Chapter 1

The day we met again after I left him for dead seven years ago, a poisoned sword cut me deep. Now I had seven days to live.

And him? The guy who used to be nothing special just won the biggest tournament in the world. He's officially the number one sword master.

Some disciples from our old sect recognized me.

"That's the wretched woman right there! Back then, Adrian risked his life to save her, and what did she do? She dumped his body in the wilderness and ran off with some guy who had better swordsmanship."

"Joke's on her though. Adrian didn't just come back from the dead—he's now the greatest swordsman alive. And he's got the most beautiful girl in the Southern Realm as his girlfriend."

"Look at her now. Zero cultivation base. Completely useless. That's what karma looks like."

The disciples got more and more pissed. They drew their swords and charged at me.

I didn't bother dodging.

I was going to die soon anyway.

They had no idea why I'd lost all my cultivation base while Adrian Knight came back to life and became a legend.

Seven years ago, I ripped out my own rare Ice Spirit Root and planted it inside him.

*****

I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

But then I heard sharp clinks—metal hitting the ground.

Someone had knocked their swords away at the last second.

I opened my eyes.

And there he was. Adrian Knight. The face I'd dreamed about a thousand times.

He'd leaped in front of me and blocked everyone.

I thought he'd demand answers about what happened back then. Or sneer at me, ask if I was disappointed he didn't stay dead.

But the first thing he said was, "Where's your cultivation base?"

His voice was cold. His face was blank.

But my heart still warmed a little.

I pushed down all the messy feelings inside me, forced a smile, and tried to act like I didn't care.

"Cultivation base, whatever. Doesn't matter. I've had someone way stronger than you protecting me these past seven years," I said.

Yeah, I knew exactly which button to push.

His face went dark.

He laughed bitterly. "Good. I really am blind and stupid."

I felt guilty. I looked away and didn't say anything.

But my chest felt like someone was squeezing it raw.

One of the disciples sighed. "Adrian can finally move on. All these years, he refused to believe she actually abandoned him."

My nose stung. I quickly mumbled, "I should go."

Seeing him one last time was enough.

I took one step. Then a girl flashed in front of me and shoved me hard from the side.

She snapped, "Get away. You're making Adrian sad!"

Her palm hit me right where my wound was.

The pain knocked the breath out of me. Cold sweat everywhere.

My legs gave out. I crashed onto the rocky ground.

My body started shaking on its own—too much pain stacked on top of more pain.

I instinctively pressed my hand against the wound, trying to breathe. I didn't want anyone to see me fall apart.

My fingertips felt wet and sticky.

I looked down. Blood was seeping through.

I quickly pulled my cloak tighter and covered it.

I tried to stand up.

Adrian stepped forward. Held out his hand like he wanted to help me.

But the girl who'd shoved me grabbed his arm first.

"Adrian, I'm scared. I barely touched her. Why is she acting like she's dying?" she asked.

Those around us snorted.

"Faking weakness to get sympathy. What a pathetic performance. You're not fooling anyone this time."

"Now that Adrian is the best in the world, she wants him back? Typical gold digger."

Adrian slowly pulled his hand back.

He pinched the girl's cheek. All gentle.

Then he said to her, "Don't be scared. I'll protect you. No one's going to frame you for anything."

She beamed. "Am I the only one you care about?"

Adrian said, "Of course. You are. You were. You always will be."

Someone whispered jealously, "So this is Vivian Shea, the Sword Master's girlfriend? They are a perfect match."

My heart twisted.

Girlfriend?

She's the only one Adrian cares about?

Once upon a time, I was the one he treasured most.

But I couldn't blame anyone for that.

I was the one who chose to leave. I was the one who gave up first.

*****

My mind drifted back seven years.

We were on a sect mission in some secret realm. I begged Adrian to take a shortcut with me. Big mistake.

We ran into a demon who hunted cultivators for sport. Her power was way above both of us combined.

Adrian and I fought together. Didn't matter. We kept losing ground.

When things got really bad, Adrian used a suicide spell. He sacrificed himself to kill the demon. I lived.

I screamed for help. No one came.

I watched his body go cold.

When all his vital signs were gone, I drew my sword. I decided to follow him.

An old man passing by stopped me.

"There's a way to save him," he said. "But the conditions are harsh. Someone has to willingly give up their rare Spirit Root."

He walked away shaking his head. "Rare Spirit Roots are already impossible to find. And someone willing to sacrifice their own for another person? Even rarer."

But I was crying tears of joy.

I had one. And I'd give it to him in a heartbeat.

Without hesitating, I endured the agony and ripped it out of myself. Then I buried it inside his Dantian—where all his cultivation base was stored.

I knew that without a Spirit Root, I could never cultivate again. I also knew that I could never walk beside him.

And I knew he'd never agree to take mine. Not when he'd literally died for me.

So I decided to leave and swallow the truth forever.

I left a note in his arms, hid nearby, and watched until the other disciples found him. Then I left.

The note said: "Rest in peace, Adrian. Your swordsmanship sucked anyway. Good thing I found someone way stronger."