Chapter 53 Just Friends
When attacked again, Ren Yi initially planned to use the same tactic as before, but this time Xiao Zhiyu was by his side. Having an extra person made things more difficult, and Ren Yi worried about not controlling the power properly and potentially involving Xiao Zhiyu. Furthermore, given the obvious suicidal stance, it was obvious that Xiao Zhiyu would try to stop him.
But it doesn't matter, if the main account doesn't work, he can create a secondary account.
This inspiration came from Hong Xuzi's act of sending a wisp of his spirit to Han Cang Peak during that time in the secret realm. Although the Sword Master's alt account was guarding the seal and couldn't leave, he could still briefly appear outside by sending a wisp of his spirit out as an avatar.
For someone with such low cultivation level, these people in front of him were nothing more than a matter of waving his hand, requiring absolutely no effort.
Therefore, Ren Yi had already diverted some of his mental energy to the system to operate when he encountered this group of attackers. However, the situation was too urgent, and the avatar he constructed was very crude. What appeared in front of them at this moment was just a transparent, illusory shadow, and it wouldn't last long.
But that's enough.
The formation that had just forced Xiao Zhiyu into a sorry state was now empty of people.
Even without the small account making a deliberate move, those people were drawn in by the spatial fluctuations that tore open the space. Under the immense pressure of the distorted space, they didn't even have a moment to struggle.
Ren Yi looked up at the small trumpet.
Tiny specks of light dissipated around him, as if they would disappear completely from the world at any moment.
Upon seeing this, Ren Yi couldn't help but let his thoughts wander. Putting everything else aside, the scene itself was quite beautiful, and it would be even better at night.
Compared to Ren Yi, who was still leisurely making his judgments, Xiao Zhiyu next to him was already too shocked to speak.
His mouth was half open, and his expression was somewhat blank.
His heart pounded violently in his chest. He desperately wanted to do something to express the shock of the scene, but he was so stiff that he couldn't even move a finger.
Sword Master! It's actually the Sword Master!!!
—It really is the Sword Master!!!
...
Ren Yi didn't have time to pay attention to Xiao Zhiyu's heart-wrenching cries, but instead looked up as if sensing something.
Xiao Hanzhou has left the secret realm.
This also means that his pre-prepared message has reached the other party.
Like a series of interlocking precision instruments finally meshing with the last gear, the brief appearance of the miniature avatar completely disappeared, and even Ren Yi could feel the faint repulsion around him.
He will soon be kicked out of this "past".
This realization brought Ren Yi a sigh of relief; it was finally over.
However, before this exclamation could end, the surrounding space distorted once again.
Ren Yi recognized the reason for this change and looked somewhat surprised.
The ancient spatial teleportation scroll was obtained by Xiao Hanzhou in a secret realm. The remaining runes on it only granted him three uses. To save his life, Xiao Hanzhou had already used two of them. The last remaining use was obviously a last resort, meant for survival. Why would Xiao Hanzhou waste it on this?
Ren Yi was still wondering if he had mistaken someone else. Or perhaps Xiao Hanzhou had given the scroll to Bai Jinliu, who came to confirm his death?
All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind.
The next moment, Xiao Hanzhou stepped out from the void.
Ren Yi?!
Is it really him?!
Ren Yi quickly realized another problem: how did the other party locate him?
Following the spatial connection, Ren Yi looked down and saw the jade pendant hanging on his waist—the very one he had given to Yan'er at Han Cang Peak. Later, when his memories returned, Ren Yi remembered that the jade was given to him by Xiao Hanzhou. This time, Xiao Hanzhou had to go back for a while under the pretext of getting a new jade tassel. Although Ren Yi found it strange, he let him have his way with such a trivial matter.
So that's when it happened!
Ren Yi: "..."
I was careless and didn't flash. I'm heartbroken.
However, at this point, whether Xiao Hanzhou comes or not has little impact.
Indeed, almost the instant his figure appeared, the surrounding space began to distort and deform.
Xiao Hanzhou reacted extremely quickly and reached out towards Ren Yi, but a rift suddenly appeared between the two of them, and that tiny distance became an insurmountable barrier at this moment.
The cracks spread extremely quickly, and in the blink of an eye, everything around collapsed inch by inch like a shattered mirror.
Just before being kicked back, Ren Yi vaguely heard a scream, "A-Yi—!!"
Before the Mirror of Cause and Effect, Xiao Hanzhou stared blankly at everything familiar around him.
Two subtly different "pasts" intertwined in his mind, the mixed memories interfering with each other, causing a splitting headache. However, Xiao Hanzhou had just regained a little mobility when he staggered forward, his hands tightly gripping the mirror wall, trying to enter the Mirror of Cause and Effect once again.
However, no matter how much spiritual power he poured into it, the mirror remained shrouded in a gray, angry aura, showing no reaction whatsoever.
Only when his physical strength was completely exhausted and no more spiritual energy could be squeezed out of his dantian meridians did Xiao Hanzhou slowly slide down the mirror wall. His hands, which were tightly gripping the edge of the mirror, were rubbed against the rough stone wall as he moved, leaving several conspicuous bloodstains on the wall, but Xiao Hanzhou seemed unaware of it.
His bangs obscured his expression, and only the young man's indistinct murmur could be heard, "I was wrong... I'm sorry, A-Yi, I'm sorry..."
He was definitely wrong!
He hasn't changed anything; everything is the same as before.
If he hadn't been greedy, if he hadn't wanted to spend more time with A-Yi, if he had held the Dao-completion ceremony as soon as he returned, if...
But the truth is, there aren't that many "what ifs" in this world.
He was lucky enough to have a chance to change the past, but he still let it slip through his fingers and failed to grasp anything.
Yan Shuoyun watched this scene from a distance.
Although Xiao Hanzhou and Ren Yi had been in the past for a long time, it was only a fleeting moment in this timeline. For Yan Shuoyun, it was only a blink of an eye, and Xiao Hanzhou had become so disheveled and frantic, making it clear at a glance that their mission had failed.
Yan Shuoyun clicked his tongue in displeasure.
But considering Hongxuzi's earlier warning, this outcome was somewhat expected. He lowered his eyes and looked at the intricate patterns on the ground.
Xiao Hanzhou stared blankly at the person beside him, still vaguely murmuring "...A-Yi".
Seemingly startled by the sound, the person who had been unconscious twitched their eyelashes, as if they were about to wake up.
Xiao Hanzhou immediately twisted his body to try to get closer, but something was faster than him.
The sword light pierced through the air and went straight through Xiao Hanzhou's heart from behind.
All of this happened so fast that Xiao Hanzhou had no time to react.
Even after his body was pierced, he remained somewhat dazed, and it took him a long time to slowly lower his head.
He saw the familiar sword blade.
—The longsword, which was crystal clear and looked as if it had been formed from frost, was now stained crimson with blood.
A few drops of blood splattered onto the face of the person beside him. Xiao Hanzhou was still somewhat dazed and subconsciously reached out to wipe it away for him. But just as he was about to touch him, he realized that because of what he had done in front of the stone wall, his hands were already covered in blood and mud, so dirty that he was not worthy to touch him.
The pain in his chest spread belatedly, and Xiao Hanzhou groaned as he half-curled up. This movement aggravated the piercing wound, and the gushing blood splattered all over Ren Yi's face.
Ren Yi opened his eyes at this moment and saw such a shocking scene.
Ren Yi???
Ren Yi wanted to say that he had experienced so many worlds and seen all kinds of scenes.
But he had never seen anything like this before!
Ren Yi was completely dumbfounded. He asked the system, "[What's going on?!]"
The system controlling the alternate account was also bewildered: "[It wasn't me!!]"
It followed its host's instructions perfectly, breaking the sword contract as soon as it returned to the normal timeline and giving Frost Condensation to the Chosen One.
They did give it, but the way they gave it was completely unexpected.
Even if Ren Yi were out of his mind, he wouldn't choose this way of "giving"!
What's going on here?!
Ren Yi was stunned for several seconds before he finally reacted: [Frost Condensation!]
Reminded by this, the system also let out an "Ah!" and added several restrictions to the overloaded troubleshooting program, finally confirming [it was 'Frost'!]
Frost.
Or rather, the sword spirit of Frost.
As the Sword Master's natal sword, Frost Condensation naturally possesses a sword spirit.
However, this sword spirit, like its alternate account owner, is taciturn and has virtually no presence.
But that doesn't make sense!
After all, it was "his own" sword. Ren Yi had already "discussed" it with the other party when he moved the array core earlier, and Ning Shuang did not show any resistance. On the contrary, it was quite willing to take over the unfinished duties of its master and continue to guard the seal.
Although sword spirits possess intelligence, they are ultimately not human and do not have the complex thoughts of humans. They will not lie to their masters.
For it, "willing" is "willing," there is no "coercion," and it is impossible to go back on one's word at the last minute.
But why is this happening now?!
Ren Yi was completely bewildered, but it was faster to ask the sword spirit itself about this.
Ren Yi was still somewhat weak, but he still managed to raise his hand with difficulty, trying to touch the sword.
Xiao Hanzhou was stunned for a moment by Ren Yi's action.
His face was still pale, but his eyes suddenly lit up.
...Ah Yi, in the end, still cared about him.
Thinking this way, even the pain in my chest didn't seem as intense as before.
Xiao Hanzhou's expression softened little by little, and his voice became gentle, "Ayi, I..." It's alright.
Of course, it's impossible for everything to be "okay".
Even for a cultivator, the heart meridian is a vital point, but Xiao Hanzhou had experienced many life-threatening situations. Just now, at the critical moment, he subconsciously used his remaining spiritual power to protect himself for a moment, preventing him from dying instantly.
Even so, he was in a precarious situation and dared not make any rash moves.
If someone were to hold the sword hilt an inch higher at this moment, even they would probably be powerless to reverse the situation.
However, Xiao Hanzhou's reassuring "lie" was not finished.
The pale fingertips touched the sword, and were instantly soaked with blood.
He heard the person speak softly, "...Ning Shuang?"
—That is the name of this sword.
Xiao Hanzhou froze instantly.
The pain that had briefly subsided suddenly returned a thousandfold.
He seemed to have lost all his ability to speak in an instant; not only could he not finish his sentence, but he couldn't even utter a muffled groan.
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