When I Mistook My Arch-Rival for My Dao Companion - Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Wenren Qian’s words acted like a sudden support for Fu Guzhou; his tears nearly overflowed, but he managed to hold them back, avoiding making a fool of himself.

He sniffled and said in a muffled voice: “I’m not crying, it’s just that some sand blew over just now and my eyes feel a bit uncomfortable.”

Seemingly afraid of being noticed by those who, like them, were interested in the natural treasures here, Fu Guzhou deliberately lowered his voice. Hearing it now, it actually sounded a bit like a sob.

“Actually, it’s no big deal if you want to cry.”

“…I don’t want to cry. I should have realized it long ago. Regarding the Changyuan Secret Realm—a place that claimed the lives of so many cultivators from both the immortal and demonic sects—I already had a premonition when I saw the records. It’s just that I didn’t want to face it; I was lying to myself. Although it’s a great regret that the Master who used to tease me is gone in what feels like the blink of an eye, at least the ‘me’ before the memory loss did not fail his teachings. I’m just a little…” heartbroken, that’s all.

Some things, no matter how much one prepares mentally, are still difficult to face with complete indifference when the time comes.

No matter how optimistic or calm Fu Guzhou usually was, he was still just a youth with little experience. Being able to remain this composed at his age, and even knowing to continue hiding his aura, was already a rare feat.

Unfortunately, he was still a green youth who didn’t know that the human heart is unfathomable.

Wenren Qian knew that the current Fu Guzhou trusted him deeply, and the meager help he provided was merely an expedient measure to gain that trust. Thus, the current Fu Guzhou was truly a “poor little thing.” It didn’t seem too difficult to accept being a bit easier to talk to for this poor thing’s sake.

Wenren Qian stayed with him in silence for a long while before asking: “Do you feel better?”

Fu Guzhou nodded, but the redness in his eyes did not subside.

Wenren Qian knew—he wasn’t better yet.

He intended to continue accompanying him when he felt someone gently tugging at his sleeve.

Wenren Qian looked down and mouthed: “What?”

“Can I have a hug with you?” Fearing Wenren Qian would refuse, he quickly added, “Just for a little while. I’ll be quick. It’s just that right now I…”

Midway through, Fu Guzhou gave up. “Forget it, I’ll just compose myself on my own.”

Wenren Qian almost agreed, but what was the point of two grown men hugging? Especially when this person was his arch-rival.

But refusing also seemed poor form. Wenren Qian chose a middle ground and patted Fu Guzhou’s head: “Rest assured, your Master will be proud of you. Because you are inherently excellent, not some mediocre talent.”

“Really?”

“Have you ever seen a mediocre person become the number one figure of the immortal sects?”

Fu Guzhou was well comforted and whispered: “Wenren Qian, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

After all, how could a fellow capable of sealing him be ordinary?

Wenren Qian didn’t expect the seventeen-year-old Fu Guzhou’s psychological resilience to be so good. After feeling distressed for just a moment, he adjusted his emotions and even asked Wenren Qian if he had any ideas regarding the stalemate before them.

“You’re better?”

“I feel like I’m still not quite okay, but I can’t just wallow in self-pity. Besides, all good things must come to an end; Master couldn’t have stayed by my side forever.”

“Since you understand the reasoning, why do you still feel not quite okay?”

Fu Guzhou seemed surprised to be asked this question. “Because he is my Master. Even though I knew he would leave me one day, I will still be sad.”

This was human nature, and the difference between demons and humans was that demons sometimes found it hard to understand this “human nature.”

Wenren Qian felt a flicker of irritation and automatically bypassed the topic, returning to the previous question: “Regarding this situation, rather than asking for my thoughts, why don’t you tell me what you are thinking?”

Fu Guzhou had been thinking for a while about whether they should make a move. Not doing so would be a disservice to their trip here, but the danger they would face by doing so was far beyond what they could predict. That was why Fu Guzhou had been both itching to act and holding himself back firmly at the start.

This time, Fu Guzhou only hesitated briefly before giving a definitive answer: “We should still take a gamble.”

“Weren’t you very hesitant just now, Immortal Venerable?”

“The Demon Sovereign said it himself that was ‘just now.’ In truth, neither of us has any intention of giving up. If we wanted to give up, we would have left long ago. Why would we have observed and waited here for so long? The reason we stayed is because we are both interested. Since we are determined to get this thing, we must strike. We can’t let these poisonous insects get there first.”

Fu Guzhou was a man of plans. One moment he said he would stay, the next he began formulating a strategy.

Their biggest trouble now was having a wealth of experience and techniques but lacking the powerful strength to back them up. Here, Fu Guzhou didn’t even have his full experience and techniques, which naturally increased the difficulty for both of them.

Fu Guzhou thought very seriously about various countermeasures, then said to Wenren Qian: “Maybe we should give up.”

The reason Fu Guzhou dared to call himself a genius over the years aside from his cultivation and swordsmanship was mostly due to his predictive ability, also known as a swordsman’s intuition. This intuition was subtle, but it always managed to give him a pull at critical moments. At this moment, Fu Guzhou was seemingly blind and could only use his divine sense to replace his eyes, but divine sense can sometimes see far more than the naked eye. Just by looking at the things in front of him, he could deduce many outcomes of their actions.

With so many things coveting one object simultaneously, speed was undoubtedly essential. But who could be faster than a centipede? With his current speed, he would either be intercepted by the centipedes before succeeding, or succeed in seizing the item and then be frantically besieged by these creatures. Of course, there was a huge advantage: if the majority of the combat power was drawn away by him, Wenren Qian would likely be able to obtain the Spirit Fire Earth Essence much more easily.

But unless necessary, Fu Guzhou didn’t want to cause such a result for the sake of mere external objects. After all, although this body belonged to him, it belonged even more to the “him” before the memory loss.

Wenren Qian let out a laugh not a mocking one, but a knowing smile. “In this regard, Immortal Venerable, you have great self-knowledge. Having ambition is good, but when strength is insufficient to support ambition, it becomes a death warrant. Not wanting to leave is sometimes just due to being unwilling, like those poisonous insects and snakes that can only circle around the Wind-Fire Infant-Washing Grass.”

Fu Guzhou nodded in agreement, “So…”

Before his sentence “we should just leave” could leave his mouth, it was interrupted by Wenren Qian: “So we should decide decisively and act with one breath.”

Fu Guzhou had a bad premonition. The next second, it came true. This man, when he said he would strike, truly struck without a shred of hesitation.

Watching the figure shoot out, Fu Guzhou’s expression shifted from agreement to horror in an instant.

At this time, he stopped calculating outcomes. To prevent the Nether Ghost-Flame Flowers from stealing his power, he only used wind this time.

Everything happened too fast. Wenren Qian was clearly speaking to him one second, and the next, he had already surged past him to arrive before the Wind-Fire Infant-Washing Grass. Even though Fu Guzhou had released his divine sense, he could only capture the afterimage of the other’s movement. He saw the red-robed man collect both the Wind-Fire Infant-Washing Grass and the Spirit Fire Earth Essence into his hands in an instant.

This immediately drove the insects who had guarded the place for years into a frenzy. Their eyes turned red, and they lunged toward Wenren Qian recklessly. Fu Guzhou’s heart trembled as he watched; he stopped thinking about feasibility and rushed up to help.

Wenren Qian witnessed yet another major difference between Fu Guzhou and Immortal Venerable Qingchen: the Qingchen who had cultivated for a thousand years would never have done something so irrational under any circumstances, whereas Fu Guzhou still had a bit of youthful hot-bloodedness.

Fu Guzhou used the sword strike his Master had taught him while saying to Wenren Qian: “Retreat.”

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth gathered in this one strike; even the ghostly qi grew thinner upon contact with the blade. A cold light flashed in Wenren Qian’s eyes, and he took a step back as instructed, narrowly avoiding the sharp teeth of a centipede coming for him. In the next instant, a centipede ten meters long was slain beneath Fu Guzhou’s feet, crimson blood nearly staining half of Fu Guzhou’s face.

Fu Guzhou didn’t speak, but continued to squeeze the spiritual energy from his body, using even more powerful sword techniques to cover Wenren Qian’s exit.

Seeing that Wenren Qian hadn’t left, Fu Guzhou said anxiously: “Quick, leave.”

He could hold on for a bit longer, but something even more terrifying was about to emerge.

Almost every muscle in Fu Guzhou’s body was tense. At this moment, he didn’t even feel the excitement of facing a strong foe; he was only worried about whether his Dao companion could escape. His heart beat like a drum, making his blood boil along with it.

“If this seat leaves now, you will likely be eaten until not even a scrap of bone remains.”

Who could have thought that this fellow, who had been mild-tempered since they met and even acted guilty toward him, would suddenly darken his face and say coldly: “I told you to leave quickly.”

The longsword danced, and various limbs of poisonous creatures fell in a bloody mess. In contrast to this slaughter was Fu Guzhou’s icy voice: “Wenren Qian, do you think you are still the great demon who could change the world with a wave of your hand? Suppressed in this space, you can barely maintain human form. Since there is a chance now, leave quickly.”

That look, that voice.

Wenren Qian was stunned for a moment, then actually began to laugh.

This completely threw off Fu Guzhou, who had expected his companion to be angry. He tried his best to maintain his cold and heartless exterior, acting like a total scumbag, while swiftly slashing down various poisonous creatures.

Amidst such busyness, he actually heard the words: “Fu Guzhou, are you an idiot?”

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