Chapter 110:

The final day arrived.

In the afternoon, the quiet atmosphere in the room seemed to be ignited by the sun. The hazy light filled the space, making it noisy and alive, rising and falling within the overlapping shadows.

Wu Yingxue was leaving. After recovering from her injuries, she was ready to uncover the truth.

She was packing her belongings.

But to say “packing” was an overstatement—there wasn’t much to bring along. Her possessions were minimal, as her stay at the Xu family’s house was purely accidental.

“That’s all?”

After bustling around for a while, the girl camouflaged her spear, concealing its imposing presence. She stood in the empty room, her gaze lingering as a wave of dazed sadness washed over her.

The cicadas’ cries were fading away, signaling the end of summer.

The scorching sunlight sliced through the shadows, filling the room with an oppressive brilliance.

The sixteen-year-old girl stood there, gazing at the space she had called home for nearly two months. For a moment, she felt as if she were in an entirely different world.

Her sixteen years of life had been filled with experiences most people would envy. Her luxurious upbringing was a dream for others. Yet, after spending two months in Qingniu Town, those days felt like a distant memory to Wu Yingxue.

It seemed as though it wasn’t two months but a year—or even longer.

“I’m reluctant to leave… for some reason.”

She murmured to herself before closing the door and windows. When she reopened them, her attire had changed.

Her original red-and-white robe was far too conspicuous. Returning in it would guarantee that her whereabouts were swiftly discovered by the authorities.

So she had asked Xu Xi for some plain clothing to help her blend in.

“The only thing left to do is wait.” Wu Yingxue, now dressed inconspicuously, glanced at the scorching sun through the window.

She planned to leave at night. The dark, quiet environment would make it easier to move unnoticed and reduce the likelihood of drawing attention to herself—or her connection to the Xu Xi.

But the sun had not yet set, and night had not yet fully descended. There was still time to kill.

What could she do to pass the hours?

The girl had no idea.

With her spear strapped to her back and her small baggage in hand, she opened the creaky wooden door for the last time. She crossed the old, scratched threshold, stepping forward lightly.

“Whoosh—”

“Whoosh—”

Outside, the courtyard’s open practice area gleamed under the sunlight.

Xu Xi was training there as usual, undeterred by the oppressive heat. Ignoring the weather, he practiced his boxing daily with relentless focus.

Sweat dripped from his body as he punched fiercely. Each strike sent waves of energy and vitality rippling through the air, causing it to blur and twist, like the rhythmic pounding of a mighty heart.

“His boxing skills have grown even more profound…”

Wu Yingxue sighed inwardly, a trace of confusion flickering across her face.

She had been learning from Xu Xi, but strangely, the gap between their abilities only seemed to widen. It was as though Xu Xi’s progress defied both logic and martial discipline, like he was the protagonist of some fantastical novel.

“How could that be?” Wu Yingxue chuckled at her own absurd thoughts.

She set her spear and baggage down, taking a seat on the threshold of her room. The blazing sunshine was blocked by the eaves, creating a cool, shaded spot where she could rest.

A young princess unsure of how to spend her time had once again chosen to watch Xu Xi practice.

The courtyard’s green bricks, red tiles, and dark green plants climbing the walls formed a serene backdrop for the intersection of summer and autumn.

The sixteen-year-old sat quietly, observing Xu Xi’s training while her gaze occasionally wandered to the distant, dark mountains.

It was a strangely comforting scene.

Time slipped away unnoticed.

Eventually, the sunlight began to fade, and the sky dimmed. The girl finally broke her silence, voicing the question that had been lingering in her heart.

If she didn’t ask now, she might never have the chance again after leaving Qingniu Town.

“Sir, do you ever feel tired practicing like this every day? I’ve never seen you take a single break.”

Xu Xi paused mid-punch, glanced at the setting sun, and slowly retracted his fists.

His reply was simple: “Of course, I get tired.”

“Huh?”

The directness of his answer caught Wu Yingxue off guard. She had expected something along the lines of, “Hard work is worth it,” or “Persistence is everything.”

But Xu Xi’s candidness shattered her assumptions.

As he adjusted his surging Qi and blood, allowing it to circulate steadily, he continued: “If you don’t eat, you’ll feel hungry.”

“If you don’t drink water, you’ll feel thirsty.”

“If you don’t wear clothes, you’ll feel cold.”

“And if you practice boxing every day, you’ll feel tired, exhausted, and even tortured.”

“No one is perfect—without flaws, mistakes, or weariness. People like that don’t exist. At least, I’m not one of them.”

After finishing his practice, Xu Xi exhaled deeply and turned to look at Wu Yingxue, who was still seated on the threshold.

He never claimed to be a saint, nor did he feel the need to pretend otherwise. To Xu Xi, he was just an ordinary person who happened to have been blessed with good fortune—thanks to his sister, his disciples, and his master.

But Xu Xi’s words left Wu Yingxue in thoughtful silence.

The last rays of sunlight faded, and the moonlight bathed the earth.

Wu Yingxue stood up, shouldering her spear and baggage once more.

“If it hadn’t been for this attack, and if it hadn’t been for your teachings, I might never have discovered the truth in my entire life.”

“Thank you.”