Chapter Ten and Eleven Combined: There Is a Kind of Love Called Letting Go

Nestled in Night Without End’s embrace, Xue Qing reached out to caress his face, speaking softly, “Because now, I am your wife. You just promised me, and you mustn’t go back on your word! If you do, Qing’er will cry for you to see.” Her voice choked with emotion as she spoke.

“It’s only after missing out that one knows regret. Qing’er has already lost her husband once; she cannot lose him again! For this, even if it means paying with my life…” As Xue Qing spoke, Night Without End raised his hand to stop her from continuing.

He gazed at Xue Qing, his eyes reflecting something new.

Seeing him look at her, Xue Qing teased, “Husband, I’m so weak now, I don’t even have the strength to lift my hand. Don’t you want to do something to me?” She breathed softly into his ear, tempting him.

Night Without End signaled for Xue Qing to be silent and asked, “What’s the matter with them?”

“They are both Ice Celestial Bodies—a rare, special constitution. Their yin essence is crucial for you, extremely important. Without it, you might spend your whole life as an ordinary man, never able to cultivate!” Xue Qing spoke gravely.

“Mm, I understand,” Night Without End replied.

He rose and looked at the two women of the Ye family. “Do you like me?”

The full moon had risen high, casting its silvery light.

In the courtyard, Night Without End, dressed in wedding robes, stood facing Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue, who were also adorned as brides.

The two women stepped back, glanced at Xue Qing, and remained silent.

“I see,” Night Without End nodded.

“Xue Qing,” he called.

“Husband, what is it?” Xue Qing looked at him.

Night Without End glanced at the Ye sisters, who stared at him stubbornly.

He bowed to Ye Ruyue. “Thank you, Miss Ye, for saving my life. I will always remember it. As I said before, should you face trouble, I will repay your kindness without hesitation.”

He then bowed to Ye Ruxue. “Second Miss, I owe you an apology. I don’t know that fat man; I’d just arrived in Ling City, penniless. He happened to scam you, and I intended to swindle some money for myself. Here are ninety-two gold coins—eight were given to the fat man—and this deed. All are returned to you. I’ll repay the remaining eight coins as soon as I can.” He handed the purse and deed to Ye Ruxue.

“Qing’er, since the Misses Ye are unwilling, let us leave,” Night Without End said calmly.

What? He’s letting us go? The two sisters’ hearts were conflicted.

“No!” Xue Qing said firmly.

“Listen, let’s not force others,” Night Without End said.

“Husband, they really care about you… Fine!” Xue Qing sighed, seeing the unwavering resolve in his eyes.

She gathered the Youth Retaining Pill and blood essence, and Night Without End supported her as they slowly walked away.

“Five, four, three, two, one!” Night Without End counted silently as they left. When he reached one—

“Wait!” Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue spoke almost in unison.

Hearing Ye Ruyue’s voice behind him, he thought, “Little ones, you’re still too naïve to play games with me!”

Turning slowly, Night Without End said, “I will repay the remaining eight coins as soon as possible.”

“Who told you to pay back the coins? Senior Xue brought us here. How can you just leave because of a few words?” Ye Ruyue said, sulking.

“So, what do you want?” Night Without End asked.

“You must give us an explanation. Senior Xue said we’re important to you. Why are you doing this? With her strength, she could easily control us,” Ye Ruyue said.

“Though I am fond of beauties, especially young ladies like you, I dislike forcing others. Affection is mutual; a forced union will never taste sweet. I like you both—perhaps it was love at first sight.” Night Without End’s voice grew melancholy.

“If you’re lustful and like me and my sister, why give us up?” Ye Ruxue asked.

“A gentleman may desire beauty, but there is a proper way. Alas, the falling flower wishes to cling, yet the flowing water is indifferent. From your eyes, I saw the answer! You are not the kind to surrender meekly to fate. If I forced you, I’d only end up with two cold corpses. Yes, you are important to me. Without you, I may remain ordinary forever. But I want more than just your bodies—I want your hearts and souls. Besides, you don’t like me.” He paused here.

This sentence stirred waves in the Ye sisters’ hearts.

He laughed at himself and continued, “But of course, what maiden in her prime would fall for an old man like me?”

At his self-deprecating words, Ruyue and Ruxue felt a pang in their hearts—astonishingly, they felt sorry for him.

Night Without End continued, deeply moved, “And truly loving someone doesn’t always mean possessing them.”

He gazed at Ye Ruyue, “When I thought I was dying, I woke and the first person I saw was you. Your image is deeply etched here.” He pointed to his chest.

Turning to Ye Ruxue, he said, “Remember when I held your legs? I was actually taking liberties, even touching your small hand. Then I thought, if I could hold it for a lifetime, how wonderful that would be! Later, you gave me this courtyard and a hundred coins. Whatever your reason, when I was penniless, you gave me the means to survive. Your kindness is also engraved here.” He pointed to his chest again.

“I think I’ll never forget you. In quiet nights, I might think of you. But I have one thing to say.”

“There is a kind of love called letting go!” With these words, Night Without End turned and walked away.

Every word struck at Ye Ruyue’s and Ye Ruxue’s hearts, especially the last: “There is a kind of love called letting go!”

In their eyes, something new had appeared.

They recalled Xue Qing’s words: “Because only after missing out does one know regret!”

Ye Ruyue felt her sister grip her hand tighter.

“Wait, I have one more question!” Ye Ruyue called hurriedly.

This time Night Without End did not turn, but stood aloof with his back to them, the corners of his mouth curling up. “Please speak, Miss Ye.”

Only Xue Qing, ever at his side, noticed the change in his expression and smiled inwardly, “My husband acts so well, he almost fooled me! Truly, he’s not who he once was.”

With his back to them, they could not see his expression.

“If, one day, someone wants to harm the woman you love, and you cannot defeat them, what would you do?” Ye Ruyue asked.

“If that day comes, let them step over my corpse first!”

“Step over my corpse… step over my corpse…”

Chapter Eleven

“Step over my corpse… step over my corpse…”

Such simple words echoed in their ears and stirred storms in their hearts—their final defenses crumbled!

The two sisters, only fifteen or sixteen, could not withstand Night Without End’s honeyed words and vows.

“Can you turn around? I want to see you one more time!” Ye Ruyue sobbed.

Night Without End paused, then slowly turned to face them.

He met their eyes.

Though his face was aged, his gaze was clear, genuine.

Looking into his eyes, they saw not indifference, but a single, bright, sincere glance.

Mist rose in their eyes as they looked at him.

To ask them to marry an old man—what girl could agree to such a thing? Yet, inexplicably, they felt as if they’d known him for years.

Ye Ruyue seemed to make up her mind, stepping forward and gazing earnestly into Night Without End’s eyes. “I am willing to marry you.”

Ye Ruxue, looking at her sister, also stepped forward. “I swore with my sister to be together for life. I am also willing to marry you.”

“What are you doing? Even an old man like me, you like?”

Night Without End winked at Xue Qing. “Do you regret it? About to marry an old man!”

The two sisters shook their heads.

Xue Qing shook her head helplessly. This old man is truly mischievous!

Still, she was comforted as she watched, smiling. “You two little girls, always causing trouble. If you miss this, you’ll regret it!” She tapped their foreheads.

“Senior Xue, didn’t you risk serious injury to give him your blood essence to restore his body?” Ye Ruxue pouted.

“Now that you’ve decided, why call me Senior? From today, we’re family.”

At Xue Qing’s words, the sisters exchanged a glance, seeing the same intent in each other’s eyes. Together, they turned to Xue Qing. “Sister Qing.”

“Ah! My two little sisters are so good! Let’s help your husband recover, then we’ll proceed to the wedding ceremony!” Xue Qing replied cheerfully, stroking their heads.

She took out the Youth Retaining Pill and a cup containing her blood essence, handing them to Night Without End. “Drink the blood essence first, then take the pill.”

Night Without End nodded, drank the blood essence in one gulp, and swallowed the pill.

Afterward, he immediately sat cross-legged. A violent surge of energy burst from his core, flooding his limbs and bones. This time, his body felt no resistance—only excitement. Every cell seemed to cheer, absorbing the energy from the seven drops of blood essence.

His body felt as if thrown into a furnace, burning fiercely.

Soon, his aged body seemed unable to withstand the immense energy. Suddenly, a long crack appeared from his forehead, splitting open!

Yet no blood flowed from the crack.

“Night Without End!” the sisters cried anxiously.

“He’s fine, don’t worry. I’m watching over him—I won’t harm him,” Xue Qing comforted, touching her forehead in exasperation at their panic.

“Such panic could disturb him. Your cultivation techniques are too low, seriously limiting your potential. Let me teach you a technique suited to you—the 'Ice Celestial Method,' one of our Immortal Moon Pavilion’s ten supreme arts! Try to comprehend and cultivate it.” She touched their foreheads, transmitting a vast amount of information that made their minds spin. Both had to sit cross-legged to digest the energy and begin cultivating.

A day passed!

Black flames slowly ignited on Night Without End, his clothes vanished in moments, his body covered in cracks as fierce fires burned.

Ye Ruyue and Ye Ruxue’s aura grew stronger, waves of cold radiated from them.

The courtyard was divided—one side burned with black flame, the other covered in ice.

Their chilling aura spread, the ice extending across the ground, stopping just before Night Without End.

Crackling sounds came as his skin began to peel away, turning to ash instantly, revealing skin as white and smooth as that of a newborn.

Night Without End felt extreme comfort, his ten fingers pristine and white, within each, a white egg slowly formed.

The sun set once again.

The second day arrived!

Black flames continued to burn. Within the ten white eggs, worm larvae became visible, ten white shadows slowly wriggling, absorbing the energy from Night Without End's body, unceasingly growing.

He felt his teeth itch, and a pair of long, corpse-like fangs grew out.

Time passed. The sun rose again—the third day had come!

Night Without End opened his eyes, his body suffused with strength, as if endless energy surged within. He looked at his pale, smooth hands.

“Hm?” He noticed a worm egg within each fingernail, ten in all, slowly wriggling.

“Husband, you’re awake!” Xue Qing stood beside him, asking.

He examined Xue Qing closely—her complexion had improved, but she was still pale.