Chapter 19: Life and Death Thoughts on Goose Lake

Xu Xiaoshou froze.The referee froze.The audience, which had just been clamoring and shouting warnings, also froze.Even Xiao Qixiu, suspended in the air, was somewhat stunned. The battle had seemingly ended, and he had turned his attention to other arenas. He never expected to look back and find such a brutal scene. Recalling his words before the match, the referee, too, lost his composure for a moment, wondering if he had spoken a prophecy. The entire arena was paralyzed.

Wen Chong's lips twitched, as if he wanted to speak, but only gurgling blood poured out. He stared, unable to utter a single word. The ferocity in his eyes had not yet faded before it transformed entirely into disbelief. He looked down and saw Xu Xiaoshou's hand piercing his heart. Due to the complete penetration, he could only see the elbow, a grotesque red stained with his own blood. A hand? Piercing his chest? How was this possible... Veins bulged at the corners of Wen Chong's eyes, a result of the intense pain. He gazed at Xu Xiaoshou, his eyes filled with bewilderment, seemingly seeking an answer.

Xu Xiaoshou could even feel a regular pulsating squeeze on his forearm: thump, thump... "Help him!" he yelled, momentarily unsure whether to pull his hand out or leave it there. How could this have happened? Xu Xiaoshou was flustered. He had never intended to kill anyone, nor had he ever imagined Wen Chong would actually ambush him. His subconscious counter-attack was simply a result of trusting the passive system's prompt; he never expected Wen Chong, in his attempt to kill, to run straight into his hand. "Why did you do this!" Xu Xiaoshou roared, pulling out a Crimson Gold Pill and forcing it into Wen Chong's mouth. Wen Chong seemed to shake his head, the movement almost imperceptible. His lips were slightly parted, never closing. "Eat it!" Xu Xiaoshou used his left hand to lift Wen Chong's chin, trying to make him absorb the medicine's power. But as soon as he removed his hand, the pill slipped out and fell to the ground. *Thump-thump—* He watched the golden-red pill quietly roll away, realizing that something else might have been lost along with it.

The referee approached, pulling Xu Xiaoshou's hand from Wen Chong's chest. "It's no use," he said flatly, "he's dead." Xu Xiaoshou trembled. Dead? Was life truly so fragile, even for a Spirit Refiner? One stab, and it was over? Seeing Xu Xiaoshou's expression, the referee sighed and patted his shoulder, seemingly in comfort. "First time killing someone?" he asked. "You'll adapt." He pulled the dagger Wen Chong had plunged into Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder out and handed Xu Xiaoshou a bottle of pills, considering it compensation for the Crimson Gold Pill he had taken earlier. "Don't worry, this isn't your fault. He attacked first. Even if there's blame, it's my dereliction of duty. You'll be fine. Go back and rest for now; I'll handle the rest." Xu Xiaoshou seemed dazed. He glanced once more at Wen Chong in the referee's arms, then, without speaking, he quietly left the arena, clutching his shoulder. The audience watched his lost figure, and for a moment, no one dared to speak loudly. "He's really dead?" "This must be the first death in the Outer Court in over a decade, right?" "Yes, usually the referees and contestants are very careful. This time, we really didn't expect it... Boss Wen was too impulsive!" "Xu Xiaoshou... Oh my gosh, I feel so bad for him..."

Some supported Xu Xiaoshou, but they were definitely a minority; most opposed him. "I can't stand it! Xu Xiaoshou killed someone, and he's acting like the victim." "Boss Wen died so unjustly! The referee hadn't even called the match over; he was acting within the rules. How dared Xu Xiaoshou be so ruthless?" "I strongly suggest Xu Xiaoshou be disqualified! Disgusting!" "Exactly! Fighting fellow disciples with such brutality, he's an animal!" Those supporting Xu Xiaoshou immediately grew angry, standing up to refute: "Nonsense!" "Anyone with eyes could see Wen Chong had lost. If Xu Xiaoshou had used a spiritual sword, could Wen Chong have blocked it? Xu Xiaoshou was already holding back!" "Wen Chong's sneak attack failed, and he got pierced. Xu Xiaoshou even fed him a pill—how noble is that quality, can't you see?" Those supporting Wen Chong sneered: "The referee hadn't called it over, Wen Chong was just acting within the rules. Xu Xiaoshou, on the other hand, is simply inhuman!" "I'll kill your mother, you contrarian, get over here!" "What, dare to bite me?" "Mmph!" "Damn it, let go... You let go!"

Goose Lake. The blue sky mirrored in the water, fat geese frolicking beneath thin clouds. This was a stunning sight in the Outer Court of Tiansang Spirit Palace, surrounded by weeping willows. A heart-shaped white jade railing enclosed the exceptionally clear, spirit-infused water. In it swam spiritual geese raised by Elder Qiao, known for their plump and delicious meat, which Xu Xiaoshou had been fortunate enough to taste a few times. Countless people used to come to Goose Lake for cultivation, but recently, due to the "Wind and Cloud Battle," it was rarely visited, making it quite serene.

Xu Xiaoshou stood by the railing, melancholy in his eyes. He hadn't returned to his own courtyard but instead came to this place where he often practiced swordsmanship. For the first time, after winning a battle, he felt no excitement at all; he didn't even bother to check his passive points. Dazed, he walked out of the arena, left Cloudy Peak, and wandered here.

The sun was setting in the west, and Xu Xiaoshou had been standing there for a long time. He threw a pebble into Goose Lake; ripples spread then faded, and the water returned to calm. "Perhaps this world is the same," he mused, "life is like this pebble. No matter how big, once it sinks into Goose Lake, it won't cause much of a ripple." Xu Xiaoshou exhaled, rubbing his right forearm, seemingly feeling Wen Chong's final heartbeats once more.

Regret? No. Xu Xiaoshou felt no regret about accidentally killing Wen Chong; he had, in a way, been prepared. Coming to this world, killing was bound to become commonplace. Perhaps it wasn't obvious within Tiansang Spirit Palace, but Xu Xiaoshou wasn't so naive; this was merely the beginning. His melancholy and reflections stemmed only from sympathy and contemplation for fragile life. Perhaps to the people of this continent, life was insignificant; perhaps in the future, he would view it the same way. But at this moment, Xu Xiaoshou could not find peace.

In his previous life, under endless torment in a white hospital room, he still harbored a deep desire for life. It could be said that Xu Xiaoshou valued life more than most people in this world. And now, he had personally destroyed such a precious life. He had prepared himself, but when it truly happened, who could remain unmoved? Wen Chong was "Boss Wen," but in Xu Xiaoshou's eyes, he was just a somewhat talented, somewhat arrogant younger brother. Although Wen Chong attacked him, perhaps he didn't intend to kill; he only stabbed Xu Xiaoshou's shoulder, didn't he? Perhaps... he wasn't destined to die?

Xu Xiaoshou shook his head, pushing these absurd thoughts out of his mind. If one dared to strike, one must be prepared to bear all consequences, even if those consequences were unbearable for anyone. These words were spoken to the deceased Wen Chong, and also served as a caution to his future self.

In the distance, the setting sun was completely swallowed by the mountains on the horizon. The sky darkened, and everything returned to silence. Suddenly, a spiritual energy fluctuation rippled across Goose Lake, startling the fat geese into flight and gently swaying the weeping willows. Xu Xiaoshou's breathing became rapid, and he unconsciously broke through to Spirit Refiner Level Seven. "Ha!" He suddenly scooped up a handful of pebbles, radiating killing intent, and hurled them furiously at the flock of geese in a fit of release. *Splash!* Water sprayed, but he didn't hit a single one. Xu Xiaoshou sighed softly. Finally, he had killed someone.