Learning to accept farewell is a goal that one can hardly achieve in a lifetime.
This simulation.
Xu Xi experienced too many farewells.
The people of Qingniu Town who died in the demon tide.
The refugees of the Qiuhuo Army who died at the hands of the Great Qian soldiers.
Niu, who perished at the hands of the "Human Immortal."
Each farewell gradually intensified the burning sensation in his throat, making his voice hoarse, until he could no longer speak, and all of it turned into attacks on the demons.
There are many proverbs and sayings in the world that advise people to let go.
But in the end.
The pain caused by farewells does not disappear just because of a few words of comfort.
The agony remains, the sorrow remains, and the smiles on people's faces are merely a numbness caused by the passage of time.
Xu Xi continued to punch and slash.
The only way he could repay Niu was to kill the endless demons with even more ferocity and carve out as safe a path as possible.
To lead the remaining civilians out of the Ten Thousand Mountains.
"Crack—"
A faint cracking sound rang out, which was both the sound of demons being torn apart and the mournful cry from Xu Xi's body.
Xu Xi was very strong.
Strong enough to gradually explore the threshold of the Martial Dao Human Immortal in countless battles.
His Qi and blood underwent a heavenly transformation, nurturing the soul, achieving divinity, and seeing the true self.
Xu Xi became a quasi-Human Immortal.
He was only one step away from a true breakthrough, which was why Xu Xi was able to lead the people of the Qiuhuo Army to break through layer after layer of demonic encirclement.
Even so, Xu Xi faced numerous life-threatening crises.
He had been exhausted multiple times, falling into extremely dangerous situations, only to be saved by the villagers who went mad, wielding various cracked weapons, and putting their lives on the line to rescue him.
The girl, seeing him on the verge of death, was overwhelmed with rare panic and fear.
Finally.
The bloody path came to an end.
Bones shattered, bloodstained, a body covered in wounds, and armor in tatters.
All of it, like a nightmare, was about to end.
When Xu Xi looked toward the horizon again, he saw something beyond the mountains—the end of the Path of Survival, the real world.
As long as they crossed these final mountains.
All suffering would come to an end.
Yes.
As long as they crossed them, the others could survive.
After another battle ended, the time of dusk arrived. The sky was painted in golden hues, as the sun slowly descended, gently ushering in the night.
The increasingly sparse civilians of the Qiuhuo Army.
Busy preparing dinner.
Xu Xi leaned against a tree, powerless and slumped to the ground, his weak gaze watching the sunset.
"This is the final, and the hardest battle."
Xu Xi muttered to himself.
His eyes reflected the golden light of the setting sun.
The remaining path wasn't difficult to navigate.
The demons were no longer overwhelmingly strong, and even without Xu Xi, he believed Wu Yingxue could lead the people out safely.
The real crisis came from behind.
That "Human Immortal" who had been tailing them like a cat playing with a mouse, leisurely.
Xu Xi sensed the terrifying oppression coming from a distance, like an abyss, like a vast ocean, and it would soon reach the Qiuhuo Army's position.
The timing was bitterly ironic.
It coincided perfectly with the moment the Qiuhuo Army's people had become ecstatic after discovering the end of their journey.
"Treating human lives as a joke."
"Over and over, again and again, toying with human joy and sorrow."
"This anger... I can't swallow it..."
Xu Xi's eyes flicked shut. Only he could stand against the Human Immortal, and only he would. If he succeeded in blocking the pursuit of the Human Immortal, the people would face no further obstacles.
Xu Xi's body was riddled with holes.
Scars left by demons covered him.
His internal Qi and blood realm, though infinitely close to perfection, showed signs of fragility.
If he truly ascended to become a Human Immortal, what would happen to himself?
Xu Xi thought, perhaps he would be like a firework at New Year, briefly dazzling before meeting an eternal silence.
"That's enough..."
"That's... enough."
The Ten Thousand Mountains, with peaks piercing the clouds, stood majestically, dividing the golden light of the setting sun into countless fragments, creating a wondrous interplay of light and shadow.
Demonic howls, human joy.
When footsteps hit the ground.
The golden glow would be extinguished, creating ripples that gently caressed Xu Xi's palm.
Xu Xi stood up and walked toward the Qiuhuo Army, looking affectionately at the civilians as they moved about. He tried his best to remember each face, because this was likely the last time he would see them.
"Oh, it's Brother Xi!"
"Erwa, why are you hiding at the back? Hurry up and greet Mr. Xu!"
"Brother Xi, would you like something to eat? Look at you, you've become so thin."
Young men, children, enthusiastic women, and the few remaining elders.
The people protected by Xu Xi.
The people whose lives were saved by Xu Xi.
Sincerely offered Xu Xi various items, asking if he needed anything.
Xu Xi smiled and refused: "No, thank you, everyone. Let me rest alone for a while."
Hearing Xu Xi's refusal, the people felt regretful.
But they always listened to Xu Xi.
Soon, the crowd dispersed, returning to their activities.
Xu Xi found a quiet corner and sat alone, quietly observing the people, watching those simple, joyful faces, and his mood gradually improved.
How peaceful it was.
Xu Xi thought so.
The clouds at sunset, as if ignited by the sun's remnants, turned into a reddish-yellow expanse, undulating and swirling in the sky.
Like molten lava, like colorful candy.
"Sir, I made you a bowl of soup!"
A familiar voice came from behind.
Without turning around, Xu Xi knew who it was. He smoothly accepted the soup bowl and expressed his gratitude.
"Thanks, Yingxue."
"Sir, hurry and drink it. You've been busy all day, you need to rest and eat well."
The red and white robe, patched and mended.
The body armor, damaged and repaired.
Wu Yingxue's appearance wasn't much better than Xu Xi's.
The demonic blood she should have.
The scars on her body.
She had them all.
Under the girl's watchful gaze, Xu Xi held the soup bowl and sipped slowly. The surface of the soup had oil floating on it, with some broken-up leaves.
Compared to the previous meat soup, it was essentially the same.
Still as bland as ever, using ingredients like tough demonic meat, just enough to fill the belly.
In fact, there were tender demonic meats.
But those were rare.
Xu Xi had tasted one once, and after that, he gave all of them to the elderly and children in the Qiuhuo Army, so they wouldn't have to chew through the unyielding hard meat.
"It's delicious."
After finishing the soup, Xu Xi encouraged the girl.
In such a harsh environment, having someone willing to prepare a meal for you was a rare thing.
If he were to nitpick and complain about the girl's cooking.
Xu Xi would feel guilty.
"You're the only one who knows how to appreciate it," Wu Yingxue grinned, taking the empty bowl from Xu Xi.