Chapter 22: Your Heart Is Too Tender

Qiao Yu ran.
Qiao Yu panicked.
Qiao Yu got lost.

He found himself in a jungle, where towering trees stretched toward the sky, lush and verdant. Beasts darted through the shadows, snakes, insects, and rodents lurking all around. Here, he was merely a human—so insignificant beneath this vast canopy.

After realizing Wen Jin Ge hadn’t followed him, Qiao Yu didn’t dare to call out loudly. Just moments ago, he had nearly been devoured by a giant dragon.

It was his first time seeing a creature of legend—a dragon, as magnificent and terrifying as the stories told. Though he hadn’t earned a single point on this journey through the Boundless Illusion, his experiences were abundant.

His master was right: a beating truly fosters growth.

He wandered alone for a day, encountering many fierce beasts. Fortunately, their ranks were not high, granting him the luck to still be alive.

After successfully defeating and taming a ninth-rank Snow Jade Lion, Qiao Yu had begun to teach himself sword flight—a skill reserved for eighth-grade Mystics. His attempts were shaky at best, colliding with branches and scraping along the ground, leaving the Snow Jade Lion so nauseated after landing that it was still retching an hour later.

Still, it was a blessing in disguise. Qiao Yu managed to stun several small creatures with his clumsy flying. As he kindled a fire, he skinned a rabbit and tossed a few mountain hens before the Snow Jade Lion.

“Are you trying to become my spirit beast? Senior Brother always said if I found a good-looking one, I could bring it back and he’d ask Master to grant me a companion.

You’ve been with me all day—surely it’s not because I beat you and you’re looking to return the favor?”

He gazed apologetically at the Snow Jade Lion, rummaging through his storage pouch for healing pills. Both he and the lion were scraped and bruised. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to—I thought I could really fly.

Besides, I didn’t expect you’d follow me. I thought you’d eat me.”

The Snow Jade Lion snorted, drooping its eyes. It picked up a mountain hen, took a bite, then spat it out.

Qiao Yu: …

“I’m not much at caring for others. Master probably thinks I’m clumsy, so she never lets me serve her directly.

Someone of your caliber—my master doesn’t have one like you. Before entering the sect, I didn’t know such strange creatures existed. I don’t know how to raise you!”

The Snow Jade Lion rolled over, turning its back to Qiao Yu, seemingly regretting its decision to follow him.

“Ah, found you at last!” Jiang Zilin arrived, panting. “What, just you? Where’s that sickly one? I warned you not to stick with him—did he die?”

“Roar!” The Snow Jade Lion, resting, suddenly let out a furious growl. Although only ninth-rank, its size dwarfed many other beasts.

Jiang Zilin jumped, instantly summoning his sword. The Snow Jade Lion, provoked, blocked Jiang Zilin’s path and turned to roar at Qiao Yu.

Qiao Yu backed away. “Snowy, he’s my senior brother. Don’t fight him!”

Roar!

Seeing Qiao Yu retreat, the Snow Jade Lion stepped back too, but kept a wary eye on Jiang Zilin.

“You’re impressive, kid! Got a beast companion already?”

“Senior Brother…”

“Hand over the demon core!”

“I don’t have a demon core.” This was the truth; only eighth-rank beasts have cores, and he hadn’t reached ninth-grade yet. Fighting was one thing, but losing his life was another matter entirely.

He fingered the dagger in his sleeve—when Song Ren had given it to him, he’d said if things became hopeless, use it to end himself. Back then, Qiao Yu hadn’t understood, but now he did.

Without life, what is there to end?

All things in this world are less important than one’s own life. No matter how the road ahead changes, only he could choose when it ends.

“Don’t lie to me!” Jiang Zilin scanned their surroundings, searching for the existence of a surveillance crane overhead. “Even if you aren’t ninth-grade, you’re a natural sword-mold. If you’d been born in another sect, your master might not favor you, but she herself possesses that very constitution and enjoys all the blessings within and beyond the sect. How could she neglect her newly accepted disciple? Hand over your jade token!”

Qiao Yu took a deep breath, recalling Senior Brother’s words on the Thousand-Fathom Peak before entering. Jiang Zilin was one of those blinded by bloodlust.

The net of heaven is vast and fine, letting nothing escape. The deeper one ventured into the Boundless Illusion, the fewer surveillance cranes there were—the true means of monitoring the disciples lay in the jade tokens carried on their person.

It seemed Jiang Zilin did not know this.

There were many disciples in the Profound Cloud Sect. Wen Jin Ge hadn’t finished distributing new robes, so they still wore plain white.

Qiao Yu noted the stains of blood on Jiang Zilin’s white robe—uncertain whether they were human or from those slain by his blade.

“When I entered, Senior Brother told me I am already Master’s second disciple. She doesn’t care about points, and even if I gain nothing here, the only one to suffer humiliation will be me.

But my master remains the revered Immortal Wen, admired by thousands. Others will simply see me as dull, unable to heed Master’s teachings.

Senior Brother Jiang, I truly came to spar with ninth-rank beasts, not to kill and seize demon cores.”

“Hand over the jade token! You know you can’t beat me.” Jiang Zilin pressed on.

Seeing no other way, Qiao Yu moved to retrieve his token—but just then, an arrow whistled from afar. His vision blurred; a gust swept overhead, and suddenly he was lifted off the ground, the Snow Jade Lion chasing after him.

“Hush!” The figure beside him cautioned. Qiao Yu clutched his abdomen—what now? He still hadn’t mastered ninth-grade, and it felt as if he was about to advance again.

“Hm?” The Mud Monkey beside him was startled. Watching the Snow Jade Lion charge toward them, she said, “Senior Brother, can you send it elsewhere? I can’t defeat the one below.”

“Snowy, go elsewhere. I’m not in danger!” Qiao Yu whispered loudly. The Snow Jade Lion still barreled forward, but veered toward another spot where a flapping bird was perched.

“Qiao Yu! Come out! You’re full of surprises—so you even have accomplices!”

The girl beside him, her once-white robe now caked in mud, was unrecognizable. Even her face was smeared; had she not spoken, Qiao Yu wouldn’t have been able to tell her gender.

“Who are you…”

“It’s enough that I know you.” She patted the bow slung over her shoulder. “I’m injured. When we get out, can you carry me?”

“How were you hurt?”

She didn’t answer, pointing below. “My jade token is still in his hand. Later, I’ll distract