Chapter 21#
The remnants of the setting sun danced across their bodies. It was a blood-red ancient battlefield, yet it now held a quiet serenity.
Xue Jingci’s gaze fell on Pei Huang’s sleeve.
The sleeve arrow was entirely pitch-black, nearly merging with the garment from a distance. Only up close could one see the exquisite craftsmanship.
Seeing him examine it seriously, Pei Huang couldn’t hide his pride. He showed it off like a treasure: “How about it? I made this myself.”
Finished speaking, he neatly unstrapped it and handed it to Xue Jingci: “If you like it, it’s yours.”
Xue Jingci, confused, stared at him: “The workmanship is excellent, well done. But you’re willing to part with it?”
Pei Huang shoved the bow into Xue Jingci’s arms, deliberately being mysterious: “I have plenty of these. I’ll show you more gradually.”
Xue Jingci stopped refusing and stored the sleeve arrow in his bag, finding himself quite curious.
Last time he’d seen Pei Huang, he was using a small, nimble dagger to kill demons with swift, decisive movements. Today’s bow was also a type of hidden weapon, but Xue Jingci still didn’t know what Pei Huang’s true weapon was.
The two exchanged brief words. Xue Jingci, still preoccupied with the matter of the demon scout, bent down to pick up the barely alive sparrowhawk to bring back to the stronghold for a report.
Seeing the sparrowhawk covered in blood and filth, Pei Huang hurried to stop him: “I’ll take it. My clothes are already dirty anyway.”
This suggested he intended to return to the stronghold with Xue Jingci.
The ancient battlefield was dangerous, and Xue Jingci didn’t mind having an extra helper. He let Pei Huang follow behind him like a tail.
The system, perched on Xue Jingci’s shoulder, only now realized: “So the qingtuan was from him.”
Xue Jingci rubbed its head, thinking it was just being greedy: “Still not calling him ’little boy’ anymore?”
The system swished its tail: “He’s taller, but still a little boy.”
The kitten watched Pei Huang ahead, wondering what he’d eaten to grow so fast.
When they returned to the stronghold, the disciples immediately became wary seeing a stranger behind Xue Jingci.
Xue Jingci had Pei Huang hand the sparrowhawk to Jiang Chengyi and took the initiative to explain: “This is an old friend of mine. He’s a scattered cultivator from the mortal realm. When the wind eye appeared, he happened to be traveling nearby and was swept inside.”
Sudden realm openings did bring some mortal realm scattered cultivators in by accident.
Though Xue Jingci vouched for him, everyone’s wariness didn’t lessen.
Lin Heng was naturally cautious and had an instinctive sense for danger.
He examined Pei Huang carefully, always feeling a fierce, beast-like quality emanating from him.
Lin Heng nudged Lin Su and whispered: “I’ve heard that demons have transformation techniques, but they always retain some of their original appearance, like scale marks on their skin. But this person is wrapped so completely…”
He’d barely finished speaking when Pei Huang suddenly looked his way.
That gaze was sharp, and Lin Heng felt like a snake had locked onto him.
Pei Huang looked away and suddenly pulled up his sleeve, revealing muscular forearms.
“What your friend said makes sense. I come from unknown origins, and with so many demons here, I should prove my identity.”
His candor actually embarrassed Song Heng.
In his place, he’d probably have fought someone for doubting him.
Xue Jingci looked at Pei Huang and said flatly: “There’s no need.”
Pei Huang leaned close to Xue Jingci’s ear and whispered: “I don’t care what others say. I just don’t want to trouble you.”
Xue Jingci smiled lightly and raised his hand to pull down Pei Huang’s sleeve. Pei Huang suddenly felt his fingertip brush across his arm.
His arm became searing hot, unbearably burning, until Xue Jingci withdrew his hand. Only then did Pei Huang carefully exhale.
He couldn’t explain when it had started, but each touch from Xue Jingci, however slight, made his composure crumble.
Everyone dispersed to their duties. Pei Huang followed Xue Jingci back to the tent, examining it carefully. After a while, he asked awkwardly: “That amber I had someone deliver to the upper realm—did you receive it?”
Xue Jingci blinked, suddenly feeling guilty. He turned away: “I did.”
Pei Huang brightened: “Do you like it? That Luoyang brocade was the prettiest one I picked from thousands of pots.”
Before he could finish, Xiao Xun pulled open the tent flap and entered, guiltily confessing to Pei Huang: “That amber was actually a gift from this cultivator. I was careless and dropped it in Master’s room, breaking it. I apologize for betraying your kindness.”
Master? Room?
Pei Huang looked at Xiao Xun, frost instantly crystallizing in his eyes.
When he turned to Xue Jingci, that coldness faded slightly, but his voice turned cool: “Who is this?”
Xue Jingci’s eyes flashed dangerously as he looked at Xiao Xun: “We haven’t had a proper initiation ceremony. When traveling, you don’t need to call me Master.”
Then he explained to Pei Huang: “Xiao Xun is my newly accepted disciple. I very much liked that amber. I was planning to pierce it and wear it, but it accidentally broke. Xiao Xun only wanted to look at it—it wasn’t intentional.”
Pei Huang’s eyes moved between them. Suddenly he felt like an outsider, an eyesore. His jaw tightened, his features growing colder: “It doesn’t matter. It wasn’t worth much anyway.”
Xue Jingci wanted to say something, but saw Pei Huang turn and walk away, quickly disappearing.
Pei Huang didn’t appear again until evening.
Xue Jingci thought this person had been glued to his side a moment ago, and now disappeared without a trace. His temperament was still as terrible as when they were children.
He felt somewhat depressed and didn’t leave his tent for dinner.
Xiao Xun brought food to find him, his face full of remorse: “Master, it’s my fault for upsetting him and hurting your heart. I’ll go apologize right now. Whatever it takes, I’ll make him stop being angry.”
Xue Jingci shook his head: “No need.”
He looked at the provisions Xiao Xun brought, broke off half, and handed back the rest: “Take these to distribute among the garrison. I’m going to meditate in cultivation. You can leave.”
Xiao Xun had no choice but to go.
Yin Xinyao witnessed this scene and felt somewhat worried. She stopped Xiao Xun to ask: “Why isn’t Xue Junior Brother joining everyone for dinner?”
Xiao Xun, having no fondness for her, replied flatly: “Master says he needs to meditate in cultivation.”
Yin Xinyao didn’t ask more. She simply turned back to her own tent, took out a food box, and warmed it with spiritual energy.
Song Jue lifted the curtain and entered, smelling the aroma. He said happily: “Senior Sister is so good to me, worried I wouldn’t eat well and making something special.”
Yin Xinyao protected the food box and shook her head: “This isn’t for you. I’m taking it to Xue Junior Brother.”
Song Jue’s expression turned regretful: “Thank goodness he was alert today, or you would have been injured.”
Yin Xinyao recalled that frightening moment, still sweating despite her fear.
She shook her head: “I never expected that I’d been avoiding him, but he came to save me… I think he might not be the person others claim.”
Song Jue pondered briefly, then agreed: “He’s truly not a bad person.”
As they talked, the food box had grown warm. Yin Xinyao pulled Song Jue along and approached Xue Jingci’s tent, calling: “Xue Junior Brother, I have something for you. May I come in?”
They waited a long time with no response from inside.
Just as they were about to leave, a meow came from within. A moment later, someone pulled the tent flap open.
Xue Jingci seemed to have just woken, his hair disheveled from the pillow, his eyes lowered and slightly dazed.
Yin Xinyao had assumed he was diligently cultivating, but discovered he’d been secretly napping in the tent. She found it quite amusing.
But remembering that Xue Jingci had spent the day both gathering medicine and catching demons, he must be exhausted. She quickly handed him the warm food box: “Xue Junior Brother, thank you for saving me today. This has some fruit jam. Please accept it.”
Xue Jingci opened the box, his nose twitching. He indeed caught a rose flower scent and couldn’t help asking: “Did you make all this yourself?”
Yin Xinyao nodded, a bit embarrassed: “The dry provisions are hard to eat. I made some fruit jam to spread on them. It’s much better that way.”
Xue Jingci felt better and, as Yin Xinyao was about to leave, he called her back: “Senior Sister Yin, you have a scent.”
Hearing this light remark again, Yin Xinyao felt nothing like her previous aversion.
She carefully sniffed her own clothes and indeed caught a faint fragrance: “Perhaps it’s perfume powder. If you like it, I’ll give you a bottle another time.”
Xue Jingci shook his head: “Not that kind of scent.”
Yin Xinyao’s expression became serious: “Then what?”
Xue Jingci explained: “I can’t quite describe it, but that fragrance seems related to spiritual energy. Your spiritual energy is pure and clear. Demons would naturally notice you more. Be careful.”
Yin Xinyao’s face changed.
She finally realized she’d wronged Xue Jingci and had believed rumors about him. She also recalled being surrounded by demons that day.
It wasn’t a coincidence.
She nodded in agreement: “Thank you for the warning, Junior Brother.”
Hearing Yin Xinyao thank him again, Xue Jingci accepted gracefully: “Senior Sister, does the fruit jam come in other flavors?”
Yin Xinyao was amused by him. Only now did she realize Xue Jingci was actually a very pure person.
The way he asked with eager eyes was quite endearing.
She quickly nodded: “There’s fig flavor too. I’ll bring some for you later.”
After seeing Yin Xinyao off, Xue Jingci lost his sleepiness and genuinely began meditating, only to be woken later that night.
Jiang Chengyi had learned from the captured sparrowhawk that demons planned to attack from the southeast. He immediately left to relay this to the other strongholds.
Now the tent held only Xue Jingci, quiet in the night wind, until the second watch when a military horn suddenly sounded outside.
“Demon night raid—”
Xue Jingci’s eyes turned fierce. He drew his sword and rushed out.
Outside, the battle was raging. Xue Jingci quickly scanned but didn’t see Pei Huang.
He killed for a while, then suddenly spotted a fire flickering near the grain storage—demons trying to burn their supplies.
Xue Jingci dashed over, killing some demons on the perimeter, and the fire suddenly extinguished.
The air carried the dying screams of beasts.
When Xue Jingci arrived, he saw several dead demons in front of the tent.
Their deaths were gruesome—they’d been flayed, blood soaking the ground.
Xue Jingci frowned in thought. The killer’s methods were vicious and efficient, not like Lingxu Sect’s style.
Suddenly his ears twitched. He faintly heard movement in nearby grass.
With a flash of sword light, the wind revealed a boy hiding in the grass.
The boy was very young, pale and thin, one hand gripping a blood-stained dagger, the other clutching freshly stripped beast skin.
Like a ghost of vengeance in the darkness.
Sensing an approach, the boy’s eyes flashed with ferocity. But seeing Xue Jingci’s face, he froze and dropped the dagger.
He obediently raised both hands, squeezing out a smile—one he hadn’t made in so long it looked eerie.
The boy gestured something with his hands. Xue Jingci couldn’t understand, only that the boy seemed familiar.
“Are you… A’su?” Xue Jingci asked hesitantly.
The sound of battle ending sounded in the distance. Xue Jingci had the boy follow him back to the tent.
He took out paper and pen: “Can you write?”
A’su wiped the blood from his hands and picked up the pen, writing: “I’m called Pei Su now.”
Xue Jingci had only been guessing, but now confirmed—this young boy had come with Pei Huang. He continued: “How did you follow Pei Huang? How are your parents and the village chief now?”
Pei Su’s grip on the pen faltered slightly. After a long moment, he wrote: “East Village is gone.”
He lowered his head to write, and Xue Jingci saw deep scars on his neck, deep enough to see bone. He fell silent.
Pei Su didn’t mention the past further. He flipped the paper and rewrote: “Brother said you went to the upper realm. You’re truly an immortal. Is it fun there?
Xue Jingci shook his head, describing the upper realm as tediously boring.
Having discussed the upper realm, Xue Jingci wanted to ask about Pei Huang but didn’t know how to begin.
As he thought, his eyes fell on the paper. At first unnoticed, but the more he looked, the more familiar A’su’s handwriting seemed—about sixty percent similar to his own.
Xue Jingci’s heart moved: “Who taught you to write? Pei Huang?”
Pei Su blinked. In his mind, Xue Jingci was always an immortal figure, naturally prompting honest answers.
He earnestly nodded and wrote: “Learned from Brother. He said if I wanted to cultivate, I needed to understand the characters in the techniques. During free time, he had me practice calligraphy. I have his handwriting as a model and practice every day.”
After speaking, A’su pulled out a piece of paper from his clothes and handed it to Xue Jingci.
Xue Jingci examined it by candlelight.
If A’su’s writing was sixty percent similar to his, then Pei Huang’s was nearly identical.
Autumn wheat field fragrance mixed with memory flooded forth.
Xue Jingci vaguely recalled that during his time in East Village, he copied scriptures every day at noon. When he left, he didn’t take the scriptures with him.
He put down the sample: “Did Pei Huang practice with the scriptures I left behind?”
Pei Su nodded.
After leaving East Village, he and Pei Huang had wandered nomadically, experiencing many dangers. But everything Xue Jingci left behind had been carefully preserved.
Even the first storage bag they’d saved money to buy was filled entirely with Xue Jingci’s belongings.
Pei Su had no objections. In his mind, Xue Jingci was forever that young divine being who’d descended from the sky, saving him from danger.
Only his brother, who normally didn’t believe in gods and would steal offerings from temples, showed such respect to one person.
Collecting himself, Pei Su looked at his own writing on the table, then at Pei Huang’s sample, and suddenly felt his characters were ugly.
He looked at Xue Jingci and couldn’t help but tattletale like he used to: “Actually, I also wanted to copy your characters directly, but Brother wouldn’t allow it. He only let me copy his. At first, his writing was also ugly, so I practiced along, and that’s how it ended up like this. It’s not my fault.”
Xue Jingci couldn’t help but laugh.
Outside the tent, there was movement. Jiang Chengyi, who’d gone to other strongholds, had returned.
Pei Su raised two fingers in a “walking” gesture to Xue Jingci, then nimbly crawled out from under the tent’s edge.
Before leaving, he took the white paper with him and tidied the scattered items, as if he’d never been there.
Clearly, stealing was not new to him.
Xue Jingci thought, wondering how Pei Huang never taught the boy any good habits. A perfectly fine child had become a thief following him.
Jiang Chengyi, unaware, entered and pressed his brow, his expression remaining tense: “Thanks to you capturing that sparrowhawk, each stronghold was prepared. Losses weren’t too great.”
Xue Jingci asked: “You’re worried about the other directions?”
Jiang Chengyi was momentarily surprised, not expecting Xue Jingci to guess his concern so easily.
This realm was a trial for sect disciples, and also a rare opportunity. Most held the mentality of fending for themselves.
Being in the east, they only needed to protect their own position and gather resources to strengthen their sect.
Jiang Chengyi shook his head: “Let’s rest for now. The ones who attacked today were aerial demons, likely the vanguard. The real main force is still behind, possibly arriving at any moment.”
He collapsed into sleep immediately. Xue Jingci, however, lost his sleepiness.
With a stranger in the tent, he instinctively became vigilant and simply sat up to meditate.
At dawn, the smell of medicinal soup wafted from outside the tent.
Xue Jingci lifted the curtain and indeed saw Yin Xinyao brewing hemostatic medicine, likely for the injured soldiers.
Song Jue was helping, holding a fan in his hand—blood-red, which gently heated the alchemical furnace when fanned.
Seeing Xue Jingci, Song Jue took the initiative to chat, in quite a good mood: “Xue Junior Brother, thanks to the herbs you gathered, how’s your harvest been?”
Xue Jingci looked confused: “Harvest?”
Song Jue raised the fan, excited: “Yesterday I killed a crimson python bird. I found this fan from its corpse—a rare spiritual treasure!”
Yin Xinyao also touched a jade green hairpin on her head: “The leader was a poisonous sculpture. After it died, a demon pearl fell out, containing items from ancient cultivators. I contributed less but got this spiritual pin that can condense spiritual energy.”
Saying this, Yin Xinyao suddenly remembered that Xue Jingci wasn’t present when they killed the sculpture, so naturally he got nothing.
She exchanged glances with Song Jue, and both looked odd. Finally, Song Jue asked: “Xue Junior Brother, surely you didn’t spend the whole time killing demons and forget to search for treasures?”
Xue Jingci nodded.
Dirty.
Besides, his only purpose here was to accumulate military merit and exchange it for an elder token.
The demon corpses reeked with blood. He had no interest in rummaging through them.
Song Jue felt somewhat stuck. If it were anyone else, he’d suspect they’d found treasures and hidden them, unwilling to share.
But Xue Jingci, the longer you associated with him, the more you understood his straightforwardness.
If he said no, then he truly had none.
Probably Xue Jingci really did treat this trial as actual warfare, only focused on killing demons.
Song Jue couldn’t help but tug Yin Xinyao’s sleeve and whisper: “Chen Zhao brought Lin Su and Lin Heng to try their luck, looking for overlooked treasures. I wanted to go with you too. Why not invite Xue Junior Brother? We can’t let him leave the realm empty-handed.”
Yin Xinyao nodded in agreement.
After brewing the medicine, Yin Xinyao invited Xue Jingci to come along, only mentioning gathering herbs.
Xue Jingci agreed.
Song Jue and Yin Xinyao had grown up in the upper realm and were quite experienced with treasure hunting in realms. They really did find quite a bit.
After dividing the spoils, the three returned to the military tent, coincidentally encountering Chen Zhao’s group.
Lin Heng wore a bright smile, pulling Chen Zhao’s arm and talking animatedly.
Chen Zhao, however, seemed distracted, his gaze unconsciously drifting toward Xue Jingci.
This treasure-hunting expedition required trusted, familiar people to team with.
He was familiar with Lin Su and Lin Heng, and grouping with them was natural.
But when did Xue Jingci become so close with Yin Xinyao’s group?
Xiao Xun also approached, affectionately approaching Xue Jingci to speak.
Chen Zhao realized that half of the ten people actually had good feelings toward Xue Jingci.
His expression darkened slightly. He made an excuse to leave alone.
Today, Xiao Xun hadn’t joined Xue Jingci’s activities. Now he asked indirectly: “Has Senior Brother encountered that old friend? I still want to apologize sincerely.”
Yin Xinyao was extremely curious but wasn’t one for gossip. She immediately pulled Song Jue away, leaving Xiao Xun to speak with Xue Jingci.
Xue Jingci shook his head. All day today, he hadn’t seen Pei Huang again.
Xiao Xun felt relieved and naturally asked Xue Jingci about cultivation questions, finally leaving satisfied.
Two days passed uneventfully like this. On the morning of the third day, before dawn fully broke, someone urgently came to the tent seeking Jiang Chengyi.
“Senior Brother Jiang, I suddenly couldn’t open my storage bag this morning! What should I do…”
It was Feng Yi. Yesterday he’d obtained many treasures, and this morning wanting to admire his spoils, he found his storage bag wouldn’t open, breaking into cold sweat.
Jiang Chengyi’s expression became serious. Without hesitation, he took out his own storage bag—sure enough, he couldn’t retrieve anything.
Xue Jingci looked toward him and calmly said: “Mine either. It must be a realm restriction.”
Jiang Chengyi quickly assembled everyone to question them. He sent several soldiers to nearby strongholds with messages. All reports came back—no one could open their storage bags.
Not only that, but the spiritual energy in their bodies was locked by a force, leaving them nearly in a mortal state.
“You few, come with me to inventory supplies. The rest, follow Lin Su to patrol the stronghold. Prevent demon ambushes.”
Jiang Chengyi gave orders with a cold demeanor, then rose and headed toward the military storage. After completing the count, his heart sank.
Everyone had always known the stronghold and bases were low on supplies, but none thought it their concern. After all, what cultivator here wasn’t well-prepared, their storage bags filled with food, medicines, and weapons?
But now everyone truly had to rely on the meager military supplies to fight demons.
Jiang Chengyi exhaled. Before leaving the tent, military horns suddenly blared urgently.
Demons really were attacking!
On the other side, Lin Su’s sword technique was fierce. Though he’d lost his powerful spiritual energy, each strike still carried majestic force.
Seeing Lin Heng’s sword movements slow, he couldn’t help scolding: “Without spiritual energy, you forget how to use your sword? How exactly have you been training!”
Lin Heng’s face flushed. A cultivator’s sword technique differed fundamentally from mortals’. With spiritual energy infusing the blade, light would shine magnificently, and even casual swings felt powerful.
Now without that glowing blade, Lin Heng felt like he’d forgotten everything.
The opposition attacked fiercely. Jiang Chengyi quickly gathered everyone, forming a dense defensive line, firmly protecting the stronghold at their backs.
With Lin Su holding the front, Xue Jingci moved among the rear, assisting anyone running out of strength to ensure the long battle line didn’t break.
That cool, clean presence gradually enveloped everyone, making them feel secure and able to entrust everything.
The anxiety and panic on people’s faces gradually faded. They focused on raising their hands to fight, expending their last strength.
The battle line, previously wavering, gradually solidified, even advancing offensively toward the surging demon horde.
But then, an unexpected change occurred.
The demon leader was a pitch-black wolf-spider.
Its abdomen rumbled like thunder. Small spiders that had been attacking suddenly began converging toward it.
The wolf-spider opened its massive maw and swallowed several of its own kind, its body glowing red—clearly a sign of advancement.
Other demons immediately gathered to protect its advancement.
Lin Su’s sword swept out, no longer sparing his limited spiritual energy: “Follow me and attack! Absolutely don’t let that wolf-spider advance!”
Just as he was about to charge forward, a black-clothed figure suddenly descended from above, landing directly on the wolf-spider, grabbing its coarse fur.
That person carried no weapons, startling everyone—it was Pei Huang.
“Dangerous! Come back quickly!”
Lin Su instinctively cried out.
The moment the words left his mouth, the wolf-spider suddenly shook, trying to throw Pei Huang off.
Everyone watching felt their hearts in their throats.
If he really got thrown off, waiting for him would be horrible death by a thousand demons!
But in the moment the wolf-spider convulsed, Pei Huang used the momentum to leap up, his feet lightly tapping the air as he drew a soft sword from his waist with lightning speed.
This blade was extremely flexible, but in an instant, it condensed into meteorite iron—unstoppable.
Pei Huang seized the moment, ruthlessly stabbing downward.
The wolf-spider’s heart was pierced, screaming as if heaven and earth shook.
Pei Huang showed no mercy. He twisted the sword, completely crushing the wolf-spider’s heart.
The leader dead, demons panicked. They turned to attack Pei Huang, but everyone rushed to help. They saw Pei Huang, extremely skilled, quickly reach in with his bare hand and extract a pale-blue demon core.
He jumped down from the spider’s corpse and threw the core skyward, swiftly drawing a black talisman paper to the sky. The cinnabar on the talisman glowed crimson, instantly catalyzing demon energy from the core, rendering other demons immobile.
Until Pei Huang deftly wove through their midst and escaped, the talisman burned away, and the demon army counterattacked, frenziedly trying to drag him into the beast tide.
But without the wolf-spider, the demons had lost control, thrashing about in chaos—and Pei Huang actually managed to escape!
Xue Jingci naturally saw Pei Huang.
When A’su had appeared, he’d guessed Pei Huang was nearby. He just hadn’t seen him yesterday.
Now discovering he’d actually never left nearby.
Everyone pushed forward with renewed vigor, crushing the demon forces.
They quickly treated injuries and planned to rest when two blood-soaked cultivators suddenly rushed over.
Jiang Chengyi carefully inquired and learned demons had attacked from all directions. The northern stronghold was now in dire peril, medicines completely exhausted. Within a day, they’d be completely overwhelmed.
After discussion, Jiang Chengyi decided to send some supplies from the east stronghold to the north, and even deploy cultivators to support!
Feng Yi was the first to stand, objecting: “Senior Brother Jiang, everyone’s storage bags are locked and spiritual energy weakened. We’re lucky to protect ourselves, much less help others!”
Other sect disciples agreed: “Yes, this trial distributes resources by military merit. Our task is defending the east. If they can’t hold the north, it’s their inability, not our fault.”
Yin Xinyao looked at Xue Jingci, then suddenly stood: “Warfare is serious, not child’s play. I agree to support the north. Regarding medicine supply, don’t worry. My sect and I already gathered many herbs. In two days, we can fill the gap.”
Then a man stood up from the crowd—Zeng Xuanlang, the Medicine Sect Young Master.
He loudly declared: “I also agree to support the north. Though it’s training, we should minimize casualties. The Medicine Sect will make medicines with Lingxu Sect these next days.”
Suddenly, opposing voices diminished.
But some still complained: “But if we deploy cultivators to help with the north, who guards our own stronghold?”
“Right, our stronghold is dangerous too. We can’t send people.”
Jiang Chengyi was silent briefly, then said: “Then let Lingxu Sect handle the deployment. The rest of you, return to rest.”
After everyone left, Feng Yi angrily declared: “Senior Brother Jiang, you have the highest seniority and cultivation here. I should obey your orders. But supporting the north… I must respectfully refuse.”
He swept his sleeve and left.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Xue Jingci said flatly: “What we face is siege warfare, not individuals. If the north falls, all strongholds will eventually be overrun. You go. We can defend our stronghold with formations.”
Jiang Chengyi’s eyes brightened: “You can really do it?”
Xue Jingci nodded. Jiang Chengyi clapped his shoulder and immediately arranged support.
After setting the formation, a full day had passed. The ones sent to support the north—Chen Zhao, Lin Heng, and Lin Su—still hadn’t returned.
The system curled up by Xue Jingci’s feet: “Is the host worried about the northern situation?”
Xue Jingci nodded. He disliked putting his life in others’ hands and always needed to see things for himself for peace of mind.
But the eastern formation needed someone guarding it. He couldn’t leave.
The system tugged at Xue Jingci’s sleeve, unable to think of comfort, when suddenly a fruit fell from the sky, hitting its head.
“Ow—”
The system opened wide eyes, looking toward the culprit.
Pei Huang was chewing a fruit, smiling proudly at it.
The system pulled the fruit from its head and handed it to the host: “Host, help me throw it back!”
Xue Jingci picked up the fruit, thought for a moment, and said: “It’s pretty tasty. Throwing it away would be a waste.”
He took a bite.
Pei Huang had searched half a mountain to find these few fruits. Casually giving them away didn’t bother him, but he avoided looking at Xue Jingci and spoke to himself: “This formation is the Five Direction Xuanling Formation? East is the killing gate, west is…”
Xue Jingci turned to him: “You also understand formations?”
Pei Huang felt uncomfortable under his gaze: “Of course.”
Seeing Xue Jingci still watching, he thought briefly, then said: “Much better than your disciple. Go on, I’ll guard here.”
This warm-hearted person, Xue Jingci couldn’t help but smile slightly. Not wasting words, he turned and left, heading north. Once away, his relaxed expression suddenly tensed.
The situation was more dangerous than he’d anticipated.
Blood stains covered the ground, countless broken magical instruments scattered in the sand. Wind swept them completely buried.
There was quicksand in the north.
Xue Jingci lifted his sword carefully, flying low to minimize spiritual energy circulation.
After flying for a while, he suddenly spotted someone in the quicksand.
Lin Su was half-submerged, Lin Heng standing on a sword, pulling him out.
Both had nearly exhausted their spiritual energy. Lin Heng’s sword beneath him trembled violently, ready to collapse, yet he death-gripped Lin Su without releasing.
Xue Jingci was somewhat surprised.
Lin Heng was a weakling who feared the strong, but who knew he had this kind of courage to face death.
Without hesitation, he flew over and hovered above them.
Xue Jingci extended his hand to Lin Su: “Come up.”
Lin Su was startled but quickly grabbed Xue Jingci’s hand.
That hand was pale and ice-cold, looking fragile as glass. Lin Su unconsciously hesitated, touching lightly.
But Xue Jingci mistook this for weakness and firmly gripped back, directly pulling him onto his sword.
“You…” Lin Heng was completely shocked.
Before in the inn, this person seemed heartless and cold, normally ice-cold and unapproachable.
Never did he think this person would come save him and his brother.
Xue Jingci scanned Lin Heng briefly, confirmed no injuries, and asked: “Where’s Chen Zhao?”
Lin Heng normally stuck with Chen Zhao, but now mentioning the name, his teeth nearly cracked.
“That coward fled at the first sign of danger!”
Lin Su, unsatisfied with his criticism, rebuked: “Lin Heng, don’t insult sect brothers.”
But Xue Jingci had no patience for their conversation. He lifted his sword: “My spiritual energy can’t last long. Let’s go quickly.”
Returning to the east stronghold, the sun had completely set.
Xue Jingci found Yin Xinyao and had her check on Lin Su. Chen Zhao also crawled out from sand nearby, dusty and hesitant to approach.
Lin Heng glared, and if Lin Su hadn’t held his collar, he’d have rushed over to fight.
Fortunately, though disheveled, everyone was unhurt.
Xue Jingci was concerned about the formation and left first, returning to their stronghold.
Pei Huang remained standing guard.
Beneath the pale, cold moon hanging in branches, Xue Jingci unconsciously softened his steps. For the first time, rather than waiting for Pei Huang to approach, he took the initiative to move closer.
“I saw you use a sword today.”
Pei Huang deliberately didn’t look, but with Xue Jingci approaching so close, his cool voice sweeping past his ear, his ears instantly flushed hot.
Xue Jingci moved in front of him, voice turning soft: “Your sword technique has improved greatly. Simple moves, yet executed to perfection, showing deep skill.”
Pei Huang heard genuine praise from Xue Jingci for the first time, his mouth curving involuntarily before he pressed it down: “Of course. I’m naturally talented.”
Xue Jingci corrected: “I taught you well.”
“The amber broke, but I’ve kept the pieces.”
Xue Jingci smiled at him, voice gentle: “Don’t be angry.”
Pei Huang hadn’t expected this, suddenly entertaining an impossible thought. He widened his eyes, stammering: “You…”
“Are you coaxing me?”
The next second, he saw Xue Jingci nod.
Pei Huang lowered his eyes. Long lashes trembled slightly, suddenly unable to handle it, his emotions in chaos.
Right then, the formation enveloping the camp suddenly shattered.