Why do I have so many masters?

Chapter 137 Decision (2/2)

In the heart of the Great Desert.

Just when He Lihuo had fallen into endless despair, a turn of events suddenly occurred.

The sweeping wind could not suppress those calm footsteps.

One step,

One step.

Accompanied by a chime-like crisp sound, it rang out very clearly beside his ear.

His consciousness already blurring, He Lihuo instinctively turned his head to look.

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The chime was still distinct amidst the raging wind.

A clear, casual voice followed, merging as one.

The tone was no better than that of a student in a schoolhouse, yet at this moment, in this place, under these circumstances, it had an unrestrained flair that made one irresistibly capitulate:

"The beacon fires burn ceaselessly, the campaigns never end."

"Fighting in the wilds till death, defeated horses cry to the heavens in grief. Black kites peck at human intestines, carrying them to hang on dry tree branches."

"Soldiers lie under grasses, Generals sadly could just be so."

"Thus, I know the warriors are dangerous weapons, used by the Saints only as a last resort."

From a great distance within his field of vision, a tall figure approached steadily. When the first words were spoken, that figure was still at the horizon, barely visible as a vague silhouette, but by the time the last word fell, that person had reached his side.

Though the voice was clear, it also carried a somber weight.

The words recited were mournful and vast, He Lihuo felt a resonance, an involuntary sorrow arose, and he regained some consciousness.

At this time, the sandstorm grew even more fierce, darkening the skies as if divine wrath were at play. The person was dressed in Vigorous Attire, draped in a black robe with broad sleeves, decorated with complex, dark golden patterns of dragons and sparrows. In the storm, these merely rippled like water waves on an autumn day.

Jade Crown restrained his hair, his features hidden behind a dark mask, making his true face hard to distinguish. His right hand held a sword, and from the hilt hung a wind chime, ringing crisply in contrast to the dissimilar landscape around, yet it only added to his profound and inscrutable presence, seeming like a leisurely Scholar, pacing slowly. Though the sandstorm raged, it did not affect him in the slightest. With every step, he was about to pass by this place.

Although He Lihuo did not know who the person before him was, he understood that, at this moment of life and death, this person might be his only chance of survival. Summoning his last bit of strength, he cried out:

"Save..."

"Please save me... Save my life!"

Wang Anfeng internally breathed a sigh of relief. If He Lihuo had continued to be stubborn and not asked for help, he would not have known how to continue with the act. He paused for a moment.

His master had taught him a minor technique to change his voice tone just a short while ago. His Inner Strength varied at his throat, breathing out sounds, the voice no longer as youthful and clear but slightly deliberate, yet it did not lose its clarity, although it gained a bit more carefree detachment. He paused his steps and, lifting his eyes, said:

"Oh?"

According to what Hong Luoyu had said, he should have spoken much more at this time, but seeing this person tossed about by the wind, he could not hold back any longer. His right hand grasping the sword, he summoned the strong Qi from the mask and slowly drew his sword. The Qi surged, causing the wind chime to tinkle softly.

He Lihuo, through the dim sandstorm, saw bright patterns suddenly light up on the sword edge, emitting a strange charm. That kind of aura reminded him of the swords worn by the chieftains of the Great Tribes he had seen in his youth, only much more intense, and his heart relaxed.

Soon after, a bright yellow light emerged, dispelling the wild storm, and the murky Heaven and Earth seemed to be cleaved in two by a sword, returning to clarity.

The person sheathed his sword with his hand behind him, golden light swirling around, and He Lihuo, in his fading sight, saw the true form of the golden light, the fierce Exotic Beast often displayed on the flags at the border.

Was it, perhaps, a dragon?

His vision then darkened, sinking into a deep sleep.

........................…

Grogginess.

This night was more groggy than any he had ever experienced.

There was the sound of wolves howling.

The sound of horse hooves.

The sound of a Curved Saber chopping off heads.

High-quality Arrows piercing the air, the feathers behind them violently vibrating, emitting strange noises.

Suddenly enveloped by shadows, he turned abruptly, only to see a 'wolf horse' standing upright, seeing a mighty man with raised arms, his muscles bulging. The Curved Saber in his hand gleamed under the moonlight, cold and sharp as ice.

This icy fierceness swung fiercely downward.

In his field of vision, only a dull bloody hue remained.

"Ah!"

Qibin Heli gasped softly and suddenly opened his eyes, breathing rapidly, it took dozens of breaths to struggle out from the whirlpool of memories. His breathing gradually steadied and he suddenly realized what he had seen before passing out. He struggled to turn over and sit up but felt a sharp pain in his body.

A longsword was then placed on his shoulder, pinning him down.

Still clad in vigorous attire and wearing a black robe, Wang Anfeng was sitting on a blue stone nearby. Seeing that Qibin Heli had calmed down, he moved his wrist to withdraw the longsword and said in a deep voice,

"Do not move recklessly."

Qibin Heli then realized that at some point, his body was covered in silver needles, and any movement was excruciatingly painful.

Having wandered outside for years, he had faced numerous hardships. As a youth in his tribe, he was also trained to be a future military officer. His tribe was not like Great Qin, without many complicated strategies, and believed only strength acquired through blood and tears could earn them respect. The training methods were crude and brutal, and he thought himself capable of enduring hardships.

But these fine silver needles, though not deeply embedded, caused excruciating pain as if piercing into his marrow, unbearable with even the slightest movement, causing him to involuntarily groan.

Wang Anfeng, sitting beside him, flicked a silver needle lightly, channeling inner strength into Heli's body through the needle.

Applying the needles to supplement, activate his own blood and qi, and nourish the deficiencies. The foundational damage on this exotic young man's body was beyond anything he had seen before. He fell silent for a moment, not acting against his current identity, and said casually,

"You are gravely injured."

Qibin Heli clutched his chest and coughed heavily several times, saying,

"This junior knows."

As he struggled to rise, Wang Anfeng wanted to stop him, saying his body was injured and should not move recklessly. But at that moment, the voice of his third master suddenly arose, yelling,

"Stop, hold it, do not move."

"Kid, you are now a profound and inscrutable master, do not lose your dignity!"

His right hand was already slightly raised, but he could only forcibly restrain himself.

Qibin Heli had always kept his gaze lowered and had not noticed Wang Anfeng's anomaly. Now he heavily knelt on the ground, both hands open palms-up beside him. He deeply kowtowed several times, saying in a solemn voice,

"Thank you, sir, for your intervention."

"This miserable life was saved by you, sir. From now on, should you need it, Qibin Heli is willing to die for you."

Wang Anfeng's mouth opened, but he still did not avoid accepting the gratitude, nodding his head and saying,

"Rise…"

As Qibin Heli stood up, Wang Anfeng gave him a look, fell silent for a moment, and not wishing to utter the unfathomable words advised by his third master, remained silent. He lifted the Lost Treasure-transformed Jade Bead with his hand and flicked his finger, popping it into Heli's chest. Heli, seeing the Jade Bead, briefly startled, his expression slightly changing.

Wang Anfeng rested his hand on his knee and said with closed eyes,

"You are here because of me."

"That's why I saved you."

"In a moment, you will return to your original place."

His voice stopped abruptly, no longer continuing. Qibin Heli opened his mouth, feeling like he had just escaped death, but his body was once again burdened with those heavy chains. For a moment, he could barely breathe. Yet having struggled on his own for so long and possessing keen intuition, he knew that the man before him was his only chance.

At once, he clenched his teeth, half-kneeling before Wang Anfeng, raised his hand to pull out a wooden spike, and fiercely sliced a fierce wound across his right palm. Blood streamed out. Wang Anfeng's palm trembled slightly, almost moving to stop him. Heli then pressed his palm against his chest, bowing his head and saying,

"By the Heavenly God of the Eternal Sky and my ancestors, I, Qibin Heli, vow to become your hunting dog."

"Please guide me on a path."

Qibin Heli's head remained lowered; Wang Anfeng watched the young man before him, momentarily dazed and fell silent again. He drew out two secret manuals from his bosom. Unlike what Hong Luoyu had suggested, he did not throw them on the ground, but instead crouched down and placed them before Heli, then took out a bottle of elixir and said softly,

"Here are two secret manuals, one for rapid progression that can easily cause lingering hidden injuries, and one that can strengthen your foundation and essence, but it requires gradual practice, showing no results for at least six months of hard cultivation."

"Which will you choose?"

According to Mr. Ying and Hong Luoyu's idea, they would only provide him the ability to quickly master martial arts, helping Qibin Heli get started here. The Qi-absorbing Pills were Wang Anfeng's own cultivation dosage, and the other cultivation technique he had also strived to obtain.

No matter what, he hoped to give this young man, who was not much older than himself, a chance to make a fair choice. With the aid of the elixir and inner strength, as long as he could endure another half-year, he could take the opportunity to escape.

But he didn't know that often times, life had already decided the answer.

Qibin Heli did not hesitate in the slightest, gripping the secret manual from the Blood River Sect, Long River Sunset, tightly in his hand.

PS: Second release