The Cannon Fodder Also Has a Will to Survive [Rebirth] - Chapter 27.1

An Jiu had rejected Xi Qingdu not only because of the man’s shamelessness but also because his skin was so thick that An Jiu had nearly chipped a tooth biting him. Even now, An Jiu’s teeth felt a bit sensitive, and he felt a desperate urge to find something to grind them against.

Xi Qingdu was slightly surprised, but then he let out a relaxed laugh. “You’ll come begging me for it in the future.”

An Jiu didn’t listen; he only urged the man to hurry up. Xi Qingdu reached out and pinched An Jiu’s jaw, just as he had done when An Jiu first woke up in this bed. It was like a scene repeating itself.

The next step is to tell me to open my mouth.

“Open up.”

As expected. An Jiu thought to himself: I can even predict his moves now. I’m truly brilliant.

He obediently opened his mouth, assuming Xi Qingdu would just look like before. After all, the last time the man had touched his chin, he had meticulously wiped every finger with a handkerchief afterward. An Jiu had deduced that Xi Qingdu must be a bit of a germaphobe.

But this time, he guessed wrong.

While one of Xi Qingdu’s hands held his chin, the fingers of the other hand reached into An Jiu’s mouth. He pressed down on the root of An Jiu’s tongue, his fingers exploring the entire oral cavity. An Jiu’s eyes asked: Is this a necessary step for extracting Dragon Breath?

Xi Qingdu understood the look and smiled with immense charm. “It’s just a flirting technique. Little friend, you should learn it well.”

An Jiu blinked, as if saying: Why would I need to learn that?

Xi Qingdu successfully decoded his eyes again. “Even if you can’t use it yourself, remember it so that the next time someone tries to take advantage of you, you won’t be so easy to fool.”

An Jiu: “…”

He was speechless. He thought: If you hadn’t caused all this trouble, would I be lying here with no strength in my limbs letting you do this?

Xi Qingdu’s fingers toyed with his mouth for a while longer, and despite the offensive words, he saw that An Jiu didn’t have much of an emotional reaction the boy just stared up at him with those innocent eyes. Feeling like he was bullying a child, Xi Qingdu withdrew his fingers and held them up for An Jiu to see. “So easy to deceive. Did you really believe me?”

An Jiu looked at the man’s hand. Between two fingers, a wisp of azure mist was coiled, flowing slowly.

That was the Dragon Breath.

Almost the instant Xi Qingdu removed his hand, An Jiu felt the emptiness and burning heat in his body begin to recede. He once again believed Xi Qingdu’s words.

“My apologies, City Lord Xi. I misunderstood you just now. Also, thank you for your help.” An Jiu rubbed his aching cheeks and sincerely apologized  and thanked the culprit.

Xi Qingdu gave him a friendly smile. “Go on then.”

As expected, he had been tricked again. But An Jiu, having been fooled so many times that he had practically lost his “metaphorical underwear,” now had a certain level of trust in Xi Qingdu. Seeing the man let him go, he didn’t overthink it; he scrambled up and headed out. After a middle-of-the-night ordeal, he was starving, he really wanted some radish cakes.

Once the boy left, Xi Qingdu used a spell to slam the doors and windows shut. In the dim room, the azure-eyed beauty brought his right hand to his nose. He half-closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The azure mist on his fingertips followed his breath into his nostrils.

Xi Qingdu inhaled the Dragon Breath back. Although he didn’t use his mouth it didn’t feel much better.

After reclaiming the breath, he closed his eyes in contentment for a moment. Then, he opened his hand and exhaled a puff of azure mist into his palm. The curling smoke circled his hand before condensing into a misty figure. The tiny azure figure lay in Xi Qingdu’s palm, sleeping like an undisturbed soul.

Xi Qingdu brought his palm close to his eyes, scrutinizing every inch of the sleeping mist-figure. He held his breath, fearing that a single exhale would blow the image away.

After a long time, Xi Qingdu finally let out a breath that had been bottled in his chest for years. “He is very like you, yet not quite. Fuguang, when will you finally return?”

The moment An Jiu stepped out of the room, the door behind him shut with a loud thud. He wanted to look back out of curiosity, but Han Zhong caught his shoulder and turned him around.

Han Zhong’s eyes were like torches as they scanned An Jiu’s face, focusing heavily on his lips. Finding no abnormalities and confirming the color hadn’t changed since he left, his expression visibly softened.

“How did that fellow extract the Dragon Breath?” Han Zhong asked. Seeing An Jiu’s refreshed state, he knew Xi Qingdu had been playing games with him earlier. Yet, surprisingly, he wasn’t angry; he felt a strange sense of relief.

An Jiu’s eyes darted around as he made a demand. “Junior Uncle, take me for a midnight snack and I’ll tell you.” He had been obsessing over this for a while and couldn’t hold back any longer.

Han Zhong finally laughed. “Alright. We’ll talk while we eat.”

“Junior Uncle, you’re the best!” An Jiu offered a happy compliment. It wasn’t just flattery; he truly thought Han Zhong was a decent person. An Jiu had caused so much trouble and brought so much nonsense to his door, yet the man hadn’t criticized him once or even lost his temper.

Thinking back to his previous life, Han Zhong hadn’t really done anything terrible to him either. In the book, Han Zhong had only fought for An Yunge as a disciple to spite his brother and had mostly just ignored An Jiu.

Conclusion: Junior Uncle is a good person!

But An Jiu knew this version of Han Zhong only existed as long as he wasn’t in contact with An Yunge. Once Han Zhong set his sights on the protagonist, this kindness would likely vanish. Given An Yunge’s hatred for him, it would be lucky if Junior Uncle didn’t help An Yunge deal with him.

An Jiu sorted through these relationships in his head. Junior Uncle’s kindness is ‘limited edition,’ he thought. I should cherish it while it lasts. Once they returned to the sect and Han Zhong was around An Yunge, this goodwill would be withdrawn.

Thinking of this made An Jiu a little sad. But he quickly adjusted his mindset. If I’m already feeling down now, how will I handle it when I actually see Junior Uncle being good to An Yunge? He had to have self-awareness keep his emotions in check, because if you don’t expect anything, you won’t be disappointed.

An Jiu nodded to himself, thinking he was very clever.

Han Zhong asked what he was thinking about. It was just a casual question; he simply found the boy’s self-nodding while eating to be cute. Knowing An Jiu, he didn’t think the “little head” held anything of profound depth.

An Jiu looked up and held a piece of radish cake to Han Zhong’s lips. “Junior Uncle, this is delicious! Try it!”

Han Zhong was touched by the gesture, a smile reaching his eyes. He naturally assumed An Jiu’s nodding was simply a seal of approval for the cook’s skill. He would never have guessed that on this unremarkable day, An Jiu had made a decision that would prove so disadvantageous to him in the future.

Han Zhong took a bite of the cake, breaking his long-standing habit of fasting. After finishing, he ordered a serving of glutinous rice balls for the boy. “Be good and listen, and Junior Uncle will buy you whatever you want.”

Not just snacks, but celestial treasures too. An Jiu nodded with emotion, failing to grasp the deeper meaning. Then again, given An Jiu’s current desires, snacks were likely closer to his heart anyway.

The two lived a peaceful life in Demon-Spirit City for over half a month. During this time, Han Zhong never once lost his temper. They lived like friends or mentor and student, without any friction. Han Zhong even accompanied An Jiu to try the specialties of every Yao tribe to be honest, even as a natural-born Yao, he had never explored the local cuisine this thoroughly.

He found the experience beautiful. He believed these were special memories belonging only to him and An Jiu proof of their growing intimacy.

On the day of the Demon-Spirit Festival, the Great Priest gave An Jiu a vial of nectar and a blessing. “Once the wishing lanterns are released, the teleportation array will reopen. You may leave then, or stay one more night.”

An Jiu clutched the lantern and ran back to Han Zhong, looking at him with longing. “Junior Uncle, can we stay one more night?” He truly didn’t want to return to the Wan-Yan Sword Sect. That place held only memories of pain and sorrow; it wasn’t nearly as happy as his time in the Demonic Realm.

Han Zhong knew what he was thinking, but he was confident he could protect the boy. He gently touched An Jiu’s forehead. “No can do, Xiao Jiu. Your body can’t wait any longer.”

In reality, An Jiu’s physical condition was poor. He looked fine on the surface, but the clashing spiritual energies in his body were a hidden time bomb. At any moment, they could rupture his meridians; he could be jumping around one second and bleeding from his seven orfices the next.

An Jiu didn’t push further. He looked at the lantern in his hand and fell into a silent daze.

The time for the lanterns came. In the distance at Hurricane Square, colorful lanterns began to drift into the sky. “Let’s go,” Han Zhong said, taking the boy’s wrist to lead him to the square.

An Jiu watched Han Zhong light the lantern and hand it to him. “Aren’t you going to release one, Junior Uncle?”

Han Zhong patted his head. “The things I want, I will fight for myself.” In truth, the Priest’s lanterns were limited, each carrying a blessing. To take another would be to take someone else’s blessing. He had released plenty in his life; there was no need to take this one away from An Jiu.

An Jiu didn’t ask further. Han Zhong said, “Place your palm on the mark of the Demon-Spirit God, whisper your wish in your heart, and then release it.”

An Jiu followed the instructions. He closed his eyes and prayed to be far away from An Yunge and his crowd he just wanted to live his own life. And maybe get a dog.

As the lantern drifted steadily into the sky, a happy smile appeared on An Jiu’s face. Han Zhong asked, “What did you wish for?”

An Jiu let out a playful “Hmph,” daring to show a bit of temper. “I’m not telling. Guess for yourself.”

Han Zhong replied good-naturedly, “Fine. Wishes should be kept secret. Mortals say that if you speak a wish aloud, it won’t come true. So, keep it to yourself.”