The Right to Choose

Just then, Qian Qizhou felt his vision suddenly darken, and the sounds by his ears gradually faded.

The next second, his body softened uncontrollably and he completely lost consciousness, collapsing.

"Xiao Zhou!" Guang Ling exclaimed, his hand quick to catch the slumping Qian Qizhou, preventing him from hitting the ground.

He quickly checked Qian Qizhou's condition and found that it was only a temporary coma caused by emotional turmoil, with no danger to his life, which finally eased his mind slightly.

Snow Empress, who was beside them, also walked over slowly, raising her hand to gently tap Qian Qizhou's forehead, stabilizing his chaotic soul power fluctuations.

And at the same time, on a level that neither Guang Ling nor Snow Empress could perceive—

Qian Qizhou's consciousness seemed to sink into a boundless, gray-purple mist.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in that Plane of Euthymia, which was both familiar and strange.

All around was eternal stillness and emptiness, with only the purple figure standing with its back to him in the distance, the sole existence in this void.

Qian Qizhou slowly came back to his senses, realizing where he was.

He looked at that aloof back, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke, "Ei..."

Hearing Qian Qizhou's voice, Ei slowly turned around.

Her exquisite face remained expressionless, her purple eyes like deep pools, reflecting no ripples.

She did not ask what had happened outside, nor did she make any comment on Qian Qizhou's mental state.

She simply watched for a moment, then with a flash of light in her hand, she summoned a katana glowing with purple light.

Dreamer's Heart.

"Draw your blade," Ei's voice sounded flatly. "We'll talk about everything else later."

At this moment, any words were pale. Only through combat could the surging emotions be vented, and the chaotic mind find its anchor again.

Qian Qizhou was silent for a moment, understanding Ei's intention.

He took a deep breath, suppressed the churning thoughts in his heart, and with a thought, Engulfing Lightning appeared in his hand.

The moment he gripped the hilt, Ei's figure suddenly blurred, and she immediately appeared before him. The Dreamer's Heart in her hand drew an arc of light and, without any flourish, slashed towards him!

Qian Qizhou's pupils contracted, and he instinctively blocked!

"Clang!"

The two blades met, emitting a clear ringing sound. A tremendous force came from the blade, numbing Qian Qizhou's arm.

He gritted his teeth, his footwork shifting to dissipate the force, and he counter-attacked with a sweeping slash towards Ei.

Thus, the two began a silent and fierce duel with the purest martial arts.

Ei's martial arts were too powerful, forcing Qian Qizhou to concentrate all his spirit to predict, react, and respond, excluding all distracting thoughts.

Gradually, the emptiness and confusion in Qian Qizhou's eyes vanished, replaced by complete focus.

His breathing and movements gradually synchronized, his blade moving with his heart, as if he had become one with the Engulfing Lightning in his hand.

Qian Qizhou was fully focused, pouring all his distracting thoughts into the blade in his hand. Every block, every counter-attack condensed his entire spirit and will.

But even so, he could only barely resist Ei's attacks, with no chance to counter-attack actively.

Finally, after a seemingly ordinary clash, the cold tip of the blade gently touched just before Qian Qizhou's throat.

Qian Qizhou's movements froze abruptly, and a deep sense of powerlessness washed over him.

The Engulfing Lightning in his hand also dimmed slightly.

He had lost, completely. In terms of martial arts, there was still an insurmountable gap between him and Ei.

Ei slowly withdrew her blade, looked down at the somewhat disheveled Qian Qizhou, and asked faintly, "Do you understand?"

Qian Qizhou was stunned by the question, raising his head blankly, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

He didn't understand what Ei was referring to. Was it the inadequacy of his martial skills? Or the gap between him and her?

Seeing Qian Qizhou's bewildered gaze, Ei continued, "If your strength is insufficient, you have no right to choose."

She paused slightly, her gaze penetrating Qian Qizhou, seeing the struggle within his heart caused by the drastic changes in the outside world.

"Without power, you cannot control yourself, nor can you protect others."

If she had had the power back then, those tragedies and partings would not have happened.

Hozai Palace would not have died protecting Inazuma, Chiyo would not... Zhen would not have left him...

As for Qian Qizhou's world, it was not as simple as it appeared on the surface.

"Fate" had already woven a script for everyone. If one could not break free, they could only become a character in the play and accept their destined ending.

And Ei's words struck Qian Qizhou's heart like a heavy hammer.

He understood what Ei meant.

She was not commenting on the outcome of the match, but using the most direct way to awaken him.

No matter how things developed, if one's own strength was not powerful enough, then everything would only be a futile struggle.

Without power, even knowing the truth was a burden, let alone changing anything or protecting the people or things one cared about.

Just like Bibi Dong, if she had possessed the strength back then, a series of subsequent tragedies would have been averted.

Alas, she lacked strength and the right to choose for herself.

In contrast, he himself, due to insufficient strength, could only leave in anger back then.

Because of insufficient strength, he could only flee when facing the elders of the Clear Sky Sect, even needing to overdraw his origin to narrowly escape death.

The right to choose has always been commensurate with strength.

Everything is fate, and nothing is up to man.

He slowly raised his head, the confusion and vulnerability in his eyes vanishing, replaced by a rekindled light.

He tightened his grip on the naginata, his voice returning to its calm tone: "I understand."

Greater strength.

Not for revenge, nor for power or profit, and certainly not for so-called justice.

Merely to possess the qualification to choose.

To be able to control his own destiny, and to have the ability to protect those he wished to protect in the potentially darker storms that might come in the future.

Ei watched his eyes, which had regained their light, and gave a barely perceptible nod, saying no more.

What needed to be taught had been taught; the rest of the path had to be walked by himself.

"Ei, thank you."

With that, Qian Qizhou closed his eyes, his consciousness beginning to actively withdraw from this space.

In the real world, Qian Qizhou's eyelashes trembled slightly, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

The chaotic aura around him, which had been disturbed by the turmoil in his mind, had also completely subsided.

That moment in the Plane of Euthymia had not only soothed his mental turmoil but also allowed his state of mind to break through.

"Xiao Zhou, you're awake?" Guang Ling was the first to notice the change in him and asked with concern, "How do you feel? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"

Snow Empress, standing beside him, withdrew her finger from his forehead: "How is it?"

Looking at the two of them, Qian Qizhou shook his head: "I'm fine now."