Jiang Zhu sat on the cliff, his eyes dreamily looking down at his hand, the debris falling, blown away by the wind before hitting the ground. The Jingwei bird perched on his arm, but even its sharp eyes could not pull him out of the fog in his mind.
A soft sound rang out.
He didn't need to turn his head to know who was standing there.
The person wearing the fox mask—Feng Yue.
An eagle landed on his shoulder, its sharp eyes seemed to see through the world. The two people stood in the middle of the night, like two reflections silently observing each other, one immersed in loss, the other holding an unspeakable secret.
"So she's gone," a low voice rang out from behind the mask.
Jiang Zhu didn't respond.
"Aren't you going to chase after her?"
There was still no answer. Only a pair of hands continued to sprinkle crumbs to the birds, as if as long as that action was maintained, the world would not collapse.
Feng Yue sighed.
"You know, what she is facing is not just a battle. It is a predetermined outcome."
A cold wind blew by, causing the hems of both of their clothes to flutter.
Jiang Zhu clenched his fists. "I tried to stop her."
"Then what are you going to do?"
There was no answer. But this time, the wind could not sweep away the heavy silence between them.
****
At the same time, dozens of miles away…
BOOM!!!
A purple beam of light tore across the sky, crashing straight into a cliff, crushing it into pieces before plunging into the sea. The ground shook violently, and huge waves rolled as if to swallow the entire battlefield.
A figure dressed in golden robes rushed through the forest like a bolt of lightning.
"Am I late?"
The Xuanyuan Empress's firm voice rang out amidst the chaos, not even the howling sea wind could drown it out. She looked at the scene before her as she continued to accelerate.
Three figures had long since stood there.
Celestial Jingwei, Fu Xi, and Nu Wa.
The three of them were surrounding a giant monster.
Chiyou.
A giant Honkai Beast, nearly 42 meters tall, resembling a giant reptile monster covered in black scales as hard as lava. Bright purple Honkai energy streams flowed throughout its body, emitting a dangerous and sinister light.
A patch of sky burst into light as the three immortals tore through space, surrounding and attacking Chiyou.
Celestial Jingwei charged across the battlefield like lightning, her fists and legs colliding with Chiyou's lava scales, causing huge explosions in the air. Each of her strikes was powerful enough to crush giant boulders, shaking the heavens and the earth, but no matter how strong she was, Chiyou still stood firm like an unshakable mountain.
Its black scales reflected light from the cracks in its body, where Honkai energy flowed endlessly. Its purple eyes glowed in the darkness. It was the embodiment of destruction, of a thousand-year-old anger that had never subsided.
BOOM!!
Nu Wa and Fu Xi simultaneously raised their hands, repelling the Honkai Beam that had just been unleashed from Chiyou's mouth. Yet, the sheer impact of the blast still tore through the earth, carving a massive trench that stretched all the way to the horizon.
The moment Chiyou roared, a figure shot forward from the distance, golden light flaring like a spark tearing through the night.
She had arrived—the Xuanyuan Empress.
Gripping the Xuanyuan Sword, she leaped into the air, twisting her body like a graceful dancer amidst the battlefield of ruins. Razor-sharp wind blades whistled through the air like the scythes of divine judgment, slashing straight down—
Across Chiyou's eyes.
Slash!!
Chiyou let out a deafening scream, thrashing in pain, but before it could recover, Xuanyuan had already landed atop its head. Without hesitation, she plunged her sword deep into the cracks on the monster's face.
"O sword of mine, become the flames that burn my enemy!"
Flames erupted. The brilliant golden fire coiled around the Xuanyuan Sword, spreading like a raging storm, engulfing Chiyou's head. The unbearable agony made it shriek in fury, its colossal body writhing violently, sweeping away everything in its path.
BOOM!!
A powerful thrash sent Xuanyuan flying. But before she could crash to the ground, a hand reached out to catch her.
Celestial Jingwei.
Her crimson eyes bore down on Xuanyuan—stern, unyielding, like a divine warrior of the heavens.
"You're late."
Xuanyuan panted, clenching her fists, determination burning in her gaze.
"I'm sorry."
"I will make up for it."
There was no time for hesitation.
Chiyou was already gathering energy once more—this time, an even stronger Honkai Beam blazed to life in the midst of the battlefield.
"Fall back!"
Nu Wa shouted as she and Fu Xi immediately raised their hands, forming a barrier to momentarily block the incoming attack. But within seconds, cracks began to spread across the barrier—shattering like broken glass.
Celestial Jingwei charged forward.
A single punch, carrying the force to shatter mountains and rivers, smashed directly into the Honkai energy blast—breaking it apart into countless glowing fragments that dissolved into the air.
At that moment, Xuanyuan was ready.
She shot into the sky, the Xuanyuan Sword in her grasp gathering stormlight. Electric currents crackled along the blade, lightning streaking across the sky like furious dragons tearing through the heavens.
"O sword of mine, become the thunder that smites my enemies!"
A colossal bolt of lightning descended.
The Xuanyuan Sword slashed down onto Chiyou's body, detonating with a deafening roar. Thunder exploded upon impact, ripping apart a section of its lava-like scales, leaving a scorched wound in the center of its chest.
Chiyou staggered back, boiling Honkai blood spilling onto the battlefield, sizzling as it hit the ground. But it did not fall.
A cold wind swept through the war-torn battlefield.
The battle was far from over.
*****
The surrounding space seemed to freeze in silence. A light breeze blew by, fluttering Feng Yue's long robe, but his appearance remained the same, not moving at all. On the contrary, the person standing opposite him—Jiang Zhu—had a gloomy expression, his eyes filled with confusion and anger.
After a moment of contemplation, he clenched his fists, his lips trembling slightly, then spoke—a voice that could not hide his confusion:
"Why? Why didn't you stop her!?"
The questioning words came out, carrying the pain and anger of someone trying to find someone to blame. He didn't need a reasonable answer, he just wanted a reason to more easily accept that it wasn't his fault.
Feng Yue blinked slightly, then replied, his voice as calm as a still lake.
"I don't have the right to do that."
Just a simple sentence, but it was like a spark thrown into a barrel of gunpowder.
"WHY!!?"
Jiang Zhu roared, almost gritting his teeth. Anger flared up violently, flooding him like waves breaking the shore. He was no different from someone drowning in a quagmire of emotions, unable to pull himself out, and not wanting anyone to save him—he just wanted to find someone to bear some of this pain with him.
"The one who should do that is not me."
Feng Yue's words were very light, but they were like a sharp knife stabbing straight into Jiang Zhu's heart.
He was stunned. In that moment, his reason seemed to be shattered.
A bitter laugh burst out from his own mouth.
"I know! I know!!"
Like a madman, Jiang Zhu clenched his hair, his shoulders shaking.
"I'm the one who should stop her! I know!!"
His voice choked, as if someone was choking his throat.
"The one who has the most foolish desire to save that girl is none other than me!! I know!! I know how much of a coward I am!!"
Jiang Zhu was almost in despair. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"I... I just want to have a peaceful life by her side... even if I have to abandon many others. I'm that selfish!!"
He laughed, but his eyes were completely empty.
"Then why!? Why couldn't I stop her when she showed me her clear eyes of responsibility, loneliness, and guilt!? I didn't stop her..."
His voice gradually lowered, as if he was choked by his own emotions.
"I don't dare? I'm not capable? Wrong!! It's all just an excuse."
Every word he said was a knife stabbing straight into my heart.
"Like everyone else, I beg for the hero's help in times of trouble even if it means pushing her further to the brink of the burden of salvation!!"
His entire body trembled. His throat was dry. The pain was so bad that he choked.
"I...!! I'm just a person who fears death after all!!"
"Wrong, you're not like that."
Feng Yue's voice rang out, neither fast nor slow, but it was like a heavy blow to Jiang Zhu.
"What the hell do you know about me!?"
Jiang Zhu exploded. He almost shouted, his voice filled with resentment.
"We've only known each other for less than a month, what do you know about me in that time!! Don't stand there lecturing me, Strong One!!"
His eyes were red, streaked with blood.
"And shouldn't someone as strong as you go there instead of that girl!? Why!? Why, is it her!!"
He shouted as if he wanted to tear the world apart.
"ANSWER ME!!"
Without waiting, he rushed forward, grabbed Feng Yue's cloak collar, and pressed him down hard on the ground.
"Don't be so silent, you coward!!"
Jiang Zhu's fist landed.
But—it passed through Feng Yue's body, then slammed heavily onto the cold ground.
"Huh!?"
Jiang Zhu was stunned.
Feng Yue's body at this moment became blurry, both real and unreal, as if a will-o'-the-wisp was flickering before him.
"Your body... what the hell is it...?"
Feng Yue looked at him, her eyes calm but containing a deep sadness.
"Because I can't."
Feng Yue's gaze—it was so familiar that it made Jiang Zhu tremble.
It was the gaze of someone who had once made the same decision as Xuan Yuan.
A gaze that believed that sacrifice was the only way to protect others.
But then when he saw Jiang Zhu's pitiful appearance, he understood—
He was wrong.
"Damn it... I don't know what to do when you have that kind of face..."
Jiang Zhu's voice was hoarse.
Tears fell, he loosened his grip, and collapsed onto the ground.
The cold wind blew past, carrying with it emptiness.
An old memory suddenly flashed through his mind. When Xuan Yuan praised him for his medical ethics when he said he was just a pharmacist, a doctor whose level was only above average compared to those in the clan.
("Mmm! Your medical skills aren't really that outstanding, but I like the way you treat patients. You always consider their feelings first, that's the quality of a good doctor. So, it's commendable.")
A deep breath.
A realization.
Jiang Zhu thought about those things and looked back at himself and Feng Yue who were lying on the ground, he took a deep breath and said:
"I'm sorry."
Finally, he regained his composure.
If both of them were wounded and needed help, but couldn't say anything—
Then, they would help each other.
He held out his hand, not to beg or push responsibility, but as a request, a way for two lost children to find each other, hold hands and support each other to find the place, the answer they were looking for.
"I'm really too incompetent to help her. Then can you give me more strength so I can do it?"
It was no longer a matter of who would do it or who would take the burden, but both of them would do it and take the burden together
And then, a slight smile flashed across Feng Yue's lips. The image of someone flashed through his mind. And that person's appearance at that time seemed to overlap with Jiang Zhu's appearance at this moment. Feng Yue opened his eyes wide and looked thoughtful when he realized that and he started to think about someone who had said that to him, someone who had given him a farewell with a big smile instead of the tragic, touching but also heavy words so that he could leave with a light heart, that was because they both believed that they would meet again.
Hahaha, it seemed that because he had been away from home for so long, he had somewhat forgotten the reason why he could come this far and then start acting like a pathetic person like this
He grabbed the outstretched hand with a big smile as if he was somehow gradually returning to his previous self, like when he was ■■■■■■
"Let me tell you, the help I give you is not a divine blessing, but a devil's bargain. Get ready!"