Chapter 187: Chapter 148: Invincible With Me

Ah?

Rabbit Heroine and Yan Qing both froze.

He looked at the screen displaying Pharmacist’s Wish, dust-laden and dirtied, even her fair and delicate face had smudges. Although she could have bathed last night, Pharmacist’s Wish probably didn’t trust the inn’s reputation, and didn’t dare remove her clothes and be defenseless, so at most she wiped her body.

It’s not that Pharmacist’s Wish managing these things is so remarkable; Wuqiu and Shidong are the same—they even have to serve Pharmacist’s Wish.

But the reason Pharmacist’s Wish can endure this is because she harbors a great aspiration in her heart, even willing to die for it.

That’s the restoration of Ba River Pharmacist, and returning to the Zhou Kingdom Court.

Compared to that, revenge is not the highest priority in Pharmacist’s Wish’s mind. She could accept her father’s death—the court political intrigue is survival of the fittest, her father didn’t spare his political enemies when he was in power. But she couldn’t accept the fall of Duke Jin’s Mansion, nor the end of Ba River Pharmacist’s legacy—this foundation is ancestral, not solely her father’s.

If Pharmacist’s Wish abandoned this aspiration, she could live very well; Shidong secretly discussed with Wuqiu more than once to persuade her to flee to another country.

Qi Kingdom and Liang Kingdom would absolutely welcome hosting a persecuted royal from an enemy country as their moral trophy, not to mention Pharmacist’s Wish also has Third Transition Cultivation.

Even without relying on an enemy country, hiding away isn’t difficult—Liangzhou and Shuzhou are places where the Emperor is far away; as long as she changes her name and conceals herself, Zhou Kingdom would eventually give up the search.

But she won’t.

Inherit Si Wuxie’s legacy, then return in glory to reclaim Duke Jin’s Mansion honor—it sounds simple, but the risks involved are even higher than being hunted by Zhou Kingdom.

Not mentioning how she would inherit Si Wuxie’s legacy, but Shu Dao Mountain is a Demon Path Evil Land, upon inheriting the legacy, she would face hundreds of Demonic Messenger’s covetous eyes.

She abandoned all easy options and insisted on taking the hardest path, even if Yan Qing held reservations about her obsession—this will, unwavering like stone, won Yan Qing’s approval.

So he couldn’t accept Pharmacist’s Wish’s decision now.

"Where are Wuqiu and Shidong?" Rabbit Heroine looked behind Pharmacist’s Wish: "Where are they? If they were here, they would surely stop you, big sister."

"They already went back to Changle City, I gave them Spiritual Jade, enough for them to stay at the inn for three days."

"Aren’t you afraid someone will cause them trouble?"

"Last night at midnight, I trained them for two hours. Though they’re not too formidable, if they encounter thugs, they could create enough disturbance in Changle City. As long as the Three Guardians want to maintain the black market there, they won’t be in danger." Pharmacist’s Wish said calmly: "Of course, there’s still risk, but they both agreed with my decision."

"Even if you might die on the mountain?" Rabbit Heroine questioned: "Big sister, you heard it too—there are traps everywhere on the mountain, countless Demon Path masters gathered, Zhong Ji aims for us not to escape... or do you have a plan?"

"This is my first time at Shu Dao Mountain, what plan could I have? Zhong Ji is a local tyrant, how could he leave loopholes for us to exploit." Pharmacist’s Wish shook her head: "But you saved our lives, and I, Pharmacist’s Wish, distinguish clear between gratitude and grievances—I will exert myself fully, and if necessary, repay your kindness by risking my life."

She paused: "If I hadn’t restrained Wuqiu and Shidong, telling them you’d only drag us down, they would actually want to come stand alongside us... They asked me to convey their message not to misunderstand them as cowardly."

Rabbit Heroine was silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "Would Shidong say something like that?"

"Of course, it was Wuqiu who said it; Shidong was so worried she didn’t dare speak." Pharmacist’s Wish smiled: "But don’t think Shidong is timid, she proactively asked to enter the Secret Realm with me back then, only because I needed someone to help carry the arrows... As long as it’s her responsibility, even how scared she is, she’ll muster up courage to complete it."

"I, Pharmacist’s Wish, have no ingrates among my people."

"Then what about your aspiration? Aren’t you going to inherit Si Wuxie’s legacy?" Rabbit Heroine asked: "Are you going to abandon your grand ambition to revive your family?"

"Grand ambition... haha." Pharmacist’s Wish leaned Soul-Breaking Spear on the ground, self-mocking: "I lost my family, lost my status, lost everything, except for my martial prowess and two maids, what my family left me is only the dignity of Ba River Pharmacist."

"The plan can be revamped, but once dignity is sullied, it is eternal shame. Perhaps there are many rulers indifferent to details, but I am not—Pharmacist’s Wish’s pursued philosophy only seeks to be true to oneself."

Rabbit Heroine shook her head, opened her hands like a small adult: "Big sister, you’re too impulsive."

"Haha, now it’s your turn to call me impulsive, when you said we should storm Shu Dao Mountain." Pharmacist’s Wish laughed out loud, but soon retracted her smile: "Perhaps it is impulsive, and I’ll probably pay dearly for it, but this is my philosophy—if I can’t fulfill this philosophy, Ba River Pharmacist has truly declined."

She looked down at Rabbit Heroine’s eyes: "You needn’t persuade me, just as I won’t persuade you. Don’t think of agreeing temporarily then leaving, if you die on Shu Dao Mountain, I will definitely retrieve your body for burial. I won’t allow your corpse to be defiled for a moment longer... Sister, you either fully withdraw or leave with me, I won’t offer you a third path."

You really carry a heavy burden, Yan Qing sighed inwardly.

At such a time, he had no choice but to reveal another card... not that he minded it.

"Big sister, look."

The Rabbit Heroine suddenly appeared with a token in her hand, engraved with the words "Return Order."

Pharmacist’s Wish was slightly taken aback: "A Return Order? I heard about half a month ago, a madman named Jiang Shi appeared in the Mansu Forest Land of Liang Kingdom. He decapitated two Third Transitions, defeated all the messengers present, and then escaped from the clutches of Prison-Suppressing Thunder King Chen Liexia using a Return Order... Is this the Return Order Jiang Shi used to escape!?"

It was the first time Yan Qing heard about another character’s experience from someone else, and it felt... rather thrilling.

It had the aesthetic of a single-player game with a narrative web!

"That’s right, it’s the Return Order that even Foundation Establishment messengers can’t shake, ensuring a safe escape. It’s a treasure my brother gave me," the Rabbit Heroine said, "So you understand, big sister? If I encounter an accident when I climb the mountain, I can escape at any time with the Return Order. I’m not going there to die; you don’t need to come with me."

Of course, it’s a lie.

There are only two uses left of the Return Order, and Yan Qing is reluctant to let the character use it. Even though running is still an option, if truly unable to escape, Yan Qing can accept the defeat. Attacking the city and failing is quite normal; next time, after establishing the foundation, he can test his mettle again.

However, after hearing these words, Pharmacist’s Wish did not show a reassuring or relieved expression. Her face became very subtle, like Yan Qing’s expression when he ran into other classmates at an internet cafe after climbing over the school wall, thinking, "So you’re the same."

"Though not as effective as your Return Order, I also have a method of escaping my life."

Pharmacist’s Wish said slowly, "But my method can only ensure my safety, it can’t protect you, and once exposed, the consequences would be incalculable. Originally, I planned to do my utmost to cover for you and get you to a safe place if you encountered danger. And if you died, I’d at least take your body... I didn’t expect you to be prepared as well."

Pharmacist’s Wish’s method of escape was very simple: go to the Thief’s House.

As long as she went there, no one in this world could harm her, but she also couldn’t influence the outside world. And if exposed, she’d basically be unable to act outside, as many messengers would want to capture her for a chance to go to the Divine Marquis Mansion, so she’d never choose this option unless absolutely necessary.

The Rabbit Heroine was taken aback: "You have a way too? But why didn’t you mention it earlier?"

"Well..." Pharmacist’s Wish seemed a bit embarrassed, "If I didn’t mention it, you might decide not to climb the mountain, and... if I said I could escape anytime, I wouldn’t have been able to say those things earlier..."

Yan Qing thought for a moment and quickly understood Pharamcist’s Wish’s thought process: she deliberately hid this information to win the Rabbit Heroine’s favor!

A Pharmacist’s Wish with no retreat but still willing to advance and retreat together is naturally more touching than one with an escape route.

In fact, Yan Qing was indeed quite moved by her; otherwise, he wouldn’t have let the Rabbit Heroine show the Return Order to dissuade Pharmacist’s Wish.

Darn it, Pharmacist’s Wish, who seems so careless, turned out to have such a calculating mind!

Yan Qing was both amused and helpless, but given Pharmacist’s Wish’s sincerity, he couldn’t muster any anger.

"So you still want to climb the mountain with me?"

"Of course, why else would I confess to having an escape route?" Pharmacist’s Wish responded decisively, "You want to convince me with the Return Order, and I can naturally use the same method to convince you."

"But why would you do this?" the Rabbit Heroine asked in confusion, "If you were protecting me to repay a debt, now that I’ve assured you I can safely leave, going with me would mean offending one of the Three Guardians of Shu Dao Mountain, perhaps inciting the hostility of all Demonic Messengers... don’t you want to inherit Si Wuxie’s legacy?"

Pharmacist’s Wish fell silent, gazing at the Soul-Breaking Spear in her hand, as if contemplating her words.

"My previous plan was to seek refuge with one of the Three Guardians and then gather intelligence on Foundation Establishment’s legacy and act when the opportunity arose," she said slowly, "But to be honest, I don’t want to associate with people from the Demon Dao, I just have no other choice."

"Perhaps it’s because I’ve spent too long in Chang’an that compromising has become second nature to me. For the sake of greater profit, anyone can be a partner... If it weren’t for you, sister, I’d have forgotten that I actually have another choice."

She suddenly flicked the Soul-Breaking Spear, creating a fierce spear flower.

"To test Shu Dao Mountain with a sword, to subdue the Three Guardians!" Pharmacist’s Wish said seriously, "They are merely Third-Turn Messengers, and I am also a Third-Turn Messenger. Why should I seek refuge under them? Let us cut a foothold among these ghosts and spirits with our long spears!"

"Since you have the ambition to sweep away the demons, how can I not accompany you to the end? Previously worried about being unable to extract ourselves, now that everyone has a secure retreat, what is there for me to hesitate about?"

Pharmacist’s Wish extended a fist towards the Rabbit Heroine, her fist dirty and seemingly stained with blood.

"This journey up the mountain, with me, invincible!"

Yan Qing saw this scene and instinctively held his breath, feeling as if even his heart had stopped. It was the first time he wished he could replace the character, step onto the stage, and join the upcoming adventure... even through the screen, he felt a surge of heroism in his chest.

The Rabbit Heroine extended her tiny fist to bump against Pharmacist’s Wish’s fist.

"With me, invincible!"