"It seems that your original decision was correct," Chen Shijie said in a low voice.
Luck was enjoyed, while misfortune was not encountered at all.
Otherwise, Chen Shijie and Long Xiao wouldn’t know what to do now.
The battle against the barbarians has escalated progressively.
Xia Jing being injured by an Earth Witch implies that Third-rank combatants have already started to take the field.
Now, Third-rank combatants still appear only sporadically, but this is also a sign.
Sooner or later, one side will not be able to restrain itself and will fully unleash a high-grade battle.
"Judging by the time, it’s about these two years," Zhao Xing thought silently.
In the 35th year of the Jingxin Calendar, Prince Liang rebelled, and before this, the high-grade battle had probably lasted for about three years.
That means, in the 32nd year of the Jingxin Calendar, the high-grade war will break out.
At that time, the Southern Desolate will truly be hell mode, a veritable meat grinder.
"When he comes, I’ll persuade him to take this opportunity to fully recuperate," Zhao Xing said solemnly, "If he retires now, he can still keep an official position of a positive fifth rank, and retire honorably with his title and orders of knighthood."
’Does this mean you are also returning to Dongyang County?" Chen Shijie asked in surprise, "Then what about this place?"
Zhao Xing smiled, "Have you forgotten that I have a duplicate?"
Although it’s true that for the cultivation of the Derivation God Decision, only two duplicates remain.
However, these can be remade at any time; Zhao Xing’s Pure Essence Soil is full of materials, and he can replicate and paste a hundred of them in the blink of an eye.
Handling official duties doesn’t even require this many.
Derivation God Decision, Life Soul Four Stars, multitasking; handling mere official duties is a piece of cake.
"Alright, then I’ll listen to you," Chen Shijie said with a smile, put down his pen, and then fell asleep instantly.
Zhao Xing waved his hand, and a gust of wind carried Chen Shijie towards the official residence.
He himself used Pure Essence Projection, and from the shadows, duplicates emerged one after another.
The duplicates took over Old Chen’s work, beginning to sign official documents.
In the 31st year of the Jingxin Calendar, early February, Spring Festival.
Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie celebrated the New Year together in their home in Dongyang County.
On February 13th, Long Xiao arrived in Dongyang County with Bai Feng.
They had just arrived when, on the afternoon of February 14th, Xia Jing also arrived in Dongyang County of Bixian County.
Zhao Xing had a family quota in the Li Fire Daoist Academy, which could allow Xia Jing to travel directly through it.
Therefore, he came on the fourth day after the New Year had ended.
Thus, the Four Swordsmen of Ten Suns Cave Heaven, who had separated in the 20th year of Jingxin, reunited after eleven years.
"Time flies, it’s been eleven years already," Xia Jing remarked as he sat at the desk.
His appearance had not changed much in eleven years, but his hair had fallen out, a lingering effect of the poison from the Earth Witch, and he had not fully recovered yet.
His demeanor had gained a few more traces of vicissitudes of life, and he had also become more stable than before.
"Come on, drink! Xia Jing, I toast to you, surviving under the hands of a Third-rank Earth Witch, I respect you as a true man!" Long Xiao raised his glass.
"Keep your voice down," Chen Shijie said, "Why are you shouting so loudly, the lady is resting in the side hall."
"What’s there to be afraid of, it’s just us four here, today let’s drink freely!"
The gathering now was the second round, and the family members were not inside this four-meter chamber.
Xia Jing also raised his glass, he had equipped two seventh rank Mechanical Prosthetics; the broken bone ginseng, after consumption, doesn’t regrow quickly.
Instead, recuperative medical prosthetics are needed. The prosthetics were thicker than his original arms, and inside was some space. His hands would slowly regrow from within there.
"Don’t worry, I’ve soundproofed this place, no matter how loud you shout, it’s fine," Zhao Xing said with a smile, raising his glass, "A toast is indeed in order, here’s to Brother Xia, cheers!"
All four drank in one go.
"Ah~ good wine." Xia Jing had only had one drink and his face turned red; his resistance was not as good as before, a cup of fifth rank fine wine was enough to bring a blush to his face.
"Princely Heir, you escaped from a Third-rank Earth Witch’s clutches, tell us about it in detail," Long Xiao said, "Today, give yourself a chance to brag."
Xia Jing raised his glass but looked towards Zhao Xing, "Speaking of which, I owe you many thanks, Brother Zhao."
"Oh? What does this have to do with him?" Long Xiao asked curiously.
Chen Shijie also looked over.
Xia Jing, looking at Zhao Xing, asked, "Do you remember what you told me when we parted?"
Zhao Xing nodded, "I remember."
Xia Jing said, "Before you left, you drew a flag for me and told me to run whenever I saw this flag."
Zhao Xing’s pupils constricted, "You encountered the Nine Nether Army from the Southern Desolate Sacred Mountain?"
Xia Jing gave a bitter smile, "Yes, I encountered people from the Nine Nether Army. At that time, I was leading a Dragon Rider Camp on a scouting mission for Xiang Kui."
"Suddenly, I came across a flag I had never seen before."
"After seeing that flag, I suddenly remembered your words, so I immediately fled."
"So you’re saying you didn’t engage in battle?" Long Xiao interjected.
"Yes, I fled as soon as I noticed," Xia Jing said, "But just when I thought I had successfully retreated, I discovered I was poisoned. My hands wouldn’t stop trembling, and the Qi and Blood Battle Formation began to fail, and I started having hallucinations."
"I saw nine black insects, with ferocious biting mouthparts, suddenly burrowing out from the air and entering my body,"
Xia Jing said gravely, "At first, I thought it was the Insect Witch’s doing, but it wasn’t, because the antidote I carried with me, which was a holy-grade, didn’t work."
"My body began to deteriorate, even my golden body was disintegrating, so I decisively cut off my own arms."
"Fortunately, my Azure Dragon Transformation Technique had already reached the seventh level, and the Xuanwu Shield and the Gluttonous Eating Skill also helped greatly. After cutting off my arms, I no longer had hallucinations, only the toxin was acting up."