Section 133: Foolish Kindness

Black Mountain City was far larger than Starwind City—magnificent and imposing, with densely packed arrow towers that looked like a jagged fence. According to Murray, these towers existed to guard against the Star Soul Beasts that frequently haunted the area. The soldiers stationed in these towers were, at the very least, warriors of the fifth rank or higher.

When he said this, Murray glanced at Tang Tian.

"Sounds impressive," Tang Tian replied, his face filled with genuine wonder. There was not a hint of pretense in his expression.

Murray looked away, feeling that it hadn't been very polite to boast. Not wanting to discourage Tang Tian, he held back the fact that every one of these soldiers had awakened at least one type of bloodline.

Tang Tian truly felt it was impressive.

Densely packed arrow towers—how many soldiers would that require? If every single one was at the fifth rank or higher, it was proof that the standard of Black Mountain City was far above that of White Rainbow Star. When he had attacked the Yu family, Tang Tian had charged at such arrow towers. If those arrows had been fired by fifth-rank warriors, he doubted he could have made it through.

It was truly impressive.

While a powerhouse like Murray might look down on ordinary soldiers, Tang Tian had no such thoughts. Since he was constantly berated by Bing for being worse than a raw recruit, in Tang Tian’s eyes, any soldier who had graduated from the training camp was a formidable expert.

Gu Xue, who had been teasing Yaya, furrowed her brows involuntarily. "Uncle Murray!"

She was as clever as she was beautiful. She understood Murray’s desperation for any glimmer of hope in their suffocating, hopeless situation. However, her feelings for Tang Tian were different; he had saved her life.

In such a critical moment, most people’s first instinct would have been to dodge. But Tang Tian’s first reaction had been to save her. In that split second, there had been no time to think; it was purely instinct.

Tang Tian was a righteous and kind youth.

Her heart was filled with gratitude toward him. What did her fate have to do with him? He had already saved her once; he was under no obligation to be responsible for her destiny.

Meeting his mistress's gaze, Murray felt his old face flush; he had lost his composure.

"Let’s enter the city," Murray said hurriedly.

The city guards were quite familiar with Murray and his party, but when they saw them, their expressions turned strange.

Murray was experienced; as soon as he saw the guards' faces, his heart sank. He knew something had happened.

"Protect the young mistress," Murray said in a deep voice. The other guards grew grave, as if facing a great enemy.

Gu Xue did not look up. She continued to tease Yaya, appearing completely calm.

The guards did not stop them, and the group entered the city smoothly. However, Tang Tian noticed figures flickering in the shadows. He frowned slightly and whispered to Gu Xue, "I smell danger."

Gu Xue stopped her movements, looked up, and turned to give Tang Tian a faint smile. "Some dangers cannot be avoided."

She gently placed Yaya, who was looking quite content in her soft hands, back onto Tang Tian’s shoulder. With a serious expression, she said, "You should leave quickly. Find any inn and settle down. Leaving Feline Star will be difficult, but if you ask around, you will surely find a way. I wish you the best of luck. Thank you for saving my life."

Tang Tian tilted his head, looking at the earnest Gu Xue. A light of sincerity shone in his brown eyes.

"You’re in big trouble, aren't you?" Tang Tian asked suddenly.

"I’m home. What trouble could I possibly have at home?" Gu Xue winked playfully at him.

Tang Tian looked at her for a moment, then scratched his head and laughed. "That’s true. What danger could there be at home? Then I’ll be going!"

Gu Xue smiled serenely. The night wind stirred her blue and white dress; although the golden hem was tattered in places, she remained elegant and gentle.

Tang Tian waved at her and shouted, "I’m off!"

He turned and disappeared into the street.

The smile remained on Gu Xue’s face as she said softly, "Let’s go."

***

As soon as Tang Tian turned into a corner, he stopped.

"What? Thinking of playing the hero saving the beauty?" Bing floated out, his tone dripping with mockery.

"She’s a good person," Tang Tian replied, ignoring the question. He looked up at the night sky and muttered to himself, "It would be such a pity if someone like her just died."

"Who do you think you are?" Bing curled his lip. "A savior? A great hero? Please, don't think you're something special just because you finished one lousy copper dummy room."

"Neither," Tang Tian shook his head, his expression calm. "But don't you think it’s a pity?"

"What does it have to do with me? I’m just an instructor," Bing spread his hands.

Tang Tian rolled his eyes. "But I don’t want her to die."

"So everything I said was for nothing?" Bing sounded annoyed.

"Besides, if I help them, I might run into Qiya again. I really want to have a serious fight with him."

Tang Tian dropped this comment casually as he began to move along the shadows of the street, heading in the direction where Gu Xue and the others had disappeared.

Bing froze upon hearing this. Although he often heard arrogant things from Tang Tian, none had ever shocked him more than this.

Qiya’s strength was formidable—even from Bing’s perspective, he was incredibly strong, certainly not someone Tang Tian could contend with right now. But when he heard the undisguised fighting spirit in Tang Tian’s voice as he spoke of fighting Qiya again, Bing couldn't help but feel a moment of bewilderment.

He knew Tang Tian well enough to tell that the kid was serious.

Damn it!

Bing couldn't help but curse. Was this guy crazy?

There wasn't a shred of chance for victory; in fact, the probability of death was over ninety percent. What was the point of such a battle?

In the night, the figure moving along the shadows of the wall looked incredibly stubborn.

***

Gu Xue looked at the near-ruined courtyard, a flash of heartbreak in her eyes. This was her home, filled with childhood memories. Murray’s gaze was cold enough to kill; he suddenly remembered the strange expressions of the guards at the gate.

"Let’s tidy up," Gu Xue said calmly. "Clear some space so everyone can rest."

Murray nodded, and the others began to clean up the ruins in silence.

They had expected the situation to be bad, but not this bad. The fact that the enemy had openly destroyed this place showed just how reckless and unrestrained they were.

It was easy to imagine that the attacks awaiting them tomorrow would be as crushing as Mount Tai. That the enemy dared to go this far proved they had absolute certainty of success.

At some point, snowflakes began to drift from the sky.

Abili found some wood stripped from the house in the ruins and lit a fire. The group gathered around it, the atmosphere suffocatingly heavy.

Gu Xue’s expression, however, grew calm. She looked up at the sky, held out her palm to catch a snowflake, and whispered, "I remember when I was little, whenever it snowed, Father would stay here and build snowmen with me. It’s snowing again today; it must be Father in heaven, afraid that I’m lonely."

Murray’s eyes turned red, and his fists clenched involuntarily.

Gu Xue looked away and sat upright on the ground. Even now, there was not a trace of disarray on her face; it was as if she were sitting on a warm, soft fur chair rather than in the mud.

Her blue and white dress looked like the sky and clouds spread out.

Suddenly, she bowed deeply and said earnestly, "Thank you all for bringing me here."

"Your duties are fulfilled. Please, leave," Gu Xue said with a serene smile. "I didn't expect things to become this dire. Now, any struggle is meaningless. After all, I have the blood of the Gu family flowing in my veins; they won't kill me. You all have families of your own; please, do not make any pointless sacrifices."

Oppression—deadly, suffocating oppression.

Even the usually lively Abili was biting his lip so hard his knuckles turned white. The other guards were filled with grief and indignation, their eyes rimmed with red.

"Please, leave," Gu Xue bowed again. "Please, do not make me live the rest of my life in guilt because of tonight."

Everyone kept their heads down, silent.

"Uncle Murray." Gu Xue turned to look at Murray.

Murray’s face, etched with weathering and scars, was as cold as rock, though his emotions had returned to calm. "You all should go. It’s come to this; there is no turning back. Do not throw your lives away for nothing."

Abili bit his lip until it bled, shouting with fury, "I’m not leaving!"

"Neither am I!" Shan Chen shook his head as well.

"I’m not leaving!"

"Me neither!"

...

Hearing these words, Murray exploded, his hair and beard standing on end. "Get out, all of you! Whoever stays in front of me, I’ll kill them myself!"

"Boss..." Abili sobbed.

Before he could finish, a black shadow flickered. His expression froze, and with a dull thud, he fell backward. Murray’s movements were like the wind, his strikes incredibly precise. One by one, they fell backward, knocked unconscious.

Only Shan Chen remained.

"Take them away," Murray stared at Shan Chen. "Shan Chen, you have the calmest temperament; I leave them to you. If they die, what will happen to their families? I’ve lived enough, but what about you? If you won't think for yourselves, think of your families. Leave tonight, and remember, do not stop."

Shan Chen clenched his teeth so hard he dared not speak, fearing that if he let go, the tears would spill.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

He kowtowed three times to Murray and Gu Xue, then lifted the others and stumbled away into the night.

Tears blurred his vision, hot droplets sliding down his cheeks.

He kept his teeth clenched tight.

Watching Shan Chen disappear into the night, Murray set aside his last worry. He took out a wineskin and handed it to Gu Xue. "Young Mistress, have a few sips to warm yourself."

Gu Xue took the wineskin, pulled out the stopper, and took a small sip. Two red flushes immediately rose on her snow-white face. The wine was too strong and spicy; she couldn't help but knit her brows.

Murray laughed loudly, took out his own wineskin, and drank wildly. The strong liquor spilled from the corners of his mouth, soaking his clothes, but he didn't care. He poured the entire skin down his throat in one go!

The snow fell harder and harder.

Suddenly, a flurry of rapid footsteps echoed from outside.