"I Keep Thinking That You Took the Hit for Me."

In the middle of the Bamboo Garden Island, the battle at the suspension bridge platform had been at a stalemate for a long time. Judging by the moon hanging in the centre of the sky, half the night had passed.

Just when both sides started to feel the slight tiredness, a fire suddenly lit up under the Bamboo Garden Island. Then, a tremendous sound like something exploding streaked across the night sky and shocked everyone nearby.

Feng Lin ran from a distance in a panic. His clothes were disordered and ripped as if he just came out barely unscathed from a great war.

He ran into the Evil Sect’s formation, but instead of fighting, he rushed to the Tengyun Pavilion’s team and shouted, “This is a trap set on the Bamboo Garden Island, the island is loaded with oil jars. The Evil Sect’s Leader intended for everyone to perish in mutual destruction...Alliance Leader Gu is trying to stop him and ordered us to...withdraw from the island immediately!”

Everyone was shocked to hear this.

Before they could regain their senses, a few more loud explosions sounded from somewhere near the mountain top of the island, and a burning wine jar rolled down from above and broke into pieces within everyone’s vision. The fire burst out and spread across a large area. People close to the fire had to step back.

“The suspension bridges are made from bamboo and wood. With the dry wasteland, everything is very flammable.” Fang Lin urged. “If we don’t withdraw now, it might be too late!”

Once he finished his warning, he waved his hand and the forces from the Tengyun Pavilion and the Village of Mount Qianfeng immediately listened to their leader’s order and began to evacuate. 

The leader of the Xuanji Temple asked in distress, “Where is the Wuling Alliance Leader?”

Before Feng Lin could answer, the sound of swords crossing from above attracted everyone’s attention.

Two fighters were entangled in a fight on the mountain’s top platform that was shining under the moonlight and illuminated by the fire.

Gu Ruohai was dressed in a blue form-fitting garment. Each of his attacks were extremely sharp, like a hunting hawk aiming for his prey's life.

Su Huaizhu wore a clean, white robe and held a wooden box in his hand. His steps were light, and the thin sword was like a winding vine, which made it appear delicate and frail, but it was actually enough to mince anything that fell into its trap.

They fought fiercely and ruthlessly back and forth, and there was not the slightest sign of their deep feelings from the past.

Watching the battle between the two great leaders, Su Yang suddenly had a feeling of wrongness. He just felt that this scene should have been him and Gu Feidi, rather than Alliance Leader Gu and Evil Sect’s Leader.

—At least, in the original script, it should have been the two young arch-rivals who fought on the top of the Evil Sect’s mountain.

However, considering how inconsistent the script was from the actual characters in the world. The Leader of the Evil Sect was not some frail old man, who obviously had the martial arts skill that wouldn’t get himself killed as soon as he appeared. Su Yang felt relieved. 

The fire gradually began to devour the buildings around the Bamboo Garden Island, but the petal retainers weren't flustered by this development. They continued to work together to force the enemy forces back to the other side of the suspension bridge. 

Feng Lin waved his sword against Gu Feidi, pretending to fight like he wanted to capture the Young Lord back, but beneath that, he whispered, “Pavilion Lord asked me to remind the Young Lord that no matter what happens, please do not separate yourself from Su Yang.”

Gu Feidi was startled. Before he had time to answer, he heard Mei Shisan’s shout nearby, “Sect Leader—!”

Followed by the same petal retainer broke out from the battle and ran up the mountain without looking back.

A burst of uproar came from the rest of the petal retainers who were in combat and also the fighters of the Central Plains who were organising their retreat at the same time, as their gazes gathered back towards the top of the mountain.

Su Yang suddenly felt something and looked up at the mountain top platform where the two seniors were fighting. 

To see the white figure was bending slightly with his hands on Gu Ruohai’s wrist in front of him—Gu Ruohai held tightly on his long sword that was inserted into Su Huaizhu’s chest, with its tip exiting out his back. The blood on the blade glowed under the moonlight and fire, as it slowly slid down to the hilt and dripped down silently. 

A heart-wrenching scene everyone could see. 

Su Yang was stunned by the scene and felt his heartbeat stop. 

This sword, Gu Ruohai’s blow, was very familiar to him, so much so his heart seemed to ache as if he was the one stabbed. 

Because this was supposed to happen to him, it was how Gu Feidi would end his life. A sword to his heart

A cold light came from Su Yang’s side. Gu Feidi dashed out with his sword to help Su Yang block an attack from a member of the Tongyun Monastery and dragged the dazed man out of the battle while parrying any incoming attack. 

“Shixiong!” Gu Feidi grabbed Su Yang’s wrist and called out anxiously. He was trying to pull him back to reality. “Xiao Xiao...this matter, this...My father did not…”

However, he was at a loss for words in the end and instead of explaining his father’s action, he held the cold hand to comfort the other.

On the top of the mountain, the wooden box that Su Huaizhu had been holding the whole time fell to the edge of the platform, shattered from the impact as pieces of paper were released from its content. They drifted from the fire, then landed gently in the burning flame at the foot of the mountain. Completely engulfed by the intense fire. 

Followed by Gu Ruohai slowly pulling out his sword from Su Huaizhu’s chest.

Su Huaizhu stepped back and was half a step away from the edge of the platform. He hunched with his hands against his chest. He slowly raised his head, half smiled in Gu Ruohai’s direction and whispered something. 

Gu Ruohai stood motionless, face void of emotion. He didn’t give any sign of replying. 

Su Huaizhu swayed slightly. Finally, he couldn’t stand steady anymore as he fell from the edge of the platform and straight into the merciless sea of flame.

At the same time, there were countless loud rumbles around the Bamboo Garden Island, as the whole island began to burn.

Most of the forces from the Central Plains had retreated to the middle of the suspension bridge. When they saw that Alliance Leader Gu killed the Leader of the Evil Sect, everyone clapped their hands and cheered. However, some couldn’t hold back their sigh. They didn’t know whether their Leader secured the legendary Sword Sage’s inheritance or not.

Gu Ruohai quickly took advantage of the high ground and leapt down to the suspension bridge and turned to the two young men who seemed to be stunned witless. 

His eyes landed on Su Yang for a long time before he turned to his son and asked, “Have you decided on your next action?”

Gu Feidi opened his mouth, but no words came out. He just squeezed Su Yang’s hand. 

Su Yang broke from his trance by the pain and gave a sudden quiver. 

Gu Feidi immediately looked back at him.

Su Yang seemed to not notice the arrival of Gu Ruohai at all. There was terror in his eyes as they were locked in the direction where Su Huaizhu fell. His furrowed eyebrows became deeper and tighter. 

Suddenly, he broke off from Gu Feidi’s hand, rushing across the flaming cliff with Cherished Flower Steps

Without the time to think, Gu Feidi glanced back at his father, and then, without hesitation, chased after Su Yang.

Feng Lin resisted the impulse to get Gu Feidi back. He looked back at Gu Ruohai, paused and asked, “Pavilion Lord, why did you kill him…”

Gu Ruohai sighed quietly. “Be at ease. How could I have the heart to kill him?”

* * *

Under immense worry, Su Yang ran all the way to the direction where Su Huaizhu fell off the cliff, but he was blocked by the wall of burning flames at every corner. 

He didn’t know why he was so concerned about Su Huaizhu. He obviously didn’t have that much contact with the Leader, developing none of the emotional connection with the senior. Maybe it was from the glimpse of the graceful figure earlier, he felt that the other party was too similar in appearance to him…Or maybe it was because of the killing blow, which made him feel that the other party had borne his original fate. 

Su Yang didn’t know why he had to witness the death of the Leader of the Evil Sect. Did he want to see proof that the senior was dead? Or did he want to see a near-impossible miracle?

Gu Feidi caught up with Su Yang to see the older man was standing in the light of fire with a lost expression, as if in a complete panic. 

“Shixiong…” He called out, walking slowly to Su Yang. “...I’m sorry.”

Su Yang turned to Gu Feidi and asked in confusion, “Why are you apologising?”

Before Gu Feidi could answer, he was interrupted by a voice.

“Young Master.”

Mei Shisan came out from behind a nearby rock. There was urgency in his tone. “Please follow this subordinate to the Forbidden Ground to escape the Sanctuary with the Sect Leader.”

Su Yang was caught off guard by the last two words. “Sect Leader?”

Mei Shisan nodded. “The Sect Leader is fine. Please follow this one.”

Although he didn’t quite understand why the Sect Leader would be alright, Su Yang immediately followed Mei Shisan, avoided the fires and walked behind the rocks. 

Seeing that Gu Feidi wasn’t behind him, he rushed back and took Gu Feidi’s hand like it belonged with his hand, pulling the man closely.

Their entire path avoided all the fire. Su Yang and Gu Feidi followed Mei Shisan down to the caves in the Forbidden Ground under the Bamboo Garden Island. 

Currently, many petal retainers had gathered here as well. In the centre of the crowd stood Su Huaizhu, who was still dressed in white with no sign of his prior weakened state. 

Seeing Su Huaizhu, who appeared free of injuries, Su Yang was stupefied. He stepped forward and asked, “...You are alright?”

Su Huaizhu glanced at him, but ultimately ignored the younger man and continued to order the surrounding petal retainers. Once they evacuated to the third tablet room in batches, he turned and faced Su Yang.

“Were you worrying about me?” He asked with a smile. “I didn’t expect you to feel concern towards me…”

Su Yang was silent for a moment and asked, “Were you really...stabbed by the sword?”

Su Huaizhu said in a matter of fact, “It passed through me but it didn’t hit a single vital point...I stopped the bleeding with Half-Withered Crimson. The injury is of no concern to me.”

Su Yang couldn’t completely believe it. He frowned and asked, “Really?”

Su Huaizhu examined Su Yang for a long time, and a faint smile appeared with a raise of his lips. “If the real Su Yang was here, he would never have asked me such a question.”

The question was spoken calmly, but it was like a heavy blow to the heart for Su Yang. He couldn’t remain calm by any means. He bit his lower lip and refused to meet the senior’s eyes. The fingers around Gu Feidi’s hand tightened slightly and instinctively. 

Gu Feidi stepped forward and stood beside Su Yang, returning the gesture to comfort the other man.

Su Huaizhu took in the whole scene at once, especially the connected hands. He chuckled and said, “Don’t be nervous. I won’t do anything to you. His fate was destined to end in tragedy. I know it. He knew it himself. That’s why he always acted so unruly...if he hadn’t been obsessed with honing his martial arts skill, I don’t know how much worse he would act.”

With that, he studied Su Yang with great interest. “You seem to be troubled by the blow I received. Could I have the reason as to why?”

“I…”

After pondering for a long time, Su Yang finally gathered up the courage to draft up a reason without telling the truth about another world. “I dreamed of, er, of this many times...Gu Feidi led a team to end our Sect. We fought on the top of the mountain...It ended with, like you earlier, me being pierced by his sword…”

Su Huaizhu was stunned. 

Gu Feidi suddenly turned back and asked in a frightened tone, “You often dreamt of me killing you? That was the scene?”

Su Yang nodded, turned to Su Huaizhu and uttered, “So...I keep thinking that you took the hit for me…”

Hearing this logic, Su Huaizhu raised his eyebrows. 

“Your way of thinking is very new and odd.” He smiled in amusement, then he sighed. “However, if it wasn't for your strange origin. I wouldn’t have hid the scheme from you. Perhaps I would have informed you in advance of me faking my death. But back then, I couldn’t tell which side of the battle you were on.”

“Faking your death…” Su Yang murmured this word. “So it was all planned.”

“Naturally.” Su Huaizhu confirmed. “If the E’Luo Gui Faction wanted to believe that our Divine Sect had crumbled—they would never rest assured without me dying. Therefore, whatever the case, my ‘death’ is inevitable in Gu Ruohai’s hands, and you don’t have to blame yourself for having such an illusory dream.”

Su Yang obviously relaxed a lot.

Su Huaizhu shook his head and sighed, “...So childish.”

Chapters

Click to Open
Close

1 Comment

  1. Immortal Fujoshi

    Ahhhhhh…throughout the whole chapter my emotional state be like :

    Thnx for ur hard work❤️

Submit a Comment