NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 126:
Chapter 126: Can You Also Recite Poetry?:
About winter.
About falling snow.
In the eyes of different people, there are different meanings.
Talented scholars composed poems and lyrics about the wind and snow, while noble families saw snow as a good omen. Some people cherished the snowy scenery, drinking tea and admiring the snow as it fell gracefully.
But for the people at the border, for the refugees who had lost their homes, snow was torment.
The world was completely silent, every sound muffled by the layers of wind and snow. The only audible noise was the relentless howling of the wind, its icy touch piercing to the bone.
With thin clothes on frail bodies, the refugees could only huddle together for warmth, struggling desperately against the cold.
Light snowflakes began to accumulate, slowly forming a layer too thick to overlook.
The only good news was that, under the leadership of Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue, the group of refugees was drawing closer to the passage and was expected to reach it by tomorrow.
If nothing went wrong, tonight would mark the final trial of their endurance.
The refugees shivered, tightly embracing each other. They wrapped themselves in whatever they could scavenge—demon fur, scales, or any materials available to shield their cold bodies.
In the midst of the howling wind and relentless snow, only Xu Xi, Wu Yingxue, and a few warriors with strong Qi and blood to protect themselves remained unharmed.
“Sir, do you also know how to treat illnesses?”
“I know a little, but not much.”
“But before, you said Daqian is sick, that everyone is sick, and that you can cure it. Isn’t it hard to treat such an illness?”
“It’s not hard. If the overfed eat less and the starving eat more, the illness will vanish naturally.”
A small campfire flickered against the night.
Sheltered by a boulder from the cold wind and reinforced with Qi, the fire provided a rare and precious source of light and warmth.
Xu Xi sat on one side, and Wu Yingxue on the other.
The two of them, being the strongest present, took up the task of guarding against potential dangers while conversing by the fire.
After hearing Xu Xi’s response about “treating the illness,” Wu Yingxue pondered over his words. Though simple, his reasoning carried profound meaning.
“As expected of you, sir. What you said makes sense,” she remarked. “Unlike me, I know so little.”
She sighed suddenly, folding her arms behind her back and looking disheartened.
Xu Xi smiled faintly, reaching into the fire to retrieve a piece of charred demon meat. He tossed it into his mouth and chewed it slowly.
It was his dinner for the night—dry, flavorless, coarse, and hard to chew.
But it was all they had.
“It’s okay,” Xu Xi said after swallowing the tough meat. He turned to Wu Yingxue. “Yingxue, you have your own strengths. You don’t need to be like me.”
“But I… I don’t know anything besides martial arts.”
“That’s impossible. Think about it again.”
Under the dim light of the campfire, which cast a reddish hue on her hair, Xu Xi spoke with warmth and encouragement.
The girl frowned, deep in thought, and hesitated before answering, “Other than martial arts… I can recite poetry?”
Xu Xi was momentarily stunned.
It wasn’t that he doubted her ability, but Wu Yingxue’s temperament didn’t seem to align with the art of poetry.
Could she truly be hiding such a skill?
With a curious and rigorous attitude, Xu Xi decided to test her poetic talent.
“Ah? You want me to recite something?” Wu Yingxue stammered.
“This… I… Uh…”
“Maybe we should just forget it…”
The campfire crackled, its sparks illuminating the shadows of the night. Wu Yingxue’s hesitation and embarrassment were evident, but her courage eventually won out.
She began reciting with determination:
“Horse, you have four legs!”
“Man, he has two legs!”
“I, I…”
Her voice faltered, the volume dropping sharply.
The atmosphere fell into silence.
Even the wind, snow, and crackling flames seemed to pause, leaving only an awkward stillness.
After a moment, both Xu Xi and Wu Yingxue tacitly moved on to another topic, leaving her attempt at poetry behind.
That level of poetry seemed… ahead of its time.
…
The biting cold wind persisted but was blocked by the warriors’ Qi, unable to penetrate their defenses.
Invisible Qi spread outward, offering the refugees a modicum of protection.
In this snowy world, where the scenery remained unchanged for so long, it created an illusion of timelessness.
“This winter will be tough…” Xu Xi thought, chewing his demon meat in silence as he mulled over his next plans.
At the same time, he shared some insights with Wu Yingxue, hoping to guide her in overcoming the barriers she faced in her cultivation.
Wu Yingxue had been stuck at the Blood Exchange Realm for some time, lacking a crucial yet elusive opportunity to break through.
Perhaps it would happen in battle.
Or perhaps in an epiphany.
She was only one step away from becoming an innate warrior.
Xu Xi took out two bottles of Qi Pills, remnants of the rent Wu Yingxue had paid him earlier. He had intended to use them himself, but his own breakthrough to the innate realm had come sooner than expected.
Now, these pills were no longer useful to him but would be perfect for Wu Yingxue.
“Here.” Xu Xi extended the bottles to her.
Wu Yingxue was surprised. She hadn’t expected to receive the Qi Pills she had once struggled to pay for.
“Are you serious?” she asked hesitantly.
“Take it,” Xu Xi said, placing the bottles into her hands.
“…Thank you.”
Wu Yingxue was momentarily stunned but quickly expressed her gratitude. She wasn’t one to act coy. She understood how crucial the pills were for her advancement.
“Sir, you’re a good person,” she said with a smile, her tone laced with admiration.
Looking down at the smooth pill bottle in her hands, she noticed its reflective surface capturing her own face, the flickering flames, the blanket of snow, and Xu Xi’s faint silhouette—all blending together in a surreal dance of light and shadow.
“Very nice…” she murmured softly, unsure of what exactly she was praising.
…
[The night before arriving at the trail passage, you and Wu Yingxue spoke at length.]
[You were surprised to learn that the girl could recite poetry.]
[After hearing her poem, you decided never to bring it up again.]
[Considering the future battle and the looming demon tide, you gave her the Qi Pills to help her break through to the innate realm.]
[Wu Yingxue seemed overjoyed.]
[That night, she fell asleep clutching the two bottles of pills and her dragon-patterned spear, refusing to let go even for a moment.]
[When she woke up the next day, her joy remained. She smiled brightly and stayed by your side, insisting she would protect you, even though you didn’t need it.]
[When the group finally reached the trail passage, the tragic scene there gradually erased her smile.]