STT – Chapter 77

From now on, unless separated by death, there will be no more parting in life

Hengshan is the first tallest mountain in Linzhou, renowned throughout the nation for its breathtaking scenery. However, its most famous attribute lies in its “oddity, peril, and steepness.” On Hengshan, there exists a renowned footpath known far and wide, composed of narrow wooden planks suspended over unfathomable cliffs and nestled within towering precipices, aptly named “Lingkong” or “Walking in the Void.” This pathway spans a mere thirty meters in length, with a width of no more than thirty centimeters. On one side, there is a sheer and smooth cliff face equipped with handholds affixed by iron pegs, while on the other, there is a sheer drop, devoid of any railing. Above the iron pegs, a steel cable is strung, adorned with sachets and padlocks. Legend has it that this “Lingkong” pathway was constructed by an ancient immortal in pursuit of spiritual enlightenment. Subsequently, the immortal ascended to the heavens, leaving behind blessings in this place, where prayers are said to be highly efficacious.

It is said that couples who brave the hardships and traverse this pathway together, affixing a heart-shaped lock to the middle of the steel cable as a symbol of their unity, will be able to face the storms that lie ahead without fear. Even in the face of adversity, they can journey together until they reach old age.

After Lu Zizheng and Jiang Huaixi became a couple, they planned numerous trips to various romantic destinations, harboring longing and anticipation for many love sanctuaries. However, when it came to this particular holy place that was now so close at hand, Lu Zizheng felt both awe and distance.

After all, she was someone who, simply by looking at pictures of the Lingkong pathway, would tremble with fear, experience dizziness, and have her limbs go weak.

But today, Lu Zizheng stood calmly and confidently at the entrance of the Lingkong pathway, her robes fluttering in the wind, perched on the precipice of the towering cliff.

Despite having discussed with the pre-arranged photographer, Jiang Huaichuan couldn’t help but approach Lu Zizheng with a worried expression, confirming for what seemed like the umpteenth time, “Sister Zizheng, are you really determined to walk this pathway? Can’t we consider another way?”

Even someone as bold as Jiang Huaichuan, when gazing at this wooden pathway suspended over a bottomless abyss, couldn’t help but feel a bit dizzy and hesitant. He found it hard to trust, not to mention, he dared not imagine how Jiang Huaixi would react when she saw this scene, likely causing her heart to race.

Lu Zizheng forced herself to stare directly at the abyss below, her demeanor calm and resolute. “Huaichuan, there’s no need to persuade me. Let’s begin when you’re ready,” she said with an air of composure. However, her left hand held onto her right arm, and her right hand, hanging at her side, trembled ever so slightly.

She admitted she was still somewhat afraid. Yet she knew that this fear stemmed from a natural reverence. Once, she believed that such fear could never be conquered.

The photographer was finally ready, having connected the laptop and set up the camera, along with ensuring safety measures were in place. He positioned himself behind Lu Zizheng and was prepared.

Lu Zizheng allowed the security personnel to perform one last check on her safety harness. Once they confirmed everything was in order, Lu Zizheng stepped onto the pathway. She turned back, wearing a faint smile, and nodded toward Jiang Huaichuan.

Frowning and looking concerned, Jiang Huaichuan reluctantly followed Lu Zizheng’s previous instructions.

He took out his phone and dialed Jiang Huaixi’s number without exchanging any pleasantries or explanations. He got straight to the point, asking Jiang Huaixi to turn on her computer and start a video call.

Though Jiang Huaixi seemed slightly puzzled and surprised, she didn’t ask many questions. She simply got out of bed, retrieved her laptop from a nearby table, powered it on, and followed his instructions.

As the screen came to life, and the silhouette of Lu Zizheng standing on the precipice of the towering cliff appeared in Jiang Huaixi’s video window, in an instant, Jiang Huaixi’s heart seemed to be sharply squeezed, almost unable to beat. In the next moment, she cried out in shock, “Zizheng!”

Jiang Huaixi’s usually melodious and pleasant voice, transmitted through the speaker, accompanied by the howling mountain wind, sounded somewhat distorted as it reached Lu Zizheng’s ears. However, Lu Zizheng pursed her lips and smiled faintly. Clearly, it had only been one night without hearing Jiang Huaixi’s voice, but in this moment, amidst the howling wind, it felt as if a century had passed.

Her gaze fixed on the camera lens, gentle and devout, as if she could see Jiang Huaixi on the other side through the lens. Her smile was radiant, her voice calm and melodious, “Huaixi, back in Ji’an, we went to the mountain together to make a wish. You once teased me about making such a sincere wish, so why go to great lengths when we can do it here in Linzhou? Let’s walk the Lingkong pathway together and hang a heart-shaped longevity lock. I told you then, if it truly works, I’d be willing to do it again. I guess you took it lightly back then, treating my words as a jest and brushing it off with a smile, never taking it to heart.”

She could hear Jiang Huaixi’s voice, faintly carried by the wind, sounding as if she was sternly reprimanding Jiang Huaichuan, “Huaichuan, Zizheng is fooling around, and you’re joining her in this nonsense! Don’t you know she’s afraid of heights? Huaichuan, right now, immediately! Bring Zizheng down, do you hear me?!”

As expected, Jiang Huaichuan looked crestfallen and sent Lu Zizheng a pleading look. Lu Zizheng shook her head and responded with a rueful smile, continuing to address the camera, “Huaixi, it was me who pressured Huaichuan into helping me. Don’t blame him. And as for why I’m here, it’s because you forced me up here.” Her words suddenly took on a dispassionate yet piercing tone, “Huaixi, let me ask you, did you tell Lian Xuan my address in City X? Have you ever considered that choosing Lian Xuan might be better for me than you? Have you ever thought that if I wanted to continue with Lian Xuan, you’d be willing to quietly step aside to make way for us? Huaixi, is that true?”

In her hospital bed, Jiang Huaixi’s face was as pale as paper, cold as ice, her gaze fixed tightly on the computer screen on her lap, and her bloodless thin lips pressed into a tight line. Faced with Lu Zizheng’s cold and pointed questions one after another, she clenched her teeth tightly, rendered speechless.

So, she knew it all along. In an instant, Jiang Huaixi felt deflated.

Lu Zizheng, facing the camera, her radiant face devoid of a smile, stated, “It seems I was right all along, Huaixi. Do you believe that doing what you’ve done is truly in my best interest? Do you believe that everything you’ve done has been for my sake?” She stared intently at the camera, as if she were looking into Jiang Huaixi’s deep and beautiful eyes, like ancient pools. “But do you really know what I want? Huaixi, I’m not as strong as you think, but I’m not as fragile as you imagine either. I’m not as great as you, nor as selfish.”

Jiang Huaixi’s eyes began to redden, and her hand resting on the keyboard clenched into a fist, trembling slightly.

Lu Zizheng declared to Jiang Huaixi, word by word, “Jiang Huaixi, listen to me. Yes, I used to be a coward, but I found courage because of my love for you. Because of you, because of your place in my heart, I no longer fear tall mountains, I’m no longer afraid of death, and I no longer dread the malice of this world. Do you believe me?” She turned resolutely and left with a cold statement, “If I can’t make it across this pathway, then consider it a sign that my love for you wasn’t sincere enough, and I won’t need to face you with any remaining dignity.”

With that said, she reached out and suddenly unlocked the safety harness buckle fastened to the steel cable, eliciting gasps of shock from Jiang Huaixi and the others present. “(Zizheng), it’s dangerous!”

Jiang Huaixi was both terrified and shocked, feeling utterly helpless for the first time. Panic overwhelmed her, and her tears flowed uncontrollably, dropping one after another onto the bedsheets. Her voice carried a hoarse, sobbing tone as she angrily shouted, “Jiang Huaichuan, what are you waiting for? Go and bring her back!”

Lu Zizheng faced the cliff wall, hands gripping the steel cable above her, taking one trembling step at a time. Despite her fear, her movements were cautious and deliberate, ensuring her footing was secure. Anticipating Jiang Huaixi’s shattered composure, she reached into her shoulder bag at her back and retrieved two heart-shaped longevity locks, fastening them securely onto the steel cable at a critical turning point in the middle of the pathway. Then, she slightly turned her head towards the camera, offered a radiant smile, and declared with determination, “Huaixi, trust me…”

Jiang Huaixi, who had a pallor as white as paper, now displayed an unnatural redness from crying, her disheveled hair clinging to her cheeks, giving her an unprecedented look of weariness and disarray. Her voice had become hoarse, and she no longer futilely asked Jiang Huaichuan to bring Lu Zizheng back. She simply stared unblinkingly at the screen, fixated on the minuscule figure of Lu Zizheng making her way step by step along the precarious path, her heart pounding with each lifted and lowered foot, forgetting to breathe. Hearing Lu Zizheng’s plea, she covered her mouth, choking back sobs, continuously responding to Lu Zizheng, “I trust you, I trust you… I trust you…”

Though it was merely a little over a minute, for Jiang Huaixi, Lu Zizheng, and even Jiang Huaichuan, it felt as though it stretched into a century.

Finally, Lu Zizheng safely crossed the Lingkong pathway and set her feet firmly on the level and expansive ground.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Jiang Huaixi, exhausted, slumped back on her pillow, yet her eyes remained fixed on the screen without blinking.

Lu Zizheng’s heartbeat raced, her hands at her sides trembled uncontrollably. However, facing the camera, she managed to conjure a radiant smile. “Huaixi, you see, you may have thought I couldn’t do it, but actually, I could.” Despite the trembling in her voice, her tone remained composed and resolute. “Huaixi, do you know, after Mom passed away, the path I had to tread alone in this world seemed infinitely more treacherous than this pathway. I used to believe I couldn’t endure it and thought, why not just jump, since I’d eventually fall into that endless abyss anyway. But you saved me. Having you by my side gave me the courage to believe. And now, even without you here on this pathway, I, by myself, grit my teeth and press on. It’s because you’ve always been in my heart, accompanying me through every storm, giving me the courage to believe and be brave again.”

Her trembling voice gradually subsided, becoming steadier and more composed. “Huaixi, in a hundred years or less, we’ll still have to part ways. I’ve always known that one day, we would be separated, whether sooner or later. But in this lifetime, being able to know and love you like this, regardless of its duration, I already have no regrets. So, don’t apologize, don’t feel guilty. Being loved by you is the best thing that has ever happened to me in my life. So, trust me, rely on me, and don’t push me away or shut me out again, okay?”

Jiang Huaixi stared at that delicate smile she cherished so much, biting her hand fiercely to stifle her sobs, tears streaming down her face. Fool, idiot, silly person… Lu Zizheng, you’re such a maddening, endearing, tearful, and laughable rascal…

After a brief pause to catch her breath, Lu Zizheng deeply inhaled and once again set foot on the Lingkong pathway to return.

Just as she stepped onto the wooden planks, Lu Zizheng heard Jiang Huaichuan’s heartrending shout from the cliff on the opposite side, “Sister Zizheng! Fasten your safety belt! The safety belt! My sister said she believes in you! She believes in you, you don’t need to prove anything! Just come back safely!! She believes in you with all her heart!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Zizheng finally let loose, smiling contentedly, revealing a set of neat, pearly white teeth, beautiful and adorable. She obediently adjusted her safety belt, fastening it securely. Then, she turned to the camera and said with a cheerful smile, “You see, as long as you don’t let me be sad or troubled, I can’t bear to let you worry about anything.”

Jiang Huaixi sniffled on the hospital bed, her eyes red. Upon hearing Lu Zizheng’s words, she wished Lu Zizheng were right in front of her, so she could pin her down on the bed, bite her fiercely, and see if she could still smile after that.

The return journey was much smoother and quicker than the first one, taking less than a minute for Lu Zizheng to land safely. Jiang Huaichuan immediately rushed over with his phone, running and trying to appease Jiang Huaixi, “Sis, did you see that? Sister Zizheng safely came down…” As he spoke, he handed the phone to Lu Zizheng, hoping she could help ease her sister’s anger and maybe say a few good words on his behalf.

Lu Zizheng took the phone, facing the camera with her wind-blown hair in disarray but a composed and calm expression. She suddenly took out a ring box from her shoulder bag, retrieved the ring, kneeled down, and her eyes filled with a smile as she spoke gently, “Huaixi, Lu Zizheng may be timid, but the Lu Zizheng who loves Jiang Huaixi is a brave soul. Would you be willing to marry this Lu Zizheng, to let her take care of you and cherish you for a lifetime?” The ring was something she had secretly purchased in City X, originally planning to surprise Jiang Huaixi with it when she arrived in City X.

There was silence on the other end of the phone. After a long while, the call was abruptly disconnected, and the phone emitted a rapid “beep-beep-beep” busy tone…

Jiang Huaichuan’s face instantly twisted into a bitter expression, “What should we do, Sister Zizheng? It seems like my sister is really angry…”

Lu Zizheng’s smile froze on her lips as she and Jiang Huaichuan exchanged glances.

In the hospital room, Jiang Huaixi watched Lu Zizheng’s devout posture as she knelt, her eyes misty with tears, and a smile gracing her lips. However, the tears Lu Zizheng shed today far exceeded what she had shed in her over twenty years of life. She couldn’t simply condone such dangerous behavior and had to make her reflect on it.

Thus, after ending the call, Jiang Huaixi wiped away her tears. Her body was still weak due to fear, but she insisted on getting out of bed, calmly went to the bathroom to shower, wash her hair, and change clothes. She applied light makeup and then sat by the bedside, radiant and composed, waiting for Lu Zizheng to return.

On her way back, Lu Zizheng didn’t feel as anxious or remorseful as Jiang Huaixi had anticipated. She had a sense of conviction, believing she hadn’t done anything wrong.

However, when she entered the hospital and stepped into Jiang Huaixi’s ward, she saw Jiang Huaixi in a white dress, sitting gracefully with a delicate makeup, her long eyelashes casting a beautiful silhouette on her face. Upon hearing footsteps, Jiang Huaixi raised her head and cast a cold, icy look at her. It was as cold as a dagger, and Lu Zizheng suddenly shivered, her heart pounding.

She couldn’t bring herself to look away and kept her eyes fixed on Jiang Huaixi as she slowly approached her. She noticed that Jiang Huaixi had lost a lot of weight, even though she had applied makeup. Her eyes still showed traces of redness, and Lu Zizheng suddenly felt a pang of guilt and regret. She began to doubt if she had done something wrong. She must have made her cry just now…

Feeling like a child who had done something wrong, she suddenly couldn’t meet Jiang Huaixi’s gaze. Lowering her head, she softly and gently called out, “Huaixi…”

Jiang Huaixi looked at Lu Zizheng, who appeared obedient, remorseful, and somewhat nervous. Her irritation had dissipated significantly, but she still used a cold tone to ask her, “Why can’t you look at me now? Weren’t you very imposing when you unfastened the safety harness just now?”

Lu Zizheng nervously fiddled with her fingers, and since it had been a long time since Jiang Huaixi had spoken to her in this manner, she bit her lip and decided to apologize first, speaking softly, “I’m sorry…”

Jiang Huaixi let out a cold, disdainful hum and suddenly changed the subject, saying, “Are your legs still shaky? Can you stand?”

Lu Zizheng paused and looked down at her legs. They seemed… steady, right?

Then, she suddenly heard Jiang Huaixi’s voice, calm and composed, saying, “Do you want to lean on my shoulder?”

Lu Zizheng’s eyes widened in pleasant surprise as she saw Jiang Huaixi slightly open her arms. Although Jiang Huaixi’s expression remained composed, her eyes couldn’t hide the gentle smile within them. Lu Zizheng’s face immediately lit up with a radiant smile. She rushed into Jiang Huaixi’s embrace, holding onto her slender and somewhat bony back, burying her head in the crook of her neck. She gently nuzzled it and asked in a muffled voice, “You’re not angry anymore, are you?”

Jiang Huaixi tightened her grip around Lu Zizheng’s waist, her eyes filled with tenderness. However, she responded with a cold laugh, saying, “We’ll settle that after autumn.”

Lu Zizheng, as if not hearing her earlier, continued to express her joy. She nuzzled into Jiang Huaixi’s neck several times, then lifted her head cautiously and nervously asked, “Huaixi, you still haven’t answered me. Do you agree or not?”

Jiang Huaixi, well aware of her intentions, asked with a feigned tone of ignorance, “Agree to what?”

Lu Zizheng bit her lip, suddenly feeling inexplicably anxious. She stuttered before finally managing to blurt out, “Agree… Agree to marry me. In the future, no matter what we face, you can’t push me away anymore. Will you marry me? Will you allow me to protect and take care of you?”

Jiang Huaixi’s hand, wrapped around Lu Zizheng’s waist, tightened slightly, but she didn’t respond immediately.

As Lu Zizheng’s heart tightened like a twisted rope, Jiang Huaixi finally spoke in a calm and gentle tone, “I will.”

Lu Zizheng was overjoyed and slightly backed away from Jiang Huaixi’s embrace. She gazed at Jiang Huaixi’s beautiful and delicate face and saw the fiery determination in her eyes. Jiang Huaixi spoke, each word distinct and resolute, addressing her:

“Zizheng, I promise you, from this moment forward, unless we are separated by death, there will be no other parting. Even if you regret it in the future, I won’t allow it.”

Tears of happiness glistened in Lu Zizheng’s smile as she leaned in to seal their commitment with a kiss. “I won’t ever regret it, not in this lifetime, the next, or the one after that!”