Chapter 87: 84 Requesting Battle

84 Requesting Battle

After dragging the Sword Seed out of his body, Tang Zhao still felt uncomfortable for a long time, not to mention that feeling of emptiness and powerlessness.

Squatting on the ground, Tang Zhao finally managed to pull himself together, only to see several people at the door staring at him with wide eyes.

That look in their eyes was like looking at a living, ferocious beast, and also like looking at well-cooked braised pork.

Tang Zhao was stunned for a moment, then forced a smile.

They were all acquaintances, oh, and there was one familiar cat.

"Lord Xing... Xue Jiejie, ah, Teacher Si is here too?" His vocal cords were still a bit hoarse, and his voice sounded as if it had been torn.

After a good while, Xing Ji reacted, rushed up in three steps, grabbed Tang Zhao's hand and said: "Tang Zhao, you... what the hell is going on? You actually pulled the Sword Seed out of your body..."

Xue Yeyu shouted: "Don't move!"

She also wanted to step forward to follow, but tripped over her own feet and fell to the ground with a 'slap'.

Tang Zhao was startled, and before he could reach out to help her, Xue Yeyu climbed up nimbly as if nothing had happened, and instead pointed at Xing Ji and said: "You want to take the Sword Seed? Do you not want your life anymore?"

Xing Ji was stunned for a moment, then his attention returned to Tang Zhao, saying: "Don't worry, I don't want to be a madman, how could I take the Sword Seed with my bare hands... What is going on? How did you do it? Is this a miracle?"

Tang Zhao looked at the Sword Seed in his hand and said blankly: "Can't you take the Sword Seed with your hands?"

Xing Ji said: "Taking the Sword Seed with your hands will cause your mind to collapse from the mental shock—but that's not the point! It's the Sword Seed entering the body! How did you take it out? The Sword Seed will always sink into the depths of the soul, it can only go in and not come out, unless the soul dissipates, it can be taken out of the flesh and blood, how did you do it?"

Tang Zhao was speechless for a moment and couldn't say anything.

How should he put it? Could he talk about the Glasses?

At this time, Xue Yeyu had already brought over a translucent silver stone and said: "Put the Sword Seed on the Strange Stone." She walked over here, but suddenly her footsteps swayed, and she fell down again.

When she fell, she hurriedly pushed her hand, and the silver stone flew out of her hand, landing right in Si Liyu's hands. Si Liyu held the stone, at a loss.

Xing Ji saw this situation, his expression strange, and said: "Tang Zhao, return the Lucky Bag on your neck to your Xue Jiejie."

Tang Zhao touched his neck, and sure enough, there was a Lucky Bag tied with a red string, so he untied it.

Xing Ji tried his best to flatten his voice and said: "I heard from Old Xue that his niece is naturally a bit unlucky, and things she does are always unsuccessful. Later, she sought a miraculous Fortune Art Tool to wear, and only then did she become normal. It seems that Xue Guniang gave you the Lucky Bag just now, hoping to bless you through this ordeal. It is indeed miraculous."

Tang Zhao was moved in his heart and hurriedly handed the Lucky Bag over.

Xue Yeyu had already climbed up skillfully, her face showing slight anger, and said: "What bad luck, it's all hearsay! Could it be that without the Lucky Bag I wouldn't..." She sat on a chair while speaking.

Who knew that the chair had already had its Rune Formula power absorbed by Tang Zhao and was extremely fragile, so with a 'thump', it dropped her to the ground.

Tang Zhao hurriedly put the Lucky Bag on her head and said: "Sorry to trouble you, Jiejie. I also destroyed many of your Art Tools."

Xue Yeyu waved her hand and said: "What does that count for? No matter how many you destroy, the Land Inspection Division will naturally compensate me for as many." She climbed up, stood firmly, walked over steadily, snatched the silver stone from Si Liyu's hand, and let Tang Zhao put the Sword Seed in.

Tang Zhao followed her instructions and put it down, and saw the Sword Seed fall, seeping into the surface of the Strange Stone, and then it submerged entirely, just like a bubble appearing in ice. The bubble itself had no color, but when light shone into it, it would overflow with dreamlike colors.

Finally rid of the damn Sword Seed, Tang Zhao let out a long breath, and when he looked up, he saw Xing Ji still staring at him.

After thinking about it, Tang Zhao took the initiative to explain: "Actually, I was confused just now too. I just remember that after I woke up, I felt very uncomfortable and wanted to dig that thing out, so I used the method you taught me to open the acupoints..."

Xing Ji was slightly startled, then suddenly realized, and feeling the questioning gaze from Xue Yeyu, thinking she was questioning why he used the Acupoint Sealing method when he knew Tang Zhao could unseal them, he couldn't say he had forgotten, so he laughed it off and said: "Having many skills is never a burden, it's never wrong for a child to learn a little more."

Tang Zhao said: "After unsealing, I wanted to use the method of mobilizing Internal Energy to force it out, but it was very difficult to do. In the end, I became ruthless and mobilized all my strength, Internal Energy, Mental Power, and some unknown power to exert force together, and it seemed to have some effect; I could feel the Sword Seed being mobilized by me. Then I continued to force it, and it moved outward bit by bit. Halfway through, I felt very tired and was afraid of giving up halfway, so I grabbed the Art Tool and somehow absorbed power from it..."

Xue Yeyu was stunned, grabbed a book that looked like a rag, flipped to the spine, and found that the original Rune Formula had disappeared, and looked at Tang Zhao with complex eyes.

"After absorbing the power, I was able to continue mobilizing that thing, replenishing power from time to time, and finally squeezed it out."

After he finished speaking, there was a strange silence in the room.

After a long time, Xue Yeyu said carefully: "It's not that it doesn't make sense, Azhao's talent is very amazing, he can even be self-taught and mobilize the Original Rune, this is rarely seen in a hundred years. Even if he has some talent that can mobilize the Sword Seed in the soul, it's not impossible to understand... wait, that's nonsense! Who would believe this if it were said out loud?! I can't even wash this away!"

At this time, Xing Ji smiled and said: "Alright, Tang Zhao must be exhausted, go lie down on the bed. You don't look good. Let's sit for a while too."

Tang Zhao said: "You guys sit. I'll sit for a while too." He braced himself and sat back on the bed. His condition was certainly not good now, but it wasn't to the point where everyone else was sitting while he was lying down; that would feel too strange.

He sat on the bed, and the others sat down one by one, and he saw a fat cat jump onto the bed, and Tang Zhao reached out to hold it in his arms. The cat didn't struggle and just lay on Tang Zhao's lap.

Xing Ji said sternly: "Tang Zhao just told us what happened, whether everyone understood it or not, there's no need to ask him anymore. In such an unprecedented matter, he himself must be confused, what could you possibly ask out of him?"

Tang Zhao nodded repeatedly; confused might not be the word, but not asking anymore was true.

Xing Ji added: "This is definitely a good thing. Tang Zhao survived a disaster, and after the extreme of adversity comes prosperity; I think at least the few of us are genuinely happy."

Everyone nodded; Xing Ji, Si Liyu, and Xue Yeyu could all be considered people in the world who cared about Tang Zhao, and they genuinely hoped for Tang Zhao's well-being.

Xing Ji said: "Because I hope for Tang Zhao's well-being, I hope that today's events will not be leaked. Don't mention it to anyone else."

He didn't explain why, but everyone knew in their hearts—such a shocking and inexplicable matter, the more people who knew, the more dangerous it would be.

It was just as well that this place was isolated from the world; it would be best not to even tell people that Tang Zhao had been invaded by a Sword Seed, and it would be best to let it pass silently.

Xue Yeyu said: "Of course I won't say anything, even if I wanted to, who could I tell? On the other hand, you are all officials of the Land Inspection Division, and I heard that Lord Xing is still the confidant of the Gaoyuan Marquis, can you hide this from your master?"

Xing Ji laughed: "Why not? Deceiving superiors and concealing from subordinates is our specialty as officials."

He felt he had told a joke, but no one laughed except him; Si Liyu even darkened his expression, so he had to laugh dryly and said sternly: "If it were a major matter concerning the welfare of the common people, I would naturally report it truthfully without any concealment, but thinking about it carefully, this ability of Tang Zhao's, while strange, what use is it?"

The few were startled and immediately began to think—that's right, what use is it?

Protecting oneself?

Being invaded by a Sword Seed was originally a very low probability event, and while the Sword Seed was unpredictable in form, it was not meant to launch attacks itself. Except for this extremely rare sneak attack, in ordinary battles, a Sword Seed was not as good as just using any Sword Art. Furthermore, such a precious thing as a Sword Seed, most people would hide it away, who would throw it around the world?

Liberating Sword Slaves?

The Imperial Court originally did not allow the keeping of Sword Slaves, and most Sword Slaves were in Wangliang Mountain, a place the Imperial Court could not reach. Who would go there to rescue Sword Slaves for no reason?

Not letting it be known would block those curious and ill-intentioned gazes, and it wouldn't hinder the major affairs of the Imperial Court.

Xing Ji said: "Tang Zhao is still a youth. Now, protecting the child is the priority. If there really is a crisis concerning the common people that requires Tang Zhao's ability, I think Tang Zhao will step forward without us needing to report it."

Si Liyu nodded and said: "That is exactly so; in public, I will perform my duties, and in private, I will have a clear conscience."

Xue Yeyu also nodded and said: "If you can do it, I have even less of a problem."

Xing Ji said: "The matter of Wangliang will definitely still be notified to Tongming Hall, and when the time comes, Xiaosi will draft a document, and I will revise it."

Tang Zhao thought to himself: Does the Land Inspection Division also have the task of handling official documents?

Xing Ji patted Tang Zhao and said: "You rest well, this incident has after all damaged your vitality. If you can catch up to the Demon Cave after resting for a few days, then do so; if you can't, then forget it. Also..." He hesitated slightly, did not say more, and only said, "Rest well, this is your first mission."

Xue Yeyu wanted to speak but stopped, and in the end, she remained silent.

Seeing the few of them stand up, Tang Zhao suddenly said, "My Lord, I have something I want to discuss with you."

Xing Ji's figure paused, and he sat back down, saying, "Alright." Si Liyu silently went out, and Xue Yeyu glanced at Tang Zhao before finally leaving as well.

With only the two of them left, Xing Ji smiled and said, "What is it? Do you want to request to join the battle? I've already said, it depends on your body. If you are recovered, I will urge you to go to the battlefield; if you cannot recover, even if you talk until the sky breaks, I won't let you go on the field."

Tang Zhao said solemnly, "My Lord, if the Sword Seed inside Xue Daxia's body can be removed, can he still live?"

Xing Ji's expression changed abruptly, and for an instant, his breathing even stopped.

Tang Zhao said urgently, "He has been invaded by a Sword Seed, right? Xue Jiejie said his uncle is the same as me."

Xing Ji said softly, "Wait, wait, let me think."

He concentrated and pondered, his facial expression still showing little change, but the rhythm of his breathing was far more rapid than usual.

After a while, he said slowly, "It can be tried, if you are willing to try. His body is living day by day. Regardless of whether he can live after it is removed, being able to cast off the shackles and leave with ease before death is also a good thing."

Tang Zhao gave a hum, his heart filled with irrepressible excitement, yet also some sorrow.

Xing Ji muttered to himself, "There will be some trouble afterward; the Demon Cave comes chasing the Sword Seed. Once it is removed, the Demon Cave will descend immediately, and we must also launch our side in advance. Pulling one hair affects the whole body, many things... I can resolve them. There is no time to lose, I will go back to assemble the team, you wait for a day or two..."

Tang Zhao said, "If everyone is pressed for time and needs to gain time, I can... strive for a day or two."

Xing Ji raised an eyebrow, and Tang Zhao said word by word, "Take the Sword Seed out and place it in me immediately; if it is only for one day, I can endure it."

Although he truly did not want to repeat that sensation, Xue Daxia was already in imminent danger; perhaps being relieved one day earlier would mean one more point of hope for survival, and Tang Zhao could not think of a better method.

Xing Ji was silent, then suddenly slapped the table and said, "Right, this move works. But there is no need for you; let Xiaosi do it."