Amid the startled cries of the female fox demon, Xiaxia gathered her strength and kicked the pink barrier directly, with an intensity comparable to catching someone in adultery. She shattered the pink barrier into countless pieces, turning it into powder that scattered in the wind.
The female fox demon looked shocked, took a step back against the stone wall, and dared not speak.
Xiaxia entered the ice cave: “Get out!”
Xiaxia stepped in front of Xie Xuanqing. With her back to him, she faced the now trembling fox demon and threatened with cold eyes, “If I see you here again, I’ll knock your skull right off.”
After all, the fox demon was from Cui Lake Pavilion—she dared to ambush Xiaxia but not to confront a patrolling soldier head-on.
Intimidated by Xiaxia’s aura, she pressed against the stone wall and retreated several steps. The ice cave wasn’t large; these few steps already brought the fox demon to its edge, below which was the perpetually rushing ice river.
The fox demon looked behind her with some fear. She glanced at the ice river below, then looked at Xie Xuanqing behind Xiaxia with concern.
Through Xiaxia’s eyes, I saw this look from the fox demon, and I understood. She, this fox demon…
She was worried about Xie Xuanqing.
“Don’t…” the fox demon tremblingly said to Xiaxia, “Don’t step on him, his injuries are very severe…”
Hearing this, Xiaxia didn’t react, but my fist clenched: “Knock her skull right off,” I blurted out.
Xiaxia almost instinctively responded to my words: “Alright.”
After saying this, she paused, tilting her head to ask me quietly, “Really knock it off?”
I felt an indescribable emotion in my heart. I was wondering, when I met Xie Xuanqing years ago, a silver light had come from behind, and Xie Xuanqing had embraced me to save me.
What about this fox demon?
When she saved Xie Xuanqing, did the silver light appear too? Did Xie Xuanqing… embrace her too? Was her current concern for Xie Xuanqing… also because that embrace had touched her heart?
Thinking of this, as I looked at the fox demon through Xiaxia’s eyes, the feeling in my heart became even more complex.
I closed my eyes briefly, steadied myself, and silently recited: All conditioned phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, shadows.
I told myself that all this before me was illusory, all in the past. Xie Xuanqing and I were destined to be a pair of bitter enemies; our meeting wasn’t important.
Not important… not important…
I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, but almost in that instant, my body completely out of control, using all my strength, I clamped a stone from the ground between my feet and flung it directly at Xie Zhuo sitting opposite me.
Xie Zhuo tilted his head slightly, without any unnecessary movement, precisely avoiding the stone I had thrown.
He frowned, looking at me: “What are you doing?”
He had the rare decency to verbalize his confusion.
I glared at him, gritting my teeth, but didn’t answer his question.
For the first time, this was the first time I found it difficult to express my anger to him.
After all…
How could I admit that even today, I still cherish fond memories of our first meeting?
I had treasured that heart-stirring time in the depths of my heart, hidden in the recesses of my mind, and he…
This dog!
He found another female demon to destroy this beautiful memory!
Damn it!
Although the female demon wasn’t found by him, he was still the culprit. Taking a step back, even if according to his plan, it was truly Qin Shuyan who came… then this “meeting in adversity” story would be even more messed up!
“Xiaxia, drive her away,” I ignored Xie Zhuo, directly avoiding his question and instructing Xiaxia, “Then create a barrier yourself. Xie Xuanqing could wake at any moment; don’t let anyone disturb you two.”
Xiaxia nodded: “Okay!”
With a ‘zheng’ sound, Xiaxia drew the large knife from her waist. The blade issued to Kunlun soldiers gleamed with a chilling, penetrating light.
“Turn around and jump yourself,” Xiaxia said to the fox demon.
The fox demon looked at Xiaxia again with an innocent and sorrowful expression, then at Xie Xuanqing, and finally her gaze fell on Xiaxia’s knife: “I…”
She gathered her courage, “Young general, I shouldn’t have pushed you earlier, but I was afraid you would take him away. This person is severely injured, please let me check his wounds first…”
Hearing this, Xiaxia’s gaze glanced toward Xie Xuanqing.
Following Xiaxia’s gaze, I saw Xie Xuanqing. At this moment, he was just as I remembered: leaning against the ice cave wall, his head drooping lifelessly, eyes tightly closed, his thin face pale and sickly, yet with a strange, fragile beauty.
“What are you looking at?” I began dissatisfied.
Xiaxia also said in unison at this moment: “Not necessary…”
“That’s right,” I affirmed to Xiaxia, “Tell her to stop wasting time and get out. You’re the only one who can treat Xie Xuanqing. Just like I did back then.”
After I said this, I suddenly noticed Xie Zhuo glancing at me.
I stared back at Xie Zhuo with annoyance: “What are you looking at now?”
Xie Zhuo had the same pale, half-dead appearance as Xie Xuanqing over there. He pursed his lips without speaking.
I gave him an irritated look, thinking that we truly had a bitter fate!
Initially, I saved him when he was half-dead, so much trouble. Now, five hundred years later, he returns to this time, still sitting here half-dead, tormenting my five-hundred-years-later self differently…
My dissatisfaction with Xie Zhuo was like Xiaxia’s growing impatience with the fox demon before her.