Have You... Truly Given

Donggua walked back from the distance with a face as solemn as still water, while behind her, Cui Hao wore an expression as if basking in spring breeze.

Half a Xigua leaned against a small tree, tilting his head slightly as he watched the two approach through the fragmented moonlight.

Donggua and Cui Hao walked one after the other without exchanging a word, splitting to opposite sides as they neared the base.

Cui Hao headed toward Lin Luoyu, while Donggua made her way to Xigua.

Half a Xigua pursed his lips lightly as he watched Donggua approach, waiting until she was right in front of him before whispering through a sound transmission:

"Were you really... offering yourself just now?"

Donggua narrowed her eyes and, without hesitation, delivered a punch straight to Xigua's head, simultaneously roaring through the transmission:

"Offer yourself, you half a Xigua! Why don’t I just cut the other half of you off?"

Xigua’s head took the punch—not light by any means—nearly smashing into the tree behind him. Fortunately, Donggua seemed to have held back slightly, perhaps out of consideration for his injuries.

Xigua shook his head lightly. "You looked so serious, I was just joking. No need to take it so personally."

"Funny, was it?" Donggua’s gaze remained sharp.

Xigua tilted his head slightly and transmitted: "Well... if Yumi were still here, he probably would’ve laughed."

Donggua froze at his words, suppressing the urge to punch him again. She took a deep breath and transmitted:

"That Cui Hao might not be as much of a fool as he seems. He somehow learned about my conversation with Lin Luoyu. He’s interested in what we have and plans to betray his senior sister to take it for himself."

"I thought that guy seemed sincere at first, but now the situation is turning against us. If we drag this out any longer, we won’t even need others to find us—we’ll be quietly disposed of before then."

Xigua nodded in understanding.

Donggua waited, but when Xigua didn’t press for details, she transmitted in confusion: "Why aren’t you asking about the specifics or what we should do next?"

Unable to shrug with only half a body, Xigua settled for a deadpan expression as he transmitted back:

"What I have to say might not be what you want to hear."

Donggua nearly punched him again at the familiar phrasing.

First Cui Hao disgusted her, and now Xigua was trying to do the same?

After a moment of glaring dangerously at Xigua—but ultimately restraining herself since he was still an ally—she transmitted irritably:

"To borrow a human saying, we’re grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Whether I like it or not, it’s better than messing things up."

Xigua’s expression turned serious. "Then I’ll be blunt. I don’t have solid proof, but I really think you’re no match for that Cui Hao. If he’s not genuinely stupid, then he’s genuinely cunning. Trying to outmaneuver someone whose depths you don’t know is a losing game. We should consider other options."

"My suggestion? Give Cui Hao one of the items, then we leave the group and distance ourselves from this mess. Lin Luoyu has a righteous heart—she probably won’t sell us out if we’ve got nothing left. My injuries have stabilized these past few days, so I can still tap into my core energy if needed."

"You stick to the original plan, and I’ll try to sneak back to Qulin. I’ll draw attention away from you and check if any of our people are still alive there."

Donggua’s face remained calm, but her gaze bore into Xigua’s earnest expression.

His "plan" was essentially a suicide mission. Sneaking back into Qulin City? More like offering his head on a platter.

And yet... she was tempted.

If only Xigua died while she survived...

Donggua’s eyes flicked toward Cui Hao, who sat below Lin Luoyu. From the start, Cui Hao had been staring in her direction. Now, noticing her gaze, he smiled and waved at her.

She transmitted coldly: "That Cui Hao, even if he’s faking stupidity, can’t be that clever. He looks young, and with his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment stage, he can’t be much older."

"I’ve handled more schemes than he’s read books. He’s just some privileged brat used to throwing his weight around."

The situation wasn’t dire yet—at least, Donggua refused to believe Cui Hao could outmaneuver her.

Even if Xigua was only half a man now, he still had his wits. He was their last trump card, and she wasn’t about to waste him unless absolutely necessary.

Half a Xigua fell silent for a moment, studying Donggua’s profile before sighing softly. He transmitted:

"What’s Cui Hao’s plan, then?"

Donggua turned back to him. "Cui Hao’s father once saved Lin Luoyu’s life, dying from his injuries afterward. Ever since, Lin Luoyu has felt indebted to him. As long as it doesn’t cross any moral lines, she’ll indulge him."

"Originally, a Foundation Establishment cultivator like Cui Hao wouldn’t qualify for this mission. But he begged Lin Luoyu, saying he wanted to earn some merit. That’s why she turned down the assigned partner from the sect and handpicked him instead. Since Cui Hao’s father was highly respected in the sect, the higher-ups allowed it despite knowing he was just freeloading."

"Cui Hao plans to exploit Lin Luoyu’s guilt to get what he wants."

Half a Xigua listened quietly before tilting his head slightly.

"Sounds like a made-up story. Did he give any specifics? Did he seem sincere to you?"

Donggua glanced at Cui Hao again. "No details. Look at that punchable grin of his—does he seem sincere to you?"

Xigua exhaled. "Then let’s play along for now. We won’t act unless things go south. Lin Luoyu has a righteous aura—as long as we don’t strike first, we can cut ties cleanly later. She won’t attack us without cause. As for Cui Hao, a Foundation Establishment cultivator isn’t a real threat."

Hearing Xigua finally analyzing the situation instead of giving up entirely eased Donggua’s mind somewhat.

A foolish ally was manageable—what she couldn’t stand was one who had already given up.

Earlier, Xigua’s attitude had made her suspicious—was he just acting? Losing half his body didn’t mean he had to lose the will to live.

Donggua transmitted: "Time’s running short. I’ve already agreed with Cui Hao to act tomorrow. We’ll play it by ear."

Xigua nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

Seeing this, Donggua said no more. Her gaze swept the area, noting that Lin Luoyu still sat with her eyes closed, indifferent to the faint spiritual fluctuations or the punch Donggua had delivered earlier.

Lin Luoyu was a decent person... Pity she ended up with a junior brother like Cui Hao and a world like this.

Good people were always the easiest to bully.

Donggua stood and walked to her spot, preparing to regulate her blood qi in case things took a turn.

Xigua remained leaning against the tree, staring at the half-moon in the sky.

Who knew if he was thinking of Yumi—or what was about to unfold.