It's so painful! So hard! So difficult!

The poet put on her mask silently. With this action, she ended the conversation. It seemed to be a signal, a signal to the other party. At this moment, Bai Lin's voice came roaring.

"Cursive poet, there's nothing else to say. I've read it all. What should I say next?"

"I see. Come over here first."

Ling Qing looked at the poet, obviously still not quite understanding what she meant. However, she nodded and said,

"Thank you."

The poet nodded, looked at Bai Lin who had returned, and said,

"Let's go, let's get rid of the mastermind."

"Huh?! You've figured it all out already. You're quite the person."

"I'm a little disappointed that you haven't figured this out yet. Because this kind of thing may be even further away from me."

The poet said this, and Bai Lin laughed heartily, showing no dissatisfaction.

"Who said I didn't understand? You didn't even show me the book, so you can't blame me."

"makes sense."

The poet said this without giving any more orders, and walked straight towards the other side of the library. Bai Lin walked side by side with him, heaving the knife on his shoulder. Ling Qing also quickly followed.

After walking for a while, Ling Qing, under Bai Lin's careful care, remained relatively unscathed. They gradually reached the inner hall of the palace. Atop two thrones, one on each side, were no longer the dignified figures that existed. Yet, no trace of decay tainted the royal court.

Some of them are just a girl holding a sharp blade, surrounded by a black evil aura, and wearing exquisite armor.

The faintly visible fangs and claws clung to her armor, piercing her tender flesh and piercing her body. The already half-broken helmet shattered, bit by bit, and fell to the ground. Her elegant ivory-colored hair flowed out, and her hazy, tightly closed eyes slowly opened.

She had been kneeling on the ground, and stiffly stood up, as if she hadn't moved for a long time. She stood in front of the three people, looking down at them. She placed her hand on the sword blade that was stuck in the ground, and glanced at them with her cold, ocean-blue eyes.

"You seem very powerful indeed to have made it this far. Come on, then. I won't let you go any further."

This girl, whose dress is somewhat similar to Bai Lin, speaks in a slightly childish manner, but there is no doubt that there is an offensive intention in her words.

However, her expression was somewhat resolute. Her trembling eyes and clenched teeth gave no sign of her being confident. Her words also revealed that, even if she wasn't the mastermind behind all this, she was well aware of what Bai Lin and the others had experienced.

Bai Lin knew very well that she was standing here with the mentality of killing the other person even if it meant self-destruction.

"While we don't know your true identity, we have no intention of making an enemy of you. Would you mind sitting down and chatting with me?"

If you can avoid fighting, you should. To show her sincerity, Bai Lin took the initiative and removed her cloak and mask, revealing her flawless appearance. If they were negotiating, wearing a helmet would be a bit unfriendly, and with her adorable face, it would be a shame not to use it.

Unexpectedly, the girl, who had seemed willing to talk just a moment before, suddenly had a look of extreme concentration. Instantly, a powerful gust of air swept towards her. Bai Lin suddenly felt her soul being violently assaulted. A powerful sense of terror, densely packed like a black torrent, filled her mind.

When she came to her senses, she had already retreated several steps. Her heartbeat and breathing were as chaotic as before, and her steps were unsteady. She also immediately realized the reason for all this.

This is fear.

The powerful black malice, like a twisted shadow, grew stronger in the reflection of Bai Lin's pupils. Its fierce fangs and sharp claws also attacked Bai Lin's body, which was extremely weak in comparison.

She quickly steadied herself and grasped her weapon. Regardless of the principle, it was ultimately a mental attack. She held her shield horizontally, blocking the girl's thrust. Seeing this, the girl switched from holding her sword with both hands to one, swung her arm to the side, and a multitude of black ghostly shadows enveloped her entire arm. A massive claw slammed directly towards Bai Lin.

An ordinary person, faced with such a varied attack at such a distance, would likely be hit directly. But for Bai Lin, this situation was perfectly manageable. She first used her round shield to deflect and press downward, causing the opponent's blade to slip, and then simultaneously thrust forward with her entire body. Her explosive speed allowed her to close the gap, allowing both to strike directly at the other.

In an instant, Bai Lin's face was close to hers, and both could feel each other's hot breath. At that moment, the girl, who had been frightening her, suddenly had a look of disbelief and astonishment on her face. She seemed confused about what Bai Lin was going to do. Even if her sword couldn't hit her immediately, wouldn't she still be injured when the ghost hand struck her? She also didn't understand why Bai Lin was smiling at this moment.

Fortunately, she understood the next second. The moment she was completely grabbed by Bai Lin and thrown to the ground.

-

Somehow, a day should be short, and each day should be unique. But Lingqing always seemed to feel that she had experienced this day before. She stood alone in the palace, stunned.

Where is this?

She tried hard to recall what she had experienced before.

By the way, I originally came here with the fortune teller and the Holy Son to find a way to rescue my people.

But where are they?

The room was empty. Everything was like a dream. She looked around, feeling extremely panicked and confused, but soon she thought with relief,

I was just being consumed by the illness. Hadn't I always wanted to come here alone to find answers? Those two people didn't exist in the first place.

So, why did Lingqing want to come here? Or why did she feel that this place held the answer to saving her people?

Chapter 976 What Do You Know?

Everything in this palace felt incredibly real and familiar to her. She stretched out her legs and involuntarily walked forward. She arrived in front of the throne and looked at the sword stuck in the ground.

She seemed to have known what she was going to do.

Mermaids' tears can only flow once in their lifetime. They are said to be the ultimate antidote, capable of healing everything. This can only be achieved at the cost of their lives.

After taking it, in just seven seconds, everything vanishes. The user forgets everything about their illness, and the part of them that resists the world, the part of them that is "illness," vanishes along with their memory.

Why had she only just now remembered all this? Was she trying to escape the reality of death? Thinking of all this, Ling Qing let out a bitter smile. She shook her head, reached out, and placed her hand on the upside-down sword.

If we bring this method back, the tribesmen will have to sacrifice half of themselves. But it's better than everyone dying. They will lose their memories of us and move on to a new life.

This is fine...

Her hand on the hilt of the sword began to tremble uncontrollably. It was as if her hand had lost its strength in an instant. The sword she was about to draw out was unable to move at all, and it seemed as if it was sinking deeper into the ground as her thoughts followed.

When she came to, it felt as if cold liquid had dripped onto her hand. Through the reflection of the silver sword, she could see Lingqing's tears, unable to hold them back. Sadness, reluctance, and all the helplessness she felt were buried in her expression.

The only thing missing is real tears.

Because mermaids only shed tears when they die.

Lingqing thought of this palace. Why did it look so familiar? It was a symbol of the opulent life her people had once envisioned. They probably didn't aspire to live in such a luxurious place, but they knew that if they could live here, they wouldn't be bullied by others.

A warm place to live...

There is delicious food to eat...

What is delicious? Thinking of this, Ling Qing's thoughts suddenly stopped. But she fully understood that she still hoped for a better life.

Is it so difficult to live with everyone and see the day when I can make it? Is this really impossible?

Who would want to sacrifice if they could?

But there is no choice. In this world, there are many things that are beyond our control.

It's only a moment of pain, it's okay. Afterward, we will return to the ocean, our consciousness, our souls, gradually sinking into the rippling depths. It doesn't matter if it's lonely or cold, as long as we stay here and watch... Holding hope for those who survive, and the reassurance that they can recover, just watch.

Sooner or later they will be able to live in such a palace and live such a life.

And I just need to use it to cut across my throat.

Thinking about it, Ling Qing smiled slightly. She calmly closed her eyes, as if she had already accepted the ending. And at this moment, a voice rang out.

"That won't do. If you die, it will be meaningless."

A strong grip, accompanied by a powerful sound, appeared on Lingqing's arm. Unbeknownst to her, the figure she had thought was an illusion actually appeared before her.

Bai Lin helped Ling Qing remove his hand with a slightly tough attitude and said,

"Your courage to sacrifice is admirable. But that will never achieve the outcome you desire."

"You want to live with your people until one day you achieve a stable life, prosperity, and power, right? If you die now, that will be impossible. Not to mention whether you can still hold on to this forest after your entire tribe is reduced by half. Do you think you can still make a name for yourself on this continent controlled by the Perfect People?"

Bai Lin's hand was so strong that Ling Qing couldn't resist. However, the latter's attitude was not willing to obey at all. After being stopped, her originally calm expression suddenly became turbulent.

"It's just a phantom, don't jump to conclusions here. What do you know?! Have you ever experienced that feeling? That feeling of being surrounded by people who need help, feeling that others are experiencing life and death at every moment. The feeling of trying hard but being unable to do anything. Whether it's me or all of them, it's like that."

"Can someone as powerful as you understand this?"

In Ling Qing's eyes, Bai Lin did not have a high status, but she acted like a noble person like a poet. She was strong and confident, as if she was born that way. So, she would look at Bai Lin and ask such a question,

“…I understand it all too well.”

Bai Lin's somewhat lonely voice rang out. Her expression was relatively calm, but her eyes were obviously dim. With a sigh, she slowly narrated,

"I've been sickly since I was little, and I've been to the hospital a lot. Luckily, my family was relatively wealthy, so I was able to survive. It's precisely because I went there so often that I have a deep impression of hospitals. I've seen a lot in them."

"Some people have no money for medical treatment and voluntarily give up treatment to avoid burdening their families, and even jump from buildings. They cry at the counter one second because they can't afford to save their family's life, and then they are all smiles when they receive a call from a customer the next second."

"Can you imagine? You've probably experienced it yourself. No matter how painful or difficult life is, when you're actually working, even if someone's ripping your guts out, you have to endure it and maintain a positive attitude. That's the only way to survive, and that's the daily routine of working people."

As Bai Lin narrated, she slowly loosened her grip on the other person's hand. She turned around and put her whole body around the sword, put her hands on her hips, and tried to force a smile, as if to ease the atmosphere. However, she really couldn't smile that much, so she also said,

"Medical disputes stemming from treatment scheduling issues, disputes stemming from failed surgeries... they lead from one tragedy to another, triggering even more tragedies. I've witnessed so many disputes and tragedies. So-called hospitals are places filled with a collective sense of helplessness. Because lives are at stake here, the burden is even heavier."

"But how can the operation of society as a whole not be related to human life? If only the hospital is heavy-handed... then it's really too gentle."

Chapter 977 is not valid here

"I've experienced countless failures, just like you. Of course, this may sound a bit arrogant, but my failures have never threatened my survival. However, where I live, there is always depression and pressure. In this regard, I completely understand that feeling of powerlessness."

Having said this, Bai Lin paused for a moment, and she let the voice slip out of her throat in a long, drawn-out manner.

"Even though I'm what I am now, a powerful Holy Son, I still watched many people die, and I was powerless to do anything. I saw an entire village being tortured for the foolish reason of pleasure, and a little girl being subjected to all kinds of mental abuse and experiments, leaving her with a deep sense of pain. I saw an entire race waiting for a vow of return that would never be fulfilled..."

Seeing Bai Lin's tone getting more depressed, Ling Qing also relaxed a lot. She deeply realized where the strength of this beautiful girl in front of her came from. Even if it was just through words. But because of this, she couldn't help but ask,

"Well, shouldn't you understand this best? Tragedy is inevitable. That's life. Since there's nothing you can do about it, what else can you do but do it—"

"It is true that tragedies will always exist. They happen over and over again, and none of us want to see them, but we experience pain every day. However..."

"Why do you say that there is nothing that can be done?"

Bai Lin brought up the topic again. She folded her hands and her tone was obviously more confident than before.

"We've tried to convince you countless times, to convince you that everything can still be salvaged. But you waver every moment, even now. Of course, this isn't entirely your fault. You've been constantly assaulted by dreamlike illusions. I'm sure you've long lost the ability to distinguish between dreams and reality. That's a symptom of the late stages of sea nightmares."

"And it's not that you never disbelieved in us. It's that you never believed in yourself."

Bai Lin asserted, ignoring the other party's intention to refute, and straightened her body.

"You've been thinking about coming here since the beginning, even though you knew it was dangerous. You've also been blaming yourself for the tribe's current situation. Even though you've done a good job, you're still pushing yourself into a dead end."

"To put it bluntly, you've been on a path of self-destruction. This is because you lost hope in life a long time ago. Those visions will never be realized, at least not under your leadership. You simply want to give your life away as soon as possible, to the people you love, so that they can step over your corpse and move towards a better tomorrow. But have you ever thought about why you long for them to move towards a better tomorrow?"

Bai Lin's tone gradually became a little colder, and she turned her gaze to point directly at the other person.

"You love them deeply, so you want them to live well. Let's not discuss whether they can succeed after you die. Apart from that, one thing is very clear, that is..."

"They love you deeply, too."

Ling Qing was stunned. She was a little confused by such words. This was indeed a very obvious thing. But as she had said before, at this point, what was the point of talking about love?

"They live such miserable lives. Do you think they've never thought about dying? Just letting go of this world and having it all over with? And why do you think they obey your harsh orders and demands? It's certainly for the happiness and well-being of the entire tribe, but more than that, it's out of their own supreme selfishness—that's exactly your original intention."

Bai Lin paused, pursed his lips, and finally uttered the words,

"Live a wonderful life with the ones you love. And these loved ones naturally include you, Lingqing."

"If you die, they will continue to live with the pain. Perhaps one day the wound will fade, slowly dissipate, and they will move on to a new life. But it's more likely that after watching their tribesmen leave one by one in this way, they will also lose their original intention and hope for life."

"You're a mermaid, and you understand this better than I do. If you don't hold onto your thoughts and swim upward, you'll gradually sink to the bottom. Once you lose hope, you'll only become more and more depressed. Saying you've lost your original aspirations might be a bit too much. You're just... too tired."

Bai Lin walked a little closer, and with dry eyes, she looked at the other person with a reluctant tenderness.

"No matter what you do, you can't get any good out of it. That's why you don't think you can ever be happy, and that's why you give up. And if you die, and some of you choose to die this way, the exhaustion will break down the defenses of more people. That's why I say they're more likely to end up like you."

"Giving up is a better option, but it doesn't work here. Not only for your people, but for you too. Don't you want to continue being with them? Even if most of the time is painful, being with them is joyful. This is the meaning of life, to spend happy moments in the midst of hardship, according to your own preferences, in the way you want."

Ling Qing was silent. She took a deep breath, as if realizing only then that she had breathed before. Her eyes drooped slightly.

"……You're right."

"They've always lived like this. Three days ago, during a deathbed visit, a member of the tribe, whose limbs had been cut off and even his face completely taken away, seemed to regain consciousness with his final consciousness."

"She started crying and complaining that she didn't want to die. This is a common occurrence; most people wouldn't be willing to accept their own death. I let her thrash with her weak limbs until she was tired. And then, all of a sudden, her crying stopped."

"In silence, she gently grasped my arm with her only remaining hand and spoke."

Your hands are so warm, Lingqing. I didn't think so at first, but now, I really want to feel them a little longer.

But my greed ends here. I've been very happy with the time I've spent with you. I'm already very satisfied. Thank you.

"She said that while smiling, even though her mouth was the only part of her face that could move. Yet, her smile was so genuine and gentle, as if death itself wasn't a big deal. I couldn't figure out why."

Chapter 978. Remember me?

"With death right before our eyes, could we really have been so happy during the time we spent together? Or was it just a way for you to comfort me before you die?"

"Now I realize I was wrong. She wasn't overthinking anything; she was simply expressing her truest, dying words. Only after actually approaching death did I understand this even more clearly."

"No matter what, she wanted to live with them more and longer. No matter how painful it was, being with them was worth it. So she would cry and say that she wanted to live, and then sincerely express her gratitude."

"Everyone is like this. No matter how painful life is, even if it is just our only hope, it is enough for us to continue living."