Chapter 390: 364 Sacrifice

Chen Yingxia had delivered this whole spiel, with a carriage-load of words waiting to keep building the emotional tension, but she was unexpectedly cut off by Shanye Gang's shout, which broke her rhythm and left her momentarily stunned.

Tang Zhao was slightly taken aback, but immediately felt a warmth in his heart.

Chen Yingxia, however, quickly calmed down and said, "What I just spoke of were the deeds of the sages, the sacrifices of the sages—can you deny them? What we can offer now is truly not much. Besides, who says that retreating from one's sword must be a sacrifice? Not only is it not a sacrifice, it is very likely a tremendous gain, an opportunity that one could not even beg for."

Shanye Gang continued to press her, shouting, "Trying to trick a kid again? If it's such a good thing, why don't you go?"

Chen Yingxia ignored him and continued on her own: "Sword Guest Xiao Tang has naturally already taken up a sword, but can he really say that sword is some peerless, dragon-and-tiger-defying divine blade? I don't think so. I dare ask you right now: can you say your sword will allow you to become a Sword Hero? When we are young, who doesn't think they are a perfect match for their sword, and that becoming a Sword Immortal in the future will be as easy as turning over one's hand? But after practicing for a while, you realize that even becoming a Sword Hero is difficult. After using it for a long time, looking at others' swords, then looking at the sword in your own hand, you might even regret why you chose such a club? Did you choose wrong in the beginning?"

Hearing this, Tang Zhao raised an eyebrow slightly, feeling quite sad for her sword.

But only Tang Zhao had this unpleasant feeling; from the steady Qiao Hai to the irritable Shanye Gang, everyone was unexpectedly silent for a moment.

Chen Yingxia was not talking nonsense; once one is stuck at the Sword Guest stage for too long, it is hard not to doubt oneself and doubt one's sword.

"Ordinary people find it hard to turn back once they become a Sword Guest, because retreating from a sword damages one's vitality and Inspiration. Moreover, opportunities are rare; no one can gamble on whether they will encounter a suitable sword next time. But what if another broad, smooth road is already placed before your eyes? Having become a Jinwu Sword Guest, how vast is the future, how lofty the status, how glorious the mission?"

Chen Yingxia stood up and said, "I won't say much about the secrets within. I can only say that once you become a Jinwu Sword Guest, you will receive the gift of the Jinwu Sword. There is no need to struggle at the Sword Guest stage; your starting point is already that of a Sword Hero, and protected by the lingering grace of the Jinwu, you will become a Sword Immortal in the blink of an eye. To shed one's mortal coil and ascend to immortality—how powerful is that? If you practice the sword step by step on your own, how many years would it take, and how much hope would you have of becoming a Sword Immortal?"

"Sword Guest Shan just asked me why I don't go? If I had a sliver of a chance to become a Jinwu Sword, would I give it up? I am willing to pay a tremendous price—to pay with my cultivation, my opportunities, and my lifespan to become a Sun-Holding Envoy. For so many years, I have been looking for a Sun-Holding Envoy; I am merely a chess piece searching for a Sun-Holding Envoy. If there were a chance to become a Sun-Holding Envoy, to turn from a piece into a player, from a mediocre Sword Guest into a supremely glorious Sword Immortal, would I give it up?"

"It is a pity that this is an opportunity I cannot beg for, yet it is within easy reach for Sword Guest Tang."

"Sword Guest Tang, do you know how much I envy you?"

She spoke with great sincerity, as if Tang Zhao were already standing before the Jinwu Sword, and with one reach, he would be a Sword Immortal.

Sword Guest Shan was stunned by her mention of "Sword Immortal" and was speechless for a moment.

Just as Chen Yingxia said, old Sword Guests who have made no progress at the Sword Guest stage are willing to pay a tremendous price when they hear of an opportunity to become a Sword Immortal.

However, Tang Zhao was not an old Sword Guest, so she could not stun him. He merely said calmly, "Have you said this to every candidate for the Sun-Holding Envoy? If so, you must have repeated it many times, haven't you?"

At this time, Qiao Hai also came to his senses, driving away various chaotic desires, and said, "That's exactly it. Since I entered the Qianxian, that was ten years ago, I've heard you were looking for a Sun-Holding Envoy. How many thousands of people have you looked for over these years? You say these same sweet words to everyone, telling them they can become Sword Immortals, so why hasn't a single Sun-Holding Envoy been found yet? How many Sword Immortals has your Caiyun Gui produced? Isn't this 'sliver of a chance' a bit too 'sliver'? Isn't this just empty promises and wild boasting?"

Suddenly, the female Daoist Suxi, who had been silently drinking, spoke up, her voice cold like clashing icicles: "I fear it is more than that. For a normal Sword Guest selection, if you fail, you only lose an opportunity, and the person remains fine. But you speak of a gift that makes people transform instantly—does that gift only have benefits without a price? If that were true, wouldn't those great powers be fighting over it? I fear that thing can not only make people ascend to Sword Immortal, but also send the failures to the underworld. Over these years, among the Sun-Holding Envoys you've found, has anyone ever seen them return?"

Shanye Gang realized this and said, "Right, right, right! No return! How terrifying! You woman truly have ill intentions! What 'sliver of a chance'—it's not a chance at all. You are after my brother's life! Making someone retreat from their sword and ruining their future is the first step, and getting their little life killed is the second step. Skinning and de-boning them, and doing it twice over—you really are..."

Daoist Suxi said coldly, "Their hearts deserve to be punished!"

Shanye Gang slapped the table and shouted, "That's exactly the word! We treated you well, yet you openly bully Sword Guest Xiao Tang. You really are an ungrateful wretch; we wasted our hospitality on you. Get out!"

Chen Yingxia was extremely displeased. Since she had come to his door, she naturally intended to have a proper talk with Tang Zhao, and initially, she had planned to conduct a private negotiation.

She was experienced in such negotiations and had already anticipated Tang Zhao's various reactions. She had contingency plans for how he might evade or counter-attack, confident that if he had words to say, she would have a reply, intending to first trap him with words and then use other means to pull him onto her boat.

After all, over these years, she had always been looking for Sun-Holding Envoys, and the candidates she encountered were all youths who were inexperienced in the world, of outstanding character, and possessed of cultivation. She had great experience in how to handle such people. Even if Tang Zhao was a Sword Guest, stronger in strength, firmer in character, and more knowledgeable, it would not fundamentally change things.

One must know that Tang Zhao's age was not even considered old among the youths she had contacted; youths at this stage had some obvious weaknesses. Her life experience was overwhelming, and furthermore, she had observed Tang Zhao's actions on the battlefield, confirming that this youth had an upright and earnest character, with much room for manipulation, which was why she had intercepted his carriage to meet him.

The only thing she had not expected was that before she could even face Tang Zhao directly, she had fallen into an encirclement. Moreover, these three Sword Guests had three different temperaments, all of them focused on opposing her, and these were exactly the types of people she rarely had to deal with.

Especially that one surnamed Shan; although his brain wasn't working well, he was a bit of a hothead, casting aside decorum to shout loudly, which was exactly the type she was least skilled at handling.

How could such a person even be a Sword Guest?

Hearing Sword Guest Shan tell her to get out, Chen Yingxia could not help but be furious. She had never been treated like this. Not to mention her noble status and the backing of a great power like Caiyun Gui, just looking at her beautiful appearance, elegant temperament, and the fact that her words always held a sense of reason—who didn't respect her a little? Who dared to shout at her like this, without any manners?

She stood up and said, "You..."

Before she could finish the word "you," Shanye Gang was one step faster than her: "Not getting out, are you? Give me—" With that, he used both hands to flip the table.

At this moment, someone beside him pressed down on the corner of the table, suppressing the force Shanye Gang was using from the other side, saving the table of food and wine that was on the verge of falling apart.

Tang Zhao pressed down on the table and smiled, "Brother Shan, let's not waste our own things, shall we? Isn't it the same to just tell her to get out?"

His smile had not a hint of strain, because he was in a very relaxed state at this moment.

He would not have been this relaxed originally; if he were here alone dealing with Chen Yingxia, he would never have been this relaxed.

He was confident he could handle Chen Yingxia and would not be easily coerced, but if he were alone, he would certainly face pressure. This pressure would not necessarily be from Caiyun Gui, but more likely from himself.

It can only be said that Chen Yingxia was indeed experienced. The scenes she presented and the crises she described were exactly what Tang Zhao cared about. He could act as if nothing was wrong for a moment, but thinking about it later, he might feel troubled and experience some sadness and irritation. Just as Tang Zhao said to Elder Ou Ye in the Yunhai—he was adding trouble to himself.

Moral kidnapping is just that shitty.

But now Tang Zhao had friends by his side, and all his friends stood on his side, supporting him and taking the initiative to stand up for him.

This was truly a very comfortable feeling; all the pressure naturally dissipated.

Therefore, Tang Zhao was now also at ease, smiling: "Sword Guest Chen, we all saw you fighting bravely in the blood, so it is not convenient for us to make things difficult for you. So I will formally answer you one last time—"

"Please ask someone more capable?"

Chen Yingxia said, "Sword Guest Tang, you want to..."

Daoist Suxi spoke up: "Don't speak yet. Our Sword Guest Tang hasn't finished speaking; wouldn't it be rude for you to interrupt?"

Chen Yingxia was stunned. Shanye Gang glared at her, baring a large row of white teeth, which actually made her pause.

Tang Zhao said, "First, regarding the future you promised, I am not interested regardless of whether it is true or false. I can become a Sword Hero and a Sword Immortal by my own sword. Yes, I am that certain. You say I don't know the immensity of heaven and earth; then let us wait and see, you are welcome to watch."

Shanye Gang clapped his hands and said, "Xiao Tang is right. He has a vast future ahead; you just wait and see, unless you don't live to see that day."

"As for sacrifice..."

Tang Zhao was slightly dazed, thinking of the fairy who leaped down from the rift.

And the two words she left behind at the end: "repair."

"Have you ever seen someone else's sacrifice with your own eyes?"

Chen Yingxia raised her head and said, "Of course I have. There are many great people in this world; you shouldn't pretend not to see them."

Tang Zhao asked again, "Then have you ever made the decision to sacrifice yourself for others?"

Chen Yingxia hesitated slightly and said, "Although I haven't, my sect..."

Tang Zhao said, "I have."

"More than once."

He had once taken the blame for a peer he had never met, once flown into the rain curtain holding a cat, and once charged toward the sun in the Six Dragon Carriage.

"I have practiced it with my own body, so I am more qualified to teach you what sacrifice is." He smiled slightly, "But I have no intention of preaching from a high platform or pointing out the way for the masses, so I will only speak of myself."

"In the life ahead, I will continue my journey, see more scenery, meet more people, and do what I should and want to do. I will experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, and witness the myriad states of the world. Perhaps one day, on some journey, for the sake of people and things worth it, I will make a life-and-death decision—that will be my sacrifice."

He smiled lightly and turned his head to say:

"But regardless, I will not step onto your altar, nor will I become your sacrifice."

Enough has been said here; saying any more would not be worth it.

Tang Zhao said a word to Qiao Hai, saying: "This younger brother cannot hold his liquor, I will return first."

He turned and left.

The scene grew slightly quiet.

After a while, Qiao Hai reached out to pour himself a cup of wine and downed it in one gulp.

Shanye Gang laughed loudly: "I will also drink a cup for Brother Tang." Having said that, he picked up the wine jar and chugged it; it was clearly not just a cup, but an entire jar.

Su Xi said lazily: "You all drink; I am already drunk." He turned and stood up, drifting away.

A flash of purple-red crossed Chen Yingxia's face, and just as she was about to speak, Shanye Gang spat out wine fumes and shouted: "I'm telling you, you woman..."

Qiao Hai stepped forward to hold him back, saying: "Hurry and go, hurry and go, you blockhead. You've only had a few cups of wine and you're already acting like a drunkard." As he spoke, he pulled Shanye Gang away, while Shanye Gang continued to curse and swear, his mouth full of "If it weren't for Big Brother holding me back, I would have already..." and so on.

The four Sword Guests on the carriage scattered in a hubbub, leaving the master and disciple sitting there in a daze.

After a while, Chen Yingxia slapped the table and said loudly: "Huanyu, why didn't you say a single word just now?"

Fan Haiyu said timidly: "Master, they are all Sword Guests, what room was there for me to speak?"

Chen Yingxia glared at her, and Fan Haiyu, fearing she would vent her misplaced anger on her, lowered her head even further and remained silent.

Chen Yingxia gathered her breath and said: "You dead girl, you are always useless at critical moments. But..."

Her expression softened slightly, and she said: "The youth you found is good; I will count it as a merit for you. I have a premonition that this is finding the right person. I must have him. You go and steady him, and we will return to Moyun City to report to your grandmaster. With the grandmaster stepping in, we will demand the person directly from Moyun City. Heh heh, how could the person Colored Clouds Return wants be so easy to run away from?"