Upon hearing this, Yu Qi couldn't hold back anymore, covered her eyes with her arm, and burst into tears.
She said it was because she hadn't protected him well, and that he was useless.
As winter approached and the weather grew colder, Yu Tang's health deteriorated day by day. With the year drawing to a close, Yu Tang knew that he probably wouldn't be able to spend the year with Chu Jiangli.
He coughed up blood every day until he became numb. His already thin body was now unrecognizable. Even touching it himself was terrifying. Eventually, he didn't even dare to look in the mirror anymore.
He was thankful that Chu Jiangli couldn't see him in his current state. Otherwise, he didn't know how heartbroken he would be.
But Chu Jiangli deliberately sought out a painter, saying he wanted to paint a portrait of him.
Yu Tang said that eye transplant surgery requires at least a year of recovery before one can regain their sight.
Yu Tang's body couldn't even last a month, so how could it possibly last a year?
So, in order to remember what Yu Tang looked like, he found the best painter in the martial arts world to paint a portrait of Yu Tang.
Unable to refuse him, Yu Tang leaned against Chu Jiangli's chest before the young painter began to paint and said to the painter, "Please paint me as beautifully as possible. I hope my husband can remember my best appearance."
Chu Jiangli gripped his hand tightly, feeling the withered, lifeless fingers, her heart aching to the point of numbness.
He said, "Tangtang, in my eyes, you will always be the best."
Yu Tang smiled and relaxed, leaning into Chu Jiangli's arms.
Reply to him in a calm voice: "Yes, I know."
"But if there is an afterlife, I want to face you in the best possible condition and meet you with a healthy body."
Therefore, the person in the painting must be the best version of me, so that you can remember my appearance and find me…
Upon hearing him mention the afterlife, Chu Jiangli pursed his thin lips, suppressing a sob in his throat, and replied with a heavy "Mm".
After the portrait was completed, Yu Tang quietly wrote a few lines on it.
Only then did Xiaohan put the scroll away and carefully seal it.
Later, on a rare sunny winter day, Yu Tang lay on the bed, watching the sunlight slip in through the cracks in the window, feeling the remaining strength in his body, and sighed softly.
He finally realized that today was his last day in this world.
He squeezed Chu Jiangli's fingers, signaling him to call Xiao Han and Yu Qi over.
When the people arrived, he explained everything he wanted to say, word by word, before letting them leave.
Before Yu Qi could say anything more, Xiao Han forcibly pulled him out the door.
The door closed, and Yu Tang put her hand on Chu Jiangli's arm and said to him, "Ali, carry me out for a walk."
Chu Jiangli had already learned Yu Tang's intentions from what he had just told Yu Qi and Xiao Han.
At this moment, his face was almost expressionless, and he just stood there stiffly.
He gradually regained consciousness only after the other person pulled his arm down with their thin hand and touched his face with their cold fingers.
"Ah Li, what's wrong?" Yu Tang tried to keep her voice calm as she teased, "Don't you want to hug me anymore?"
Chu Jiangli stared blankly in the direction of Yu Tang, grasped the other's hand, and his fingers trembled slightly.
He opened his mouth and let out a soft "ah," as if only then realizing what was happening. He leaned down next to Yu Tang, his hoarse voice choked with sobs and panic: "How could I not want to hug you?"
"I'll carry you now." He carefully picked up Yu Tang, then took a heavy fox fur cloak and draped it over the man. "Where do you want to go? I'll take you there."
Yu Tang was completely weak and could only breathe slowly with the help of Chu Jiangli.
"I remember the plum blossoms in the garden are in bloom. Could you take me to see them?"
Chu Jiangli hummed in agreement, hugged the person in his arms tightly, and strode towards the garden.
Located in the southwest, the plum blossoms of Liyue Palace bloom a little earlier there.
Yu Tang won't make it through the year-end this time. It would be nice to see the plum blossoms in full bloom in the garden before he leaves.
The two sat on a bench in the pavilion. Yu Tang nestled in Chu Jiangli's arms, trying to lift her eyelids to look at the scenery of the garden.
Pink plum blossoms dominate the branches, cluster upon cluster, contrasting with the reddish-brown branches, welcoming the rare winter sunshine, a sight to behold.
A gentle breeze carries the refreshing fragrance of plum blossoms, a scent that soothes the soul.
Yu Tang leaned against Chu Jiangli's chest, quietly listening to the young man's heartbeat.
His body was severely depleted, and a chill that started in his heart gradually spread throughout his body. Yu Tang knew he had to say something to break the silence and tell Chu Jiangli that he was about to leave.
But at this moment, he felt inexplicably timid.
He was afraid to see Chu Jiangli's reaction.
I was afraid to see this young man, who was trying so hard to remain calm, break down again.
“Ah Li…”
That's all that was said about him, and that was the end of it.
Just as Yu Tang was considering what to say next, Chu Jiangli spoke up on his own.
"Tangtang, it's okay." He carefully hugged the person in his arms, adjusted Yu Tang to the most comfortable position, and said in a hoarse voice, "You don't need to worry about me."
"You've done enough for me, leave the rest to me..."
To Yu Tang's surprise, Chu Jiangli did not break down, but his voice was slightly choked as he continued, "And you also said that we have a next life, and you will greet me with a healthy body in the next life..."
"In your next life, you will be born in a peaceful era, free from the strife of this life. You will have loving parents and family... You will have a very, very good life..."
"You will no longer be born with a medicinal body, no longer be coveted by others, you will live a free and unrestrained life..."
“Many people will like you, but…” Chu Jiangli forced a smile, “But you’re not allowed to like anyone else. You have to wait for me… wait for me to come find you…”
These words seemed to have exhausted all of Chu Jiangli's energy. He used a light cough to cover his panic and fear, trying to express his thoughts: "So, Tangtang, you can leave in peace... Don't worry about me, I'm fine. I will carry your hopes with me as I live the rest of my life. I won't let your efforts for me be in vain. I will, I will finish what I have to do, and then I will find you without any regrets..."
"You've had a tough time in this life..." Chu Jiangli gritted his teeth, trying to control his emotions. "You should rest..."
"I'll be alright, I promise you, I'll definitely be alright..."
Yu Tang never expected Chu Jiangli to say that.
He was clearly afraid of this soul, yet suddenly he became the most insightful person.
But the more this happened, the more Yu Tang felt the grief in her heart spreading uncontrollably.
His heart felt like it was being squeezed tightly by someone's hand. He covered the fabric on his chest with his hand, his throat choked with a sob.
But he knew his time was running out and he had to say something to say goodbye to Chu Jiangli.
“Okay…” He mustered all his strength, reached out, and stroked Chu Jiangli’s face. His thumb brushed across the young man’s tear-filled eyes, and he said softly, “Ali, I understand.”
“My Ali, you’ve never been a coward.”
Yu Tang ran her fingers over that face, forcing a smile: "You're much braver than me..."
"You faced difficulties and darkness that I dared not face, you endured pain that I dared not endure, you are the bravest one..."
He pulled Chu Jiangli down and kissed the young man's lips, his vision already blurring.
Warm liquid flowed from Yu Tang's body, and the cool fragrance of plum blossoms was gradually covered by the pungent smell of blood.
Chu Jiangli clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh, unable to stop the trembling that ran through his body.
He pressed his lips to Yu Tang's, hearing the man, with his last remaining strength, painstakingly string together fragmented words into a single sentence: "A-Li..."
"The next...the next life..."
"I...I still want to be your wife, is that...is that alright?"
Chu Jiangli finally couldn't hold back his tears and said, "I can..."
He stretched out his hand, which was pierced by fingernails, and desperately wiped away the tears falling on Yu Tang's body, but touched the warm blood on the man's face.
His nostrils were filled with the stench of blood. He held Yu Tang's body and cried out, "Yes, yes, Tangtang, I said yes..."
The only response he received was Yu Tang's hand slipping weakly from his cheek...
Chu Jiangli's feigned composure finally crumbled completely.
He held the person in his arms, crying out, "Come back... Tangtang, come back..."
"I'm all alone, and I'm scared..."
"I can't see you, I can't find you..."
"Please say something to me, just say one word..."
"Please, please don't leave me alone..."
"Please..."
"Don't go..."
By the time Xiao Han found Chu Jiangli, he was already too exhausted to even cry.
As if she had been beaten senseless, she trembled as she hugged Yu Tang, repeatedly muttering, "Wake up, say something to me."
Everyone present was moved to tears.
Nan Yun and Bai Xiao stepped forward to separate Chu Jiangli and Yu Tang, but were injured by Chu Jiangli.
The pale-faced, disheveled young man stared with empty eyes, telling them to get lost, as if he would kill them if they took another step closer.
Helpless, everyone could only watch as Chu Jiangli frantically embraced Yu Tang, repeatedly calling his name.
Tell him to wake up, to say he doesn't believe in the afterlife, that he's afraid he won't be able to find him, and that he was just faking it all.
Actually, he was very scared. He couldn't live without him and begged him to come back.
But that person is destined never to hear these words.
No matter how much he begged, Yu Tang would never wake up again.
This continued for three whole days until Chu Jiangli was exhausted and Nan Yun Baixiao took advantage of the situation, knocked him unconscious, and then retrieved Yu Tang's body.
Then, following Yu Tang's last will, Xiao Han gave the corpse's eyes to Chu Jiangli, who was in a coma.
Afterwards, they led the followers of Liyue Palace to give Yutang a grand burial before Chu Jiangli awoke.
When Chu Jiangli woke up from his coma, he felt a stinging pain in his eyes and suddenly realized something. He yelled and reached out to gouge his eyes out.
But Yu Qi slapped him to the ground.
"Chu Jiangli! Have you gone mad?!"