Chapter 822 - 25: Farewell

Chapter 822: Chapter 25: Farewell

Coming from their own world to this prehistoric wasteland, at the outset, perhaps every challenger thought about returning to their homeland someday, but under the harsh limitations of the challenge rules, most people probably already considered themselves as good as dead.

Paul felt this way, and so did Bi Kai.

They had experienced life-and-death situations they had never imagined before and had seen sights they had never witnessed.

The few short months seemed fleeting compared to their entire life journey, but what happened during that period, especially while waiting in the cave, always made one feel unbearably long.

When things hadn’t ended yet, they always wished for the end, expecting this seemingly endless journey to finally reach its conclusion.

But at the moment of actual ending, thinking of the friendship tested by life-and-death and the days to be spent separately in different worlds, one couldn’t help but feel somewhat sad.

...

After the challenge ended, the roaring wind outside the cave seemed to be strangled, its noise growing fainter.

The overcast sky that had lasted for over a month also cleared as the sun emerged, with temperatures rising from minus sixty-five degrees to over minus forty degrees within a few short minutes.

Everyone knew the challenge was over and everything had passed.

Only those who could witness this moment were perhaps just Chen Zhou and two others along with the Saw-toothed Tiger hiding with them in the cave.

In the last thirty minutes, Paul luxuriously lit all the oil lamps, and the cave suddenly grew much brighter.

Taking advantage of this light, he and Bi Kai burned some water, then shaved their messy long hair, trimmed their beards, washed their faces, and took off the thick, foul-smelling animal skin clothing, revealing the clothes they had worn upon arriving in this world.

Of course, compared to a few months ago, even if the current attire was much more presentable than the animal skins, the surface of them was still stained with numerous dirt marks.

Since winter, with cold and frost, hot water was scarce for drinking and cooking, let alone for washing clothes, and without cleaning supplies, the clothes couldn’t be properly washed.

...

While the two of them tidied their belongings, Chen Zhou sat by the dining table watching them.

His gaze would shift to the burning stove, then to the oil lamps in the cave, to the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger unaware of what was about to happen, and then onto the kang, where he stared at the prominent red box for a long time without moving.

About twenty minutes later, Paul wearing combat gear and Bi Kai in white clothing finished arranging their outfits and came to the dining table.

From receiving the notification until now, the three inside the cave had remained silent.

Ideally, this would be a happy moment, but no one wanted to share their joy now.

It must be said that those happy emotions had been overshadowed by the sadness of parting.

Paul stood up straight and was the first to salute Chen Zhou, then went to wake the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger, hugging each of them.

Bi Kai, a resolute reborn hero, never complained even while living alone in the harsh winter, nor shed a tear because of the difficult circumstances.

Yet at this moment, tears shimmered in his eyes.

"Benefactor!"

He took two steps and knelt on the ground with a thud.

Chen Zhou was just about to help him up, but Bi Kai firmly shook his head, indicating him not to do so.

Then Bi Kai knocked his head heavily on the ground three times, and when he got up, he was already crying uncontrollably.

"Benefactor, you have recreated me with kindness, though even if I were to become an ox or horse, I can never repay you.

However, after this separation, it will be difficult to meet again in this lifetime, so I wish you all the best.

After I return, as you instructed, I will do my utmost to find worthy people and rescue the common folk.

Ending the disaster as early as possible would be meeting your entrusted hope."

Seeing Bi Kai, his head and face covered with dust, even Chen Zhou, who had already gone through a farewell on the island, felt sorrowful.

For someone like him, finding a friend with aligned interests was difficult.

In modern society, it was rare to find someone with a righteous and courageous heart, willing to sacrifice their life for friends, bear pain and suffering for a promise, challenging to find someone to whom you could entrust your back at any moment.

Especially given his wealth, his status, and secrets, finding such a person was even harder.

If possible, Chen Zhou really wanted to take Paul and Bi Kai to see his world, but he couldn’t.

He wanted to sigh, afraid it would enhance the pathos of the scene, so he only hugged Bi Kai and patted him heavily on the back.

"Let’s not speak of these things, nor make so many promises. After returning, you only need to do your best.

The grand trends of the world are beyond a single person’s control, no matter what you do, just act with a clear conscience.

People say the ways of the world are vast, but since we have had the fortune to meet, I believe we will someday reunite.

You survived adversity, which is like living another life here; may you gain insight and someday transcend like your ancestor Bi Kun, achieving the path of the Sword Immortal..."

"Then I will borrow my benefactor’s auspicious words."

Bi Kai clasped his fists, turned, and walked towards the cave entrance.

"Benefactor, I am going to see Brother Gao.

Departing, I should also inform him; it’s a pity that time is too short to take him back, leaving him unable to return to his homeland."

...

Chen Zhou waved farewell to Bi Kai, on the other side, Paul brought along the Three-headed Saw-toothed Tiger and walked over.

The images of him intending to commit suicide a few days ago were still clear in his mind, and after being closely monitored by Chen Zhou and Bi Kai for so long, he finally endured until the challenge ended; Paul’s mood was relaxed on one hand, but he also felt indebted to Chen Zhou on the other.