Chapter 129 - Expediency
Edited by NZRose and Animeart
Note on the t.i.tle
On the City wall, Cang Wuji stood with his broadsword, struck on the spot, in front of him.
The thick and solid spiritual power extended out like a rough sea and then surged up, forming a vortex above his head.
In the middle of the sky, it was like a giant whale swallowing the seawater, taking all the aura between heaven and earth into its belly.
This was the sects’ technique, “The Whale Swallows the North Sea” in 《The Whale Drinks and Swallows the Sea》. When Cang Min used it in the past, the whale seemed a bit young and fat. But when the old predecessor in the Tribulation realm used it, it was full of energy, as if the heavens lay in the air, the whole city felt it was being pressed by Mount Tai, causing them to feel the heavy pressure.
Of course, this was only just a small spillover of the spiritual pressure, and the majority of the power was directed at the Great Wizard.
The Great Wizard flicked his sleeve.
While the robe sleeves were flying, Lin Shu saw the face of the Great Wizard.
He didn’t have much expectation for this man’s appearance, because the Master once said that the appearance was born of the heart, and the heart was determined by the Dao. When you see a person’s moves, you can imagine his appearance.
At this brief glance, he saw a pale face, half of which was covered with strange tattoos.
His facial features were very distinct. It’s not that he was not good-looking, but he just looked a little neurotic. There was a sense of paranoia in his eyes. In modern times, it means that a spot in the mental hospital has been reserved. In his previous life, Lin Shu suspected that he had mental problems, so he read a lot of relevant materials related to this.
People with problems often have special features.
Almost invisible to the eye, Lin Shu saw a thin purple and black line lashing forward with a simple action from the Great Wizard!
On the raging waves of the vast ocean, a small boat suddenly went upstream and reached the cusp of the storm.
——Then the thin line spread out and turned into a thick black and purple mist.
Ten thousand ghosts hissed in the fog.
The fog was porous, and it was neither light nor soft. Each grain was like an indestructible weapon, piercing Cang Wuji as if it was a golden shield of spiritual power.
The purple-black thin thread and the purple-black weapon were not what the spiritual power of the heavens and the earth could converge, but this was the Great Wizard’s own technique, which contained the Great Wizard’s own Dao.
He was invincible with this peculiar and sharp “Dao”, even the barrier made by Cang Wuji was completely neutralized.
——This may be the difference between “Po Dao” and “He Dao“.
He Dao was the most mellow and perfect, and it was most likely to be completed.
It was difficult to have one in a hundred years, and once there was one——it is not the same as the one who is in harmony with the Dao.
He saw mist spreading across the fields, suddenly uniting, turning into a monstrous torrent!
Cang Wuji’s whole body shook, he spits out a mouthful of blood, and his hand holding the broadsword hilt trembled slightly.
The Great Wizard waved his sleeves again. The fog dissipated, as if nothing had happened.
He retracted his hand in a disappointed manner, and said, “If Meng Fan is still alive, it would be more challenging.”
The general at Jubei Pa.s.s grabbed Cang Wuji’s shaky body.
The Great Wizard once again sat in the chair, closed his eyes and slept, calmly.
Cang Wuji looked at the Great Wizard, his eyes bursting.
The gaze could not tell whether it had more anger or hatred.
Lin Shu looked at Cang Wuji and thought that the Great Wizard could kill thousands of people with his hands, but at this time he didn’t kill Cang Wuji. It was a great shame because it meant the Great Wizard didn’t feel Cang Wuji was even worth his time.
And the Great Wizard… even mentioned Meng Fan.
That person died in his hands, but at this moment, he could even say “If Meng Fan is still alive, it would be challenging.”
And when he thought of Mr. Meng…
Mr. Meng was a very good and gentle person.
He was still in a daze when he saw Xiao Shao turn around and walk back.
Lin Shu followed, and the two walked towards the black barrier.
A closer look at this enchantment revealed that it was also composed of countless turbid mists, which seemed loose, but in fact, it was impeccable.
When Lin Shu touched it, he felt a suffocating pressure. He felt like an ant standing in front of a wall.
Although he had no cultivation base, he still had a little insight. He knew that the barrier couldn’t be broken unless he had the same cultivation base as the Great Wizard.
Xiao Shao said, “It can’t be broken.”
Lin Shu nodded.
Jubei City was like an isolated island.
The Great Wizard closed it and used the entire city to threaten Southern Xia to hand over the four secret manuals.
Although the Jubei City was a natural fortress in the Southern Xia Dynasty, if the city was destroyed, most of the Southern Xia country would be exposed to the iron hoofs of the Northern Xia’s elite soldiers.
The four secret manuals were the foundation of Immortal Dao and the foundation of Immortal Dao was the military reliance of the Southern Xia Dynasty.
The original of the secret manual could not be copied, even if the full text was copied, it would be meaningless—— because only the original contained the spiritual power of the person who wrote down the secret manual, and only expounded about a certain part of “Dao” that carried a great fortune in heaven and earth.
According to Mr. Meng, whether it was his Majesty or the Grand Master, Southern Xia would never hand over the four secret manuals.
Even if this territory was lost, immortality was still here, and one day in the future, there may be a comeback.
If the path of immortality had fallen, there would be no crossover, no major sects, and the collapse of the dynasty was only a matter of time.
For the slightest possibility of a comeback, the tens of thousands of lives in Jubei City could be sacrificed—— even the people in dozens of other large and small cities could also be sacrificed.
Lin Shu looked at Xiao Shao and saw Xiao Shao touching the dark barrier, expressionlessly.
The cold wind blew up against his black sleeves and turned into a lonely silhouette under the dim sky.
There are many ways in the world, and they are all different.
He himself had just made a decision not long ago, from being born to joining the world, Xiao Shao now had to choose the other two ways.
Choose the Kingly Way, weigh the pros and cons, and then keep a low profile for the future.
Or the Chivalrous Way, the path which saw injustice and drew the sword to fight against it, and feels guiltless.
For some reason, he didn’t want Xiao Shao to face such a choice. The choice was too difficult, and no matter which one he chose, he would lose some very important things.
Lin Shu looked at Xiao Shao’s profile and suddenly thought, if he had not lost his cultivation base, it would be fine.
A moment later, Xiao Shao turned around and pressed his right hand on the handle of his sword.
Lin Shu heard him say lightly, “You stay here and protect yourself.”
Lin Shu: “Are you going?”
Xiao Shao said, “I’m going.”
He said nothing else. Just, “I’m going.”
Lin Shu did not ask why he wanted to go. He just asked, “What am I going to do?”
Xiao Shao looked at him and said, “I am also a ‘Po Dao’, and the Phoenix sword technique is strong when it is strong, and there may not be a chance of winning. Even if I die, I can at least force the real cultivation skills of the Great Wizard… if you can remember, just remember, it will be useful in the future.”
Lin Shu lowered his eyes and looked at the ground under his feet.
Xiao Shao: “Huh?”
Lin Shu said, “You are bound to die.”
Xiao Shao: “…”
Lin Shu wanted to bite off his tongue.
But this is the thing.
Xiao Shao said, “I will die on the battlefield one day.”
Lin Shu: “But if you die now, in the future… no one will deal with the Great Wizard.”
Xiao Shao said softly, “Do you know how?”
Lin thought about it for a while.
Not in the past, now, maybe he knew.
Before he could speak, he heard Xiao Shao’s voice soften and said, “You and I are afraid to move forward. The heart of Dao is blocked. We can’t reach the peak of cultivation for the rest of our lives. Or I will die alone now. You live for me. I think the latter is better.”
Lin Shu said, “I can’t live for you.”
Xiao Shao lightly said, “At this time next year, if you remember Brother Shao in your heart, even if you don’t live for me.”
If he weren’t really discussing the issue of death, Lin Shu would be amused by him.
Xiao Shao said, “I’m going.”
Lin Shu subconsciously said, “Don’t go.”
Xiao Shao: “?”
Lin Shu lowered his head, “I can go with you, we…the odds of winning will be better.”
His brain went blank until he finished speaking before he realized what he had said.
Xiao Shao said after a while, “You mean you want to dual cultivate with me?”
Lin Shu also quieted for a while, “I am not sure that I can see you again… it’s a matter of expediency.”
According to the book, dual cultivation is just one of many ways of normal cultivation methods. At present, the situation is very serious. He and Xiao Shao can temporarily put aside their previous suspicions, go through the normal procedures, and legally improve their cultivation.
Xiao Shao said, “I don’t want to force you like this.”
Lin Shu: “It’s not forcing me.”
Xiao Shao: “Aren’t you unwilling to dual cultivate with me?”
Lin Shu was suffocated, “I will overcome it.”
Xiao Shao: “You… let me calm down first.”
There was too much wind and sand outside. They have to go back to Qingming cave and in order to calm down.
Elder Martial Brother and Fruit were too noisy. They went back to the room to calm down.
There was only one chair in the bedroom. They sat side by side on the bed to calm down.
Xiao Shao couldn’t seem to calm down and said, “Let me hug you.”
Lin Shu was quietly hugged by him from behind, and after a while, he asked, “Have you calmed down?”
Death or dual cultivation. This should be an easy choice to make.
Xiao Shao: “No.”
Lin Shu: “Huh?”
Xiao Shao: “I never thought… I would do dual cultivation with you.”
Lin Shu thought about it, and asked, “What should it be?”
“I have thought clearly that I am happy with you and you are happy with me. Then, you and I can plan for the next few decades.” Xiao Shao put his arms around his waist and said in his ear, “Then tell the teachers, relatives, and friends, then perform the ceremony, worship heaven and earth, and finally dual cultivate.”
Lin Shu: “?”
He said: “This is marriage.”
Xiao Shao: “Dual cultivation is marriage.”
Lin Shu: “Then we…can’t dual cultivate now?”
Xiao Shao: “I don’t know how much I like you, and I don’t know whether you like me.”
Oh…
In this person’s detailed plan, the first step had not yet been completed.
Lin Shu had already smashed the jar completely, so he said, “You may know after we dual cultivated.”
In short, he didn’t really want Xiao Shao to die.
But if Xiao Shao would rather die than dual cultivate, then he can only watch him, and then remember his Shao gege every year.
Fortunately, Xiao Shao was still more sensible, “…that’s fine.”
Lin Shu: “Then… dual cultivate?”
Xiao Shao: “Will you?”
Lin Shu: “I remember the exercises.”
Xiao Shao: “Yeah, me too.”
Lin Shu recalled the 《Can Tong Qi》 silently, “What then…”
Xiao Shao seemed to have just finished remembering it and said, “Don’t resist.”
Lin Shu blinked, “Okay.”
The next moment, he felt Xiao Shao hug a little tighter.
Xiao Shao gave him a gentle kiss on the neck.
Lin Shu who felt the sudden touch almost jumped up, but he was pressed by Xiao Shao in his arms.
“Okay, don’t move.” Xiao Shao said.
Lin Shu couldn’t breathe.
Xiao Shao began to chat with him, “What is your original realm?”
Lin Shu: “Crossing the Tribulation.”
Xiao Shao held his hand and buckled it up, “You people in the Sword Pavilion… are all cold and frosty, will you become like that?”
Lin Shu: “Perhaps.”
——He really didn’t know.
He hesitated a little and asked Xiao Shao, “What if I really become like that?”
Xiao Shao said, “I will just coax you all day.”
It seemed feasible.
Lin Shu said, “Will you be tired then?”
Xiao Shao continued to kiss his neck, and pressed him down ahead of time, and then said, “Be obedient.”
Lin Shu felt that he had an acute attack of allergy, and his whole body was trembling. His breathing was not controlled by himself. He said in a trembling voice, “Am I not obedient enough?”
Xiao Shao said with a smile, “Just a little.”
The laughter was light, with a little nasal sound, which meant that he was very spoiled. It went directly into his ears. Lin Shu felt that his neck and ears must be red now.
He felt that the situation was beyond his control.
The prelude to this dual cultivation was really too intimate.
He grabbed Xiao Shao’s hand and pushed it outwards, but couldn’t exert his strength, instead he pressed his back closer to Xiao Shao’s chest.
There was a ‘clang’, it was the sound of something falling to the ground.
Lin Shu looked at the ground and saw Xiao Shao’s silver mask.