Blooming of the Red Spider Lily: The Enchanting Pavilion Master - Chapter 53 - It's Him Who Doesn't Want Me

“So what? At least I’m still alive, but what about you? You clearly liked Le Zimu so much that you were willing to massacre the innocent. Can such love just be given up on so easily? Are you monsters really that heartless?” Although Feng Mojin was afraid to recall what happened that day, just the thought of Bi’an being by her side filled her with boundless courage.

That person would stay by her side, wouldn’t just watch her die, and wouldn’t let her get hurt at all! Even though Bi’an hadn’t admitted it, Feng Mojin believed it wholeheartedly, so she felt a bit more confident and accusatory when facing Li Bai.

“It’s him who doesn’t want me! He’s the one who wants to marry Hongxiao, what does it have to do with me? Yes, I’m a monster, I don’t have a heart, but does Le Zimu have one?” Li Bai seemed triggered by Feng Mojin’s last words. He reached out and grabbed Feng Mojin’s shoulders, leaning in fiercely to rebut her. His previously indifferent eyes now revealed a hint of sorrow. Looking closely into Li Bai’s eyes, Feng Mojin noticed they were bloodshot, probably from the sleepless nights he had endured over Le Zimu and Hongxiao.

She didn’t understand the meaning of love, but she realized it’s not something you can just easily let go of; otherwise, how would Hongxiao be able to manipulate Le Zimu?

“Li Bai, he doesn’t not want you. You’re the only person he wanted to see in the end. Hongxiao is using Le Zimu; she only wants to attract her beloved’s attention by marrying him. They are putting on a show, really! Moreover, Le Zimu…” She intended to reveal that Le Zimu was gravely injured and had little time left, but suddenly someone launched a direct attack at Feng Mojin. If it hadn’t been for Bi’an’s quick reaction, pulling Feng Mojin away just in time, that charred spot on the ground would probably be where Feng Mojin ended up.

The attacker wasn’t Li Bai, but an aged and sinister-looking woman. She stood furiously before Li Bai, wielding a whip, her piercing gaze locked on Bi’an and Feng Mojin. Speaking to Li Bai, she said, “Child, don’t believe them. They just want to trick you into going back; none of them are good people!”

Bai Li’s words, filled with determination and a hint of preventing Li Bai from joining them, made Feng Mojin frown involuntarily. It seemed this woman was adamantly against Li Bai seeing Le Zimu again, but what benefit would that bring her?

“Bai Li, it’s not beneficial for us to deceive Li Bai! I came here with Bi’an-Jie only because Le Zimu wanted to see her! Li Bai, if you don’t go back, you will never see him again! Can you bear to let him die with regret?” Bai Li was furious as she saw Feng Mojin preparing to speak again and readied to strike her down with a whip. However, all her attacks were blocked by the red-clothed woman beside her, whose defense seemed to absorb the force of the blows as if they were nothing more than soft cushions, despite clearly using demonic strength.

Spotting the floral embellishments on the red-clothed woman’s sleeves, Bai Li’s expression shifted immediately: the red spider lily! This person was the Pavilion Master of the Pavilion of Rebirth, the mysterious figure Le Zimu had mentioned, who could fulfill the wishes of others. Although Bai Li had heard of this person’s reputation, this was her first actual encounter.

Realizing the situation had become complicated, Bai Li struck even harder, aiming each blow at Feng Mojin. Unfortunately, Bi’an remained unyielding, leaving Bai Li frustrated: this woman didn’t even have to move, yet she remained unscathed despite Bai Li’s fierce attacks.

Ultimately, not being able to restrain herself, Feng Mojin ended up revealing the very words Bai Li had desperately wanted to hide. She knew all too well what had happened at the wedding and that Le Zimu had lost his memory, but she had no intention of telling Li Bai anything about him! If Li Bai discovered that Le Zimu’s days were numbered, that foolish child would definitely risk everything to return and see him one last time, and she might even sacrifice her own life force to save that heartless man!

Why should Li Bai, whom she cared for dearly, hand over her entire life to a human?

With a resentful glare at Feng Mojin and Bi’an, Bai Li truly wished she could kill both of them. She had gone through so much hardship to bring Li Bai into this space to hide, never wanting anyone to find her. Yet, unexpectedly, someone still managed to break through her barrier and come here to see Li Bai.

“Is what you said true? Is Zimu going to die?” Just as Bai Li intended to charge forward to kill Bi’an and Feng Mojin, she suddenly heard a suppressed cry nearby. She didn’t need to turn around to know it was Li Bai, grieving upon learning that Le Zimu was dying. Despite that man having hurt her deeply, she still couldn’t let go of her love for him; truly, she was a foolish flower demon, even more so than the girl she had once taken in.

“Popo, I want to see him!” Li Bai rushed to Bai Li’s side, interrupting her memories of the past. She looked up at Bai Li, her eyes bloodshot and brimming with tears, her heartbreaking appearance making Bai Li feel an immediate pang of hurt.

Bai Li reached out to gently pat Li Bai’s head, and after a moment, she finally spoke softly, “Child, this is your own choice; don’t blame Popo for not stopping you in the future.” Turning her head away, Bai Li slowly walked off a short distance before disappearing from the sight of the three.

“I’m sorry, Popo, thank you!” Imitating human ways, Li Bai knelt down, bowed her head three times toward the direction where Bai Li had disappeared, and then stood up with a smile for Feng Mojin and Bi’an. “Take me to see him.”

Leaving this place might mean she would never return to such a peaceful haven in her lifetime. Li Bai took a deep, lingering look at the paradise, silently saying in her heart: Popo, please take good care of yourself.

As soon as they returned to the Pavilion of Rebirth, Li Bai was swiftly grabbed by Hua Ning and shoved into a horse-drawn carriage. With a loud whinny from the horses, the carriage took off at full speed down the street. The roads seemed unusually empty, as if someone had given prior notice; there were few stalls or people around, allowing the carriage to race safely all the way to Le Mansion.

Before Jiang Qing could even steady the carriage, Li Bai and Hua Ning jumped out and hurried toward the room where Le Zimu was. Along the way, some servants looked on in surprise at the two dusty figures, debating whether they should stop them from barging into the young master’s room. But when they recalled that one of the women was the Pavilion Master’s companion, they hesitated and ultimately refrained from intervening; their master had mentioned that the young master was currently waiting for someone from the Pavilion of Rebirth.

As they rushed into the room, Li Bai froze in place. There were several people inside. She recognized Le Zimu’s father and a few of his concubines gathered around the bed, where muffled sobs drifted from their direction, tightening Li Bai’s heart. Hongxiao sat on a stool, her head in her hands, panic written all over her face. Beside her stood a man dressed in luxurious dark blue robes, observing coldly, his expression out of sync with the somber atmosphere.

But Li Bai couldn’t think too much about it; she shouted Le Zimu’s name while rushing to the bedside.

Hearing the familiar call, Le Zimu laboriously opened his eyes. What greeted him was a cute little face with swollen red eyes from crying. A gentle smile spread across his face as he couldn’t help but reach out to touch Li Bai’s face. Le Zimu’s father, seeing this, stepped aside with the others, allowing Li Bai a clear path.

Throwing herself down beside the bed, Li Bai grasped Le Zimu’s hand and pressed it against her cheek. She had so much she wanted to say, but at that moment, she could do nothing but cry. This was the first human she was willing to touch; the first person she had truly fallen in love with; the one she was willing to risk her life to be with-why couldn’t he stay a bit longer with her?

“Li Bai, don’t cry. When you cry, you look so unattractive. I actually prefer your smile; you didn’t know that, did you? I first fell in love with your smile. But now, what I love most is you.” Wiping the tears from Li Bai’s face, Le Zimu smiled warmly at her.

From the moment he saw her, memories surged into Le Zimu’s mind like a breaking dam. He finally realized just how foolish he had been all along. He should have seen it coming, hadn’t he? Li Bai cared for him so deeply, always doing things for him, and her desire for a heart must have been to be with him. Yet, at that time, he hadn’t thought it through carefully; he had been naive enough to think that he could give her his heart without her knowing, fulfilling her only wish.

It turned out that Li Bai’s wish had never changed, and neither had his own; they simply wanted to be together. Unfortunately, this realization had come too late, and he no longer had time to properly be with Li Bai.

“Li Bai, can you smile one more time? Just like you used to.” In his final moments, he desperately wanted to remember her at her brightest.

“Okay.” Wiping the tears from her face and stifling the ache in her heart, Li Bai forced herself to recall the happiest moments they shared together. Slowly, she managed to lift the corners of her mouth, smiling brightly, captivating those around her.

Le Zimu smiled in satisfaction, pulling Li Bai into his embrace and resting her ear against his heart. “Li Bai, remember this: my heart beats for you.” As Le Zimu’s voice whispered in her ear, Li Bai momentarily stopped in shock, and then suddenly everything went dark as she fainted.

“Will you help me fulfill my last wish?” Le Zimu gazed down at Li Bai, who lay in his arms, his heart filled with bitterness. You had once told me your weaknesses, and now, it seems, I would indeed use that knowledge against you.

He lifted his head to see Bi’an, who had appeared before him at some unknown moment. With a slight smile, Le Zimu asked once more, “Will you help me with my last wish?”

The people around them had all been pushed into a separate space by Bi’an, leaving only the three of them there: Le Zimu, Bi’an, and Li Bai. He understood that if it weren’t for Bi’an’s concealment, perhaps he and Li Bai wouldn’t have reached such a dire situation. But he could only blame himself; his life was far too short.

“The Pavilion will grant your wish. However, the price for defying fate will be yours to pay.”

“My last wish is…” Le Zimu spoke slowly, his smile deepening. He sank down gently.

In the end, he chose to stay with her forever, and she willingly took both their lives with her.

When Le Zimu’s father and concubines finally snapped back to reality, they realized the previously constant sounds of weeping had vanished, and a wave of foreboding surged through them. Struggling to turn around, they slowly raised their gaze, filled with a dread they had already anticipated.

The first thing they saw was a lifeless hand hanging off the edge of the bed! As their eyes moved upward, they found Le Zimu wearing a serene smile and Li Bai resting on him. To the casual observer, it looked like a tired young couple sleeping peacefully, but everyone present knew that was not the case!

What lay there was a cold corpse-Le Zimu was dead! In that fleeting moment of their shock, he had closed his eyes forever, never to open them again.

Le Zimu’s father cried out his son’s name, but the grief overwhelmed him so much that he fainted as it lodged painfully in his chest. The concubines screamed and rushed to help him, calling out, “Master!” while frantically trying to support him, while on the other side, they hurriedly sent a maid to fetch a doctor.

Hongxiao didn’t even dare to look away; she didn’t want to face the reality of Le Zimu’s death, nor acknowledge that she was to blame for it. But many times, not looking back doesn’t mean the events didn’t happen. No matter how much she tried to escape, she couldn’t suppress the overwhelming guilt in her heart-Le Zimu was the person she owed the most to in this world.