TM CH 15

Chapter 15 The Debt of Clothing

Rong Qi silently scorned Gu Yunxing, but the anger and frustration he felt could not be suppressed. He strained his eyes, trying to make out the situation on the sea, but it was all in vain. As the sun gradually set in the west, everything before him became increasingly blurry. Finally, as if realizing something, he collapsed to the ground in despair.

Gu Yunxing was gone.

Even Gu Yunxing was dead.

What about him?

Could he really survive in this cursed place alone?

For a brief moment, an immeasurable sense of confusion and helplessness welled up in Rong Qi’s heart.

Perhaps, since the day he had fallen into the sea, the Right Protector of Lihuo Palace was already dead in the jianghu.

No one would come to rescue him.

The subordinates who had once relied on him might have searched for him in the first few days, but as time passed, ten days, twenty days, a month… the longer he was missing, the less they would continue to waste time on him.

The disciples of Lihuo Palace came and went in a hurry, and even though he had been taught by the palace master, he could not escape the fate of being discarded like a worn-out shoe.

So, he could only gradually pin his hopes on the reinforcements from Gu Yunxing…

Now, Gu Yunxing was also dead, leaving him all alone on this deserted island. It seemed that his days on the island with Gu Yunxing had merely been a desperate struggle to survive.

“Gu Yunxing — are you back?!” Rong Qi scrambled to his feet again, shouting towards the sea one more time, unwilling to give up.

The sky had completely darkened, the thick blackness filling his vision. All he could hear was the howling wind and roaring waves. Just like the day before he had fallen into the sea, human strength was utterly insignificant in the face of natural disaster.

“Cough, cough!”

A fit of coughing suddenly rang out, appearing particularly prominent and clear amidst the tremendous sound of the waves.

Rong Qi quickly turned, taking several hurried steps toward the source of the sound.

“Gu Yunxing? Is it you? Gu Yunxing!”

After a long pause, the sound of water breaking reached him, followed by the labored breathing that slowly drew nearer.

“Right Protector Rong, lend a hand,” Gu Yunxing’s voice came, more exhausted than usual.

Rong Qi, however, remained frozen, unmoving.

Rong Qi: “Stop flattering yourself.”

Gu Yunxing smiled, reached out to take his hand, and led him away from the seaside. The two waded through the water and reached the sand that hadn’t been touched by the tide.

Rong Qi gradually calmed down and asked with a tinge of emotion, “Can things get any worse in this cursed place?”

Each day on the island had been brutal, and as time passed, things only seemed to grow worse. Rong Qi had endured hardships before, but the island’s cruel climate made survival almost impossible.

“It will get better,” Gu Yunxing reassured him.

After speaking, he bent down and began picking up the things Rong Qi had carelessly thrown on the ground. They were items he had hurriedly brought from the ship’s cabin earlier. Most were wooden planks taken from the cabin, along with the rabbit fur blanket. Gu Yunxing thought for a moment, then unfurled the canvas he had removed and fashioned a simple bundle.

Rong Qi stood by, unable to see exactly what he was doing, but for once, he patiently waited without rushing him. When Gu Yunxing finished, he said, “The cabin’s been washed away, and the new shelter is far from here. I can’t see clearly, and you can’t move quickly. If we bring these things, it’ll probably be even harder to walk.”

Gu Yunxing sheepishly replied, “This humble Gu’s legs… actually, I can barely manage to walk on my own.”

Rong Qi froze for a moment. “Then why did you insist on being carried these past two days?”

Gu Yunxing: “The storm is coming. If Right Protector carry me, you’ll move faster, and we’ll have more time to prepare.”

Rong Qi finally understood, a bitter smile breaking out on his face. “Is that so? How much faster? Tell me, then.”

Gu Yunxing tactfully changed the subject. “Now we only have two choices. The first is to take shelter in the forest. But the trees are withered, the wind is harsh, and the cold would make it unbearable. The second is to travel through the night. The cliffside shelter isn’t fully set up yet, but at least it’s a place to shield us from the wind. But, as you said, this path is too difficult for both of us.”

Rest or continue? Rong Qi furrowed his brows. The only things he hated more than water were nighttime travels.

“This venerable one hates traveling at night.”

After a moment of thought, Gu Yunxing said, “The forest is too cold to rest in. Since that’s the case, we might as well reach the cliffside sooner, and we can set up the shelter more quickly.”

Rong Qi’s voice turned cold. “Since you’ve already made up your mind, why ask me?”

Gu Yunxing stared at him for a long time before finally replying, “Fine, we’ll go to the forest.”

Rong Qi: “……”

Gu Yunxing’s concession surprised him. He knew the man appeared gentle and courteous, but in reality, he was someone who would rarely change his mind once he had made a decision. Now, seeing him give in, Rong Qi didn’t feel relieved. Instead, there was a vague, indescribable feeling.

“I didn’t force you. Anyway, if you can still walk, you can leave me behind and go ahead.”

Gu Yunxing often thought he was used to the demon’s cold words, but he found that Rong Qi could still say something even more infuriating. “Right Protector Rong, are you asking this humble Gu to abandon you, or do you prefer to part ways with this humble Gu?”

Rong Qi detected the annoyance in Gu Yunxing’s voice and fell silent.

The two of them walked in silence, the only sound the increasing howl of the wind rushing past their ears.

Suddenly, Gu Yunxing grabbed his wrist and began pulling him forward.

“Let’s go,” Gu Yunxing’s voice was a little heavy. “To the forest.”

Rong Qi thought for a moment, but didn’t pull away. He turned his head slightly, vaguely making out the outline of Gu Yunxing, who was now very close to him. Quietly, he stretched out a finger to touch the corner of Gu Yunxing’s sleeve, but instead, his hand met only dampness.

Right, Gu Yunxing had just fallen into the water, so he must be drenched.

Gu Yunxing: “Don’t move around. I’m holding onto you.”

Rong Qi froze for a moment, only then realizing that the hand gripping his wrist was extremely cold.

This was definitely not a good sign.

“I can’t see anything at night,” Rong Qi said, his voice softening. “If you can guarantee I won’t trip or fall, I suppose we can keep going.” He wasn’t too eager to spend another night in the forest with the wind howling.

Gu Yunxing: “……”

Rong Qi: “If I trip once, I’ll stop right then and there.”

Gu Yunxing couldn’t muster any anger. He said earnestly, “Don’t worry, this humble Gu will go slowly and make sure to watch carefully, ensuring that no pebbles or branches will trip the Lord Right Protector.”

Rong Qi let out a ‘hm’ in acknowledgment, then pulled his hand back with force and stood still.

Gu Yunxing looked at him in confusion, noticing that the demon seemed to be hesitating, his gaze lowered.

Rong Qi: “Take off your clothes.”

Gu Yunxing: “What?”

Rong Qi curled his lip and quickly shed his outer robe, tossing it in what he hoped was the right direction. He said coldly, “This venerable one doesn’t like owing favors. Consider it repayment for the last time.”

The robe, still warm from his body, landed in Gu Yunxing’s hands. His cold fingers sank into the soft fabric. He looked at its owner in surprise, only to find that Rong Qi had already turned away, heading off a few steps in the opposite direction.

Gu Yunxing had no choice but to call out, “Right Protector Rong, you’re going the wrong way.”

Rong Qi: “……”

Gu Yunxing walked over, guiding him back, a hint of a smile in his eyes. “This humble Gu thanks Right Protector Rong for gifting me this robe. I will remember this favor.”

Rong Qi’s face darkened. “It’s not a gift. You’d better return it to me first thing tomorrow morning!”