TM CH4

Chapter 4 Extremely Cold Night

Rong Qi groped along the battered hull of the ship, utterly disappointed. He didn’t have the strength to speak again. Leaning against the side, he slowly slid down to the ground.

Gu Yunxing wasn’t much better off. His injured leg couldn’t take any more strain. Although he had already sealed the pressure points to stop the bleeding, tendon and bone injuries were never something that could heal instantly.

“Let’s take shelter inside first,” Gu Yunxing said, only to realize his throat was dry and hoarse. His current situation was truly terrible. Not only was he severely injured, but his only companion was a villain who could turn on him at any moment.

Rong Qi remained silent for a long time.

Neither of them was the type to sit and wait for death. Since they had survived this great disaster, they still had to continue on their path.

The cabin was in complete disarray. Seawater had washed away most of the small items, leaving only a few tables and chairs, most of them broken and missing parts. By all logic, the cabin should have been damp. But perhaps the island’s wind was strong enough that it had nearly dried out the space.

Rong Qi walked over to an overturned cabinet. Its door had already fallen apart, and there was nothing inside. He searched again, but all that remained of this half-ship were piles of broken planks.

“Use that tabletop to block the hole on the east side. At least it’ll cut down the wind a bit,” Gu Yunxing said.

The hole on the east side was the same one they had entered through. But the cabin was riddled with holes on all sides, so blocking one barely made a difference. Rong Qi remained motionless for a long time before finally dragging the crooked table and chairs across the floor with slow effort. He leaned against the wooden planks and closed his eyes to rest, showing no concern whatsoever for his companion’s injuries.

People from the demon palace were never known for their kindness, so Gu Yunxing didn’t expect any. He quietly began tending to his own wounds.

The air was thick with the salty, fishy scent of the sea, while the whistling of the wind filled their ears. Huddled in the cramped space, the two of them stayed silent for a long time until the deepening night and the bone-chilling cold finally jolted Rong Qi awake.

It had been a very long time since he’d been woken up by the cold.

But the numbness in his limbs made it clear just how dire the situation was.

He had sensed earlier that the this deserted island at night would be unpleasant, but he hadn’t expected it to be this harsh. There was wind in Jiangnan too, but it was always soft and mild. Even during summer thunderstorms, it had never howled this fiercely and desperately.

He glanced at Gu Yunxing beside him. The leader of Tianji Sect, a mysterious and troublesome enemy. If he had any choice, Rong Qi would rather stay far away from him. But for now… at least for tonight, he couldn’t afford to stir up any trouble.

Rong Qi let out a quiet sigh. He had searched the shore at dusk and hadn’t seen a single trace of anyone. It was safe to assume that his subordinates from the demon palace had all perished at sea.

The island was uninhabited. He couldn’t swim, and he didn’t know how to build a boat. How could he possibly escape this cursed place on his own? And with an enemy by his side, it truly was a hopeless situation, with no path forward in sight.

“Can’t sleep either, Right Protector?” Gu Yunxing had opened his eyes at some point. His gaze was clear, with no hint of sleepiness.

Asking the obvious.

Rong Qi was in no mood for late-night conversation. He simply sat up cross-legged and began circulating his internal energy. On a night this cold, without internal cultivation to protect his body, he would likely freeze to death.

Gu Yunxing wasn’t offended when he was ignored. He simply said to himself, “Circulating internal energy can dispel the cold, but it’s not something one can do all night long.”

Rong Qi sneered. “Then does Sect Master Gu have another solution?”

Gu Yunxing lowered his gaze and thought for a moment before shaking his head. “I’m afraid that’s all we can do.”

Rong Qi mocked, “Sect Master Gu traveled all the way from Jiangnan to the East Sea. Did you ever imagine you would end up in such a state?”

Gu Yunxing: “Such a state?”

Both were fellow sufferers in a similar plight, and neither was in a better situation than the other. But Rong Qi seemed completely unaware of this. His words carried nothing but hostility.

Rong Qi: “It’s just a pity about Sect Master Gu’s friend. I doubt he’s even made it to this ‘state’.”

One had kidnapped Fang Lian and brought him deep into the East Sea. The other had chased after him to save that very person. But now, the two of them had survived, while Fang Lian was gone.

How many people lost to the vast sea ever made it back alive?

Gu Yunxing’s voice dropped slightly. “What good does it do for the Right Protector to provoke me?”

Rong Qi: “None.” He paused, then gave a malicious smile. “But this venerable one enjoys it.”

Gu Yunxing flexed his uninjured right hand. “If we fight now, it’ll be a pointless waste of strength, and neither of us will gain anything. But if the Right Protector insists on that attitude, this humble Gu doesn’t mind doing this thankless task.”

The smile on Rong Qi’s face stiffened slightly.

Although he was unwilling to admit it, he was indeed no match for Gu Yunxing. Even with such severe injuries, the man could still suppress him. What kind of monster was he? It must be known that before encountering Gu Yunxing, Rong Qi had always considered his martial arts superb, virtually unmatched among his peers.

But whether it was during the fight on the ship or the clash on the shallows…

Rong Qi closed his eyes, forcing down the bitterness in his heart.

Fine. He would endure for now. Once he figured out the situation on the island, he could make other plans.

The cabin returned to silence, and neither of them spoke further.

The first night on the deserted island dragged on endlessly.

By early morning, the wind had finally begun to ease. At the break of dawn, sunlight spilled through the holes in the cabin, scattering across their shoulders in soft, fragmented rays.

Rong Qi opened his eyes.

Aside from dozing off briefly at the start of the night, he had remained awake the entire time. He knew Gu Yunxing hadn’t slept either. Surviving such harsh weather required continuous cultivation of energy to resist the cold.

His gaze landed on the blood-stained leg of his companion, then quickly shifted away.

Rong Qi said, “Move aside.”

The two of them had been leaning against the table, which was blocking the hole in the wall. Now that he wanted to go out, he had to ask Gu Yunxing to move aside.

As expected, Gu Yunxing was awake.

But his face was drawn, and he looked utterly worn out.

Rong Qi waited for a response, but none came. “Don’t worry, Sect Master Gu. At this point, we’re stuck in the same boat. I don’t like you, but I wouldn’t go so far as to put myself in a situation where I’m isolated and helpless.” His voice carried a trace of genuine intent, though the distaste in his eyes was clear. He reached out and tapped Gu Yunxing’s injured leg. “In a place like this, it’d be nearly impossible for me to get out alone.”

Gu Yunxing stared at him for a moment, as if weighing his options.

Rong Qi wasn’t concerned.

He understood what Gu Yunxing was thinking. Without someone to assist him, his condition would deteriorate further. So even if it meant dragging his wounded leg, Gu Yunxing had little choice but to keep Rong Qi nearby.

Unfortunately, even an able-bodied person could only do so much while burdened with such an injured companion.

Fresh water, food, even medicinal herbs… someone had to go out and search for them. If Gu Yunxing insisted on tagging along, he’d only make things harder.

And so, Gu Yunxing was left with no alternative.

Rong Qi said, “You don’t have to believe I sincerely want to help you, but at the very least, you should believe I’m doing this because the situation leaves me no choice.”

Gu Yunxing gave a faint smile. “No choice?”

Rong Qi: “That’s right. There’s not a third living soul on this cursed island. If you die, I’ll lose my mind.”

Gu Yunxing: “Now that almost sounds touching.” But he still didn’t move, showing no intention of making way.

Rong Qi forced down his impatience and explained, “I’m going out to look for food. I’ll be back soon. If I’m lucky, I might even find some herbs for you.”

Gu Yunxing looked at him with a calm expression, but a sharper, more watchful glint appeared in his eyes. In the end, he gave a bitter smile. “Since this humble Gu can’t walk well, I’ll have to trouble Right Protector Rong to lend a hand.”

Rong Qi: “……”

So after all that talk, he’d just been waiting for Rong Qi to help him up.

Gu Yunxing might’ve looked lean, but he was far from light, something Rong Qi had already experienced firsthand the day before. He took Gu Yunxing’s uninjured arm and draped it over his own shoulder, then slipped an arm under the man’s side and lifted him with effort.

The cabin was cramped and cluttered. Half-dragging, half-supporting, Rong Qi finally managed to move Gu Yunxing to a corner. He then pulled aside the table blocking the hole and bent down to step out of the cabin.

The damp sea breeze rushed against his face. Although the early morning air still carried a chill, the pale sunlight made it bearable. Rong Qi took a few steps forward, then turned around. Through the uneven gap in the wall, his eyes locked with the man still inside the cabin.

A moment later, the Right Protector curled his lips into a mocking smile.

“Admittedly, Sect Master Gu’s martial arts prowess is unmatched, and your knowledge is vast. Forming an alliance with you should be the ideal choice. Unfortunately…” He paused, then shook his head. “With injuries like yours, I’m afraid you’ll only drag me down. I know nothing of medicine, nor can I identify medicinal herbs. I doubt I could save you. Sect Master Gu is so formidable, so better rely on yourself.”

With that, he turned and walked away without a hint of hesitation, not even waiting for Gu Yunxing’s reply.

After spending most of the night sobering up in the cold wind, Rong Qi had come to a clear realization. Indeed, he lacked the means to escape on his own, but if he chose to cooperate with Gu Yunxing… with the gap in their abilities, he’d only be the one forced to swallow his pride. Just like at the edge of the shallows, where any hint of defiance from him had been swiftly and forcefully suppressed.

Rather than endure that day after day, it was better to cut things off before they took root.

There was no food or water in the cabin, and Gu Yunxing was seriously wounded. He wouldn’t last long.

Wounding the enemy by a thousand, even at a cost of eight hundred to himself.

People from the demon palace preferred unorthodox methods. They didn’t bother with feigned courtesy or drawn-out scheming.