All She Has (Tianyan Extra: Finale)

The ancient willow towered into the sky, its trunk vast and wide. The two stood facing each other in silence. At this moment, Xu Yuan felt he ought to say something—an explanation along the lines of how Tianye's words were a lie, an attempt to sow discord between them. After all, in this ruthless era where cultivation resembled the underworld, refusing to believe information divulged by an enemy was the most fundamental instinct for survival. Yet the words rose to his lips only to be swallowed back down. Such an explanation would protest too much, exposing the truth even more. The Thousand-Thorns Ghost Willow had coveted his body for a long time. Against a possession plot meticulously prepared by a Saint Tier yin ghost, he, Xu Yuan, as a mere Origin Realm cultivator, naturally should not—and indeed could not—have possessed any means of resistance. Yet the fact remained that he had survived, and had even turned around to puppet the creature. Tianye had seen through the clues; Tianyan, being a Saintess of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion as well, obviously could not have failed to notice either. And compared to Tianye, Tianyan had lived with him for seven whole years. Within this illusory realm, perhaps no one understood his peculiarities better than she did. Though both were outsiders, he did not need to cultivate—his cultivation grew naturally with the passage of time. With all these details added together, arriving at the answer was hardly difficult for Tianyan. With these thoughts in mind, Xu Yuan lifted his eyes toward the direction in which Tianye had departed. He suddenly understood Tianye's true intention. Her parting words had not been intended to inform Tianyan, since Tianyan was more than likely capable of deducing the truth on her own. What Tianye wanted was to deny them any chance of playing dumb with each other. She had bluntly pierced the fragile membrane between him and Tianyan, putting their humanity to the test. In that moment, Xu Yuan seemed to hear Tianye's frivolous voice giggling and whispering into his ear: "Come on, kill her. If you don't kill Sister Tianyan, she could kill you at any moment, you know~" Amid the silence, Xu Yuan let out a soft breath and chuckled with a sigh. "The next time we meet, I'll tear that bitch Tianye's head off with my own two hands." Tianyan fell silent for a moment, her voice very soft. "Are you angry?" Xu Yuan did not deny it. "It hasn't even been half a month, and I've been played by that woman several times. It's infuriating." Though he sometimes enjoyed manipulating human nature himself, he hated being the one toyed with. Given the chance, he would teach that demoness—who had already been dead for twenty thousand years—an unforgettable lesson. Hearing this, the corners of Tianyan's lips curved into a complicated smile. "If you just kill her, she might not feel any pain at all. It might even make her more thrilled." Xu Yuan was silent for a brief moment before shaking his head with a helpless laugh. "That's why I hate crazy women like her. She can find your weaknesses, but you can never grasp hers. Even if you end up killing her, there's not a shred of satisfaction in revenge." Tianyan curved her eyes and said softly, "Then you'll have to give some serious thought to what her weakness is." "Indeed," Xu Yuan nodded. "..." Tianyan. "..." Xu Yuan. With those words, silence descended between them once more. As it turned out, that demoness Tianye's scheme had succeeded yet again. Her provocation had successfully driven a wedge between them—or rather, sown suspicion. Both of them already knew in their hearts that the Meishen imprint in his mind was the source of this world. As a yin ghost who had dissipated twenty thousand years ago, the Thousand-Thorns Ghost Willow could only hope to return to reality by possessing a body and reviving its soul. But for Tianyan, who had entered the illusion as a dreamer, she needed only to kill him to achieve the exact same thing. Just like breaking a formation, one could either shatter it by force using the mighty power of heaven and earth, or dismantle it from within by destroying its core eye. If he, the source of the illusion, died directly, the entire illusory realm would naturally vanish into smoke. The cold wind brushed past. Xu Yuan lowered his eyes, his thoughts in turmoil. At this moment, he suddenly felt at a loss for what to do. From now on, he would likely have to be on guard every waking moment against an ambush from Tianyan, constantly suspecting whether she might kill him to destroy the source and escape the illusion. And more importantly, seven years together had made him intimately aware of how powerful Tianyan was. Once she recovered to her peak condition, even with trump cards like the Meishen Dao Charm, he would be no match for her in a desperate, life-or-death battle. A pink glow flickered in his narrow phoenix eyes. Xu Yuan subconsciously glanced at the ghost willow beneath his feet. Speaking rationally, he felt he should kill her right now— while he was still capable of controlling this Saint Tier ancient willow. After all, human nature really could not withstand the test. The smoke and dust kicked up by the clash of Saints blended with the mist, brushing across his cheeks like blades in the shifting cold winds. Xu Yuan's breathing quickened slightly. Emotion peeled away bit by bit, replaced by rational killing intent gradually taking hold of his mind. He and this washboard Saintess were enemies to begin with. Killing her here would rid the Chancellor's Manor of a major adversary. Furthermore, here in Zhujian Valley, the ghost willow had already perished, and with the ghost mist concealing everything, he would no longer have to worry about being pursued through deduction by the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion Master. With his strength, he could survive in this valley teeming with ghosts. Kill Tianyan? They had fled together in order to survive, and they had survived in order to find a way out. And now, the way out lay right before them. That meant that from the moment he was confirmed to be the source of the illusion, all prior foundation for their cooperation had collapsed, replaced by distrust and suspicion. Just as he would suspect Tianyan of moving against him, that washboard Saintess Tianyan would suspect him of striking her down for self-preservation. Thinking of this, Xu Yuan rubbed between his brows with some irritation. *Dammit, what is this, the Dark Forest?* Yet as the thought crossed his mind, the curtain rose in silence. Atop the towering ancient willow, thousands of fronds draped with countless hanging corpses had already begun to sway gently. A few of them crept quietly up the main trunk of the ancient willow, slithering like vipers toward where the two stood. Amid the utter stillness, the young woman's clear voice broke the silence: "Xu Yuan... are you going to kill me?" The movement of the ten thousand willow fronds froze. Her voice carried a smile—a very complicated smile—yet the expression on her small face remained completely calm. Xu Yuan remained silent for a moment, then feigned ignorance with a smile. "What?" Tianyan looked at him with clear eyes, a trace of amusement in her beautiful golden gaze. "Have you forgotten? I can see things that you cannot, including your connection to this ghost willow." Xu Yuan fell silent. He did not want to kill Tianyan. In every sense, he was unwilling— partly because he refused to play into Tianye's schemes, and partly because of his feelings for her. Yet the moment trust collapsed, the two could no longer return to the way they had once interacted. Looking at his expression, Tianyan let out a soft huff and murmured, "Sometimes, I really can't understand you, you bastard." "Can't understand what?" Xu Yuan looked up, but did not smile. Tianyan took a deep breath, her eyes locked onto him. "One moment you risk your life so we can survive together, and the next you want to kill me." Xu Yuan parted his lips. Countless scenes flashed through his mind, but in the end he merely shook his head. "It's not the same..." "..." Tianyan froze. Then, an indescribable ache spread through her chest. *Not the same...* *Yes, it's not the same.* Everything he had done before, every risk he had taken, had shared a single premise: if he didn't do it, they would both die. That brush with death had been their only path to survival. Her long black hair was mussed by the wind, and her slender, delicate body trembled uncontrollably. Tianyan sniffled. She wanted to say so much to him, wanted to curse him out, but seeing his calm expression, all the thousands of words she had dissolved into a sorrowful smile on her pale face. The countless tough willow fronds drew steadily closer. As if sensing this and realizing what might happen next, the young woman endured the complicated ache in her heart, blinking her glistening eyes as she looked at him. Then, she suddenly smiled. Her smile was breathtaking enough to topple cities, made all the more poignantly tragic by the churning mist. Over the span of seven years, so much had happened. They had argued, traded blows, and shared those embarrassing accidents. During the days he had lain unconscious, there had been the turmoil in her heart, the panic of not knowing whether he was dead or alive. And now, all of it was coming to an end. All because of that mad woman's open scheme... With that self-mocking smile lingering on her lips, Tianyan slowly closed her clear golden eyes. From the very beginning, he had been this kind of person. And at the very end, he remained the exact same kind of person. A complete bastard. The clash of Saints had blown away the mist, allowing a few rays of sunlight to spill onto the young woman's peerlessly exquisite face. Her closed eyes made it impossible to read her thoughts, yet they let him see her pale visage, tinged with a faint, feverish blush. Xu Yuan clenched his fists subconsciously. Staring at her for a long time, Xu Yuan curled his lips in involuntary self-mockery, yet could make no sound. He wanted to laugh, but his throat felt stopped up, unable to make a sound. *Tap.* Amid the bleak silence, Xu Yuan took a step toward Tianyan. Tianyan's small face remained still; she made no move. Xu Yuan stepped slowly up to her, and Tianyan still stood quietly in place. Xu Yuan smiled faintly, slowly raising a hand to touch her cheek. Looking closely, he noticed her slender body seem to quiver. Yet she did not evade him. His fingertips lightly brushed the young woman's tender cheek, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. And in that touch of skin against skin, Xu Yuan truly felt her body trembling slightly. Xu Yuan drew a soft breath. "Is there anything you want to say to me?" A few breaths of silence followed, save for the rustling of swaying willow fronds. After a long while, Tianyan slowly opened her slightly reddened eyes. Her voice was so calm that no emotion could be discerned as she asked in return, "What is there left for me to say now?" Xu Yuan pondered for a moment, then murmured, "For instance, whether I really am the source of the illusion." Hearing this, Tianyan smiled, though it looked more like crying. She turned her gaze away. "Are you going to say you aren't? Even if you deny it, we both know the truth in our hearts, don't we?" Xu Yuan shook his head and tapped his own forehead with his finger, his tone gentle. "Yuchu did indeed place the source inside my mind." As he spoke, he looked down at the gnarled trunk of the ghost willow beneath his feet, continuing as if to himself: "This ghost willow tried to possess me and triggered the source, whereupon its consciousness was erased by it, leaving only its instincts behind. "And the charm poison contained within the Charm God tree seed it destroyed seeped right into its true form. Once I woke up, I used the Dao Charm to take control of it." Listening to him, Tianyan gritted her teeth. "Why are you telling me this?" Xu Yuan looked up at the sky, which was gradually being enveloped by mist once more. "I want to say that our gamble paid off." With that, he stared at her, saying no more. They locked eyes for a breath. The cold wind mussed her dark hair. Tianyan lowered her gaze, keeping her voice very low. "What on earth are you trying to say?" Xu Yuan smiled faintly and said in a low voice, "Since our gamble paid off, why do you look like your world is ending?" "..." Tianyan's eyes widened instantly. She looked up at him, a trace of uncertainty in her beautiful golden eyes. "...You're not going to kill me?" "Heh." Xu Yuan chuckled softly, looking down at his palm as he spoke in a wistful tone. "I originally wanted to, but it seems I just can't bring myself to do it." "Pfft..." At those words, Tianyan unexpectedly let out a soft laugh. Much of the gloom cleared from her limpid eyes, replaced by amusement. Her voice rang clear: "You can't bear to?" "Yes," Xu Yuan did not deny it. "Even if you raised a pig for seven years, you'd grow attached to it, let alone someone you've shared life and death with." Tianyan frowned slightly at that. "I feel like you're insulting me." "It's not just a feeling," Xu Yuan chuckled. "I am insulting you." "..." This familiar shamelessness brought a flicker of annoyance to Tianyan's heart, but the emotion quickly melted into a sweet, lingering amusement. Yet Xu Yuan wasn't finished. He rambled on: "Knowing what kind of person I am, you still came back in this state. Aren't you as stupid as a pig? "To be honest, I'm even a little suspicious that you came back deliberately and put on this helpless act just to win my trust." Having said that, Xu Yuan noticed the young woman's expression shifting from clear skies to overcast, and promptly changed his tune: "Though on second thought, probably not. "After all, while I was controlling the ghost willow in battle against that Saint named Luo, you had every opportunity to flee. "So, Tianyan, why didn't you run?" "..." Silence fell between them once more, with only the bleak, high-altitude wind and the returning mist lightly rustling their robes. After a long silence, Tianyan parted her red lips. "...Because I thought you wouldn't kill me." "Why?" Xu Yuan's expression was odd. Tianyan's star-bright eyes fixed unblinkingly upon him. "You almost died several times trying to save me." Xu Yuan took a deep breath, speaking with a touch of impatience: "I already told you, that was different. I did those things because only by doing so could I survive." The wind howled, and the willow fronds swayed. "It's the same." "Hm?" The young woman looked at him, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum: "Xu Yuan... to me, the things you did are all the same." "..." Hearing this, Xu Yuan's heart gave an inexplicable tremor. *This woman really is an idiot.* Like a kitten lying on the ground, exposing its soft belly without any defense to a beast holding a blade. Turning around, Xu Yuan walked toward a hollow in the colossal trunk, grumbling with disdain as he went: "That's why I said you're a moron as stupid as a pig." Tianyan remained silent for a moment before asking in return: "You only know how to scold me. Aren't you just the same?" Xu Yuan did not stop in his tracks, glancing back. "I would never put my life in someone else's hands." "And yet, didn't you still spare me?" "I just can't bring myself to do it right now. That doesn't mean I won't be able to in the future." "Stubborn talk is all you have left." "You really think I wouldn't dare kill you?" "Go ahead then." Tianyan tilted her fair neck back and looked down at him with a sidelong glance. The corner of Xu Yuan's eye twitched. After staring at the woman for several seconds, he gave a cold snort. "When the time comes, you'll find out." With that, he turned and walked away. "Heh~" Watching his retreating figure, the young woman curled her lips into a smile, her bare, jade-like feet treading on empty air as she followed. "If you can't bring yourself to do it now, you never will in the future." "Tsk." Xu Yuan clicked his tongue, took a deep breath, and looked back with a chilled voice: "Who said you could follow me?" Tianyan blinked, saying nothing. Xu Yuan regarded her coldly. "Just because I can't bring myself to kill you right now doesn't mean you can stay by my side." "..." Tianyan tilted her head in thought, then suddenly broke into a mischievous smile and asked out of nowhere, "You can't maintain control over this ghost willow forever, can you?" "..." Xu Yuan's pupils constricted. He hadn't expected this washboard Saintess to ask such a question out of the blue. The charm poison within the Charm God tree seed was limited; numbing the ghost willow's true form for a few days was already the limit. Seeing his expression, Tianyan softly explained, "If you could control this Saint Tier ghost willow indefinitely, you wouldn't mind me staying by your side." Xu Yuan drew a soft breath and did not deny it any further. Halting in his tracks, he looked at her from the corner of his eye. "Yes, I can only control it for a few days. So can you leave now? Having you by my side when that happens will make me feel very unsafe..." "No," Tianyan answered without a second thought, stepping forward until she stood just half a meter in front of him, gazing at him with burning eyes. Xu Yuan clenched his fists slightly. Parting ways for now was the best solution he could think of. What did this washboard Saintess mean by this? "What do you mean?" "There is charm poison in my body, and..." Tianyan rolled her eyes, her cool gaze laced with a hint of allure. "...I can barely suppress it now." Xu Yuan thought for a moment and said coldly, "Then I'll purge it for you right here once, and after that, you leave immediately." "I don't want to." "..." A vein throbbed on Xu Yuan's forehead. Looking closely at his expression, Tianyan asked, "Why do you insist on driving me away?" "Why do you insist on staying by my side?" Xu Yuan retorted crossly. "Lady Saintess, don't you hate scoundrels like me the most?" "Because you afflicted me with charm poison." Tianyan raised the back of her fair hand to lightly caress her scalding cheek. "If you purge it this time, what about afterward?" "..." Xu Yuan was speechless. Tianyan lowered her hand and looked straight into his eyes. "If you insist on driving me away and the charm poison spirals out of control, then once this ghost willow breaks free, I'll come back and kill you." "You won't find me." "I'll find you eventually." "How did you end up with the same attitude as Tianye?" "It's just karma." Tianyan chuckled softly with a charming smile. "In any case, if you leave me here, the moment I find you, I'll kill you straight away—*mmph*." Before her words could finish— *Bang!* A muffled crash. Xu Yuan reached out, gripping Tianyan's swan-like neck and slamming her back against the tree trunk behind her. A wince of pain appeared between the young woman's brows, yet those clear golden eyes still stared stubbornly at him. Xu Yuan gritted his teeth, glaring at her familiar, breathtaking face. "Do you really have to force my hand?!" As his voice faded, silence settled over the colossal trunk of the ghost willow. The fractured sunlight filtered down through the closing mist. Looking at him, clearly furious now, Tianyan sniffled her sore nose. Her tone softened, and her voice via transmission trembled slightly: "Why must you believe that I would kill you just to gain a chance to get out?" "..." Xu Yuan's expression froze. Tianyan clenched her fists, her slender fingernails digging into her palms. "Over all these years, how many times have you saved me, and how many times have I saved you? Clearly... clearly I had prepared myself to spend a lifetime in this illusion together with you, and yet you..." "Enough," Xu Yuan let go of her, cutting her off. His expression softened slightly as he murmured, "How about this: you settle down somewhere and tell me the location. Every half month, I'll come help you purge the charm poison." Every half month, the charm poison would reach a minor peak; at that point, relying on the Meishen Dao Charm, he would have the upper hand over Tianyan. Hearing this, Tianyan's eyes brightened for a moment, but then dimmed as she murmured, "No. Knowing your personality, it's very likely you won't come..." "..." Seeing how stubborn and unyielding she was, Xu Yuan raised his hand to pinch her smooth, delicate chin. "I've already made the greatest concession I can." Tianyan did not resist, letting him pinch her chin as she smiled gently. "Then just kill me..." "..." Xu Yuan felt his temper flaring out of control. Flipping his grip, he seized her neck and pinned her beneath him against the trunk. "Do you really think I don't dare kill you?!" To his surprise, as the young woman's back pressed against the wide bough of the ancient willow, her two lotus-root-like arms suddenly reached up to wrap around his neck, pulling him sharply downward. Xu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly as his entire body pressed down directly atop Tianyan's supple, seemingly boneless form. He instinctively tried to mobilize the ghost willow to pull back, but her orchid-scented breath whispered against his ear: "What on earth will it take for you to believe me?" In the freezing ghost mist, the temperature quietly rose. The proximity of his masculine scent caused the feverish flush on Tianyan's cheeks to spread silently to the tips of her ears. Those golden eyes remained brilliant, yet now carried a yearning passion. Her physical injuries and the passage of time had driven the accumulated charm poison in her body to a critical threshold. Xu Yuan halted his train of thought and pushed himself up. "Setting that aside for now, let me purge the charm poison for you first." The ancient willow's boughs towered into the clouds amid drifting waves of mist. Watching the man sit up from atop her, she parted her red lips and suddenly uttered a single word: "Seal." Source Qi stagnated; the Dao Charm lost its effect. Xu Yuan looked back, baffled. "..." Silence lingered for a long moment. Tianyan bit her lip and averted her gaze. "Don't use the Dao Charm..." Her voice was very soft, yet distinct. The mist blasted away by the gale-force shockwaves had now closed completely, shrouding everything in darkness save for the young woman's averted golden eyes gleaming in the shadows. Xu Yuan froze. Amid the silence, the young woman lifted her gaze, looking up at him straddling her waist with eyes like spun silk, her voice trembling: "This... this is everything I have to give you now..." "..." "..." "..."