Bai Xiang fell onto his back, and the bear crashed down on top of him like a collapsing mountain.
The impact alone was enough to shatter his bones. His chest was crushed under the immense weight, and the ground trembled beneath them.
At that same moment—
the bear recovered.
The electrical shocks that had weakened it earlier began to fade, and the ferocity returned to its eyes.
A low growl escaped its throat, filled with hunger… and rage.
It did not hesitate.
It lowered its head toward Bai Xiang's body and opened its massive jaws.
Its target was clear—
his chest.
It sank its fangs into it with force, piercing flesh, seeking blood and warmth.
At first—
Bai Xiang's voice came out weak.
Broken.
Closer to a tired breath.
"No… no… no…"
But soon, it changed.
His voice rose, filled with sharpness, then with despair.
"No! No! Not like this… this can't be my end!!"
he shouted, pushing against the bear's head with what little strength he had left.
His trembling hands pressed against its thick fur, his strained muscles struggling to resist…
but the difference in strength was overwhelming.
And yet—
it was not fear of death.
That was not what gripped his heart.
Bai Xiang…
long ago, as a fighter, had already accepted his end.
He knew that the path of Gu Masters led only to death.
Whether it came quickly or slowly… nobly or brutally.
He had always been ready.
If his death were for the sake of his clan—
he would not have hesitated for a moment.
But…
what he could not accept—
was the reason.
He had always imagined his end.
To fall in a decisive battle, before a worthy opponent.
Or to breathe his last while protecting his clan… having fulfilled his duty to the end.
An ending with meaning.
An ending worthy of him.
But this—
was not it.
Because of that—
something ignited within him.
Sorrow.
Rage.
They intertwined until they became indistinguishable.
Sorrow for his state…
for the fate he had fallen into.
And rage—
at this cruel world.
At Jian Long…
but more than anything—
at himself.
At his own foolishness.
At his blind pride…
which had led him to this miserable end.
But he could not accept it.
He was not ready to give up.
Deep within him… there was still hope.
"If only… I can escape this bear…"
"And capture Jian Long… and force him to tell me the location of the spirit spring…"
"Then… even if I die… I can at least leave a message for my clan."
"Nothing will be lost…"
These thoughts rushed through his mind rapidly, like a final spark before the flame went out.
With desperate determination, Bai Xiang gathered what little strength he had left.
A roar of anger burst from his throat, loud and filled with resolve.
He forced his legs to move despite the unbearable pain tearing through his body, as if his bones were shattering with every motion.
Then he pushed the bear with everything he had left.
The beast's body shook for a moment, retreating half a step. He immediately seized the opportunity.
He supported his body with his right hand, trembling under his weight.
As for his left hand—it rose.
Primeval essence surged into it, and lightning began to gather once again.
A final strike.
His last gamble.
But the bear was closer than he had thought.
In a single instant, its claw moved, striking with terrifying speed.
With one swing, Bai Xiang's left arm was torn off from its place.
It rose into the air, spinning briefly before falling far away.
Blood burst from his shoulder like a fountain.
Yet he did not scream.
He did not surrender.
The bear lunged at him again, this time with the intent to tear him apart completely.
It opened its jaws, aiming for his right arm—
but in that moment, Bai Xiang opened his mouth.
With all the strength he had left, he bit down.
He sank his teeth into the bear's flesh.
He tore a chunk from it violently.
Blood burst out—hot, thick—and poured over his face in streams.
It mixed with the taste of iron in his mouth.
And with the pain that no longer had any limits.
From afar, Jian Long watched everything.
His hand pressed against his injured side, his breathing heavy, his body barely able to stand… yet he did not look away.
The scene before him was brutal.
The bear tore, ripped, and sank its fangs into Bai Xiang's body without mercy.
The blood, the sounds, the movement…
all of it was enough to leave a deep mark on any person.
And within Jian Long's heart, something stirred.
A faint sadness and sorrow… not regret.
He would not feel guilt even if he killed thousands of Gu Masters… he would not hesitate.
And this was not the first time he had seen death.
In his life, he had seen many humans die, some in ways far more cruel than this.
But Bai Xiang was different.
He was the first Gu Master Jian Long had fought.
The first time he faced someone with such power.
Someone who, for a moment, had seemed invincible.
And yet—
here he was now, dying.
In this way… and so simply.
"How… can someone like him die like this?"
he muttered inwardly.
Bai Xiang had lived many years as a Gu Master.
He had fought countless battles, survived situations that must have been closer to death than this moment.
He had tempered himself… fought… and stayed alive.
So how could everything end because of a single mistake?
Isn't this life merciless… without any tolerance at all?
Jian Long opened his mouth.
In a weak voice, barely leaving his lips, he said:
"If I become strong like you… or even stronger…"
"Will I… also die this easily?"
But no one answered him.
There was only one sound.
The sound of bones breaking… and flesh being chewed between the bear's fangs.
In the end, it was simple.
In this world, all living beings—no matter how strong they are—dance on the edge of death.
And all it takes to fall…
is a single misstep.
.....
After a few minutes—
Jian Long returned to the cave.
The place was silent as he had left it… except for Bai Bing Yi's corpse lying on the ground.
He stepped forward slowly, bent down, and began cleaning the place.
He gathered the fragments of the skull, wiped away the scattered blood, and removed the pieces of brain that had splattered across the ground and rocks.
After he finished, he reached for Bai Bing Yi's clothes.
He removed them, then took off his own clothes and replaced them with them.
He understood well the importance of this action.
His previous clothes were those of ordinary humans.
If he were seen wearing them, he might be regarded as a demonic path Gu Master.
Meanwhile, Bai Bing Yi wore the clothes of Bai clan Gu Masters, which belonged to the righteous path.
It was true that wearing them would not definitively prove his identity as a righteous path Gu Master…
But in this world, the first impression could determine life or death.
And sometimes, that was enough.
After finishing changing his clothes, he looked at the corpse for a brief moment, then lifted it.
His exhausted body groaned slightly, but he did not stop.
He left the cave and headed toward the battlefield.
Where the bear was still devouring.
He threw the corpse in front of it without a word.
He let the beast finish what it had started.
This way, most of the evidence would disappear.
He knew that Bai clan Gu Masters would return sooner or later to check on their companions.
And so, he had to make it seem like an accident… misfortune.
A savage bear, and both of them killed.
After that—
he returned to the battlefield.
He looked around, then began cleaning it quickly.
He removed the traces of the fight, and most importantly, gathered all the metal spears he had previously launched.