The Killing Intent Born on Goose Lake

Xu Xiaoshou froze!

The referee froze! The spectators, who had just erupted and cried out warnings, froze as well! Even Xiao Qixiu in midair was somewhat stunned. The battle had clearly ended, so he had turned his attention to the other arenas.

Who would have thought that when he looked back, the situation would be this horrific?

Recalling what he had said before the match began, the referee too fell into a daze. Had his words become prophecy?

The arena went rigid!

Wen Chong's lips twitched, as though he wanted to say something, but only blood gushed from his mouth. His eyes were wide open, yet he could not force out a single word.

The viciousness in his eyes had yet to fade when it was completely replaced by disbelief.

He lowered his head and saw Xu Xiaoshou's hand piercing through his heart. Since it had gone straight through, all he could see was the elbow—and the savage red stained solely with his own blood.

A hand? Through his chest?

How was that possible...

The veins at Wen Chong's temples bulged, brought on by excruciating pain.

He looked at Xu Xiaoshou, his eyes filled with confusion, as though seeking an answer.

Xu Xiaoshou could even feel the steady pressure around his forearm, thump, thump, thump, thump...

"Save him!"

He roared, not knowing whether he should pull his hand out or leave it where it was.

How had this happened?

Xu Xiaoshou panicked. He had never intended to kill anyone, much less imagined that Wen Chong would truly try to ambush him.

His reflexive counterattack had only come because he trusted the Passive System's prompt. He had never expected Wen Chong, in trying to kill him, to run headlong into the blade himself.

"Why did you have to do this?!"

Xu Xiaoshou roared as he pulled out a Red-Gold Pill and stuffed it into Wen Chong's mouth. Wen Chong seemed to shake his head, but the movement was too slight to see.

His lips parted slightly and never closed again.

"Eat it!"

Xu Xiaoshou lifted his chin with his left hand, trying to make him refine the medicine's power. Yet the moment he let go, the pill slipped out and fell to the ground.

Thud, thud—

He watched the golden-red pill roll silently away, realizing that perhaps something else had gone with it.

The referee walked over, pulled Xu Xiaoshou's hand from Wen Chong's chest, and said flatly, "It's useless. He's dead!"

Xu Xiaoshou shuddered all over. Dead? Even a Spirit Cultivator's life was so fragile? One stab, and he was dead? Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's expression, the referee could not help sighing. He patted him on the shoulder, seemingly offering comfort.

"Your first time killing someone?"

"You'll get used to it!"

He pulled the dagger Wen Chong had stabbed into Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder and handed him a bottle of pills, repayment for the Red-Gold Pill he had taken earlier.

"Don't worry, this isn't your fault. He attacked first. Even if there's blame to be assigned, it falls on my failure to do my duty."

"You're fine. Go back and rest first. Leave the rest to me."

Xu Xiaoshou was somewhat dazed. He glanced once more at Wen Chong in the referee's arms, said nothing, and silently walked off the arena with a hand over his shoulder.

The spectators watched his lost, desolate figure, and for a moment, none of them dared make too much noise.

"He really died?"

"This should be the first death in the outer court in over a decade, right?"

"Yeah, in the past, both referees and contestants knew the limits. No one expected this... Boss Wen was too impulsive!"

"Xu Xiaoshou... My heavens, I feel so bad for him..."

Some supported Xu Xiaoshou, but they were definitely the minority. More people opposed him.

"I can't take this anymore. Xu Xiaoshou killed someone, yet he's acting like he's the one who was wronged."

"Boss Wen died such an unjust death! The referee hadn't called the match yet. He attacked within the rules—how could Xu Xiaoshou be so vicious?"

"I strongly suggest kicking Xu Xiaoshou out of the tournament. Disgusting!"

"That's right. A spar between fellow disciples, and he struck with such cruelty. He's nothing but a beast!"

The people supporting Xu Xiaoshou immediately flew into a rage. Rising to their feet, they retorted, "Bullshit!"

"Anyone with eyes could see Wen Chong had lost. If Xu Xiaoshou had used a spirit sword instead, could Wen Chong have blocked it? He was already holding back!"

"Wen Chong failed in his ambush and got pierced instead. Xu Xiaoshou even fed him a pill—what a rare and precious quality! Can't you see that?"

Those supporting Wen Chong sneered. "The referee hadn't called the end. Wen Chong merely attacked within the rules; Xu Xiaoshou, on the other hand, is simply inhuman!"

"Your mom's inhuman! You argumentative bastard, get over here!"

"What, got the guts to bite me?"

"Mmph!"

"Fuck, let go... you fucking let go!"

Goose Lake.

Blue sky hid within the water, fat geese frolicked among thin clouds.

This was one of the most beautiful sights in the outer court of Tiansang Spirit Palace. Drooping willows encircled it, while a white jade railing outside the lake formed the shape of a heart. The water within was crystal clear and brimmed with spiritual energy.

Swimming atop it were the spirit geese raised by Elder Qiao. Their meat was exceptionally plump and delicious; Xu Xiaoshou had been fortunate enough to taste a few bites before.

In the past, countless people came to Goose Lake to cultivate. Recently, because of the Wind and Cloud Tournament, few came here, leaving the place particularly tranquil.

Xu Xiaoshou stood by the railing, loneliness in his eyes.

He had not returned to his own courtyard. Instead, he had come to this place where he often practiced swordsmanship before.

For the first time, after winning a battle, he could not summon even the slightest excitement. He could not even be bothered to check his Passive Value.

In a daze, he had left the arena, departed Cloud-Emerging Peak, and wandered here on his own.

The sun hung low in the west, and Xu Xiaoshou had stood there for a long while.

He tossed a pebble into Goose Lake. Ripples spread across its surface before it returned to stillness.

"Perhaps this world is the same. Life is like this pebble—even a larger one, sinking into Goose Lake, couldn't stir up much of a wave!"

Xu Xiaoshou exhaled and rubbed his right forearm, as though he could once again feel Wen Chong's final heartbeat.

Regret?

No! Xu Xiaoshou felt no regret at all over accidentally killing Wen Chong. Or rather, he had long been prepared for it.

Having come to this world, killing would inevitably become commonplace.

Perhaps it was not obvious within Tiansang Spirit Palace, but Xu Xiaoshou was not that naïve. This was merely the beginning.

What saddened him, what left him desolate, was only sympathy and contemplation for fragile life.

Perhaps, to the people of this continent, life was worth nothing; perhaps to his future self, it would be the same.

But at this moment, Xu Xiaoshou still could not calm down for a long time.

Even beneath the endless torment of that white hospital room in his previous life, he had still clung to a desire to live. It could be said that Xu Xiaoshou cherished life more than the vast majority of people in this world.

And now, he had destroyed such a precious life with his own hands.

He had been prepared, but when this moment truly came to pass, who could remain unmoved?

He was Boss Wen, but in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes, he was only a somewhat talented, somewhat proud little brother.

Though he had ambushed him, perhaps he had not truly intended to kill him. In the end, hadn't he only stabbed Xu Xiaoshou in the shoulder? Perhaps...

Perhaps he was not meant to die? Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, sweeping the absurd thought from his mind.

Since one dared to act, one had to be prepared to bear every consequence, even if it was a consequence no one could bear!

Those words were spoken for the dead Wen Chong, but they were also a warning to his future self.

In the distance, the setting sun was completely swallowed by the mountains at the horizon. Darkness fell, and all returned to silence.

A sudden surge of spiritual energy rippled along Goose Lake, startling the fat geese into flight and setting the willows swaying gently.

Xu Xiaoshou drew a sharp breath and unknowingly broke through to the seventh realm of Spirit Refinement.

"Heh!"

He suddenly grabbed a handful of pebbles, killing intent spilling from him as he hurled them viciously at the fat geese in an outburst of frustration.

With a splash, water flew everywhere. He did not hit a single one.

Xu Xiaoshou let out a faint sigh.

In the end, he had killed someone.