The Legend of the Devil
Ch. 225 - Between Life and Death III

Four hours into the deadly fight, Xue Zhan repeatedly received heavy injuries. Jiazhen Yan possesses incredible strength plus even more fighting experience than her.

This time Jiazhen Yan disappeared so quickly and once revealed she had been above Xue Zhan's head. A fireball of a size larger than he had ever seen appeared and did not wait for long for it to fall on him.

There was a cough of pain for the umpteenth time.

Jiazhen Yan who knew Xue Zhan could read his attack pattern using ingenious means. He accelerated his every attack and step and did not allow Xue Zhan to think at all.

Even to blink just Xue Zhan had to think twice, because in that one second Jiazhen Yan could instantly finish her life mercilessly.

"Our friend Xian Shen lost both his parents and his life was ruined. Then Xiao Rong, he did not want to return to Diqiu Empire at all and turned cold. I don't understand what really happened to you guys ... But my death was no one's fault. That ... Because I'm not strong enough to face my own enemies."

Those were the words he had wanted to convey to his friends long ago. Given how good they were, Xue Zhan felt his presence was precious. He did not want them to self-destruct because of the guilt that Jiazhen Yan had now committed.

"Shut your mouth, I won't listen to your bullshit."

His opponent is getting hot. This fight had unexpectedly become longer and fiercer. Not because his opponent could keep up with his strength, but because Xue Zhan was deliberately stalling for time and just holding on without putting up any meaningful resistance. Obviously it makes his veins go up.

But gradually Xue Zhan's position began to be cornered.

Drop after drop of red blood fell on the sand, Xue Zhan wiped the corner of his lips with the back of his hand without letting go of the figure of fire power standing firmly before him.

The flames blazing fiercely around him brought a hot wind that grew hot every minute.

Jiazhen Yan advances back and the fight between life and death will meet its end. Xue Zhan gripped tightly onto his sword, releasing the God Destruction Tread which only hit the wind.

A wind-thin step was right in front of him, Xue Zhan clenched a fist that struck right at Jiazhen Yan's chest while dumbly grinning.

"Because of you, damn it."

He was a little unsteady, his mouth started to spit out thick blood that soiled Jiazhen Yan's shoulder. There was a loud voice from the young man.

"I can't think of you as my enemy, stupid." He lowered his fist, the pair of red eyes started piasming as he continued his words.

"When everyone hates me, you keep defending me. Even though I was the one who killed your mother."

Xue Zhan held onto the hilt of the red sword that belonged to Jiazhen Yan, the blade of the sword had pierced through his stomach and pain began to feel all over his body.

Jiazhen Yan opened his eyes wide, unaware that his hands were trembling without cause. A flash of memory and the emptiness that had been haunting him began to surface. He looked at Xue Zhan who had collapsed to the ground with the sword still in his stomach, the pool of blood was absorbed by the dry sand, Xue Zhan's bloody mouth was still trying to speak despite the pain.

"... Because we are friends."

***

A skinny young man stood in front of the clan residence, his elongated hair reaching his neck. He stared blankly at the stream of rain falling from the roof.

The wind blew gently, carrying the scent of wet soil and incense from the altar located within the residence.

The leaves of the trees around shook gently, dancing around accompanied the rhythm of the rain flowing from the roof and falling to the ground with a soft voice.

The atmosphere around the clan residence was so calm and silent. Although it was raining, but the sky was already starting to light up, shining down on the residence and casting away the dark shadows that had previously filled the air.

The dim light bounces off the walls of the building, creating a soothing atmosphere.

The clan residence looks sturdy, with floors made of natural stone that have survived centuries. The walls are decorated with fine carvings depicting the history of the clan and their glory. The roof made of precarious curved elegantly.

Inside the clan residence, large rooms were decorated with luxurious furniture. Warm red lanterns hang from the ceiling, emitting a soft glow that gives a peaceful and cool feel.

The sound of rain flowing into a natural rhythm filled the space, providing calmness for anyone inside.

However it seemed that it would not be able to calm the young man from the uneasiness in his heart.

The young man continued to stare at the stream of rainwater, contemplating in solitude and silence.

The scenery around the clan residence that was so beautiful and calm made it feel like escaping from the outside world that was filled with commotion and battle. He breathed in the fresh air carried by the wind, calmed his mind and allowed the rain to wash away his tangled heart.

It was a place that protected and provided calm for the young man.

The young man continued to ponder in silence, his mind fixated on Xue Zhan, his old friend who had returned after the sad news of death. Xue Zhan was now engaged in a battle against the dangerous and ruthless Red Taring group.

The young man was frustrated in his silence, trapped in a fear that seemed to be a prison for his emptiness after the deaths of his parents. Especially the woman he loved the most, his mother.

The rain drops mixed with her tears.

Although the residence was majestic and filled with beauty, yet the young man felt limited in it, he said, his uncle would no longer allow him to become a swordsman after his reputation was destroyed in the fight in the Gorge of Regret and the state of his body was also not possible. Yet xian Shen wanted to fight alongside his friends against the enemies out there like he used to.

However, the young man also realized that everyone has their own roles and responsibilities. Perhaps at this time his role and responsibility was to guard and protect himself as the original successor of the Xian clan, that was what his uncle had always emphasized and had to obey him because he did not want to destroy his uncle's trust.

But his heart refused. After days of thinking about it Xian Shen could barely sleep and made his weight drop even more.

There might be something that could be done, although it was not as big as the battle Xue Zhan had fought.

In his solitude and helplessness, the young man gathered strength within him. He decided to find a way to help even the smallest, in the battle against the Red Fangs.

In the calmness and silence of the misty valley, the young man's mind started to muddle until a voice called out to him.

The young man was shocked when he heard the voice calling out to him. He turned his body and saw Xian Be, his uncle, standing behind him.

Xian Be looked at him with a warm smile, trying to hide the chaos that was going on out there by being ordinary.

"Why are you here, Uncle? Didn't your aunt say you had some business?" asked the young man, trying to read Xian Be's facial expression.

Xian Be replied in a calm voice, "I want to make sure that you are okay, Xian Shen. How's health? Is your own feeling better? Lately the waiter says you rarely eat and sleep late. It worries me."

The young man smiled faintly, aware that his uncle was trying to protect him by not talking about the actual situation going on out there. However, he did not want to lie to himself. "I know something's not right out there, Uncle. I can feel it. I wonder what really happened."

Xian Be sighed, understanding that the young man would not stop asking. He raised his hand and gently rubbed Xian Shen's shoulder. "The situation is not good. There's chaos out there, conflict's heating up. But don't worry, we'll protect this clan's residence as best we can."

The young man hesitated.

Xian Be looked at Xian Shen seriously, confirming his sentence. "Xian Shen, it's time to go inside and not keep thinking about it. Imperial Swordsmen will do everything they can to protect us from this calamity. We must trust them and focus on what we can do within the clan residence."

Xian Shen nodded, feeling the trust and confidence from his uncle's words. He knew that Xian Be would not let him stay too long in fear and anxiety. He was much gentler than his father used to be and it made Xian Shen extremely grateful to have an uncle like Xian Be.

And in this kind of precarious state, they had to rely on the strength and courage of the Empire's warriors.

"Come, Xian Shen," Xian Be said as he opened the entrance of the clan residence.

The two of them entered the clan residence, closing the door behind them. Xian Shen felt a little relieved while inside, a place that provided protection and a sense of security. However, his heart was still filled with the desire to help the fight out there.

He entered his room and suddenly fell to the floor, his heart pounding so much that it made some servants startled and helped him stand up

Suddenly when he saw the dark room he saw the shadow of his mother's father's corpse covered in blood.

The two young man's hands trembled violently for some time, the servants helped him to calm down and told him to drink some water. The young man was still at the limit of conscious and unconscious. An overwhelming fear haunted his face.

"No... I can't just stay here ... My mom and dad ..."

"Master, relax. This residence will protect you until you're safe here."

"Here it is safe" Xian Shen looked up at the servant woman who was in her 40s. "But it's all for nothing, I can't live quietly. The shadow was always chasing me. I have to finish what's not done and find the answer.... I have to kill those who killed my mother's father."

**

In the middle of the dark night, the clan residence spread quietly. The dim light from the oil lamp was faintly lit up in the quiet rooms. The silent atmosphere was only interrupted by the earthy sound of crickets in the distance.

Xian Shen felt his heart agitated. Silently, he decided to step out of the clan residence without the knowledge of Xian Be, his sleeping uncle. He prepared some important items and closed the door carefully so as not to cause any noise that could wake anyone up.

Stepping under the dark night sky, Xian Shen walked down the path surrounded by trees. The moonlight touches only a few small pieces between the crevices of the leaves. The darkness of the night covered his steps, making him seem like a lost shadow within the forest.

Silently, Xian Shen continued on his way, passing through the thorny bushes carefully. The sound of crickets being his loyal companion, is disembodied among the trees with the same rhythm.

He moved quickly and carefully, making sure his footsteps were not too conspicuous under the dim light.

With an unsettled heart, Xian Shen disappeared amidst the dark forest, leaving the clan residence and the sleeping people, beginning his journey alone.