"Maybe due to the inherent traits of my kind, or maybe it’s just ..." Tang Xiadan said, shrugging as he smiled casually. "I have an insatiable curiosity about things, more so treasures."
His golden eyes glinted as he said that.
"I can’t help myself. If I get a whiff of treasure, my heart races with this inexplicable excitent and rush that I can’t quite put into words. Just the thought brings imnse reverie, and it only grows in the process of uncovering that treasure.
That feeling is beyond euphoric," he said, falling into a passionate sigh.
"It’s given joy, but it has also landed in no small number of troubles," he continued, smiling wryly.
"I am a prisoner to those emotions," Tang Xiadan said, gazing at Yang Qing. "But I don’t regret it either, and neither would I want to stop," he said softly, before adding, "Of course, neither am I completely consud by it to the point of foolishly throwing my life away when I know my chances of survival are close to zero."
He breathed out softly, his eyes burning brighter. "For a Gold Jade Treasure Mouse, there is no greater treasure hunt than pursuing the trails of an organization once dubbed the wealthiest in the continent. And the ’Treasure’ in its na makes it rather poetic. Almost as if my entire existence was purposefully born for unearthing and exploring the ruins of the Treasure Coin Palace," said Tang Xiadan, burning with passion before it fizzled out to a somber, solemn look.
"But I know my limits. And without domain level strength, that burning desire within won’t be realized," Tang Xiadan said softly. "But as you well know, the Domain Tribulation is a life and death tribulation. No matter how many preparations I make, there is a chance I don’t survive it," he added.
Yang Qing nodded somberly.
"In case I don’t survive it," Tang Xiadan said, smiling heavily, "I still want to know... What lies in that ruin. What treasures and their stories lie within that place," he said, his gaze drifting distantly before clarity resud in them.
"In case I don’t survive my tribulation, I hope Fellow Daoist can grant that one last request," Tang Xiadan said softly. "That coin holds my hope," he said, gesturing to the coin in Yang Qing’s hand. "I hope that you can uncover what lies in the place it leads to, if I am not able to do so myself, and tell at my tombstone of everything you found there."
"I know it’s a selfish request," he admitted sincerely. "But it is sothing I can only ask of soone who burns with the sa fire of curiosity I do. You understand the joy of mystery and discovery," Tang Xiadan said. "If I am not there, Fellow Daoist, will you complete the adventure for and do the favor of telling what you find, so even in my endless slumber I can still experience the joy of an adventure fulfilled?" Tang Xiadan asked gently, his form returning to his human one.
He didn’t rush Yang Qing into an imdiate response, who seed quite surprised by the request.
? he thought, stunned. Of all the secret intentions he had suspected Tang Xiadan of having in giving him the coin, the plea he’d just made was the last thing he would have imagined. In fact it wouldn’t have even made the list. Him? Exploring? And exploring a place tied to an organization that had six mythical race founders?
"What about your senior?" Yang Qing asked, keeping his tone and expression even. "Couldn’t you enlist her help?" he added, giving the ceiling a quick glance before his gaze returned to Tang Xiadan.
His estimations might be off, as he didn’t know too much about the subject matter, but given how effective that single feather had been in isolating and masking the aura of the coins, Yang Qing felt it was highly likely that Tang Xiadan’s senior was already at the Domain Realm, and if so, she was the best candidate for the task. After all, from what he knew, Star Shrouding Sky Crows loved collecting and hoarding treasures. Surely her kind wouldn’t pass up the chance at exploring such a place. There was no more attractive destination than one tied to the richest organization on the continent.
"Ordinarily I’d ask her," Tang Xiadan said, smiling bitterly. "But since the visit to Deer Mountain Range, she beca a recluse," he said, wording it carefully. In truth, his senior had beco highly fretful, with a propensity to scare and worry easily, which had led her to beco deeply paranoid.
Ironically, that fear spurred her to cultivate ferociously to the point that she broke through to the Domain Realm in less than a thousand years. But even after breaking through and gaining the strength and abilities that ca with being a domain-level expert, she still didn’t feel safe enough to leave the mysterious realm she called ho. Truthfully, he wasn’t sure she’d ever leave, even after she broke through to the Soul Formation Realm.
If he made the sa request of her that he was making of Yang Qing, he’d consider himself lucky if all he got in response was a no. She’d gotten irascible over the years. He’d probably get a clawed slap for his request, or worse... she’d probably seal his movents and try to convert him into a recluse like her, forcibly or otherwise. For his well-being, it was safer not to ask.
"She’d refuse," Tang Xiadan said simply, smiling bitterly.
Yang Qing sighed, wondering what part of him Tang Xiadan saw that made him think he was a risk taker. He looked at Tang Xiadan once more, trying to figure out a nice way to reject his request, but the earnestness in his eyes made him hesitate.
Yang Qing sighed again as his gaze fell once more on the coin in his hands. "I hate risks," he said softly, fiddling with the coin before looking up at Tang Xiadan.
"There is nothing that matters to more than my life." He decided to go for the straightforward approach.
"Oh." Even though he didn’t show it, Tang Xiadan looked slightly dejected at the reply. Not that he didn’t expect it. Just as he was about to tell Yang Qing he could still keep the coin, he was halted as Yang Qing raised a hand, gesturing that he wasn’t done.
"If you don’t mind waiting..." he continued. "Though truthfully, I’d prefer it if you made it through your breakthrough and survived the ensuing exploration, so maybe you can be the one to tell all about what you’ve discovered without having to risk my own neck," said Yang Qing, smiling, before his expression lted into a somber one a second later.
"If you don’t make it and you still need soone to do it, I’d be willing, but," he said, his gaze and expression turning firm, "it will have to wait until I am in the Soul Formation Realm. Any realm lower, I won’t do it. Not even at the peak of Domain Realm," he said firmly. "If that is okay with you, then we have a deal," said Yang Qing, softening his tone.
"The dead have no concept of ti, so I doubt I’d mind waiting a million years," said Tang Xiadan, smiling. "Thank you," he added softly, cupping his fist at Yang Qing.
Yang Qing cupped back. He pushed the two remaining coins toward Tang Xiadan. "May the fortunes favor you in your next undertaking, Fellow Daoist Tang Xiadan."
Tang Xiadan accepted the coins and said, "May it be so."
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