Hidden Shadow – CH 345

Chapter Three-Hundred-Forty-Five: Unbreakable (1)

Mo Xiaoyao said, “The master did not say how to contact him, but Da Jiu is a tracking tiger, so he should be able to find him.”

Chu Dingjiang looked at the tiger with a silly expression and hesitated. He knew that Da Jiu and Xiao Yue were tracking tigers raised by Mo Sigui, but Da Jiu was specifically used to track An Jiu’s whereabouts. Whether it could find Mo Sigui was still unknown. Perhaps it had some connection with Xiao Yue, but no one knew how strong that connection was.

“Go on with your work,” Chu Dingjiang said.

Mo Xiaoyao glanced at Da Jiu and, seeing that it did not intend to leave, went out alone.

Sui Yuntong guessed Chu Dingjiang’s worries: “My Lord, you stay and guard the Fourteenth. I will take Da Jiu to find the Divine Physician.”

Chu Dingjiang nodded, “Alright, can you control this tiger?”

“As long as there is food, it is easy to control.” Sui Yuntong smiled and stepped forward to rub Da Jiu’s head, then took out a poison pill and waved it near its nose.

Lost in thought, Da Jiu followed him out, a look of pure bliss on its face.

Chu Dingjiang rubbed his temples, his expression complex.

He wondered if this tiger’s gluttony had also come from An Jiu.

The sun set in the west; the moon rose in the east.

Chu Dingjiang remained motionless, staring at An Jiu, like an unyielding mountain.

When Zhu Pianxian and Sheng Changying entered, they saw this frozen scene.

“Dingjiang,” Sheng Changying said.

Chu Dingjiang’s clothes fluttered slightly, and he turned his head, revealing a profile. “You’ve come.”

The two walked to the bedside and looked at An Jiu lying on it. Sheng Changying said, “She looks quite well; it seems she’s alright.”

Chu Dingjiang smiled at this. “No need for words of comfort. I can handle whatever comes my way. If she really does not wake up, I need to be even better. Only when I am better can I take good care of her.”

He was a man of calm to the point of being cold-blooded, but as he spoke these words, his whole body trembled slightly. No one noticed; only he knew that these were the words that truly comforted him.

Sheng Changying, who knew Chu Dingjiang somewhat, gave him a deep look and said, “It’s best if you think this way.”

Zhu Pianxian suddenly asked, “Was it Elder Zhi’s doing?”

Chu Dingjiang hummed in agreement.

Although Elder Zhi valued talent, he was extremely selfish in archery. He believed that it was better to reach the pinnacle himself than to let others do so. The places many could reach through hard work were not the true peak; the true peak was a tiny space, only large enough for one person. Therefore, those who were only one step away from that point were lonely. While striving to reach the top, they also wanted to eliminate other threatening masters of equal skill, especially strong individuals like Elder Zhi, who seemed forever stuck just one step below the peak.

When An Jiu first displayed her archery talent, Elder Zhi decided to nurture her carefully. At that time, the difference in strength between her and Elder Zhi was like heaven and earth. Yet, this seemingly insignificant individual had fired the first shot! Elder Zhi’s usually calm heart shattered instantly.

Now, facing each other again, he realized that the ant he once looked down upon had climbed to his head in such a short time. At this moment, his emotions were complex; he could not even discern whether it was jealousy, joy, astonishment, or resentment.

In truth, if An Jiu had not been there, Elder Zhi might have considered his own position and would not have acted so recklessly.

The Crown Prince was too ruthless, resorting to any means to achieve his goals. If the Crown Prince truly ascended the throne, the Mei family’s situation would only worsen. Although the Second Prince, who had been scheming to usurp the throne, was not exactly honorable either, he was still far better in comparison. With Elder Zhi’s wisdom, he should have known which choice to make.

But if that arrow had not been so dangerous, there would have been no need to expose An Jiu, and she would not have been targeted by Elder Zhi.

“An enemy arranged by fate,” Zhu Pianxian sighed. “This calamity was destined; there was no escaping it.”

She wanted to say that evil lasted a thousand years and Fourteenth Young Lady would not be finished so soon, but looking at Chu Dingjiang’s expression, she pursed her lips, mustered her courage, and did not dare to say it aloud.

“Having seen so much of the martial world, are there any precedents of someone collapsing from exhaustion of mental energy?” Chu Dingjiang asked Sheng Changying.

Sheng Changying hesitated. “You know, people who can completely drain their mental energy are incredibly powerful in both spirit and willpower, so it is rare. I’ve only heard of one case, and that was fifty years ago.”

“What happened to that person?” Chu Dingjiang knew he had laid out so much to ease the tension of that tragic ending, and he was somewhat prepared, but he still had to listen; even a little more experience was beneficial.

Sheng Changying said, “He was a powerful cultivator at the internal cultivation realm. He was in a coma for a year…and then he passed away.”

To live in this world, besides the vitality of the physical body, one also needed mental support. Ordinary people also had mental energy, but it was too weak, barely enough to sustain life.

If mental energy collapsed, even the strongest physical vitality was nothing more than that of a living dead person.

The silence made the atmosphere very oppressive.

Chu Dingjiang seemed too strong, as if he did not need any comfort; even his company seemed superfluous. The two sat for a while before leaving.

“Sigh!” Chu Dingjiang sighed deeply as the person had already gone far away. His rough fingers gently stroked An Jiu’s face, tracing her beautiful facial features.