It has to be said that whether it was before or now, Zhao Shuning's talents in combat ability and mental power were quite remarkable. However, when it came to matters of the heart, she was simply as obtuse as a cow.
In her previous life, she always deliberately or inadvertently flirted with that millennium-old imperial tutor. Every time, she would flirt and then run away, without caring about the consequences.
Now, in the face of Viper's overtures, her first reaction wasn't that this kid was so pitiful, but rather that this kid must be crazy. If she had such a disgraceful past, she would surely hide it well and never expose it. Besides, she wasn't exactly an intimate person to him.
Seeing Zhao Shuning looking at him in shock.
Viper thought that his past had touched this girl in front of him, making her realize that everyone had a disgraceful past and that she didn't need to feel inferior or sad.
"Actually, senior, I told you all this not—"
"Did you say your name is Xiao An?"
"Uh—yes?"
Viper didn't react at once. No one had called him by this name for many years.
"Yeah."
"From now on, I'll call you Xiao An."
Viper nodded, a surge of joy welling up in his heart.
This girl in front of him was probably as he had guessed. If she was really that young, she wouldn't be able to say such mature words.
"Okay."
"Xiao An, I want to tell you something. If one is easily influenced by the environment, they're not a true strong person. They're just a fence-sitter. A real strong person can change the environment they're in. If you want to become a strong person, you shouldn't be restricted by the environment. You clearly know that what they're doing is wrong, but if you still follow them and do these things, you won't become a hero in the future. You'll only become a puppet."
Viper lowered his head and looked at the two swaying calves on the edge of the cliff.
His state of mind was once again stirred up like a raging storm.
"Senior, I don't have enough strength—"
"If you don't have enough strength, then work hard to become stronger, instead of becoming stronger by plundering others."
When Zhao Shuning said this, she almost bit her tongue.
When did she start spouting such grand principles so easily? She remembered that just a few months ago, she had ransacked the pharmacy of that so - called Duanlong Sect. Saying this now seemed a bit self - contradictory.
"Senior is truly senior. The words you say make this junior admire you."
"Xiao An, in this world, no one can decide whether what you do is right or wrong. But there's a moral benchmark. You can't cross that benchmark for your own interests and join hands with evil people. Otherwise, your descendants will only be spat upon by future generations."
"Senior, I understand."
Zhao Shuning nodded, stood up, and stretched.
Looking back at Viper, she said, "I hope you really understand."
Then, she wrapped Viper with her mental power and slowly sent him back into the cave.
Before Viper could even say goodbye to her, she disappeared from sight.
Over the years, she was the only one who had told him that if he believed what he was doing was right, he should persevere and strive for it. He shouldn't lower his dignity to please others or follow others' will because of some non - existent gazes. A person like that wasn't a living being but a puppet.
She was the only one in these years who had told him to follow his heart.
Viper's heart had been dark before, but at this moment, a ray of sunlight seemed to shine through the dark sky.
That ray of sunlight was warm and bright.
He seemed to have found a new direction to pursue.
Once a person has a direction and something to pursue, they will be completely different from before.
Zhao Shuning didn't know that her casual words back then would have such a great impact on a young man, even affecting his entire life.
When she met that young man again in the future, Zhao Shuning could only sigh.
The charm of language was truly infinite.
After about seven days, Wu Long and his group began to climb to the second height.
Only then did Zhao Shuning slowly start to move her feet.
Compared to when they first set out, except for Zhao Shuning, the combat abilities of the others had all improved to some extent.
Every night, Zhao Shuning could only look on enviously.
Looking at the pill in her hand, which she didn't know what it was, she hesitated again and again whether she should take it or not.
She thought that since it wasn't poisonous, taking it shouldn't cause any problems.
But then she thought that if this pill was taken by an ordinary spiritual pharmacist, it would be fine. But she was also an alchemist. If she couldn't control it well, toxins might be left in her body. Since she was practicing both combat and alchemy, she didn't have much time to deal with this trouble. Moreover, they were now in the Dark Swamp Land. If something happened to her, it would be okay for her, but the five people around her might be in a complete mess and could even be shot full of holes.
Thinking like this, Zhao Shuning decided that it was better for her to be more cautious.
So after much thought, Zhao Shuning gave the pill to Viper.
When Viper took the pill, his hands were still shaking. Although he had never seen the true appearance of the girl in front of him, somehow, she seemed to have become the person he trusted most in the world.
"Is this for me?"
"Yeah. This pill—"
Before Zhao Shuning could finish, Viper swallowed the pill.
This action even startled Zhao Shuning.
"What are you doing? Aren't you afraid that the pill is poisonous or that I'm trying to harm you?"
"I believe senior wouldn't do that."
Zhao Shuning took a few steps back and looked at Viper. "What if there are side effects?"
"Then I'll accept them willingly."
After cursing silently in her heart that he was a monster, Zhao Shuning left the cave.
What she didn't know was that after she left, on the first night, Viper's body started to change. His whole body became crystal - clear. On the second night, the spiritual energy in his body scattered, and he became extremely weak. He couldn't even use his hands and feet properly. On the third night, he was sweating profusely, and his consciousness became very blurred.
Even so, from beginning to end, Viper never blamed Zhao Shuning or doubted her.
Finally, on the fourth night, the spiritual energy in Viper's body began to recombine and gather into new spiritual energy.
After that, the spiritual energy even showed signs of breaking through the top. In one fell swoop, Viper's combat ability cultivation directly surpassed the late stage of the second rank and stepped into the third rank.
Looking at his own hands filled with spiritual energy.
Viper was full of gratitude towards the senior who had given him the pill.