Published: February 13, 2025
CHAPTER TEXT:
“Two in One”
Xia Bai slowly sheathed her knife, standing at the center of the massive plaza, her eyes closed as she contemplated the experience of the recent battle.
“Your unique evolutionary attribute is indeed powerful,” a voice broke her concentration, causing Xia Bai to open her eyes.
“But you cannot rely on it for every attack; you have developed an dependence on it, which is not good.”
The speaker was an elderly bookkeeper, hunched over with age, his three feet unsteady on the ground as if he might fall at any moment.
His hair was sparse, skin wrinkled, and he needed a cane to support himself while walking.
His voice was continuous but lacked vigor, sounding hoarse and lifeless.
The only sign of vitality came from his eyes.
“Because your injuries become more severe, your attack power increases. Therefore, you have largely ignored defense, rendering you fearless. That is good, but combat cannot be fought this way; it is not normal.”
The old man stepped in front of Xia Bai, suddenly raising his hand and tapping her at four points on her body.
Xia Bai felt a sharp pain at first, followed by waves of warmth flooding through her body, causing her to shiver slightly.
“Carefully experience the direction and speed of these energy flows within your body; feel their passage through various parts of your body, and then spread them out to every corner of your being.”
The old man's voice grew more authoritative, and Xia Bai closed her eyes again, actively guiding the currents of warmth as instructed.
The old man's gaze remained on Xia Bai, his face revealing a satisfied expression.
The Old Dean… found a good disciple.
After arriving at the Library Palace, Xia Bai was low-key, humble, and diligent. She treated everyone in the Library Palace with respect and learned from anyone willing to teach her.
The bookkeepers had lived for many years and could tell that this girl genuinely wanted to become stronger. Xia Bai never hid her desire for strength and articulated her reasons clearly.
“For my boss.”
Everyone knew who Xia Bai's boss was, and with other members of the red dress guard also present, the bookkeepers were aware of the close relationship between the two.
She was the Old Dean’s closed-door disciple, and everyone in the Library Palace was teaching her, but her ultimate goal was not to fight for the Library Palace.
The small disappointment was inevitable.
However, another emotion arose.
It would be an exaggeration to say it was respect, given that Xia Bai’s age, experience, and strength could not warrant such treatment from the bookkeepers.
Yet, the respect and affection were genuine, and as Xia Bai spent more time there, they grew stronger.
The warriors of the red dress guard impressed the bookkeepers with their fighting spirit and enviable foundational skills, as well as their seemingly innate teamwork.
Many bookkeepers treated these hundred red dress guard warriors like treasures, scrambling to share their knowledge, fearing someone else would get there first. They declared they would pass on their life’s teachings to her, hoping to make her their successor.
In the end, it was the Old Dean who intervened, showing respect for their decisions while also suggesting a different approach to teaching these female warriors.
Their strength was not purely individual. While they had good talent, if one were to speak of exceptional geniuses, only Xia Bai qualified; the others did not.
Their strengths lay in their character, their mental state, and their calmness or even ruthlessness, which stemmed from never fearing death and having unwavering convictions.
Through sufficient effort, these traits could become something others lacked, making them a goal for others to aspire to.
However, if the bookkeepers were to teach the red dress guard members according to their own methods, while the personal strength of these warriors would undoubtedly skyrocket, giving them some years, most of them could break through to great masters, even pursuing peak experts.