Chapter 167: 167

167 – Beiming Little Fish

After a long silence, Xihe, who appears to have found the answer, murmured, “… happiness — right, we are pursuing happiness . ”

Xihe’s eyes are unfocused .

The staunchness adorning her face cannot be driven away, cannot be hidden, as if it was engraved on it . But unexpectedly, it gives off a fuzzy feeling .

The words she spoke just now seem to be meant to persuade herself as well as remind herself — no, it should be said that they are meant to calm her wavering heart .

No matter what, this answer doesn’t fit .

The girl, who is shifting her gaze, looks like a drowning person grasping for straws .

However, Xue Qilin doesn’t intend to pierce through the other party’s self-deception, and instead asked in a flat tone, “Happiness of martial demons?”

Xihe nodded gently .

“Yes, happiness of martial demons . ”

“What about you? What about your happiness?”

Xue Qilin asked lightning-fast, which betrayed her impatience .

“Me?”

“As long as the martial demons can be happy, is it okay even if you die here?”

“Enough misfortunes… too many misfortunes have befallen us . For me — I really think so, their happiness is my happiness . ”

What matters is not the fate of one person, but the fate of the collective .

Martial demons focus on the fate of the collective, not the fate of a single individual .

The viewpoint of the two may have been different from the get go .

However, what does this represent?

“Huh, what a joke! That’s foolish! Is this why you sacrifice yourself?”

Although Xue Qilin can understand it, but she cannot approve of it .

She cannot approve of this idea of self-sacrifice .

The agitated mood she is under ignited an unknown fire, and Xue Qilin’s tone turned emotional unconsciously, causing Xihe to pull back in a rare fashion .

“Whether it is happiness or unhappiness, both have life as the foundation! Because we are alive, we can have the due meaning and value . Death means losing everything, you know?!”

“I do, of course I do!”

Xihe pushed Xue Qilin away angrily and stepping back, as if to escape . Her fists are clenched tightly, with her nails digging into her palms .

Then, after being suppressed repeatedly, her emotions finally burst out from her throat .

“But you don’t! You don’t understand that my unhappiness stems from the fact that I was born a martial demon — a being that people don’t accept! Do you understand? No matter how similar we are in appearance, people won’t accept us!” Xihe’s voice became much quieter . “Perhaps, what we long for is just to be ‘accepted’ by people… um, that’s all . ”

Xihe lowered her head . Most of her face is hidden in the shadow of her bangs, making it impossible to make out her expression .

“However, the world is really narrow-minded, to the point that it doesn’t tolerate us . We can only struggle to survive . Yet you won’t even let go of our place of shelter… What can we do? All we need is Martial Demon Realm — when it comes to the whole world, it is nothing . ”

There are ripples in Xihe’s eyes . The expression portrayed on her face is that of someone about to cry .

“But why… why is the world so narrow-minded?”

This is not a question, but a complaint . A complaint against the world, against humans .

Xihe, it’s not the world that’s narrow-minded, but people… As if she ate yarrow, Xue Qilin’s heart is full of bitterness .

“What a headache…”

But, is the world too small to even tolerate room for choice? Xue Qilin thinks that it shouldn’t be so .

— It shouldn’t be the case . There should be room for choice and effort .

At this time, Xue Qilin suddenly recalled what Beiming Youyu entrusted her with .

So she said, “Xihe, we all have a mouth . ”

Although this sentence is confusing, but it is not without meaning .

After a long period of looking at one another, Xihe asked in a constrained tone, “… what do you mean?”

Xue Qilin replied with a smile, “We are able to communicate and relate our feelings . ”

“What are you talking about?”

Unable to make sense of the other party’s words, Xihe, feeling irritated, raised her voice unconsciously .

Xue Qilin closed her eyes and exhaled, breathing out all the obstacles that prevent her from making up her mind .

When she opened her eyes again, she smiled calmly .

“Have you ever thought about negotiating with the Five Great Sects to stop Martial Demon Realm Trial by Fire?”

As if she heard something shocking, Xihe was struck dumb .

After a while, she asked tentatively, “Xue Qilin, are you serious?”

“Of course I’m serious . I don’t like to joke about such things . ”

“… no way, they won’t listen to me . ”

“Have you tried?”

Xihe shook her head, stunned .

“So how do you know it won’t work? Did you forget who extended you a helping hand when you were facing death? It was Merak Temple’s Temple Master Qi Qiqi . Have you asked her for help?”

Xihe shook her head again .

“If it’s Little Seven… she’s definitely willing to help you . ”

Xue Qilin showed a gratified smile .

“Because she is a kindhearted person, to the point of foolishness…”

The lass’s sigh revealed the warmth that permeate’s people’s hearts .

“If she is willing to help you, then I will be willing to help you… In this way, you can get the support of Merak Temple . Next, there’s Spirit Moon Valley . I think Beiming Little Fish will be willing to support you . As for the remaining three sects, I have no assurance . However, if you think about it, two of the five sects will definitely support you, so that’s already a 40% success rate . Isn’t that more promising than what you’re doing right now?”

Xue Qilin raised four fingers and waved them exaggeratedly .

“A 40% success rate, why don’t you try it?”

Then, with a smile on her face, she extended a hand to Xihe .

“How about it, wanna have try?”

While probably considering the proposal, Xihe stared blankly at the fair hand in front of her .

Will she agree? Xue Qilin isn’t sure . But she thinks that she has shown enough goodwill . There is nothing else she can do . All she can do is wait for Xihe’s answer .

“… do you really think that it can succeed?”

“Uh…” Xue Qilin smiled awkwardly, “To be honest, I don’t know . I’m not the one who came up with this method . ”

“Who was it?”

“Beiming Little Fish!”

“It was Big Sister Beiming…?”

“Yes, she told me that she will provide assistance if I advocated the abolition of Martial Demon Realm Trial by Fire . You know, your Big Sister Beiming is very cunning . She even called in a favor, asking me to pop out my head . ”

The more Xue Qilin spoke, the more indignant she became . In the end, she gritted her teeth, and her shoulders shook .

Suddenly, Xihe spurted out a laughter .

Before she could ask why the other party is laughing, Xue Qilin felt her outstretched hand suddenly tighten .

Looking down, she found that her hand was already gripped . Xihe gripped her hand .

This means —

“You agree?”

Xue Qilin blinked . Xihe immediately chuckled helplessly .

“What’s with that expression? This was your proposal, so why do you show such an expression of incredulity when I agreed to it? Did you think that it was impossible for me to agree?”

“Uh, that’s not it! It’s just that I prepared a lot of arguments . I didn’t expect you to agree so readily . ”

“Then you should be relieved . ”

“Wait, why does it look like I’m a passenger giving the coachman unsolicited advice? — bah, I am no backseat coachman!”

Xihe, unable to help herself, showed a happy smile .

“What a weird person . ”

Then, despite Xue Qilin talking, Xihe started walking .

It might be a misconception, but Xue Qilin feels that the martial demon girl’s steps are much lighter and her figure doesn’t look solemn like before .

“– wait, is it because you believe me or Beiming Little Fish that you agree to the proposal?!”

Xue Qilin caught up promptly .

“Does it matter?”

“Of course it matters! If it’s because you believe me, then I’ll naturally feel happy!”

“Take a guess . ”

After a moment of thought, Xue Qilin clasped her chin and said, “It must be because you believe me! After all, Beiming Little Fish is a fox! You can’t trust her! Mhm, that must be it!”

Xue Qilin, walking beside Xihe, satisfied with her guess, nodded repeatedly .

Xihe smiled, noncommittal .

Next, Xue Qilin advanced at her previous pace . Yet Xihe never fell behind .