From that summer night thirty years ago, I had grown used to his care, his protection, and his love. He had been my whole world, my anchor, my everything.

  If, in the first second, he forgot me—then in the next, my entire world would colpse.

  I clung to my belief, desperate, refusing to let the seed of doubt take root.

  No… Zi Miao would never forget me.

  Thirty years of sunrises and sunsets.

  Thirty years of standing by his side.

  I was his only one. His only one!

  Yes, I had been foolish—so foolish to have even doubted Zi Miao for a second.

  He would come. He would come!

  Beauty in his arms? Only ordinary men would be swayed by such temptations. But he was an immortal. How could he stoop to the level of common mortals?

  Perhaps he had saved that woman first simply because she was human—fragile, weak, and incapable of withstanding the dangers that I, a yaokai, could endure. It was only natural, only logical, that he would save her before me.

  Silently, I searched for reasons to reassure myself, forcing out all doubts, clinging stubbornly to my belief. Let all other thoughts go to hell—only trust mattered.

  I had always trusted him.

  Nothing and no one would ever shake that.

  He watched me, mistaking my silence for defeat. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Scream all you like," he sneered. "It won't change the truth. Even if you wait until your body turns to dust, he will not come. But…" He leaned in, voice thick with mockery.

  "If you beg me, perhaps one day, I'll grant you a final wish—bring you his corpse to see with your own eyes."

  I did not rage. I did not despair.

  Instead, I looked up at him and gave him the brightest smile I could muster.

  "I believe in him."

  "You—" His smirk vanished, his brows knitting together in surprise.

  My unexpected composure must have disappointed him.

  Turning my head, the still-glowing cave entrance came into view once more. That faint light tempted me, stirring up the urge to escape again.

  If I had a choice, I would rather flee back to his side myself than sit here waiting for him to rescue me.

  Seizing the moment when my captor was momentarily lost in thought, I bolted toward the cave entrance at my fastest speed, like the wind.

  He didn't chase after me.

  My heart pounded in my throat, convinced that success was within reach.

  "Bang!" I was forcefully thrown backward, nding with such pain that I nearly cried out.

  The open cave entrance—completely unguarded—was actually sealed by a powerful barrier.

  A rough hand suddenly grabbed my wounded arm, yanking me up from the ground.

  His rge hand cmped down on my chin with brutal force. "Didn't you believe so much that he would come save you? Then why are you trying to escape? You're just a liar—one who even tries to fool yourself!"

  What hateful words!

  With my free hand, I desperately cwed at his wrist, prying his grasp away with all my strength. Seizing the moment, I sank my teeth into his palm.

  "Sp!"

  A sharp sound echoed as a heavy sp nded across my face.

  Dizzy and weak, my body staggered and colpsed to the ground.

  Blood trickled from the corner of my lips, while crimson beads welled up on his fingers—a scene of mutual destruction.

  Fighting through the pain, I struggled to my feet, stepped forward fearlessly, and raised my arm.

  "Sp!"

  The sound rang just as crisp as before—this time, it was my sp nding on him.

  "You disgust me!"

  I shot him a cold gre before turning away, limping toward the other side of the cave.

  I didn't see his expression, nor did I care to. Whatever revenge he pnned next, I no longer cared. At this time, I just wanted to find a quiet pce to wait.

  Zi Miao… Zi Miao…

  I sat down, leaning against the corner of the cave, closed my eyes, and silently whispered his name—clinging to hope in the midst of inexplicable despair.

  As the light dimmed further, I could feel it—two complex, lingering gazes never leaving me.