Chapter 63 - 2.24

Xu Jiaqi then winced in sadness.

"Even so, it's a shame that injustice is always going to sprout back up. No matter what we do. However, what we can do is try to contain it. If we can't kill it for good, then we can just restrict it, and that's what I am aiming to do. This task will be neverending until the world collapses. But I wish to.. create a place where this injustice is well contained, and at the very least, the foundation of everything will be kept clean." Xu Jiaqi spoke about her aspirations.

"Of course, I'm not a savior, but.. I just want to keep this world alive a little bit longer. Even after I die. If a maniac like me doesn't try to make change happen, no one else will dare to do it." Xu Jiaqi scoffed. "Only a daredevil who has nothing to lose would. And I am such a person, I have nothing to lose. I'm tired of what the world has become."

"Even if this body is marked with bloody wounds, and I am torn apart inside out, I will just try to fulfill this damned dream." Xu Jiaqi ended her speech.

Zenith was still in trance, and the horse that had been galloping in an extreme pace until just minutes ago was now fully stopped. Under the bright sunrays, the two sat down on the horse's back, enshrouded by the lush and breezy forest. They faced each other, and were simultaneously trying to figure out a thing or two about themselves.

"Lady Ariel.." Zenith admitted that the lady's dream was a bit outstretched. It was hard to say that he agreed with her because of how grand those intentions were.

Surely, not only the lady had those thoughts. He too had once complained to himself about how corrupted and cursed this world had become. How strong people often misused their conditions to obtain whatever it was they wanted instead of helping the weak.

There were many fake philanthropists, nobles that were acclaimed by the people as kind and just. But behind their masks, these same people would show their fangs, their negative sides, and it would be just the same as anybody else. A twisted person that was hiding behind their social fame. They enjoyed being hailed as a hero even though they were secretly the very villains that people scorned.

The world was filled with fraud and injustices, but for just one person to uproot them all would be nonsensical.

Compared to them, his lady's ideals seemed to be somehow more convincing, as foolish as it sounded. Perhaps it had something to do with her charm, but with her, Zenith felt like she might just be able to do it.

There was an unknown force that seemed to speak to him, whisper sweet words with a melodious voice like a siren. Drawing him into her world.

"I won't force you to follow me, don't worry. But like I said, until I die, I will do my best. Whatever the outcome turns out to be, I will just lodge my point to the world. At least, I won't die before I achieve something considerable, something that would fan the flames of truth. I want to see the world burn, because only that would cleanse the dirt that has accumulated over all these years."

"..I understand, Lady Ariel. I apologize, but I am not able to provide you with an answer right now. I will.. keep your aspirations as a secret." Zenith snapped out of the trance that consumed him and replied, deciding to take the neutral side for the time being as he didn't have the courage to outright ally himself with her.

"..Good. Now, let us continue marching forward. It will be bad if we couldn't reach the next city in time." Xu Jiaqi stroked the horse as she turned around and faced the road again, leaving Zenith staring at her back with a complicated gaze.

His hands gripped tight at the horse's reins and pulled on it, continuing their journey once again.

Hours were well spent travelling. They made a few stops to rest their body, as riding a horse can turn out to be extremely painful. Their seats were covered by a rather good saddle, but it still wasn't enough to completely eliminate their pain.

Even so, they still continued forth, because they wanted to reach the town that they marked on the map. There was only a little distance more until they could step inside the town.

However, when they actually began to get near the city's gate, they suddenly halted.

"Zen.. People. Six.. no, seven of them. There might be more. They are carrying weapons. Perhaps.. we were tailed?" Xu Jiaqi whispered, detecting presences in the surroundings.

Zenith nodded lightly. He also sensed these people, which was why he stopped.

"If we were tailed, then they would've had a better opportunity when we were in the forest. There is no reason to confront us right here, where the city guards could discover the corpses of our aftermath if we were taken down." Zenith reasoned, and carefully led his horse one step at a time towards the gate.

Rather than aiming to kill, it was like they were protecting the gate. There was also no guards stationed by the supposed gate, which was unnatural to say the least.

One, two, three, the steps accumulated until they safely reached the gate. Their senses were heightened, wariness spreading through their minds as they tried to figure out who on Earth was trying to get their heads now.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Just then, a sharp sound of cutting wind ensued.

There was an arrow that shot past them. Due to their excellent reflexes, the shot didn't hit, but the arrow that was now stabbed onto the ground was clearly aimed towards their heads.

It didn't stop there.

Three more arrows were launched, and this confirmed the situation for both of them. In the case that there was a misfire, they would've been more cautious, but these folks clearly had negative intentions towards them.

Then, they didn't need to hold back any longer.