Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Liu Nanzhou slept straight through until evening, when the bright moon hung high in the sky. Qi Wuyu stayed by his side the entire time, watching over him.

Wu Lan's assumption was incorrect; otherwise, Liu Nanzhou would have long been successfully possessed by Dan Cangke.

It was unclear whether Wu Lan overestimated Dan Cangke or underestimated Liu Nanzhou.

Wu Lan truly didn't understand Liu Nanzhou. As long as Liu Nanzhou had a single breath left, even if it meant dying together with Dan Cangke, he would never allow Dan Cangke to wreak havoc using his body. Yet Wu Lan was still under the illusion that Dan Cangke could possess him.

Qi Wuyu pinched the bridge of his nose, sighed inwardly, and felt that some matters needed a definitive resolution.

Dan Cangke absolutely could not be allowed to remain.

He reached out and brushed Liu Nanzhou's cheek. "You've endured so much hardship on my account. Would it have been better if you'd never met me?"

Qi Wuyu thought Liu Nanzhou was still asleep, but unexpectedly, he heard Liu Nanzhou speak. "No."

Liu Nanzhou opened his eyes and sat up. "I think it's been good."

Qi Wuyu looked at him with a faint, wry smile. "Being plagued by a Heart Demon is good? Having someone covet your body to possess it is good?"

Liu Nanzhou didn't say anything, only offering him a slight, soft smile. Though he made no sound, all his words were in those pure, bright eyes. The demonic aura that had clung to him when they first met was now almost undetectable.

Qi Wuyu was all too familiar with this smile.

No matter how the Heart Demon affected him, no matter how Dan Cangke influenced him, his Xiao Zhou was still his Xiao Zhou.

Qi Wuyu knew all too well how difficult it was to maintain such a pure, original heart. A part of his heart seemed to cave in, feeling both soft and aching. He reached out and flicked Liu Nanzhou's forehead. "Silly you."

Liu Nanzhou looked at him and asked, "Why did you really come?"

Qi Wuyu leaned against the bedside, crossing his arms over his chest. "For the second fool who ran away from home without a word."

Liu Nanzhou lowered his head and rubbed his nose. No matter how embarrassed he felt, he still refused to go back. "There's a formation here that restricts spiritual power." He formed a complex hand seal with both hands. "It's too dangerous. I'll find a way to send you away."

As he moved, demonic energy actually surged from his body. Qi Wuyu didn't recognize this seal, but he could tell it was a demonic art. His gaze darkened slightly, and he suddenly felt an invisible pressure on him dissipate. He concentrated power in his hand to test it and found that he could use his spiritual power again.

"Let's go quickly."

He started to get off the bed but was held down by Qi Wuyu. "I came to take you away, not for a day trip."

Liu Nanzhou paused, looked at him, and after a long silence, finally said, "Shi... Shizun." He glanced at Qi Wuyu's expression, and seeing no particular reaction, continued, "I can't go back. I can't put them in danger because of my own selfish desires. I don't know how long I can hold on. I... Dan Cangke wants to use me to force you into a choice. Don't let it hold you back. I won't make things difficult for you."

Qi Wuyu's gaze gradually grew heavy. "What do you mean?"

Liu Nanzhou's face remained calm, but his eyes were filled with the message: "If that day ever comes, he would end himself first."

Qi Wuyu knew Liu Nanzhou was capable of doing just that. He said quietly, "In your heart, am I someone who needs to sacrifice others to fulfill so-called 'greater righteousness'?"

Liu Nanzhou hurriedly explained, "No... I just..."

He didn't know how to say it, stammering "I" for a while without getting anywhere. Qi Wuyu watched him silently. "Just what?"

Liu Nanzhou lowered his eyes. "I just don't want you to be affected by unrelated matters."

"Why?"

Liu Nanzhou looked at him. "Because... you are Qi Zhuo."

Liu Nanzhou initially cultivated the Dao only for Qi Wuyu alone, but Qi Wuyu was different.

Qi Zhuo genuinely worked for all under heaven. He shouldn't be bound by anything; he should forge ahead unwaveringly.

To be the vanguard for the world—that was his Dao heart.

No matter what he had become now, even if he had lost all his spiritual power, he was still Qi Zhuo.

Qi Wuyu never spoke of it, but that didn't mean he had abandoned these ideals. When Liu Nanzhou was young, Qi Wuyu had jokingly told him, "Cultivating the Dao is for the sake of all living beings, to rescue the people from suffering."

Liu Nanzhou understood. Beneath the trappings of the mortal world, his core was still that spear-wielding youth.

Qi Wuyu was slightly taken aback; he had almost forgotten this point.

"Qi Zhuo..." he murmured, repeating the name. "What connection do I seem to have with him now?"

Liu Nanzhou remained silent.

Qi Wuyu sighed. "I need to apologize to you first. I didn't intentionally hide this from you."

"It's alright."

"Qi Zhuo was an overly deified person. In reality, he was just an ordinary person with two eyes and one mouth." Qi Zhuo said, "He was merely a mortal. Being human means having selfish desires."

Liu Nanzhou looked at him seriously. Qi Zhuo said, "For the peace of the Four Continents, I can sacrifice myself, but I cannot sacrifice you. That's not right, and it's not fair to you." He asked, "Do you think the world ranks before you in my heart?"

Liu Nanzhou instinctively nodded.

Qi Wuyu let out a light laugh. "For me, the common people of the world indeed come before myself, but they would never come before you."

Liu Nanzhou's eyes widened in an instant, as if something had struck his heart heavily. He had always believed his own weight was light and never dwelled on how important he might be in someone else's heart. He didn't seem to pay it much mind; he only needed to know who was important in his own heart.

Only now, hearing Qi Wuyu say this, did his heart tremble, and he suddenly realized he wasn't indifferent. He just hadn't dared to think about it before, pretending he didn't care. But who doesn't wish to hold a bit more weight in someone else's heart?

Qi Wuyu said in a lazy drawl, "Actually, there's nothing comparable about this. If I can save one person, I'll save one; if I can save two, I'll save two. I'll use my abilities to their fullest extent. I know my own limits; even if I die, the world won't descend into chaos because of it. The world's state never depended on me alone." His expression turned cold. "Besides, what kind of thing is Dan Cangke? Does he think he can threaten me just because he wants to?"

"Liu Nanzhou."

Liu Nanzhou instinctively sat up straighter, waiting for Qi Wuyu's words.

"There aren't so many perfect solutions in the world. Trying to have it both ways inevitably harms oneself. If he wants me to choose, I refuse. He's set up a lousy chess game—who wants to play along? I'm going to flip the board." Qi Wuyu grasped his wrist. "You're afraid he'll bring danger? Then let him disappear completely from your body. I will definitely take you home."

A surge of warmth flooded Liu Nanzhou's heart as he stared blankly at him. "But..."

He had tried many times without success.

Qi Wuyu ruffled his hair. "I'll help you. Do you trust me?"

Liu Nanzhou didn't hesitate in the slightest. "I trust you."

Qi Wuyu placed a talisman on Liu Nanzhou's back, over his heart. "Close your eyes."

He leaned in, pressing his forehead against Liu Nanzhou's, and entered Liu Nanzhou's Spiritual Platform.

The moment Qi Wuyu saw Liu Nanzhou's Spiritual Platform, he felt Liu Nanzhou's plight as if it were his own.

Within his Spiritual Platform, demonic energy was dense and oppressive. Even though most of it was restrained by Yao Shuning's pill, it still felt stifling and cold. A less steadfast person would likely forget where they were after staying here for just a while. He could hardly imagine how Liu Nanzhou had endured this.

Qi Wuyu's figure swayed slightly. He clenched his fist, silently noting this debt in his heart. He wouldn't just make Dan Cangke disappear from Liu Nanzhou's body; he would make Dan Cangke vanish from this world entirely.

"Shizun." Liu Nanzhou supported him, speaking softly, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Qi Wuyu came back to himself and looked at him, his eyes filled with pained concern. He wanted to say so much but felt it would sound whiny. After a moment of silence, he tightly grasped Liu Nanzhou's hand and shook his head. "I'm fine."

"Actually, most of it is due to my own Heart Demon. Dan Cangke merely borrowed its power," Liu Nanzhou said. "It's much better now."

A gust of cold wind suddenly rose, and a mass of demonic energy swirled toward them, solidifying into a human shape not far away. "Qi Zhuo, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Qi Wuyu looked at the face he hadn't seen in a century yet could never forget, letting out a cold laugh. "It's been a long time since you've shown your true face, hasn't it? For a Demon Lord to stoop to your level is truly pathetic."

Dan Cangke gritted his teeth, ignoring the sarcasm, and glanced at Liu Nanzhou. "What, have you made up your mind so quickly?"

"I have."

Dan Cangke found it quite odd. "It looks like you've chosen your little disciple. To think he means that much to you, Qi Zhuo. I like this child even more now." A gleam of excitement flashed in his eyes. "Then hurry up and take back the Mountain Ghost."

"I don't need you to like him," Qi Wuyu said. "And you're mistaken. I'm not choosing him."

Dan Cangke's smile froze. Qi Wuyu lowered his voice. "I choose... your death."

No sooner had he spoken than Dan Cangke sensed a chilling sword energy behind him. His body reacted instinctively, dodging aside as the Frostwind Sword, appearing from nowhere, sliced through the corner of his robe.

Qi Wuyu raised his hand to catch the Frostwind Sword. He tilted his head back and let out a provocative whistle. "It's been a while since I've fought. Let's play."

Dan Cangke was startled. "Didn't you lose your spiritual power?"

Qi Wuyu tapped the sword lightly on the ground. "Shows what you know."

Without giving Dan Cangke time to react, Qi Wuyu charged forward with his sword. Liu Nanzhou followed closely behind. This manifestation was merely a fragment of Dan Cangke's Divine Sense, with very limited power. Even borrowing strength from Liu Nanzhou's Heart Demon, it was now struggling to maintain its form.

Initially, when facing Liu Nanzhou alone, Dan Cangke had the upper hand because Liu Nanzhou was powerless against his own Heart Demon. His feelings toward Qi Wuyu were too complex, making the Heart Demon strong and providing Dan Cangke with ample power to borrow.

But now, Dan Cangke could feel the power of Liu Nanzhou's Heart Demon gradually weakening. Consequently, the strength this wisp of Divine Sense could rely on was also diminishing. He suddenly regretted summoning Qi Wuyu—this was nothing like what he had envisioned.

With Qi Wuyu by his side, Liu Nanzhou's Heart Demon grew much calmer. Ever since Liu Nanzhou left, his Heart Demon had worsened. Being apart from Qi Wuyu felt like having his bones scraped and flesh carved out. Though he showed no sign of it in front of the demons, his words might deceive others but not himself.

The fact that a mere fragment of Dan Cangke's Divine Sense could occasionally invade his Spiritual Platform was largely his own fault.

His Heart Demon was too severe.

Now, with Qi Wuyu right beside him and knowing Qi Wuyu didn't blame him, his Heart Demon naturally settled down. Dan Cangke felt he had truly shot himself in the foot this time.

The Shejiang Sword further forced him to keep his distance. This sword seemed to be his natural bane, as incompatible as fire and water.

Wu Lan sensed the anomaly in Qi Wuyu's room and immediately went to check. He saw at a glance that most of Qi Wuyu's Divine Sense had separated into Liu Nanzhou's Spiritual Platform, leaving Qi Wuyu's physical body extremely vulnerable. Without hesitation, Wu Lan struck toward Qi Wuyu's body, only to be blocked by someone.

"Get out of the way!"

Mo Chen stood firmly in front of the two, saying nothing but his stance was resolute.

"Are you rebelling?" Wu Lan's veins bulged with rage, the tattoo on his neck twisting more fiercely. "You'd fight me for them?"

"I'm sorry, I can't let you harm him."

Wu Lan let out a bitter laugh. "Fine. You're really something."

He nodded as if mocking himself, turned slightly, then suddenly spun back and struck out with a palm. He had used nearly seventy to eighty percent of his strength in this blow, yet Mo Chen still blocked it. The recoil sent shockwaves through both of them, sustaining significant internal injuries. Wu Lan staggered back a few steps, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He looked at Mo Chen in disbelief. Based on his understanding of Mo Chen's abilities, there was no way he should have been able to withstand that strike.

Had he been hiding his true strength all along?

"You..."

Mo Chen wiped the blood from his lips. "I told you, you cannot harm him."

Wu Lan's fury burned hotter. He was about to advance again when the ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled violently. He steadied himself, his expression changing drastically.

Damn it!

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Author's Note: I can't believe I haven't updated for so many days. I really deserve to die. But I've been incredibly busy, and it looks like I'll be busy for a while longer. Sorry (kneeling) [bursting into tears]