Chapter 347: The Third Farewell

It wasn’t until Wu Qingsong saw Red Moon again the next day that he fully understood the meaning behind some of her words.

From Dark Moon’s perspective, this deal had never been an absolute obligation. They had agreed to send these craftsmen to Nagrand as compensation for Wu Qingsong and Ram successfully instigating conflict between Sentalus and Yagata, igniting a war between the two great duchies. But only days later, they had inadvertently led an Abyssal Lord to the very same battlefield, forcing the two factions—on the verge of total war—to unite against a common enemy.

So had they truly fulfilled their end of the bargain, or had they undone their own work?

Furthermore, considering how long the war had lasted and how severely it had disrupted travel, escorting so many craftsmen from a war-torn region two thousand miles south to Nagrand was no easy feat. There had been more than enough reasons for Dark Moon to delay or even cancel the arrangement.

And yet, even though they were nearly six months late, they had still honored the deal, overcoming countless obstacles to do so.

This was an attempt to strengthen their alliance—a deliberate gesture of goodwill.

This realization made Wu Qingsong feel slightly uneasy as he faced Red Moon.

“I never thought winter could bring so many advantages,” Red Moon remarked cheerfully, as if oblivious to his thoughts.

The frozen surface of Icy Sea had sealed off its waters entirely. The docks had been abandoned for the season, and fishing boats as well as cargo vessels had long been dragged onto shore to prevent damage from the ice.

But the frozen expanse had opened up a new avenue for transportation.

What was once a season of desolation had, for the first time in millennia, become a time of bustling activity.

Undead bison and undead moose, fitted with spiked iron shoes, tirelessly hauled heavy sleds across the ice, taking advantage of this golden period to transport massive stockpiles of coal and iron ore to Nagrand’s warehouses. The volume they carried far exceeded what could be transported by ship during the warmer months.

Meanwhile, sleds were also being used to haul lumber from the mountain ranges south and west of Nagrand—something that had become a seasonal tradition. The broad roads surrounding the city had even been designed with this purpose in mind, ensuring ample space for sled convoys during the winter.

Working in such frigid conditions was grueling.

But with plentiful fuel, abundant food, thick clothing, and a well-organized supply chain, it was not an impossible task.

Besides, Nagrand paid generously for winter labor.

Come spring, every worker would return to their tribe carrying goods that would earn them status and respect.

Laborers from the Broken Horn and Bloodmoss tribes had little choice but to adapt to this new way of winter survival. For these lowest-ranking beastmen, choosing between starvation and exhaustion was not an easy decision.

But what they cherished most was the weekly day of rest.

On those days, they could warm themselves inside the temple, enjoy good food, and listen to the preachers’ stories before heading back to their ice huts for a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

For these low-status beastmen—whose faith had never been particularly strong—there had been some hesitation at first, but that vanished after the very first week.

From then on, they never questioned it again.

***

Red Moon followed the sled routes to the coal mines, iron mines, and lumber camps. She even joined the laborers for a sermon before finally returning to Nagrand.

Wu Qingsong couldn’t help but notice that she was especially interested in the Church of Xuanyuan this time.

She had even taken an entire day to carefully study the murals inside Nagrand’s Great Xuanyuan Temple, as well as inquire about every detail of its doctrines and regulations.

‘What is she planning?’

Wu Qingsong couldn’t help but wonder.

But before he could find an answer, Red Moon had already completed her tour and come to say goodbye.

“If it’s convenient, could you take me to Mirror Lake City?” she asked. “Honestly, after experiencing a winter like this, I don’t have the courage to take the Stampede Plateau route again.”

“No problem at all,” Wu Qingsong replied.

Mirror Lake City lay far west, beyond the regions affected by the insect tide.

Though neither he nor Ling had been there before, the city was built on one of the continent’s largest lakes, making it easy to locate.

Departing at night would also ensure they avoided unwanted attention.

But what Wu Qingsong hadn’t expected was that when they were ready to depart, they found another figure waiting.

She carried a small travel bag, but its presence was enough to make her intentions clear.

“Xeila?”

“I have no idea what’s going on,” Red Moon immediately said. “She never mentioned coming with me before.”

Wu Qingsong looked at the girl standing before him and felt a pang of bitterness rise in his chest.

“Lady Ling, could you do me a favor?” Red Moon suddenly asked.

Ling looked at Xeila, then slowly nodded. Without another word, she turned and left with Red Moon, leaving the space behind for Wu Qingsong and Xeila.

“Why?” Wu Qingsong didn’t know what else to say, but he knew he had to say something.

“What do you think?” Xeila asked in return.

Wu Qingsong couldn’t meet her gaze nor did he know how to respond.

He knew the answer.

A long time ago, Xeila had made the same choice—that time, she had made her stance clear for the first time. And ever since then, she had never hidden her wishes, nor had she ever wavered.

Perhaps in the beginning, Wu Qingsong hadn’t liked her, because certain dark and violent aspects of her personality simply didn’t align with his worldview.

But after so much time—after all they had been through together—he could no longer find a reason to reject her.

Maybe she had a monster inside her, a beast that craved blood and slaughter. But so what?

The number of lives he had taken already far outnumbered hers by dozens, by hundreds. Maybe she was an assassin lurking in the shadows, but he was a butcher standing in the sun.

Yet somehow, because of being too busy, because there was never the right moment, because he never knew how to bring it up, he had unknowingly left this matter unresolved.

Just like with Nina.

Something that should have been said long ago, but they had never found the right time.

Some things seemed like they could be said at any time, but somehow, the words never came out.

“This time, once I leave, I won’t come back.”

Xeila’s voice was cold, yet it burned.

Wu Qingsong finally looked into her eyes, and what he saw scorched him to the core.

“Don’t go.”

He finally said it.

Maybe they had never found the right time before, but who said this moment couldn’t be it? 

Maybe it was already too late to say it now. But saying it now was still a thousand times better than never saying it at all.

Xeila let out a cold laugh. But it wasn’t directed at Wu Qingsong.

It was directed at herself.

“Why?” Her voice was still icy, but Wu Qingsong could hear her soul crying.

“Because I won’t let you go!”

He finally, for the first time, pulled her into his arms.

“I’m sorry. I kept waiting for the right moment.”

“The right moment…”

Xeila struggled, but Wu Qingsong held onto her tightly, refusing to let go.

“I’m sorry.”

He tried to kiss her, but she drove her knee into his stomach, sending him crashing to the ground.

“What do you take me for?!”

She was furious, but Wu Qingsong refused to let go of her wrist, gripping it with all his strength.

“I let you leave twice already.” His voice was hoarse. “I’m sorry. I ignored your feelings, Xeila. But there won’t be a third time. From today on, I won’t let you leave me again.”

“You think just because you say it, it will be so?!”

Xeila’s foot slammed into his shoulder, and in the next moment, she had his arm locked, wrenching it painfully backward.

“You think just because you say ‘no’ that it means ‘no’?! You think just because you say ‘yes’ that it means ‘yes’?! Who do you think you are?! What do you take me for?!”

The searing pain made Wu Qingsong’s face twist in agony, but he still refused to let go.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

He repeated the words over and over again.

“Xeila, no matter what you do, I won’t let go. Hit me as much as you want. You should. I deserve it. But no matter what happens, I will never let go again.”

“Never let go?”

Xeila let out a furious growl, then lifted him up and slammed him into the ground.

Wu Qingsong’s head spun from the impact, his grip slipping for just a moment. But the next second, he clung onto her again, pulling her into a desperate embrace.

“I’m sorry.”

He forced out a smile through the pain.

“But please, believe me. From today onward, I will do everything I can to make you happy. I’m not a good person. But please, believe me. Please, believe in me.”

Xeila stopped struggling.

Wu Qingsong gently removed her veil, cupping her face in his hands, watching as tears—like pearls—slipped down her flawless cheeks.

Just as he was about to kiss her, she kissed him first.