What Was the Point of Living?

Amidst the dense thunderclouds of the plain, a figure darted forward like a ghost, stepping straight into this forbidden land of living beings. He landed on the mountainside of the only peak, casually setting down Kadoc and the princess.

All he could hear was the roar of thunder, but this deafening sound brought him a sense of peace.

"Mr. Bai, do you need my treatment?"

Kadoc came to Bai Wubian's side, but the Crypter's concern did not move Bai Wubian. He sat down heavily on the rock, like someone who had broken his leg while climbing a mountain.

Just then, the icy princess appeared beside Bai Wubian. Unlike Kadoc's gentleness, she questioned him coldly:

"Mr. Bai, I need an explanation from you. If you were simply outmatched in battle, that would be one thing, but your actions just now could easily be described as fleeing."

"Anna!" Kadoc tried to stop her, but even as her Master, he was silenced by the princess's cold glare. She continued:

"If it weren't for the priests guarding the Kremlin, we would have lost our base and become fugitives. So, I hope you can answer me: Is this how you repay me when I need you, after providing you with the training ground for the Fantasy Tree and fulfilling all your needs for over eighty years?"

Bai Wubian didn't fight like a warrior at all. After exchanging blows with Bai Mo, he led the two away and fled all the way to the border of his own country.

If a soldier does this, he will forever be seen as a coward and a weakling.

However, Bai Wubian remained unmoved in the face of such questioning. As if he were about to take a nap, he leaned his blood-stained back against the rock and slowly closed his eyes.

"Think what you want, but for now, give me some peace and quiet."

He showed absolutely no fighting spirit whatsoever. At this moment, even a random royalist nobleman in Moscow would have more fighting spirit than Bai Wubian. The only sound around him was thunder, but to him, these sounds were like rain pattering on the eaves on a rainy night.

Seeing this, the princess said no more and turned to leave.

In her eyes, Bai Wubian had always been just an idle but incredibly powerful old man. But now, he was just an idle old man.

Since that's the case, there's no point in continuing to hope; venting emotions is useless. We need to get back to Moscow quickly, of course, like a rebel spy.

Kadoc did not leave; he used the Magecraft he had learned to try to heal Bai Wubian.

"Stop it, kid."

"How can this be? Even you..."

Just as Kadoc was struggling with whether or not to utter that word, Bai Wubian provided the answer for him:

"You'll die? So what? The body is just a process in the movement of all things, and my life is just a small part of that process. What difference does it make whether I die now or two hundred years from now?"

Death is nothing; perhaps I shouldn't have come back to life. Besides... I need this pain now, so you should go.

Looking at the vanished princess, Kadoc sighed, then took off his coat and handed it to Bai Wubian.

"You still prefer to take a nap wrapped in a blanket, don't you?"

With those words, Kadoc left. Covered in Kadoc's leather coat, Bai Wubian looked up at Ivan the Terrible on the mountain peak, slowly exhaling a breath of stale air and letting out a sigh.

"How pathetic, you and I are both..."

The two walked through the snow and ice. Hiking in the snow without their coats was clearly an unwise decision, and Kadoc's teeth were chattering uncontrollably.

Seemingly unable to bear it any longer, the princess threw the cloak at him.

"If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have let Wei stop hiding... Why are you taking such good care of him? It's obvious he's completely useless now."

Upon hearing this, Kadoc also revealed a smile that was more like a grimace.

Why? I don't know either. Maybe I can understand that feeling. That feeling of helplessness, of trying your best only to find that you are no match for others and feeling frustrated.

However, even if one cannot ultimately compare to a genius, trying is still trying. Although I don't know his past, perhaps it's because we share a similar plight, or perhaps it's because I was also given a helping hand when I felt utterly worthless.

Moreover, he is our only remaining source of combat power.

The way he spoke to Ritsuka earlier was also a reflection of his own words. Having stayed in A-Team, surrounded by geniuses, Kadoc understood very well that no matter how much a stone is polished, it can never compare to a rough gem.

However, this should not negate the hard work and effort put into the process.

The princess raised an eyebrow slightly, seemingly ready to move on from the topic.

"Let's think about how to avoid freezing to death first. You don't seem to have had lunch."

"Yes, I was hoping to get a couple of pieces of buttered bread at the banquet. Wait, that's... the priest?"

Kadoc immediately spotted the figure in the thunderclouds; it was none other than Father Rasputin from the palace. Because the mountains had been destroyed, the view was exceptionally clear.

"Oh my, you two have quite the refined taste, even finding the time for a rendezvous in such a forest. Mr. Kadoc, though I shouldn't say this, considering your physical condition, a warm bedroom would be more suitable."

"Stop spouting nonsense. What are you doing here? Weren't you supposed to be guarding the Kremlin?"

Rasupuk smiled and shook his head, saying:

"Don't worry, the people of Chaldea are very united. They won't give us the chance to directly attack the rebel headquarters, so they certainly won't directly occupy Moscow."

As for my presence here, it's only to check on the Terrible Emperor's condition. Unfortunately, Terrible Emperor will awaken in seven days at most. Kadoc, if you have a plan, you'd better act on it quickly. If not, then you may begin to pray."

With a much bigger problem looming ahead, Kadoc had no time to worry about anything else. An entire mountain range had vanished; no one would believe the Terrible Emperor wouldn't make a move.

"Alright, let's at least find somewhere we won't catch a cold to talk."

Rasputin made this suggestion, then took out his car keys from his pocket. Thanks to Koyanskaya, even Russia, a country with extremely backward technology and no coal-burning plants, can enjoy the fruits of technology.

In contrast to the somber atmosphere here, the rebels were having a great time. Goredolf was currently showing off his skills in the kitchen, preparing a Michelin-starred meal to demonstrate to everyone what a true chef never complains about their surroundings.

Bai Mo helped out in the kitchen outside, but he was cooking large batches of food for the people outside, and he did it much faster Goredolf.

"Alright, leave this to me, Mr. Bai Mo. Mr. Goredolf seems to be preparing, perhaps you could go and help out there, but..."

Zhang Jue raised his head and glanced at Bai Mo's room above. There, a pure white figure stood by the window looking down. Upon seeing Bai Mo's raised gaze, the figure fled as if escaping.

"I suggest you go and talk to her and clarify some things. The Master and I have already explained things clearly, so at least the people here won't be hostile towards her now. But cooperation is a two-way street."

"I'm going to have Ritsuka talk to her for me; she's better at dealing with people than I am."

"That won't do. You're her Master, aren't you? Alright, go quickly, don't delay my efforts to win over the people." Zhang Jue half-pushed Bai Mo away, then looked up, stroked his beard, and chuckled.

"I didn't choose the wrong Counter Force. Now it seems that its role is probably even greater than I imagined. Haha, I almost misjudged it and made a big mistake."

Okay, now I need to explain this to these Yaga. This is going to be a troublesome task.