High in the sky, Qin Hao and Chen Jianqing flew north.
Neither spoke along the way.
Qin Hao glanced at Chen Jianqing several times, but he seemed weighed down by his thoughts, as though he had suffered a crushing blow.
Qin Hao wanted to speak, but held back. He could only sigh inwardly, unsure how to comfort him.
Seeming to notice Qin Hao's gaze, Chen Jianqing slowed and gave a bitter smile. "Qin Hao, I know what you want to ask. Actually... there's no reason I can't tell you."
"Oh?" Qin Hao nodded and slowed as well.
"When we set out from the Southern Reach together, we agreed to train hard and meet again in Central Continent. But now... look what's become of me."
Pain crossed Chen Jianqing's face, and his voice sank. "If our teachers knew how I've fared, they'd probably be very disappointed."
Qin Hao shook his head. "I wouldn't say that. This is what the Martial Way is like. What you've been through is part of it too."
It was no surprise.
Qin Hao had gone through much the same thing in Tianshui City.
Without those experiences, he might never have become who he was today. Only by living through them could one truly understand.
"You're right."
Chen Jianqing drew a deep breath. Resolve returned to his eyes, and his voice gradually steadied.
"To be honest, Qin Hao, I've let my training slip these past two years."
After a pause, Chen Jianqing gave Qin Hao a rough account of what had happened during that time.
At first, Chen Jianqing had trained hard and pushed himself through grueling trials. His strength and cultivation had improved rapidly.
But after he encountered danger while exploring a Ruins and met Teng Keshu, everything slowly began to change.
Once, when Chen Jianqing