Absolute Choice 9

by Pear Lands In The Autumn Spring

  He had made a wrong choice.

  He had made a wrong choice at the cost of his life.

  Shi Xiaobai knew that if it were him, he too would have made the same choice.

  But, was such a choice worth it?

  "Bang!"

  While Shi Xiaobai was running, an object that flew backwards slammed into him.

  All he could see was whiteness in front of him.

  However, death felt to be in close proximity.

  Shi Xiaobai used his strength to embrace the 'object' that collided with him. He allowed his body to fly backwards as well so as to counteract the strong impact.

  Nothing could be seen.

  But he could feel something in between his fingers. It was a sticky and hot liquid.

  Shi Xiaobai knew what it was.

  He tried his best to widen his eyes, hoping to make out the 'object' he was holding in that white world.

  The white glaring light caused his eyes to turn red.

  Shi Xiaobai's backward flying body finally came to a halt. As for the white light, it gradually dispersed.

  Everything in front of him finally began to materialize.

  The first thing he saw was blackness in the white light.

  That was hair.

  "You are still alive, you must be still alive."

  Shi Xiaobai muttered softly.

  However, the sticky liquid his fingers was feeling seemed to retort that fact.

  He could only try his best to widen his eyes so as to make out the reality that would soon appear from the whiteness.

  Then, he saw complete redness.

  That was blood.

  And in the bright redness, there was a circular blackness.

  That blackness seemed to be a bottomless pit that devoured all light.

  Shi Xiaobai's pupils gradually dilated.

  A sound that was stuck in his throat was finally released at that moment. That sound resembled the cries of someone.

  Shi Xiaobai finally managed to make out the 'object' in his arms.

  He also discerned the bright redness and the deep black hole.

  The "object' was Speechless.

  The "redness" was Speechless's blood.

  The "deep black hole" was the wound on Speechless's body.

  The wound had appeared on the left side of Speechless's chest. Speechless's left chest had been penetrated. The wound was completely dark and had nothing in it.

  The beating heart that should have been in the left chest...was gone.

  ...

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  Chapter425 Are you willing to be a side hoe

  Boiling hot blood spewed out of the hole in the left chest. It seemed like water that gushed out of the eye of a fountain. However, the eye of the fountain was about the size of a fist. It was crimson and emanated a sticky, bloody stench that was stifling. Furthermore, what gushed out of the 'eye of the fountain' was not water, nor was it blood, but life that was constantly depleting away—if that object still had any life to it.

  Shi Xiaobai finally managed to see color in the white world. The blurry black and red gradually turned clear. Of course, it was not considered a gorgeous display of color, but it was not a dull single tone color. However, it purely but complicatedly mixed two commonly seen colors together before painting a picture with color.

  However, the picture painted was not of a scenery, but life—a life that was about to wither.

  Looking from a different angle at the mixed blackness and redness, while struggling to curb the disgust and grossness, despite his eyes were prickling in pain and feeling sour, he could see fractured bone mixed in the mangled flesh and blood.

  But that was only it.

  The most important thing, the thing that he wanted to see the most was gone.

  What should be beating in the left chest, producing thumping sounds to let the quiet picture have throbbing life was gone.

  Could a person still be alive without a heart?

  Could a person be revived without a heart?

  Finally, his concentrated eyes managed to discern everything clearly. Shi Xiaobai's eyes once again seemed to turn disheartened. In his blank mind, the answer that was destined to be given to the two questions flashed.

  Then, it was a confirmation of a cruel reality.

  Speechless was dead.

  Just as he expected, Speechless failed to survive that single strike.

  If he had used the exit command, he might have been defeated, he might have escaped or even appear cowardly, but he could at least survive.

  Speechless did not make such a choice. Instead, he had directly received the blond youth's sword strike that had used the power of Sword Soul.

  That was an overwhelming force for Speechless. It was a strike that he temporarily could not withstand. Even if he were a rare genius, one not seen in a hundred years or even a thousand years, he was only in his teens after all. To withstand the Sword Soul strike head on, the best outcome was what had just happened. His corpse was left relatively intact, but he had lost his life.

  "It would be impressive for him if he could leave his corpse intact."

  Such a thought emerged in Shi Xiaobai's mind when he saw the power of the strike slashing out.

  "But why did This King feel that you would be able to survive if it were you?"

  Shi Xiaobai gave a deep sigh in his heart.

  In fact, he had only met Speechless twice. During their first meeting, they had come to blows. In the second meeting, they had for some baffling reason fought with their lives.

  Perhaps it was as the saying goes, friendship grows only when you exchange blows or how the like knows the like. A few simple exchanges of blows and silly conversations made Shi Xiaobai firmly certain of a particular matter—Speechless, a young genius whose reputation was not as good as meeting him face to face, but also didn't seem to live up to his reputation, could be a friend and opponent for the rest of his life.

  While he grew and advanced, that youth may be running crazily in front of him, or the youth might be chasing behind him, or might very likely run by his side. But it was certain that as long as he existed, what should be a lonely journey would not be lonely.

  Shi Xiaobai had such beliefs. Furthermore, he firmly believed in it while waiting and anticipating for it.

  However, Speechless was dead. This friend he acknowledged, the opponent he was anticipating had his heart forever stopped in such a manner. It happened in this unfamiliar world, in the bleak basin and ice-cold world.

  There was not much sadness or grief, but the feeling of regret and vexation suddenly surged to his heart. A sense of emptiness filled his chest, as though he suddenly felt furious over the ridiculous reality that had happened.

  "You should not have died here. This shouldn't have been where you died..."

  Shi Xiaobai felt his chest heavy. It felt like a rock was crushing his heart. An unfamiliar but familiar emotion began emerging as it filled his brain.

  His black hair seemed to be stained as if it was covered in snow. From the roots of his hair, his hair gradually turned white. It was not a bleak whiteness, but a beautiful silvery-white that appeared like it was breathing.

  One strand after another seemed to ripple out silvery-white ripples on a black lake surface.

  "Go ahead and rage!"

  "Go ahead and vent!"

  "Go ahead and annihilate!"

  "Give everything to the instinct you need not resist!"

  Such a voice suddenly resounded in his mind.

  Shi Xiaobai closed his eyes.

  Who was shouting?

  Who was murmuring?

  Who was cheering in delight?

  Who was sobbing in sadness?

  Who was it?

  "It's rage!"

  Shi Xiaobai suddenly opened his eyes. They were as black as the night sky, but appeared bright like a star-filled sky. Suddenly, a golden vortex appeared in his pupils!
r />   The golden vortex revolved and as it did, it accelerated, as though it was going to grind the world that was reflected in his pupils!

  "Cough!"

  A painful cough was suddenly heard. It seemed like a tiny stone had dropped onto the calm lake surface.

  With a splash, ripples spread out.

  What was broken was not calmness, but his state of mind that could not remain calm.

  Shi Xiaobai was jolted awake!

  His body suddenly broke out into cold sweat as his heart came to a standstill.

  The golden vortex in his pupils gradually vanished. The silvery-white hair that had emanated halfway began receding rapidly like melting ice. Lush black hair appeared like a starless night sky.

  Shi Xiaobai traced the coughing sound that had awoken him from his meaningless rage. He saw a pair of eyes that opened in the night sky.

  "I'm a man who wants to surpass the Hero King, so how can I die here?"

  Words that seemed crazy and somewhat suspect of eight-grader syndrome sounded like a gong in the middle of the silent night.

  Shi Xiaobai was surprised.

  Speechless was still alive!

  Speechless, who had his left chest penetrated, wasn't dead. He seemed to be able to put up a struggle as he lived on. He trembled with great difficulty as he raised his left hand to cover his bloody wound. A warm, white light slowly began to heal his mangled flesh.

  "Phew, thankfully I was born with my heart on the right side."

  The emotive words after having survived a disaster revealed the truth to the matter.

  Speechless' heart was still beating in his undamaged right chest!

  Shi Xiaobai was jolted awake. He hurriedly reached out to hold onto Speechless's shoulders. Without any holding back, he began using the Massage Technique of God. Although it did not have the ability to heal Speechless's bone and flesh, it could reduce the pain and stop the blood to a certain extent.

  Shi Xiaobai's stiff lips gradually suffused a smile.

  That was a joyous, but also an embarrassed smile.

  He never expected that the normally calm him would be so easily left flustered. Just seeing the wound in the left chest made him panic and he had believed that Speechless's heart had been pierced, sealing his fate. He had nearly lost his mind from the negative emotions.

  This did not seem like the usual him.

  "Who knew that you cared so much about me?"

  Due to the large amounts of blood lost, Speechless was pale, but he was not particularly weak. His fine physique allowed him to not miss out on a chance for a joke even while in pain.

  Speechless said with a laugh, "The look in your eyes touched me greatly. If I were a girl, I might marry you for life."

  Shi Xiaobai rolled his eyes and ignored the black humor. When he carefully observed Speechless's wound, he realized that Speechless's left hand was emitting a white light that was even stronger than the power of light of Holy Radiance. It looked like he only bled a lot but there was no threat to his life. Shi Xiaobai gradually calmed down.

  "You should have died under This King's sword. This King was only feeling regret over that matter." Shi Xiaobai finally gave a forced explanation for his gaffe.

  Speechless chuckled as a little ruddiness returned to his pale face.

  "Thank you," whispered Speechless. "Sorry."

  Shi Xiaobai was somewhat puzzled over Speechless's act of saying two words with completely different meanings.

  Speechless slowly handed the black-and-white sword to Shi Xiaobai. He had clenched it tightly and had never relaxed his grasp on it.

  "Thank you for your sword. Sorry for losing."

  He had originally planned on using a victory that was achieved with ease and verve as repayment for the sword, but he had been defeated so terribly with Shi Xiaobai's sword. He was sorry for that.

  Speechless returned the sword.

  As he no longer had any strength left to do battle, other than saying thank you and sorry, all he could do was still thank and apologize.

  "They are very happy."

  Shi Xiaobai reached out his hand to retrieve the sword. He said gently, "This King can hear their voices. They say that to be used by an impressive swordsman and do battle with another impressive swordsman is still something delightful despite the loss."

  They were naturally referring to the black and white swords.

  Speechless was slightly taken aback as he said with a laugh, "What a nice consolation. You are indeed a bastard that is good at sweet talking. No wonder Sunless and my sisters are smitten by you."

  "Ahem."

  A clear cough immediately sounded when Speechless said those words. Immediately, a clear and gentle voice was heard.

  "Sorry for disturbing you lovebirds, but I can't stand hearing what you just said. Shi Xiaobai and I are only ordinary friends. It is a pure platonic friendship, so you are not to speak nonsense. If Sister Sunless hears it, it would be terrible!"

  The two turned their heads towards the voice and realized that Mu Yuesheng had somehow come behind them. The corners of her mouth were slanted as though she was grumbling over Speechless's nonsense. When her brown eyes landed on Speechless's wound, she gave a worried look.

  Other than Mu Yuesheng, the silver-haired girl, Sunless, Pulp Farmer and company had descended from the top of the basin. They were rushing here, but Mu Yuesheng had used Lightning Flashstep, allowing her to arrive there first.

  Speechless was seriously injured, so they naturally could not stand idly outside the arena.

  When Speechless saw Mu Yuesheng's worried look, he said with a laugh, "Don't worry. It won't kill."

  Mu Yuesheng gaped and did not say what she wanted to say. Eventually, she gave a helpless sigh.

  Speechless' choice was very foolish, but it was not wrong.

  Blaming and grumbling words could best express her nervousness and concern, but those were not the best words to be said at the moment.

  "Promise me. There won't be a next time."

  Mu Yuesheng said gently after falling silent for a moment.

  Speechless grinned and said, "Such a horrible defeat obviously is the last."

  Mu Yuesheng stared at him. The next time she was referring to was not do actions that could cost his life, but Speechless had given an irrelevant answer.

  Before Mu Yuesheng said another word, a figure suddenly appeared beside her. As she gave an instinctive glance at it, a black shadow came smashing from top to bottom.

  "Bam!"

  Without being able to stop it, Mu Yuesheng watched in horror as a thick book slammed heavily onto Speechless's head.

  "Ouch!"

  Speechless cried out in an exaggerated manner. He reached out his hand to cover his head as he yelled, "Damn it girl. Do you really want to murder your brother?"

  The silver-haired girl was standing beside Mu Yuesheng. She was holding a book with both hands. Her eyes were slightly red and as she bit her lower lip, she stared angrily at Speechless.

  When she saw Speechless's left chest penetrated from a distance, she was horrified of the possibility that she would be losing a loved one. It nearly gave her a mental breakdown. She struggled to rush forward but when she was running midway, she realized that Speechless had not died. However, she did not know how bad his injuries were or if his life was in danger. As she could not tell if it was momentary recovery before death, her worried heart felt like it was in her throat.

  Only when she approached did she realize that Speechless appeared to be in good shape. He was still making stupid jokes as per normal.

  Her heart which suddenly felt eased immediately produced complex emotions as her chest could not rest easy.

  The silver-haired girl was very, very, very angry!

  She wanted to angrily yell at Speechless, "Why did you not cherish your life!? Do you know how worried I was!?"

  However, she could not open her mouth or speak. The emotions that had rushed to her throat seemed like a surge that was attempting to break
through a valve. She wanted to yell while disregarding everything, but her reason clenched her throat tightly.

  Why?

  Why did she need to bury the voice in her heart in the deepest recesses of her soul?

  Hot tears rolled down her eyes at that moment. They streamed down incessantly over her ice-cold face. She did not want to cry, but the aggrieved feelings she had, had completely destroyed her tear ducts.

  Speechless sighed helplessly. He did not know how complicated the silver-haired girl's emotions were. He only thought that she was crying because she was worried. He was momentarily unsure how he could console her.

  Ever since their parents divorced, they had never met each other for several years. This sister who had endless things to say to him seemed to have many things he did not know about, as well as secrets she did not want him to know of.

  However, Shi Xiaobai happened to know the secret that the silver-haired girl had, which she did not want Speechless to know. That biting of her lower lip, the streaming tears and the aggrieved crying, coupled with the appearance of having to force herself not to make a sound pricked at Shi Xiaobai's heart.

  This girl that was like an easily shattered crystal always made his heart ache for her.

  Shi Xiaobai immediately turned his body sideways. Adjusting his body, he reached out his empty right hand and held the fair and exquisite cheek. Lightly and slowly, he gently wiped her tears.

  The silver-haired girl turned her head sidewards and looked into Shi Xiaobai's pained eyes. An indescribable feeling emerged from her heart. It was sour and warm, but it made her feel even more aggrieved. However, the grievance was different from the painful aggrieved feeling from before.

  The silver-haired girl was momentarily stunned.

  Speechless was immediately rendered speechless. The plot wasn't right as he sensed the evil intentions of the author.

  "Hey, Shi Xiaobai, are you going to hit on my sister in front of me?"

  Speechless only felt vexed over his serious injuries, else he would have pulled out a sword to fight it out with Shi Xiaobai.

  Why don't you marry her if you want to hit on her!?

  That's not right. Even if he wanted to marry her, the way he hit on her was against the bro code!

  At that moment, Sunless, Pulp Farmer and the rest finally arrived. They immediately saw the strange scene of Shi Xiaobai embracing the severely injured Speechless with one hand, while wiping the tears of the silver-haired girl with the other.