151 – Framework
After repeatedly confirming that they have gotten away from the martial demons, Qi Qiqi ordered the group to temporarily stop for reorganization and rest.
After experiencing a high-intensity battle, Qi Qiqi knows that the disciples have acc.u.mulated a lot of fatigue – both mental and physical.
Surrounded by densely packed trees, they are still in a forest area.
But it should be quite close to the gorge. Qi Qiqi can feel the gust of wind blowing from there.
After instructing Gong Tianqing to count the people, Qi Qiqi called Xia Xue and Shui Yun"er to discuss the next course of action.
Where should Merak Temple go in this unexpected situation? Although Qi Qiqi already has an idea, but she cannot make up her mind momentarily.
It is not that she"s indecisive. But she has too little experience, and it is not like what she says goes. Therefore, she wants to consult others to make a fairly appropriate decision.
Of course, it"s unrealistic for her to ask the opinions of everyone in the trial by fire group. It is because she understands this that she only asked the two people with the highest seniority here to discuss.
After explaining the issue, Qi Qiqi looked to Xia Xue, who is leaning against a tree with her arms crossed, to ask her opinion.
At this time, Xia Xue is cutting a bit of a sorry figure.
Her orange dress is damaged in many places and is stained with mud.
Scattered sc.r.a.pes and scratches can be seen on the exposed delicate skin. Although the sc.r.a.pe on the left arm has already stopped bleeding, but it still has a shocking dark red color to it. Despite how superb her agility technique is, but she was still injured under the siege of the Iron Armor Oxen.
Qi Qiqi has never seen Xia Xue in such a sorry state before.
But I"m not in a much better state myself, am I? Qi Qiqi laughed bitterly in her mind.
When fighting Chihen, she fell into water, and thus is wet all over now. Consequently, although the stains on her body were removed, making her look cleaner. But the damp clothes and hair are stuck to her body, which makes her feel uncomfortable.
However, at this time, they don"t have time to tidy up.
Qi Qiqi shook her head to get rid of the distracting thoughts and asked Xia Xue, “Senior Disciple Sister Xia, what do you think?”
“What else can I think? Let"s withdraw.”
While playing with her hair, Xia Xue"s gaze landed on the ground. Judging by her tone, it seems like she is a bystander, and everything is unrelated to her. But this is her usual att.i.tude. Qi Qiqi, who is already accustomed to it, naturally doesn"t mind it.
Who knows if it is because she thinks that Xia Xue"s words are too vague, or that she is dissatisfied with her att.i.tude, but Shui Yun"er, who is sitting on a boulder, frowned.
At this moment, she is not in any better state then Xia Xue. In addition to her ragged clothes, her long white hair is now stained with dirt and dust, and is particularly eye-catching.
Qi Qiqi feels that the way she looks now, Shui Yun"er is no different from the beggars in Luotian Town.
“Big Sister Xia, your statement is too vague. Do you mean to withdraw from Martial Demon Realm? Or withdraw to Mirror Moon Lake?”
From Xia Xue"s speech alone, it is indeed difficult to infer whether she means to withdraw to there or not. But Qi Qiqi, who is familiar with her character, believes that it should be to withdraw from Martial Demon Realm. Qi Qiqi"s guess was quickly confirmed.
Xia Xue looked up at Shui Yun"er and sneered.
“Cute Little Sister Shui, of course it"s the former, or else what do you think?”
“What about Young Teacher?”
“If we go into that fog that even she can"t escape from, then we"ll only be a burden to her, which makes no sense at all. Before saving others, you have to ensure first that you have enough ability to protect yourself. Otherwise, you"ll just be irresponsible. We should withdraw from Martial Demon Realm as soon as possible, as not to worry her.”
She"s being very rational. It is because she"s too rational that she appears to be particularly ruthless and callous. Qi Qiqi knows that despite speaking such words, Xia Xue in fact feels uncomfortable about this.
“Little Sister Shui, we still have no idea what"s at the bottom of these muddy waters. So besides climbing to the sh.o.r.e as early as possible, what else do you think we can do? Do you think that we should go ahead and dive? Stop making jokes.”
Not satisfied with Xia Xue"s explanation, Shui Yun"er looked to Qi Qiqi for help. Xia Xue also turned her attention to Qi Qiqi.
“Ah…”
Under the gaze of two, Qi Qiqi couldn"t help contemplating.
What Xia Xue said was very reasonable. They are fatally short on information, and thus cannot see the big picture. It stands to reason that the best course of action in these circ.u.mstances is to get out of Martial Demon Realm as soon as possible. This is also the only way to minimize the damage to Merak Temple.
In spite of this, Qi Qiqi has a reason why she can"t readily agree to this. Besides, she can"t just abandon Xue Qilin.
As if she can see through Qi Qiqi"s hesitation and thoughts, Xia Xue uttered the name of a place, “Mirror Moon Lake.”
Staring straight at Qi Qiqi"s eyes, Xia Xue said, enunciating each syllable, “You want to go back to Mirror Moon Lake, right?”
Sure enough, nothing can escape Senior Disciple Sister Xia"s eyes… Qi Qiqi revealed a troubled smile.
“The other sects… we can"t just ignore them, can we? Besides, the Young Ancestor"s situation is also quite worrying.”
Xia Xue sighed first, and then a very serious expression overtook her face.
“A meaningless sense of justice.”
Although she looked at her with rebuke, but Qi Qiqi still didn"t avoid her gaze.
“It"s a really disagreeable statement… However, I also know that there may be no one who shares this idea. But Sister Xia… we had Qilin block the first wave of attack of the Iron Armor Oxen. The other sects may not have a "Xue Qilin"! Under such circ.u.mstance, they are bound to suffer heavy casualties… we can"t turn a blind eye to this!”
Qi Qiqi spoke her mind.
“Besides, if it is spread that we left them to sink or swim, what do you think the world will think of our Merak Temple? Our reputation will take a nosedive.”
Xia Xue expressed her disapproval of Qi Qiqi"s worries.
“We can just deny it. After all, there are many excuses we can use, aren"t there?”
Seriously wounded by the attack of the martial demons, we could not rescue the others… Qi Qiqi can think of a lot of reasons to give as an excuse.
Well, people never lack reasons.
“Do you want me to lie? Senior Disciple Sister Xia, better the world when affluent… this is a sentence my father and your Teacher often used!”
“Your father and my Teacher also used to say "maintain your own integrity when dest.i.tute".”
Xia Xue spoke in a troubled tone, and then pointed at the rest of Merak Temple"s people.
“Take a look, do you think we are "dest.i.tute" or "affluent" at the moment?”
Faced with Xia Xue"s questioning gaze, Qi Qiqi didn"t relent. She didn"t look in the direction Xia Xue is pointing at. She knows that the disciples don"t have it easy.
“But we still have the power to fight, and that"s enough.”
“You…”
There was an unnatural pause in the discourse.
Xia Xue"s eyes narrowed, appearing to overflow with some terrifying light.
“Are you going to let the disciples die?”
Xia Xue"s incisive question pierced relentlessly into Qi Qiqi"s heart.
As Merak Temple"s temple master, Qi Qiqi shoulders heavy responsibility. Bound by the framework that is Merak Temple at all times, her words and deeds must have Merak Temple"s interests as the premise.
It is her primary responsibility to ensure the safety of the disciples.
She actually knows this better than anyone else. Yet… she feels that something is more important.
… “It"s not a question of whether you should or not, but a question of whether you want to or not.”
Xue Qilin once said that.
But with her ident.i.ty, Qi Qiqi can only consider “it"s a question of whether you should or not”. She can never take into account her own personal thoughts.
This is her responsibility and her sorrow.
She wants to rush to the rescue of the other sects, wants to look for Xue Qilin, but her ident.i.ty and duty don"t allow her to do that.
Qi Qiqi isn"t free.