Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 233 - He Arrives (2)

“Shaoyang,” Rong Shuang turned to Shaoyang Zhenren, her tone carrying an undercurrent of meaning. “Are you truly going to stand by and watch?”

Shaoyang Zhenren looked at Gu Baiying, and after a moment, spoke calmly, “He won’t be able to hold on much longer.”

“What?”

“Though he’s currently putting on a brave face, he’s actually holding on by force. The Soul Binding Technique has cost him a fragment of his primordial soul. With the Ten Thousand Kill Formation’s attacks falling upon him, as a human, he is immune to the formation’s harm. Once the formation ends and gets closed, the consequences will be settled.” His gaze shifted to Rong Shuang. “For someone destined to die, why rush the matter?”

The calmness in his eyes left Rong Shuang momentarily speechless.

Gu Baiying had forced his way out of seclusion due to the danger he knew Yang Zanxing was in, which had already exhausted his spiriual energy. Now, as the Ten Thousand Kill Formation’s attacks landed on him, he remained unaffected because he was human. On the surface, he seemed extremely arrogant, but once the myriad of killing moves was over and the formation closed, he and Zanxing would still face numerous enemies from the cultivation world. Even with his profound cultivation, the loss of a fragment of his primordial soul meant that Gu Baiying would not be able to protect Zanxing.

Rong Shuang said, “Truly unaware of the heights of heaven and depths of the earth.” But she did not attempt to intervene further.

Gu Baiying might save her for a moment, but he could not provide a lasting solution. In the end, Zanxing was destined to die.

At this moment, Pu Tao couldn’t help but rush to the formation’s edge, shouting at Gu Baiying within, “Gu Baiying, you’re being deceived by this demoness! She’s not your disciple, she killed fellow disciples and also the disciples of the Chihua Sect, going through great lengths to infiltrate Gufeng Mountain and deceive your trust, all while harboring malicious intent. Why are you so blind, opposing the cultivation world for the sake of such a person?”

Her words were earnest, but Tian Fangfang’s anger flared. “What’s this girl’s intention? Always trying to sow discord rather than reconcile.”

Gu Baiying turned his head to look at Pu Tao.

The young man’s eyes were clear, bright, and sharp, like the silver blade of his spear, carrying a chilling aura that made Pu Tao momentarily falter.

He spoke calmly, “Did you see her killing fellow disciples with your own eyes?”

“I…”

“You speak so earnestly, and yet I thought you had seen it yourself. If you haven’t seen it, spreading such rumors is no different from being a gossiping ghost.”

Pu Tao, being just a young girl and criticized publicly by the person she admired, could not help but redden her eyes.

“I don’t believe others, I only trust my own eyes,” Gu Baiying said firmly. “I understand better than all of you what kind of person she is.”

The wind scattered the stars of the Milky Way, stirred up the fire stars, and made his robe and headband flutter, yet the young man’s gaze remained as steadfast as rock. No one doubted his trust in the person behind him.

Because of his trust, even knowing she was from the demon race, he still unreservedly left his back exposed to protect her, standing in front of the girl.

Pu Tao began to realize something. “You…”

But Gu Baiying ignored her, turning to walk toward Zanxing.

Zanxing was being helped up. The skin that had been scorched was slowly beginning to heal, though not yet to its former state, it was much better than before. She was gradually regaining some strength, with her melted bones slowly beginning to reforge. The process was painful, as if someone was shattering and then reshaping her limbs.

Gu Baiying’s primordial soul was assisting in repairing her body, which had been destroyed by the Ten Thousand Kill Formation.

However, the emerald green golden core in her dantian had completely vanished.

She had become an ordinary person.

Gu Baiying held her in his arms. Zanxing’s body was limp, and as she turned her head, she finally got a clear view of Gu Baiying’s face. She mustered a weak smile, trying to show him a semblance of happiness.

“Don’t force yourself to smile,” Gu Baiying said, trying to suppress his own emotions. “It looks worse than crying.”

“Why are you here?” she asked.

“If I hadn’t come, you’d have met Yama by now,” Gu Baiying said, frowning as he looked at her. “Aren’t you from the demon race? Since you went through so much to get to Gufeng Mountain, why didn’t you have a life-saving trump card? You always claimed you could turn danger into safety during the trials. How come now you’re like a sickly cat? Why didn’t you use your magical treasures? To see a demon race member reduced to such a state, beaten like a stray dog, is truly pathetic.” Although his words were harsh, his tone was gentle.

“Where is Mimi?”

“By your side, not dead,” Gu Baiying glanced at the silver-framed lion. The once snow-white fat cat now lay on the ground, charred and barely alive, and it was uncertain how long it could survive.

Zanxing sighed in relief, then remembered something and began to search around with her hands. “What about the hairpin?”

Gu Baiying picked up the broken hairpin from the ground and placed it in her hand.

Despite being scorched by the divine fire pillar, the hairpin still retained its vibrant green color, like a newly sprouted branch. Tianhun Wood, known for being the best at nurturing souls, made an excellent container for holding primordial souls.

Men Dong had mentioned how precious Tianhun wood was. Even a wealthy sect like Yinfeng Sect would only use it to make spiritual tools. Gu Baiying had used it to make a decorative hairpin, which was a waste compared to its true value. More valuable than Tianhun wood was his own primordial soul.

For ordinary cultivators, their primordial souls were precious. If a fragment of their primordial soul were to be used, it would be a hidden life-threatening secret, buried deep to avoid detection. Yet Gu Baiying had used such a precious material as an ornament, sending it to someone else, flaunting it on a girl’s head.

In the silent mountain night, with the cool wind and frost, Zanxing tightly gripped the cold hairpin in her hand. After a long pause, she slowly asked, “When did you find out I was from the demon race?”

If that hairpin could block the damage from the Ten Thousand Kill Formation, then Gu Baiying, who gave her the late star hairpin, might have anticipated this scenario long ago.

“Very early.”

Very early? When was that? Was it when he inserted the hairpin into her hair on her birthday, or was it when he lingered under the persimmon tree in her courtyard on a certain night? His strange behavior and the look of hidden thoughts finally made sense at this moment.

It turned out that while she was struggling and anxious, Gu Baiying had known all along.

If she had known this, she wouldn’t have hesitated so much. It would have been better to be honest with Gu Baiying earlier rather than letting things become so chaotic now.

Zanxing lowered her head, trying to smile, but in the end, she heard her own soft voice say, “Thank you.”

Knowing she was from the demon race, he had not doubted, disliked, or avoided her. Instead, he continued to trust her as always. Even someone with a bad temper like him would patiently wait for her to speak.

“I told you before,” Gu Baiying said calmly, “You are my disciple. Even if you stand against the whole world, that fact will not change.” He paused and continued, “Your stance is my stance. The agreement in the treasure land was written in black and white and I, Gu Baiying, am not someone who goes back on my word.”

Zanxing was startled, momentarily transported back to that night in the treasure land. Outside, the wind howled and the snow was cold. Inside the cave, the fire was warm. She had scribbled his name in the snow with a branch, making a near-defiant promise to him.

“Promises must be kept not only in the snow but also in the heart. Uncle, you must remember my words.”

He actually… really remembered.

“Actually, I was an accident,” Zanxing slowly began, “My existence was an accident, and me being here is also an accident. Those who do not belong to the Dao of Heaven will eventually be erased, no matter the method. Gu Baiying, I don’t deserve this.”

Heaven’s Dao sought to doom her, and Gu Baiying alone could not withstand it. Back then, she had strived step by step to alter her predetermined fate, only to hasten her own demise. If she were not in this world, Gu Baiying’s Qinchong seed would not have been taken, and he would have gradually repaired the flaws in his spiritual veins, remaining the arrogant and talented young master of the Taiyan Sect, living a life of peace and contentment.

He would not have become an enemy of the world.

“Yang Zanxing,” Gu Baiying furrowed his brows and looked at her, “Didn’t you say that to change your fate, you had to change mine as well? Now that our fates are intertwined, take care of it properly and don’t waste it.”

In the Divine Fire Pillar, the flames began to flicker violently, as if something unusual was about to happen.

“It’s almost over.” Rong Shuang looked towards the Ten Thousand Kill Formation, her eyes suddenly cold, and summoned the Flying Frost Sword to the front of the formation.

Daoist Lingxin sneered, “It’s just a last-ditch struggle. This is fine, we can capture her alive.” With that, he followed Rong Shuang with the Demon-Subduing Pestel.

The disciples of the Yinfeng Sect and others saw this and began to advance with their spiritual weapons, waiting for the final strike of the Ten Thousand Kill Formation and the closing of the formation, to capture the demoness alive.

“Uncle…”

The young man seemed not to notice the movements around them. He simply took off the crimson hairband from his head.

This action was strangely familiar, and Zanxing suddenly realized something, “What are you planning to do?”

“You know its name. It wasn’t used in Wufan City, but now it will be.” The young man gently wrapped the Zhuyan around her wrist, carefully tying a knot, and continued, “The Danxin Wine that Xuan Lingzi prepared on your birthday was sent by me. I spent three whole days selecting it, but you still didn’t understand. It’s fine,” he fastened the hairband and then tightly held Zanxing’s hand, suddenly smiling, “You’ve always been slow. I shouldn’t have expected much from you. This is for the best.”

“hat is he doing?” Rong Shuang noticed Gu Baiying’s actions and sensed something was wrong. She said, “Quickly, stop him from behind!”

“Gu Baiying, don’t do anything reckless.” Zanxing struggled.

He pressed her down with gentle force, his tone soft. As the young man looked up, his long lashes obscured the affection in his eyes as he simply called her name: “Yang Zanxing.”

Boom— A tremendous sound erupted from Gufeng Mountain.

The Divine Fire Pillar at the center of the Ten Thousand Kill Formation burst into flames, with the surrounding fire columns extinguishing instantly, leaving only scattered sparks dancing like burning butterflies in the night.

Zanxing felt the soft, snow-white robes brush her face like shattered snowflakes. Then, her whole body became as light as a raven’s feather, and her vision blurred.

The last thing she heard was Gu Baiying’s calm voice.

“Take care.”