Nine Star Burden

Chapter 165: Once You Leave, Don’t Come Back

Jiang Xiao had no idea for how long he had been staying in that posture for and he simply found it hard to concentrate. He had been keeping his eyes fixed on the motionless corpse for a long time, so much that he began to see stars.

He had been staying in that position for long enough and was still maintaining it even after Second Last had taken a nap and woken up. He began to smell the aroma of meat as well.

Jiang Xiao screamed in his heart, Honey! Please hurry and come tell me to go home for dinner. Any longer and the White Ghouls will make their way here after smelling the fragrance of meat.

The bloody odor of the corpses was not all. There was also the aroma of barbecued meat.

Indeed... they’re experienced!

“Come back,” Second Last finally said in a hoarse voice.

Jiang Xiao shivered as his limbs froze and his face turned numb. He then staggered towards the cave.

Second Last had said a long time ago that once an Awakened reached the Nebula Stage, he would be able to cover his body in Star Power and defend himself against the wind and snow.

However, regardless of how much Jiang Xiao could defend, he would definitely become stiff because of the cold by standing still for such a long time.

Second Last was dressed in a black cloak and was kneeling on the ground with her hair tied back into a low ponytail that made her look laid back and alluring. The flickering flame cast a ray of light on her sullen face that made her give off a special aura.

There was a White Ghoul corpse right beside the cave which had been dissected and had a twisted face. It seemed to be silently complaining about Second Last’s cruel act.

Second Last picked up a tree branch and grabbed the barbecued meat that was stuck on the tree branch. Without hesitation or consideration of the hot temperature of the meat, Jiang Xiao pulled the piece of meat out and tossed it aside.

Jiang Xiao’s subconscious actions saved his hunger. His movements were extremely stiff, but the results of long-term training gave him the ability to pull his dagger out subconsciously.

Ding!

He pierced his dagger through the piece of meat and stuck it on a wall that was deep in the cave.

So dangerous. I almost didn’t get to eat at all.

It was not because the barbecued piece of meat would be dirty if it fell onto the ground. Well, the dagger that was pierced through the piece of meat was even dirtier.

The famished Jiang Xiao didn’t care about whether or not the meat was dirty at all. It was because Second Last would forbid him from eating once the meat fell onto the ground.

Jiang Xiao did not know if he was there to train his swordsmanship or dagger skills. However, he managed to learn rather well under Second Last.

Unfortunately, the Star Techniques Green Glow and Nostalgia were different.

Green Glow could only be added to the weapons that he would use and once the dagger flew out of his hands.

Otherwise, Jiang Xiao would definitely be able to use his dagger accompanied by repelling effects.

Second Last said calmly in Russian, “Well done.”

“Thank you,” Jiang Xiao answered in Russian before walking towards the cave.

Ever since their journey began, Second Last taught Jiang Xiao some Russian sentences for daily conversational uses. Although Jiang Xiao did not know exactly what the Russian nouns were, his pronunciation was rather accurate.

In the past month that they had been training, Jiang Xiao managed to gain a new understanding of Second Last.

During their first meeting, Jiang Xiao was intimidated by her large stature and strength, and he thought that she had an erratic temper.

As he continued to interact with her, Jiang Xiao discovered that she wasn’t as peculiar, fickle-minded, and picky as he imagined.

It was just that she was too strong and menacing to the point that she seemed unapproachable.

There had been two qualitative changes in the dynamics of their relationship.

The first and most important time was when they were in the small barbecued meat shop opposite the bathhouse...

Perhaps because she was having dinner at the shop belonging to her comrade’s parents, she seemed to be more humane and personable that night.

Even though Jiang Xiao repeatedly turned her down, she did not get angry or lose her temper. Instead, she showed her stubborn side and looked down before handing her exquisitely hand-drawn map to Jiang Xiao.

The two of them managed to make it this far, mainly because of the map which was an extremely important tool. In order to help Han Jiangxue obtain bonus points during the provincial league, Jiang Xiao decided to accept the map and regard it as a deed of sale where he would be selling himself to Second Last.

The second change was during this month of training where he got to know Second Last better and cleared his misunderstanding towards her.

For example, she once said that she would be checking in on Jiang Xiao’s progress in learning conversational foreign languages. At that time, Jiang Xiao was rather flustered.

However, it turned out that she was indeed rather domineering, but she was not overly harsh and angst. Under Second Last’s guidance, Jiang Xiao’s progress in Russian was acceptable, though not very fast. However, she didn’t criticize him much and instead, felt rather calm.

That was just one example. Jiang Xiao also saw more qualities hidden beneath her stiff and stern facade. Her hands were stained with blood and she was not exactly kind and saintly, but she definitely wasn’t a brutal tyrant like Jiang Xiao once thought.

“Bear with it,” Jiang Xiao said in Russian as he entered the cave.

Second Last turned around without expression and looked at Jiang Xiao, only to see a ray of sacred light, followed by Jiang Xiao’s unrestrained voice.

Jiang Xiao moaned in pleasure.

Second Last was speechless.

Second Last’s hand was stiff when she touched the barbecued meat on the tree branch as she heard Jiang Xiao’s voice when she was in the cave.

There was another melodious and crisp sound of Bell, after which she a ray of medical light shuttled through their bodies.

Jiang Xiao recovered from the shock and slowly warmed himself up as his frozen and pale skin healed.

In the past month, Jiang Xiao had been repeatedly getting frostbites and so had some experience. Whenever he was done with healing, his skin would recover its smooth and tender appearance.

It was all thanks to the help of the Gold Quality Endurance. Otherwise, Jiang Xiao definitely wouldn’t be able to survive in such harsh conditions.

Bathing himself in Sacred light, Jiang Xiao’s body swayed a little and he kept his back pressed against the wall, holding the barbecued meat in one hand and looking at the dark figure in the distance with his eyes glassed over. “Do you... want a B... Blessing?”

Second Last shook her head silently.

Jiang Xiao waved his hand and another ray of light landed. “Why are you standing on ceremony with me?”

Second Last shivered a little and looked down, making her face look even more stiff and sullen. It was as if she was trying to endure something.

Ever since he entered the cave and ended his training, he seemed to have become a completely different person. He chuckled and looked at the trembling figure. He said gently, “There are three things in this world that cannot be controlled.”

Second Last gritted her teeth and closed her eyes.

Jiang Xiao waved his hand again and another ray of light landed. He said softly, “The pleasure that comes from Blessing, coughing, and sneezing.”

Second Last twisted her neck, forming crisp and clear sounds of bones cracking. She then moaned in an alluring voice.

How dare she doubt my nickname as a toxic healer?

Seeing that Second Last had failed in the end, Jiang Xiao bit a piece of barbecued meat.

He had never eaten monkey meat before when he was on Earth. Yet, he actually ate ape meat now that he was in the snowfield.

White Ghouls did look very much like apes.

She slowly opened her narrow eyes and looked over with ripples in her eyes.

Her breathing was slightly erratic and there was some rosiness on her stiff and pale face.

Blessing was indeed an incredible Star Technique.

She slowly stood up and a large figure blocked the cave opening.

Jiang Xiao could sense that he was being too mischievous and began to panic after seeing her menacing eyes.

“What’s the matter?” Second Last asked as she stared at Jiang Xiao silently.

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

To his surprise, he heard a male voice coming from the cave. “Light-chasing Team, Tailing Team, gather.”

Jiang Xiao had a sudden moment of enlightenment. He reckoned that she must have informed her superiors in the Guardians Of the Night that she had taken Jiang Xiao through the space-time tunnel and that she was in the snowfield.

While she was being rather busy, Jiang Xiao took the time out to munch on a piece of meat.

Wow, how fragrant.

So much fat in one mouthful. Wonderful.

“Got it,” Second Last answered as she stared at Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao was chewing on some barbecued meat, but he knew what happened.

Ah... my Star Pet has abandoned me again.

I won’t know when I’ll see her again. If only, I can keep her in my Star Map.

Jiang Xiao shrugged his shoulders and said, “Seems like it’s the end for you and me.”

Second Last was dumbfounded.

Jiang Xiao pointed at the cave opening and exclaiming, “Go! Once you leave, don’t come back again!”

Second Last was speechless.

Jiang Xiao yelled loudly, “From now on, I’ll just take it that nothing has happened in this snowfield! I’ll take it that you... have never come here before. Wow, stay calm and talk things over properly.”

Jiang Xiao hurried back and, at the opening of the cave, Second Last strode in before cornering him. She towered over him and blocked his vision.

Second Last lowered her head and pressed a hand on Jiang Xiao’s shoulder, giving him a great shock.

Second Last then asked in a hoarse voice with a tinge of concern in her tone, “Can you go back on your own?”

Jiang Xiao answered carefully, “This place is far from Earth.”

Second Last touched his face with her slender fingers and wiped away the golden grease on the corner of his lips. “So, you must be careful,” she said in a hoarse voice.

Appearing a little unnatural, Jiang Xiao tilted his head back and answered, “Okay, got it.”

Second Last squinted and stared at Jiang Xiao quietly for a long time, feeling rather flustered.

Tens of seconds later, she slowly grazed her hand against her thigh and pulled out a black sword, which she then placed in Jiang Xiao’s hand. She looked down at him and said, “Don’t die.”

Jiang Xiao said in a more serious manner, “You too, be careful. It’s probably a dangerous mission, huh?”

Upon hearing his words, Second Last’s face appeared less sullen as she turned around and walked away. “Wouldn’t you be happier without me around to annoy you?”

Jiang Xiao stepped forward and chided. “Well, it’s normal to develop feelings and get attached to pets after spending a long time with them. I don’t want anything to happen to you even if I wish that you’d stop annoying me.”

Second Last did not answer and simply turned around to leave while her black cloak floated with a gust the wind.

Jiang Xiao leaned against the wall of the cave while holding onto the sword.

In the distance, the large figure gradually disappeared in the endless snow.