293 If Life Could Be Like the Moment When We First Met Part Five

The entire continent knew that as the last disciple of the Mount Li SwordSect's Sect Master, Qi Jian’s cultivation was incredibly high despite hisyouth, and his thin and weak body similarly possessed a powerful strength. Butduring this entire journey, he had clearly realized that in terms of strengthof will and true battle prowess, he was far below this wolf youth. Within this generation of young cultivators, wolf youth Zhexiu's name was veryfamous, not any weaker than that of the Divine State's Seven Laws, and evensometimes overshadowing it in radiance. The reason why as proud a person asTang Thirty-Six had placed Zhexiu on par with Xu Yourong as someone that mighttruly surpass her was because… he had lived in the snowy plains for so manyyears and directly confronted the demons. In those years when Zhexiu was very young, he still had not broken intoEthereal Opening, nor did he have the protection of any sect or teacher. Andyet under the cover of the wind and snow, he ceaselessly hunted down and killeddemons. That he had survived up to now was because of this fact, and this wassufficient to illustrate just how extraordinary he was. In the Mount Li SwordSect, Qi Jian would often discuss this matter with his seniors, but none ofthem could understand how he had lived for so long. Before Zhexiu appeared in the capital to participate in the Grand Examination,the common people thought of this wolf youth only as cold and good at killing.They believed that these were the most important reasons for why he had beenable to live up until now. Only after entering the Garden of Zhou and escapingalongside him did Qi Jian finally understand how Zhexiu had been able tosurvive in those snowy plains for so long. Because Zhexiu truly lived his lifelike a wolf. Within this world, there were countless powerful monsters, as well as mysticaland lofty beings like dragons. In describing the wolves that lived upon theplains, whether it was in terms of strength or blood, there was nothing specialabout them. However, wolves were the most patient of this world's creatures,the most persistent, the most cautious, and the most sensitive to danger. Thewolf demi-human tribe possessed the blood of the wolf, so they naturallypossessed these characteristics as well. Zhexiu was a mix of human and wolf demi-human blood. He had been expelled fromhis clan as a child, and so had sadly lost the feared collective fighting powerof the wolf pack. Because of this, he had been forced to push his ability tofight alone to an unimaginable level. His instinct for danger had evensurpassed the calculations the priests of the Orthodoxy made with their FatedStar Plates. As he looked at Zhexiu's face, Qi Jian's emotions became increasingly seriousand uncomfortable. He thought to himself that if he did not need to save him,no matter how strong the Demon General couple were, he still probably wouldhave been able to find an opportunity to escape. There was no way he would bein his present predicament, blinded by the Peacock Plume and forced to enterthe plains of death. "I'm sorry..." He withdrew his gaze and looked at the front lapel on his shirtthat had been personally sewn by his master's wife, then whispered, "It's allbecause I've been such a burden on you." Zhexiu's eyes were closed in meditation. It was like he was sleeping, as if hehad not heard those words. This made Qi Jian feel even more uncomfortable, and yet it also consoled himsomewhat, because he knew that Zhexiu had definitely heard it. Yet just as he thought Zhexiu would continue his silence, he suddenly heard avoice. "Since you understand this, remember to pay extra when we get out." It really did seem like Zhexiu was sleeping, like he did not say the wordshimself. It was just that the corners of his lips were slightly perked up likehe was smiling. For a battle in those dangerous snowy plains, an expressionless face served asthe best mask, so he rarely ever smiled, and there were few people that hadever seen his smiling face. There was no battle right now and he could not see anything, so not even heknew that he had begun to smile. Seeing his smile, Qi Jian was at a loss for words. He vigorously nodded hishead, made a small noise to signal his assent, then happily smiled as well. Only it was impossible for this smile to persist, because they were still inthe plains. As the sun rose higher and higher over the plains, their moodquickly grew downcast. The Garden of Zhou already had a history of several hundred years. At least adozen groups and countless human Ethereal Opening cultivators had come to thisplace. Enticed by the legacy of the continent's supreme cultivator, urged on bythe legends of the Sword Pool, who knows how many cultivators had ventured intothese plains? And yet none of them had come out alive. Those previous cultivators were not necessarily weaker than Zhexiu in terms ofcultivation, strength, or will. After they had entered the plains, they had only encountered a few groups ofmonsters. It was very obvious that the true dangers of this plain had not yetrevealed themselves. However, they had already begun to notice many oddities.In these so-called Plains of the Unsetting Sun, the sun truly did not sinkbelow the horizon. When, according to the flowing water bottle, it was night,the sun would turn into a halo of light and slowly make its way around theperimeter of the plain. Moreover, the plains' space was warped and there seemed to be some specialrules for moving within it, and yet even with careful examination, it had beenimpossible to grasp them. Adding on that green grass that stretched as far asthe eye could see, there was simply no such thing as direction in this place.Since there was no direction, it also naturally meant that there was no exit.Those people that entered this plain would seem to have walked amongst itforever, encountering increasingly numerous and increasingly stronger monsters,until the day finally came where their strength ran out and they died. The problem was compounded by the fact that it was difficult for him to movebecause of his severe injuries, and Zhexiu could not see anything. Just howlong would they be able to hold out? Qi Jian lowered his head to look at that round bloodstain on his abdomen andhis mood grew even more downcast. Depressed, he said, "I still don't understandwhy." Zhexiu knew that what he did not understand was not the plains, but the humanheart. The disciples of the Inner Sect of the Mount Li Sword Sect were all extremelyclose to each other. Under the guidance of Qiushan Jun and Gou Hanshi, theywere like a family. Qi Jian, as the youngest of the Divine State's Seven Laws,was even more cherished. Deep within his heart, he had also regarded hisseniors as if they were his elder brothers. And yet who could possibly imaginethat the Third Brother Liang Xiaoxiao, who looked after him the most back inMount Li Sword Sect, would actually pierce him so fiercely with his sword atthe lakeshore? Liang Xiaoxiao's attack had thrust through his abdomen and snapped several ofhis meridians, but it had even more broken his heart. From yesterday until now,even when his mind was still in a daze from his injuries, he had always beenthinking about a question. He wanted to ask his Third Brother, just why did youdo all this? In that grass hut in the Mausoleum of Books, Zhexiu had personally seen howclose the disciples of the Mount Li Sword Sect were, and even how much thosepeople cherished and cared for Qi Jian. So he could understand Qi Jian'scurrent emotions, and clearly empathize with his frustration, confusion, anddiscomfort. But he did not know how to console Qi Jian. After a moment ofsilence, he said, "I don't know why he wanted to kill you, nor do I understandthe relationship between you and your fellow disciples, because from theearliest moment I could remember, I was alone. I don't think everything in theworld requires a reason; I care more about the result. So you must remember, hewanted to kill you, which means that he is your enemy. He is no longer yoursenior." Zhexiu was famous and his story had been discussed all across the continent.Many people knew that he was a mix of human and wolf demi-human and that he wasexpelled from his tribe as a child. They knew that he had lived a hard andlonely life in the snowy plains. Qi Jian lifted his head up to him and suddenlyfelt that his figure seemed rather lonely and very pitiful. For a moment, heforgot his own troubles and was filled with sympathy and pity for this wolfyouth. He subconsciously reached out his hand and grabbed Zhexiu's sleeve. Qi Jian didn't know why he had done this. He said, "It's different now." Zhexiu tilted his head slightly, with his eyes closed as he asked, "And what'sdifferent?" Qi Jian thought to himself, right now I'm sitting next to you, so you're notalone anymore. But because of shame and nerves he couldn't say it, so insteadhe said, "Because...you've entered the Orthodox Academy?" Zhexiu thought to himself, that black bear truly had invited me to enter theOrthodox Academy, but I didn't respond. The reason he had journeyed from the distant snowy plains, come to thecapital, and attended the Grand Examination was because he had heard that ChenChangsheng had solved Luoluo's problem of a demi-human attempting to cultivatewith human methods. The problem had some overlap with his problem. As he grewolder and his cultivation got higher, his blood would grow stronger and theTide Rush of Blood would continue to increase in frequency. At any time hecould die, so he needed Chen Changsheng to help cure his illness so that hecould continue to live. If Chen Changsheng really could treat his illness, he would naturally leavethe capital and return to the plains. But those were all matters for thefuture. Right now in front of Qi Jian, he didn't say that now that they weretrapped in these Plains of the Unsetting Sun, it was highly possible that therewould be no future. Why make this heavily wounded fellow even moreuncomfortable? So he said, "The Orthodox Academy… right, it's just that littleprinceling called Tang is a little annoying, so I haven't decided yet." "Yeah, I also think Tang Tang is very annoying, but Chen Changsheng isn't bad.Now that I mention it, in the guest courtyard of the Li Palace, we wouldsometimes discuss how—if not for that engagement—maybe our Mount Li Sword Sectcould get along with your Orthodox Academy. We could be friends with ChenChangsheng, and you… you could be friends with me." Qi Jian softly said this as he looked at Zhexiu's face, his voice gettinglower and lower. Yet the sun above the plain continued to rise higher andhigher, and the air gradually began to grow warm. The pools of water began toemanate more steam, making the atmosphere stuffy. Qi Jian's hands began tosweat, because of anxiety or something else, and then the medicine began totake effect. He began to feel dizzy and drowsy. His mind was dazed and his vision blurred, but he suddenly saw that Zhexiu hadsuddenly gotten closer and grabbed his hands. He did not know what Zhexiuplanned to do, but he subconsciously felt nervous and even a little fearful.Yet for some reason, he did not have the slightest thought of resisting. Zhexiu was prepared to take advantage of the medicine's effect to spreadmedicine over Qi Jian's wound. Because his two eyes could not see, he couldonly use his hands to feel. His two steady hands made their way up Qi Jian'sarms, arriving at his shoulders. Then he made his way down to the abdomen, hishands separated by an inch from Qi Jian's body, not touching it at all. Thenthey went below the abdomen and rested upon Qi Jian's belt. The apparel of the Mount Li Sword Sect was very concise, even simple. The belthad no complicated design upon it, but the buckle was very sturdy. Under Zhexiu's steady hands, an even sturdier buckle would not have lasted anylonger. In a flash, the belt had been unbuckled and the clothes were raised. Qi Jian was extremely nervous, but his mind was still in a daze. With thedrowsiness brought on by the medicine, he lacked even the strength to shout.His body began to slightly tremble. Zhexiu opened his lapel, revealing the pure white skin to the azure sky of theGarden of Zhou. He could not see it, but he could feel it. Qi Jian's body trembled out of shame, anxiety, and anger. His hands also began to tremble, as he had surprisingly felt that the truthhad come to light. Qi Jian was shamed beyond belief. He tightly closed his eyes, his eyelashesincessantly winking as he wished with all his might that he would not fallunconsciousness like this.