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

Latia seemed to have opened her mouth. She didn't seem to want any response from Bai Lin, but just pouring out her thoughts made her feel more relaxed. Or perhaps, she had already received the best response.

Indeed, now that I think about it, Latia's mask-wearing was far too casual. Especially before the decisive battle between dawn and dusk, she'd even worn it while playing, so as not to stand out and draw attention. Now that I think about it, she must have been constantly terrified. When her life was on the line, when Bai Lin was conflicted... even when she was encouraging Bai Lin, perhaps her own hands were shaking even more violently.

"The first time we worked together, I showed you my fear of death. At that time, I was wondering if I had messed up. Fortunately, you trusted me, and I took each step steadily, and finally I have come to this day safely..."

She recalled the past, and those memories made her very tired, after all, she had to play the role of "poet" all the time. But when she said these words, it was so refreshing. She couldn't help but speak one after another,

"We spent day after day together, whether it was intense or relaxing. We traveled through the mountains, witnessed beautiful peaks, and sat in the starless valleys, relying on each other. Although I am very tired, I really want to—"

Latia sighed deeply and finally said,

“I really want to keep going like this.”

From the moment they first met, the poet had expressed her admiration for Bai Lin. She admired Bai Lin as a hero, not simply someone with some skill to sacrifice for him; this was a choice she had personally made in her own vision of the future. Those words were no nonsense.

So, you can imagine how wonderful it is for her to have walked countless journeys with someone she admires and respects. Besides being exhausted, she feels even more satisfied. This is simply the best thing.

Hospice care.

I really want it to continue like this.

Who could complain about such moments? But who wouldn't know that such moments would eventually end? It was precisely because of these moments of contentment that Latia was able to move even more resolutely toward her predetermined death.

"But I am already satisfied. What you have given me is more than enough, Holy Son."

"So, don't blame yourself too much. I also want to say something to you, what you just said to me... You have done well enough. This is all my own choice, and you, from now on, will have to walk your own path. Make your choice and follow the path you want."

As she spoke, Latia coughed a few times, and some unknown liquid splashed around Bai Lin. The latter felt that her body seemed to have become lighter. Both sides understood that there was not much time left. Bai Lin gently stroked her back, and asked as steadily as possible,

"All the knights have left their last wishes, but you haven't, Latia. Don't you have any regrets? Whatever it is, I will do my best to fulfill it."

"Regrets? Ah... yes, there are some regrets. Everyone has countless regrets in life, right? They probably started accumulating from the moment we were born, and now it's impossible to count them all."

Latia replied. Even if one had achieved one's goals in this life, even if it had seemingly ended perfectly, there would still be regrets. A drop of liquid fell on Bai Lin's shoulder again, and this time, it seemed to be tears.

Bai Lin could feel that the other person's limbs, which could still be considered hands, were holding her tighter and trembling. She buried her face deep in the back of Bai Lin's neck, so as to get closer to her.

"I don't want to die either, Holy Son, if I had a choice. There are still many places I want to go with you. No, with you, anywhere is fine... There are so many things I haven't accomplished. Regrets can never be made up.

"We live with regrets. Although they may make us regret for life, they can also ignite hope. Between hope and regret, we walk the path of reality. So, I don't need you to fulfill any regrets for me. Because, they are beautiful."

"However, if I had to say what my biggest regret is... it's that I couldn't witness the moment of your success. If I could truly make a request of you, I would reiterate my wish:"

The crying gradually stopped. Latia's hair brushed against Bai Lin's face. The gentle words, like these thin threads, slowly floated out.

"Although I don't need to say much, I hope you can survive to the end. Not only must your body remain immortal, but you must also not lose your humanity and always use your own thinking to look at everything. Win in the end and truly return home to farm. Rather than achieving your goal and then losing everything you have."

Her last wish before her death was still being considered by Bai Lin. This was Latia, a poet who dedicated herself to heroes. Her true heart was still so beautiful.

Hearing this, Bai Lin could no longer suppress her emotions. She bit her lower lip and looked up at the sky. After a few seconds, she managed to come back to her senses and prevented the tears from falling. But she still couldn't help but frown and replied tremblingly,

"I promise you...I promise you everything."

After receiving this final reply, Latia seemed to be relieved of a heavy burden. She collapsed even more weakly on Bai Lin, breathing steadily.

Chapter 1046 That's Good

"That's good."

Her breathing gradually slowed, and she grew weaker. The two of them seemed to have a tacit understanding, not communicating any further. In this somewhat noisy night, they simply embraced each other, guarding the silence between them.

Through the shattered visor, Latia could see a satisfied smile on her lips. She was truly satisfied; anyone could be so sure. This was her final bow as a girl and a poet before the final curtain call. A perfect arc, a falling bouquet of flowers.

Gradually, gradually, Bai Lin didn't know how much time had passed. When she came to her senses, she no longer felt the touch of flesh on her body. She realized that in her arms, there were only the other person's remaining clothes. She understood a fact very clearly:

She was gone, completely gone.

She remained in this position for a few seconds, perhaps because her suppressed emotions could finally be released. A large number of thoughts rushed into her mind, and ultimately she was unable to do anything.

But then, her legs went limp and she fell backward. When a person cries to a certain point, they stop. That doesn't necessarily mean they're no longer sad. On the contrary, after crying, there will be another moment of extreme sadness. The reason they stopped crying was because...

tired.

Indeed, Bai Lin was exhausted, both physically and mentally. Moving even a single step was extremely difficult, and even the thought of crying was no longer possible. She had already been through so much in the past few days. She stared blankly at the sky, wondering what she was thinking.

Suddenly, some light appeared from the distance. They were like thin lines, extending from a section of the sky.

"This is……"

She frowned, but as her doubts grew, she immediately had the answer. This was a scene she had seen before.

It's a meteor shower.

The interwoven stars flew down in a unified direction. A deep, throbbing beat echoed from the other side of the sky, like a wailing wail. Perhaps it was mourning for the dead.

But even so, their forward momentum remained fierce. The radiance that filled half the night sky, carrying immense momentum, moved forward unwaveringly. It seemed to be reminding Bai Lin that it was time to move forward.

Are you there, poets, and knights. Are you all looking at me?

But before Bai Lin could even think for a few seconds, a loud noise disrupted her thoughts. A carriage sped past, knocking her to the ground. She rolled in pain, but a second carriage, coming from behind, sped past her.

The third, the fourth... countless carriages were running madly in the ruins of the perfect people's city, and seemed to be moving unswervingly in one direction.

Bai Lin stood beside the ruins, confused and unaware of what had happened. Was it an enemy attack? No, he could not sense any hostility. Instead, instead—

"Are you ignoring me?"

Indeed, the collision with Bai Lin didn't seem intentional. The vehicles were moving in the same direction, going straight no matter which way they passed. They moved in unison, and a deathly silence could be felt from the vehicles. Their target wasn't Bai Lin, and they wouldn't do anything else. That's how Bai Lin felt.

What kind of phenomenon was this… Bai Lin's heart was filled with anger, an emotion she had been struggling to find an outlet for. Even though she was exhausted, she seemed to be particularly eager to find trouble, especially since the other party had bumped into her first.

But just as she was about to take the next step, familiar figures appeared in front of her.

Several carriages were lined with black-armored knights. Ju Men, Ivan, Sphia, Shar Pei, Kingfisher, Long Hair... Each of them sat serenely, their expressions so calm that it seemed as if they were not just some strange carriage, but rather the journey home.

"Hey, Alvin, can't you hear me?! Why are you guys here?"

Even though she was running out of energy, Bai Lin immediately called out the names of her former companions one by one. However, perhaps by the second time she called out, she had already realized that such an action was meaningless, but she still kept calling out, trying to get some response.

Until the poet's carriage also came into view, everything finally became clear to her. If Bai Lin still held out some hope for the knights' lives, then the poet's death in her arms was an indisputable fact. Bai Lin chased after him, reaching out her hand, but she couldn't reach the poet's body. And he didn't even glance in her direction. A wave of weakness washed over her body and soul, and she understood the reality of despair.

Since ancient times, people have had countless fantasies about death. There are the Eighteen Levels of Hell, Heaven, and Valhalla... In various myths, people have woven countless possibilities for it. And what lay before Bai Lin was the truest form of death.

She judged that this was a carriage leading to some "afterlife".

So, in this situation that had become a fait accompli, Bai Lin used her limited strength and made a Bai Lin-style decision in an instant. She stepped hard, jumped high, and stepped on the front of the carriage carrying the poet. A man wrapped in a heavy windbreaker and wearing a fur hat was driving the carriage. Bai Lin grabbed the man's shoulders and shouted at him directly,

"Stop the car! Stop the car now!"

The other party was obviously very surprised by Bai Lin's roar.

"How...how did you come across this car and see us?"

What came out from under that body was a girl's voice that was somewhat cold and soft. The voice of surprise and doubt was extremely clear.

"I told you to stop the car, are you deaf?!"

Bai Lin's already impolite tone intensified. Even though she was covered in wounds, her physical condition was already at its end, but those wounds made her even more intimidating. The overwhelming momentum surged towards the other party, clearly shocking him for a moment.

However, it was only for a while. The girl swallowed her saliva and continued driving forward.

"Listen, I don't care which god you are connected to or what kind of connection you have. We are going to take these people away. This is the law of the world, and it is also our job. Please don't get in the way."

Chapter 1047: Through the Ruins

"I don't care where you come from, what theorems you have, or what your job is, just put them down!"

Bai Lin continued to vent her emotions. This time, she grabbed the other person's collar, forcing him to pay enough attention to this matter. Even so, the other person did not look directly at Bai Lin, but continued to look ahead. She did not stop Bai Lin's behavior, but just sighed and said,

"Listen, I don't care if you know anything about us or what death means. Their lives are over. They should leave this world and enter another phase of rest."

"I understand. They are important to you. In fact, every day when we see them off, we see people weeping bitterly for their deceased loved ones. They shout things like, 'Take my life away, give him back.' But the dead are dead, and they have their own way to go. Staying here would only be a bad thing for them."

"And those who survive also have their own paths to walk. The Yin and Yang are separated, life and death are separated. For them, and for your own sake, let go."

When the last sentence sounded, Bai Lin felt that something was touched deep in her heart. Fallen leaves return to their roots, this kind of departure is a fact that she has to accept. But even so, Bai Lin still had no intention of letting go. She tightened her grip and said through gritted teeth,

"I don't understand so much. Now that they are in front of me, I must find a way to keep them all."

I can't bear to be separated again. Wherever they are, there I will be.

"...I'm not doubting your strength. Although we don't want to resort to violence, your current condition doesn't suggest you can do such a thing. On the contrary, it's possible that you will become one of them. Are you sure?"

The lady in leather jackets finally stopped simply reasoning with Bai Lin. After all, it was impossible for the average person to calmly speak while bearing Bai Lin's pressure. Considering the numerous carriages, she felt quite confident against Bai Lin, who was in a state of distress. She wanted to make him retreat, both through her initial persuasion, which was a mental one, and now, on a physical level.

Unexpectedly, she heard another unexpected answer.

"It doesn't matter!"

Bai Lin roared at the top of his lungs. This response finally caught her attention. She saw a pair of frantic eyes within Bai Lin's devastated state. They trembled violently, pushing her consciousness to yet another extreme.

"……What did you say?"

"I say, it doesn't matter at all! If they can really kill me and take me somewhere, then I'll go with them. Whether it's the underworld or hell, I'll lead them out together. I will, I will..."

Bai Lin's tone grew increasingly hard, but the lady in leather jacket could clearly see the trembling of her lips. The anger was just a facade, hiding the weakness that had been pierced through, the weakness of human nature. She had no doubt that Bai Lin was prepared to take action, but—

"Forget it, little girl."

She raised her hand and instantly pushed Bai Lin off the carriage. The sudden force left Bai Lin no chance to react. She rolled several times on the ground, nearly losing consciousness from the damage. But she simply watched the departing figures, refusing to close her eyes.

Why……

She stretched out her hand towards the front, trying to get closer to the other person.

Why am I alone again?

I saved the world for your sake... How can I accept it if you suddenly abandon me without saying a word?

No, I can't bear this separation anymore. No matter what, let me stay with you. Together...

This was another extreme. When her emotions finally found an outlet, the sheer volume of separations piled up, instantly crushing Bai Lin's spiritual support. At this moment, she was utterly resisting separation, even though the other person was already dead, she still held onto a strong desire to keep him.

If I can't stay, then I'll go with them.

This extremely irresponsible thought, one she would deny even herself, entered her mind. "Whatever, let's go together," wouldn't work. She didn't have a burning desire to lead the knights away from some place of death, nor did she, as she had in the past, simply believe in her own victory. That was why she was pushed off the cart. She had no chance of success; she was simply seeking death.

At this moment, Bai Lin is just an ordinary person among the thousands who have lost important people.

If she had even a fraction of strength left, she would have gotten up and chased after him. However, her legs seemed to be restrained by something, completely unable to move. It was her own instinctive, now unconscious, will to face reality. Overwhelmed by overwhelming grief, she collapsed to the ground, watching the last carriage drive away.

Due to excessive fatigue, her eyes finally closed.

Bai Lin wasn't sure if she'd fallen asleep. If only she could, she hoped it was all a dream. In her half-awake state, she felt her inner warmth dissipate. The pain, whether from wounds, fatigue, or heartbreak, enveloped her body. And so, in the darkness, she lay quietly.

After an unknown amount of time, Bai Lin felt a faint sensation on her head. The throbbing was like trying to wake her up. Although it was very faint, Bai Lin was able to notice it. She opened her eyes, and in an instant, the sensation disappeared from her head.

Rather than disappearing, it was more like flying away. She clearly saw a living creature appear before her. It was a butterfly, a tiny one. It was hard to imagine it perching on Bai Lin's head, swatting him awake. Even harder to imagine it flying over the wreckage of this tragic battlefield.

A graceful butterfly, flapping its wings, flew beside Bai Lin. It conveyed vitality and a unique beauty. It guided Bai Lin and climbed to his feet.

The latter clearly sensed something from the other. Wherever it flew, it felt as soft as sunlight. Perhaps it was nothing special, simply the presence of living beings sweeping away the dead air.

Chapter 1048 Decision

Walking through the bleak battlefield was like a normal, natural process. The beautiful traces left behind reminded Bai Lin of something familiar, but he couldn't seem to recall what it was.

Just like those stars, facing forward... No.

Bai Lin suddenly realized, watching the butterfly dancing,

"Is he a poet?"

Almost unconsciously, the incredibly presumptuous sound broke the silence on the battlefield. And how could a butterfly possibly understand human language? It completely ignored Bai Lin and soon flew out of his sight.

But Bai Lin herself seemed to understand something. She looked up at the sky, the traces that had pierced the sky still vivid in her mind, and it made her understand something. She gently closed her eyes, but this time, unlike before, she simply remained silent, thinking about something.

It turned out to be the case.

After a while, Bai Lin sighed faintly. She finally regained some strength and prepared to move.

It's not the time yet. Whether it's falling down or giving up, or anything else, it's too early and too ridiculous.

Do you want to look at all this with a lighter mind and body?

She smiled softly, then quickly wiped it away.

Thank you, but at this point... I don't need you anymore.

Bai Lin stumbled, but eventually, she began to turn back. Not in the direction of the carriages, but on the path she had chosen. But before she took a few steps, a strange feeling passed through her consciousness and entered her mind.

Suddenly, countless thoughts, like materialized words, flooded into her mind. Although Bai Lin wasn't in combat mode, it wasn't something she was aware of mentally. She subconsciously covered her ears, and blood immediately flowed from her palms.

She endured the pain, clenched her teeth, and immediately looked forward. Her intuition warned her to at least see what had suddenly blocked her way. At the very least, she had to punch it first.

But what she saw was far beyond her expectations.

I saw a vague black shadow that seemed to not exist in this world at all, constantly flickering and standing in front of Bai Lin.