Guarding the River of Time-Chapter 278 - 269: Unwritten Karma, A Life Beyond Saving
The voice was very soft, but it clearly fell on the little fox’s ears.
She slowly lifted her head, looking at the man, her gaze flickering, somewhat dazed, somewhat hopeful, as if in the cold, dark abyss, the only ray of light, at least in her eyes, was extremely dazzling at this moment.
Su Mu lowered his head, gazing at the white-haired woman in the ice bed, his aura fully unleashed, circulating his cultivation technique, the powerful spiritual power burst forth from his palm, directly piercing through the thick ice layer, converging onto the woman’s body.
In an instant, the white-haired woman emitted a white immortal light all over her body, Su Mu’s spiritual power was so strong that the surrounding ice bed trembled slightly.
Su Mu was searching, searching for any remaining signs of life on the white-haired woman’s body, even if he found just a trace, a tiny hint, Su Mu would have the means to save her.
The whole process lasted for a full hour. Fortunately, Su Mu’s foundation was exceedingly abundant; such high-intensity infusion of spiritual power would have drained others of the same realm long ago.
Su Mu was shocked to find that the five viscera and six bowels of the white-haired woman, every vein in her body, every inch of flesh, were intact, without a single damage.
Her entire body showed no signs of injury, like a person who had never been harmed.
Yet, there was no sign of life, which puzzled Su Mu greatly. By all logic... even if she had died naturally, after such a long period of burial, shouldn’t her organs have deteriorated at least a little?
But they hadn’t, all the organs of the white-haired woman, including the dantian, were perfectly intact!
It even made Su Mu suspect that the white-haired woman was not dead but merely asleep.
However, if she were merely asleep, there shouldn’t be no sign of life at all; even with hidden methods, there should have been at least some trace.
The person was indeed dead, but how she died and why she died, Su Mu was genuinely perplexed.
After unsuccessful attempts, Su Mu withdrew his spiritual power.
With a wave of his hand, he took out several kinds of great medicine, all of which were healing holy medicine, none of them simple.
In the next second, Su Mu refined these great medicines into a green stream of spiritual power, fully converging onto the white-haired woman’s body.
Yet, such level of great medicine, even applied to a pile of white bones, could make new flesh grow, could bring back life.
But used on the white-haired woman, it was like a stone sinking into the ocean, not even stirring a ripple.
This was too strange...
Su Mu tried all kinds of methods, used every means he had, but none had any effect.
At this time, the little fox waited very quietly on the side, seeing Su Mu fail and sigh time after time. She understood too, knew the man’s good intentions.
But, this was too difficult....
Then, the little fox made up her mind, stepped forward to Su Mu, a rhombus mark on her forehead emitting a flowing light that fell into Su Mu’s palm, becoming a red object that looked like an inner core.
Holding this red inner core, he could feel a very peculiar and immense energy contained within it.
"Is this... for me?"
Su Mu asked, looking at the little fox.
"Umm—" The little fox lowered her head gently, rubbed Su Mu’s leg with her tail, and then walked onto the ice bed above the white-haired woman, lying down again.
This thing was a gift from the little fox to Su Mu, also an expression of her gratitude. Although Su Mu hadn’t saved the woman, the little fox knew he had tried his best and had made significant efforts.
This inner core was the most precious thing the little fox could offer from her entire being.
After giving it, the little fox became very weak.
.....
Su Mu looked at the inner core in his hand, and after a moment of silence, he waved his hand, and the inner core transformed into a stream of light, flying back into the little fox’s forehead.
Upon seeing this, the little fox slowly lifted her head, staring at Su Mu, in a daze.
....
"I didn’t help you for treasure," Su Mu spoke. Though often acting with self-interest, strategizing before actions, he was not a heartless person. Seeing the little fox quietly keeping vigil here moved him, prompting him to help without any greed for treasures.
Because Su Mu resided here, in this area including this river, it could all be considered his territory. Encountering such pathetic little animals, these poor lives, would inevitably evoke compassion.
It was also a way of maintaining order along the river, or so Su Mu justified to himself.
....
At this moment, looking down at the ice bed beneath his feet, a conjecture arose in Su Mu’s mind.
Her body, encased in this ice bed for so long.
The body was pristine, without any decay, allowing Su Mu to deduce that the block of ice formed by the river water had exceedingly strong anti-decomposition properties.
Thus, Su Mu conceived a plan.
Subsequently, he wielded divine techniques, drawing water from the main river channel before him, before the little fox’s astonished gaze.
Su Mu used fresh river water to reinforce the ice bed, solidifying it anew.
Moreover, after Su Mu reinforced it by using divine technique "solidification," this ice bed would never melt, preserving her physical body forever.
This was the only thing Su Mu could do for the little fox.
The scene was all seen by the little fox, her pupils revealing a hint of hopeful color, her dim eyes... seeming to have a bit of brightness.
"She is already dead."
"You don’t have to guard her like this; you have your freedom, you can live anew."
At this point, Su Mu was ready to turn and leave but then thought of something, continuing, "If one day, I possess the capability, I will help you resurrect her."
"So, you need not keep waiting here in vain."
Perhaps one day, he might reach a very high position, achieving a height in cultivation, wielding the capability. If that day ever came, Su Mu might return here to help the little fox revive her master.
But by then, the little fox would likely have perished already.
After all, that day should be unfathomably distant.
However, to release the little fox from her vigil, Su Mu spoke these words.
After saying this, Su Mu turned and left, having already delayed too long; he had helped as much as he could. This Chapter, for now, ends with a comma, waiting to see in the future if it can be turned into a full stop.
He exited through the wooden door.
The little groundhogs and little brown bears stood still, witnessing Su Mu’s departure.
As he left, the tree walls which blocked Su Mu’s path automatically disbanded, creating a grand path for him.
....
As he walked, Su Mu heard a soft rustling sound, cautious footsteps from behind him.
He stopped and turned around.
