The Resolve to Fight

For smart people, all you had to do was hint at something, and they would understand what you meant.

But clearly, Zijing wasn't smart. Or rather, after falling into a stupor, she had lost her basic ability to judge. She could no longer tell right from wrong, or even make the simplest choices.

If despair could take physical form, you would have seen Zijing completely engulfed by it, trapped in a pitch-black abyss with no way out.

After seeing the Eight-Headed Serpent's nearly invincible display, and realizing that even Chen seemed unable to deal with it, despair took hold in Zijing's heart. If things continued like this, they might not even be able to complete the sealing.

"Are we really just going to accept our fate?" In the pitch-black abyss, Zijing huddled alone in a corner, crouching with her head in her hands as she lamented to herself. "Heh, I suppose so. We have no choice but to accept it. Isn't this just our fate, after all?"

But just then, Zijing seemed to hear a series of furious roars from deep within the abyss. They sounded like the Eight-Headed Serpent's taunts, yet also seemed to carry Uchiha Chen's anger.

It seemed a fierce battle was raging outside. But so what? Her fate had already been decided. What use was there in fighting back? There was no point going against fate.

"No one can see clearly through the darkness of the future. Anyone can stumble—that's only natural. Only those who get back up can taste the sweetness of victory."

As Zijing sank into despair, those hopeful words were like a beam of light breaking through the darkness. A few tiny glimmers of hope slowly grew brighter. As though sensing light before her, Zijing raised her head and saw hope shining in