And so, she didn’t answer right away, instead slowly raising her head.

Her eyes, stained with tears and blood, stared at the glaring pool of blood on the ground.

Her body trembled uncontrollably.

Lin Qingfeng decided to strike while the iron was hot. He adopted a compassionate, sorrowful expression and was just about to persuade her further.

Just then, as if all strength had been drained from her body, Su Ling’er suddenly staggered back a step.

’Since they’re both putting on such a cringey performance, they can’t blame me for joining in and playing along!’

She raised a hand, pointing at the empty space in disbelief.

"He... he was just here..."

Her tears finally burst forth, streaming down in large drops to mingle with the bloodstains on her cheeks.

"The Celestial Dao is heartless, the Great Dao is cruel... Why can’t it tolerate a single devoted heart?!"

"He... he said he was devoted to me... The look in his eyes as he died... he was looking at me... he was trying to tell me something... I never imagined he could adore me so much!"

"To think there was someone in the sect who loved me this much, someone who would even dare to draw his sword against a Senior Brother as wise and powerful, as magnanimous and extraordinary, as understanding and considerate of his juniors as you!"

As Su Ling’er cried, she deliberately crammed in all the self-praising words Lin Qingfeng had used earlier, her tone almost one of reckless abandon.

Meanwhile, the random player in the corner was even more shocked!

’Wait, is this NPC really that easy to win over?’

’Don’t tell me the Guild Leader saw Zhan win over the NPC so easily, got jealous, and then killed him in a fit of rage?’

’Seriously, is this NPC’s affection meter set that low? What kind of convoluted backstory did you two have for you to fall for him this fast?’

On the field, Su Ling’er squatted down in anguish, grabbing her hair with both hands.

"Why?! Why wasn’t I the one who died?! If... if I hadn’t come here, if it wasn’t for me, he wouldn’t have died at all! I killed him!"

"It was me!"

She lifted her tear-streaked face, a canvas of blood and sorrow, and looked at Lin Qingfeng in despair.

"Oh, Senior Brother, so wise and powerful, so magnanimous and extraordinary, so understanding and considerate of your juniors... I..." 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

She choked on her sobs, barely able to form a complete sentence.

"His path, his regrets... now... they all weigh on my heart... I... my heart is in turmoil... all I can see is his final moments... I..."

She struggled to her feet and gave Lin Qingfeng a deep bow, looking as if she might collapse at any moment.

"Please, wise and powerful, magnanimous and extraordinary, understanding and considerate Senior Brother... give me three... five days..."

"Please allow this Junior Sister... let me calm my heart... for this senior brother... Right now... I can’t think about anything else... I need... to hold a vigil for him... and I need... to think clearly... about this path he opened for me with his life..."

"How... how am I supposed to walk it... When I... when I’ve recovered... I will certainly give Senior Brother a... satisfactory answer."

Lin Qingfeng stroked his chin, watching Su Ling’er’s utterly heartbroken performance, and felt a little baffled himself.

’Seriously? Is all this necessary?’

’Didn’t you two just see each other for the first time from a hundred meters away? You didn’t even exchange a single word, and now you’re crying your eyes out? Now it’s "Why wasn’t I the one who died"?’

’Did Qiong Yao have a hand in designing this game’s backend?!’

’This is so cringe! This NPC’s emotional feedback system is completely absurd! Did the system generate some non-existent memories for her or something?!’

’Before having her give a response, can’t you at least query the database to see if she even knows the guy?!’

’And that idiot Zhan, who told him to improvise and add to the drama? I seriously suspect his little performance corrupted the Junior Sister’s database!’

’Pulling that "I’m devoted to you" crap. Great. Just great.’

’If anything happens to this one and only native NPC, I’m going to tie him to a Forging Platform and let those guys from the Artifact Refining Pavilion "refine" him good!’

’Thank god she didn’t start spouting lines like "Not till the mountains are leveled, and the heavens and earth collapse, would I dare to part with you!" Otherwise, I’d really suspect Qiong Yao was involved in making this game!!!’

’And Junior Sister, did your backend script get stuck on a loop when generating your lines?! I mean, I know I’m wise and powerful, magnanimous and extraordinary, understanding and considerate of my juniors...’

’You might admire me that much in your heart, but you don’t have to repeat it so many times!’

’Fine, fine.’

Lin Qingfeng sighed internally.

He looked at Su Ling’er’s sorrowful profile, his own face once again donning that compassionate expression.

"Sigh... You foolish child, you foolish, foolish child..."

Hearing this, Su Ling’er raised her tear-filled eyes and looked at him blankly.

Lin Qingfeng slowly walked to her side. His gaze also fell upon the pool of blood, as if reminiscing about something, and his voice was distant as he spoke.

"Zhan... You heard his final words, didn’t you?"

"With his own life, he pointed out a clear path for you."

"His greatest regret was not cultivating the Sword Refining Skill sooner, which left his physical body frail. That’s why I was able to defeat him so easily with a single counterattack."

"He wouldn’t want you to repeat his mistakes, Junior Sister!"

"If you truly feel grief for him, you shouldn’t just wallow in your sorrow."

"Turn your grief into strength and walk the path he could not finish. That is the best way to honor his memory!"

"Cultivate the Sword Refining Skill, and forge your body into an unparalleled Divine Soldier!"

"When that day comes, not only will you be able to protect yourself, but you will also... be able to see the view from the pinnacle of the Sword Dao for him!"

"Don’t let him... die with regrets!"

These words made Su Ling’er’s heart tremble.

She knew that her Senior Brother was pressuring her, using a "dead man’s" last wish to manipulate her.

But right now, she had to keep up the act.