Chapter 19: The Night of Blade's Birth (Part 2)
I have to say, the night of the moonquake was a truly delightful night.
Throughout the night, Beichen and his group swept across the second half of the Yulia Rock Mountain area like a small hurricane.
Yaye's sickle flew around, leaping dozens of meters, and all the possessed moon messengers were blown into the sky wherever it passed; Heihuo and Sujie drew a dazzling and dense light net in Rui's hands, and screams and broken limbs were everywhere within a radius of dozens of meters. Xiang Ying made a pleasant buzzing sound in Beichen's hand, and swung the sword. The high-pressure wind column that looked like sword energy not only beat the enemy all over his body, but also cracked the surrounding land with sword marks as thick as bowls!
Beichen and Rui, the users of the weapons, became unusually agile and nimble under the influence of their weapons. No matter how densely the gathering points of the possessed Moon Envoys were, they still moved effortlessly among the numerous enemies. Chatting and laughing, they swung their weapons smoothly and gracefully, creating a sky full of blue-purple blood flowers.
There were only six of them, but they were like an unstoppable chariot. They fought their way through the wilderness at night filled with possessed moon messengers. In just a few hours, they tirelessly walked more than ten kilometers, and at daybreak, they arrived at the edge of the rocky mountainous area.
"Woooooaaa! This is so refreshing! I suddenly feel like I'm a hero in a special effects movie!"
It was almost dawn and the discount period for weapons was almost over. Several people stopped to rest on a clean and secluded rocky hill. Beichen sat down and rubbed his aching arms. As he spoke, he put in his mouth the hot barbecue slices that Xiangying had taken out from the storage space.
"Women, please stop saying things that only violent people would say. Do you want to keep yourself from getting married?"
Black Disaster was squinting his eyes and stretching lazily with satisfaction (he must have eaten very full), and he sneered at Beichen with a crooked mouth. Su Jie immediately interrupted and said:
"But Black Disaster and I like women who can fight. If no one wants her, she can marry Rui and then have an affair with us. ...right, brother."
"Yeah, yeah, since we have two of us, we can have more tricks. Right, bro?"
Beichen was stunned for a moment before she realized that she was being teased by the Twin Claws. She jumped up with a red face and wanted to beat them up, but unfortunately she was no match for the two villains with her bare hands. Instead, she was hit on the forehead again, which made Xiang Ying start screaming. Yaye looked at them as if they were idiots and shook his head with a sneer.
But...what Su Jie said just now was a bit strange.
Even if it was just teasing, wouldn't they normally just say "Just marry me" or something like that? So why did they make her marry Rui first and then have an affair with someone else? Aren't these two people's bad taste too much?
Wait, could it be that...?
"Um, Xiang Ying?"
"Yes, Master, what's wrong?"
"I suddenly thought of a strange question. Can't humans and war machines...intermarry?"
As soon as Beichen asked this question, the relaxed and lively atmosphere disappeared in an instant, replaced by a strange sense of depression.
"Master," Xiang Ying coughed lightly, "There is no law that prohibits humans and weapons from marrying each other, but almost no one does it."
"Why?"
Beichen tilted his head in confusion: "Because although the weapon has a human form, its body is so different from humans?"
"That's not the case."
Xiang Ying's smile was tinged with bitterness, and Hei Huo beside him snorted.
"Warriors don't have the ability to reproduce. The common Quantized species have a lifespan of about a dozen years. The short-lived ones die soon after birth, either in Warrior Tombs or in star disasters. Many also die from human abuse and play. Only a small number of Star Vein and Moon species can live long, and their mortality rate is much higher than that of humans. For species like us, the balance of population is directly regulated by Star Spirit Minerals and death, so there's no reproduction step."
Seeing the surprised and sad expression on Beichen's face, Su Jie sneered.
"And for humans, marriage is bound to be linked to reproduction, right? In the eyes of humans, the continuation of bloodlines is always very important. Not only their own bloodlines, but also the bloodlines of weapons are also very important to them, right?"
"...So, no one is willing to marry a war weapon?"
Black Disaster rolled his eyes. "A male warrior's sperm can't make a woman pregnant, and a female warrior's womb can't bear a child. While they can have intercourse with the opposite sex just like humans, it's ultimately just a tool for sexual gratification. No human would truly want to marry someone who can't produce offspring, right?"
“Not that I don’t.”
Yaye interrupted from the side, with a twisted and sinister smile on his face.
"At first, there were people who developed a seemingly eternal love with a warrior, and even those who ignored their families and worldly concerns to marry him."
Beichen heard some ominous clues from his words: "At the beginning... that is to say..."
"After marriage, love is fulfilled and satisfied, but over time, it loses its freshness and passion. The person you once loved becomes gradually dull and tiresome in your partner's eyes, and the promises you made in the past become nothing more than pale and ridiculous. At this point, if you're infertile, you can't even use children as a last resort to save your marriage. What do you think the outcome will be?"
“…”
I am completely speechless. This is indeed a very likely problem. Even with children as a bond, there are many families in Beichen's world that cannot withstand the seven-year itch and break up.
"Beichen, do you find this phenomenon difficult to accept?" Rui, who had been silent the whole time, spoke softly from the side, "Beichen, you are not from here, right?"
Beichen was stunned for a moment and nodded vaguely.
"Isn't it? I've felt that way for a long time. Your attitude towards weapons is so different from the people here. Even though I used to consider myself a gentleman who respects weapons, when I compare myself to you, I realize that it was just a show to show my kindness."
Beichen frowned: "Ruyi...what do you mean...? Do all the people here treat weapons the same?"
"I'm telling you this, but you probably won't understand. When you go to a big city and observe, you'll realize it. I think even in the entire country, you might be the only one in the Spiritual Weapon Division who's willing to sacrifice your own body to protect a weapon. I can honestly admit that I can't do that, because I have deeply ingrained notions in my mind, instilled in me since childhood."
The oppression in the air became even heavier. No one spoke for a while, and Beichen also lowered his head and fell into silence.
After a long time, until the sun had risen from the horizon and shone its warm morning light on the stone hill, Beichen suddenly stood up and stretched out towards the sun.
“Huh—”
As if he had expelled all the turbid air in his body in one breath, Beichen let out a long breath and moved his limbs.
“I don’t want to anymore!!”
When this irresponsible final conclusion was made, the corners of everyone else's mouth twitched at the same time.
But then, Beichen turned around and smiled at them.
"I'm not from here anyway, right? Why should I follow their customs? Of course I will choose to marry someone I like, but that has nothing to do with the other person's race, right? Even if the other person is a possessed moon user, as long as I like them, that's fine, right?"
"Oh, the possession of the Moon Envoy is really a bit too explosive. How many tastes do you have..." The arrogant Black Disaster also complained with a frown this time.
"So I said that was just an analogy! What I meant was!!"
Beichen said this, coughed lightly, and looked at the people in front of him seriously.
"War weapons can't survive without humans. Conversely, humans also find it difficult to survive in this world without the protection of war weapons. However, from what I've learned so far, in the interactions between war weapons and humans, war weapons are clearly the passive and persecuted ones. Although they can use the Darkness to break free from the constraints of humans, I've been here for two months and have only met two Darkness-Falling people: Yaye and the young man named Al."
"...Little Loach, what do you want to say?"
"...The War Machines are a very tolerant and pure race. They fight and defend for humanity, constantly placing themselves in the most dangerous situations, bound by contracts, all they seek is a full stomach. Compared to the greedy and materialistic humans, they are far superior. ――To be disdained simply for not having children only shows how short-sighted and short-sighted humans are."
"If you say this in public, you'll be charged with racism."
Su Jie threatened like this, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.
Beichen curled his lips indifferently. "I can be a bit of a middle school kid sometimes. I don't actually hate humans. Sometimes I think their diversity is what makes them so charming. But I also really like weapons. So at least please believe me. I won't be the kind of person that Yaye described as getting married and then abandoning the other person."
"That's easy to say."
Yaye snorted coldly, seeming to be in a bad mood.
"Who doesn't make empty promises at the beginning? Who among all those who have been in love with Zhanqi hasn't said so before getting married?"
"Then you can supervise me."
Beichen smiled confidently at Yaye.
"It's not just within the narrow scope of marriage. If I do anything wrong to Zhan Qi in the future, I'll give you the right to execute me, just like you did to Miss Charlie that day. How about that?"
"I can do it without you telling me."
Yaye said something in a muffled voice, then turned around and ignored everyone.
"Owner."
Xiang Ying walked to Beichen and tidied her hair that was messed up by the wind.
As a weapon, he was naturally very happy to hear what she said, and he was also proud that he had such a unique master who cared about the weapon.
But, on the other hand, the longer they were in contact, the less he seemed to understand her.
She was eighteen years old, and while she could be considered an adult, she was still considered a girl. Normally, she was lively, carefree, unconcerned, a little timid, even easily bullied—a seemingly ordinary girl. But there were also times when she behaved in completely unusual ways, completely unlike an eighteen-year-old.
She is lively. When talking about Xiangying's practice, her efforts and patience are much greater than those of ordinary people. In terms of her ability to keep calm, it is easy to forget that she is a cheerful and active girl.
She was said to be free and easy, and would quickly forget small conflicts, but she firmly remembered the humiliation Ling Shuang had brought upon her. As a result, no matter how Ling Shuang tried to get close to her and attract her attention, she would keep him at a distance.
She was said to be timid and easily bullied, but when facing the Star Calamity and the Calamity Emperor, she always fought side by side with the weapons at her side, risking everything. Although she was constantly tormented by the Black Calamity and the Su Jie, she never suffered a single loss from the hostile gazes of so many in Wilvis Town. She could even be quite aggressive. When Xia Li insulted Xiang Ying, she struck her without hesitation. Xiang Ying still remembers the cold and mocking look on her face clearly.
Xiang Ying began to feel uneasy.
Beichen never tells anyone about her past, so no one knows what caused her multifaceted and contradictory personality.
He knew that as her weapon, he only needed to assist and protect her on the battlefield. He had no right to interfere in her private affairs.
But──for some reason, he felt a little unwilling.
In his eyes, Xiang Beichen is incomplete. Only when encountering new situations can he get a glimpse of a new corner of her face.
...So, I am unwilling to accept it.
"Xiang Ying? Xiang Ying??"
Beichen pushed him. He had been standing in front of her in a daze for a long time.
"Are you mad? Because I said something sanctimonious?"
Xiang Ying suddenly came back to his senses and began to blame himself.
Unwilling to accept it—what could he possibly be unwilling to accept? Did he have the right to be unwilling to accept it? He was just Beichen's weapon, nothing more.
There was no need for his master to be seen through and understood by him.
...Ah, I see. It's probably because of what she said just now. She said that her choice of marriage partner wouldn't be constrained by race.
Even he, a weapon of war, was given a fair and equal opportunity.
So that's why he started to have wild thoughts.
Just with such a tiny hope, he began to fantasize about the person he considered his goddess? This is ridiculous. Is this the only thing he has decided to do to protect her happiness?
"No, I just feel very touched and proud, Master."
Finally, he suppressed all the bitterness and said this to her with a smile.
"Hehe...don't say that, I'll turn up my nose."
Beichen didn't seem to notice anything unusual. He just smiled foolishly and scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed.
"Okay, enough of the sentimentality?"
Yaye on the side finally couldn't stand this atmosphere anymore and spoke.
"We've rested enough, so we should continue on our journey. Prince Rui, where is the meeting place you and your men agreed to meet?"
Rui retracted his complicated gaze towards Beichen, turned around and nodded slightly to Yaye:
"Beyond the rocky mountainous region lies the mining city of Linbell. It's home to a vast, long-standing Protoss mineral vein and Darim's most important and final stronghold. However, I've already dispatched troops to gradually dismantle his influence there. My troops should be surrounding and ambushing him in the rocky mountainous area outside this mining city. If we move forward, we should be able to discover the signals they've left behind."
Beichen frowned slightly after hearing this.
"So, Rui, you want to completely eliminate him in this mining city?"
"Yes. Long before I became separated from my men, I had already made all the necessary arrangements. I had them deliberately let Darim into the city and then blocked all the exits. Even if I died, Darim would never escape."
"Huh? Since you know Darim's whereabouts, why don't you just capture him?"
"If he's not given a chance to live, how can he possibly give out all his remaining money, weapons, and power?"
Rui once again showed a smile that was extremely sunny, but it was so scary that Beichen trembled all over when he saw it.
Seeing Beichen retreating with a dry laugh, Rui stepped forward and patted her shoulder.
"Don't worry, if you haven't done anything bad, I won't bully you like this, except for deducting your salary."
…Why should wages be deducted?! ?
Of course, Rui couldn't hear Beichen's complaints. He looked around at everyone.
"Let's get going, everyone. Let the death of this giant cancer serve as the best birth gift for today's batch of warriors. How about it?"
A cold smile immediately appeared on the corner of Yaye's mouth. Heihuo and Sujie immediately high-fived each other with full fighting spirit, while Beichen and Xiangying nodded seriously to Rui.
There are still ten hours until the night of Blade Crying.
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