He felt desperate and he actually thought of death. Without Lotus, he didn’t know what life meant to him.

But he also remembered the words the master had told him, and he knew that he had a burden to carry, for the Blue Cloud Clan. He clenched his teeth and struggled to lift up, said to himself, “I will live on . . . even only for the purpose of destroying this Blood Gone Cave to ashes.”

In the prison, there was light, but no way to see the sun or moon. He could not count how many days had pa.s.sed. Daily life for him was quite simple; someone sent meals to him regularly, and he ate and slept. Besides eating and sleeping, he cultivated himself. The wounds healed after some time. And he practiced harder.

One day, when he was practicing, he heard a different step, from a familiar person. He opened the eyes to look out, and he found Bilin’s face. She looked worried.

“Bilin?” Ye called to her with surprise as he ran to the window. “Why do you come here? Where is Lotus? Is she well?”

Bilin tried to smile at him, but the expression looked worse than crying. She said softly, “She was well, and is admired by everyone, but lacks her freedom. The Cave Leader allowed me here to let Lotus know that you are still living in good health. Lotus asked me to tell you to live on, no matter what happens. She will try to find the best to save you out of here.”

Ye smiled without any hope. “Then tell her I won’t commit suicide. I will wait to see the Cave being destroyed.” He said the final sentence with hatred and malice, and the manner he said it in frightened Bilin.

“Brother Ye . . . !” Bilin called to him in an emotional tone. It made his heart soft for a minute. Bilin fell into silence after this, like she wanted to say many more things to him, but she finally gave up. “I also hope for you to live well. Living is the hope itself. Don’t do anything foolish.”

Ye smiled at her. “Do not worry. Without 100 percent insurance, I won’t do anything.”

Bilin was silent again. Ye thought a while, and he took off a piece of his clothing to tear out a piece of white cloth. He cut the index finger of the right hand to write something on the cloth with his blood. Bilin was surprised, and yelled at him, “Brother Ye, what are you doing?”

She started to cry, as if her heart was also cut and bleeding. But Ye did not notice her reaction. He kept on writing on the cloth, until the blood was dry. And then he pa.s.sed the letter to Bilin. “Give this to Lotus; let her keep the hope. Don’t give up.”

Bilin took the letter and found what he had written. Lotus, I won’t allow anyone to marry you, except for me. She felt a little bitter. When she tried to say something more to Ye, she found he was back at the bed and had crossed his legs to practice. She bit her lip, and then took her leave.

Ye understood that the only chance for Lotus being saved was his cultivation. He only had three years. He did not want to waste any time.

Several days later, Bilin came to visit him again. Ye hurried to her, and asked, “How is Lotus? Anything she wants to tell me?”

Bilin lowered her head and said, “She . . . she is good. And she said . . .” Bilin hesitated for a little while, and she didn’t know how to open her mouth. This made Ye crazy and he blamed her. “What’s wrong with you? Can you just tell me what she said?”

Bilin could not fight the tears. Ye’s heart turned soft again. “Bilin, I am sorry for my temper. Let me know what Lotus wants to tell me.”

Bilin suddenly made up her mind to speak. “She wants me to let you know that she loved you at first sight. She has been missing you every day. And she wants to live only because of you. If you are happy, she will be happy, too. If you are sad, she will be sad. So . . . live on, and be happy. This is what she wants for you.”

Ye was stunned by this answer, and he sat down on the ground, tears coming to his eyes. “So, she also likes me. She also loves me! Bilin, please tell her for me, I won’t marry anyone except her.”

Bilin turned back and leaned to the wall, and could not help but cry when she heard his words.

Since then, Bilin became their messenger. Each time after finis.h.i.+ng this task, she would hide somewhere to cry heavily for a little while. Bilin pined away, but Ye didn’t notice her. He submerged himself in the words of love from Lotus.

From the first day he met Bilin, he kept on practicing without fail, day and night.

Three years pa.s.sed quickly. Though Ye never had a chance to see Lotus face to face, he had formed a strong affection with her through Bilin’s messages. He could not live anymore with her. And so, he put all his love into practicing.

One day, when he was cultivating, he suddenly felt all the strength run automatically to the Dantian field on his belly. His whole body felt different. He felt so unbearably drained and he lifted his head to utter a painful cry. Then the strength in Dantian rushed out with his cry, and it ran to fill his body quickly. Ye could feel the difference in this strength. Now he had all the strength that freely flooded his whole body. He was on an upper grade.

This grade was difficult for ordinary people. Even Xin Yuesong, his master, had spent ten years to reach this grade. However, Ye had only used three years, which was a true miracle. However, he cared nothing about this achievement. He led his strength to the index and middle fingers, and the strength leased out from the fingers to forge an empty silver spell.

Ye was so surprised and happy to see the pattern. He focused on it and tried to memorize the “Bad-News Bluebird” pattern. Then the empty spell drew the same pattern of the “Bad-News Bluebird” in his mind. After a little while, he finished painting the whole spell. He followed the master’s directions from three years ago to try to send this spell to his clan, and prayed in his heart.

The spell was like a spirit, absorbing his strength. Ye was afraid of his own spirit being absorbed by it. Fortunately, when this process came to the end, only his strength was drawn out. The spell stopped to change into a bluebird, hovering in the prison for several circles, and then it flew through the wall and disappeared in the opposite wall.

Ye relaxed to see this happen. He lay on the bed and laughed, and he laughed until he could not breathe.

When Bilin came to him this day, he was so eager to tell her this information. “Go tell Lotus that the day for freedom is near.”

Bilin stared at him quietly, and she said slowly, “Brother Ye, the wedding for Lotus is on the fifteenth of this month, only six days from now.”

Ye was shocked by this message, and he could not speak a word. Bilin was frightened by him and tried to comfort him. “Brother Ye, don’t be like this. Maybe . . . maybe we can find some other way. . .”