Borrowed Sword

Chapter 265

By the wooden table, Han Shuangjiang's beautiful eyes couldn’t help but tremble slightly at Chu Huaixu’s words.

No wonder—a person bearing the Fearless Sword Intent naturally dared to go straight to the point.

Our young man should be spirited—what’s there to be afraid of?

But the point was, this guy ranked second on the Must-Eat List of Play Companions had set up the perfect prelude.

He wasn’t someone reckless and brainless. On the contrary, he was well-versed in the ways of a Male Green Tea.

The Dead Fox had begun to strike!

Han Shuangjiang instinctively averted her gaze.

The phrase “I said that while sober” exploded in her mind like a firework!

The tug-of-war between a man and woman was sometimes just like this.

Her emotions had been fluctuating since last night.

At breakfast today, Chu Huaixu acted as if he had blacked out and didn’t remember anything—playing dumb. Which only made her mood swings more intense.

All of it—everything—made that final sentence feel... incredibly sudden?

And yet, it made her heart race, as if a little deer in her chest had begun to ram around wildly.

She was at a complete loss for how to respond.

In truth, despite his easygoing front, Chu Huaixu was also a bit nervous.

He wasn’t afraid, and his face was thick enough—but nervous, still.

Deep down, they were both somewhat insecure in certain aspects.

Perhaps due to family, background, or past experiences.

Otherwise, why would someone like Chu Huaixu, who usually came across as so easygoing, be so vengeful?

Han Shuangjiang’s background was actually even worse.

In fact, if you observed those from humble origins versus those born into wealth—even if both achieved success and stood on the same level—their aura and style would often be worlds apart.

At this moment, Big Ice Block was even a bit scared.

Last night, after drinking too much, she had tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep.

Her mind ran wild.

“Chu Huaixu doesn’t really know me at all, does he.”

“He knows nothing about my past.”

“If he finds out…”

Han Shuangjiang had thought about a lot—really a lot—through the night.

Some kinds of insecurity follow a person their whole life.

But often—love makes one even more insecure.

The grand Main Female Protagonist of Borrowed Sword was now caught in hesitation and apprehension.

Just like that one episode of the popular drama My Own Swordsman, with Bai Zhantang and Tong Xiangyu.

“One thinks of himself as a thief, the other as a young lady of status. One thinks she’s a widow, the other the Thief Saint.”

When you like someone, you often see their strengths clearly—but also your own weaknesses.

For some reason, Han Shuangjiang’s left hand, placed beneath the table, subconsciously brushed her waist.

Tied at her waist was a Red String.

It had been tied on by the “Madam” from Red Sleeves Beckon.

It was the final dignity of a brothel woman.

Tying a Red String at the waist symbolized that one wasn’t fully exposed.

“Just self-deception, really.”

Han Shuangjiang had never cut it off because the stubborn girl within her wanted to use it as a reminder—to always have the strength to take control of her own destiny!

But at this moment, she suddenly felt the string was burning.

Burning into her skin.

Scorching her flesh and blood.

Burning her heart, tightening it over and over.

The girl set down her chopsticks, lowered her head slightly, not daring to look at Chu Huaixu.

Her gaze dimmed as she softly said:

“Chu Huaixu, actually... actually we know nothing about each other’s pasts.”

All along, they had tacitly avoided talking about these things.

For Chu Huaixu, it was because he couldn’t—he was a transmigrator.

For Han Shuangjiang, it was because she didn’t want to.

“You don’t know anything about my background or what I’ve been through.” She went on, speaking to herself.

Chu Huaixu heard her and thought silently, “I know.”

He really did know, for the most part.

But he chose not to say it.

Besides, he didn’t think his own past was worth much either.

Chu Huaixu had always suspected that deep down, Big Ice Block was someone shattered.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t be so cold, so competitive, so stubborn, so self-critical, and so caught in internal strife.

People like her always think: “I’m too broken. For someone to love me, picking up the pieces would be exhausting.”

Unaware that someone out there might be saying while gathering each shard: “This piece is mine, and this one too... hehe, they’re all mine.”

Chu Huaixu looked at her and set down his chopsticks as well.

He asked aloud, “What exactly are you trying to say?”

Dead woman, so damn twisted.

Han Shuangjiang met his gaze, then finally lifted her head, stubbornly holding his eyes.

She stared directly into Chu Huaixu’s eyes, her left hand still resting on the Red String beneath the table.

“Chu Huaixu, maybe... I’m not as good as you imagine.” She spoke, still staring him down with that same stubbornness, even as her pupils trembled.

Seeing her as this unyielding again, the Dead Fox decided... to end the game.

Morning sunlight spilled across his shoulders and face.

He looked into her eyes and said seriously:

“I already like you just the way you are—even if you're not all that good.”

——

——

Outside the bamboo house, Han Shuangjiang felt like her brain was about to explode!

All sounds from the world outside seemed muted at that moment.

She could only hear the thumping of her own heart.

“Thump—!”

“Thump—thump—!”

The Red String at her waist remained, but the one tied around her heart had already been severed in one stroke by the young man across from her.

Stubborn as she was, she now didn’t dare meet his gaze. From beginning to end, the Dead Fox had always held the upper hand.

Because he wasn’t scared—he was braver.

“Chu Huaixu, if one day you understand me better, learn about my past, you could also...”

But before she could finish, he cut her off.

“You’re so young, why are you so long-winded?” he said, slightly annoyed.

“But the first half of that sentence—I understood just fine.” The Dead Fox’s lips curled into a smile, and that little bit of nervousness he felt vanished entirely.

Hearing this, the girl lifted her head, both embarrassed and annoyed, and said, “Understood what, you!”

“I understood it, that’s all.” Chu Huaixu picked up his chopsticks again and resumed his role as the Big Eater, diving back into breakfast.

“Eat, eat, eat! All you know is eating!” the girl muttered inwardly.

Then, inexplicably, she smiled.

That thin veil had finally been pierced—and even a simple meal now tasted a little different.

After the meal, it was still Han Shuangjiang who did the dishes.

Chu Huaixu watched her and cast an 【Information Probe】.

“Huh? You’ve already reached the Second Realm, Second Heaven?” he asked, a bit surprised.

“Mm. Actually, back during the Eastern Continent Grand Competition, I already felt the pressure of suppressing my realm. I urgently needed a cultivation method for the Second Realm to break through.” she replied.

After speaking, she glanced at Chu Huaixu and asked in confusion, “You don’t feel that?”

Chu Huaixu: Like hell I would!

He could rely on the system to stall his level progression till the end of days!

Thus, people like him were actually best suited for the early layers of the 【Origin Spirit Realm】.

Of course, only if he could boost his overall strength while stalling his level.

But the Dead Fox replied, “My talent is extraordinary—suppressing my realm is extremely hard.”

“Then why haven’t you gone to the Scripture Pavilion to exchange for the second volume of the Dao Canon?” Han Shuangjiang asked.

She had no idea that Chu Huaixu was preparing to enter the 【Origin Spirit Realm】.

“Because the Sect Master and the others have a mission they want to send me on—I must remain in the First Realm for now.”

“As for the details, they won’t let me say. But I figure you’ll find out sooner or later.” he said.

Han Shuangjiang was sharp. Just from these hints, she began piecing things together.

Perhaps the Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition was connected to what he was about to do?

“Will it be dangerous?” Big Ice Block asked with concern.

“It will.” Chu Huaixu answered.

He didn’t hide it and added, “According to that old—cough, I mean, according to Little Martial Uncle Ancestor, even Little Xu with sword in hand might not be able to handle it.”

Han Shuangjiang understood the level of danger immediately.

“Then you...” she hesitated.

But Chu Huaixu brushed it off and said, “So you see—it has to be me!”

He continued gobbling up breakfast, then added, “Don’t worry. I’ll be careful with everything.”

“Mm.” She finally nodded in satisfaction.

Seeing her diligently washing dishes, Chu Huaixu asked, “Still got enough Sect Contribution Points?”

“I’m fine. The techniques I got from the Scripture Pavilion didn’t cost any.” Han Shuangjiang replied.

That had been her reward for placing third in the Eastern Continent.

At present, she’d basically finished learning the techniques—these Mystic-rank Techniques were fully sufficient for her level.

Her cultivation was advancing at lightning speed. Unlike Little Xu, she didn’t even need to rely on Spiritual Pills.

All in all, she didn’t need to spend many Sect Contribution Points lately—no need for high expenses.

“If you ever need anything, just let me know. In the early stages, efficient cultivation is key. Don’t waste your time and energy elsewhere.” Chu Huaixu said.

“Okay.” Han Shuangjiang nodded. “As for those contribution points I owe you, once I reach the Third Realm, I should be able to repay you quickly.”

“You’re really keeping track that clearly?” Chu Huaixu chuckled.

“It’s different.” Big Ice Block held firm to her principles.

The Dead Fox, of course, didn’t take it to heart.

Their revolutionary friendship had, in truth, reached a new height today.

And in the future, there would certainly be even more places where it would evolve further.

As the head of this little household of three, he always believed—there didn’t need to be two people in the house who were great at making money!

Anyway, he could earn money easily—just working the Medicinal Cauldron like a beast of burden.

He wouldn’t seriously calculate things with Han Shuangjiang.

“What’s a pile of debt, really?”

“If things go well, I’ll pay it all back sooner or later anyway.”

——