167 – Beiming Little Fish

  After a long silence, Xihe, who appears to have found the answer, murmured, “.…… happiness — right, we are pursuing happiness . ”


  Xihe’s eyes are unfocused .

  The staunchness adorning her face cannot be driven away, cannot be hidden, as if it was engraved on it . But unexpectedly, it gives off a fuzzy feeling .

  The words she spoke just now seem to be meant to persuade herself as well as remind herself — no, it should be said that they are meant to calm her wavering heart .

  No matter what, this answer doesn’t fit .

  The girl, who is shifting her gaze, looks like a drowning person grasping for straws .

  However, Xue Qilin doesn’t intend to pierce through the other party’s self-deception, and instead asked in a flat tone, “Happiness of martial demons?”


  Xihe nodded gently .

  “Yes, happiness of martial demons . ”


  “What about you? What about your happiness?”


  Xue Qilin asked lightning-fast, which betrayed her impatience .

  “Me?”


  “As long as the martial demons can be happy, is it okay even if you die here?”


  “Enough misfortunes…… too many misfortunes have befallen us . For me — I really think so, their happiness is my happiness . ”


  What matters is not the fate of one person, but the fate of the collective .

  Martial demons focus on the fate of the collective, not the fate of a single individual .

  The viewpoint of the two may have been different from the get go .

  However, what does this represent?

  “Huh, what a joke! That’s foolish! Is this why you sacrifice yourself?”


  Although Xue Qilin can understand it, but she cannot approve of it .

  She cannot approve of this idea of self-sacrifice .

  The agitated mood she is under ignited an unknown fire, and Xue Qilin’s tone turned emotional unconsciously, causing Xihe to pull back in a rare fashion .

  “Whether it is happiness or unhappiness, both have life as the foundation! Because we are alive, we can have the due meaning and value . Death means losing everything, you know?!”


  “I do, of course I do!”


  Xihe pushed Xue Qilin away angrily and stepping back, as if to escape . Her fists are clenched tightly, with her nails digging into her palms .

  Then, after being suppressed repeatedly, her emotions finally burst out from her throat .

  “But you don’t! You don’t understand that my unhappiness stems from the fact that I was born a martial demon — a being that people don’t accept! Do you understand? No matter how similar we are in appearance, people won’t accept us!” Xihe’s voice became much quieter . “Perhaps, what we long for is just to be ‘accepted’ by people…… um, that’s all . ”


  Xihe lowered her head . Most of her face is hidden in the shadow of her bangs, making it impossible to make out her expression .

  “However, the world is really narrow-minded, to the point that it doesn’t tolerate us . We can only struggle to survive . Yet you won’t even let go of our place of shelter…… What can we do? All we need is Martial Demon Realm — when it comes to the whole world, it is nothing . ”


  There are ripples in Xihe’s eyes . The expression portrayed on her face is that of someone about to cry .

  “But why…… why is the world so narrow-minded?”


  This is not a question, but a complaint . A complaint against the world, against humans .

  Xihe, it’s not the world that’s narrow-minded, but people…… As if she ate yarrow, Xue Qilin’s heart is full of bitterness .

  “What a headache……”


  But, is the world too small to even tolerate room for choice? Xue Qilin thinks that it shouldn’t be so .

  — It shouldn’t be the case . There should be room for choice and effort .

  At this time, Xue Qilin suddenly recalled what Beiming Youyu entrusted her with .

  So she said, “Xihe, we all have a mouth . ”


  Although this sentence is confusing, but it is not without meaning .

  After a long period of looking at one another, Xihe asked in a constrained tone, “.…… what do you mean?”


  Xue Qilin replied with a smile, “We are able to communicate and relate our feelings . ”


  “What are you talking about?”


  Unable to make sense of the other party’s words, Xihe, feeling irritated, raised her voice unconsciously .

  Xue Qilin closed her eyes and exhaled, breathing out all the obstacles that prevent her from making up her mind .

  When she opened her eyes again, she smiled calmly .

  “Have you ever thought about negotiating with the Five Great Sects to stop Martial Demon Realm Trial by Fire?”


  As if she heard something shocking, Xihe was struck dumb .

  After a while, she asked tentatively, “Xue Qilin, are you serious?”


  “Of course I’m serious . I don’t like to joke about such things . ”


  “.…… no way, they won’t listen to me . ”


  “Have you tried?”


  Xihe shook her head, stunned .

  “So how do you know it won’t work? Did you forget who extended you a helping hand when you were facing death? It was Merak Temple’s Temple Master Qi Qiqi . Have you asked her for help?”


  Xihe shook her head again .

  “If it’s Little Seven…… she’s definitely willing to help you . ”


  Xue Qilin showed a gratified smile .

  “Because she is a kindhearted person, to the point of foolishness……”


  The lass’s sigh revealed the warmth that permeate’s people’s hearts .

  “If she is willing to help you, then I will be willing to help you…… In this way, you can get the support of Merak Temple . Next, there’s Spirit Moon Valley . I think Beiming Little Fish will be willing to support you . As for the remaining three sects, I have no assurance . However, if you think about it, two of the five sects will definitely support you, so that’s already a 40% success rate . Isn’t that more promising than what you’re doing right now?”


  Xue Qilin raised four fingers and waved them exaggeratedly .

  “A 40% success rate, why don’t you try it?”


  Then, with a smile on her face, she extended a hand to Xihe .

  “How about it, wanna have try?”


  While probably considering the proposal, Xihe stared blankly at the fair hand in front of her .

  Will she agree? Xue Qilin isn’t sure . But she thinks that she has shown enough goodwill . There is nothing else she can do . All she can do is wait for Xihe’s answer .

  “.…… do you really think that it can succeed?”


  “Uh……” Xue Qilin smiled awkwardly, “To be honest, I don’t know . I’m not the one who came up with this method . ”


  “Who was it?”


  “Beiming Little Fish!”


  “It was Big Sister Beiming……?”


  “Yes, she told me that she will provide assistance if I advocated the abolition of Martial Demon Realm Trial by Fire . You know, your Big Sister Beiming is very cunning . She even called in a favor, asking me to pop out my head . ”


  The more Xue Qilin spoke, the more indignant she became . In the end, she gritted her teeth, and her shoulders shook .

  Suddenly, Xihe spurted out a laughter .

  Before she could ask why the other party is laughing, Xue Qilin felt her outstretched hand suddenly tighten .

  Looking down, she found that her hand was already gripped . Xihe gripped her hand .

  This means —


  “You agree?”


  Xue Qilin blinked . Xihe immediately chuckled helplessly .

  “What’s with that expression? This was your proposal, so why do you show such an expression of incredulity when I agreed to it? Did you think that it was impossible for me to agree?”


  “Uh, that’s not it! It’s just that I prepared a lot of arguments . I didn’t expect you to agree so readily . ”


  “Then you should be relieved . ”


  “Wait, why does it look like I’m a passenger giving the coachman unsolicited advice? — bah, I am no backseat coachman!”


  Xihe, unable to help herself, showed a happy smile .

  “What a weird person . ”


  Then, despite Xue Qilin talking, Xihe started walking .

  It might be a misconception, but Xue Qilin feels that the martial demon girl’s steps are much lighter and her figure doesn’t look solemn like before .

  “– wait, is it because you believe me or Beiming Little Fish that you agree to the proposal?!”


  Xue Qilin caught up promptly .

  “Does it matter?”


  “Of course it matters! If it’s because you believe me, then I’ll naturally feel happy!”


  “Take a guess . ”


  After a moment of thought, Xue Qilin clasped her chin and said, “It must be because you believe me! After all, Beiming Little Fish is a fox! You can’t trust her! Mhm, that must be it!”


  Xue Qilin, walking beside Xihe, satisfied with her guess, nodded repeatedly .

  Xihe smiled, noncommittal .

  Next, Xue Qilin advanced at her previous pace . Yet Xihe never fell behind .