I need at least one arm to swing my swords.... I cannot live without my head or torso... As for my legs, I definitely need to two of them to maintain a stable posture when fighting....
An arm....
Fuck!
"I've decided."
Not bothering to wait until the end of the time he was given, Jian Shen who felt that he'd change his decision if he waited too long decided to complete the first sacrifice.
"You were surprisingly quick, are you sure about your decision?"
Nodding his head, Jian Shen who was right now only thinking about protecting this woman who had no one else in his life gritted his teeth and said, "Take my left arm."
"Ummmmmmm!"
Letting our a muffled scream through the hand covering her mouth, Meirong who knew that Jian Shen was a Dual Sword Wielder looked at him with shock and kept on shaking her head to try and stop him.
All she received in response however was being told to shut up once more.
This time however she didn't do what Jian Shen said and bit his hand forcing him to pull his hand back and giving Meirong the chance to speak.
"What's the use of you protecting me if you end up hating me for doing this?!"
That question was truly a valid one which Jian Shen didn't have an answer to. But he still didn't care about it.
As said before, all he was thinking about right now was getting out of this trial and taking Meirong with him. He'd think of the remaining later on.
"Is your decision final?"
Nodding his head with forced determination so that he wouldn't change his decision, Jian Shen hoped for the trial spirit to quickly do it before he changed his decision.
"I have accepted your sacrifice. You have passed the first level."
"Huh?"
Speaking our of surprise, Jian Shen saw the stunned and scared look in Meirong's eyes due to which he realized that something was off.
It was then that he looked at his left arm and found it missing from near the shoulder.
This was also when the pain of an arm being ripped off assaulted Jian Shen all at once.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
Unable to hide his scream despite how hard be tried, Jian Shen kept on screaming for a lot of time before he finally stopped while writhing from pain on the floor after almost half an hour.
Covered in sweat from head to toe, Jian Shen despite stopping to scream looked like he would pass out at any moment.
"You.... What the hell is wrong with you! How can a swordsman live without his arm?!
Though Jian Shen was the one who lost his arm, it looked like Meirong was the one who looked more angry and pained at this.
After all, Jian Shen who found his arm missing quickly accepted the truth without much trouble.
"You've passed the first test. I'll let you rest for a day before starting the second test."
Speaking in the same way, the trial's spirit who was a little impressed with Jian Shen's determination gave him more time than it usually did to let someone rest.
Looking towards his left side where there was only an empty sleeve, Jian Shen tried his best to not think about how his arm disappeared and not even a single drop of blood was spilt.
Because thinking about it only made the pain he was trying to not feel even worse.
Thinking that since what has already happened was done, Meirong decided that she should do her best to try and change the topic.
"Didn't you want to know why the Empress sent me to keep you safe? It's because I and Xifeng have been friends since the time we were kids. She's the only one who despite my bad luck always treated me very well."
"What is with that look?"
"I get that you're trying to divert my attention, but can't you do something less boring?"
"Humph! Even losing an arm hasn't changed your personality."
Snorting while feeling a little happy and relieved because Meirong had been scared of Jian Shen's personality changing after he lost his arm sighed and said, "People have always thought that I was cursed because I did something very bad in my past life, what do you think?"
"Hahahahahaha, they are all stupid. You weren't cursed because of something you did or didn't do in your past life, you were cursed for me. Because only I deserve to be with you in this world."
"Tsk! You sound so corny right now."
Despite saying that, Meirong couldn't help but smile more brightly than she ever did until now. At the same time, she knew that she should make Jian Shen stop at any costs.
Other women might want others to sacrifice their lives for them, but she didn't Jian Shen to do such a thing for her.
Giving up his life in exchange for a cursed soul like her would only make her want to kill herself as well.
That's why she said, "I'm thankful for everything you did Jian Shen, but you should leave now. I won't fall in love with you or have sex with you just because you saved me. So leave!"
"You... Just shut up and stay quiet, I'll decide on what I should do."
…
"Now it's time for the second test."
"Choose Myriad God Sword wielder, choose which two Dantians you will sacrifice in the second test."
"I'll only accept one which is already cultivated and one which has the most potential in increasing your strength greatly."