Chapter 137 Defying Fate Even if they are heartbroken for a moment, they will move forward...
"Leave Xia!"
Qiao Yanshen's call from below brought Shen Lixia back to reality. The girl sniffed, wiped away her tears, and then spread her wings, returning to Qiao Yanshen's side. Over the past few days, Shen Lixia had figured out how to retract her wings. After landing, she made a hand seal, and the feathers on her back transformed into flowing flames, slowly returning to her body.
Surrounded by concerned gazes from the others, Shen Lixia touched the tip of her nose and said in a lighthearted tone, "What's wrong? Is there something on my face? It must be some naughty child who just put cinnabar on their finger..."
"Yes, you were ambushed." Simmons was the first to react. Without asking why the other's eyes were red, she chuckled and reached out to wipe a spot on the other's cheek, then wiped it on her sleeve as if there really was a mark.
Qiao Yanshen readily pinched Shen Lixia's cheek and said with a smile, "You'd better be careful next time." His knuckles brushed against the boy's still slightly warm eyes, wiping away some of the moisture, and he gazed at Shen Lixia tenderly.
She had a pair of expressive eyes. When their eyes met, Shen Lixia knew that she understood her feelings, and perhaps even the reason why she was sad was clear to Qiao Yanshen. Like the surface of water, those dark eyes reflected her joy and sorrow, and then gently cradled her.
It was always the same, from the distant past to the present, giving her unparalleled peace of mind. A warmth rose in Shen Lixia's heart, and she suddenly wanted to ask her for a hug, but because they were in the midst of yellow sand and under the watchful eyes of everyone, she could only reach out and take Qiao Yanshen's little finger, gently stroking it.
She wanted to talk to her, to snuggle in her arms, to lean on her shoulder. It seemed that if she did that, even tears wouldn't hurt. Like a person on the verge of death, desperately seeking warmth when they lose body temperature, in her fragile state of mind, all she wanted was to return to her senior sister's side.
Seeing that they had changed the subject, the other two shook their heads and smiled, their gazes returning to the hibiscus tree.
Hua Sheng said, "Abundant spiritual energy... Our tribe has no one left to cultivate. Is there any other way, Immortal Venerable?"
Her voice was both hesitant and hopeful.
Not only themselves, but the entire tribe was hoping that the Fusang tree would come back to life and that the legendary mandate would bring news of peace. Even if the latter was still far away, the older members of the tribe, such as the mother, could not wait for next year or next time.
Si Changxi frowned and said in a low voice, "The spiritual energy is thin, and the forests have turned into deserts. Your area has probably been under the watchful eye of the Heavenly Dao for a long time. In addition, the legendary Lord Lingguang is unruly. Perhaps this is the punishment sent down by the Heavenly Dao."
Like shattered stars, vanished tribes... Yet, for these very reasons, millions of lives must be extinguished. Even with his steadfast Dao heart, Si Changxi felt a surge of discontent.
“But Mother’s only wish was to see the Fusang Tree flourish once more before she passed away.” Hua Sheng lowered his eyes. “We haven’t seen it for a very, very long time…”
Even though the country was still thriving, the Sun God Tree, which was closely related to Lord Lingguang, could not escape the calamity. Many of them had begun to worry that they would repeat the fate of the Azure Dragon Tribe and eventually disappear into history.
From then on, civilization ceased to exist in the Chaotic Rift.
Shen Lixia, who had overheard their conversation, also joined in, gazing expectantly at Si Changxi and circling the young man, pleading, "Master, if it's spiritual power, why don't you let me try? I also want to see the Fusang Tree come back to life..."
Si Changxi smiled and reached out to ruffle the girl's head, messing up her hair. He sighed helplessly, "You're coming? Xueya keeps telling me, 'My rebellious disciple always disregards life and death!' I just said that there might be interference from the will of Heaven. Aren't you afraid of the tribulation lightning? This isn't a breakthrough; the power of divine retribution is not something a child like you can withstand."
...Among everyone, only the teachers' wives would treat her and Qiao Yanshen like "children," and with such affection. Shen Lixia touched the top of her head, feeling a warm sensation.
"I've been keeping a close eye on you all throughout this trip, so how could I let you rush to throw your life away to the Heavenly Dao? Young friend, remember this: first, your destiny is special, so never risk your life or attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao; second, Xueya, the sect, and I are all very concerned about you. You are our disciple... and Xueya treats you like a daughter. If anything happens this time, I will be the first one she punishes. Take better care of yourself, okay?"
As he spoke, the young man smiled gently, his brows furrowed with concern. She paused slightly, then raised her hand to release her sword; the silver-white longsword resembled moonlight in the sand, bright and pure.
"So, I'll take care of it."
In the next instant, the azure spiritual energy spread out like a woven net, bursting forth vigorously, like the dense branches of an ancient tree, surging overwhelmingly towards the withered Fusang tree. The entire desert seemed to be tinged with a vibrant, pale green halo.
A jade-like luster began to flow across the surface of the hibiscus tree. Spiritual energy trickled down, nourishing every inch of its branches, until even the intricate root system was moistened to its very tips. In the blink of an eye, green leaves sprouted from the branches, one, two… clump after clump, gradually filling the gaps between the once barren branches. And beneath the hibiscus tree, large patches of shrubs and grasses also burst forth.
Si Changxi's eyes gleamed with golden light as he gazed at the tree before him with a burning yet gentle intensity, witnessing it slowly come back to life.
Everything before my eyes was too shocking. It was as if an old person was gradually losing their wrinkles, going back in time, and becoming a spirited young man once again... The originally withered tree suddenly sprouted dense branches, so tall that it almost pierced the sky.
It's hard to describe in words. The others were mesmerized. In that instant, the whole world seemed to consist only of that young man, sword in hand, standing amidst the verdant greenery that had arrived a thousand years late, and the lush hibiscus tree.
However, at that moment, the sky suddenly darkened, followed by swirling dark clouds. Thunder rumbled without rain, and a bolt of lightning, brimming with immense fury, swiftly struck down!
A sword light as bright as the Milky Way appeared.
Si Changxi's brows were sharp, his long hair fluttering as he spun around. His usually gentle eyes were now filled with a fierce coldness. He didn't stop after the long sword he had just slashed down, and then slashed out again!
She said in a deep voice, "Mind your own business!"
The terrifying and overwhelming lightning was so powerful that even the will of Heaven paled in comparison to the dazzling sword light.
It was as if a snake had been pinched at its vital spot; it emitted a sharp hissing sound, scattered into tiny sparks of lightning, and vanished in a panic.
The clouds dispersed, and sunlight returned.
Si Changxi sheathed her sword, and before the others could speak, she suddenly felt a surge of heat in her heart, and blood, spicy and metallic, welled up from her lips. She coughed a few times, wiped the blood from the corner of her lips, and then used hand seals to clean her clothes. When she looked up, she met the worried gazes of her young students.
"It's alright." The young man smiled slightly. "The power of the Heavenly Tribulation is still considerable, and with the 20% of my cultivation given to the Fusang Tree, I'm temporarily weakened, but it's nothing serious."
Two-tenths of his cultivation level...
Back then, Luo Yang used 20% of her cultivation to maintain the illusion. The higher the realm, the more precious cultivation becomes, often less than half a percent, yet Si Changxi directly allocated so much. Shen Lixia was somewhat worried about her condition, so she and Qiao Yanshen went up together, supporting the young woman on either side. If it weren't for the blazing sun, she would have even wanted to sprout wings to cover her aunt tightly.
Si Changxi was both amused and exasperated: "No need for that, my friends. I'll recover naturally after a couple of days of rest."
Although his cultivation level would definitely need to be replenished when spiritual energy was abundant, other unusual phenomena were indeed not worth mentioning. Unexpectedly, the two young friends still refused to let go, transferring their spiritual energy to Si Changxi one stream at a time, until only the most basic part remained before stopping.
"Hey, if anything happens to you, Master will be the first to come and punish us both." Shen Lixia said confidently, demonstrating what it means to use magic to fight magic.
Simmons smiled and sighed, "Ah, the bond between master and disciple. Fellow Daoist Shen is truly eloquent; no wonder he was taught by me."
Hua Sheng nodded, "You do have a good way of speaking." It's something that makes many people in Garan like you.
The abundant spiritual energy caused many plants to grow here. Not only did the hibiscus trees regain their vitality, but a small oasis-like scene also appeared, lush and verdant, and the sandy soil was no longer barren. Upon seeing this, Shen Lixia pondered for a moment and then suddenly clapped her hands.
"I'd also like to give you some gifts." As she spoke, she took a package out of her bag and handed it to Hua Sheng.
Hua Sheng opened the bag and found it contained some strange little particles, oval, triangular... about a dozen of them.
"What is this?" she asked, puzzled.
Shen Lixia laughed and said, "We have seeds of some spiritual plants—flowers, fruits, and trees. They are species that don't need much spiritual energy to grow. There is still a lot of space on this land. Perhaps one day, apart from thorns and sand pears, there will be many, many beautiful flowers and plants here."
She then took out another scroll and handed it to Hua Sheng.
"These are some insights I've gained from caring for spiritual plants, and they might be of some help. One Fusang tree isn't enough; the Garan people deserve much, much more..." the young man whispered. "Right now, I can only give you these insignificant things, but one day, we will surely meet again in the world beyond the rift. You will not repeat the same mistakes, you will not disappear, so do not lose your courage to strive upwards, and never succumb to the heavens."
Si Changxi listened to her words and nodded approvingly, saying, "Perhaps destiny is in your own hands, and tomorrow will be built by yourselves. Therefore, there is no need to wait for anyone else. If anyone is unjust, then rebel against them, even against the will of Heaven—"
She looked up at the sky and said firmly, "They are not worthy to treat all things as straw dogs!"
Another flash of lightning streaked across the sky, but seemed to frighten itself, trembling before disappearing in an instant. Their words held an incredible power, so no one objected.
“Master is right…” Qiao Yanshen said softly.
Simmons glanced at her. "Changed your mind? You're not going to submit to fate anymore?"
Qiao Yanshen smiled slightly: "Mm."
The woman's usually quiet eyes, like a parched traveler finding a spring, gradually brightened by their words, burning ever brighter. She opened her arms, giving each of them a hug, and then kissed Chen Lixia's forehead.
"Thank you," she said solemnly. "I will try to lead my people out of this wasteland."
The girl tilted her head slightly, winked at Qiao Yanshen, and revealed a triumphant expression. The young man couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips, seeing a hint of the past in her cunning eyes.
That dot of cinnabar has long since disappeared, but the rebelliousness and resilience it embodied have quietly taken root in the boy's heart and been passed on to everyone.
As she left, Shen Lixia turned back and glanced at the hibiscus tree in the distance. Suddenly, she seemed to see a tall, slender figure among the swaying shadows.
Because the tree came back to life, she was able to see her again.
A figure stood under the tree, dressed in a long, bamboo-green robe, as if waiting for someone to return. Suddenly, she looked up, and their eyes met for a fleeting moment.
Then, the young man's eyes crinkled into a gentle smile.
Just like a long, long time ago, when she was scolded by her elder sister until she cried, and her sister gently stroked her feathers and spoke softly to comfort her.
When I came to my senses, I could no longer find it; only loneliness remained under the tree.
Shen Lixia took a deep breath, turned around and took Qiao Yanshen's hand, no longer looking at him.
Even if they are sad for a moment, they will continue to move forward.
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Author's Note: I'm sleepy... I'll check for grammatical errors again tomorrow and revise them TT. This concludes the Suzaku Tribe discussion.
The recent chapters were very difficult for me to write, and I think they were difficult for everyone to read as well, so this chapter is meant to be uplifting! I will also write some lighter side stories later.
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