Chapter 959: I Want To Risk My Life For You

Two years later, Xiao Nanfeng had advanced his cultivation to Spiritsong. Within the imperial court, he had woven an extensive network of loyal officials lying in wait, ready to rise and support him in regaining power.

Under Liu Miaoyin's guidance, Xiao Nanfeng had also managed to cultivate an avatar. His avatar remained in the palace to avoid suspicion, while his true body accompanied Liu Miaoyin on a journey to gain experience.

The two flew over a sea of clouds.

"Your cultivation is astounding. I've only managed to keep up because I have experience cultivating in my original body," Liu Miaoyin remarked with admiration.

"Didn't you already figure out the reason?" Xiao Nanfeng replied with a smile.

Liu Miaoyin frowned slightly and said, "My master told me that your father was human and your mother a spirit, making you a half-breed. That's why no one in the Great Zen Monastery was willing to teach you cultivation methods, nor did they allow others to teach you. They feared you might one day transform into a monster and wreak havoc upon the world."

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head and chuckled. "One lie begets countless more."

"What?"

"They could have just claimed that I have spirit blood. Why make up a story about my poor aptitude for cultivation? That was a lie. Subsequent explanations stemming from it may not necessarily be true, either," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Liu Miaoyin frowned in thought.

"How did my parents die? Some say they were killed by spirits, others say they died fighting for the Great Zen Monastery, and still others claim they were murdered by villains. There are so many conflicting accounts that you shouldn't take any of them at face value. I will uncover the truth once I have the strength to demand answers," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"But my master didn't teach you cultivation because of the risks of your bloodline..." Liu Miaoyin said, frowning.

"You grew up in the Great Zen Monastery, so all you know is what they've taught you. But is all the information they provide necessarily true?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

"Spirits are demons," Liu Miaoyin said firmly.

"And what were they before becoming spirits? Nothing more than rabbits, kittens, dogs, oxen, and goats. They were innocent. Do you claim that they should be branded as demons the moment they start to cultivate?"

Liu Miaoyin's frown deepened. Her convictions began to waver.

"No one is born evil. Nature is determined by the heart. I'm not trying to exonerate all spirits—I acknowledge that many are monstrous in nature. But not all of them are evil. Just as humans can be good or bad, so too can spirits," Xiao Nanfeng explained.

"But..." Liu Miaoyin hesitated.

"Let me tell you a story. It's called The Legend of the White Snake. Listen and decide for yourself who the monster is in this story," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Oh?" Liu Miaoyin's curiosity was piqued.

Xiao Nanfeng narrated a slightly modified version of The Legend of the White Snake.

As the tale unfolded, Liu Miaoyin's brows furrowed deeply. When the story concluded, she remained silent for a long time before finally asking, "Do you think everything Fa Hai did was wrong?"

"Fa Hai wasn't wrong. Xu Xian wasn't wrong. Bai Suzhen wasn't wrong either. It all depends on perspective. The key is, which perspective will you adopt? More importantly, I hope you develop a perspective of your own, rather than inherit one imposed by others."

"Me?"

"I sense a heavy burden on your shoulders—responsibility for the people, for your sect. But have you ever lived for yourself?" Xiao Nanfeng asked.

Liu Miaoyin frowned slightly.

"You told me that, over the past two years, your main body has been traveling far and wide, slaying monsters and demons, saving lives, and earning great acclaim in the world of cultivation. Yet you've nearly lost your life several times in the process. Does this praise and recognition truly matter? Only you know your own joys and sorrows. To love others, you must first love yourself. Don't lose yourself because of peculiar cultivation methods or because of others' adulation and expectations. You are Liu Miaoyin first and a Buddhist prodigy second," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Liu Miaoyin fell silent. For years, her master and sect had placed great expectations on her, calling her the light of Buddhism and heralding her bright future. But no one had ever asked her how she felt. She had grown accustomed to this life until Xiao Nanfeng's words made her feel an unexpected warmth in her heart.

"Thank you."

"I once said that, after you taught me how to protect myself, our debt would be settled. Now that I've begun to gain some ability to stand on my own, this journey will likely be our last together. I'm grateful for the guidance you've given me over the past two years, but I don't want you to become a soulless statue. I hope you can pursue what you truly enjoy and find a future that belongs to you. Otherwise, what's the point of all this? If you lose yourself, then what's the meaning of cultivation? Humanity is defined by desires and emotions," Xiao Nanfeng said sincerely.

Moved by his words, Liu Miaoyin found herself looking at him in a new light. A subtle warmth emerged in her gaze.

"Tell me more stories about human desires and emotions," Liu Miaoyin said.

"Alright. Another story it is, then," Xiao Nanfeng said with a smile.

Throughout their journey, Xiao Nanfeng continued to tell Liu Miaoyin stories, gradually helping her untangle the knots in her heart. The two of them shared a growing but unspoken bond, though they both restrained themselves from revealing their feelings.

This journey marked their final time together, so Xiao Nanfeng spared no effort in showing Liu Miaoyin the world's wonders, hoping to free her from the chains of ancient Buddhist teachings. He wanted her to experience the beauty of the world and find her own joy and future.

At dusk, the two of them roasted food by the stream, enjoying the evening breeze and watching fireworks bloom in the sky.

At midnight, Xiao Nanfeng summoned a vast sea of fireflies to dance around Liu Miaoyin.

At dawn, Xiao Nanfeng led Liu Miaoyin to a field of flowers, where they inhaled the fragrance of blossoms and watched countless butterflies flutter around them.

In the afternoon, Xiao Nanfeng threw stones into the water, splashing Liu Miaoyin all over. A playful chase ensued as Liu Miaoyin laughed and pretended to scold him.

Xiao Nanfeng took Liu Miaoyin through the streets, buying her elegant clothes and delicious snacks. They even snuck into weddings and funerals, posing as guests as they ate and mingled with others, leaving Liu Miaoyin feeling both frightened and exhilarated.

They didn't slay many spirits or demons during their journey, but they did experience all kinds of human emotions and situations. For Liu Miaoyin, this was the most relaxed she had been in years. She felt joyful and content just being by Xiao Nanfeng's side.

Knowing they would part ways after this journey made her cherish these moments further.

After traveling for some time, they arrived at a remote town.

From a distance, they saw a large crowd gathered in one place, watching a certain event unfold.

A group of monks was binding a giant wolf spirit, several meters tall, with chains forged from enchanted treasures. The wolf spirit was covered in blood and on the verge of death. Chains pierced through its mouth, rendering it silent, but its blood-red eyes radiated boundless resentment and murderous rage.

The townsfolk, both fearful and excited, shouted for the wolf spirit to be killed while expressing their gratitude to the monks.

"Take a good look! The demon plaguing your town has been captured. We are followers of the holy child of the Great Zen Monastery. If you wish to show gratitude, direct it to the holy child!" the lead monk proclaimed loudly.

"Thank you, holy child of the Great Zen Monastery!" the townsfolk exclaimed in excitement.

"This demon is tough and durable. We will bring it back to the temple to handle its carcass properly. For now, we've strung it up. If anyone has grievances to vent, you can do so now," the monk announced.

"Demon! You killed my parents! I'll kill you!"

"Demon! You murdered my son! I'll take your life!"

The townsfolk, enraged, used farming tools and weapons to attack the wolf spirit, leaving it covered in wounds.

From afar, Liu Miaoyin remarked, "Are those monks disciples of the Great Zen Monastery?"

"It looks like they're building a reputation for this supposed 'holy child,' whoever that is," Xiao Nanfeng said with a frown.

"Perhaps it's just a coincidence," Liu Miaoyin replied.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "It's not a coincidence. My people have gathered intelligence recently. Across Dashun, tales of the demon-slaying holy child have spread far and wide."

"Oh?" Liu Miaoyin said.

Just then, two wind blades suddenly shot toward the group of monks.

"Watch out! Someone's attacking!" one monk shouted.

With a loud boom, they deflected the wind blades, but more shadows emerged—a pack of wolf spirits was charging at the crowd with ferocious snarls.

"Demons! Run for your lives!" The townsfolk scattered in panic.

The monks' faces turned pale. One cried out, "It's a pack of wolf demons! Why are they here? Quick, send out a signal! Hold them off!"

With a deafening roar, the wolf spirits charged, scattering the monks. The spirits prevented the monks from escaping and freed their chained wolf brethren.

"Brother, you've finally come to save me! Kill them all! I want them dead!" the freed wolf spirit shouted.

"Kill them!" the wolf spirits roared in unison.

"Don't kill me! Help!" the monks screamed in terror.

Liu Miaoyin's face turned dark as she prepared to intervene, but Xiao Nanfeng held her back. "We've only just entered Spiritsong. Most of these wolf demons are at that level. We can't defeat them."

"They're disciples of the Great Zen Monastery! I can't just stand by and watch them die," Liu Miaoyin said.

"If you can't help, don't risk your life. Have you forgotten what I told you? ‘To love others, start by loving yourself.' If you don't protect yourself, aren't you just throwing your life away?" Xiao Nanfeng said.

"My main body is on its way, and I've also alerted others. I can't just ignore them. My master taught me to stand by my fellow disciples and not let demons wreak havoc on the world. How can I turn a blind eye? Don't stop me. You should leave," Liu Miaoyin said.

With that, she rushed into the battle.

"Foolish girl! They're your fellow disciples, sure, but you don't even know them. They're clearly followers of that holy child. Why get involved?" Xiao Nanfeng muttered in frustration.

He hated Liu Miaoyin's self-sacrificing nature, which he knew hadn't been innate but was rather the result of her master's teachings. Despite his efforts to change her mindset, he was making slow progress.

He didn't rush forward himself—it'd be useless. He wasn't a match for the pack of wolf spirits, and he wanted Liu Miaoyin to acknowledge the dark side of humanity.

Indeed, as Liu Miaoyin fought, the monks' burden lessened.

"The holy maiden! Save us, holy maiden!"

"The holy maiden is here. You wolf demons are done for!"

"The holy maiden represents the entire Great Zen Monastery. Prepare to die, you demons!"

The monks cheered while deliberately drawing the wolf demons' attention to Liu Miaoyin.

Soon, she found herself overwhelmed.

Once the monks successfully diverted the demons, they fled toward the forest, abandoning Liu Miaoyin to fend for herself.

"Why are you running? Just hold out a little longer! Reinforcements will come," Liu Miaoyin shouted.

"Holy Maiden, you are all-powerful. You can handle them!" a monk called back without turning around.

"Don't let them escape!" a wolf spirit snarled.

Some wolf spirits split off to pursue the monks, while the rest swarmed Liu Miaoyin.

She was forced to face nearly half the pack alone and was soon grievously injured. A storm of wind blades struck her, sending her crashing to the ground, her body bloodied and broken.

As she lay in a pool of blood, Liu Miaoyin watched the fleeing monks with confusion. Had they abandoned her? She had come to save them, so why had they left her behind? If they had stayed, they could have held out longer. Had she made a mistake?

"Holy Maiden of the Great Zen Monastery? Hah! Prepare to die," the wolf spirits snarled, closing in.

Liu Miaoyin closed her eyes in despair.

Their claws were mere inches away when a thunderous boom erupted. Xiao Nanfeng appeared in front of Liu Miaoyin at the last moment, shielding her. His protective artifacts shattered, and his back was torn apart by the wolf demons' claws, leaving him severely wounded.

Ignoring the pain, Xiao Nanfeng scooped up the bloodied Liu Miaoyin and fled.

"Another one!"

"Don't let them escape! Catch them!"

"Hold it!"

The wolf spirits roared and gave chase.

Xiao Nanfeng carried Liu Miaoyin into the distant forest. Behind them, the pack pursued the duo relentlessly.

Liu Miaoyin, gravely injured with her dantian shattered, felt weak and helpless. She felt a deep sense of guilt as she looked at the blood-soaked Xiao Nanfeng.

"I told you not to come for me, to run. Why didn't you listen?" she said weakly.

"You've protected me for over two years and taught me countless techniques. How could I abandon you and still call myself human?" Xiao Nanfeng said with a pained smile.

"I'm sorry," Liu Miaoyin murmured, overwhelmed with regret.

For the first time, she realized she had saved the wrong people. For the first time, she questioned her beliefs. She felt a pang of heartache as she watched Xiao Nanfeng endure the wounds he had sustained to protect her.

With a loud splash, Xiao Nanfeng dove into a large lake, carrying Liu Miaoyin with him.

"They're in the lake! Don't let them escape!" a wolf spirit shouted.

Some wolf spirits plunged into the water while others hovered above, scanning for movement.

Xiao Nanfeng swam to a densely forested lakeshore, entered the forest, and disappeared.

"They're not in the lake anymore. Search the area!" a wolf spirit barked.

In the forest, Xiao Nanfeng quickly found a cave and set up a protective formation with enchanted treasures to conceal their presence.

"It's no use. Wolf demons can track us by scent. Hiding here won't work. They'll find us soon enough," Liu Miaoyin said.

"I know, which is why I need the scent from your clothes. Quickly!" Xiao Nanfeng said.

"What are you planning?" Liu Miaoyin asked, confused.

Without answering her, Xiao Nanfeng tore off her tattered outer robe, stuffed it with straw to create a decoy, and used fog to obscure its appearance.

"This formation will mask your presence a little. Stay here and heal. I'll lure them away. By the time your main body arrives, you'll be safe," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"No! You'll die!" Liu Miaoyin cried out in alarm.

For the first time, Xiao Nanfeng gently touched her face and smiled warmly. "I want to risk my life for you, if only just once."

He then concealed the cave and flew away with the straw decoy.

"No!" Liu Miaoyin cried out.