Chương 440: Tales of Blood (V)

While I did find it fairly hot, sitting in the scorching sun for hours as Xi Zhao contemplated stuff, with a bit of Qi and Art of Surviving, it was at least bearable. Somewhat like standing in the shade during a hot, semi-humid August day in the south. Not pleasant by any means necessary, but if you hadn't just come from the North Pole or something, it would haven't be all that unbearable. That was the situation for me.

Liao Xinya, however, was as red as blood, sweat having soaked through her clothes and even wetted the sand beneath her slightly. At first, I was curious how long she'd endure, but about an hour into it, I legitimately told her to just go to the tent... but she refused. Supposedly, two Dharma Protectors were a minimum for her beliefs, and if she shied away from it, she'd never forgive herself. And thus, she was suffering like no tomorrow.

It wasn't even just physical, I don't think--the heat had likely wormed its way into her brain and was scrambling it in ways she probably hadn't experienced before.... I wonder, can my Art of Surviving be, uh, 'external'? I mean, no, I know it can be--I've seen kids use it thousands of times 'externally', but more so, can I use it to cool her? Well, what the hell?

I closed my eyes, imagined the meridian pathways and traced them toward my fingers in the right hand, slowly transforming natural Qi into its cooler variant. Before a second had passed, I felt my fingers tingle with chill and I reached over and above her head, and let loose the Qi. She winced and appeared startled for a moment, though she hadn't done much else, a conflicted look on her face. Qi expenditure was oddly... minimal, for what was essentially free-range AC in the middle of a freakin' desert.

It took about a minute before the redness in her face began to retract, and another before the glistening shine of the sweat was fully gone.

"... thank you," she mumbled, her head lowered.

"You truly are a man of many mysteries."

"I really am," I said, using my free hand to stroke my chin.

"Some even call me the most mysterious man in the world."

"Those some being your Disciples that worship you like this boy?"

"... and some others, too."

"What is your goal by coming here?" she suddenly asked.

"You knew it was a trap, yet you still came, alongside the kids. It can't be just for fun."

"Why not?"

"Why... not for fun?"

"Yes. Why not for fun?"

"Because it's absurd?" she replied, her expression rather odd.

"Because of a million other reasons?"

"Well, you're right," I said.

"It's not entirely for fun. But I don't think I can trust you with the true reason."

"... fair enough," she sighed. She really was a wholly different person when she wasn't soaking in her own sweat.

"Aren't you worried about your other Disciples? Do you really have time to meander about like this?"

"Of course I'm worried," I said.

"I'll never not worry. But I've been watching them for a while now, and worry though I might... it won't stop them from doing what they were meant to do. And so, though I worry, I also believe in them. Believe that they are strong enough to endure whatever fate might throw at them, and if they're not... that they're smart enough to run the hell away." The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

"... a Master who hopes his pupils run away, huh." she chuckled.

"Might be the oddest thing about you yet." Was it? It just sounds like common sense--why fight the impossible if there's an option to bolt, run away, and maybe come back later? Is it the point of pride, perhaps, that cultivators have carved into their bones by their Seniors?

"Irony being that the oddest thing about you is the opposite?"

"The opposite?"

"That you knew what would happen," I said.

"And yet chose to stay."

"Chose... is a strong word," she chuckled rather helplessly.

"Before I stepped foot into that ring, there were about a hundred shadows staring at me, waiting for a single misstep. I'm flattered that you think so highly of me, but..."

"Hm," I felt a bit guilty.

"Sorry. I jest, but some things are probably best left unsaid. He looks to be wrapping things up over there. You think you can still take him on?" I cracked a smile and so did she, rolling her eyes in the process.

"Even if a little rat gains enlightenment, it's still a rat," she said.

"I'll admit that he's one of the most talented and promising swordsmen I've ever met in my life. But, he's also very much a child with very primitive understanding of not just Sword Dao, but fighting in general. Since I was three, I studied not just my own Dao, but all others--to defeat them, you first must understand their principles. I have a feeling that he fights purely by instinct, and as he climbs up through the strata of martial artists, he'll quickly realize that instinct alone can only go so far."

She was right--there was very little I could teach them, and, relatively speaking, they've all been 'practitioners' for far fewer years than most of their peers. That's why this place, dangerous though it was, should be quite beneficial to them.... not that I won't die with worry until all of us are back together, safe and unharmed. Xi Zhao landed slowly as winds ceased, his eyes opening.

There was strange color in them, almost like starlight, that briefly danced within his pupils before going away, thought in them returning. He suddenly smiled and rushed over, throwing his arms around me and hugging me so tightly that I felt my ribcage give in a bit.

"Hoi!" I exclaimed as the woman looked at us in horror.

"Are you that happy?"

"Thank you, Master!" he exclaimed, pulling back.

"I've learned so much!"

"Good. So," I said.

"Do you think you can take her on now?"

"Uh..." he faltered, his lips seeming ready to say yes, but his eyes darted between us rather comedically. While she managed to stifle her laugh, I didn't quite, leading to him pouting.

"One day, Master. I promise!"

"Ho ho. Very well, I'll hold you onto that. Now, let's go eat."

"Didn't you eat already? Just how much do you gorge yourself on food?"

"Are you calling us fat?" I asked as we all stood up.

"What? No? Where did you get that from?"

"I think she is calling us fat, Master," Xi Zhao added from the side.

"And she sounds rather jealous of it."

"Hm. She indeed could use a bit of fattening."

"... I should have just let you kill me," she groaned.

"I really should have just let you kill me..."