Chapter 95: The Golden Heart’s Eternal Beat

Every element possesses a distinct form. For instance, earth exists as a solid, and water as a liquid.

However, the enigmatic Aether element differs from all common elements; it possesses no truly fixed state. In simpler terms, Aether can freely transform between liquid, gaseous, and even solid states.

For the Lost and Gained Scale to grant Cai ‘eternal life,’ Aether had to be transformed into its liquid state. During this process, she would have to pay a steep price, sacrificing a quarter of her precious Aether reserves.

Failure to do so would undoubtedly prevent the desired outcome.

Cai watched as the Lost and Gained Scale shook her sleeve. Soon after, from within the folds of her hanging cuff, she produced a miniature glass vial.

Tipping the bottle downwards, a viscous, golden-yellow liquid transformed into luminous drops, slowly descending.

Tap, tap, tap.

The flowing Aether made contact with the ground, gathering into a small, shimmering puddle. Even without external force, the Aether continued to swirl, much like a vortex surfacing in the center of a pond.

Cai gazed at the dazzling gold, her brows furrowing slightly, yet she still managed to ask, “What exactly should I do?”

“Don’t worry, you don’t have to do anything at all. Just stand still.”

The Lost and Gained Scale crouched, her cupped hand aimed in the direction the Aether was spinning. She gently patted it inward.

This gesture was reminiscent of someone training a pet. Yet, what was about to obey her command and move was the liquid itself.

Like boiling water, the Aether began to gurgle and bubble, shifting its direction as it surged. In the blink of an eye, the Aether shot towards Cai’s heart like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Though a sound indicated impact, Cai felt no injury to her chest. Instead, a cool, damp sensation slowly permeated beneath her skin, initiating a process of absorption.

The liquid passed through her clothing and was absorbed by her skin with astonishing speed, almost as if her skin were ‘drinking’ the water.

Cai couldn’t discern what was happening inside her, but immense changes were indeed occurring within her body. These changes primarily manifested in her heart.

The golden Aether, having entered her body, morphed and spread, transforming into a viscous fluid that swept downwards, enveloping Cai’s heart. The vibrant crimson hue of her heart was gradually overtaken by gold.

The Aether penetrated deep into her heart, intermingling with it, even dyeing the blood in the surrounding vessels with the same color.

Influence, alteration, and ultimately, assimilation!

Before long, Cai’s ‘thumping’ heart was entirely transformed into a dazzling golden orb. This was merely a superficial change; substantively, the very nature of her heart had undergone a revolutionary metamorphosis.

The ‘perpetual motion’ inherent to Aether allowed the heart to work endlessly. Consequently, the processes of blood regeneration and metabolism would continue indefinitely. From that moment on, her golden heart would beat eternally, experiencing the vast expanse of time alongside its owner.

The Lost and Gained Scale was not narcissistic, yet she genuinely believed the transaction had been executed flawlessly. The moment she took Cai’s hand and led her back to their original spot, Wang comprehended everything from their intertwined gazes.

“It seems it’s done… You foolish woman, what price were you asked to pay?”

“I haven’t suffered any significant losses. Please, rest assured about that.”

A sincere question met with a deceptive reply. Cai had no intention of outright lying to Wang, but merely understated the truth, concealing it with casual words.

After all, wasn’t she always being called a foolish woman? To hide something important in her heart, unwilling to speak it aloud—wasn’t that precisely the definition of ‘acting foolish’?

Some truths, transformed into secrets, were destined never to be known by a third person.

“The second transaction is also complete. What are your thoughts, young lady? Do you have a third wish you desire to make?”

“I… I want to… No, I have no regrets left!”

In the first half of her sentence, Wang had indeed been prepared to make a third wish. The content of that wish was to be reunited with Cai and everyone else after her reincarnation.

However, as her words progressed to the latter half, Wang instantly changed her mind. What was the point?

Compared to Little Eagle and the other demons, human lifespan was, after all, limited. Even if Wang successfully reincarnated and, through the Lost and Gained Scale’s arrangement, had the fortune to meet everyone again, what then?

Decades later, wouldn’t she, with her hair full of silver, be the first to pass away? For Cai, it was even more unthinkable.

How could a mere mortal, who wouldn’t live past a century, be qualified to appear before someone who lived eternally? If she truly did so, wouldn’t it simply create unnecessary sorrow?

Wang had bestowed power, and indirectly enabled the girl she loved to achieve ‘eternity.’ With these two crucial prerequisites, Cai would surely be able to live freely and without restraint.

Even if there truly was a ‘third wish,’ this wish—for the foolish woman to find happiness—had already been fulfilled just now. At least, Wang, filled with blessings, felt it had been realized.

“My apologies, I truly have no other requests. Your task is concluded.”

Wang waved a hand, gesturing for the Lost and Gained Scale to return whence she came.

“Is that so…”

Met with such an ‘enthusiastic farewell,’ the Lost and Gained Scale showed no hint of anger. To appear when a transaction began and depart when it ended—wasn’t this the life she had always experienced?

If there was any difference to be found, it was the Lost and Gained Scale’s bow towards Wang before leaving, accompanied by a few terse words of blessing:

“Young lady, when you begin your new life, I truly hope that we will not need to engage in a third transaction!”

In a life filled with joy and contentment, the Lost and Gained Scale, whose name translates to ‘Lost and Gained Scale,’ had no actual need to appear. This implied that for those living happily, both wishes and prices were unnecessary.

Although this current life had not been perfect, the Lost and Gained Scale still sincerely blessed the other, praying that in the next life, she would have no opportunity to meet the young lady again.

Leaping, the Lost and Gained Scale nimbly turned her back, moving away from the area in a series of swift motions. Wang didn’t find the Lost and Gained Scale to be an obstruction, yet she still internally concluded:

Two people alone were better than three gathered together.

“There won’t be many more chances to look at this foolish woman like this. Come here, let me see you more clearly.”

Cai could find no reason to refuse, and her heart was willing to comply. Wang sat on the unyielding ground, and Cai sat opposite her, inching closer.

She had barely moved halfway when the large hand opposite her impatiently reached out and grabbed her. Losing her balance, Cai was pulled close by Wang in a sudden motion, her wildness perfectly complementing Cai’s nature.

At this very moment, Wang’s thoughts raced, determined to regain some dignity. She had intended to present Cai with two gifts, only to be told by the Lost and Gained Scale that they were insufficient to pay the price, meaning the ‘eternal life’ gift was, in fact, something Cai had obtained herself.

How could this be? Wouldn’t it make the one who made the promise seem untrustworthy? If this knot in her heart wasn’t untangled, Wang would never be able to hold her head high in front of Cai.

How best to compensate? She had no money, no literary talent, and no innovative ideas. After much deliberation, Wang propped herself up, locked her gaze on the soft lips before her, and ‘covered’ them in an instant!

Cai was not skilled at guarding against sudden attacks, and thus, in an instant, her first kiss was roughly stolen. The two figures, one large, one small, unwilling to part, embraced more intimately than ever before.

After a tempestuous, fervent moment, Cai’s visibly flushed cheeks left her brain unable to form coherent words: “Too much… you’re truly too wicked!”

By this time, Cai had completely recovered her lost memories. Ultimately, her personal will had triumphed; even the powerful forbidden curse had been defeated when it stood against her.

But that was all it was. There were still things in the world that could not be achieved by will alone, just as Cai could not keep the person she loved.

The beloved foolish woman was right before her. Gazing at her face, Wang let out a joyful laugh, her propped-up right hand extending its fingers forward.

Soon after, Wang’s hand clenched into a fist, aiming for that not-so-clever head…

Dong!

She affectionately tapped Cai, who grinned sheepishly and said, “Forgive me, won’t you, for the sake of the first time I called you by name? Cai!”

The lover in the nun’s eyes suddenly broke into a smile, then maintained that expression as she toppled forward.

“I’m sorry, this is the last…”

Thud!

The young lady gently fell forward, nestled in a warm embrace, her expression as serene as if she were merely asleep.

“The last what? Please, continue.”

Cai reached out and patted the other’s shoulder, feeling a tremor, though in reality, it was only she who trembled.

“What’s wrong with you? Speak, I beg you, speak!”

Cai stopped patting. She believed her actions must have been too rough, upsetting the young lady, which was why she received no response.

“Do you accept my apology? I’ll wear those strange clothes again, and next time I cook, I promise not to add so many seasonings…”

No longer patting, she began to shake the young lady, carefully, just as she used to wake her every morning during those past days.

“I’ll do anything, so… *sob*, *sob*, please don’t slyly… *sob*, *sob*, abandon me!”

Heart-wrenching sobs echoed long and loud throughout the spacious area. Consciousness, plunged into darkness, seemed to carry the soul into an endless abyss after its bodily owner closed her eyes.

There were no entrances or exits, no discernible direction; the soul drifting there was aimless, compelled only to move ever forward. All that existed in this place was a familiar sense of nostalgia, as if one had returned to the very beginning of life.

Yet, faintly, the soul unconsciously perceived a sound. It seemed to be extremely indistinct due to the vast distance. But somehow, as this intermittent sound resonated through the darkness, the soul felt as if it had received a profound comfort.

This was the satisfaction of the final moment. The next second, the soul was pulled away by a powerful suction, engulfed by a sudden flash of white light amidst the tranquility of consciousness.

When feelings first emerge, meeting is easy, but parting is hard.

The tattered animal skin clothing lifted from the ground, soaring with the wind to its highest point before inevitably falling still. The wind picked up, blurring the kneeling figure and the world around them.

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