Chapter 20

Chapter 20

Becoming Dust

The sky in Qingqiu was dark. Rain fell heavily as the Queen of the Fox Clan stood bravely, waiting for her heavenly trial. A loud rumble erupted from the sky as lightning lit up the clouds. Fengjiu saw this all and closed her eyes, waiting for the impact. She caressed the ring on her finger, trying to draw comfort. She always felt comfort when she touched the ring Donghua gave her. Suddenly, a lightning bolt descended from the sky. It aimed directly for Fengjiu hitting her square on the chest. Fresh blood bubbled out of her throat, sending her crashing on the ground. Her entire body felt pain.

Death

She wondered if this was how death felt like. She felt tired, so exhausted. Why was it getting harder to breath? Perhaps she was going to die with just one bolt.

Donghua if we have another life, you should look for Jiu'er first alright?

"Donghua..." Fengjiu murmured, her voice so soft that she couldn't even hear herself. Gradually, her fingers felt numb as she felt a certain coldness washed through her body.

"Donghua..." Fengjiu broke into a soft laugh. "Jiu'er really loves you."

Suddenly, another bolt of lightning lit up the sky, descending upon Fengjiu's weak body. Her small hand clutched the ring on her finger as she writhed in pain. She vomited blood as she crouched on the grass. Her insides felt like they were burning.

"Jiu'er!"

"JIU"ER!"

Suddenly, Donghua's stern voice echoed in her brain. She felt that it sounded... real right now. She closed her eyes to bask in his voice. Jiu'er... He didn't call me that the last time I saw him. I missed it. I miss him.

Slowly, her face broke into a smile. It was the brightest she's smiled in her short life. She could hear Donghua's voice. The voice she wanted to hear the most before she died. Maybe fate decided to be nice to her and let her imagine his voice? After all, she had wretched fate.

Donghua's robes fluttered behind him as he flew towards Fengjiu like an angel. He shouted her name, but she didn't respond. The moment he reached the forcefield, it immediately repelled him and threw him back a few feet away to where the Bai family was standing. He had just arrived when he realized what was going on. Jiu'er was about to face her heavenly trial. Liansong said she didn't look well but why does she look so weak? He saw Fengjiu closing her eyes and felt panic rise in his heart.

The third bolt crashed down on Fengjiu's body. She was swallowed up in light, illuminating the whole garden. "Jiu'er!" Before Donghua could fly towards her, a huge wave of bright light emerged from Fengjiu's body. Instantly, she vanished into the light.

"Where is she?! What's wrong with her?" Donghua asked frantically, turning to look at Zheyan. This was not how heavenly trials work, Donghua had never witnessed anyone engulfed by light in all the years he's lived. The Bai family stayed silent as Zheyan also shook his head helplessly. In the end, Donghua was here. Seeing his frantic stare, he reluctantly explained the truth, "Donghua... Xiao Jiu isn't going to live for long. She has no cultivation left to survive her heavenly trial."

"What?" Donghua's face paled at Zheyan's words. What did he say? She wasn't going to survive? Jiu'er will die? Before he could ask, Zheyan was already continuing. "She made us promise not to tell you. Her cultivation is gone, she can't get it back. She damaged it irreparably when she fought that tiger spirit. She asked you to marry her until her heavenly trial... Because she wasn't going to survive it. She was convinced you weren't going to look for her once you separated. I tried to change her mind. I'm sorry Donghua, even you can't do anything about it."

Jiu'er was not going to survive her heavenly trial

Jiu'er thinks he wasn't going to look for her once they separated

These thoughts kept swirling in Donghua's mind as he looked at the bright light in the center of the garden. Donghua's body started trembling when suddenly the light dimmed down, revealing Fengjiu's body sprawled on the ground. Her eyes were shut, and eyebrows were knitted in pain, but she did not cry out. Donghua's heart raced in panic as he tried to calm down and think of a way to help her. His mind suddenly went to the night of their wedding.

"Donghua... I love you."

"I don't care what the heavens has to say, but anyone who wants to hurt you has to go through me. Do you believe me?"

Jiu'er had said, "I do."

"Jiu'er I will protect you forever."

Nothing. There was absolutely nothing he could do. He's never felt so useless in his life. He couldn't even help the woman he loved. He couldn't even protect her. Donghua suddenly thought of breaking that damned forcefield. He had never thought of intervening in anyone's heavenly trial, the Heavens will punish whoever tried with a life worse than death. But wasn't it already a life worse than death without Jui'er by his side? He didn't care what happened to him as long as he could reach Fengjiu.

"Zheyan, ask Mo Yuan to takeover my duties. He will understand what I mean," Donghua said calmly as he started casting a spell that will break the forcefield. Zheyan stared at Donghua's back wide-eyed when he realized what he was going to do. Bai Zhi realized as well and shouted at the former Heavenly Emperor, "You can't break the forcefield! The heavens will-"

Donghua flew higher as he cast a spell on the forcefield, forcing it to open. Before anyone could react, he was already flying towards Fengjiu. He quickly pulled her into his arms as he tried channeling his cultivation into her. He already knew it was useless, but he still tried. He watched in horror as blood trickled from the corner of her lip, his heart clenched. He knew she must be in so much pain right now. He tried to wipe it off, but the blood kept going. He held her tightly as his eyes grew red with tears.

Fengjiu slowly opened her eyes to see the face she always longed to see. His handsome face made her smile. Donghua frantically caressed her cheek when he saw she was awake. "Jiu'er..." He murmured as a tear escaped his eye. Fengjiu knitted her brows in confusion when she saw Donghua crying. Donghua is sad? I've never seen him sad before...

"Donghua why are you crying? You're never sad in my dreams..." Fengjiu murmured weakly as she raised her hand slowly to wipe his tears away. Donghua held her hand to his face and nuzzled it. "Jiu'er I'm right here with you. This isn't a dream."

Fengjiu felt her body aching, so she knew she wasn't dead yet, but she was alarmed to see Donghua in front of her. "How did you-" Donghua cut her off by pressing his trembling lips to her forehead. "Jiu'er how can you think of leaving me? Don't you remember your promise?" His voice was shaky as he held her. Fengjiu could feel his body trembling. She didn't understand why he was here, but she was happy that she could see him one last time.

"What promise?" Donghua caressed her face as more tears flowed down his cheeks. He doesn't remember when he cried last. He knew it must have been a long time ago. "Don't you remember Jiu'er? You said you would live if I lived. I'm living right now! What are you thinking, leaving like this? Didn't you promise me?"

Donghua, if you live, and so will I.

If you die, so will I.

Fengjiu finally remembered. She gently caressed his face and gave him a bright smile like she always does. "I'm sorry Donghua... I'm sorry for breaking my promise. I'm leaving before you instead..." A burst of coughs ensued. Donghua frantically patted her back.

"Jiu'er!"

"NO!"

"JIU'ER!!!"

"No! Jiu'er! Stay awake I'm begging you! You'll be alright! I'll take you to Zheyan right now! Stay awake Jiu'er... Please!" Donghua cried desperately as he tried to wake her up. Fengjiu's eyes slowly opened as she stared at Donghua's eyes. They weren't cold at all. They held emotions so deep that her heart ached looking at him. She gave him a sweet smile as she stared up at his sad eyes.

Fengjiu's arms lost all strength as she fell against Donghua's chest. Her heavy eyelids started to close as she pressed a last kiss to his heart. Donghua held her tightly as his vision was wet with tears.

Please stay with me Jiu'er. Please stay by my side.

He felt her body get lighter and lighter as he shut his eyes tightly. Please, no! She was turning to dust right in front of him. Tears streamed down his face as he tried to keep embracing her body. Her hand came up to wipe the tears on his face once more.

"Jiu'er!"

He called her frantically as if calling her would bring her back. Her touch on his cheek was slowly disappearing as he held her hand. He felt the weight on his arms get lighter and lighter.

Donghua trembled at the nothingness he felt in his arms. He felt like something was blocking his throat keeping him from breathing. Heartbroken sobs could be heard from his shaking form. Donghua clutched at the air while closing his eyes, hoping this was all a dream.

When he woke up, Jiu'er would be right beside him. She would smile up at him and give him a soft kiss like she always did. Donghua opened his eyes and only saw grass.

She was gone.

"Jiu'er!"

"Jiu'er!"

"JIU'ER!"