‘This brat was actually pretending! And to think I had almost fallen for it, but he had pulled it off so smoothly it even convince me for a moment. No doubt if anyone else was in my position they would have been played by this Fei Yin brat. But sadly for him, I have confidence in my concealment ability. A Core Formation Realm cultivator would have to struggle to discover me, much less a brat like you in the 7th stage of the Foundation Construction Realm.’
Xi Shen had been angry that he was almost tricked by Fei Yin, but he started to feel smug that Fei Yin couldn’t actually sense him.
After Fei Yin didn’t see anyone appear, he finally relaxed for real, before tears began to well up within his eyes.
Soon after, soft sobs escaped his lips before he mumbled under his breath as grief and sorrow overcome his heart.
“Mother, father, elder sister, elder brother, Ming’er. I finally avenge you. I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault you were all killed, it’s all my fault-it’s all my fault, it’s all my fault!! I missed you all, I don’t think I will be able to live with myself knowing I was the one that caused your deaths. I promised I would avenge you four years ago, but now that I have, I want to see you all again… AHHHH!!!”
Fei Yin could no longer control his emotion and let out a cry of anguish that he had been bottling up for four years. Everything came flooding out like a broken dam.
Xi Shen upon seeing this didn’t know how to react. He guessed that Fei Yin had been thinking about avenging his family all this while, but at the same time was blaming himself for their deaths.
He was a walking contradiction, wanting to punish himself for causing their deaths but at the same time wanting to live to take the life of his family's killer.
Xi Shen didn’t expect Fei Yin’s situation would be so similar to his own back in his past life, but for Fei Yin, he at least had the chance to kill the person who had murdered his family. As for Xi Shen, the cultivator who had so casually wiped out his village had been beheaded during one of the many wars, so he got no such relief.
But even then, he didn’t think that would have lessened the pain he was feeling. If anything it would just make it more painful for him to live, just like this Fei Yin.
After screaming in anguish, Xi Shen saw Fei Yin brandishing his sword toward his throat.
Xi Shen immediately shot up from the branch he was sitting on and was about to stop Fei Yin, but he paused.
‘Is this right? Should I stop him?’
Xi Shen didn’t know what he would say to such a person in this state of mind. It was obvious Fei Yin was a broken mess of his former self.
With his only purpose for living gone, he didn’t have the will to remain alive any longer.
While Xi Shen was thinking of what to do, Fei Yin had already placed his long sword at his throat, with his left hand placed behind it ready to sever his neck.
Xi Shen began to panic a little, if he didn’t step in now Fei Yin was going to kill himself.
‘And just when I thought I found someone suitable to join my faction. What should I do now, he wants to die and he’s dead set on it, literally.’
After a moment, Xi Shen made his decision and his figure moved while he thought in his head, ‘Whatever, I’ll just give him a reason not to kill himself.’
Fei Yin’s left hand, which was coated in a layer of wood elemental Q, pull back and was about to slam onto the back of the sword as hard as he could to behead himself, but Xi Shen’s figure appeared next to him, and firmly latched onto his left hand. Stopping it only three inches away from the back of his sword.
If Xi Shen had hesitated any longer, it would have been too late to save this suicidal brat.
Xi Shen was about to open his mouth to speak to Fei Yin, but Fei Yin’s demeanor shifted all of a sudden, and the sword in his right hand disappeared from his neck and slashed towards Xi Shen’s own.
Xi Shen was taken aback by the fact that he was still on guard, but Xi Shen soon felt annoyance take over as his left hand casually reached up and held the blade from its back with his five fingers flat on its surface. Stopping its sharp front several inches away from his throat.
“Hey brat look, trying to kill the second prince of the Maple Continent isn’t exactly a smart move, dont'ya think?”
As Xi Shen said that, he slowly removed the blade from his throat.
Fei Yin who was in battle mode was snapped back to reality when he saw Xi Shen's appearance through his watery eyes and hearing his comment.
For the longest time, Fei Yin slowly widen his eyes before he pulled out of Xi Shen’s grasp, albeit because Xi Shen had let him go, after which he stumbled back and stuttered out in confusion, “S-second prince? You… what are you doing here? I-I apologize to his majesty the second prince I had not known it was you before I attacked.”
Fei Yin gave a slight bow to Xi Shen as a sign of apology.
However, shock was flooding his heart, as for a brief moment he could have sworn that Xi Shen had released a cultivation base aura.
But he had heard that the second prince couldn’t cultivate, so what exactly was going on? And more importantly what was he doing here, and why did he stop him from taking his life?
Looking at Fei Yin’s respectfulness, Xi Shen had thought that he would be indifferent towards his title as the second prince since his earlier demeanor seemed like that was his personality. But he was pleasantly surprised that respect for the Li Royal Family was still present in his heart.
“What were you just planning to do? I was just walking by when I happened upon you, now why would a talented disciple like you want to kill yourself?”
Fei Yin, upon hearing Xi Shen’s words, had suspicions in his heart about him just walking by. He had made sure to go deep into the forest, where disciples hardly ever venture into, so they wouldn't find his corpse after he took his life.
But he place those suspicions behind him before he responded to Xi Shen’s question.
“Second prince, it’s just some personal problems that have been plaguing my mind. I’m thankful that you have stopped me from committing such a foolish act.”
Fei Yin bowed politely at Xi Shen, before he said again, “Excuse me second prince, I will take my leave now and head back to the Academy.”
Fei Yin then turn around to leave, but Xi Shen spoke up and said, “From the look in your eyes, it seemed as if you still plan on taking your life. And also, the Academy is in that direction..” Xi Shen pointed in the direction he had followed Fei Yin from, and he continued to say after pointing again in the direction Fei Yin was heading, “…That direction your heading in is to the deeper parts of the forest. Are you plan on killing yourself there?”
Fei Yin’s footsteps paused and he held his head down. After a moment of silence, he then said, “Second prince, with all due respect, please don’t stop me. This is my decision, don’t interfere.”
Fei Yin said those last words firmly before he activated his movement technique and headed deeper into the forest at lightning-like speed.
Xi Shen’s eyes narrowed briefly before his figure transformed into black smoke and followed Fei Yin.
After zigzagging around the forest for what seemed like forever, Fei Yin stopped at another clearing before he dropped to his knees and brandish his sword.
Like before, he place the sword to his neck, and with tears streaming down his cheeks, he went to slam his left palm against his sword, but was surprised that his hand was suddenly caught.
Fei Yin’s eyes flew open and just like the scene previously, his sword was stopped several inches away from Xi Shen’s throat.
Fei Yin stumbled out of Xi Shin’s grasp and looked at Xi Shen in shock and bewilderment.
“Second prince, you-what are you doing here, have you followed me?”
Xi Shen placed his hands behind his back, and nonchalantly said, “Oh, it’s you again fellow disciple Yin.” As if Xi Shen had come to a sudden realization, he smacked his forehead with one of his hands and then said, “I was just walking by and thought that I had discovered another person trying to take their life so I stepped in.”
Xi Shen shook his head and said, “Well never mind, you go ahead.”
Fei Yin, who was standing still looking at Xi Shen with a confused expression, didn’t know how to react to his statement. So he only turned around, and with confusion still in his heart, he used his movement technique and disappeared once again.
Immediately after, Xi Shen’s figure disappeared as well.
After several minutes, the same situation occurred again.
“Oh, fellow disciple Yin, what a coincidence again. I was just walking by and thought I saw another person. It’s my mistake, carry on.”
Fei Yin was not confused by Xi Shen’s actions this time but rather had on a hard expression.