Chapter 1053: End of the Story
Editor: Henyee Translations

Chu Qingzhi was alarmed and immediately used a spiritual rain spell to extinguish the flames. Just as the fire was put out, she smelled gunpowder in the air. Realizing the danger, she quickly used her spiritual power to move the villagers away from the pyre. The moment they were moved, the pyre exploded…

By then, Chu Qingzhi’s spiritual power was almost exhausted. The powerful blast hit her back, tearing her flesh apart.

Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth as her body and soul separated. Her soul, like a wisp of white mist, floated upwards, while her body gently descended to the ground like a piece of paper.

Tang Jinghong saw this and his eyes instantly turned red. He rushed over like a madman and caught Chu Qingzhi. “Qingzhi!”

Meng Shengdong drew his sword and shouted in anger, “Kill Xia Yunjian!”

The soldiers who had followed Tang Jinghong immediately drew their swords and pursued Xia Yunjian and his men. In their fury, they killed everyone except Xia Yunjian.

Meng Shengdong bound Xia Yunjian and kicked his knees, forcing him to kneel before Chu Qingzhi.

Seeing this, Xia Yunjian laughed desolately. “Hahaha, hahaha—”

“Tang Jinghong, you’re so lucky. Chu Qingzhi died for you! She died for you!”

Tang Jinghong slapped Xia Yunjian’s face. “Shut up! You are not worthy of mentioning her name!”

He turned to Xia Yunjian, his voice heavy and grave. “Break his collarbones, break his limbs, break his ribs. I want him to live a life worse than death!”

Tears fell from Tang Jinghong’s eyes as he took off his cloak and wrapped Chu Qingzhi’s body in it. He carried her back to the camp.

He laid her on the bed, covering her with a blanket, and meticulously wiped her hands and face with a cloth.

Tang Jinghong’s whole being seemed like a soulless puppet. His once straight back now bent, and he had lost all his vitality.

Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang hurried over upon hearing the news.

Both checked Chu Qingzhi’s pulse and then knelt by the bed, their eyes red and hollow.

Their powerful master, how could this happen?

Tang Jinghong spoke, “Leave me alone. Let me stay with Qingzhi quietly.”

Yuan Hongjun and Bao Linjiang left the tent and knelt outside, bowing their heads in sorrow.

Seeing this, Meng Shengdong also knelt on one knee, followed by all the soldiers facing Chu Qingzhi’s tent, all kneeling in respect.

“Fifth Sister, Fifth Sister—” Chu Qingning cried out as she ran to the bed, collapsing in tears when she saw Chu Qingzhi, and fainted from the shock.

The news of Chu Qingzhi’s sacrifice for the country quickly spread throughout Daling. The emperor ordered that she be buried with the honors of a national hero.

Tang Jinghong brought Chu Qingzhi’s body back to Chu Family Village.

“Xiaowu!” Li Qingyu’s hands trembled as she removed the cloth covering her daughter’s face, hardly daring to believe that her lively daughter was now a cold corpse. “No, this isn’t Qingzhi, it’s not…”

Li Qingyu broke down in tears. “Xiaowu, Qingzhi—”

Chu Xuhua, Shen Ruoyue, Chu Qingyue, Ning Yuting, and other siblings knelt before Chu Qingzhi’s coffin, crying in sorrow.

The villagers under Chu Qingzhi’s jurisdiction also knelt, weeping bitterly.

Everyone who witnessed this scene couldn’t help but cry.

Chu Rong, with red-rimmed eyes, grabbed Tang Jinghong’s collar and angrily demanded, “Why did Xiaowu die? How did she die?”

Tang Jinghong knelt before Chu Rong, his body lifeless, like a walking corpse. “I’m sorry, Uncle Rong. Qingzhi died saving me.”

Chu Rong slowly released Tang Jinghong’s collar. Even if he killed Tang Jinghong now, it wouldn’t bring Qingzhi back.

He too knelt, bowing his head in grief. They had failed Qingzhi, and now their good girl was gone after only two years back home.

Grandpa and Grandma Chu fainted from the sorrow. Their young granddaughter was gone. It felt like a cruel joke from the heavens, and they hoped she would wake up soon, hoping that Xiaowu would come back.

Three days later, Chu Qingzhi was buried in the Chu family’s ancestral cemetery.

Apart from the villagers of Shuiyun County, who wore mourning attire to attend the funeral, the emperor, empress, and dozens of officials also came to pay their respects.

Drizzle fell from the sky, as if the heavens themselves were weeping.

After the burial, people paid their respects from dawn till dusk, with some staying until deep into the night, leaving only Tang Jinghong behind.

Tang Jinghong knelt by the grave, his eyes filled with a resolute, dead silence. He gently stroked the tombstone. “Qingzhi, it’s too lonely to walk the Yellow Springs Road alone. Wait for me. I will join you soon.”

He drew his dagger and slashed it towards his throat…

Chu Xuhua and Chu Xujin rushed forward, and Chu Xuhua shouted, “If you die, won’t that make Fifth Sister’s sacrifice in vain?”