Chapter Six: I Cannot Share Your Burden, But I Can Stand Beside You

As they spoke, Song Hai grinned widely, his legs moving as he stepped across the red line under Zhou Yi’s gaze.

“Ah!” Even though he thought he was well-prepared, the moment Song Hai entered the true domain of the blade wind, when thousands of cutting gusts struck his body, he couldn't hold back. He didn’t even have a shred of composure, crying out in pain the instant it hit.

“Haha… haha… haha…” Watching Song Hai’s face twist in agony, just as his own had, perhaps even more contorted, Zhou Yi showed no sign of concern. On the contrary, he burst out laughing.

“You…” Hearing Zhou Yi's laughter, Song Hai was furious and wanted to accuse him of his heartlessness, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he realized the pain had robbed him of his strength to speak. Sweat poured down his forehead without restraint.

Only now did he truly understand how difficult it had been for Zhou Yi to force himself to speak after stepping into the blade wind zone.

With a thud, Song Hai, feeling no pressure whatsoever, simply lay down on the ground, imitating Zhou Yi. He closed his eyes, enduring the searing pain, waiting for the moment he’d grow accustomed to it.

Just you wait till I recover!

“Hahahaha…” Seeing Song Hai sprawled on the ground like a dead dog, Zhou Yi laughed even more wickedly, his heart brimming with joy. Yet as he laughed, his mouth twitched, and he sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth.

The laughter had pulled his facial muscles, disrupting the balance that had allowed him to get used to the pain. The agony surged anew, washing over him with a familiar intensity. Gasping, Zhou Yi gritted his teeth, but even so, he still wanted to laugh. Though the renewed pain made his body tremble uncontrollably—a sign he was near his limit—he remained joyful and excited, pain unable to quell his elation.

Listening to Zhou Yi’s laughter nearby, Song Hai, lying on the ground, couldn’t help but smile as well. Compared to the pain wracking his body, the happiness and excitement in his heart more than made up for it, even surpassing it.

“You just wait…” Despite his excitement, Song Hai wanted to retort, hearing Zhou Yi’s gasps of pain. But he lacked the strength for now.

Zhou Yi was genuinely happy. Song Hai’s arrival delighted him. The monotony of enduring the blade winds, simply waiting to get used to the pain, was suddenly infused with life.

By now, Zhou Yi had realized that, though the blade winds were fierce and the pain they inflicted rivaled real wounds, they left no actual injury. Otherwise, if they were truly as deadly as real blades, the sheer number of cuts would have reduced him to a bloody mess long ago—he could never have endured so long.

Upon this realization, Zhou Yi understood: this truly was a trial ground. There was pain, but no injury.

In theory, as long as one could endure the agony, even an ordinary person could cross the Wind Gate.

This was a place to test willpower.

Yet, unfortunately, though there are many determined people in the world, those who can withstand this kind of suffering and persist are few indeed.

With this understanding, Zhou Yi felt even more confident that he could cross the Wind Gate and become a disciple of the Sword Sect.

It was just a pity that, by the time he reached this conclusion, Song Hai had already left. If he had understood sooner, perhaps Song Hai could have joined him from the start.

But surprises always come unannounced—Song Hai hadn’t left after all. He’d only gone out to find food and drink, preparing for the long haul.

Zhou Yi understood: Song Hai had never truly intended to face the Wind Gate, or perhaps he had been afraid. The long-standing legends had turned the Wind Gate into a man-devouring hell. Without the courage to step into hell itself, no one would dare enter.

But Song Hai had come. Not only had he come, but he’d brought supplies. Zhou Yi knew exactly what that meant, which was why he was so happy.

Moreover, Zhou Yi was surprised that, in this area, there was only one place to buy food: Qiushan City.

They both knew just how unwelcome they were in Qiushan City.

Given that situation, even with money, getting enough food was difficult.

Yet Song Hai had managed. Though he returned battered and bruised, with a face mottled blue and purple, he still brought supplies.

Zhou Yi knew what this meant.

From that first meal’s kindness to now, Zhou Yi understood something even more deeply: from this day forward, this brother was someone he would never abandon.

Song Hai lay on the ground, eyes closed, thinking: “You are the first person who hasn’t looked down on me. In your eyes, I can feel respect.”

“How laughable—a beggar yearning for respect.”

“And yet, this thing so vague and unreachable, I, a beggar, have truly received.”

“You have never despised me. Even when I could barely stand myself, you never did.”

“From the city to the wilderness, I am willing to follow you.”

“I don’t think you’re really a beggar. What beggar could have such skills, such stubborn pride? Although I don’t know why you became a beggar.”

“To tell the truth, I’m afraid of pain. I lack ambition and dreams, because I am a beggar.”

“But you said you wanted to cross the Wind Gate, to master martial arts, and bring me with you!”

“Even though I never particularly wanted to learn martial arts, you said you’d take me with you.”

“From that moment, I considered you my brother.”

“I am weak, unambitious, and dreamless. But from that day on, I had a dream: to follow you, to accompany you.”

“The Wind Gate is even more terrifying than I imagined, yet you never gave up. You’d rather lie on the ground, enduring endless blade winds, than even think of quitting.”

“I may not be able to share your pain or make it easier for you, but I can accompany you, endure it by your side.”

Song Hai, eyes closed, tried to let his mind wander amid the unceasing pain, hoping to distract himself, to dull the agony.

After a while, Zhou Yi, still smiling, closed his eyes, sinking into the universe within his cells.

He looked up to see that the once star-like cells above had become as bright as suns. Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at his status panel.

Name: Zhou Yi

Spirit: 1

Body: 1

Breath: 1

Energy: 10

Energy had reached the threshold for first use. Now, it was time to see what effect these ten points of energy would have!