San Liu was acutely aware of his condition at this moment, he could feel his vast life force ebbing away every second.
He understood that with Nameless carrying him, there was no way they could escape to safety, and in the end, he would only be a burden that dragged her down with him.
Therefore, he called out to Nameless, asking her to let him go, suggesting she escape on her own.
"Oh."
Nameless replied indifferently, yet she did not put down San Liu but continued to run.
San Liu frowned and asked, "Why won't you put me down?"
Nameless answered, "Hold on a bit longer. I just managed to contact the Dragon King Hall. The Dragon King should come to rescue us. If by that time the Dragon King doesn't arrive, and you can't hold on, I will leave you behind and escape alone."
San Liu gave a bitter smile and said, "Nameless, why bother?"
Nameless remained silent.
San Liu continued on his own, "As assassins, we live day to day, with our heads hanging by our belts. Most assassins meet their end from failing a mission, or from the retribution by relatives and friends of their former targets. Few manage to wash their hands clean of the business and live to enjoy their old age..."
"I've lived nearly thirty years, indulged in all sorts of fine wines, cuisines, and beauties. I've had more than enough out of life. Surviving the dark, chaotic times was an unexpected bonus. To die now, I have no regrets. It is you who seem to have never really enjoyed life. Don't let some past affection lead you to die alongside me—it's not worth it!"
Nameless still did not utter a word.
San Liu took a breath, feeling his mind grow clearer and his pain gradually numbing. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.
Inhaling the subtle fragrance of Nameless's hair, San Liu continued to persuade, "How can we assassins afford to harbor feelings? When we're on the job, we're more likely to be ruthless, even towards our closest kin. Don't fall for me just because of my handsome looks. I'm quite strict about my women, you..."
"Stop talking! Don't think too much!"
Nameless interrupted San Liu's rambling, her tone no longer calm and indifferent, but rather flustered, even a bit fiery.
She knew San Liu was saying this deliberately, trying to provoke her into anger so she would leave him behind.
Nameless spoke up, "You say that as assassins we can't afford to have emotions, to ruthlessly disregard our kin, yet why did you go on a certain death mission after we got the Sword Array and were pursued, and Salina was taken hostage?"
Salina was the blonde waitress at San Liu's Satisfaction Hall, and though she was not San Liu's lover, she was a very good friend.
Previously, after San Liu and Nameless had secured the Sword Array in the ruins, for some reason their whereabouts had been leaked, leading to pursuit by countless forces. Ultimately, the Assassins, unable to catch the two of them, kidnapped Salina, threatening San Liu that they would torture her to death unless he returned with the Sword Array.
At the time, San Liu was not as cold-hearted as he claimed, instead going resolutely to the address to save Salina.
Of course, the final outcome was hinted at by their battered escape.
Salina had died.
She died before San Liu's eyes, her expression one of unyielding horror and misery.
It drove San Liu into a frenzy, not leaving the encirclement in time and instead killing those who had tortured Salina.
Meanwhile, Nameless protected the unhinged San Liu. In a moment of distraction, they nearly walked into an ambush. It was San Liu who reacted in time, sacrificing himself to save her, thus enabling her to bring San Liu out of the encirclement.
They had been on the run ever since.
Due to the stench of blood on San Liu, the pursuers were always able to follow, so Nameless, unable to treat him, did not bother to cover their tracks.
Hearing Nameless's words, San Liu's expression stiffened, revealing a look of remorse and despair in his eyes.
He deeply regretted not bringing Salina along on their mission, leading to her kidnapping and the inhuman torture she suffered before her death!
But he knew that Salina was just an ordinary person, and even if she followed him, the outcome wouldn't be good, probably dying even sooner.
At least, she wouldn't die in such pain.
San Liu closed his eyes, his mind replaying the image of Salina's delicate face, smeared with blood and wounds, her empty eyes filled with endless terror and despair...
San Liu's mouth twitched, his voice raspy as grinding glass, he said, "It's different with Salina, she suffered because of me, of course I can't just ignore her!"
"Is that so?"
Nameless didn't turn around, speaking in a very flat tone.
San Liu could imagine the sneer and scorn that must be curling at the corners of her mouth.
However, Nameless didn't continue on this topic, taunting him for not being indifferent, for caring about whether Salina lived or died.
Uncovering the wound once was enough.
Nameless said indifferently, "You have your reasons to save Salina that you can't avoid, but why did you save me, causing you to be seriously injured, now hanging by a thread?"
San Liu gave a bitter smile, saying, "If it weren't for your constant protection, I would have died while killing that beast, I was prepared to die to avenge Salina anyway, dragging you down with me, I felt bad..."
Nameless said, "So, since you yourself can't be heartless and ruthless, why do you insist I leave you behind?"
"I've already said, when there's no way out at the end, I will leave you behind, can't you hold on a bit longer now? Who knows, maybe the rescue from the Dragon King Hall is on the way."
"Fine," San Liu, seeing he couldn't persuade Nameless, finally gave up trying.
Afterward, San Liu suddenly thought of a question, his heart stirring, under normal circumstances he certainly wouldn't rashly ask.
But now, feeling he didn't have much time left, he didn't care and asked directly, "Then Nameless, why do you insist on saving me? From going with me to save Salina to taking me away in the end?"
Nameless replied faintly, "I naturally have my reasons."
San Liu said helplessly, "I might not make it through this ordeal, just be honest with me, could it be..."
"Do you really like Brother?"
As San Liu asked the last question, he truly felt it might be possible.
However, from his previous encounters with Nameless, he didn't seem to see that she had any special feelings for him.
San Liu oddly thought, and yet wasn't sure.
When Nameless heard what San Liu said, her heart fluttered, thinking he probably wouldn't last until Mu Jinyu came to the rescue, after thinking for a moment, she sighed and said, "It's not that I like you, it's..."
Pausing, Nameless said, "Do you still remember seven years ago, at Qingyuan Street Corner in Yang City of Huaxia, the girl who was nearly starving to death that you came across?"
"Hmm?" San Liu, hearing Nameless's words, responded in a low voice, his tone filled with confusion.
He had long forgotten if he had been to Huaxia on a mission seven years ago, let alone encountered any little girl.
As soon as Nameless heard San Liu's response, she knew he didn't remember, and with a self-deprecating laugh, continued, "Back then, I was left with nothing due to my enemies' persecution, surviving barely as a beggar, but I had no skills and didn't know how to take revenge, almost starved to death on the streets, it was you... who came out of the restaurant and saw me about to starve to death, and took me into the restaurant for a meal... that kept me alive..."
"It was also you who, after hearing my story, told me if I wanted to take revenge, I should become an assassin, then I'd have the power to avenge... In the end, I followed your advice and became an assassin..."
Hearing Nameless's words, San Liu was taken aback, and began to have some recollection.