Chapter 35

, make it disappear. Do you know why?"

Lin Hanxuan shook his head. "Are you planning to remember the grudge of this blade forever?" Another problem, Lin Hanxuan thought.

"Do you think I'm going to seek revenge on Peiganbo?" Yi Junze pressed on.

"Mm. That slash really was too heavy. It nearly killed you, so it'd be normal for you to want revenge." Lin Hanxuan spoke helplessly. He could only wait until more time had passed, then think of a way to mediate.

"You're wrong. I'm not planning to take revenge on him." Yi Junze spoke faintly. "Because he's your spirit-contracted Magic Beast, isn't he?"

Hearing Yi Junze say that, Lin Hanxuan said happily, "Then thank you."

"Can you sit over here?" Yi Junze patted his bed, signaling for Lin Hanxuan to sit beside him.

Lin Hanxuan hesitated for a moment, but still sat down on Yi Junze's bed, keeping a little distance from him.

Yi Junze stared dazedly at Lin Hanxuan. Although "he" was very handsome, he was still dressed as a man. Being stared at like this by a beautiful man made Lin Hanxuan feel very uncomfortable.

"When I saw you get swallowed by the Sand Tiger too in order to save Junshu, I fainted again." Yi Junze spoke softly.

"Good thing Kubaka arrived in time, or I really wouldn't have been able to get out," Lin Hanxuan said.

"You didn't understand. After I woke up from that faint, I realized that I seemed to... like you a little." Yi Junze shyly poured out his feelings, the last sentence almost quieter than a mosquito's buzz.

Though the voice was small, Lin Hanxuan heard it clearly. Astonished, he said, "What did you say? How could that be?"

"Exactly. I kept asking myself that too—how could it be?" Yi Junze looked at Lin Hanxuan's face and said gently, "I know Junshu framed you and wanted to put you to death. Maybe you didn't notice. I warned him, told him you were my good friend and that he wasn't allowed to make a move against you. But I never thought that even the teachers didn't dare approach the Sand Tiger, yet you actually jumped into its mouth without the slightest hesitation. At that moment, I only felt as if my heart had stopped, and there was only one thought in my mind: if you really died, I would jump into the Sand Tiger's mouth too. But I fainted."

Lin Hanxuan said awkwardly, "Actually, at the time, I only wanted to step on the edge of the Sand Tiger's mouth and pull Junshu back. I didn't expect the Sand Tiger's mouth could open even wider."

"...At that moment, I suddenly realized, why should I wait for some savior? Some great hero? Aren't you the real hero? You weren't afraid at all of such a terrifying Magic Beast. People stronger than you couldn't have done what you did." Yi Junze said, "And while I was still thinking back on your brave, reckless deed, you did something that made me admire you even more."

"You mean... the decision to let Peiganbo leave?" By now, Lin Hanxuan already had a rough idea in his heart, but he still felt that if it had been anyone else then, they probably would have made the same decision, right? After all, after seeing the tragedy Peiganbo had gone through, even a human with a heart of iron and stone would surely forgive him.

Yi Junze nodded and said, "The Twin-Winged Blood Mantis—anyone who had a chance to form a spirit contract with him would never let him go, especially a mage. The Blood Mantis is an extremely powerful close-combat guard. Whether in the air or on the ground, his combat strength is no small matter. Even Master Lei's Thunder Eagle might have to sigh that it fell short. I never expected you would actually let him go. Should I call you naive, or stupid?"

Lin Hanxuan said awkwardly, "Peiganbo's experience was tragic too. I just couldn't bear it."

"Afterward, you even held him and cried. Don't you know that high-level Magic Beasts hostile to humans are very dangerous? Although his hands had been broken by the teacher, a mantis's sharp fangs are also its weapons. You made me worry the whole time that Peiganbo would bite your head off." Yi Junze spoke with a bit of complaint.

"You, can't you grow up a little and stop making people worry so much?" As he went on, Yi Junze actually started lecturing Lin Hanxuan.

"Heh heh, anyway, I came out safe and sound. I'll be more careful in the future," Lin Hanxuan said with a laugh to smooth things over.

Suddenly realizing that he was being fierce with Lin Hanxuan, Yi Junze also felt a little embarrassed.

"Anyway, I've already decided." Yi Junze softened his tone and said, "I like you. No matter who the savior is, I just like you. I'm going to keep this scar on my body forever, because I can't change fate, but fate can't influence who I like either."

Hearing such a direct confession of love, Lin Hanxuan froze.

"It's just a pity that you aren't the savior," Yi Junze sighed. "Because we've already known each other for several months, but the restriction on my body still hasn't reacted at all."

"Haah~~" Hal let out a huge yawn. Standing night watch at the sentry point really was an extremely boring thing.

Several days had passed since the Yi Family moved into the temporary encampment. Aside from the original garrison troops of Axon Town, some students from the magic academy had also been selected and sent over. The sentry posts of the temporary encampment were divided into four directions—east, west, south, and north. Nothing unexpected should happen to the east or north, so the students were assigned to those two places for night watch, in effect letting them experience the tension of military life early. The pairing was one soldier with one student, and right now, beside Hal was an Axon Town garrison soldier named Pulingo. "Little Goblin." Pulingo leaned against the wooden palisade, somewhat bored as he twirled the knife in his hand, and asked,