Chapter 45 - Epiphany, The Great Sect (2/2)

“Can you not make it so mushy? It makes me sick.”

“What’s there to be afraid of? I’m straight as a ruler. Even if I were to hug you to sleep, I wouldn’t attack you.”

“Scram.”

“Hahahaha…”

After laughing for a short while, Gu Hai’s tone started to become a little depressed, and his eyes turned slightly red.

“Old Ye, don’t take any of this seriously. I’ve been holding it in for a long time. If I don’t say something funny, I’m afraid I won’t be able to hold it in.”

Ye Xiao did not say anything else. He knew how much pressure Gu Hai was feeling in his heart. The exaggeration on the surface just now was all a cover-up.

After all, not only did he walk out of a hell on earth, he had also lost quite a few teammates.

“Do you have cigarettes?”

“There are two boxes of Zhonghua hidden in the fruit bag I bought for you just now.”

“You know me better than I do. You know that the hospital doesn’t allow smoking, so you helped me sneak in two boxes.”

Gu Hai took out the cigarette box, but after thinking for a moment, he put the cigarettes back.

“Old Li likes to smoke. In order to protect me, he was torn to shreds by the tiger demons and star beasts. I would be letting him down by smoking.”

He wiped the corners of his eyes and continued,

“I’m not afraid that you’ll laugh at me. But at that time, my pants were wet.

“Before I joined the mission, I thought that it was not much different from what was shown on TV. I only realized the dangers after I encountered them.

“At that time, I thought that if I didn’t waste my time and cultivated properly, my cultivation level would increase by two or three levels. During the battle, I could at least protect one or two of my companions. I wouldn’t become a stumbling block or a hindrance to others.

“However, the reality was that I was too useless. Not only did I not put in much effort, but I even caused Old Li’s death.

“I’m the one who deserves to die.”

“It’s good that you’re alive.”

Ye Xiao consoled him, but Gu Hai shook his head and blew his nose. His eyes revealed a hint of maturity that Ye Xiao had never seen in him before.

“I always could not understand in the past that people died all the time in the global garrison team! However, everyone still joined the garrison team one after another. Why? For what?

“But now, I understand.

“The garrison team… The garrison team was created to protect.

“It was precisely because of the garrison team that there was peace for the common people. Our family, friends, and future generations would always be able to live in peace and continue to live on!

“I’m already in my twenties. I can’t dawdle any longer.

“Old Ye, I’m preparing to go to the special training camp. I want to cultivate well and be a true man who protects his family and country!”

“The special training camp is very tough.”

“Then I want to participate! I have a wife and children. I have to contribute to this world! As long as we men do our best, wives and children can live a stable life!”

Ye Xiao nodded.

“Since you have such determination, then I wish you success.”

“Thank you. But don’t tell Wanwan about this first. I’m afraid she won’t agree.”

“Don’t worry.”

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries. Only when Qin Yuyan and Lu Wanwan returned did Ye Xiao bid them farewell and leave.

Walking out of the hospital, the pitter-patter of light rain was still falling. Ye Xiao did not use his spiritual energy to protect his body. Instead, he slowly took a step forward and allowed the rain to wet his clothes.

Gu Hai’s words made his bottleneck, which he had been unable to break through, inexplicably loosen up a little.

What was the meaning of martial arts?

What was the purpose of becoming stronger?

For fun?

For fame?

To show off his strength and make everyone submit to him?

No!

None of these were true.

A nameless fluctuation slowly began to spread from Ye Xiao’s body…