Chapter Eighty-Nine: A Good Plan, Endlessly Debated

You should now understand how dangerous this is. How could I do something that would hurt Little Shadow just because I was momentarily driven by pride and rivalry? If I truly lose to that Night Warden in the contest, then so be it. In any case, I will absolutely not wager Little Shadow’s life on this battle.

His voice remained unwavering, and the force in it allowed no refusal. At that moment he revealed, without reservation, the bearing of a king. Truthfully, unless he had no other choice, he did not want to face the others in such a distant and alien manner. But he feared they might agree to Little Shadow’s absurd scheme for reasons they themselves considered sound.

He would rather be the one hurt than see anyone else sacrifice their life just to help him win. That was the very thing he least wished to witness. If they truly insisted on it, then he would not mind resisting them with force. Perhaps it would be better for him to wound them himself than to let an outsider do it. After all, everything he did was for them, and everything they did was for him.

“But given the situation right now, this is the only method that will work,” Little Shadow said, still unwilling to give up. He hoped to persuade this stubborn wretch and make him change his mind. He could not bear to watch this infuriating boy lose to Night Warden. That would be far too miserable.

In his eyes, he cared nothing for some family rule or clan law. If breaking it was for the sake of the boy, then what of it? He had no fear of any dead end or hopelessness. If it was for the boy, what would it matter if he had to walk a round through the realm of the dead? In truth, when he had been grievously wounded years ago and on the brink of death, and had encountered the healing vessel that had just come into this world, he had decided then and there that he would follow this wretch for the rest of his life.

By the time the boy grew into adulthood, Little Shadow became even more certain that his decision had been right. So even if he had to suffer a little for this wretch now, what of it? Long years ago, his life had already belonged to this boy; why would he care about this small hardship before him?

No matter what, he would help this wretch win triumphantly in this contest. Moreover, there was far too much enmity and emotion tangled into this duel. Let everything be settled once and for all here. In any case, he had resolved to pass his essence to the boy, and it seemed he would have to resort to some tricks if he meant to make that happen.

“Even you yourself say this is only under the present circumstances. Who knows, by tomorrow the clouds may part and the sun may break through,” said Misty Orchid, clutching Little Shadow’s sleeve in deep worry. She truly did not want the one she loved to suffer even the slightest harm.

If she had to choose between the boy and Little Shadow, of course she would selfishly choose Little Shadow, whom she loved most. After all, she did not possess their broad hearts or noble spirit of self-sacrifice. It was enough for the one she loved to be well. She did not want to witness the instant he fell before her eyes.

What she wanted was to live happily with him, to walk hand in hand across beautiful grasslands and watch the sunset together. Not to spend the days ahead commemorating a so-called hero who had sacrificed himself for a brotherly cause! If she could choose, she did not want a hero at all, only an ordinary person who could stay by her side.

“We have already wasted too much time in this treasury and cannot continue waiting blindly. Doing so would be utterly pointless. Do you want to see the boy defeated by Night Warden, then tortured to death by him in the cruellest way? Do you want the mastermind who ruined the Snow Residence family to remain free and at large?” Little Shadow turned to face Misty Orchid and said, his tone growing heated.

He knew what this young girl was thinking. She wanted him to stay by her side and share the rest of her days. But life in this world is just like that: the more desperately you want something, the farther it slips away. Nothing can ever be as one wishes. All one can do is live with a clear conscience and cherish every day spent together.

If, someday, the two of them had to part for some reason, at least there would still be this beautiful memory in their hearts. Was that not better than anything else? They were all outlaws wandering the world in pursuit of their own goals. He could promise nothing, and he knew that even a promise did not mean Heaven would agree. He only hoped to give her infinite happiness within a finite span of time.

“Do you think I would want to see you die in front of me? Do you think I could bear to forget you completely?” Misty Orchid cried, on the verge of tears. Could he not think of her as well while caring for his brother? Did he really believe she would live well without him? Did he truly think she regarded him as nothing more than a toy to pass the time?

Yes, she admitted that at first she had not fallen for him. On the contrary, she had found him revolting and frightening. Most women instinctively recoiled from snakes, and she was no exception. But after she slowly came to know this man, who appeared worldly and flirtatious yet was in truth wholly devoted, she began to feel something very strange toward him. In any case, she simply loved being with him.

It was not until he had confessed his heart to her, and she had finally understood her own, that they both fell helplessly into love. So she knew very well that she truly liked this man. She had never thought of him as a plaything to be used and cast aside. She wanted to be with him forever, never to be separated.

“Misty, I know you care about me deeply. I care about you just as much. But there are things in this world that you must do. If the roles were reversed, could you truly ignore it? I believe that with your nature, you would not. Though I would worry and be afraid, I would at least support your decision,” Little Shadow said, suddenly looking at her eyes with great seriousness.

“Yes, I know. In your eyes, there are many things far more important than I am,” Misty Orchid said, sounding somewhat disheartened. It seemed she still could not move him, could not make him change. Was it truly so difficult to have him care even a little about her feelings? In that instant, she seemed to understand what a breaking heart sounded like, what a voiceless cry felt like.

“In truth, this revenge should have been mine to settle. Now it has already involved Brother Feather. If I were to drag Brother Shadow into it as well, our guilt would be even greater,” Yu Xiaoran said, seeing that the situation was turning bad. Afraid that Misty Orchid’s fiery temper would flare, he hurriedly stepped in to mediate.

In truth, he did not want these two to risk their lives while helping his woman avenge herself. After all, that had originally been his responsibility. Regrettably, his skills were insufficient and he could not personally cut down his enemy, so he had placed his hopes in others. Yet he did not wish for anyone else to die because of it either.

“This should indeed have been my own private matter, and I should not have dragged you all into it. Brother Feather, remember this: keeping your life is the most important thing. Other matters can be dealt with later,” said Snow Rains again softly. Though she truly wanted to kill that bastard Night Warden, if the price was the life of a dear friend, she would rather do without.

Besides, revenge ought to be taken by one’s own hand. Only then can one truly feel the exhilaration of vengeance fulfilled. Perhaps she was not Night Warden’s match at present, but that did not mean her cultivation would never surpass his in the future. Snow Rains believed that so long as she worked hard, the day would surely come when her great revenge would be realized.

It would indeed be good if someone else dealt with him for her, but if that could not be achieved, she would not be disappointed. That would simply mean Heaven wished him to enjoy a few more years of pleasure first. Sooner or later, she would kill him with her own hands and use his wicked blood to honor the countless wronged souls of her clan.

“Even if this time passes and he cannot be killed, that does not mean he can never be killed. Most importantly, you still have us helping you. But that only holds if we are all safe and sound. If even we are battered and broken, how are we to exact revenge? Isn’t that right, Brother Feather?” Cold Memory asked gently toward Feather in the corner.

In Cold Memory’s view, transferring essence was not some impossible task. Besides, Little Shadow was their clan’s only blood-red serpent spirit to have appeared in a thousand years under an auspicious omen. Even if he caused trouble, at most their clan would impose a light punishment. They would never truly take his life.

More than that, did not their master, upon entering, say he would protect their safety? If the old man himself were to stand guard, there could be no safer arrangement. So he was quite in favor of Little Shadow’s idea. So long as everything was made fully secure, it would not be such a dangerous matter after all.

“So what you mean, Brother Cold, is that you want me to accept Little Shadow’s suggestion and let him indulge his whims in carrying out such an absurd and perilous act? I can say it very clearly once more: I will absolutely not agree!” It seemed Feather would not even spare his usually close friend Cold Memory any face this time.

In short, no matter what anyone said, he would not agree. Even if they talked until their lips were worn raw, he would not change his mind. Feather truly was stubborn. This time, even with everyone joining forces, they still could not persuade him. Would Little Shadow give up because of this, or would Feather change his stance?

“It is not only Brother Cold who thinks so. Even I believe this plan is truly workable. This treasury lies in a remote place; while you are transferring essence, no outsiders will come to disturb you. Even if someone did harbor ill intent, with the cultivation of the few of us present, we would not let him near the two of you,” Blue Ice Strings added calmly from the side.

He also could not see what was so improper about this method. Was it not excellent? It could raise Feather’s power and also let them kill Night Warden, staining the contest arena with his blood. Was that not a plan that achieved multiple aims at once? He truly could not understand what Feather was still worrying about.

“And I also remember Master saying that he would ensure our safety. I trust you will not go back on your word, old sir! After all, if we are defeated miserably in that contest arena, the future days of Orchid Academy will hardly be easy either,” Yin Boxuan said, threatening the old dean, who stood nearby like an invisible man.

Today he had truly cast caution to the wind. So long as he could persuade Master to come out of retirement and guard them, even if a cultivator of immense power broke in, they would not be at a loss. As long as Feather could emerge safely and victoriously from this contest, he would willingly accept even punishment from Master afterward for today’s matter.

“Even I, your junior sister, heard it loud and clear. Senior Brother, this time you really can’t wriggle out of it,” said Xun Mishuang now as well. She too found the method workable and stood on the same side as the others, together persuading the old dean and Feather.

“Though I understand nothing and am nowhere near as clever as you, nor can I think of things so thoroughly, I believe that as long as there is even a sliver of hope before us, we should seize it tightly and never let it slip away for nothing. Perhaps when you seize it, you may discover something even more astonishing,” said Dreamy Faraway, walking slowly to Feather’s side. From the implication in her words, she too had approved of this seemingly absurd yet actually feasible method.