The Protagonist is Always Intimidating Me - Chapter 29

The evening breeze carried a hint of chill, mixed with the fragrance of locust blossoms from the nearby alleys, lifting Bai Meng’s slightly long black hair. He lowered his gaze, and not far below on the street, some night market stalls had already been set up early, illuminated by a few warm lights, casting a soft glow.

Bai Meng’s dark pupils resembled a deep pool, reflecting the blood-red afterglow of the sunset on the horizon. He wore a silver-white wind cloak with a hood so large it could almost double as a cape.

Once time has passed, it will never return. My Da Bai, in the end, you too have been buried by the years…

I could give up Mo Hankui, be a dutiful subordinate, or, if he needed, I could become an indestructible sword, even if the fate destined for that sword was to break on the battlefield. I would still protect him.

If someone humiliates him, I will retaliate. If someone betrays him, I will be loyal. If he loves, I vow to be there for a lifetime. If he hates, I will respect his boundaries.

Yet, in the original text, because of the selection tournament, irreversible events eventually occurred, leading to such a tragic outcome… The distortions in Yinchen Hall, the spies that infiltrated…

Bai Meng lowered his eyes. Mo Hankui loved Feng Qingxuan, Feng Qingxuan loved Feng Suiling, and Feng Suiling loved to stir up trouble, which ultimately led to Mo Hankui’s death…

Somewhat troubled, not knowing where to start, especially with everything thrown into chaos since the selection tournament began. Tch, so frustrating.

Bai Meng’s tail twitched irritably.

“What’s been up with you lately?” Mo Jiuge, dressed in a black embroidered robe with a deep red sash, leapt lightly onto the rooftop and sat beside Bai Meng.

“Nothing. I’m fine.”

“Heh, you’ve been avoiding the Hall Master for days now and you say you’re fine? Come on, tell Jiuge Ge what’s going on—maybe I can help you sort it out.”

“It’s fine. I’ve figured it out.” Bai Meng shot him a disdainful look. “Jiuge Ge?”

“Sigh~” Mo Jiuge accepted it all calmly.

“……”

“…But I really do have some things I can’t figure out,” Bai Meng waved his hand indifferently, a faint scent of wine lingering on him. Mo Jiuge had already smelled it the moment he sat down but chose not to ask, simply frowning and then returning to his indifferent expression.

“Go ahead.”

“Is the selection tournament over?” Bai Meng’s face looked somewhat weary, with a thin veil of uncertainty in his eyes that made his emotions unreadable.

“No. Elder Mo Zhiyan and Mo Lei are still choosing members for this year’s border guard team. I hear the candidates this time are quite capable.”

Each year, the Hall selects a large number of guards solely for the protection needed on the Day of the Eclipse.

“Is that so… Interesting. However, for the next question, Jiuge, how are you feeling right now?”

“…Not bad, I guess?”

“Ahem,” Bai Meng cleared his throat. “Then I’ll ask.”

“……”

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m afraid that once I ask, you’ll be in a bad mood. My question is rather rebellious.”

“…Go ahead.”

“Why does the Hall hold a selection tournament every year? I think it’s exhausting and troublesome.” Bai Meng tilted his head, his pitch-black eyes fixed on Mo Jiuge. “The border guard is rotated every three years, with four halls rotating over a twelve-year cycle. Even with a selection tournament every three years, several rounds could be completed, but doing it annually seems unnecessarily wasteful and exhausting.”

“……” Mo Jiuge’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he gazed with Bai Meng at the gradually setting sun on the horizon. Instead of answering, he asked another question. “Xiao Bai Meng, do you think Xingge Hall is lively right now?”

Bai Meng glanced at the street not far away, where beast-eared citizens came and went, with occasional powerful figures passing through. Vendors sold flashy goods to draw attention, and the setting sun did nothing to diminish the crowd’s excitement.

“It’s very lively…”

“Yes,” Mo Jiuge smiled. “But such liveliness can be destroyed very easily.”

“Twenty-seven years ago, I was just a child,” Mo Jiuge looked at the dimming sky. “Back then, my father was a member of the guard in Richi Hall. Then, he and all his comrades went to the battlefield and never came back.”

“The scariest thing is that once, a crack appeared in the boundary seal, and all the Richi Hall guards were completely wiped out…”

“That day, Richi Hall became a warning for everyone.”

“……” Bai Meng pressed his lips together, quietly listening to Mo Jiuge’s account.

“So, there’s never really been a question of it being exhausting. Among the competitors, there may be scoundrels or ruffians; perhaps their conduct is crude, but the moment they enter the tournament, they’re already prepared to sacrifice their lives.

“Because no one can predict the outcome—whether they live or die.

“The selection process is brutal and dangerous, but to ensure absolute strength and improve everyone’s chance of survival, we can only rely on this primitive selection process.

“To ensure there are always enough people, we must conduct it every year. Even if we die, there will be reserves to protect civilians, and the Hall will record every guard’s identity. If we can’t make it back alive, the Hall will look after our families.

“All of this is for the next person sitting here to continue to appreciate the liveliness here, rather than a desolate emptiness.”

Mo Jiuge stood up, the hem of his black robe rustling. His tea-brown pupils reflected the lights of countless households, as warm and bright as the morning sun.

“This is the duty of our guard team.”