Translator: Exodus Tales Editor: Exodus Tales
Cloud Sky City ship traveled all the way to the west. This time, it didn’t stop at the frosty land where the Thousand Kilometer Ice Stream was. Instead, they bypassed the continent along its coastline and continued onwards to Cloud Sky City that was located in the Northwest Mainland.
Along the journey, they encountered many ships but had yet to encounter any trouble. All the ships made way when they saw Cloud Sky City’s flag. Apparently, nobody knew what had happened to Ximen Wuya. Yang Dingtian was worried about the Xuan Sky Sect, but even they had not come make trouble for them in the middle of the sea.
Possibly because of Yang Dingtian’s two-year commitment, Ximen Yan hadn’t started any trouble, but he had started enticing and persuading others.
Ximen Yanyan did not do anything other than stay beside her father around the clock. She didn’t eat, didn’t drink, didn’t say a word, having completely wrapped herself up in her gloom.
Each time Yang Dingtian brought her meal, she just let it sit, not taking a single bite.
After refusing food and drink for several days in a row and barely sleeping, Ximen Yanyan’s condition deteriorated. Her two big beautiful eyes were red and swollen. Her charming baby fat face had slimmed, and her cheeks had become sharper. This change transformed her into a totally different kind of beauty.
Ximen Yanyan was burning her own lifeforce.
Yang Dingtian knew that none of his words could persuade Ximen Yanyan as she refused to talk to him. However, this state of affairs could not continue. Otherwise, Ximen Yanyan would die.
Thus, Yang Dingtian did nothing. He just sat next to Ximen Yanyan, staying with her without eating, drinking, or sleeping. He had yet to recover from serious injuries and could die at any moment. Just two days later, his face was dark and dim.
Seeing that Yang Dingtian was unsteady, Ximen Yanyan said, “You don’t have to do this. You have more important missions to complete.”
Yang Dingtian asked, “What missions?”
“Fighting Dongfang Bingling, taking back what belongs to you, and helping Cloud Sky City to gain authentic status as the real Yin Yang Sect,” Ximen Yanyan answered.
“Of course, these are my missions, but there is something important even more important,” Yang Dingtian replied. “That something is protecting you from harm.”
“This is the first and most important mission that Uncle Ximen gave me. If this mission can’t be accomplished, the other missions will be meaningless. I’m currently too weak to protect you. Perhaps, it might be a good idea to die with you.”
Ximen Yanyan’s dim eyes flashed with light, but she still remained silent.
Yang Dingtian thought for a moment before continuing, “When I first came to this world, I had nothing. There isn’t a single reason for me to fight for anything. I was alive without purpose. Then, I met my Master. We became just like father and son, so meeting his expectations became my mission. That was until I reached the Yin Yang Sect. You should know about the subsequent trouble, right? Then, the enmity towards Dongfang Bingling became my reason for living. And now, Uncle Ximen had become like this because of me…, so the tasks he entrusted to me became my reason to survive.”
“Then, I saw your tears and your grief…” Yang Dingtian looked at Ximen Yanyan’s beautiful little face. “You used to be very rude and insulting. Even though you beat me half to death, I still prefer that Ximen Yanyan since that was the real you.”
Ximen Yanyan shook her head. “But, right now, I no longer dare act so barbarically. The one who allowed me to do so is gone.”
“So…” Yang Dingtian looked seriously at Ximen Yanyan. “Letting you regain your enthusiasm and go back to being unruly are also my missions. The reason for me to keep on fighting is because this is what I owe you.”
“Master is gone. So is Uncle Ximen…” Yang Dingtian continued, “I don’t want hatred to completely fill my heart, so your happiness has become my last and most important reason.”
“Protecting a person is more meaningful than hatred, and it makes more sense than some vague mission, right?” Yang Dingtian asked.
Ximen Yanyan raised her head, staring at Yang Dingtian for a moment with her big eyes. The ice encasing her heart seemed to crack open.
“You’re good at consoling girls’ hearts, but it is a shame that my heart is already…” Ximen Yanyan lifted her beautiful face. “But, at least now, I don’t hate you as much as before…”
Then, she started to eat.
“However, you don’t need to worry. I will play my role as your wife, but I really can’t give you more. I’m sorry!”
******
They had sailed on the sea for more than two months. During this time, Yang Dingtian spent most of his time immersed in medicinal soup. He also read all kinds of books. He must acquire enough knowledge and a firm foundation before formally starting to practice this world’s Martial Arts.
Yang Dingtian and Ximen Yanyan seemed to have exhausted all conversation topics in their last chat. Ximen Yanyan had not spoken to Yang Dingtian ever since. She stayed in the cabin every day, staying by her father’s side. She only came out when she wanted to shower.
Yang Dingtian did not want to see her like this and looked for a million reasons to talk to her, but she only ever responded with a “humph.”
Therefore, Yang Dingtian took a book and sat beside her every day, reading carefully and asking questions whenever he did not understand. Finally, Ximen Yanyan could not no longer stand it and yelled, “Why are you so stupid? This is so easy, and you still don’t get it?”
Yang Dingtian then started ceaselessly asking questions. He was never embarrassed in this area. It turned out that he asked very often and listened very seriously. Thus, Ximen Yanyan partially became his teacher.
After Yang Dingtian finished reading a few dozen books, their journey across the sea finally ended. They once again stepped onto land. Stepping onto the Northwest mainland, all the Cloud Sky City people switched to riding horses and carriages. They still needed to travel three thousand miles to reach Cloud Sky City.
Along the way, Yang Dingtian was afraid that some of Cloud Sky City’s numerous enemies would be waiting for them. However, the truth proved otherwise. They didn’t encounter any ambushes. Instead, all their enemies avoided them.
It turned out that no one knew what had happened to Ximen Wuya. However, there were a lot of people who had already heard about Ximen Wuya’s fantastic fight at sea in which he defeated numerous Guru-level experts. Therefore, even before they arrived at the Northwest Mainland, Ximen Wuya’s reputation was already in full swing. Although these forces in the Northwest Mainland did not dare to offend the Xuan Sky Sect and the Yin Yang Sect in order to win Cloud Sky City’s favor, they also did not dare challenge Cloud Sky City. They were worried that Cloud Sky City would take this opportunity to once again expand in the Northwest Mainland.
They had traveled safely for thousands of miles. There were only three hundred miles left before they arrived at Cloud Sky City.
The closer they got to Cloud Sky City, the less fragility could be seen in Ximen Yanyan’s eyes. However, her uneasiness grew stronger and stronger.
Moreover, as they neared Cloud Sky City, Ximen Yan and the pair of Yang Dingtian and Ximen Yanyan became more and more alert. In the last few days, Ximen Yan even watched Yang Dingtian and Ximen Yanyan from time to time, preventing them from making any moves.
On the last night, they were less than two hundred miles away from Cloud Sky City and would reach their destination by the next night.
A black bird flew out of the garrison and flew in the direction of Cloud Sky City.
Ximen Yanyan was walking around uneasily in the tent and eventually stopped in front of Yang Dingtian. “We will arrive at Cloud Sky City tomorrow. This means that our real danger is coming soon. On this journey, you had only one enemy, Ximen Yan, but in Cloud Sky City, you will face many more enemies, some of which are much stronger than Ximen Yan.”
“Even though father was strong enough, when he inherited the Cloud Sky City, there was still a lot of strife. Blood was shed, corpses were created, and a lot of people were expelled. Therefore, you have to be mentally prepared.”
Yang Dingtian replied, “I don’t think it will be worse than the situation I was in at the Yin Yang Sect.”
“Not necessarily. Dongfang Bingling, at least, didn’t really want to kill you. However, we can’t be sure about the people in Cloud Sky City. However, as your wife, I will do everything to help you. This I promised father.”
Then, Ximen Yanyan walked to the entrance of the tent and looked at the sky outside. “The key now is that person. Will he be willing to help us? Would he stand with us?”
“As long as he is willing to listen to you, we could be considered to have half-succeeded.”
…
The next morning, the team continued to move forward. They were now only about one hundred kilometers away from Cloud Sky City.
Suddenly, there was a deafening din of horse hooves, followed by the kicking up of dust all along the road ahead.
Immediately, Ximen Yanyan ordered the whole team to stop and enter defensive formations.
A few moments later, hundreds of iron mounts appeared, each carrying numerous knights. The knights carried big swords and looked mighty clad in their conspicuous red cloaks. Although they were only hundreds of iron mounts, there were thousands of knights atop them. The head knight had a dark, powerful frame and looked vigorous and firm, mighty and powerful.
Even though they not yet reached the group, hundreds of knights had already dismounted and were kneeling on both sides of the road. They were indistinguishable from one another and their movements were neat and practiced. The head knight then dismounted from his ride, inserted his great sword into the ground, and knelt down on one knee. “The Black Blood Cavalry commander, Ximen Lie, welcomes foster father home with honor.”
This person’s voice shook the ears like deafening thunder.
“Brother,” Ximen Yan shouted loudly. He then hurriedly rode his horse to the front. He reached Ximen Lie, dismounted from his horse, stepped forward, and gave him a warm hug, saying “I’ve missed you so much in the past six months.”
“Good buddy, you must have suffered hardship on this journey, but you also earned impressive prestige.”
Ximen Yanyan opened the door to her carriage, revealing her beautiful face. “Brother.”
“Ximen Lie greets Miss Ximen.” Ximen Lie immediately bowed to show respect. He was also one of Ximen Wuya’s foster sons, but he still called Yanyan “Miss Ximen”, not addressing her directly.
“Brother, can you come up for a moment? I have something to tell you,” Ximen Yanyan said.
“Okay,” Ximen Lie replied. He then stood up and walked to Ximen Yanyan’s carriage. Ximen Yan, who was standing behind him, slightly changed his expression. He wanted to say something but ended up not finding the words.
Ximen Lie was really majestic and grand. After he got on the carriage, the wide carriage interior immediately became a bit cramped.
After getting on the carriage, Ximen Lie set aside his big sword and took off his helmet to reveal his valiant and resolute face.
He had long golden hair, a dense golden beard that resembled steel thorns, deep eyes, a straight nose, and a scarred face with a wound that appeared to have been inflicted by an axe. All in all, he looked like a majestic lion.
Ximen Lie quickly noticed Yang Dingtian. He was slightly shocked and frowned. Then, he averted his eyes and paid Yang Dingtian no further attention.
“Brother,” Ximen Yanyan said to Ximen Lie. “This is Yang Dingtian, my…husband.”