Chapter 62: Section 63: I Absolutely Will Not Eat People


    Cang Xu cast an astonished gaze. It was the first time he had heard this secret; the connection between Zi Di and Lord Zhenjin was so close.


    “Lord Zhenjin, you are a true knight,” the old scholar exclaimed sincerely, “Throughout our journey, your noble conduct has always been our spiritual beacon.”


    “We might still have hope.”


    “These scorpion tails are extremely sharp, by your strength, throwing scorpion tails could very well deal fatal damage to the gun scorpions.” Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    “We could completely rely on the cave, launching attacks now and then. When the gun scorpions come to attack, we hide inside.”


    Cang Xu proposed a good battle strategy.


    ...


    The segment of memory that Lord Zhenjin had recovered made his weapon-throwing skills formidable.


    Cang Xu had a deep impression of this when they exterminated the Flying Squirrel group.


    But Lord Zhenjin simply shook his head slightly and admitted, “The likelihood is small.”


    Without the amplification of Fighting energy, his previous attacks on the Flying Squirrels were due to a Mutation trigger, which caused his arms to swell and burst out with strength beyond the current limits of his body.


    But now, the young knight seemed to have lost the ability to Mutate.


    Whether it was the previous provocation of the scorpion group, the breakout from the lizard nest, or the recent fierce battle with the Silver Spear Scorpion, all had been life-and-death crises.


    Lord Zhenjin had relied on his own combat proficiency to escape these crises.


    From the beginning to the end, no Mutation had occurred.


    At the moments of life and death, the ability to Mutate had not been triggered.


    “It seems the Magic Power of the heart crystal is too low.”


    There were actually ways to replenish Magic Power.


    For example, eating Magic Beast Meat or drinking Magic Beast blood. Although the blood of the Monkey-tailed Brown Bear had been processed by Zi Di and a few tubes had been preserved for Lord Zhenjin.


    But because of the sandstorm, these tubes of Magic Beast blood had been lost.


    Now in Zi Di’s small pouch, there were no such potions.


    “I’m afraid under these circumstances, I won’t be able to Mutate anymore.”


    Without Mutation, the young knight, relying solely on human strength to throw these scorpion tails, would be very ineffective. Without the enhancement of speed and throwing strength, it wouldn’t threaten the gun scorpions at all.


    “Even this won’t work?” Cang Xu sighed, his face full of disappointment.


    Lord Zhenjin passed the water pouch to Zi Di, who gradually stopped sobbing, sipping the clear water in small gulps. With the aid of the action of eating, her emotions gradually stabilized.


    A deathly silence fell inside the cave.


    They had truly reached the point of utter desperation.


    After a long while.


    “Lord, you should drink some water too,” the girl in his arms offered the water pouch back to Lord Zhenjin.


    Lord Zhenjin took a sip, moistening his throat that was dry as a desert.


    The air in the cave no longer carried the previous sharp stench—the adaptability of humans sometimes exceeded their own expectations.


    Besides, in such a situation, what could they do if they didn’t adapt?


    “Lord, you go,” Zi Di urged softly.


    Lord Zhenjin made up his mind, nodding in response, “I will go. I’ll set off at dawn. After I break out, I’ll try my best to draw the gun scorpions’ attention, so you can also leave this place and go separate ways.”


    Although he very much wanted to protect Zi Di, Lord Zhenjin was clear in his mind that among the three of them, only he could take on the task of leading away the scorpions.


    This was their last chance.


    The choice to escape during the day was due to the uneven ground here, with many pits and even lava traps. Before the lava erupts during the day, gray-white smoke would first be released. But at night, the smoke is hard to detect by the human eye, making it extremely dangerous.


    “Okay.” Zi Di’s heart trembled, agreeing to Lord Zhenjin’s escape plan.


    Cang Xu also nodded, remaining silent.


    Everyone knew that such an escape plan was very rudimentary and the hope for survival was extremely slim, but what else could they do?


    It was simply like a death sentence.


    But what else could they do?


    This was their last resort.


    Zi Di, cradled in Zhenjin’s arms, fell into a deep slumber.


    She had drunk some water and hunger rumbled from her belly, but Zi Di was completely unaware, sleeping soundly.


    This was the most peaceful sleep she had in the desert and perhaps the last one of her life.


    Zhenjin did not sleep.


    He looked at the girl curled up in his embrace, his feelings of tender affection growing stronger. She seemed to him like a little cat that had been wandering for too long, emaciated and frail.


    Bai Ya was still unconscious.


    Most of the exploration team members had died, yet he had survived until now.


    But if he didn’t wake up, he too would inevitably meet his end here.


    Time slowly passed, midnight came and went, and around three or four in the morning, Cang Xu opened his eyes slowly.


    The old Scholar let out a deep sigh, “Lord, you are too hungry.”


    Zhenjin was feigning sleep, but at this moment, he cracked open an eye.


    The fact was undeniable.


    The more powerful the Cultivator of Fighting energy, the more nutrition they needed. The steel-armored Duke from the northern Empire consumed three meals of sub-dragon meat a day, while the Fire Phoenix Prince of the Elf Empire consumed two kilograms of White Frost Spirit Deer Antler.


    Zhenjin was now sitting back against the cave wall, not daring to move. He feared wasting energy needlessly; even a slight increase in strength for tomorrow’s battle would be precious, so he conserved as much as possible.


    “Lord Zhenjin, you are in dire need of food,” Cang Xu’s voice came, heavier than before.


    Zhenjin opened his eyes fully and saw the grief and indifference shining through Cang Xu’s grey irises.


    Zhenjin snorted coldly.


    He understood what Cang Xu implied; the food he referred to was Bai Ya!


    The notion of a Holy Temple Knight consuming a person was preposterous! A hideous suggestion.


    “Lord, you are too starved to fight. Bai Ya might still have a breath left, but the dead companions can serve as food, their blood a substitute for water.”


    “Shut up.” Zhenjin rebuked in a low voice, fury evident in his gaze, “I will not slaughter the innocent for my own sake. If you were their place, would you want to be seen as food?”


    Cang Xu was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, his expression filled with bitterness and perhaps a hint of relief.


    Cang Xu inhaled deeply and then made a shocking proposal, “Then please, Lord, eat me first.”


    Zhenjin was taken aback.


    At the sight of confusion dawning on Zhenjin’s face, Cang Xu said with a smile, “Perhaps, Lord Zhenjin, you misunderstand me. I do not fear death. At my age, what is there left to see through? I only fear not seeing my pursuits and dreams fulfilled. Thus, I value my life even more than those younger than me because I know my days are numbered, and my time is precious.”


    “However, if fate grants me an end, what can I do? I’ve fought with all my might, using my life to argue, and the struggle may seem ridiculous, pitiful, and tragic, but I have no regrets.”


    “Lord Zhenjin,” Cang Xu looked deeply into Zhenjin’s eyes, very serious, “Although our time together has not been long, I see that you are a noble, true Holy Temple Knight. You are brave, strong, and rise to challenges. No enemy can topple the flag of your spirit. Despite your exceptional strength and talent, you remain humble and have an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Even though you are young, your adaptability is extraordinary; the growth you’ve shown in this time is astounding. You come from nobility but maintain an attitude of equality with those of lower station, which is especially commendable.”


    “Lord, the chances for Miss Zi Di and me to survive the breakthrough tomorrow morning are almost nonexistent. The scorpion swarm won’t spare us; any ordinary gun scorpion could easily claim our lives.”


    “The one most likely to survive is only you, Lord.”


    “However, Lord, in your current state, can you escape?”


    Cang Xu shook his head, “You don’t have confidence in that, do you?”


    “Before then, any food at all could increase your chance of survival, Lord.”


    “If we set aside morals and emotions, consuming Bai Ya would be the most sensible decision. You wouldn’t deny that, would you, Lord?”


    Zhenjin remained silent.


    Cang Xu continued, “I’ve read notes from Ogres, and by the standards of food, the young Bai Ya’s flesh is tender and more nutritious. But if I were the one to serve as food, I’d be adequate as well.”


    “The key point is, I’m different from Bai Ya and the deceased companions; I am willing to offer myself. So, Lord, you are not a devil slaughtering the innocent, but a savior. The only difference is, you’re saving a trivial wish of the weak before their death, not their lives. Before I die, I have a small request, and I hope, Lord, you can fulfill it.”


    Cang Xu had a deep understanding of his predicament.


    He was too old and frail, facing almost certain death in the morning’s escape, and he had a wish, thus he was making a sacrifice of himself, hoping to leverage salvation to fulfill his dying wish.


    Zhenjin sighed and shook his head, “I could never consume a human, whether you or Bai Ya. Because I am a knight, a Holy Temple Knight! Fate favors the strong but never shows pity to those who accept their lot. Cang Xu, if you believe yourself to be dead without doubt, then it will surely be so.”


    “However, if you have a dying wish, you may speak of it. I promise that, without compromising my principles, I will make every effort to help you achieve it.”