An abyss a hundred and ten thousand fathoms deep

Meng Qingyue’s heart grew cold, more than half frozen.

So, the meaning was that only if she died could Meng Changle live?

But the truth was clearly not so! She stiffened her body and quickly glanced around.

Then she hurriedly spoke, “Brother, although Sister and I are entwined by the vines, the vines are flexible. If you forcibly save Sister, it wouldn’t cause harm...”

She thought she had made herself clear enough.

Yet, in the next moment, Meng Xingzhou furrowed his brows and looked at her coldly. “Forcibly saving Changle might be possible, but what if something goes wrong? Can you bear the responsibility?”

He said, “Changle’s life cannot suffer the slightest risk.”

Meng Qingyue was stunned.

She had never been so slow to react, as if even the wind whispering in her ears gradually faded away, leaving only an icy chill piercing her entire being.

Yet, life and death were at stake, and there was no room for her to grieve over the deep bond between siblings.

“Five years ago, I risked my life to save you once, so this time, I want you to repay Changle with your life. That’s only fair.”

Meng Xingzhou’s words shattered the last thread of hope in Meng Qingyue’s heart, word by word.

She never imagined he would use what happened five years ago against her.

Her face grew paler and paler, inch by inch.

Because, indeed, she owed him her life.

Five years ago, when she was ten, at the very same place, the same cliff.

That day, she saw a small flower growing in a crack between the stones and hesitated before reaching out to pick it, but unexpectedly, she stepped on a loose stone.

In a moment of peril, Meng Xingzhou dashed over and grabbed the corner of her clothes.

Then, the two of them fell together.

Fortunately, below was a damp fish pond. Although they were thoroughly battered, neither suffered fatal injuries.

At the moment they landed, Meng Xingzhou cradled her above him, using his body as a cushion.

Her female body was fragile, and the pain made her unable to move. Meng Xingzhou, fearing wolves at night in the wild, carried her on his back despite his own serious injuries, step by step, out of the Ape Wall Ridge.

It was so dark, so cold, even the moonlight was veiled by mist, and the night was pitch black, making it impossible to see a hand before one’s face. The two children struggled forward, completely unable to discern direction.

Slowly, a few fireflies appeared, then gathered together, growing in number, and eventually they guided them home.

She lay on Meng Xingzhou’s back, sobbing, “Brother, are these fireflies sent by the Earth Mother to save us?”

Meng Xingzhou, nearly dazed from blood loss, walked forward relying solely on sheer will.

Upon hearing her, he managed a faint smile, “Yes, it was Earth Mother who saved us.”

Two half-grown children, depending on each other, staggering and faltering, had actually managed to leave the Ape Wall Ridge.

Back at the mansion, she looked at her brother wrapped in bandages and cried bitterly, “Next time I go to Ape Wall Ridge, I must properly thank Earth Mother!”

Yet, she never expected that five years later, she would fall at the very same place again.

Meng Xingzhou’s resolute voice echoed in the air, “Meng Qingyue, a life for a life. That’s fair. Consider it repaying the debt from five years ago; there’s no need to feel wronged.”

No need to feel wronged.

Listening to this, Meng Qingyue actually laughed out loud.

Yes, what grievance did she have? An outsider had once been saved by the young master of the Hou Mansion, and now that he demanded her life in return, on what grounds could she refuse?

She closed her eyes in despair, knowing she had no chance of being saved today.

At the critical moment, Qiao Xian hesitated and spoke up, “How about we try to save both of them?”

Seeing six pairs of eyes all turn sharply toward him, Qiao Xian scratched his head and cautiously said, “This concerns Meng Qingyue’s life... Xingzhou, your decision is too hasty.”

Moreover... he licked his lips, thinking that Meng Xingzhou was truly ruthless. Both who fell were his sisters, yet he could heartlessly save only one.

If it were his own sister, even if it meant death, he would never allow her to suffer the slightest harm!

That little brat who had called him “Brother” and trailed behind him at the age of three was his greatest vulnerability in this life.

Yet Meng Xingzhou saw no problem in himself. After all, Meng Qingyue was not his biological sister.

Even if... even if he had feelings for her... sometimes that very sentiment was the excuse that hastened her death.

Qiao Xian sighed. The blood relation was clear—this was Meng Xingzhou’s sister, not his.

But when he looked at the faintly desperate gaze directed down the cliff, he felt an inexplicable pang of discomfort and bitterness.

Something just didn’t feel right.

Meng Xingzhou had already drawn his sword but, for some reason, suddenly hesitated, unable to bring himself to strike. He paused for a long moment without making a move.

Seeing this, Meng Changle spoke plaintively, “Brother, don’t be like this... Qingyue’s life is also a life. Besides, you grew up with her and share a deep bond. How can you abandon her for my sake...”

“Brother, I know you still care about Qingyue. Don’t torment yourself. Put the sword down...”

Before she finished speaking, Meng Xingzhou raised his sword and decisively severed the vine that Meng Qingyue was clutching.

The abyss.

Bottomless.