The three Spirit Kings that Qian Renxue was holding back ultimately couldn't escape their fate.
One of them died by her hand.
The remaining two became the sword-slain souls of Li Dixian.
By the side of the official road.
Corpses lay scattered everywhere.
A thick smell of blood permeated for miles.
The chilling murderous intent lingering in the air caused even the Soul Beasts in the forest to whimper and retreat.
The two Wind Chasing Colts also died.
They were crushed into pieces by the aftershocks of the battle.
Li Dixian and Qian Renxue walked silently for over an hour.
The lingering killing intent in their chests had not yet dissipated, and both were speechless, simply hurrying along the official road in silence.
Li Dixian's gaze was like ice, scanning the surroundings.
Qian Renxue kept her head down, her golden hair obscuring her beautiful face, making her expression unreadable.
"Let's wait until dawn to continue," Li Dixian suddenly said, his voice a little hoarse.
"There shouldn't be any more enemies."
Qian Renxue lowered her head and softly assented.
The two finally rested under a giant tree with a crown spread open like an umbrella.
Qian Renxue silently gathered dry branches and lit a bonfire.
Li Dixian, on the other hand, took out the beast-repelling powder Dugu Yan had given him and sprinkled it around the giant tree.
After all this was done.
The two leaned against the tree trunk to rest.
The warm yellow light of the bonfire flickered across their faces.
Li Dixian closed his eyes, his taut nerves slowly relaxing as exhaustion surged in like a tide.
He was tired.
Bone-deep tired.
It wasn't just the hardship of traveling day and night.
It was also the aftermath of the life-and-death struggle they had just endured.
Although the enemies were dealt with, every fleeting moment of that lightning-fast battle had consumed his mind.
"Qian Renxue..."
Li Dixian's eyelids opened to a thin slit.
He had intended to check on Qian Renxue's condition and ask her to stand guard for half the night.
But as he looked in her direction, Li Dixian's gaze froze.
Qian Renxue sat with her knees hugged to her chest, her peerlessly beautiful face staring blankly at the bonfire.
Two streaks of clear tears left wet trails on her fair cheeks.
Li Dixian panicked.
For a moment, he didn't understand why Qian Renxue was crying.
"Qian Renxue, you..."
The words were on the tip of his tongue.
But Li Dixian didn't know how to phrase them.
Qian Renxue pressed her lips together and slowly turned her face.
Her deep blue eyes, brimming with tears, looked at Li Dixian, and she said with a trembling voice:
"I... I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry..."
The Spirit King's spontaneous shout of "Your Highness, Saintess" earlier had already revealed that they came from Spirit Hall.
The current Spirit Hall.
Had two distinct factions.
One faction was the Hall of Offerings, led by the Qian family bloodline, where everyone referred to her as "Young Master."
The other faction was the Supreme Pontiff Palace, where the Pope was revered, and only people from this faction would call her "Your Highness, Saintess."
Therefore... it was that woman who sent people to intercept and kill Li Dixian!
This fact caused Qian Renxue's emotions to collapse.
She had been dormant in the deep palace since childhood.
Her temperament had long been honed to be far beyond her peers.
Only matters of emotion... remained an untouched, pristine cloth to her.
Qian Renxue didn't know how to be good to Li Dixian.
She only clumsily thought of settling his wine tab for him, accompanying him in quiet fishing, and drinking wine and practicing swordsmanship with him under the moon.
The heavy burdens of power struggles weighed on her shoulders, and whenever she dragged her exhausted body onto her bed, just thinking of Li Dixian's gaze towards her during the day would bring a smile to her lips, allowing her to fall asleep peacefully.
That was Qian Renxue's only solace.
More than the sacred Angel Spirit, it could dispel the darkness for her.
But a good person like Li Dixian was ambushed because of her.
This made Qian Renxue painfully feel... that she had brought misfortune to Li Dixian.
She wished more than anyone that Li Dixian would be safe and happy.
However.
Li Dixian was stained with blood because of her.
Thinking of their silent journey earlier.
Qian Renxue was even more afraid that Li Dixian would despise her because of this.
"I... I'm sorry..."
At this thought, the tears she had been holding back finally broke free again.
The cold moonlight and the warm bonfire intertwined, casting their light upon Qian Renxue.
With tear-filled eyes, she looked at Li Dixian, her entire being exuding a sense of fragile vulnerability.
Those whispered "I'm sorry"s.
Made Li Dixian understand the reason for her tears.
— Is she feeling like she's burdened me?
"Alas..."
Li Dixian sighed softly.
Meeting her eyes, which were brimming with tears and held a cautious, probing look, his heartstrings were involuntarily tugged.
Li Dixian moved a bit closer.
He took the wooden stick for poking the fire from her hand and stirred the bonfire.
He picked out the unburnt wood that was pressed underneath.
Crackling—
A few sparks suddenly flew out.
Although Qian Renxue was immersed in sorrow.
She almost instinctively reached out her slender hand.
She shielded Li Dixian, fearing he might be burned by the sparks.
A soft, warm smile spread across Li Dixian's face.
"Qian Renxue..."
"Don't you know what kind of person I am yet?"
He turned his head.
Gazing at the stunningly beautiful young woman before him, who was being so cautious around him.
"When I, Li Dixian, make friends, I never look at status or background."
"What if they are royalty or nobility? What if they are from a renowned sect?"
"If a Storyteller on the street can speak to my heart, I'd be willing to give him a gold coin and share a bowl of plain noodles with him."
"Even if you are a heinous executioner in the eyes of the world, as long as you treat me with sincerity, I will never let you down."
"Conversely, even if everyone in the world praises you as a great philanthropist, if you don't treat me well, that won't do either."
The tears in Qian Renxue's eyes froze.
Li Dixian said earnestly:
"All the kindness you've shown me along the way from Wind Sword Sect, I remember it all."
"Some things have nothing to do with you, so you don't need to take them upon yourself."
"Qian Renxue, it wasn't you who wanted to kill me."
This last sentence.
Made Qian Renxue hurriedly shake her head.
In her haste, she reached out and grabbed Li Dixian's arm, saying urgently:
"Of course not! How could I want to harm you!"
"Then it's settled."
Li Dixian shook his head helplessly and said:
"Then why are you having this internal struggle? This has nothing to do with you."
After he finished speaking.
He used the fire stick to poke around in the bonfire.
Under Qian Renxue's tearful, astonished gaze, Li Dixian actually dug out two charred objects from the fire.
"Never seen these before, have you?"
Li Dixian picked one up.
Possessing the Meltfrost Spirit Vein Body with ice and fire immunity, he naturally wasn't afraid of getting burned.
With a slight squeeze of both hands, he broke open the charred shell.
A rich, sweet aroma immediately diffused, revealing the golden-yellow, soft, and steaming interior.
"Here, try it."
Qian Renxue took it, secretly swallowing a mouthful of saliva.
"W-what is this?"
"A kind of wild yam. I didn't expect to find it here."
Li Dixian also broke off a piece for himself, took a bite, and nodded contentedly.
"Hmm, it's very sweet. Quickly, try it."
Qian Renxue carefully took a small bite.
The warm sweetness instantly melted in her mouth, and the wonderful taste made her beautiful eyes widen, even her earlier sadness was diluted a bit.
"It's delicious," she whispered.
Seeing her sacred, jade-like face smudged with smoke, and a speck of black ash on her rosy lips, the smile in Li Dixian's eyes grew deeper.
"You look better when you smile."
Qian Renxue's chewing motion paused slightly.
A blush quietly crept onto her cheeks.
She ate the roasted yam in small bites, her voice soft.
"Then I'll often smile at you from now on..."
Dear readers, there are two more chapters.
But they will be very late, probably around 12 AM.
Dear readers, go to bed early, if not, you can read them tomorrow morning...