"haa..."


    a soft sigh escaped qian shi’s lips as she pressed a gentle kiss to zhao tian’s forehead, holding him close in her arms.no?v(el)b\\jnn


    his body lay still, his breathing steady but shallow, as he was still unconscious.


    she gazed at him with a mixture of affection and longing, her golden eyes softening.


    her slender fingers brushed through his white hair, as though savoring every moment of contact.


    "even like this," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper brushing past the wind.


    "...you never fail to steal my heart, zhao tian."


    qian shi leaned down, her lips brushing his temple in a featherlight kiss "i wonder if you know what you do to me," she murmured, her tone carrying a hint of wistfulness.


    "every time i see you, every time i hold you... i feel like i could lose myself in you."


    floating nearby, ji shuang kept her head lowered, and she dared not interrupt the intimate moment.


    a faint flush of warmth bloomed across her cheeks as she kept her gaze firmly averted, her hands clasped before her.


    qian shi’s gaze flickered toward her, an amused smile tugging at her lips. "why do you keep your distance, shuang?"


    "there is no need to act so reserved."


    ji shuang hesitated, her voice low and cautious. "i do not wish to interrupt... this is your moment with him."


    "hmm..." qian shi’s smile deepened as she turned her gaze back to zhao tian, her fingers tracing the faint lines on his face.


    "i suppose you’re right. these moments are rare, and i should cherish them."


    she shifted slightly, cradling him closer to her chest, her expression softening as she pressed another kiss to his forehead. "you have no idea how much i’ve waited for this," she whispered.


    "to simply hold you without the world intruding."


    "you’re so stubborn, so reckless... but i wouldn’t change anything about you."


    for a while, she simply held him, savoring the weight of his body in her embrace, the quiet rhythm of his breathing, and the warmth they shared.


    "i know you can’t hear me, but i’ll say it anyway. i love you, zhao tian. more than you’ll ever know."


    she tilted his head slightly and pressed another kiss to his lips, this time letting it linger, her heart aching with every second that passed.


    "i wish i could stay like this forever," she said softly, her voice trembling.


    "just you and me, away from everything else."


    ji shuang shifted uncomfortably, her eyes flickering between qian shi and zhao tian. "you... you truly love him, don’t you, her grace?"


    qian shi chuckled softly "is it so obvious?" she asked, her gaze never leaving zhao tian’s peaceful face.


    h-huh?


    yao jing was startled to see ji shuang and saw zhao tian lying unconscious in his arms.


    as she landed on the shattered floor, yao jing appeared beside her in an instant; her usually steady hands trembled slightly as she placed them on zhao tian’s shoulders.


    "i-is he..."


    "tian!"


    but this time another scream rippled through the surroundings, and li jia rushed to ji shuang.


    "tian, tian, tian..."


    wrapping her arms around his limp body, she pulled him close to her chest, her tears spilling freely onto his face. "tian..." she whispered, her voice trembling.


    "don’t leave me, you can’t leave me like this... i won’t let you."


    the gathered sect members and disciples rushed forward, their faces pale and filled with disbelief.


    whispers rippled through the crowd like wildfire...


    "he survived..."


    "he endured the 9th-degree tribulation..."


    "but at what cost?"


    "is he even alive?"


    qi nue and qi xue pushed through the crowd, their faces etched with fear and worry.


    *gasp* qi nue’s hands flew to her mouth as she saw zhao tian’s bruised body.


    "little brother..." she choked out, her voice breaking.


    tears welled up in her eyes as she clung to qi xue’s arm. "he... he’s alive, right? please tell me he’s alive..."


    qi xue’s expression was strained, her jaw tight as she forced herself to remain composed. "he’s alive," she said firmly, though her voice trembled with uncertainty.


    yao jing hurriedly checked his pulse and a deep sigh of relief escaped her lips "tian’er..."


    ji shuang raised her gaze to look at the sect disciples and the wing masters standing there as she raised her voice to speak.


    "zhao tian has endured the 9th degree of heavenly tribulation and survived."


    "this heaven sent child is... alive."


    ----------------------------------------------------


    i hope you guys liked this chapter!