Fang Hau's feet quickly dissipated, beginning to float a few inches above the floor. He held Zixin tightly, moving with Zixin's every step forward.
Fang Hau spoke, his mind slipping through his memories, "Danger often acts like a mischievous child, pulling those away and forcing them to experience pain."
He paused, his lips curling up into a smile before he continued, "Rather than an experienced grandmaster, it's a mischievous child. However, it is not without its limitations, for every 'show' it hosts is destined to end, but not by its decision, but by those who gathered to save themselves. Humans are their own destroyers."
Zixin cast him a glance whilst holding his head and probed, "What's with the sudden metaphor? Do you feel delighted by my current predicament?"
Fang Hau shook his head, shifting his gaze forward, and replied solemnly, "No, it's quite far from it. I was merely reminiscing over a tale my partner once told me centuries ago during our time together."
Zixin's eyes lit up upon hearing his words, and with his newfound curiosity, he chose to probe. But not before letting out a muffled groan and vomiting blood.
He raised his arm, wiping his mouth, and spoke, "Please elaborate."
Fang Hau chuckled, raising his right hand and pushing a wooden door. The door creaked open as he dragged Zixin inside.
It was the medicine room.
He continued until Zixin finally sat down. After which, he searched all the drawers and cabinets for viable medicine, but his tracks came to a halt once he heard a young lady's voice.
"What's happened?"
Fang Hau chuckled once more, turning to face Hop,e who wore a concerned expression. He calmly explained, not leaving behind any details for her to question.
Upon hearing the full story, Hope's eyes dilated walking towards Zixin. She squeezed his blood-stained cheeks, her eyes swollen red. She let out a heavy sigh and asked with a shaky voice, "You… w-what were you thinking?!"
Zixin bit his lips, lowered his head, and apologized, his tone laced with sadness, "My sincerest apologies. I was rash and didn't account for you in my decision. My actions have hurt not only me, but also you. I… am sorry."
Zixin paused, his lips parting, but the words couldn't leave his throat. He clenched his fist, continuing, "However, it's already over, the past has now become a part of history, the wolf has been slain. From today on, the future is all that matters."
Hope shook her head with a resigned expression. She tied her hair into a ponytail, facing Fang Hau and said, "No need to worry, I'll take care of the treatment. You can go elsewhere for the time being."
Fang Hau waved his hand, disapproving, and replied, "No, no, Zixin has taken interest in a tale that I mentioned moments ago. It would be a waste to leave it at that, wouldn't it?"
He floated her with his hands behind his back and asked, "Since you'll be the one in charge, would you mind cutting some of his blood-dyed hair? It's a request he asked of me minutes ago. I hope you would take care of this in my stead."
What a terrible excuse. Even though Fang Hau has made exquisite plans, he still sometimes acts like a lazy snail. Sigh, forget it, even I'm curious now. Hope thought, nodding her head.
"Go wash yourself first; there should be a bathtub right there." Hope spoke plainly, pointing at a wooden door.
Zixin nodded, trying to stand up, only to immediately stumble. Hope sighed, lifting him and helping him. Once he stepped into the restroom, Hope gave Fang Hau a curious look before leaving to take a bath as well.
Fang Hau started silently, dragging a chair to sit down on. He sat down and waited. Roughly half an hour later, Zixin walked out. The scent of blood had already faded, and his once blood-stained skin had now returned to its original snow-white color. He wore a simple white robe, but the moment he took another step, he fell face-first to the ground.
Plop
Fang Hau's ears perked up, his gaze shifting in Zixin's direction. He stared blankly, his cyan pupils glowing with interest.
"Hmm? I didn't even notice you. Need a hand?" Fang Hau chuckled, speaking with a faint smile.
Zixin breathed roughly, pushing himself up to stand. After shaking his head and regaining his composure, he slowly walked towards his seat, beginning his wait for Hope.
Time quickly flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Hope walked into the silent room. Her gaze drifted from Fang Hau to Zixin as she thought: Huh? Why the silence? I thought he'd be telling him a story. Did he also wait for me?
Hope quickly tossed the thought aside, walking over with a calm demeanor. She opened a few shelves and took out medicinal paste. After which, she took off half his upper clothes and began applying the medicine to Zixin.
Fang Hau spoke, taking this opportunity, "I know that both of you are curious; however, before I start, there are a few details for me to explain. My early remarks were born from certain facts regarding the tale, a story told to me by my partner."
…
Long, long ago, a young man would be born with innate talent, surpassing the masses. He was a child called Aegis. During his childhood, he would form countless bonds, meeting people whom he learned to cherish.
But life wasn't a fairy tale.
One day, he met a handsome merchant who offered, "Child! I have a once-in-a-lifetime offer for you."
With his round silver eyes, Aeigis listened to the merchants. The merchant swiftly took out a dirty book and spoke proudly, "Look at this, this is a book written by the Founder himself. It is said to contain profound knowledge of the Isolation!
The merchant laughed before stating, "Because of its terrible state, I'm willing to sell it for a measly five hundred Pier Coins!"
Aegis's eyes shone with brilliance, taking out his savings and counting them before buying the book.
Later that day, the merchant would set out, and when night came, Aegis sat atop his bed. The dim light from the lamp let him see clearly in the otherwise dark night. After dusting it off, he flipped through its pages, but a frown formed on his youthful face. With each new page, his frown would only continue to deepen, his breathing becoming rough.
The contents were a conspiracy. It wasn't even written by the Founder.
Years later, through his own effort, he became a scholar. He studied, working on a project that would shake the world.
One day, his colleague called out to him, "Aegis! I have a gift for you, take it. It's the symbol of our friendship."
Aegis's eyes grew teary, but he quickly wiped them off, expressing his gratitude, "Thank you. But why the need to give it to me? Spending time with a dear friend is more than enough for me."
His friend laughed loudly, patting his back, "We see each other all the time, and sometimes… Having some fun would do us good."
His friend took out a bottle of wine, poured him a cup, and said, "Here, have some. Let us celebrate our friendship!"
Aegis took the wine cup, staring at the clear liquor. His hands tremble; he hesitated. But the moment he shifted his gaze to his friend, all his worries disappeared into thin air. He laughed, drinking the night away.
The moment he fell unconscious, his "friend" smirked. Without a second thought, he opened the cabinets and drawers, searching for Aegis's research. He took out every paper, but once he read their contents, he would tear them apart.
Hours passed, and after all his efforts, he found what he had been searching for. He laughed, rushing out of Aegis's home.
The next day, when he woke up, he found that his home was a mess, almost as though a robber had entered without alerting him. His heart sank as he searched his belongings, finding out that all his research results had been stolen.
Aegis fell to the floor, whispering incoherently.
Sweat poured down his temples, his breathing becoming heavy. He stared fiercely, his hand clenched into a fist.
He drew in a cold breath, rushing towards his work. An hour later, he fell on his knees, his legs growing numb.
He moved hurriedly, grabbing onto the torn manuscripts. His heart was heavy, and his eyes were full of tears.
He screamed, losing his voice.
His hair was a mess, and combined with his unkept clothes, he lacked the demeanor of a scholar.
His colleagues shot him a glare, and he would eventually be sent into exile under false accusations.
Eventually, whilst wandering alone, he understood a Truth–only with strength can one follow their path without anyone daring to stand before him.
Decades would pass as he stood atop a grand mountain. A firm aura surrounded his body, intimidating all the nearby foes. His gaze was firm, but his heart was heavy.
He sighed in his heart, muttering to himself, "But no matter how much I grew, I was still bound by my attachments. To me, this wall might as well be unbreakable. If I take a single step further, I would lose them."
And so, Aegis left, returning to his home.
…
Hope commented whilst treating Zixin with a suspicious tone, "It sounds incomplete, don't tell me you're keeping the rest of it a secret?"
Fang Hau shook his head and explained, "I wouldn't dare. My partner, Feiran of Essence, only told me half of it, so the rest might as well be history–long forgotten."
He glanced at Zixin and asked, "Did that satisfy your curiosity?"
"The story was decent," Zixin replied whilst nodding his head.
Feiran of Essence… this name sounds familiar. Hmm? Wasn't she the "Lonely Empress"? To think that she wasn't so lonely after all. Zixin's thoughts raced, recalling Feiran's identity.
"How does she connect to your earlier remark? If the story she told you didn't even mention this 'danger', how could she have any connection to it?" Zixin lifted his gaze, his eyes lighting up with interest.
Fang Hau's smile widened, letting out a soft chuckle. He placed a finger on his chin and commented, "Oh? I didn't expect you to be such a gossiper. Have you perhaps taken an interest in human relationships?"
Zixin shook his head, and Fang Hau spoke, "Truth be told, even I'm at a loss for words on the connection between my remark. The only reason I even knew of it was that she used it before, and due to my curiosity, I inquired, which ended up with a similar situation to the one at hand. I can only speculate that 'danger' was a symbolic meaning left in the tale. I'll let you think on your own."
Zixin nodded before probing, "Who is this Feiran of Essence? I don't recall any documents stating any relations that you had, except for your family."
Fang Hau's smile slowly disappeared, his gaze becoming dark. He darted his gaze until it eventually landed on Zixin as he spoke, "She was my companion, the only friend that I ever wanted. She and I often studied together, but after my death, I left her at the hands of fate."
The atmosphere turned cold with neither of them willing to speak further. Hope sighed internally, choosing to break the silence.
"That sounds a whole lot like you had feelings for her."
Fang Hau cast a glance and replied, "Perhaps you're right, in a way, she was the closest person to my heart. If I had taken a different path, maybe things would have turned out differently…"
He paused, his lips curling up into a smile before speaking, "No, what I have achieved now and what I will achieve in the future through this plan was well worth it. After all, what else should a scholar seek other than knowledge?"
Hope retracted her gaze, letting out an exasperated sigh. She muttered, "Both of you are strange. Is this a part of being a member of the Longevity Bloodline?"
Fang Hau rubbed his chin and spoke, "History often repeats itself, almost as though it were a stream of water that found the path of least resistance."
Hope simply nodded, examining Zixin before asking, "Do you feel better now?"
"Yes, I do. Thank you." Zixin calmly replied.
She raised her hand, squeezing his porcelain-white cheeks, and said with an irritated tone, "With your current condition, you might need a cane to help you walk. Remember that the plan could still be completed without the Wolf Lord's death. There's no need to risk your life this much."
"Indeed, success has never been obstructed from the moment I made my plan. However, the disruption that the Wolf Lord's death will bring is a great opportunity that shouldn't be wasted." Fang Hau waved his hand, his body dispersing, vanishing in thin air.
Zixin lifted his gaze, holding his head with a complicated expression. He sighed, his eyes glowing with a hint of uncertainty.
His gaze shifted to Hope, who wore a worried expression. Her brows were furrowed, and her bright hazel eyes were gloomy.
"I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have acted when your freedom was on the line." Zixin lowered his head, biting his lips in dismay.
Hope hurriedly waved her hand, changing her expression.
"Don't worry, I understand your reasons. You did it to have a subject to learn with, right? But what matters most in 'Lending' would be the agreement that you'll create. There's no reason to overcomplicate it since you're still learning. Take it one step at a time." Hope told him with a heavy smile.
"How… Do you know so much?" Zixin asked, confusion rising in his heart.
"Eh? Well… uh…" Hope wore a surprised expression and replied.
"Fang Hau lets me browse through the Knowledge Observatory's contents."
Zixin sighed, and Hope spoke immediately, trying to explain, "It's probably because he's trying to keep certain things away from you. Maybe, if you know too much, it could interfere with your decision-making."
Zixin replied with silence, neither speaking nor ignoring her presence. He slowly stood up, walking over to the chair that Fang Hau had sat in minutes before.
After taking his seat, he leaned back, closing his eyes as he muttered under his breath, "I wonder if… Hope has never taken a romantic interest in someone before."
Although Zixin's voice was low, her keen sense of gossip still managed to hear him. She shot him a look of confusion and answered, "I have been intentionally keeping myself away from having any romantic relationship since there's not much benefit. That's why I haven't accepted Vanor even after all these years."
"Normally, I wouldn't take an interest in the uncertainty called 'love,' but after having used Snowdrop before, I started to ponder over it from time to time." He continued, "I didn't mean to ask; it was just a subconscious thought."
"Hmm, speaking of love, have you ever fallen in love?" Hope understood, but not before tilting her head and asking.
"Personally, no, but if I were to add on the memories of all the times I've used Snowdrop, then with Elmer's memories, it would be a yes," Zixin replied calmly, closing his eyes and relaxing.
"I see. Never mind that, Fang Hau was probably eavesdropping the entire time." Hope commented, stretching her hand and letting out a yawn.