Nine Star Burden

Ka-cha!

Jiang Xiao seemed to have heard the sounds of metal cracking. He looked over and saw that the metal skull of the mercenary had been smashed open because of Second Last’s violent punching.

Jiang Xiao’s strength was not enough and he couldn’t use his dagger either. However, for Second Last, using her Star Technique was a hundred times better than the dagger.

“You’ve only lit up three star slots, but I saw at least five Star Techniques,” Second Last said while sticking her hands into the mercenary’s skull and prying it open with both hands.

“No, I have six Star Techniques. A kid in the Stardust Stage can never have such a strong defensive power. You have the White Ghoul’s Star Technique Endurance too.” Second Last finally managed to rip the skull of the mercenary apart and took out the Star Bead in it.

“Let me look at your Star Map,” said Second Last, who seemed to be rather organized, for she would review her next task after finishing a task that was of top priority.

After she finally destroyed the mercenary, she turned around to look at Jiang Xiao and made a request that she had been thinking about for a long time.

“I don’t want to,” said Jiang Xiao.

“Do you think you have the right to reject?” Second Last said while staring at Jiang Xiao and pinching the mercenary ‘s Star Bead in her hand, after which the immense Star Power surged into her body.

Jiang Xiao could feel the Star Power accumulating around him like a river and flowing menacingly in the air.

Jiang Xiao hastily began to absorb the Star Power with the help of his Star Technique, Star Power Abundance.

She didn’t ask about the ownership of the Star Bead, perhaps because she didn’t care about Jiang Xiao’s opinion, or she thought that giving a Galaxy Stage Star Bead to a kid who was in the Stardust Stage would be considered a disaster.

Anyway, she absorbed the Star Bead.

There were some things that Jiang Xiao could fight for, but there were also some that he couldn’t.

Second Last was not Xia Yan or Han Jiangxue, and Second Last wasn’t one of his teammates. Hence, he decided not to ask for it in the end despite feeling extremely complicated.

Second Last sat on the corpse’s chest while Star Power spread out from the broken skull.

She stopped asking and there was no longer anything unusual with her body. Even her breathing had become gentler and she seemed to root herself to the ground like a statue.

Jiang Xiao was also continuously replenishing his Star Power and enjoying the feeling of being in a dreamy state. If he could continue cultivating Star Power in such environments, there would probably be a drastic qualitative increase for the Awakened in China.

After a long time, Jiang Xiao opened his eyes in comfort, only to be greeted with the sight of the statue-like body.

Even though he had been through thick and thin with her, he did not feel safe at all.

She was indeed rather fickle-minded.

When she pulled him up in the pit, there was a tinge of tenderness in her gloomy eyes.

When she tried to take Jiang Xiao in as her disciple, she was full of affirmation towards him.

When she tossed the White Ghoul Witch’s Star Bead towards him, she had already regained her composure.

When she killed the White Ghouls and destroyed the mercenary brutally, her face was full of murderous intent and her eyes were menacing. She was also rather oppressing when she questioned Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao could tolerate being around a moody woman whose mood fluctuates throughout the day, but he could not tolerate a woman who went through so many emotional changes within just ten short minutes.

He felt that he couldn’t even be friends with a woman like that.

Since she could give up her life for something that she strongly believed in, he reckoned that the two of them would only be able to be tied together and have a strong rapport once they became teammates.

Jiang Xiao retreated quietly and stared at the fickle-minded Second Last who was just like a temperamental beast. He could not be sure of what she might do.

She was not an obedient and adorable domestic British shorthair, but a fierce and wild cheetah who belonged to the grasslands.

Just like the White Ghoul Witch, she could not become a Star Pet.

The menace and cruelty within her made her a natural killer.

After taking more than ten steps back, Jiang Xiao finally knew why her body was quaking beforehand and why she was murmuring unconsciously.

While she spat out some white mist, Jiang Xiao could again feel the intense Star Power.

She actually… broke through?

Jiang Xiao was like a greenhorn in the Stardust Stage who was not familiar with masters who were on godly levels.

Jiang Xiao was rather unclear about the Star Power sensitivity of Second Last, who was in the Galaxy Stage, and he simply knew that the rate of Star Power surging into her body was far greater than that of his.

Hence, Jiang Xiao had no idea if she had surpassed the beginning of the Galaxy Stage, or had already reached the peak. He wondered if she had already entered the legendary Starfall Stage.

Jiang Xiao merely hoped that he would one day be able to become such a formidable Awakened.

“So, you have two Star Techniques in each of your three remaining star slots, right?” Second Last stood up slowly and glanced at him with narrow eyes.

Jiang Xiao subconsciously took a step back and raised his right hand, after which a ray of light landed on Second Last.

Second Last’s face stiffened and her body began quaking again…

While she groaned in a hoarse voice, Jiang Xiao said, “Be friendly, soldier. Even if you don’t regard me as a fellow comrade and have forgotten that we saved each other’s lives, I’m a Chinese citizen at the end of the day. Please protect me. Well, at least, do not hurt me.”

Second Last’s eyes widened slightly. Jiang Xiao was right about her being menacing and sharp-tongued.

After hearing those words, there seemed to be a change in her attitude. She looked down at the stubborn Jiang Xiao and said, “You’re interesting.”

I don’t want to be interesting. 

I want to leave this snowfield safely. 

Or rather, I want to leave you safely. 

But the problem is, I probably can’t leave this snowfield without you… 

This is such a terrible feeling. The healers should be the happiest and everyone should be putting me on a pedestal. But what happened in the end? 

Jiang Xiao felt nothing but misery.

Second Last turned around and looked into the distance. “You have a strong and determined heart. You also have an intelligent brain and clever tricks.”

Jiang Xiao didn’t answer because he was unsure of where the conversation would go.

“You only have nine star slots, but you already have six Star Techniques in the Stardust Stage. Without Imprint, Bell can’t shuttle between just you and me. Without Endurance, you won’t be able to take that damage. I’ve also seen Decoy, which you’ve been trying to hide.”

Jiang Xiao remained silent because her analysis was correct. He could not conceal his abilities during a life-and-death situation as such.

“The information says that your Green Glow and Blessing have all been upgraded to Silver Quality. Perhaps, Heaven has opened another window for you after closing a door,” Second Last said while turning around to look at Jiang Xiao.

“I’m freezing. Can we go back?” Jiang Xiao asked.

“You have been staying by my side and you didn’t take the Star Beads in my head or tried to escape.” Second Last ignored Jiang Xiao and adjusted her long hair before saying in a hoarse voice, “You stayed even though you were injured and you didn’t forget to use Decoy to distract the White Ghouls. Even though we were facing death, you didn’t abandon me…”

Is this… a confession? 

Jiang Xiao almost decided to be mischievous again.

However, he had no choice but to swallow his words after thinking about the consequences.

Jiang Xiao said, “Since I saved you, can you promise me something? I don’t want others to know that I have two Star Techniques in every star slot.”

During the life-and-death situation, Jiang Xiao had no choice but to go all out and reveal his Star Technique, Decoy.

Second Last did not answer and instead said, “You don’t necessarily have to join the Wasteland Reclaimers to make your parents proud.”

Jiang Xiao was dumbfounded.

Second Last then took a step forward.

Jiang Xiao followed suit while Second Last said in a hoarse voice, “Have you ever heard of the Guardians Of The Night? Follow me and I’ll teach you everything.”

What’s this? 

A threat? 

“Even though I have two Star Techniques in one star slot, I’m just a greenhorn in the Stardust Stage who only has nine star slots. There’ll always be other talents in China. Why are you so insistent?” Jiang Xiao asked.

Second Last licked her lips and said in a hoarse voice, “Your abilities can be nurtured, but physical attributes cannot.”

Jiang Xiao clutched his chest with one hand.

Oh no! 

I feel like… my chest muscles are tightening! 

This body is only 16 years old. I can’t fall in love yet! 

Even if I do get into a relationship, it can’t be with such a violent cat. 

I love Han Jiangxue. Long live Han Jiangxue!