Then Train Hard

Xu Xian's interest was piqued, and he asked despite already knowing the answer, "What kind of deal? Keeping your secret for you?"

The so-called secret was that Jin Yu was her daughter.

Jin Qing gave a gentle smile and said, "Years ago you saw through me, and today I exposed you. We are even. You know my secret, and I know yours. We're square."

Xu Xian's interest grew even more. "So... is this why you told me your story?"

Jin Qing shrugged her delicate shoulders slightly. "I suppose so. It represents my sincerity. Besides, some things have been hidden in the heart for too long, and one always wants to find someone to talk to, don't they?"

Xu Xian pondered for a moment and nodded. "That seems reasonable."

Even if it was a bit far-fetched and unnecessary.

However, the thoughts of a demon god were inherently different from those of ordinary people.

Perhaps in Jin Qing's view, laying herself bare by revealing her secret before exposing Xu Xian's secret was the only way to be fair.

The prerequisite for a deal was fairness.

This was Jin Qing's sincerity. Xu Xian realized this after the fact and couldn't help but feel a sense of admiration.

'What a High Priest,' he thought to himself.

She was truly worthy of being the leader of the Nether Capital.

Xu Xian had received her sincerity, so how could he fall short? He immediately agreed heartily, "Fine, I accept this deal."

Jin Qing tilted her head and stared at him. "I haven't even said what it is yet, and you've already agreed?"

Xu Xian said slowly, "What you seek can be summed up in four words: the peace of the Demon Abyss. I grant it. In my lifetime, I will never take the initiative to attack the Demon Abyss."

This was exactly the answer Jin Qing wanted.

Since she couldn't defeat him, she could only join him.

What was done was done, and she could only go with the flow.

Jin Qing asked despite knowing the answer, "And you? What do you want?"

"What do you think?" Xu Xian asked instead of answering.

Jin Qing tested the waters. "For me to keep your secret and not tell anyone that Bai Mang is actually Xu Xian?"

Xu Xian smiled and said, "In fact, I don't mind people knowing."

Jin Qing clicked her tongue. "True... Then let it be as you wish. Everything in the Demon Abyss will remain as it is. As long as you are alive, the demon race will never leave the Blazing Fortress."

This was also the answer Xu Xian wanted.

He didn't want to interfere in the affairs of the Demon Abyss; he only wanted the lands to the west to remain safe and sound.

In truth, their goals were the same.

Was it Xu Xian's concession?

Or was it Jin Qing's compromise?

Both of them knew the truth in their hearts.

Xu Xian raised the jar. "Happy cooperating, Lady Jin Qing."

Jin Qing raised her cup. "Happy cooperating, Young Lord. Or perhaps I should call you... Xu Xian."

They looked at each other and smiled, then drank together.

The deal was struck.

Xu Xian promised that as long as the Demon Abyss did not attack the Wendao Sword Sect, the Wendao Sword Sect would not move against the Demon Abyss.

Jin Qing promised that as long as Xu Xian was in the world, the Demon Abyss would not leave the Blazing Fortress.

When the wine was gone, Xu Xian teased, "Congratulations, you've got yourself a real bargain."

Jin Qing smiled back. "In truth, you haven't lost anything either."

They understood each other and laughed again...

It was true that the Wendao Sword Sect had never intended to wipe out the Demon Abyss. The Sword Ancestor did the same ten thousand years ago, Lei Yunche did the same four thousand years ago, and Ye Xianyu is doing the same now.

What the Wendao Sword Sect wanted was non-aggression and world peace.

Xu Xian's succession would likely follow the same path.

It was just that Jin Qing didn't dare to gamble. After all, the things Xu Xian had done really couldn't withstand scrutiny.

He alone had deceived the entire world. Who could guarantee that once he succeeded to the throne, he wouldn't eliminate the Demon Abyss once and for all?

Others might not do it, but Xu Xian might.

As for the Demon Abyss? What could Jin Qing do besides compromise?

In the past, the Demon Abyss had no power to fight back. Now, a Xu Xian had appeared. At such a young age, he was already at the great ascension stage, and I fear that within a hundred years, he will surely enter tribulation transcendence.

By then, who in the world could rival him?

Even if the Nether Gate were opened, there would likely be no power to fight back.

Regardless of whether she agreed to Xu Xian's terms today, as long as Xu Xian did not die, the Demon Abyss would not dare to move for a single day.

An invisible bond had created a connection between the Demon Abyss and Xu Xian.

Xu Xian couldn't bear to destroy the Demon Abyss, and the High Priest was reluctant to lose Bai Mang.

Even if Bai Mang was a human.

But what did that matter? What she wanted was only to find a way out and a hope for the Demon Abyss. This hope could be the Nether Beasts behind the Nether Gate, or of course, it could be Xu Xian of the Wendao Sword Sect.

As long as there was mutual agreement, it was fine.

After their confession that night, the two of them drank and talked all night, discussing everything from the ancient past to the present, and parted at dawn.

Jin Qing left; she still had many things to do.

She said that she used to place her hope in Xu Xian, thinking that he could paint the unfinished blueprint of her future.

Now it was different. She had to do it herself.

So she was really busy.

Xu Xian said "Good luck" and told her that he should also leave.

He also had many things to do and was very busy.

Jin Qing wished him success and told him not to forget that he was still the Young Lord of the Demon Abyss...

Before leaving, Xu Xian gave the thirteen re-translated Immortal-Demon Manuals to Jin Qing, telling her that two of them were hers and to hand over the rest to the remaining eleven people.

Looking at the primordial demon arts in her hand, Jin Qing was stunned. "Haven't they already been translated?"

Xu Xian smiled and said, "The last ones were incomplete; these are more detailed."

Jin Qing understood and was secretly alarmed. If they hadn't had that conversation and confessed to each other last night, what would the consequences have been...

She swallowed hard and asked tentatively, "If—and I mean if—there was no deal between us, would you have said anything?"

Without even thinking, Xu Xian shook his head. "No."

Jin Qing lowered her eyes and remained silent.

Xu Xian said playfully, "So, your decision was very wise."

Jin Qing felt relieved and smiled. "Of course..."

After bidding farewell to Jin Qing, Xu Xian found Huang Xiao and Chi Ji.

He told them that he had to go on another long journey and that they should return to the Demon Abyss instead of staying in the Nether Hall.

It was quite boring.

He also took back that cloak from Chi Ji's hands.

Xu Xian had thought about it; Lu Yuan was a good beast, so he wouldn't trick him anymore.

He said to Chi Ji, "From now on, you are no longer my shadow. You are yourself. Go back to being who you were. You are Chi Ji, the same Chi Ji as before."

Chi Ji was a bit surprised and looked dazed. "Why? Is it because I didn't do well enough?"

Xu Xian explained, "You did very well, but it's no longer needed."

Chi Ji's thoughts were in a jumble, and her expression dimmed. After a thousand words, all that remained was a nod and a soft "Oh."

Disappointment was mixed with sadness.

She suddenly felt very distressed for some reason, even though she clearly should have been happy.

Who would want to be someone else's shadow?

As for being Xu Xian's, Chi Ji was willing.

At least she knew that Bai Mang needed her, but now, he didn't need her anymore, and she felt useless.

Huang Xiao felt the same way because Xu Xian had also told him that he didn't need to collect gifts for him anymore.

So Huang Xiao also felt that he was useless.

And being useless meant having no value.

They weren't afraid of trouble or complexity; they were only afraid of losing their value and being abandoned by Bai Mang.

It sounded a bit pathetic, but that was the truth.

The two of them tried to struggle, asking even though they knew it was impossible.

"Young Lord, where are you going? Can we go with you?"

"Yes, Young Lord, as long as we can follow you, we'll do whatever you want..."

Their eyes were fervent and full of entreaty.

All they got in return were three cold words.

"It's not convenient."

Chi Ji's voice trembled as she choked out a question to Bai Mang, "Are you abandoning me?"

That one sentence almost made Xu Xian malfunction.

What was she talking about? If people didn't know better, they would think he had done something to her.

"Don't say such things; what if people misunderstand?"

Chi Ji realized that she had said the wrong thing in her haste.

But now she didn't have time to blush as she explained, "I only want to follow you."

Xu Xian understood, looking at Chi Ji and then at Huang Xiao.

"You too?"

Huang Xiao nodded vigorously.

"Yes. No matter where you go, I will follow the Young Lord to the death."

Xu Xian took a deep breath and slowly relaxed his brow. He rarely made promises to people, but this time, he intended to make an exception.

He said to the two of them, "Then train hard."

After saying that, Xu Xian left...

Leaving only the two of them standing in the wind, watching him from afar.

His back gradually disappeared into the sea of clouds, but the youth's words still echoed in their ears, over and over again...

'Want to follow me?'

'Then train hard.'

This was the youth's answer to the two of them, or at least that's what they thought.

Their fists clenched tighter, and the disappointment, sadness, and other negative emotions in their eyes were replaced bit by bit by determination.

Until a certain moment, light shone in their eyes, and they also made a certain decision.

Huang Xiao said, "I will!"

Chi Ji said, "I will!"