The voice was a little childish, but Bai Cha could tell it was Bai Shu’s voice.
The voice sounded young, as if from many years ago, but what truly stunned Bai Cha was the name Bai Shu blurted out.
Suddenly, Bai Cha had a bad premonition. She didn't dare to look back, nor did she want to. She just wanted to escape this inexplicable illusion as quickly as possible. But she didn't know what method Bai Shu had used. All of Bai Cha's efforts were in vain, like a mud ox entering the sea. Only the voice behind her continued to come.
"Bai Shu, no one is more suitable for this role than you. We have no way back now." Ye Feng's voice echoed in Bai Cha's ears, finally becoming clearer and clearer.
"Why, Ye Feng, why do you have to go all the way to the end on this path? Is the glory of the family that important, more important than family or loved ones?" The young Bai Shu slammed the table and stood up, looking at Ye Feng in front of him, furious.
Bai Cha stiffly turned her head. In the illusion, Ye Feng's figure was so clear, steady, yet composed.
"Damn it, Ye Feng, you're just sure that I'll help my sister, so you're making me the bad guy? Why?" Bai Shu crossed his arms and said unhappily, "What are you trying to achieve by insisting on being guardians? You can go wherever you want. If you become independent, you'll live better than anyone else. Why do you have to go to your death?"
Ye Feng sighed, feeling a bit helpless about Bai Qingyuan, his rebellious brother.
"Bai Shu, don't be temperamental. You should know that it's Qingyuan who can't let go of this country. If she wants to protect this world, I can't not accompany her." Ye Feng shook his head, his face showing exhaustion and helplessness. "If I were an independent individual, what you said would be useful to me, but the problem isn't with me."
"Of course, I'm not saying there's anything wrong with Qingyuan. Protecting the country is certainly a good thing." As if feeling that some words were inappropriate, Ye Feng added.
Bai Shu seemed to be angry. He sat down on the chair and sulked with his arms crossed, not knowing if he was angry with himself or his sister, but he was extremely agitated.
"In short, I disagree. I will not marry or have children in my life. Bai Cha is my biological daughter. If you cause trouble like this, I'll be all alone. Do you have any conscience?" Bai Shu glared at Ye Feng. "Moreover, according to your prediction, Bai Cha will also be alone. I refuse to accept that. I'll live with her. Can you climb out of your graves to beat me?"
Ye Feng: "..."
This statement was very spiritual. Even though Ye Feng was used to Bai Shu's versatile use of metaphors, he sometimes couldn't keep up with him.
"Even if Qingyuan sacrifices herself in vain?" Ye Feng was helpless. "We have embarked on a path with no hope of survival. If not, Bai Cha will never be able to stand on her own. In this environment, it will only harm her..."
"Then take my sister away now!"
Bai Shu shouted almost hysterically.
"Did we agree to let you, a poor boy who grew up in an orphanage, marry my sister, not for your potential? It was because you were willing to treat my sister well with your life!" Bai Shu's eyes were red with anger. "You're just watching my sister sacrifice herself? Ye Feng, it's not too late. Take my sister and Xiao Cha away now!"
"You can go anywhere you want, to the ends of the earth. Without any restrictions, you can be strong, and no one can do anything to you," Bai Shu said firmly, gritting his teeth. "Don't you love my sister with your life? Then help her survive, take her away, and find a paradise!"
The world was silent. Ye Feng didn't speak, and Bai Cha listened quietly. Only the sound of the young Bai Shu breathing heavily with anger remained.
"Alas..."
After a long time, Ye Feng finally sighed softly, with helplessness and a hint of imperceptible self-abandonment, shaking his head dejectedly. "Bai Shu, do you think I haven't tried? But you should know better than I do."
"If I take her away, she will regret it for the rest of her life. She will feel that she has betrayed her ancestors, betrayed the oath of the Bai family, and betrayed her responsibility." Ye Feng covered his face in pain, his voice filled with heartache. "Bai Shu, if I really did that, she would never let it go, and she would even hate herself for the rest of her life."
"The most frightening thing in life is to reach the end without being able to do what you want most. She wants to awaken the fighting spirit of the Shadows and the soul of Country Z, and she is willing to sacrifice her life for it. I have no other choice but to accompany her."
"..."
"Ye Feng." After a long silence, Bai Shu's voice finally rang out again. "I promise you. I will be an enemy to Bai Cha."
"Thank you." Ye Feng lowered his eyes. From a great distance, Bai Cha could see the crystal-clear mist in her father's eyes.
"Don't thank me. I'm already tired of your messy affairs." Bai Shu's face in the illusion was ugly. He grabbed his cloak from the back of the chair and turned to leave, leaving only a sentence echoing in the space.
"Ye Feng, I really don't know what you're thinking. In my opinion, the Bai family has long been a curse."
The illusion lasted for a long time, and Bai Cha saw many things she never knew.
She saw that when her relationship with Balance Beam was very strained, she secretly went to Balance Beam to play with everyone. She saw that when she was secretly training with everyone, Bai Shu had seen it several times, but he pretended not to see it, just to let her stay in this last bit of warmth for a while longer.
She also saw that when she caused trouble at Balance Beam, Bai Shu was still in contact with Ye Feng in the extraterrestrial starry sky. In that empty, desolate place, he was furious, regretting why he couldn't turn the tide. And when Bai Cha took Freya to find Mo Yuntian, he blocked everyone who tried to stop them.
She saw Bai Shu letting Freya shower her with attention. She saw that on the day Cang Liu sacrificed himself for him, Bai Shu was ambushing in the clouds, not to attack her, but to prevent accidents or sneak attacks on her. She also saw the conversation between Freya and Bai Shu after Freya took Bai Shu away from that place.
"Alright, now she definitely can't hear us. There's no need for us to be so insincere." Freya was smiling then, without any hostility or dissatisfaction. "Regarding the competition with destiny, Mr. Libra, would you like to pass the baton?"
"Cang Liu's baton has been passed to me, and I will run with all my might. I wonder if you can take on this responsibility?" Freya said with a half-smile, waving to Bai Shu as if in jest.
"You know your importance to her." Bai Shu was silent for a long time, his fists clenched tightly.
"The competition has reached this point. If the competition is terminated halfway, all the sacrifices made so far will be in vain." Freya snorted lightly. "The people in front ran with all their might, and the relay race is already halfway through. If we give up now, not only will we let down Chacha, but we will also let down everyone else. At least the competition should continue to the end, right?"
"Hmph."
Seemingly discouraged, Bai Shu waved his hand impatiently and left.
"Got it, whatever you want."
This voice carried a hint of impatience and helplessness.
"..."
"Bang!"
With a punch, the illusion froze.
"Bang... Bang! Bang!!"
The cracks widened and shattered with a roar.
Bai Cha stood in front of Bai Shu, her spear still firmly lodged in his chest, her expression cold, even carrying a chill brought on by anger.
"Do you think I'll be very touched? You all died for me, and I must be very touched, right!" Bai Cha didn't let Bai Shu continue. She broke the illusion without hesitation, her voice also icy. "Why are you pushing me here with your self-righteousness! Why are you sacrificing yourselves without consulting me!"
"Perhaps because we love each other."
The wall was cold, and Bai Shu could feel the warm blood draining from his body, making him feel colder and colder. But Bai Cha's face was warm, and Bai Shu could feel Bai Cha's warmth from his fingertips.
"You love us, you can't deny it. Freya, as the Goddess of Love, only loves you. But you love everyone. I once thought you were the most suitable for the Goddess of Love." Bai Shu said with a smile. "Suppressed and restrained protection is great love. When the relationship between Balance Beam and the Bai family was at its worst, I was ambushed and seriously injured. You were the one who stopped those people and saved us, right?"
Bai Shu would never forget that day.
This was after Ye Feng died and Bai Shu thought Bai Cha would never want to see him again. He numbed himself and worked desperately, his reputation soaring. Until one time, as a bounty hunter, he accepted three difficult missions and returned to Balance Beam exhausted, only to be surrounded by three groups of people.
There were always more people who kicked you when you were down. Half of the Balance Beam's main hall was destroyed. Everyone knew that Country Z and Balance Beam had a major conflict, and Balance Beam was at its weakest.
Bai Shu was too famous. When Balance Beam was internally empty, he was caught off guard by a group of people who had painstakingly laid an ambush.
He fought with all his might. Before he lost consciousness, he saw Virgo and Freya arriving in a hurry. However, facing hundreds of top experts, he was already struggling, let alone when Freya was still just an immature seedling.
Bai Shu was too tired. He just had a slight regret. He might not be able to complete the mission Ye Feng had given him. He just didn't know if Bai Cha would shed a tear for him.
He missed her a little...
Vaguely, the noise suddenly disappeared. It was as if everyone had frozen. Even in his dazed state, Bai Shu could feel a faint sense of fear and shock spreading among the crowd.
"I am willing, it's none of your business... If you don't want to die... My patience is limited..."
The voice was faint, and Bai Shu couldn't hear clearly. There was also a faint smell of blood, but the familiar sense of kinship and the familiar light fragrance made Bai Shu want to cry.
When Bai Shu woke up again, only Freya was by his side. There was a cool, faint fragrance by the bed, completely different from Freya's sweet and cloying scent.
There was also the medicinal soup in Freya's hand.
Bai Shu was certain that Freya did not make this. Freya, that little girl, was a kitchen killer. Even frying an egg could result in thick smoke and splashing hot oil. Her desserts were useless except for their appearance. Only Bai Cha could eat them with a poker face.
Furthermore, Freya knew nothing about herbal medicine and medical skills. Where did the medicinal soup come from?
However, Freya didn't say a word, and Bai Shu didn't bring it up. Everyone tacitly kept silent about it. Perhaps more people thought that Bai Shu didn't mention it because he was embarrassed by his own abandoned niece, but Freya could vaguely guess some of Bai Shu's hidden thoughts.
"You're always like this, loving everyone, appearing in time of crisis for everyone. Even in the end, if I guess correctly, you will sacrifice yourself to make everyone live better, won't you?" Bai Shu chuckled. Bai Cha saw pride in Bai Shu's eyes.
Bai Cha did not refute, or rather, she could not refute. She could only grit her teeth and ask, "But I don't think it's worth it now."
"I am willing, and making sacrifices achieve their due results and guiding everyone back to the right path is my value. Just like my mother was willing to sacrifice herself to realize her value rather than let my father take her away, since you both understand everything, why do you negate my decision?"