When Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior saw the shadow shaking its head, he got even more nervous. He began trembling, and his expression was one of complete despair. He looked at Xu Qing and wondered if he was really done for this time.0

“Milord...”0

“Are you alright?” Xu Qing asked quietly, even caringly.8

To the patriarch, his tone of voice was like a spring breeze. His eyes widened, and he started breathing heavily. He could never have imagined that the Fiendish Xu would ask, not about the words he had spoken, but rather, about his wellbeing. Waves of emotions swept through him, and they were more intense because of how close he had come to death. His heart raced with joy and exultation, filling him with an indescribable feeling. All he knew was that his heart was racing because of Xu Qing.22

Then he thought back to all of the novels he’d read throughout his life, especially scenes where things like this happened. Usually the person in his situation would say something akin to “together we something-or-other on the same year, month, and day” and “oh great god, something, yada yada,” and then would conclude with “I’ll accompany you loyally through life” or “let history bear witness that...4