So what if he died? Even if Fang Yuan perished in the next moment amid the wolf tide, he would have no regrets.
He had already fought hard for his goals, lived by his own will, and given everything he had.
Only by looking past life and death can one live without restraint. That's when life truly becomes free.
Hearing this, Bai Ning Bing trembled.
He always claimed he didn't fear death, but deep down, he was never truly at peace—unable to let go, unable to rise above the fear.
Fear made him a slave.
He was bound by life and death.
But it wasn't his fault. He was still young. Some truths can only be understood through experience.
Now, Fang Yuan's words opened a new path—one that let him rise above his struggle.
"Witnessing interesting things… already on your path… no regrets even if you die?" Bai Ning Bing muttered, then suddenly asked, "Path, what's a path?"
Fang Yuan laughed coldly, getting closer, "Everyone has their own paths, I don't have to tell you mine, and how would I know yours?"
Bai Ning Bing's blue eyes suddenly shone with a blinding light. "Path… that's right, I must find my path!"
In this moment, the excitement in his heart was impossible to be understood by others.
He was like a man endlessly searching for a girl without success, only to one day discover the right way. Or a treasure hunter stuck at the final puzzle for ages, finally uncovering the solution. Or someone pondering a difficult question for years before suddenly seeing the answer.
Bai Ning Bing had no direction and couldn't grasp the meaning of his existence, leaving him adrift.
Fang Yuan couldn't erase that sense of aimlessness, but he could offer hope from the side. He gave him a way to face death—so long as you walk your chosen path, there's no regret in dying. And with that, death became far less terrifying.
"I feel that I am about to find my own path!" Bai Ning Bing clenched his fists, his expression becoming extremely excited.
He looked towards Fang Yuan, saying meaningfully, "I finally understand our difference. You are on your own path, but I am still trying to find mine."
"Hehehe!" He suddenly laughed, his expression turning crazy, "Fang Yuan, if you want to fight, I'm all for it. But not now! Let's work together. I have the Lightning Eye Gu, but my vision is obstructed, only able to see thirty steps ahead. Once we escape from here, let's have a battle another day. Being able to work together with my mortal enemy, don't you find that more interesting, more fun?"
"Oh, how can I believe you?"
"I'm not asking for you to believe me. You can choose to trust me, or not. You can entrust your back to me, or you can strike at any time, and sneak an attack on me. Hehe, it all depends on your mood!" Bai Ning Bing shrugged as he smiled, showing an inborn nonchalance.
"Alright." Fang Yuan stretched out his hand and caressed the Chainsaw Golden Centipede's armor, raising his head, "But be on guard for my sneak attack anytime!"
"Hehehe." Bai Ning Bing's mouth curled, smiling very deviously. A wave of air blew as the black smoke dispersed, and the broken arm's sleeve swayed in the wind.
In the dense smoke, determining direction was tough. The narrower the vision, the easier it was to get lost.
Bai Ning Bing had the Lightning Eye Gu, allowing him to see fifty steps ahead under normal conditions. But in this thick smoke, his range was cut to under thirty steps—still better than Fang Yuan's normal sight.
Even with the Lightning Eye Gu, Bai Ning Bing couldn't view the full terrain and lacked a clear grasp of the surroundings.
He could only spot what was directly ahead and occasionally ran into wolf packs, ending up surrounded.
Fang Yuan, however, had the Earth Communication Ear Grass.
While the smoke hindered sight, it couldn't block sound.
Though the environment was noisy, the Earth Communication Ear Grass could detect sounds up to two hundred steps away. Still, Fang Yuan could only navigate using sound. His vision was so limited that he could only make out the nearest tree or rock, and without a frame of reference, he couldn't judge direction.
That's where cooperation came in.
Bai Ning Bing's Lightning Eye Gu paired with Fang Yuan's Earth Communication Ear Grass—together they complemented each other, making it easier to handle the situation.
"This is the southern side. Going this direction, we'll get to the Gu Yue village." Bai Ning Bing's eyes glowed with lightning as he said.
"No, there's too many wolf packs there, we have to take a roundabout route." Fang Yuan's right ears had roots flying around.
"Hehe… then we'll go around the southeast direction, how about that?" Bai Ning Bing licked his lips.
Fang Yuan listened for a while, before standing up, "There's an opening in the southeast direction, but we have to hurry, the opening is going to be filled!"
"Let's charge then." Bai Ning Bing said, but did not move immediately.
He still kept some vigilance against Fang Yuan, not daring to charge ahead and expose his back.
Fang Yuan sneered coldly; he also had his guard up against Bai Ning Bing.
In the end, they fought side by side, maintaining five steps of distance between them.
The lightning wolves howled, determined to tear them apart.
But with the Lightning Eye Gu and Earth Communication Ear Grass, they could avoid the stronger packs and keep moving, searching for a chance to break free.
Here, the power of information truly showed.
If they were alone, either would have been trapped by countless wolves. Working together, they held the advantage and could maneuver with relative ease.
After pushing forward for a while, the road ahead suddenly opened up, and bright sunlight made them both squint.
"We're out!" Bai Ning Bing laughed loudly.
Fang Yuan looked back, only to see a thick black veil behind him, as if a black pot had covered the entire mountain.
The intense smoke continue to emit sounds of explosions and screams. Evidently the two clan leaders were still fighting the lightning lycan.
"To think that working with you is actually quite pleasant." Bai Ning Bing turned his body, smiling lightly.
"I feel the same way too," Fang Yuan also smiled lightly.
But in the next instant, their eyes turned cold and sharp.
Iceblade Gu!
Chainsaw Golden Centipede!
The long iceblade sliced through the air with a chilling gleam.
The thick golden centipede struck forward, howling in the wind.
Bam.
The weapons clashed. The iceblade carved a wound into the centipede's shell but shattered right after.
Both stepped back, their eyes brimming with killing intent.
Their brief alliance hadn't changed the fact they were enemies.
Fang Yuan's black hair fluttered in the wind, Bai Ning Bing's white robe billowed—too similar, and so they were destined to clash.
Black pupils locked onto pale blue eyes, sparks seeming to crackle between them.
Gradually, the murderous aura faded.
Bai Ning Bing's eyes became even brighter, muttering, "Path… no regrets… that's right, even Ren Zu has to die. Humans live and die. So as long as I can live an interesting life, what harm is there even if I die?"
Thinking so, his eyes glowed with an intense brilliance. "Hahaha. I've finally found my path, and that is to witness this world's brilliance! Fang Yuan, we will battle another day. I hope that by then, your death can bring some light into my life!"
Saying so, he leapt backwards continuously. After pulling apart some distance, he turned around, leaving.
Although he was in a mess, his body full of injuries and his face covered in soot, with only one arm left, but his back was straight like a sword; he was no longer lost.
He had found his path.
In other words, he had truly become himself!
Fang Yuan watched Bai Ning Bing's figure walk until he was far away.
"Witness this world's brilliance? You will still be a tool." His two black pupils flashed with an imposing light. The Bai Ning Bing who was no longer bewildered was more dangerous than before.
Bai Ning Bing had set the definition of brilliance on Fang Yuan, and that was because he was young and his view of the world was limited to Qing Mao Mountain.
Fang Yuan, however, was different.
"Now is time for me to meet the Divine Investigator Tie Xue Leng!" Fang Yuan gave one last look behind him; the sound of intense explosions were still coming from the black smoke.
He turned around and left, rushing towards the Gu Yue village.
Soon, Fang Yuan was able to see the Gu Yue village in the horizon.
"Hmm? Who are you!" Fang Yuan swiftly stopped; two strangers had appeared in front of him.
Both were dressed in Gu Master attire. One was an elderly man, tall and straight-backed, steady as a mountain and deep as a pool. Most striking was the plain, antique copper mask on his face, with three openings exposing his eyes and mouth. His gaze carried the weight of experience and a righteous air, while the blade-sharp line of his lips hinted at unshakable will. Grey hair at his temples showed his age.
Beside him stood a youth with sword-like brows and bright, piercing eyes like an eagle's. Judging by appearance, the youth seemed Fang Yuan's age, but the silver plate on the belt carved with the character "three" marked this as a Rank three Gu Master—a cultivation prodigy.
Still, Fang Yuan's eyes only paused briefly on the youth before shifting to the senior. Though the youth's dark skin and sharp aura were impressive, the slight chest bulge and the shape of her limbs and throat betrayed her true identity—a girl.
Fang Yuan never underestimated women, but next to this heroic young woman, the older man's identity would shock anyone.