Chapter 74: Setting Out Together

After drinking the red potion, Ge Nie’s complexion improved immediately—no wonder the academy’s products were always top-notch. At first, Sikong Xu had doubted whether spending a hundred credits was worth it, but now he realized it was; after all, Ge Nie’s injuries were far from ordinary. His waist and abdomen had been slashed open by a Qin soldier’s spear, leaving a gaping wound with blood pouring out. If it had been anyone else, they would have long since perished from such an injury.

Moreover, Ge Nie had just clashed with Sikong Xu’s sword energy, which made his wounds even worse. Yet now, a faint flush had returned to Ge Nie’s face, suggesting he had recovered quite a bit.

This made Sikong Xu wonder: if he gave the remaining two red potions to Ge Nie, would he not need to seek treatment at Mirror Lake Medical Manor? If so, would the story of “The Legend of Qin” even be able to progress? Still, it was just a thought. Sikong Xu would never actually do it—if he changed the plot, his advantage of knowing the storyline would be gone. Besides, something as life-saving as the red potion—why would he give all of it to Ge Nie, who was neither friend nor kin? He didn’t even have enough for himself!

Though, if the recipient were a beauty like Duanmu Rong, Shao Siming, or Snow Girl, perhaps Sikong Xu might just change his mind.

Ever since he drank the mysterious potion, Ge Nie could clearly feel an immense change within his body. The wound on his abdomen had stopped bleeding. Although he was still weak, he was nowhere near as frail as he had imagined.

With this in mind, Ge Nie’s gaze towards Sikong Xu subtly changed.

Just who was this youth, so young yet mingling among Qin soldiers, with sword skills not at all lacking and possessing such miraculous medicine?

“Thank you, young hero, for saving my life. My name is Ge Nie. May I ask your name? And who is your master?” Ge Nie cupped his hands in respectful inquiry.

Hearing Ge Nie’s words, Sikong Xu smiled. Though the man’s words were polite and friendly, Sikong Xu could easily tell there was a hint of distrust—his questions were really probing for more information.

“Ahem, my surname is Sikong, and my given name is Xu. As for my master—oh no, the Qin soldiers are escaping!” Sikong Xu abruptly broke off, gazing ahead. The remaining dozens of Qin soldiers were throwing down their helmets and armor, fleeing in panic.

Though desertion was shameful, these men cared for their lives more than their dignity. In such a situation, anyone with sense would run too.

Ge Nie alone had slain hundreds—who would stay behind except those with a death wish?

“What a pity. Those Qin soldiers are quick to run; otherwise, I’d have emulated Zhao Yun and charged in and out seven times!” Standing there, watching the soldiers flee into the distance, Sikong Xu couldn’t help but sigh, adopting the air of a victorious general.

With the Qin soldiers gone, Sikong Xu turned to Ge Nie. “These Qin soldiers are truly timid. The moment I unleashed my kingly aura, they all scattered. Life is as lonely as snow for someone like me…”

Ge Nie’s eyebrows twitched wildly at Sikong Xu’s shamelessly arrogant attitude. This boy’s ability to boast was truly second to none under the heavens.

“You really are shameless, always boasting when you’re not even that strong.” Suddenly, a mischievous figure leapt out from behind Ge Nie, pointing accusingly at Sikong Xu. “It was Uncle Ge who scared off the Qin soldiers, and here you are putting on airs. Shameless!”

“Tianming, don’t be rude to Young Hero Sikong!” Ge Nie scolded. Shameless as Sikong Xu might be, he had stepped up to help them after all.

“Oh? So you’re Tianming?” Sikong Xu looked down at the boy, who barely reached his chest, and grinned. Standing at 1.78 meters, just a touch shorter than Ge Nie, Sikong Xu’s well-proportioned build made him appear tall and imposing next to Tianming.

“You know me?” Tianming asked curiously.

“No, I don’t. But I know your father,” Sikong Xu replied mysteriously, glancing at Ge Nie.

As expected, when Sikong Xu mentioned Jing Ke, Ge Nie's expression subtly shifted. Though he hid it well, Sikong Xu caught the faint hint of surprise.

“What! My father! You know my father! Where is he?” At the mention of his own background, Tianming became flustered, grabbing Sikong Xu’s sleeve as if he wouldn’t let go until he got an answer.

But Sikong Xu didn’t answer immediately. He shook his head and said, “Your father is in a very faraway place…”

“Is he… is he dead?” Tianming’s voice trembled.

Now Sikong Xu was in a quandary. In the original story, Jing Ke was indeed dead, but exactly how he died was only briefly mentioned. Rumor had it that he perished by Ge Nie’s sword, but in the fourth season of the anime, “The Great Wall,” it was hinted that he died due to the secret of the Seven Stars of the Azure Dragon. Sikong Xu glanced at Ge Nie.

Ge Nie simply shook his head lightly in response.

Sighing, Sikong Xu realized he had no choice but to tell the child a white lie. “Your father isn’t dead. He’s just somewhere very, very far away—he won’t be coming back anytime soon.”

“Very far? Even farther than the borderlands?” Tianming asked, his innocence showing.

“Borderlands?” Sikong Xu thought for a moment. In the Qin Dynasty, their territory stretched from the coast to Gansu. The borderlands Tianming mentioned must refer to that region.

“Yes, even farther than the borderlands—farther than from here to the South Pole.” Since Ge Nie signaled him not to reveal the truth, Sikong Xu improvised. In fact, it wasn’t really a lie; the world of the dead was indeed farther away than the South Pole.

“South Pole? What’s that place?”

“Uh…” Sikong Xu suddenly realized that no one in this era could possibly know about the South Pole. He felt a bit embarrassed.

“Tianming, let’s not talk about this for now. We should get on our way,” Ge Nie interjected, easing the awkward atmosphere.

“Yes, yes, we need to hurry. Otherwise, another wave of Qin soldiers might come after us. Besides, we need to find a place for Ge Da Xia to recover.” Sikong Xu turned to Ge Nie. “Though the potion eased your injury, it was too severe. The potion can only help so much. Our top priority is to find a doctor for proper treatment. And you really shouldn’t exert yourself, or the wound could reopen.”

Ge Nie nodded. He understood his own condition best. The bleeding had stopped, but the wound wasn’t healed. He could still walk, but using force would be difficult.

“May I ask, Young Hero Sikong, where are you headed?” Ge Nie didn’t believe for a moment that Sikong Xu had come purely to help him. This youth, so mysterious in his methods, must have some purpose in approaching them.

Unfortunately, Ge Nie guessed wrong. Sikong Xu really had only come to save Ge Nie and Tianming—if there was any reason at all, it was simply that important characters couldn’t be allowed to die.

“Heh, actually, I was entrusted by someone—by his mother—to check on Tianming.” Sikong Xu pointed at Tianming.

“What! You know my mother too?”

“That’s right.” Sikong Xu patted Tianming’s head.

To win Ge Nie’s trust, Sikong Xu had to offer a plausible explanation.

“Tianming’s mother… could it be Li…” Ge Nie stopped himself abruptly.

“That’s right.” Sikong Xu smiled. He’d planned to say he was entrusted by Jing Ke, but given Ge Nie’s relationship with him, Sikong Xu feared unnecessary suspicion. So he chose to mention Tianming’s mother, Lady Li. Since Ge Nie didn’t know her well, he couldn’t verify the truth.

“In that case, please join us on our journey, Young Hero.”

At these words, Sikong Xu nearly stumbled. Good grief, could this man not have chosen a less ominous way to phrase that? “Join us on our journey”—it sounded so inauspicious!