I Am Me

"Ah, I'm really grateful to you. Please don't take the elixir back, okay? I beg you," the woman pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.

Chen Xia furrowed his brow, a bit puzzled, and asked in response, "Are you really one of the chosen ones for the Great Death Realm battle?"

"Yes, yes, as long as you give me the elixir, I... I can heal your injuries in the Great Death Realm," the woman nodded quickly.

"But aren't the chosen ones for the Great Death Realm battle usually exceptionally talented scions of prestigious families? It's unlikely for someone like you, who seems to be in need of money," Chen Xia questioned with doubt.

"Or is your path the path of money, where not even a single bit can be overlooked?" he added.

The woman shook her head, her shoulder-length hair swaying as she did so. With tear-filled eyes, she said, "No, it's not that. I'm really in need of money. I'm not from any prestigious family; I came from the outside."

"How did you end up here?" Chen Xia inquired.

"I was captured," the woman replied sadly. She held the elixir tightly and sobbed twice before continuing, "They said I have an extremely rare constitution that can heal others with my lifespan. They considered me an excellent candidate for the Great Death Realm battle."

Chen Xia was momentarily taken aback and felt some empathy. Shaking his head, he asked again, "They asked for your help but didn't give you any money?"

"I have no money," the woman pursed her lips, tears on the brink of flowing down. In a weak and sorrowful voice, she continued, "They used a binding oath technique on me and then began to seclude me. They wouldn't let me go out; instead, they instructed me to improve my cultivation. It's only now, with the Great Death Realm battle approaching, that they allowed me to meet you."

"That's quite unfair," Chen Xia commented.

"Yes, I don't have any money at all. I can't even afford to buy something to eat, and I dare not steal. My cultivation at the Third Layer of the Sea Reversal Realm is of no use," the woman said sorrowfully. The deep darkness in her eyes revealed her truly poor treatment.

"Here's another one for you," Chen Xia tossed another spiritual medicine pill to the woman and took the opportunity to ask, "What's your name?"

The woman took the pill, hesitated for a moment, and didn't dare to look at Chen Xia. She tilted her head slightly and replied, "Nalan Ziyue Bailian San Shi Xian." [Translator's Note: This is the name given by the woman, which sounds grand and ethereal in Chinese.]

"I mean your real name," Chen Xia emphasized.

The woman's body tensed up, not understanding how Chen Xia saw through her. She could only honestly reply, "Ma... Ma Xiaohong."

"Really plain," Chen Xia commented sharply.

"I'm... I'm sorry," Ma Xiaohong lowered her head, too afraid to look at Chen Xia. She could only apologize.

Her pretty face was filled with nervousness.

"If the gift has been delivered, then you can go back," Chen Xia suddenly spoke.

"Okay, okay," Ma Xiaohong quickly nodded, straightened her body, and trembled slightly as she bid farewell to Chen Xia with a bow.

"Sorry for the disturbance."

She closed the door gently, suppressing the sound of her footsteps as she left.

Chen Xia glanced over and made eye contact with Zhang DaoMing.

"It's a pitiful girl," sighed Zhang DaoMing.

"Indeed," Chen Xia agreed.

He could empathize with her.

Using one's lifespan to heal others, isn't that a sentient remedy for injuries?

It was similar to his life-extending elixir in a peculiar way.

This is the path of immortality, where the rule of survival of the fittest has remained unchanged throughout history.

The weak have no say.

For the next twenty years, everything was calm and peaceful.

The inner demon within Chen Xia did not reappear, even when he occasionally daydreamed. It was a rare period of tranquility.

But today, Wang Yangzi arrived.

He came specifically to find Chen Xia and discuss the matter of the upcoming battle in the Great Death Realm.

"The first group of participants heading to the Great Death Realm consists of thirteen cultivators, eleven of whom are at the Heaven Mending stage. The leader is a certain elder at the twelfth stage of the Heaven Mending realm."

"This elder is here to support you because of the unique circumstances in the Great Death Realm. Normally, he would only suppress his cultivation to the eighth stage of the Heaven Mending realm and rarely take action."

"If he were to exert his full strength, it would mean that you all are facing an apocalyptic catastrophe."

Chen Xia nodded and asked, "Am I only responsible for pill refining?"

"Exactly. Generally, you won't need to exert yourself. Your main task is to ensure a steady supply of medicinal pills. Besides you, there is another backer whom you have met before. She's quite a shy girl," replied Wang Yangzi.

"I've met her, and I would describe her as more fearful than shy," Chen Xia calmly replied.

Wang Yangzi fell silent for a moment and continued, "She was brought here by other existences from the boundary realm. They said she was their secret weapon, something they kept hidden. I didn't expect it to be a person."

"The boundary realm has been suppressed by other dimensional realms too much, so the lords of the forbidden zones want to regain some face through the battle in the Great Death Realm."

"Although it may seem laughable, as the faces they regain will shatter on impact, it is indeed the last trace of dignity for the boundary realm."

Chen Xia shook his head and said, "When you can't win, dignity means nothing."

"That's true, but one must deceive oneself," Wang Yangzi replied and changed the subject.

"Your body has some issues, well... to say it's your body might not be accurate, it's more like your mind."

"Well, there have been some issues," Chen Xia nodded in acknowledgment.

Wang Yangzi stroked his chin and continued, "I've heard a theory before that I find quite reasonable, and I'll share it with you now."

He pondered for a moment.

"Don't fear your inner demons; learn to accept them as a part of yourself, not as someone else."

"Your inner demon is none other than yourself."

Chen Xia was taken aback, furrowing his brow. He lowered his head slightly and began contemplating. After a while, he asked, somewhat bewildered,

"Am I myself?"