For a fleeting moment, Yeli’s composure faltered, but he quickly regained his calm. “Of course,” he said coolly. “Since Kasan defected to your side, it was only natural he’d reveal this to you. Why should I be surprised?”
“You’re taking this rather well,” Garo remarked with a hint of schadenfreude. “If you’d truly been this perceptive from the start, you wouldn’t have ended up in this mess.”
“Calling it a ‘mess’ seems premature, don’t you think?” Yeli shot Garo a disdainful glance. “Are you really that confident?”
“The outcome is already decided. Confidence is unavoidable.” Garo smirked, deliberately provoking Yeli. “Stop glaring at me like that. I know you regret not finishing me off earlier, but what’s done is done. Why not just surrender gracefully?”
“Do I look that easy to fool?” Yeli sneered. “I’ve said my piece. The decision is yours. At worst, we all die together.”
“Don’t bother dreaming of a mutual demise,” Sena interjected calmly, unfazed by Yeli’s threats. “First, no one wants to die with you. Second, there’s still the prophecy to consider. Third, we have Yele in our grasp. These three facts are beyond your control or influence.”
“So you plan to use Yele to threaten and kill me?” Yeli’s expression darkened. “If that’s the case, why bring him here? Admit it—you want to exchange this old man back. Even if Yele and I share the same fate, my death won’t stop others from ending his life. You don’t want him harmed, do you?”
“Exactly as you guessed,” Xiyi, who had remained silent until now, spoke slowly. “But what if we refuse your terms?”
Yeli stiffened, clearly unprepared for Xiyi’s blunt rejection. His lips parted, but no words came out.
Xiyi pressed on mercilessly. “Would you choose to kill Tuge outright?”
Yeli remained silent, his face darkening with frustration.
Bombarded by the three men in turn, Yeli seemed at a loss, his expression growing increasingly grim. Garo had taunted him relentlessly, Sena had laid out the stakes, and now Xiyi was cornering him. Despite their differences, the three men worked in perfect sync at this critical moment. Sha Yi couldn’t help but reflect on how pitiful and despicable Yeli was. His downfall was entirely self-inflicted—his narrow-mindedness couldn’t sustain his ambitions, and his greed had hastened his ruin. Worse still, he had foolishly tried to outmaneuver these men, sealing his own fate. The only thing Yeli surpassed them in was his sheer ruthlessness.
Now, with the tide turned against him, Yeli stood in silence, his gaunt face twisted in cold fury. His gray eyes darted briefly before he finally spoke, his voice dripping with venom. “The old man’s fate is mine to decide. No matter how much you question me, you’ll still have to follow my lead. I won’t kill him—let’s see how long you’re willing to wait.”
Yeli’s mind was sharp, and he quickly grasped the crux of the situation, his last words laced with icy resolve. But this was exactly the reaction Sena had anticipated. “You’re not wrong,” Sena replied smoothly, “but before you finalize your decision, consider one more thing.”
Yeli raised a brow, silently demanding an explanation.
Sena didn’t mince words. “Our stalemate has a time limit. Tuge isn’t like Yele—think carefully. And you’ll need to keep him in good condition, or your bargaining chip loses all value. Need I say more?”
The implication was clear and unignorable. Yeli’s face darkened further as he glanced at the frail old man before him. “Get to the point,” he growled.
“Consider a trade,” Sena suggested, crossing his arms. “Take me instead of Tuge. If you agree, release him and take me as your hostage.”
The proposal stunned everyone, even Garo, who had been at odds with Sena. In that moment, Sha Yi recalled Sena’s earlier cryptic words—how he hoped she and Xiyi would trust him, no matter his decisions. This was his plan all along: to bait Yeli into exchanging Tuge for himself.
Despite their rocky history, Sena was willing to risk his life for Tuge, who had saved him after Garo’s betrayal. His selflessness was undeniable, yet Sha Yi sensed his lingering guilt over past betrayals. She feared he was prepared to die—perhaps even take Yeli with him.
Her heart ached. “Sena, don’t—” she began, but Yeli cut her off.
“That’s an excellent idea,” Yeli said coldly. “I accept.”
Sena turned to her with a faint smile. “Tuge survived. So will I. Don’t worry.”
His reassurance sounded like a farewell. She bit her lip, unable to protest further.
As Sena stepped forward, Xiyi suddenly moved, blocking his path. “How much stronger do you think you are than Tuge?” Xiyi asked quietly.
Sena froze, startled by the intervention. Before he could react, Xiyi had positioned himself between him and Yeli. The man he had once antagonized was now saving him. The irony wasn’t lost on him, but he couldn’t refute Xiyi’s words.
Yet Kasan’s warning echoed in his mind. He longed for Sha Yi’s affection, but he knew her heart belonged to Xiyi. Even if Xiyi died, he’d never have a chance. Better to take the risk himself—he had nothing to lose. But if Xiyi died, the woman he loved would be shattered. Worse, she wasn’t even from this world. If their bond broke, she might vanish forever.
He’d rather she lived happily with Xiyi than grieve for either of them. With that resolve, he pushed back. “Sha Yi is carrying your child. Are you really going to make her risk losing you? That’s cruel.”
Xiyi hesitated briefly before firmly stepping forward again. “Tuge is old and injured. Swapping him for Sena changes nothing. Take me instead. Wouldn’t that suit you better?”
Yeli’s eyes gleamed with malice. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but this exchange does seem more favorable.”
The deal was struck. Sena stood helpless, murmuring, “Xiyi…”
But Xiyi ignored him, turning instead to Sha Yi. His expression was calm, but his brown eyes held a silent apology. Then, in one swift motion, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “I’ll return to you soon,” he whispered. “I promise.”
She clung to him, tears welling in her eyes. She wished time would freeze, but she knew it wouldn’t. Just as Xiyi couldn’t let Sena sacrifice himself, she couldn’t bear to see either of them in danger. Sena had already risked everything for them—his past betrayals were long forgiven.
Her heart aligned with Xiyi’s. Whatever lay ahead, she trusted a man like him would not be forsaken.
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