TM CH2

Chapter 2 Stranded on a Deserted Island

Pain.

A dull pain throbbed throughout his body, as though he had been beaten all over, while the sharp sting of open wounds pierced deep into his nerves. His lips were cracked, his throat burning as if filled with scorching sand.

This was the feeling Rong Qi had woken up to. He forced his eyes open — above him stretched a gray, overcast sky, and an unfamiliar black bird streaked past with a long, shrill cry.

He turned his head. All he could see was a desolate landscape of rocks and stones. The black soil was scattered with patches of yellowish weeds. In the distance, jagged peaks rose through the mist, their outlines dissolving into a shadowed silhouette.

Where… was this?

The memories from before he fell into the water came rushing back. Rong Qi remembered the duel with Gu Yunxing, the towering waves in the sea — yes, he remembered now. He had fallen into the ocean and nearly drowned. In his panic, he had grabbed onto Gu Yunxing.

“Cough…”

He let out a dry cough, the motion bringing a faint pain to his lungs.

His last memory before blacking out was of a massive wave hurling them from the depths of the sea. After that, everything went blank.

Rong Qi rolled over and slowly pushed himself up with his hands.

He licked his dry lips, his Adam’s apple bobbing slightly — thirsty. The salty aftertaste of seawater clung to his mouth. More than the bruises on his body, what he wanted most was a drink of fresh water.

“Whoosh—”

Waves crashed against the rocks with a heavy, hollowed roar. Rong Qi turned toward the sound and saw the vast, endless sea. He stared blankly for a moment, then looked over his shoulder — only to find barren, desolate land behind him.

Was this an island in the middle of the sea?

He stood up. The sea breeze struck him, fluttering the damp hem of his robe. He had barely taken a few steps when he spotted a figure lying motionless ahead.

Rong Qi’s expression turned wary. His right hand reached into his inner robe and pulled out a silver needle. He approached the person cautiously. As he got closer, the figure became clearer. Those clothes were familiar. It was Gu Yunxing, who had stood in his way several times!

“Heh…” Rong Qi wanted to laugh, but the moment he tried, pain flared in his throat, causing him to break into a fit of dry coughing.

He hadn’t expected to be this lucky. Not only had he survived the fall into the sea, but now his enemy lay unconscious right in front of him.

Gu Yunxing’s position wasn’t good. His upper body was on shore, but his lower half was still submerged in the seawater. If a strong wave hit, it could easily drag him back into the ocean.

The sharp scent of blood drifted through the air. Rong Qi stepped closer and saw the seawater around Gu Yunxing stained with patches of red.

He walked over and gave him a kick. Gu Yunxing’s body rolled over, revealing a pale, bloodless face.

“Dead?”

Rong Qi crouched down and reached out to check for breath. A faint warmth brushed against his fingertips. The man was still alive. His gaze moved downward and landed on the man’s mangled leg. He thought to himself that while he, a demon, had come out of the ordeal in one piece, this righteous sect master had been reduced to such a miserable state. Perhaps he had smashed into a reef and shattered his legs.

So much for being the Tianji Sect Master. After meddling in his affairs so many times, he was now the one barely clinging to life.

Rong Qi sneered and stood up. He lifted his leg, ready to kick the man back into the sea, when something clamped down on his ankle.

“Ah!” He gasped as he was yanked off balance and slammed to the ground.

Gu Yunxing had already opened his eyes, his gaze clear. He used one hand to restrain both of Rong Qi’s hands, pressed his shoulder against Rong Qi’s chest, and pinned him firmly beneath him.

“Right Protector Rong is truly ungrateful. This humble Gu painstakingly pulled you from the sea, and this is how you repay me?”

Rong Qi was furious. “Gu Yunxing, let go of me!”

Of course, Gu Yunxing had no intention of doing so.

Remembering the injury to the man’s leg, Rong Qi quickly raised his foot to strike back—

“Ah!”

A bolt of searing pain caused Rong Qi to cry out miserably. Without hesitation, Gu Yunxing directly twisted his wrist.

Back on the ship, his wrist had already taken a hard hit. Now, with fresh and old injuries piled together, it had completely lost all strength.

Gu Yunxing gasped for breath and said in a deep voice, “Right Protector Rong, if you thought you could kill this humble Gu just because I injured my leg, then you are sorely mistaken.”

Rong Qi trembled all over. His face twisted with rage and his eyes flashed with hatred. He growled fiercely, “What do you want?”

Gu Yunxing said, “Can’t you see?” He let out a bitter laugh. “This is a deserted island.”

Jagged rocks, dead grass, and withered trees covered the ground. The sky was heavy with dark clouds, and not a single human figure could be seen in any direction.

Rong Qi, of course, had noticed. He replied coldly, “So what?”

The bitter smile faded from Gu Yunxing’s lips, replaced by a deep and steady gaze. “We’ve drifted into the middle of the sea. Do you know where we are? For all we know, we might be the only two people alive on this entire island. You can’t even swim, so how do you expect to get off this place?”

Rong Qi fell silent. His pitch-black eyes masked all expression. After a moment, he lifted his head and stared straight at Gu Yunxing. Slowly, a malicious sneer curled at the corner of his lips. “But can you even stand up? Why isn’t your other arm moving? Gu Yunxing, with injuries like yours, are you expecting this venerable one to heal you?”

Gu Yunxing’s face darkened.

His luck had been terrible. While drifting, a sudden current had slammed him into the rocks, breaking both a leg and an arm. If he hadn’t pretended to be unconscious to lure the demon closer, there would’ve been no way to subdue him.

Seeing Gu Yunxing’s expression change, Rong Qi finally felt a flicker of satisfaction.

“I can’t swim, but no matter how good someone’s swimming skills are, it’s impossible to swim out to sea. Besides, with your current condition, can you even manage to swim, Sect Master Gu?”

Gu Yunxing frowned slightly at the biting tone in Rong Qi’s words. “Last night, Right Protector Rong clung tightly to this humble Gu, pleading for help in a gentle voice. But now that we’re out of danger, you can’t say a single kind word.”

Rong Qi: “You…”

But Gu Yunxing interrupted him, “But don’t forget, Right Protector Rong’s other hand is still firmly this humble Gu’s grasp. Since I’ve suffered some injuries, how about I’ll be the cripple and you’ll be the one with a broken arm? Perhaps we’ll be ‘hand-and-foot brothers’ on this deserted island?”

Rong Qi turned his gaze slightly, resentment flashing in his eyes. “Fine. I’ll heal you, but you have to let go of me first.”

Gu Yunxing held his position, his gaze fixed on Rong Qi. “Right Protector Rong speaks so eloquently, but after what just happened, I’m truly afraid that the moment I let go, you’ll turn and run far away.” He sighed, looking quite troubled. “I can’t run, and I certainly can’t catch up.”

Rong Qi ground his teeth. “Then what do you want?”

Gu Yunxing thought for a moment and said, “Like this, I need to hold onto the Right Protector.” He then took Rong Qi’s hand with his uninjured one. “Let’s go.”

Rong Qi: “……”

With his wrist locked in place, he had no doubt that if he made any sudden moves, Gu Yunxing would strike first.

Gu Yunxing had already sat up, seemingly waiting for him to act.

Rong Qi’s expression shifted constantly, his face filled with unwillingness. However, with his pressure point seized, he had no choice but to reluctantly stand up.

Gu Yunxing said, “Lend a hand, Right Protector Rong.”

Rong Qi took several heavy breaths, trying to control his emotions. “The only good hand I have left is in your grasp. How can I lend you another hand?”

Gu Yunxing: “Then I’ll trouble you to squat down and carry me on your back.”

Rong Qi glared at him, his eyes filled with venom. After a moment, he slowly crouched down, gritting his teeth. “Get on.”

Gu Yunxing moved closer.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye—

Rong Qi suddenly struck out, leaning backward to slam into Gu Yunxing, using his weight to pin him down. At the same time, his legs moved swiftly, aiming for Gu Yunxing’s injured leg!

But Gu Yunxing was faster. Just as Rong Qi leaned back, he bent his uninjured knee and drove it into the back of Rong Qi’s knee.

“If I put a bit more force into this, Right Protector Rong would be just like me, with a broken arm and leg.” Gu Yunxing had already released Rong Qi’s hand and instead gripped his neck, applying slight pressure.

“Ugh!” Rong Qi grunted in pain.

Gu Yunxing: “Our alliance on this deserted island was meant to be mutually beneficial. Why does Right Protector refuse to accept it?”

“Let go… let go!”

Gu Yunxing’s grip only tightened. From his vantage point, he could see Rong Qi’s face clearly — a face that should have been handsome and harmless, but the distorted expression made it appear somewhat ferocious.

Rong Qi felt the killing intent. It was sharp and close, unbearably clear.

Fear finally appeared in his eyes. In that moment, he realized that he was no match for Gu Yunxing. Even with one arm and one leg crippled, Gu Yunxing could still subdue him with ease.

“Don’t kill me…”

Rong Qi struggled to speak, the pressure on his neck increasing, the sickly sweet taste of blood rising in his throat. Gu Yunxing really meant to kill him!

“Let go of me… Ugh!” Rong Qi reached out, trying to pry Gu Yunxing’s hand off, but it felt unyielding. No matter how much he struggled, it didn’t loosen. The fear of imminent death made him tremble slightly, and he began to beg. “Don’t kill me… I… I’ll heal you… Don’t kill me…”

Gu Yunxing remained silent, his grip unwavering.

Gradually, Rong Qi stopped pleading. Just when he thought he was as good as dead, the pressure on his neck eased, and Gu Yunxing released him.

Rong Qi rolled over and dry-heaved a few times, then spat out several mouthfuls of blood-flecked saliva. He panted for a long time before finally collapsing onto the ground.

Gu Yunxing simply lay beside him.

After a while, Rong Qi’s breathing steadied. He stood up and quietly helped Gu Yunxing to his feet. Neither of them spoke as they staggered forward, each taking slow steps.