txolops Chapter 799 Barbarians
Chapter 799 Barbarians
Under the moonlight, the two sat on the rooftop across from each other at a table, the blue light casting blurry shadows behind them.
Hearing this, He Hongyi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She pursed her lips and looked at Chen Xuan with a serious expression, saying, "Xuan, I know you're not someone who likes fighting and killing. You know my intentions for settling down in Yang County and becoming your neighbor. Originally, I just wanted to run this small wine shop well and retire from the martial world to live a peaceful life. But many times, when I see certain things, I really can't help but take action. Do you understand that feeling?"
With a popped edamame in his mouth, Chen Xuan said to himself, "Everyone is an independent self, unique in this world. If you force yourself to change for others, you're no longer yourself. What people need is understanding and tolerance. Caring too much about what others think is meaningless. I've always held this attitude. In short, just be happy."
Listening to his seemingly irrelevant answer, which struck a chord with He Hongyi, she smiled, raised her glass, and said, "Thank you, Ah Xuan."
"I didn't say anything, why are you suddenly thanking me?" Chen Xuan clinked glasses with her, took a drink, and shook his head.
She refilled their glasses, then hugged her knees, looking relaxed. She said softly with a smile, "Actually, I don't quite agree with your point of view. Life isn't about taking things for granted. If it's someone you care about, making appropriate changes is necessary; otherwise, being too strong-willed can be disliked."
Scratching his head, Chen Xuan looked at the moonlight and said, "So that's the difference between people. If you feel happy making changes for someone you care about, then follow your heart. If you feel that things aren't as you imagined, then make adjustments in time, so you don't end up losing more than you gain. In short, as I said before, just be happy."
"I understand what you're saying, but I'm happy to do it, and I'm content with it," she smiled, her resolve unwavering.
They seem to be talking to themselves, but they understand each other perfectly. Perhaps that's what tacit understanding is, making communication easy.
Lying back down on the roof tile, Chen Xuan crossed his legs and said, "Going back to what we were saying, there are too many things in this world that we can't stand. If we have the ability, we should try to maintain an objective and kind heart. Under this premise, we should act when necessary, otherwise all our cultivation will be in vain, like a pearl covered in dust."
Nodding, she looked at the composed Chen Xuan and smiled, "That's what I think too. I've been trying my best to change and restrain myself, but many times I just can't help it."
"Haha, that's right. Of course, we should always distinguish right from wrong beforehand. And personally, I don't advocate meddling in other people's business," Chen Xuan said in agreement.
She rested her elbow on the small table, her delicate hand supporting her chin, and tapped the table with her other hand, saying with displeasure, "Oh dear, Ah Xuan, why are you lying down again? Get up and keep drinking!"
"Okay, I'm used to it. I'm just a lazy person. I'd rather lie down than sit. Don't mind me. We still have to keep drinking this Soul-Returning Wine," Chen Xuan said lazily as he got up.
With a satisfied smile, He Hongyi suddenly said with a touch of emotion, "Don't laugh at me, Ah Xuan, but what do so-called chivalry and justice mean in front of you? True benevolence and kindness should be like yours."
"Me?" Chen Xuan pointed to his nose, indicating his incomprehension.
Nodding, she sincerely admired, "Yes, it doesn't matter how much a person does by relying on their cultivation level. What's truly valuable is being able to control oneself and not do whatever one pleases when one truly possesses great cultivation."
Scratching his butt, Chen Xuan said thoughtfully, "I think I understand now. It's like an atomic bomb; when it's not used, it's peaceful, but once it's used, it's a disaster."
"Atomic bomb?" Now it was He Hongyi's turn to not understand.
Chen Xuan waved his hand and said, "That's not important. That's roughly the meaning. Besides, I'm not what you described, Red Robe. You've made me feel awkward."
Although she couldn't understand it, He Hongyi had her own understanding: powerful cultivators who don't act recklessly are actually beneficial to the weak.
Then she asked curiously, "So, what about you, Ah Xuan?"
"Me? After knowing me for so long, don't you know me? I've always believed in just four words: 'I don't eat beef.' You don't need to delve into what those words mean. Just understand that I like the feeling of being free. So-called freedom isn't about doing whatever you want, but about not doing what you don't want to do. Do you understand? That's just who I am," Chen Xuan said, speaking his mind without trying to hide anything.
Upon hearing this, He Hongyi frowned slightly and said, "I think I understand a little better."
He raised his glass, gesturing for her to drink, before saying, "Hongyi, you don't need to worry about what I'm saying. Let me put it this way: it's not that I dislike the 'no beef' lifestyle, it's just that I've pretty much passed that stage, and it's become meaningless. So I just lay down and give up. Hey, you know what? It's really comfortable."
At this moment, He Hongyi completely understood. She covered her mouth and chuckled, saying irritably, "Ah Xuan, you're just talking without thinking. It's not as simple as you make it out to be. You only have the right to say such things because you have the confidence and power."
"Hey, none of that matters. Tell me, if I'm not mistaken, you haven't left Yang County for the past few months, have you? What kind of blind fool could make you, who was planning to go into seclusion, take action?" Chen Xuan asked curiously.
Following Chen Xuan's example, she casually lay on the roof tiles, stretching out her graceful figure, doing whatever was comfortable. He Hongyi waved her hand dismissively and said, "It's nothing, it's just that the bullying of men and women and the immoral acts were too outrageous. When I encountered such things, I couldn't help but take action."
"I see. That does suit your personality. After all, the woman in red is a renowned female knight-errant," Chen Xuan said without any surprise, without pressing for details. He wasn't that curious.
Don't underestimate Yang County just because it's a small place. The county seat alone has more than 100,000 people. Especially during a disaster, how many heinous things must happen every day? With a female knight-errant like He Hongyi at the Innate Realm around, those villains are just unlucky.
She rolled over and stood up, raising her glass to glare at Chen Xuan, saying fiercely, "What 'heroine' nonsense? Ah Xuan, are you making fun of me? Don't you know that the word 'hero' is exhausting? Many times, it's clearly a constraint and a joke?"
"How could that be? I'm more than impressed. You know how many people spend their whole lives pursuing this word but never get it. And this isn't my saying. I've only been back for half a day, and even without deliberately asking around, I've heard the name 'Red Shadow Heroine' from many people. I don't know how many people are grateful to her. Don't tell me that wasn't you," Chen Xuan said happily.
Her face turned red, embarrassed by what she was being said, and she said coquettishly, "Ah Xuan, you still dare to say that?" "Haha, it's not something shameful, it's a compliment, okay? Speaking of which, Red Robe, didn't you want to live a low-key and ordinary life? Why were you seen doing chivalrous deeds? Your signature red outfit is too eye-catching. That's how the Crimson Shadow Heroine came to be, isn't it?" Chen Xuan said with a smile.
He Hongyi pondered for a moment and then said frankly, "It's true that I want to live an ordinary life, but as we just discussed, when it's time to act, we should act. We martial artists act with integrity and uprightness, so why hide anything? We're not doing anything bad, and that kind of secretive behavior doesn't suit my character."
"I have a clear conscience, I know that all too well. Actually, we have quite similar attitudes in this regard," Chen Xuan said in agreement. That's just how he is. He never deliberately tries to keep a low profile or pretend to be weak while actually being strong, nor does he actively show off. He doesn't care what others think of him, and he doesn't care if they don't cause him any trouble.
Hearing him mention the similarities between the two, He Hongyi smiled, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart. She didn't dwell on it anymore, and then, as if remembering something, she said, "By the way, Ah Xuan, in the past few months, I've noticed more than a dozen barbarians appearing in Yang County. They're easy to identify; they're violent and quick to attack at the slightest provocation, and they don't know their own strength. Their cultivation levels are all quite high, and I've even taken down a few of them."
"What are they doing?" Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and asked curiously. Chen Xuan naturally knew what the barbarians she was talking about were. This was how the Jing Kingdom called the Rong Kingdom people. It wasn't surprising that they appeared in Yang County. After all, Gao Jingming was the top scholar in the imperial examination, and many people from all over the country came to pay homage to the hometown of the top scholar.
With a deep look of disgust in her eyes, He Hongyi frowned and said, "I didn't quite understand why people used to call the Rongguo people barbarians. But after getting to know them, I realized they're more than just barbarians; they're downright brainless. Not only are they arrogant and domineering, but they're also incredibly savage. The few I've eliminated acted like they'd never seen a woman before. If they saw one, they wanted to snatch her away and play with her. According to them, women in the north have delicate skin and are quite rare; it's practically a paradise for the strong. They even had malicious intentions towards me. How can I tolerate such people!"
“Rongguo is located in the south, and its culture is relatively barbaric. In many places, the tradition of ‘whatever you grab is what you get’ is still upheld. Although it is a cultural difference, we understand it but do not condone it. So such people are not worth dying for,” Chen Xuan said with a smile, unconcerned.
Not wanting to continue the topic, He Hongyi changed the subject, saying, "Xuan, from what I've observed recently, they seem to be targeting the Gao family. Because of you, I've been paying close attention to the Gao family. They've tried to break into the Gao family many times but haven't succeeded. Especially half a month ago, when a Xiantian master led a team to forcibly break into the Gao family, I couldn't help but intervene. Suddenly, two Xiantian masters appeared in the Gao family and killed them. I didn't even know the Gao family had such masters before!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing within them. He nodded thoughtfully and said, "I see. I understand. In any case, thank you, Hongyi."
“Ah Xuan, please don’t say that. Putting everything else aside, I’ve now settled in Yang County. How can I allow outsiders to come here and cause trouble? Besides, I haven’t been of any help,” He Hongyi waved her hand.
With a smile, Chen Xuan casually asked, "Do they do similar things often?"
After thinking for a moment, He Hongyi replied truthfully, "It's alright. It's happened four or five times in the past few months. After the Gao family sent two innate masters to kill the intruder, nothing like that has happened again. I don't know if they've gone into hiding or if they knew things were hopeless and left."
"They probably ran away. Don't worry about it. If something similar happens again, please keep an eye out for me while I'm not in Yang County," Chen Xuan said calmly.
As he spoke, he fully opened his senses and observed that there was indeed no trace of the barbarians within Yang County. That's why he said they must have run away. Knowing the difficulty and retreating was probably only part of the reason. The real reason they ran away was probably because they knew in advance that Chen Xuan was coming back.
His relationship with the Gao family is common knowledge, and no one dares to risk angering Chen Xuan, not even the royal families of various countries!
Furthermore, they discovered the two innate masters that He Hongyi had mentioned at the Gao family's residence. Their auras were well concealed, and Chen Xuan would not have noticed them if He Hongyi hadn't mentioned them.
Originally, these two innate masters should not exist. Chen Xuan grew up in the Gao family and knew everything inside and out. Apart from Leng Bing, who advanced to the innate realm after Gao Jingyu returned that year, there were no masters of this level. Now, Leng Bing has also gone to Gao Jingming's place with Madam Gao.
So, were the two innate masters in the Gao family mansion sent by Gao Jingyu, who is now the Empress of Nan Jing, or were they retainers recruited by the old and young Gao after their official careers took off?
With a flicker of thought, Chen Xuan was more inclined to believe that it was sent by Gao Jingyu. If it were a retainer recruited by Lao Gao or Xiao Gao, they would have informed him in advance.
The reason why I think it was sent by Gao Jingyu is twofold: firstly, she now has the ability to do so; secondly, Prince Qing, Zhou Xing, has conquered such a large territory of Rongguo with unstoppable momentum. How could the Rongguo court remain indifferent? It is difficult to confront them head-on, so they have to try to salvage the situation from other aspects. Sending someone to attack the Gao family is understandable. Therefore, how could Gao Jingyu not have thought of this? It is reasonable for her to send someone to protect her family.
Once Chen Xuan understood all this, he wasn't surprised. He just wondered if, having failed here, they would send someone to target Xiao Gao. The only people who could make Gao Jingyu hesitate to act against Xiao Gao were probably his blood relatives, such as Madam Gao and Gao Jingming, which would also affect Zhou Xing, the Emperor of Southern Jing.
Such things are unavoidable, as they concern the struggle for supremacy. Chen Xuan also knows that he alone cannot deter others from taking such a risky military action.
"It's nothing, why be so polite between us?" He Hongyi said to Chen Xuan with dissatisfaction, but quickly realized what she meant and asked with a hint of resentment, "Xuan, are you going on another long trip?"
I just said I'd keep an eye out for you while I'm not in Yang County, and you already figured out I was going on a long trip. Are you that perceptive? Chen Xuan smiled and said, "It's not a long trip. I'm planning to accompany Qian Ning to the capital in a few days to visit your father. It'll be quick, unlike before when it would take months."
"I see..." He Hongyi appeared calm on the surface, but her mood suddenly plummeted.
Seeing this, Chen Xuan joked, "What, you can't bear to part with me?"
"Yes," she nodded in agreement.
Unexpectedly, she answered like that. Chen Xuan coughed and blurted out, "How about we go to the capital together?"
“Okay,” He Hongyi nodded without hesitation, her eyes lighting up.
Chen Xuan was almost numb, his heart pounding as he thought he couldn't take it anymore. He dared not look directly into her burning gaze and turned away, startled, exclaiming, "Look, red-clothed woman, fireflies!"
...(End of this chapter)