Favor
"Taking the ice crystal out?" Yingshi was puzzled.
Shuangjian was not one for fanciful thoughts. Did this mean he already knew how to get out?
"Yes," Shuangjian nodded.
Still using himself as a reference, he could gain freedom after the plot concluded. This symbolized that the domain would also return to a scattered state after its core was terminated. Entering it might require a certain karmic connection, but leaving it wouldn't necessarily be too difficult. Since the specific time was already in the past, they only needed to find the specific place.
The internal structure of the Marrow Cleansing Spring's domain was too simple. Aside from those hazy, pitch-black pathways, there was only this central pool of congealed spring water.
So, where could the crucial exit be?
Other than the eye of the spring, he couldn't think of a second possibility.
"The exit should be at the spring's eye," Shuangjian said in a low voice.
Yingshi followed his gaze. The spring's eye was at the bottom of the dried-up pool, only about the size of a bowl. Its edges had long been worn smooth by flowing water, and right now, a thin layer of ice had formed around it.
But it was simply too small. Even someone with Xiangxiang's tiny physique couldn't squeeze out normally, let alone two living, breathing adults. It was hard to imagine how they were supposed to jump into it.
But if Shuangjian could speak with such absolute certainty, it definitely wouldn't be a problem. Even though he used the auxiliary verb "should," Yingshi knew this was just his way of speaking; it didn't mean he lacked confidence.
"After we go out, will we land in the Gate of Death or outside the altar?" Yingshi thought for a moment, pointing her toes forward as she asked, "If we just jump right in, will it teleport us?"
"We can try. There are no longer any restrictive barriers here, so the space should be unstable. Passing through shouldn't be difficult; we just need to protect ourselves with spiritual energy," Shuangjian answered.
"Then let's not delay. Let's go quickly! I just want this Tiangang Martial Gathering to end so I can get out and have a good rest!" Yingshi said impatiently.
The endless tournament was truly more grueling than the college entrance exams. No wonder it took up so many chapters in the original novel.
To be honest, she even felt like she was starting to forget the faces of Xu Mingcheng, Xu Xiaoran, and the others. She might not even recognize them by the time she got back!
Wait, no. Even if the tournament ended, she wouldn't go back to see them. She was about to become a disciple of the Dao One Immortal Alliance, haha.
Let them just forget about each other in the martial world.
"Alright," Shuangjian replied.
Yet after agreeing, he didn't move. He stood there, hesitating, still tightly gripping that piece of ice crystal, head bowed in thought.
Yingshi looked at him, then at the tiny spring eye. Although she felt a faint sense of confusion, her trust in Shuangjian overshadowed everything else.
She took a deep breath, backed up a few steps, and took a running leap toward the frozen eye of the spring, just as she had when she first jumped into the water. "Shuangjian, I'll clear the way for you. Hurry up and follow!"
Anyway, even if she failed, it didn't matter. It would just mean taking a tumble at the bottom of the spring!
The young girl's figure swiftly leaped over the bowl-sized spring eye.
A bizarre scene unfolded. Despite the obvious mismatch in size, there wasn't the slightest collision or snag. Like a pebble dropped into water, Yingshi's plunge merely caused a ring of ice-blue ripples to spread through the air around the spring eye. In an instant, her figure entirely vanished beneath those expanding ripples.
...
Just as expected. Compared to entering, leaving was a simple and smooth process.
Then why did the heart of the onlooker feel even heavier?
Seeing Yingshi leave, Shuangjian gripped the ice crystal even tighter.
Human desires breed worry and fear. His current hesitation was indeed born out of a fear that the outcome wouldn't match his expectations.
Many of his guesses were being verified one by one. It seemed everything was developing in a favorable direction, yet he felt timid precisely because he was infinitely close to the answer.
He could live without expectations forever, but he felt unable to accept an ending where, after finally having expectations, he had to watch them shatter.
However, timidity and hesitation would not steer an already hopeless outcome toward a better direction. He couldn't stay in the domain forever...
Shuangjian's expression darkened slightly. Holding the oblivious Xiangxiang, he followed closely behind Yingshi and stepped into the ripples.
He would not run from fate.
If fate refused to favor him, he would... change fate himself.
...
The familiar sensation of being pulled by spatial forces struck again. However, unlike the fall from the Gate of Death, this transit was brief and swift, as if merely passing through a thin membrane of water. Light flashed before Yingshi's eyes, and her feet were already touching solid ground.
In the time it took her to blink, she saw Shuangjian appear in front of her.
A few steps away from them was the teleportation array at the end of the secret passage, emitting a steady white light. After exiting the domain, they hadn't returned to the Gate of Death; instead, they had arrived in the secret passage inside the altar.
Now that all eight gates were closed and the exit was open, she and Shuangjian were likely the very last ones to leave.
The wretched Tiangang Martial Gathering was finally coming to an end... She actually got into the top five!
If points were calculated based on the rewards reaped, she was undoubtedly in first place!
How was this any different from getting accepted into a top university?
An uncontrollable smile bloomed on Yingshi's face, her eyes curving into crescent moons. She let out a cheer and opened her arms, wanting to rush over and give Shuangjian a celebratory high-five. Yet, before she could make a move, it was Shuangjian who suddenly rushed over and pulled her into a fierce embrace.
Squeezed between them, Xiangxiang let out a soft whimper and decisively jumped down. However, it obediently stayed close, quietly lying on the ground to wait for the humans' celebratory ritual to end.
...
Yingshi felt the tight, burning warmth against her in a daze, her heart rate instantly skyrocketing.
All this time, she had mostly been the one to initiate physical contact. This was the very first time Shuangjian had hugged her so proactively and so tightly!
He held her firmly, his head lowered and buried in her hair. He didn't speak, seemingly trying to steady his breathing. Shuangjian's reaction was even more intense than hers; there was a suppressed excitement in his panting.
The mechanism of the blood pact was quite mysterious. It didn't allow for a constant, uninterrupted flow of shared feelings, and she hadn't felt emotions from Shuangjian for a long time—or perhaps she had felt them sometimes but failed to notice.
But this time, she distinctly recognized that the relief, joy, and release suddenly crowding her heart were all coming from the man holding her.
Shuangjian rarely showed his emotions, but could leaving the Gate of Death and the Marrow Cleansing Spring's domain really make him this happy?
Infected by his emotions, Yingshi felt happy too, even a little touched! How strange.
She raised her arms and gently hugged Shuangjian back.
No wonder people say hugging is a way to recharge. Holding someone tightly felt just as good as being held tightly!
Without realizing it, she and Shuangjian—two people from another world—had already walked so far together! They really needed to treat themselves properly after this!
"...Thank you, Yingshi," Shuangjian suddenly murmured.
What was he thanking her for? For scouting the way, or for being the spiritual mentor who helped him overcome his fears?
"For what?" Yingshi asked softly.
...
He didn't speak, but Yingshi felt her ear being gently rubbed against.
Help! Shuangjian was nuzzling her with his head! They were practically rubbing cheeks!
A tingling sensation instantly spread through her entire body, making her burn up all over.
Yingshi stiffened with a bright red face, realizing that she too loved to nuzzle others. It turned out that for the person being nuzzled, it was such sweet torment!
Only then did Shuangjian softly say, The ice crystal... I brought it out.
Hearing his voice from such a close distance, it seemed a bit different from usual. Perhaps because the medium of transmission was no longer just the empty air, but closely pressed flesh and bone, giving it an intimate, magnetic quality that felt like you are a part of me.
How could Yingshi even focus on the content of his words? All her senses were occupied by this overly intimate embrace, the whispers in her ear, and the swelling warmth in her chest.
Out of nervousness and shyness, she somewhat wanted to put an end to this intimate moment, but she faintly knew that this moment was unlike any other; it seemed to be special to Shuangjian.
Then... quietly, slowly, she would let this precious moment last a little longer...
Yingshi also carefully buried her face closer against his chest.
The final scene of the Tiangang Martial Gathering was the two people embracing in the secret passage, and the little pig leisurely closing its eyes in the peaceful atmosphere.
...
The light in the Wendao Peak plaza gradually dissipated. After Yingshi stood firm beneath the white light, she realized that she and Shuangjian were indeed the last ones to come out. However, although the other three were standing neatly on their respective teleportation platforms, they had all suffered injuries to varying degrees.
Even though they didn't end up in the most perilous Gate of Death, their journey in the altar clearly hadn't been very smooth either—of course, that was because all the fortuitous encounters had been snatched up by her first, Yingshi thought with a twinge of guilt.
Meeting the appraising gazes of the elders and teachers, Yingshi suddenly felt even more guilty.
She hurriedly looked at Shuangjian. At this moment, Xiangxiang was still being held in his arms, sleeping very soundly, and Shuangjian's expression was the same as usual... Uh, maybe not quite as usual. When he met her gaze, he revealed a gentle smile, smiling so charmingly that it made Yingshi a bit dizzy.
A Shuangjian with consistently soaring spirits was truly hard to resist... How could he be radiating charm every single second, dammit!
She had just remembered that Shuangjian was now a demonic cultivator, but it seemed there was nothing to worry about. If he were going to be discovered, it would have happened when the elders of the Dao One Immortal Alliance inspected him, and he would have been dragged out just like Qin Yuman long ago. How could he have lasted until now?
Ah, right, the fact that Qin Yuman had become a demonic cultivator, contrary to the original text, probably had something to do with Shuangjian too!
The long-absent, resonant heavenly voice echoed in the sky above once again. That official tone seemed to carry a hint of gentleness different from before amidst its calmness: The final trial of Tiangang is now complete. The altar is closed, and the eight gates have returned to their positions. According to the Alliance's past conventions, all disciples may enter our Dao One Immortal Alliance to study, and shall be rewarded with three thousand coins, three hundred spirit stones, fifty spirit talismans, and countless wondrous pills and medicines. The cultivation methods, insights, and fortuitous encounters you obtained within the altar also belong to you personally... Do not be arrogant, do not slack off, and do not forget your courage in braving the array and your sincerity in seeking the Dao today.
The heavenly voice spoke for a long time, spending a great deal of breath at the end to educate and encourage them. However, Yingshi's mind was completely filled with those increased rewards, and she instantly beamed with joy.
As expected, it had to be one of the top three wealthy and imposing sects. Thinking back to when she had shamelessly badgered Xu Mingcheng to beg for money, she had only managed to get a dozen or so spirit stones. Now, the prize money for the Tiangang Martial Gathering was easily three hundred! She really wanted to go and squander it immediately! All expenses paid by Boss Xu!
But meeting the gaze of Perfected Lord Dongming who suddenly appeared, Yingshi immediately put away all the smiles on her face, gave a serious, light cough, and waited for him to approach.
You've entered the Gate of Death? asked the middle-aged man who had previously offered to poach them.
Yingshi nodded, her eyes darting around as she asked, How do you think we performed?
Impressive, Perfected Lord Dongming actually tossed out a serious compliment, then stroked his beard and said, Before joining my tutelage, do you need to make a trip back to the Cloud Water Sect?
No... Yingshi had only half-uttered the word no when she suddenly nodded vigorously and hurriedly said, Yes, we do. The round trip might take over a month.
She suddenly changed her mind, not because she wanted to go back and show off in front of her incompetent father and brother.
But rather, there was less than a month left before the Nether Demon Lord's harassment began!
If that old widower went crazy and came straight to the Dao One Immortal Alliance to attack Shuangjian, wouldn't it be a complete mess? In the original text, because the altar was destroyed, the Dao One Immortal Alliance was in chaos for quite a while, and the male lead wasn't immediately taken away by Perfected Lord Dongming, so the two timelines didn't collide.
But if they left with this master right now, when the demon lord arrived, they might not be able to hide even if they wanted to at the last minute. What if that person directly attacked the Dao One Immortal Alliance? Wouldn't they be completely doomed?
To avoid causing more trouble, it would be better to use returning to the Cloud Water Sect for a handover as an excuse, go out, find a quiet little corner, and hide to survive this calamity!
