Chapter Fifty-Two: A Life That Cannot Return

Surrounded on all sides, the Egret Child struggled to shield Tearless, his strength clearly waning. The more he fought, the weaker and more desperate he became. Though his stature was much like Tearless’s, it was as if he were an impenetrable wall, standing firm between Tearless and the oncoming danger.

Seeing that so many of his men could not take down a mere boy, Gong Yu’s fury knew no bounds. Gripping his crimson-tasseled serpent spear, he plunged into the heart of the melee. With a twist of his palm, he grasped the end of the spear’s shaft, a subtle circular motion gathering in his hand. In a flash, he struck with the force of a tiger descending the mountain, the spear whistling as it bore down viciously on the Egret Child.

The Egret Child was aghast. Gong Yu’s cultivation was formidable, and with enemies on every side, there was no way to evade the blow—blood was sure to stain the serpent spear. They clashed, and the Egret Child was forced to stagger back.

But Gong Yu, determined to avenge the Crown Prince, would not relent. “Surrender your life!” he cried. “Repay my lord in blood!”

Unable to avoid the onslaught, the Egret Child soon bore new wounds, blood trickling down his battered form. Exhausted, carrying Tearless, he stumbled back in retreat. One misstep, and both fell to the ground.

With quick reflexes, the Egret Child twisted around, shielding Tearless beneath him. He shut his eyes, awaiting death, and silently prayed, “Master…”

“You will not leave here alive,” Gong Yu declared. Changing from a thrust to a crushing blow, he poured his true energy into the spear, intent on smashing the pair to pieces where they lay. He would use the blood of Lingyun Cavern to honor the dead Crown Prince.

This strike was certain; the Egret Child’s death was inevitable.

Yet fate intervened. Just as Gong Yu was about to land the killing blow, a sword suddenly parried him away.

Sparks blazed and scattered in all directions. The albatrosses, startled, ceased their spells and withdrew to their places.

Gong Yu steadied himself, and when he saw who had come, murderous intent flared in his eyes. “Just in time. I was searching for you. Since you’ve come to me, you will pay my lord’s debt.”

With that, he swept his spear at Suhe in a storm of blows, the spear’s tip flashing like raindrops on a pipa, a blood-red cloud rising with the sun.

Suhe’s sword curled around the spear like a dragon in flight, his hand relentless, striking for Gong Yu’s face.

Gong Yu raised his arm to block, then aimed a kick at Suhe’s legs. Suhe twisted, hooked his foot around Gong Yu’s attack, and pressed forward, his sharp blade gliding past Gong Yu’s throat.

Gong Yu dodged aside, then swung a fist, wind and cloud gathering, aiming for Suhe’s chest. Suhe drew back, catching the fist in his palm, absorbing the force. Then, channeling his core energy, he forced Gong Yu back.

As Gong Yu’s stance faltered, Suhe lunged forward and, with one swift strike, took off his head.

The albatrosses stood dumbfounded, unsure what had happened.

Sword in hand, Suhe turned to them. “Where are the two humans who fell on the island recently?”

“We… we don’t know,” they stammered.

“I do,” the Egret Child replied through clenched teeth, struggling to his feet with Tearless on his back.

“Oh?” Suhe turned to look.

Sensing an opportunity, the albatrosses instantly transformed into their true forms and vanished into the forest.

Heavens above! Gong Yu was dead—how could they hope to prevail? Best to flee while they could.

“I set out to find my mistress, but by chance encountered the Crown Prince’s men and ended up here. But that matters little. Our goals align, so it’s neither right nor wrong.”

“And your mistress is…?” Suhe’s mind flashed to the wife Bu Feng had mentioned. Could it be her?

The Egret Child blushed, embarrassed by his master’s reputation among humans. “That’s a story for another time. You’ll know soon enough. Right now, your friends are with my mistress—we must hurry to help them.”

Suhe nodded. “Lead the way, then.”

“Follow me.” The Egret Child, carrying Tearless, turned and led on.

Although the island boasted many caves, each had its own inner and outer domains. The territory of a single cave was vast; though it was called an island, it was more like a small world unto itself. Only its place in the sea earned it the name “island.” Thus, though they had reached the Thousand Waves Cave, there was still some distance yet to go. Fortunately, with their cultivated energy, it took only a few breaths to arrive.

Before long, they entered the cave and ran into Huai Yin and his companions head-on.

“How are you all faring?”

Huai Yin shrugged, dismissed the Silver Wolf, and clapped Suhe on the shoulder with a grin. “Well, you left the two of us behind and ran off on your own. Having fun, were you? What took you so long? Didn’t you worry you’d never see us again?”

Suhe laughed and looked up. “It’s a long story—let’s talk once we’re clear of this place.”

His gaze shifted, landing on Yi Qingchen’s gentle eyes. He nodded politely. “Miss Yi.”

Yi Qingchen’s long lashes trembled as she led the Jade Fragment forward. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

“And this is…?”

The Jade Fragment peeked timidly at Suhe, then hid behind Yi Qingchen, peering out with half her face before shrinking back.

Yi Qingchen glanced at her. “Her name is Jade Fragment. Brother Huai rescued her from the Teng Sea. We’re not sure what she endured before, but now she’s like a child, remembering nothing of her past. Even her name, Brother Huai gave her.”

Huai Yin eyed the two of them, sensing something amiss but unable to put his finger on it. “Let’s go. We need to leave.”

Suddenly, Axiao’s prism slipped from her hand, clattering to the ground.

Everyone turned to see Axiao, dazed, approaching the Egret Child. With trembling hands, she stroked Tearless’s pale cheek.

In that moment, her vacant eyes cleared, and tears streamed down her face. “Little Egret, he… he…”

The Egret Child fell to his knees, choking out, “Mistress, the master… he’s gone.”

At his words, Axiao froze. She retrieved her prism, lowered her eyes, and said, “Let’s go. We must leave.”

“Mistress?” The Egret Child looked up, disbelief written in his eyes. Had his mistress truly become so heartless? The master had his faults, but had he not done enough all these years?

Axiao offered no explanation, only led them all away. As they exited the cave, the sound of commotion drifted from the eastern forest—the Crown Prince’s men had arrived.

She turned her head, saying, “Follow me.”

One by one, they vanished from before the cave.

The Crown Prince’s men soon took control of Thousand Waves Cave. Those birds who had once served the Crown Prince, upon learning of his death and that Gong Yu and Yan Sanbei had been slain by humans, immediately surrendered their arms.

When the situation was reported, the Crown Prince, in a rage, led his followers in pursuit. At the cliff’s edge, Axiao instructed the Egret Child and Yi Qingchen to go on.

She stayed behind to cover their retreat.

The Egret Child refused. The master had charged him to protect Tearless and leave with the mistress—he could not abandon her.

“Mistress, the master wanted us to leave together. If you stay, I stay.”

Axiao shot him a cold look, then turned to Yi Qingchen. “Take them. You know where to go.”

Yi Qingchen sighed. “What should I tell him?”

“Say nothing. When he sees the child, he’ll understand.”

“And you? Won’t you return with us? Your uncle has been waiting for you. If there’s no way out, we’ll fight our way through. We cannot let you face this alone.”

“Return? You think Royal Island is so easily left behind?”

She paused, then added, “Listen to me—go. Take them. Consider it repaying your kindness from before.”

“This…”

“Go.”

Overhead, birds darkened the sky. Any more delay and none would escape. Gritting their teeth, they bade a painful farewell.

No sooner had they left than Axiao summoned her prism, casting a barrier to block the birds’ pursuit.

Looking back, they knew she had made a fateful choice.

They summoned their strength and fought their way from the Crimson Serpents of Teng Sea.

When the Prince saw his prey had escaped, fury consumed him. Was this what his brother had died for? Had all his loyalty been for nothing? He’d always said humans were deceitful and untrustworthy—only his foolish brother believed otherwise.

“So, you want to kill me?” Axiao turned, her robes billowing in the sea breeze, an air of utter detachment about her.

“Lowly human, why shouldn’t I kill you?” He would kill her and be done with future troubles. Even if his father sought revenge, there would be nothing to be done.

Axiao inclined her head, her gaze cold as frost. “You should kill me. But if you do, you will never obtain the king’s seal bestowed upon the Third Prince.”

“You know, only with the king’s seal can one truly ascend to the throne. Without it, you will never be legitimate.”

The Second Prince laughed. “Foolish human! Do you think the Royal Bird Clan cares about such trinkets? That’s a human weakness. To us, the king’s seal is nothing but a pretty stone. Do you think you can threaten me with that? Dream on.”

“Is that so? If you don’t value it, then let it disappear. I am already as good as dead; let it be buried with me. What do you say?”

“It matters little. But the king’s seal is still the symbol of Royal Island. Take me to it, and I’ll grant you a swift death,” he replied, flapping his wings. In his eyes, this was a generous boon.

“Very well. But first, let me see the Third Prince. A final farewell—surely you won’t deny me that much?”

“Of course. Under my watch, even if you had the means to defy the heavens, it would be useless.” The Second Prince arrogantly raised his head and ordered his followers to clear a path to Lingyun Cave.

Axiao summoned the clouds, the Prince following close behind.

At the entrance, she halted. “I wish to say farewell alone. Please, wait here.”

“Oh? Now you play the grieving widow? Fine, let’s see what you’re up to.” The Second Prince called off his followers.

“Spare yourself the trouble,” she said, and vanished into the cave.

She walked, step by step, to where the Third Prince’s body lay, pausing by his side in silence. In that moment, even she could not tell if what she felt was hatred, or something else.

After a long while, she reached out and touched his thick back feathers. Her gaze grew distant.

“Do you know why the King finally allowed you to keep me? Because he feared I would betray you and leave. So, when he agreed, he had someone place a restriction on me. Only then did he feel secure enough to let you keep a human here. To be honest, he treated you well. As long as I stayed on the island, I could live. But the price was that I could never leave Royal Island. You wanted Little Egret and Tearless to go with me, but you didn’t know—there is only one way for me to leave Royal Island. Only then can I be free.”

A self-mocking smile curved her lips.

She stepped back, a yard away from the Third Prince, hands brimming with energy, and drove them into the earth.

“I have not repaid all I owe you. Let this place be our shared tomb.”

As her words faded, the cave’s walls began to crack and collapse.

Outside, the Second Prince shouted for his followers to retreat. Poisonous hatred flashed in his eyes as he looked back at the cave.

The birdfolk scattered, none daring to look back.

One loyal subordinate lingered, risking all to urge him, “My lord, please leave with us. Lingyun Cave is about to collapse—if you stay, you’ll perish.”

The Second Prince tore his gaze away and snarled, “Go!”

With that, the birds outside scattered in all directions.

Axiao gazed at the entrance, then slowly closed her eyes. Gathering her strength in her right hand, she struck her crown.

In the space of a breath, her life faded, her body sinking to the dust.

With the collapse of Lingyun Cave, she was buried with Teng Sea.

In her final flicker of consciousness, she remembered the song she once sang:

“To whom shall I speak, who can understand?
Life has its road, but return has no path.
For whom do I persist, if not for love’s folly…”