"But all of this will depend on you, Mr. Xiao."
Fuchen looked at Xiao Mo with a serious expression.
Xiao Mo was taken aback for a mont, then said uncertainly, "Please speak plainly, Elder Fuchen."
"When the Dragon-slaying Sword was first forged, the ancient sages of the Human Race’s Hundred Schools of Thought used three types of Divine Iron as its base. They used the Chaos Fire as their furnace and the Qi Fortune of the Human Race to sharpen its edge. Finally, they imbued it with the resentnt of the Human Race."
"The essence of this Evil Qi is precisely that resentnt—the Human Race’s hatred for the Demon and Dragon Races."
"Therefore, if you wish to neutralize this Evil Qi, you can only do so with the rit of the Human Race."
"The rit of the Human Race?" Xiao Mo’s brow furrowed.
"This so-called rit is, in fact, another manifestation of the Human Race’s Qi Fortune. It’s also similar to a kind of incense offering."
"When you save soone, that person will very likely feel a sense of gratitude toward you. In the unseen world, this gratitude will gather around you like incense smoke. That is rit."
"You can gain the Human Race’s rit by saving people directly, but saving them indirectly works as well."
"The great war of the Human Race is imminent. The role you play in protecting the Human Race, the length of ti you protect them, and the number of Demons you kill..."
"...all of this can be converted into the Human Race’s rit."
"Ultimately, it cos down to one thing."
"The rit of the Human Race is a asure of how much you have done for the Human Race—how many lives you have saved through your actions."
"However, this rit is of great use to the Buddhist School, but its effect on other Cultivators is generally unremarkable."
"That’s why many Cultivators pay it no mind, or don’t even know it exists."
Listening to Fuchen’s words, Xiao Mo pondered for a mont until he roughly understood. "May I ask, Daoist Master Fuchen, how much rit will I need to eliminate the Evil Qi inside Ruxue?"
"A great, great deal."
Fuchen shook his head and took a piece of Amber from his sleeve. Within the Amber was a piece of Profound Ice.
"Carry this Amber with you. The more rit you accumulate, the more the Profound Ice inside will lt into water. When the entire piece of Amber disappears, perhaps then you will have enough."
Xiao Mo accepted the Amber and looked at it as it rested in his palm.
Fuchen’s eyes held a hint of worry as he looked at Xiao Mo.
"Mr. Xiao, you are the Academy Headmaster. I am but a humble Daoist Sect Cultivator and am in no position to preach to you."
"But there are so thoughts on life I have gathered, and I feel I must share them with you."
"If you find them reasonable, Mr. Xiao, then please listen. If you find them impertinent, you can simply dismiss them as my nonsensical ramblings."
"Please, Daoist Master, enlighten ," Xiao Mo said, bowing humbly.
Fuchen nodded. "In the Demon Race’s World, the status of the Human Race is extrely low. They are practically slaves, practically food."
"In the World of Ten Thousand Laws, the Demon Race is likewise used for Alchemy and to create all sorts of Magical Artifacts. They are seen as creatures that anyone can kill on sight."
"But even among the Demon Race, there are so Demon Cultivators who wish to raise the status of humans and accept them as a part of the Demon Race’s World."
"And in the World of Ten Thousand Laws, there are people like you, Young Master Xiao, who don’t care about whether one is Human or Demon, but only about whether they are good or evil."
"Whether Human Race or Demon Race, in my view, they are much the sa."
"What is the difference between a human and a Demon?"
"The fundantal difference lies not in race, but in the heart."
"Mr. Xiao, have you ever heard a certain story?"
"There was once a scholar who saved a fox. The scholar took the fox ho, bandaged her wounds, and gave her food and drink."
"But one day, the scholar had a dream. He dreamt that the fox devoured his entire family."
"After waking, the scholar killed the fox and made a scarf from her pelt."
"A human who fears Demons is more terrifying than any Demon."
"A Demon who fears humans is more savage than an unenlightened Fierce Beast."
"Daoist Master Fuchen, are you worried that because of what happened to Ruxue, I will lose all faith in the Human Race and co to despise them?"
"Yes."
Fuchen said without holding back.
"Within the Human Race, there are paranoid and even fanatical people like Ding Chen. In their eyes, the Demon Race must be utterly exterminated."
"But there are also those who can distinguish right from wrong, who judge by good and evil rather than by race."
"And there are countless innocent common people."
"What have they done wrong?"
"They just want to live their lives in peace. But war has crept up on them, and countless mbers of the Demon Race are eyeing them like prey, ready to slaughter them all."
"And among the Demon Race, there are also many Demon Cultivators who are against the war. They believe living in the Demon Race’s World is enough. Why must they start a war?"
"Yet, these Demons have been swept up by the tide of events, forced onto the battlefield against their will."
"When facing the Human Race, I hope you, Mr. Xiao, can love all people, discern the good in their hearts, and be worthy of Heaven and Earth."
"When facing the Demon Race, I hope you can refrain from treating all of them as beasts. Perhaps so Demons are more human than humans themselves."
"I have learned my lesson," Xiao Mo said, bowing solemnly.
"It’s all just empty talk." Fuchen shook his head. "You should go inside now, Mr. Xiao. Ruxue should be waking soon. When she does, the Evil Qi will cause her extre pain. Please have her take this Elixir. Afterward, she will fall into a deep slumber."
Xiao Mo took the Elixir and walked into the wooden cabin.
On the bed inside the cabin, a pale-faced woman lay perfectly still, her hands crossed over her flat stomach.
Xiao Mo sat by the head of the bed, watching Ruxue calmly.
After a short while, Bai Ruxue’s brows twitched slightly, her long, curved eyelashes trembling.
The woman opened her golden eyes. She blinked at Xiao Mo, and then the corners of her lips curled into a beautiful smile.
"You’re so badly hurt, and you’re still smiling?" Xiao Mo gently stroked Bai Ruxue’s silver-white hair.
"I’m happy because the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was you." Bai Ruxue reached out, taking Xiao Mo’s large hand and placing it over her heart.
But a mont later, Bai Ruxue’s brow furrowed. "Xiao Mo, my whole body hurts so much..."
"It’s okay. Elder Fuchen said the pain will go away after you take this Elixir. Here, I’ll help you."
Xiao Mo helped Bai Ruxue sit up, letting her lean against his chest as he placed the Elixir in her mouth.
After swallowing it, Bai Ruxue did indeed feel much more comfortable.
But she felt her consciousness growing hazy.
"Xiao Mo, why do I feel sleepy again?" Bai Ruxue shook her head.
"This Elixir has a side effect: drowsiness. It’s nothing to worry about. You’ll be fine after so sleep."
"Then... Xiao Mo, don’t leave..." Bai Ruxue gripped his hand tightly.
Xiao Mo smiled. "Okay, I won’t leave."
"You can’t lie to ..." Bai Ruxue’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier, as if she would fall asleep at any second.
"I never lie to you."
"Xiao Mo... when I wake up, let’s live here in seclusion," Bai Ruxue said, her eyelids slowly closing.
"Okay. Whatever you say."
"We’ll bring Xiao Qing here to live with us."
"Okay. We will."
"Xiao Mo..." Ruxue’s voice was as faint as a silk thread, like the string of a kite that could snap at any mont.
"Yes?"
"I... I really want to marry you..."
"Will you... marry ..."
"Marry ... okay...?"
As her last words faded, Bai Ruxue’s eyes finally closed, and her breathing beca steady.
Gazing at the sleeping girl, Xiao Mo gently stroked her silver-white hair.
"I will. I’ll marry you."
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