Chapter 503 - 358: A Good Show (Part 2)

Chapter 503: Chapter 358: A Good Show (Part 2)

At that moment, Yu Changsheng looked utterly wretched. But in the eyes of the Purple Child, he radiated an endless brilliance, like a safe harbor weathering every storm. It was a deeply reassuring sight.

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH..."

The sound of Yu Changsheng’s weak coughs reached the Purple Child’s ears. The dazed look on its face softened, its brow slowly unfurrowing. Then, uncontrollably, tears began to stream from its eyes. Its vision blurred, yet amidst the haze, the image of Yu Changsheng’s back only grew clearer.

"SOB, SOB, SOB..."

The Purple Child whimpered, hugging Yu Changsheng’s leg tightly. It looked up at him with teary eyes, its young voice, full of confusion, echoing softly.

"Why... Why are you doing this? You’ll die..."

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH!"

Yu Changsheng coughed violently, his face drained of all color. He struggled to lower his head and meet the Purple Child’s tear-filled gaze. His expression was sincere and gentle as he murmured softly.

"Because... we’re friends... aren’t we?"

His voice was weak, broken, and barely audible, yet the Purple Child heard every word clearly. The words struck a chord deep within its soul.

"SOB, SOB, SOB!"

At that moment, the Purple Child’s emotional defenses completely crumbled.

The Sword Qi was a torrential flood, the Sword Shadows sharp and fierce.

Ten thousand Sword Shadows pierced his body. Yu Changsheng trembled violently; there wasn’t an uninjured spot left on him. His face was ashen, his aura feeble. He teetered on the verge of collapse, looking as if he would draw his last breath at any moment.

Yet even so, Yu Changsheng hadn’t moved a single step. He stood guard before the Purple Child, his back as steadfast as a mountain.

As for the Purple Child, the way it looked at Yu Changsheng had completely changed. Its gaze was a mixture of disbelief, shock, and complex emotions, which finally resolved into profound gratitude.

"Because, we’re friends..."

Those words were like rolling Celestial Thunder, echoing endlessly in the Purple Child’s mind and striking its very soul.

"PTUI..."

Spitting another mouthful of blood more than five meters, Yu Changsheng staggered. The devastating Sword Shadows had torn his flesh so badly that the stark white of his bones was visible beneath. It was an utterly wretched and horrifying sight.

"Isn’t this enough? You’ve taken the act this far; it should be sufficient. Don’t you think you’re being a little melodramatic?"

From above the oppressive Sword Shadows, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit frowned at Yu Changsheng’s performance and sent a grim mental message.

’If you’re going to put on a show, you have to go all the way. This should be about enough, though.’

Yu Changsheng breathed a long, inward sigh of relief. Enduring the excruciating pain, he glanced back stealthily at the Purple Child, feeling secretly pleased with himself. At the same time, an indescribable sense of guilt welled up within him.

’Oh well. You’ll thank me for this later.’

Comforting himself with this thought, Yu Changsheng slowly looked up. Deciding it was about time, he secretly winked at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit high above.

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit understood immediately. With a great wave of its sleeve, the sky full of Sword Shadows froze in mid-air. The Spirit’s figure drifted forward. It fixed a cold gaze on Yu Changsheng and demanded in a heavy voice:

"Yu Changsheng, I took into account the difficulty you had passing the trial. Now that it’s over and you’ve received the inheritance, you could have just watched quietly. By interfering with the rules like this, do you wish to be erased as well?"

"Do you really think passing the trial means you can be lawless and act with complete disregard for others?!"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s voice boomed like a great bell, echoing all around. Its gaze suddenly sharpened as it stared at Yu Changsheng, and an unparalleled aura, like a ferocious flood, bore down upon him.

Yu Changsheng’s face grew even paler, but he slowly let out a breath. He kept his arms spread wide to shield the Purple Child, withstanding the almost tangible pressure. Cupping his fist, he lowered his head and said:

"Please forgive me, Senior. This little one is my friend. Since I was the one who brought it here, I must see it back safely!"

"COUGH, COUGH, COUGH!"

Yu Changsheng’s voice was hoarse and low, yet his tone conveyed unshakeable resolve. As he finished speaking, he coughed again reflexively, a few trickles of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. Combined with his expression, it was enough to make anyone’s face pale.

At this sight, the Purple Child’s complex expression revealed it was deeply moved. The Sui Xian Sword Spirit, on the other hand, was secretly alarmed and stared intently at Yu Changsheng.

’This guy is so professional when it comes to tricking kids. He’s definitely not a good person. I’ll have to watch out for him.’

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit mused to itself. It wasn’t that this thought made it bear Yu Changsheng any ill will. After a moment’s contemplation, its expression grew even colder as it said in a frigid tone:

"So what? The rules are the rules, and no one can break them. It has been this way since time immemorial. If you don’t want to die, get out of the way!"

"If that’s really how it is..." Yu Changsheng paused, then shook his head. He looked up, meeting the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s gaze with resolute eyes, and said firmly:

"Then, you’ll have to step over my dead body!"

"You think I don’t dare?!"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit glared furiously, its roar like a sudden clap of thunder.

The sky full of Sword Shadows radiated a peerless sharpness. The Sword Qi surged, swarming densely all around Yu Changsheng. It seemed that with a single thought from the Spirit, he would be pierced by a thousand blades in the very next instant!

"..." Yu Changsheng pressed his lips together and clenched his jaw, staring stubbornly at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit. He said nothing, keeping the Purple Child protected behind him.

"No! Don’t kill Brother Changsheng! SOB, SOB, SOB!"

Just as the two were locked in a tense standoff, a young, tender voice echoed clearly through the air. Laced with sobs, it tugged at the heartstrings of anyone who heard it.

The Purple Child stepped out from behind Yu Changsheng’s protection and stood straight before the Sui Xian Sword Spirit. Its eyes were teary and filled with terror, and its body trembled slightly, but it still spoke in its young voice:

"This is my failure. It has nothing to do with him."

"What are you doing?"

Yu Changsheng’s expression changed. Coughing, he pulled the Purple Child back behind him. He watched the Sui Xian Sword Spirit warily and said in a weak voice:

"I’m warning you, it’s just a child! It doesn’t know any better. If you have a problem, direct it at me. Don’t you dare think of harming it."

Yu Changsheng paused. After composing his thoughts for a moment, a sorrowful look appeared on his face as he continued in a somber tone:

"I passed the trial, didn’t I? If there’s no other way, I’m willing to trade my life for its. What do you say?"

His tone held a hint of pleading. Combined with the glint of tears in his eyes, the performance was the very picture of heartfelt sincerity.

"..."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit was at a loss for words. After a long moment, its face flushed red. It looked from Yu Changsheng to the Purple Child, a peculiar glint flashing in the depths of its eyes before it let out a low sigh.

"Such a sincere friendship, isn’t it? It’s truly moving. But rules are rules... this puts me in a very difficult position."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit shook its head, rubbing its brow as if deeply troubled. Its tone was stiff, but when it looked up at the two of them, its eyes revealed both conflict and emotion.

It seemed as if it had truly been moved by Yu Changsheng’s sincere plea.

"Brother Changsheng..."

The Purple Child started to speak, then stopped, tugging on the corner of Yu Changsheng’s sleeve as if it wanted to say something.

With a look of pure resolve, Yu Changsheng held up a hand to stop the Purple Child from speaking. Instead, he leaned down, gazing at it dotingly. He gently stroked its purple hair and said softly:

"Don’t be afraid. No matter what, I’m the one who brought you here. As your friend, I’ll make sure you get out of here safe and sound. Okay?"

The Purple Child met Yu Changsheng’s gentle gaze. The words it wanted to say stuck in its throat. It lowered its eyes and nodded lightly, its small fists clenching and unclenching at its sides. A single tear rolled down its cheek, feeling as if it were flowing straight into its heart.

"Alright, alright, that’s enough. Honestly, this whole melodramatic scene... I can’t stand this sort of thing."

In a place where the other two couldn’t see, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit sniffled. After taking a deep breath, it put on a moved expression and cut in with an annoyed, low voice, interrupting Yu Changsheng before he could lay the sentiment on any thicker.