dugu Xihui, but froze in place. Blood slowly flowed from her chest, revealing a half-foot-long sword hidden in the flute's rim.

"Clang!" The dagger fell to the ground. Zi Jin looked at the person opposite her holding the jade flute sword, a very faint smile appearing on her face: "So... Hui'er is... the most ruthless one..."

Zi Jin clutched her wound, blood slowly seeping out. She slumped weakly onto the zither stand, a faint smile playing on her lips, a smile tinged with disdain and mockery. She silently observed the reactions of the crowd. Drops of blood dripped from the zither stand onto the lotus-scented flowers, making the fragrance even sweeter.

Dugu Xihui's hand stiffened slightly. As if making a decision, he slowly closed his eyes, suddenly drew the flute-sword from his hand, and then very slowly withdrew the sword. This action seemed to have exhausted his strength.

Prince Anle stared wide-eyed at Zi Jin, who was slowly collapsing onto the zither platform, his eyes filled with terror and pain. He stood there, stunned, gazing at Zi Jin in a daze.

Si Kou Xunxiang kept staring in the direction of the ice coffin, without moving a single finger from beginning to end.

"Cough! Pfft!" Zi Jin spat out a mouthful of blood.

King Anle suddenly came to his senses. He hurriedly took a few steps forward and hugged Zi Jin in his arms. The words in his heart came out: "Don't be afraid...don't be afraid...you won't die, you won't die, you won't."

Bao Xian seemed to be startled awake by Anle Wang's words. He reached out and grabbed Wutong behind him, raising his hand to touch the mask on her face, only to find that the face was real: "Wutong! You!..."

Wutong let Baoxian do as he pleased. She stared intently at Baoxian's face, a crystal tear rolling down her pale cheek and onto her delicate neck. Her eyes were filled with untouchable pain: "Brother Bao... you never intended to protect Wutong, did you?... From the day the plan was made, you were prepared to abandon Wutong... weren't you?"

Madam Yu suddenly came to her senses, her face turning deathly pale, all traces of her former nobility and arrogance vanished. She staggered up the platform, looking at Zi Jin with utter horror, and said with heartache, "Foolish child! How could you be so foolish?"

Bao Xian didn't even glance at Wutong, and quickly ran towards the high platform. But when he got close, he stopped, his body trembling uncontrollably: "Master..." His voice was soft and careful, as if he was afraid of startling the pale-faced person.

Zi Jin slowly turned around, a faint smile playing on her lips: "Madam... is this the result you wanted? You think I lost... is that right?... Actually, I didn't lose... no matter who they chose... I didn't lose... but... cough cough... they really did have the heart to do it..."

Jun Lin leaned against the ice coffin, gazing silently at Zi Jin's lifeless face, his phoenix eyes filled with death.

Dugu Xihui, whose eyes had been closed the whole time, swayed and staggered until he could stand up by holding onto the ice coffin beside him.

"No, no!... Little mute... Little mute, I didn't... I didn't want to kill you. I was just angry that you were so ruthless to me. I was just very angry that you were so cruel to me just now. I just wanted to teach you a lesson... I never thought of killing you... Don't sleep... Don't sleep... You're not allowed to sleep. I order you not to sleep... I still have so much to say to you... I still have so much, so much to say to you..." Panic filled the beautiful face of King Anle, his eyes filled with fear and sorrow.

“I know…” Zi Jin smiled and slowly took out the purple ice crystal from her bosom, “…You guys are so silly…Hehe…Why are you so obsessed…Why are you so obsessed with your past lives…Does who is who really matter to you…Does it really matter that much?”

"Thud!" Dugu Xihui's emerald flute fell to the ground with a sharp sound, piercing his heart. He stood there, swaying, his amber eyes glancing at the dying Zi Jin, then staring intently at the ice coffin, his gaze dark and brooding. He murmured, "Wife...wife...wife..."

Dugu Xihui slowly took two steps forward, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch Zi Jin, but Bao Xian slapped her hand away, saying, "You are not worthy!"

Dugu Xihui abruptly took two steps back, her figure frail and alone: "No...no...it shouldn't be like this...I want my wife back...what's wrong with that?..."

Zi Jin turned to look at Bao Xian, smiling softly, a smile so fragile it was almost untouchable: "Bao Xian..."

“Master… don’t speak, Bao Xian will find a doctor for you right now.” Bao Xian squatted down and said gently.

Zi Jin gazed at Bao Xian and said, "Bao Xian, promise me... take Wu Tong and leave... find a secluded place and live a good life... never come back... from this moment on, you will no longer be my Dark Breath... and I will no longer be your master... promise me..."

“Okay…” Bao Xian’s emerald eyes were fixed on Zi Jin’s pale face, filled with grief. He suddenly raised his hand to snatch Zi Jin from Si Kou Xun Le’s arms: “I’ll take Master to see a doctor… let go!”

Sikou Xunle held Zi Jin tightly, refusing to let go. Zi Jin looked pained: "No! No! Don't go! Don't go! I'm scared! I'm really scared! Don't lie there motionless anymore! You're the little mute I finally found... the little mute I finally found... Don't do this, don't ignore me, don't treat me like this, I'll do whatever you want, I'll do whatever you want, I'm scared, I'm scared... What should I do? What should I do?" The scene was strangely familiar, as if it were yesterday, causing Anle Wang to feel excruciating pain and uncontrollable panic.