Wang Zedong rushed forward fiercely, aiming his right fist at Mu Jiao Long. Mu Jiao Long put on his black metal gloves and smiled at Wang Changming. As Wang Zedong closed the distance, Mu Jiao Long grabbed his right fist. Wang Zedong twisted free, took out a knife with his left hand, and swung it toward Mu Jiao Long's throat.
Mu Jiao Long backed away quickly and waved the guzheng string at Wang Zedong. To avoid the attack, Wang Zedong shielded himself with his arm, and the sharp string sliced through his forearm. Wang Zedong stumbled back. Immediately, five red thread needles flew from behind Wang Zedong toward Mu Jiao Long. Mu Jiao Long quickly caught the needles, spun them around his left hand, and yanked the attached threads, pulling Cao Fengge forward. Mu Jiao Long struck Cao Fengge's chest, sending him stumbling back to Wang Zedong, where he vomited blood.
Mu Jiao Long addressed the defeated man. "Cao Fengge, our matter has been resolved. What are you still doing here?"
Cao Fengge demanded, "Where did you bury Li Liqin? Where is my son?"
Mu Jiao Long's voice was sharp. "If you cared about them, why did you let her die? She hated you to the last moment, so there is no reason for her to see you now." He then looked at Wang Zedong. "Chief Wang, I believe I won. Now, return my Changming back to me."
The wind blew across the empty arena. Wang Zedong stared at Mu Jiao Long, then spoke with surprising softness. "I knew you would win, that's why I had Ming'er dressed in red for the happy occasion. Mu gongzi, if you really want to marry Changming, then I'm happy to open the door for you."
Mu Jiao Long was ecstatic. "Really?"
Wang Zedong smiled. "You have proved to me that your love for Changming is true. This old fool will no longer stand between the two of you."
Mu Jiao Long beamed. "Thank you, Chief Wang."
Wang Zedong walked to Wang Changming's side and murmured, in a voice only his son could hear, "I changed my mind. Before you two walk out that door, you must first maim him, otherwise I will let the guards shoot him where he is standing." He then turned to Mu Jiao Long, smiling. "Mu gongzi, I entrust Ming'er to you." Wang Zedong pushed Wang Changming toward Mu Jiao Long.
As Wang Changming walked toward Mu Jiao Long, he knew that once Mu Jiao Long was maimed, Wang Zedong would seize the opportunity to kill him. He rushed forward and threw his arms around Mu Jiao Long.
Mu Jiao Long held him tightly. "My xiao xingan, why are you so thin?" He chuckled. "Don't worry, your husband will feed you ten meals a day."
Wang Changming burst into tears. "Why do you look like you are in your forties?"
Mu Jiao Long kissed his temple. "Through the sun and rain, I trained hard and forgot to take care of my appearance, because in my heart, you are always my top priority." He rubbed Wang Changming's hair gently. "Will you love me less because I'm not as handsome as before?"
Wang Changming shook his head. "No..."
Mu Jiao Long spoke happily of their future; his voice filled with carefree excitement. "Ah Lan got married a few days ago!" He chuckled. "We went all the way to Tianshan, and Chief Yi actually traded his beloved daughter, Yi Ai, for his treatment!" He paused, gently pressing a kiss on the side of Wang Changming's cheek. "Oh, by the way, Ah Lan wrote me a copy of the Mu acupuncture technique to give to you as a welcome gift into our family." He tightened his arms fiercely around Wang Changming. "Changming, my family accepts us, and now your father accepts us. From now on, there will be no obstacle standing in our way!"
A wave of crushing sadness washed over Wang Changming. Hot, silent tears filled his eyes and streamed down his cheeks as a terrible realization hit him: his own father, Wang Zedong, would not let them go. Today, there would be no freedom, no simple walk to a new life together. In that moment of absolute despair, the weight of his own failure settled upon him—he had misjudged his father, failed to escape, and in doing so, had profoundly wronged Mu Jiao Long.
Wang Changming whispered, his voice a heartbreaking sound full of aching finality. "Thank you for loving me. It's worth waiting."
He looked over Mu Jiao Long's shoulder, his gaze meeting Wang Zedong's, who gave him a slight, grim nod of acknowledgment. Wang Changming then pressed a soft, final kiss to Mu Jiao Long's neck, slowly reached up to grab the jade hairpin in his hair, and smiled sadly at his father.
In a swift, terrible motion, he slowly inserted the sharp tip of the hairpin into his own neck and pulled the pin out, ensuring the wound would cause him to bleed to death within minutes. His hands dropped instantly to Mu Jiao Long's waist, hugging him tightly as his strength faded. A shocking torrent of blood spewed out, instantly soaking Mu Jiao Long's left shoulder.
Mu Jiao Long, oblivious, spoke of home. "Let's go home and you can meet them. Di mei said when we get home, she will cook for us, and our family will sit down and eat together as a family." He felt Wang Changming's desperate hug. He patted his head gently. "Silly, I can't breathe. You can stop crying. My left shoulder is wet. You are just a little man; where do all these tears come from?" He pulled Wang Changming out of his arms, but Wang Changming slowly slumped. He quickly held him up, sitting him on the ground, and covered the wound on his neck. "Changming... Changming... hold in there, no wounds are too difficult for a Mu yisheng."
Wang Changming gasped and gurgled blood, unable to make a clear voice. Mu Jiao Long leaned close to his mouth. Wang Changming took a heavy, rattling breath and muttered, "Don't kill him... take care of Biming." He gasped. "Die in your arms, it's worth the wait."
Mu Jiao Long stared into his eyes, tears streaming down his face. "Changming, please don't leave me. I can't live without you."
Wang Changming smiled faintly. "I love the right person, but we met at the wrong time. I have been waiting for you long enough; it's time for you to wait..." He reached up, trying to wipe the tears from Mu Jiao Long's face, slowly raising his head for one last kiss. But his lips did not meet Mu Jiao Long's. His head fell back into Mu Jiao Long's arms. His hand slowly fell away, and the hairpin dropped to the ground with a soft, final clinking sound.
Mu Jiao Long lowered his head and kissed Wang Changming's lips, then pulled him into his embrace and sobbed in silence, as he finally understood that Wang Zedong had never intended for Wang Changming to leave the Wang Manor.
He looked at Wang Changming's pale, colorless face, tears streaming down his own, and his lips trembled. He murmured, "I would rather die in your place. Parting while alive is better than parting by death. At least I know that you are somewhere safe and still thinking of me." He continued to sob silently, holding Wang Changming's body close.
Mu Jiao Long held Wang Changming for a long time, until the blood from the wound had stopped draining. He reached out, grabbed the hairpin, and pinned it back into Wang Changming's hair. He picked up Wang Changming's body and began to walk away from Wang Zedong and Cao Fengge.
Cao Fengge rushed over and knelt in front of Mu Jiao Long. He pleaded, "Mu gongzi, please tell me where Li Liqin is buried and where my son is? You have lost a loved one. You know how painful it is. I beg you..."
Mu Jiao Long, his voice flat with grief, answered. "Li Furen was buried on the outskirts of Si Village. Your son Yuanjun is with a kind lady somewhere in Chen Village." He looked down at Wang Changming. "I'll take you home." He hugged the body close and began to walk out of the Wang Manor.
The oil lamp in the cell began to dim. Wang Biming could see the shadow of Mu Dishi's long eyelashes, making them look even longer. He spoke to the man who was silently listening. "So my poor da ge loved shifu so much, he would rather end his life than betray shifu. I always thought I would continue the unfinished love story of Changming da ge. You see, our two families were destined to be enemies from the beginning." He smiled faintly. "All the martial artists in the martial arts world said in unison that shifu loved martial arts too much and learned all kinds of martial arts. They didn't know, behind their gossips, shifu was just an ordinary, loyal man determined to win back the person he loved."
Mu Dishi did not speak but continued to stare at Wang Biming.
Wang Biming sighed. "Shifu buried da ge in a tomb built for a eunuch. Not only that, he also deliberately abducted me from the Wang Household the day before my father's duel with Kuo Jing Song and severely injured my father. He moved the Mu family from the capital and established Mu Village."
Mu Dishi, still sitting on the floor, finally asked, "Is this the reason why you killed Uncle Long?"
Wang Biming confessed. "In the beginning, I was not going to poison anyone. Then shifu learned about our relationship. He saw us kissing. He told me that he would send me back to the Wang Manor. His decision made things easier. I decided to kill him according to my father's request, but when I was pouring the poison, I realized that you would hate me, so I only poured half and hoped that shifu would win the battle."
Mu Dishi sighed softly. "I have always loved you, even if Uncle Long forbade it."
Wang Biming looked at Mu Dishi for a moment, then asked the painful question. "Then why did you choose him instead of me?"
Mu Dishi opened his eyes, answering with clear conviction. "Because he never lied to me once."
Wang Biming challenged him. "You have lied to him many times before. Do you think he still believes you?"
Mu Dishi did not answer.
Wang Biming pressed him. "He told me that he will never let you leave his side, because a future where you belong to someone else other than him does not exist. Dishi, why do you want someone like him?"
Mu Dishi stood up. "Because for so many years, when I needed someone most, he has always stood by my side. This time, when everyone hates him and wants to kill him, I want to stand beside him like he has done for me."
Mu Dishi unsheathed Honglei and cut off Wang Biming's chain. The two went up the stairs. As they approached the two guards, Mu Dishi swiftly passed them and struck their acupuncture points, paralyzing them. The two guards froze in place, watching Mu Dishi and Wang Biming leave.
Mu Dishi and Wang Biming walked to the back gate. Suddenly, many torches around the gate lit up, the iron gate swung open, and many people from the Sunset Sect rushed in. Standing in the middle of the crowd was Ma Jingguo.
Ma Jingguo approached Mu Dishi and Wang Biming. He looked at Mu Dishi coldly. "This is such a beautiful, dramatic, and compelling event. It's really worth the wait." He stared at Mu Dishi angrily. "Xiao shushu, you really let me down."