The Weight of Sacrifice

Duan Xi Shen had, naturally, explored various avenues to eradicate her condition.

Dubbed the ‘Curse of the Wolf Clan,’ Hemophilia was a congenital affliction, universally recognized as an incurable malady across the lands.

Indeed, not a single precedent existed of anyone ever being cured.

A congenital defect, this illness had plagued Duan Xi Shen since her earliest days of cultivation, a stark reminder that such a flaw precluded any hope of transcending tribulation and ascending to immortalhood.

It was for this very reason that she had brought Xia Niansheng to Blood Sword Mountain.

In the depths of her heart, she persistently evaded that one crucial thought.

Only now, as Xia Niansheng once more spoke of Hemophilia, was she compelled to confront the initial, unspoken reason for taking him in.

The path to ascension lay in sacrificing him, for his Blood Spirit Body, at the moment of her tribulation, thereby mending her innate flaw and securing her transcendence.

Though Xia Niansheng’s life might be spared, the act would strip him of his cultivation, reducing him to a mere shell of his former self.

In the beginning, Duan Xi Shen felt not a flicker of remorse.

She reasoned that, had it not been for her, Xia Niansheng would surely have perished from the ravages of hunger and the biting cold during that severe, famine-stricken winter.

Nevertheless, some dynamics began to unfold, utterly beyond her control.

The boy she had found, now her proclaimed disciple, received the care and tutelage befitting such a role.

The innocent child blossomed into a spirited youth, and whenever she internally reaffirmed her ultimate goal, her eyes would invariably meet his, filled with a gentle warmth.

Reluctance and guilt, insidious and persistent, permeated her very being, dwelling in her bones.

Still, the grand pursuit of ascension remained paramount; decades of relentless effort could not simply be cast aside.

Her only recourse was to banish the thought from her mind and strive to maintain a detached demeanor towards her disciple.

She convinced herself that all would unfold as destined, and on the day of her tribulation, she would sever every connection.

Involuntarily, Duan Xi Shen’s pearly teeth pressed against her lower lip.

Her own scheme revolved around sacrificing him—trading his cultivation for her own divine ascension.

And his intention was… to discover a cure for her affliction.

The “original intention” she had so carefully suppressed now surged forth, amplified in this critical instant.

In that fleeting moment, a profound guilt exploded within Duan Xi Shen’s heart, rushing through her veins to permeate her entire being.

A wave of dizziness and blurred vision washed over her.

She closed her eyes, fortunate that her rationality still clung on.

“…Do you truly have any certainty?”

Having taken in every minute change in Duan Xi Shen’s expression, Xia Niansheng merely offered a wry, bitter smile.

“No matter the chances, this disciple must endeavor to try.”

After a few moments of weighty silence, Xia Niansheng resumed, “This disciple… cannot bear to see Master tormented by this illness any longer.”

Did Xia Niansheng genuinely harbor such thoughts?

Perhaps in his past life, before the fabric of deceit was torn asunder, Xia Niansheng might have truly ached with such sympathy whenever Duan Xi Shen’s ailment seized her.

But now…

If he were to feel pity now, who would then mourn for his former self?

With the revelation of Duan Xi Shen’s ultimate design, Xia Niansheng found himself unshackled, indifferent to whether their past interactions stemmed from pretense or genuine affection.

The [Cultivation Anomalies Record] unequivocally documented the Immortal Blood Flower’s efficacy in treating Hemophilia.

He truly intended to aid Duan Xi Shen in achieving a complete recovery.

Yet… his heart held precious little empathy for her plight.

She had rescued him, nurtured him, and guided him in cultivation.

His recompense would be to assist her in curing her Hemophilia.

After that, their accounts would be settled, utterly clear.

They would owe each other nothing.

By then, he would also have exacted his vengeance upon White Snow Jade and Qiu Yan.

He would definitively sever his ties with Duan Xi Shen, abandoning Blood Sword Mountain and the Heavenly Spirit Sect.

When that time arrived, she might experience regret, reluctance, or perhaps a storm of other complex emotions.

Yet, none of it would matter to him.

Though the definitive separation lay in the future, Xia Niansheng had already, in his heart, drawn a clear distinction between them.

Duan Xi Shen, oblivious to Xia Niansheng’s inner machinations, found herself haunted by his recent words.

She truly felt uncertain how to confront Xia Niansheng now.

“Where did you discover such an ancient text? I have dedicated half my life to this very plight, only to meet with futility. I… I truly hope Master’s burden will not be inherited by the next generation.”

Xia Niansheng, hearing her words, was momentarily dumbfounded.

‘She doesn’t wish for Master’s troubles to be inherited by the next generation?’

‘Are these truly words from *you*, Duan Xi Shen?’

‘Then why did you remain silent in my previous life, when you so resolutely turned your back on me?’

Frankly, whether immortal cultivator or mortal, sentimentality was an inherent trait, but the clarity of hindsight often revealed a stark divergence, or even a complete reversal, from initial impressions.

He possessed no courage to endure a repeat of the past, so these words were best heard and dismissed.

Xia Niansheng shook his head, then elaborated, “If I must speak of certainty, I’d estimate a seventy to eighty percent chance this time.”

Duan Xi Shen’s pupils widened almost imperceptibly.

“Is that truly so?”

Xia Niansheng nodded. “It was recounted in a fragment of an ancient text, a serendipitous discovery during my recent mission. The text speaks of a successful healing precedent, and the fragment itself, having directly entered my mind, radiates a faint trace of immortal realm energy, leading me to believe it might be a lost artifact from the celestial heavens…”

Xia Niansheng fabricated the tale with effortless ease.

In reality, Duan Xi Shen was already struggling with how to interact with Xia Niansheng, and a greater anxiety gnawed at her: how would she ever face him if all his endeavors proved futile?

The path of cultivation, she knew, offered no room for selfishness.

If his conviction was truly so strong…

If he were to genuinely succeed.

Duan Xi Shen inhaled deeply; should this prove true, she would be unburdened of all guilt towards Xia Niansheng. She would gladly offer ample recompense for any past misdeeds.

Taking several more deep breaths, Duan Xi Shen finally managed to calm her breathing.

“Regarding this matter…”

Xia Niansheng likely understood Duan Xi Shen’s present thoughts, but if his plans succeeded, he would undoubtedly wish to sever all future ties with her.

He shook his head, then dipped it, preempting the gratitude Duan Xi Shen was about to voice.

“A Master’s grace is boundless as the sea; to serve with filial devotion and loyalty is simply my duty. Master has no need to thank me.”

Having spoken, he paused briefly, then resumed:

“Thus, this disciple must venture to the Nine Provinces Dragon Abyss. I am not unaware of the past discord between Master and the Sect Master, but I implore Master to rest assured, for all my efforts are solely for your benefit.”

With these words spoken, Xia Niansheng intended to leave.

The information he had disclosed, he believed, would stand up to scrutiny.

After all, the more one spoke, the greater the risk of misstep; it was prudent to minimize elaboration.

‘What if, in a fit of unexpected generosity, Duan Xi Shen were to declare: ‘Even if you don’t become the Saint Child, I can still send you to the Nine Provinces Dragon Abyss.’

‘How would he possibly retort?’

The path to becoming the Saint Child offered the most direct access to Qiu Yan and White Snow Jade. He had meticulously prepared, and any unforeseen obstacles now, even if not a complete catastrophe, would undeniably complicate matters.

Xia Niansheng turned to depart, leaving Duan Xi Shen seated in her chair, watching his form recede into the radiant light beyond the doorway.

In a fleeting moment of abstraction, his retreating figure seemed to grow broader, his entire presence more handsome. In her own internal world, his character had taken on a new, three-dimensional depth.

To let go would require immense courage from her.

He and Senior Aunt Xue were truly of the same mold, she mused.

She continually replayed every word Xia Niansheng had uttered, ruminating deeply.

Something nameless began to gently settle within her heart, spreading ripples of profound emotion.