1627 To Hell with it!

“Whoever shares a battlefield with me is my brother!” Traveling Buddha shattered a White Bone Regiment warrior that had charged toward him as he grabbed Icy Rain under one arm, and made the declaration with pride.

Traveling Buddha heaved a sigh, “I always thought that in this life, I would end up dying in battle together with Xia Fan. But who would have thought that he ended up slipping away now that I’m at my end.”

A rare warmth appeared in his eyes as he continued to say, “But this isn’t bad, either. Xia Fan is my best friend in my whole life, and whether in the past or the future, I’m afraid I won’t ever meet another person who I would hit it off with so well.

“Fate is such a funny thing that I simply have no way to understand it. But that twerp Xia Fan actually has plenty of flaws, and even enjoys saying some nonsensical things. But I just happened to find him to be a likable person.

!!
“I hope he’s able to like a good life after I die. Without me, a natural meat shield by his side, Xia Fan will probably have a very tough time when he encounters troublesome opponents in the future.

“But it’s just too bad that my day has finally come. I can no longer block attacks for Xia Fan, and I have no idea if that heartless cad would occasionally think of me, or even brew me my favorite tea by my grave and chat with me.”

Icy Rain rubbed his nose and observed the strange man curiously. He claimed that Xia Fan was fond of saying some nonsensical things, yet it was Traveling Buddha that liked to ramble nonsensically, much more than Xia Fan.

Icy Rain could tell that Traveling Buddha was unwilling to just call it with his friend, but they had no choice. They were going to die, and there was no way for them to interact with the living from here on out.

“I regret never telling Xia Fan that he’s my best friend,” Traveling Buddha let out a long sigh. “We would often talk back to each other when we were together, and would usually correct one another, but we are not just friends. We are brothers.

“Yet I’ve never once said such words to him. Even though I know how much I care about him, possibly even more so than my actual elder brother, yet for some reason I just can’t bring myself to express my true feelings to him.”

Icy Rain had no idea how to console Traveling Buddha, so he settled for a gentle pat on the shoulder.

Their enemies were closing in, and the Shimmers no longer had any combat strength left. Icy Rain and Traveling Buddha were standing shoulder-to-shoulder right in the middle of the plaza. Countless pairs of blood-red eyes were leering at him, like a pack of wolves that would tear them apart at any moment.

“I don’t want to die,” Icy Rain said. “Father and mother asked me to take care of my younger brother. If I were to die, then there would be no one left that could take care of him. I’m sure they will scold me if I meet my parents again.”

Traveling Buddha tightened his grip on Icy Rain, hugging him tight, “They won’t. They will understand that you’ve already done all you can. You’ve done better than every older brother in the world.”

“What are we going to do next?” Icy Rain asked.

“Don’t be afraid. Save our energy and wait for all of them to come charging at us, then we self-destruct. We’ll take down as many of them as we can down to Hell with us!” Traveling Buddha glared, fire in his eyes. But he then let out a bitter laugh.

“Ah, I almost forgot that this is already Hell, so there’s already nowhere else we can go!

“But who cares about how this ends,” Traveling Buddha spread his bloodied arms wide. “Xia Fan often said that no matter what happens, we cannot let our enemies be happy! So even in death, we want to really f*ck things up for them!”

The enemy were not scared of Traveling Buddha’s final crazy shout. They were closing in with every step, forcing Icy Rain and Traveling Buddha into a corner.

All of a sudden, just as Traveling Buddha and Icy Rain believed everything was over, something unexpected occurred!

A group, who were distinctly humans, came running in from afar, shouting out the battle cry of the Demon Slayer Legion. Like a pack of tigers that had descended from the mountains, each of them recklessly hurtled themselves forward. They were obviously just barely more than a dozen men, yet they demonstrated a prowess capable of killing thousands in that moment!

Their enemies faltered and retreated accordingly. The keen Sword of Heaven came falling down from the sky with a crash, swinging arrogantly through the air.

Dongfang He formed a seal with his two hands, muttering words underneath his breath.

With that ancient and mysterious chant, creatures covered in fire appeared from the ground, forming a torrent of rock and fire that charged straight toward the tribal warriors and the White Bone Regiment.

This was the peak Fire Summoning special ability, the Fiery Wrath Army!

Never did Traveling Buddha imagine that it would be Dongfang He and Jia Yuntian who would come charging into the encirclement with their people in the end.

Traveling Buddha did not like these people, since the Demon Slayers were all people who placed far too much importance on bloodlines, and were a bit aloof and arrogant.

But at this moment, Traveling Buddha wanted to hug these people warmly like they were family. They clearly knew that Holy Spring City was besieged from all fronts and likely to fall to the enemies who had gathered here. It was obvious that this was no different from a death sentence, yet Dongfang He, Jia Yuntian and the others still righteously lent a hand and engaged with the enemy. Truly, they lived up to their names as warriors!

“Goddammit! I missed you guys to death!” Traveling Buddha hollered, thrilled.

“You b*st*rd, to think you’re still alive!” Dongfang He laughed out loud.

“We almost died, but it seems like the gods have no intention of taking me back just yet, so they sent all of you my way in the end!”

“Okay, enough talk. Why don’t I see Xia Fan and Nikai?” Dongfang He looked around expectantly.

“They left to investigate the land and aren’t around,” Traveling Buddha answered.

“So you mean to say Nikai is still alive?!” Dongfang He and Jia Yuntian were excited upon hearing the news.

“Are the two of you hoping she would be dead? Later when we see Nikai, I’ll be sure to have a good chat with her,” Traveling Buddha jested with them. “Tell her that you two b*st*rds came and the first thing you asked was if she was dead.”

Dongfang He and Jia Yuntian revealed gratified smiles, since she was the woman that the two had sworn to marry since they were children.

They had watched as Nikai took her first steps, tied her hair in braids, and saw her pout because her servant did not buy her maltose candy, pursing her little lips. They had watched her slowly grow up, becoming prettier and prettier, becoming a proud warrior, the most splendid pearl of the Subduing Demon CIty.

Nikai was like the white rose in a garden; ever since the day it took root and up until it matured, a beautiful rose that had always been there.

Every day, one would lean against the window and watch her from afar, becoming prettier by the day, becoming a rose that everyone liked and that no one would easily give up on.

“What a pity,” Dongfang He patted Traveling Buddha’s shoulder, “There’s no way for you to snitch on us to Nikai, since you’ll be buried here with us today!”

Traveling Buddha was shocked, but soon let out a raucous laughter.

“Alright, this Little Buddha shall accompany you to your deaths! As for Nikai, rather than letting you two benefit, I may as well let my brother Xia Fan gain the upper hand. WIth me not around, and having Nikai to accompany him, just thinking about it makes me happy,” Traveling Buddha said.

Jia Yuntian was momentarily startled before saying, “Traveling Buddha, you’re really good to Xia Fan.”

“But of course! He’s my only friend! If I’m not nice to him, who else would I be nice to?” Traveling Buddha chuckled.

Dongfang He arched an eyebrow, “What about now?”

“Now?” Traveling Buddha laughed, “Right now, you’re all friends of yours truly! I’ll go with you wherever you go!”

“Refreshing!” Dongfang He raised his bloodied claymore. It was the generational Demonslaying Sword handed down in his clan, the River Valley Emerald of the Nine Provinces!

Jia Yuntian raised his arm like it was a blade, as well. He did not have a physical sword, as he was the sword himself, and the sword was him!

A short distance away, the Fiery Wrath Army was being overwhelmed. Dongfang knew that the soldiers he Summoned could only help support, and ultimately he still needed to rely on himself.

The man of few words, Jia Yuntian, let out a cold chuckle. “Well, let us b*st*rds begin!”

Icy Rain watched the entire exchange, bemused by these strange humans and their strange emotions.

They called each other b*st*rds, yet it sounded like an endearing term rather than a curse. It was as if there was something magical mixed inside this swear word.

Icy Rain did not have any friends, and he was not too concerned with male bonding either. It was actually just that simple: Laughing and mocking, living and dying together.

‘If I survive this, will I become their friends? Looks like they quite like my younger brother,’ Icy Rain thought to himself.

“I excel in the water,” Icy Rain told Traveling Buddha.

“Then go, my good brother!” Traveling Buddha said solemnly, clapping his hands onto Icy Rain’s skinny shoulders.

Icy Rain was startled. This was the first time he had smiled at someone aside from his younger brother.

‘They are all good humans,’ Icy Rain thought to himself.

The Fiery Wrath Army was finally overrun by the enemy. The final battlefield unfolded in the ruins of Holy Spring City, around the blood-tainted moat of the city. Fights broke out in every corner of the city.

Dongfang He was without his Fiery Wrath Army now, hefting his bloody claymore in hand, the Demonslaying sword River Valley Emerald of the Nine Provinces!

The Sword of Heaven slashed through the air with a thunderous chop, swinging across the horizon like a bolt of lightning. Jia Yuntian was so skinny he was just skin and bones, yet he was standing amid the crashing thunderbolts and letting out a frenzied bellow!

*Crunch*

Traveling Buddha dove toward the enemy, golden light dancing about him, a glaring man of steel!

To the death!

Everyone was putting their lives on the line at the final moment!