Inch of Radiance Vol 1 Chapter 6

Book 1 Chapter 6 – Snowy Night

The first time he met Jiang Xue, it could be said to be similar to a hero saving a princess.

This happened during a snowy night two years ago. Heavy snowfall swirled in the air, and all of Shanghai wore a layer of silver coating. The only thing between the heavens and the earth was the color silver.

That day was the day that Li Yang initially got recruited into the Security Bureau 9th Division, the first day that he was assigned to the Shanghai branch! Tan family’s five brothers as well as Tian Lin held a welcoming dinner for Li Yang. At around midnight, the Security Bureau members finally came out from within the restaurant. The restaurant was not far from their assigned district so they simply walked on foot.

The heavy snow drifted down like goose feathers, and boundless amounts of snow blossoms scattered everywhere in the sky. Since it was currently around midnight, there were not many people roaming the streets. Li Yang was the most clear-headed out of everyone in that group, after all, everyone within the special division were drinking experts. To him, the amount of wine within the restaurant wasn’t even a significant amount.

Li Yang suddenly noticed that there was a robbery in a nearby alleyway. At that time, the robbers had already armed themselves with knives. Li Yang immediately threw out a Flying Dagger, piercing through the robber’s right hand, afterwards quickly rushing towards that direction. Picking up the assaulted victim, he later found out that the victim was a fragile and delicate girl.

“Thank you!” The girl looked at Li Yang and said with gratitude.

Li Yang called 110 at once, afterwards accompanying the girl and chatted with her. That time, he ended up taking the girl home.

When Li Yang decided to leave, he didn’t notice that the girl stood at her doorway, watching Li Yang’s back continuously. She waited until Li Yang disappeared from the end of the street for a long time before disappointingly returning inside her home.

That was also the same day that Li Yang met the girl named Jiang Xue.

Ever since that day, Li Yang could not stop thinking about her during his training. His mind would constantly hear Jiang Xue’s voice, while he could only laugh mockingly at himself. He was a member of the country’s Special Division; an honorable occupation. Since he gave his life to his country, how could he allow himself to think about these things?

At the same time, this young girl often though about her knight in shining armor. Girls around Jiang Xue’s age all loved to dream, Jiang Xue was currently also dreaming this beautiful dream.

The second time they met, Jiang Xue was the one that actually saved Li Yang’s life!

That day it snowed as well, and the time was around midnight.

That time he went out on a mission, and that mission’s enemy was related to ‘Dual Flowers’, one of the world’s top three assassination groups. His target was an assassin from the Chrysanthemum subgroup that was at the Gold Floral Rank.

There were two major assassination groups within ‘Dual Flowers’. Sakura group was for warriors, while the Chrysanthemum group was for ninjas! Within ‘Dual Flowers’, Copper Floral Rank was for second rank experts, Silver Floral Rank was for third rank experts, and the Gold Floral Rank was for fourth rank experts! This Gold Floral Rank ninja was equivalent to a Xiantian expert. On top of all this, ninjas were extremely elusive, making them excruciatingly hard to defeat.

At that time, group captain Meng Tian was carrying out a mission involving a different dangerous lunatic, and so this mission was assigned to Li Yang who had the highest offensive power. Li Yang was the former elite member of the Special Forces’ trump card ‘Dragon Fang, causing him to be familiar in this field.

At that time, the Security Bureau also received the important information a bit too late and did not have the time to assign a different individual to this task. On top of this, Meng Tian was already on a different mission. Under these helpless conditions, Li Yang was given this dangerous mission.

“If I die for my country, then it is an honorable sacrifice!”

Li Yang immediately took on the mission. He had already prepared his mind for this sacrifice, and this mentality was something he held ever since he joined the special forces. For the sake of national peace, there needed to be some people willing to sacrifice themselves in order to ensure that everyone else could lead peaceful lives.

At barely midnight, Jiang Xue finally finished her night shift. To her complete surprise, she saw a battle that was beyond her comprehension…

That figure who disappeared with a dazzle…

That fleeting flash of blade radiance…

How many times did she think about her Knight in Shining Armor? With a tough and tenacious expression, a thread of blade radiance passed by, and blood blossomed everywhere.

The Gold Floral Rank ranked ninja was killed, but Li Yang was fatally injured!

Li Yang was actually quite fortunate. That ninja had already reached the Gold Floral Rank, which was roughly equivalent to a Xiantian expert. Li Yang should have died, but upon receiving a fatal wound, his mystical Flying Dagger skill succeeded. At the last moment, the trajectory of the blade suddenly changed directions. That Gold Floral Rank ninja could not react in time, and the blade directly piercing through his throat. Li Yang, however, was also in critical condition.

Jiang Xue at once went to Li Yang and carried out some simple first aid. If it was not for these simple life-saving measures, Li Yang would not have made it to the hospital.

When Jiang Xue arrived to help Li Yang, he was already slowly becoming unconscious. He could only hazily see the glowing radiant body of a beautiful angel at his side. That angel was extremely pretty, that radiance eluding from her body also made Li Yang feel warmth. Soon after, he fell into an unconscious state.

Li Yang’s injury was severe, extremely severe. He underwent recovery within the hospital for an entire month, and then spent another two months in this way within his own villa.

“Yi gege, time to take your medication!”

“Yi gege, I’m going to tell you a joke. In the past, there was a small monk. One day, he decided to leave his mountain…”

…

The time he spent in the hospital was when Jiang Xue took care of him. Under meticulous care, Li Yang still remembered that beautiful angel from when he was unconscious. Although he wasn’t exactly sure why, he began to develop feelings for Jiang Xue. Whenever he saw Jiang Xue, his special forces cold demeanor would disappear, and his heart would begin to beat faster. Sometimes when the two got a bit close, their ears would feel hot.

“Yi gege, I like you!” After seeing that battle Jiang Xue knew that Li Yang was not an ordinary person. When she realized that there was only a week left before Li Yang was to be discharged from the hospital, she could no longer suppress her feelings out of fear that she would never be able to see him again. She could not help but burst out like this.

Li Yang was startled, soon after shaking his head without emotion and said, “I am sorry!”

…

After that rejection, Jiang Xue did not mention what happened between them previously again. She fully devoted herself to the remaining amount of time she could spend with Li Yang, being even more meticulous and gentle with her care. She absolutely did not have the spoiled temper of a normal 20 year-old.

The day before Li Yang was about to be discharged, Li Yang was currently within his ward.

Jiang Xue’s face was a bit pale and her eyes were a bit swelled. Last night she had insomnia, and could not sleep.

“Yi gege, if we cannot be together, then I would rather not marry and stay alone forever!” Jiang Xue said firmly. She was a gentle girl and rarely spoke out like this. This was the decision she came to after pondering a whole night. She decided to try her best one last time, since this was what her heart truly wanted.

Li Yang was shocked. He recalled that bright and radiant angel from when he was unconscious, as well as all the things Jiang Xue has done for him over this month. He also remembered every small and simple thing she lovingly did for him.

Immediately, Li Yang felt a peng sound crack open the layer of ice covering his heart, similar to a shattering piece of glass…

“If you want to be together with me, then you need to be used to being in solitude.” Li Yang calmly replied.

Jiang Xue was startled for a second, and immediately revealed a blossoming smile. With a sweet smile, she stated, “I understand that Yi gege has his own secrets, no matter how long it takes I will definitely wait!”

“Two years. If you can wait for me for two years, I will definitely marry you!” Li Yang said resolutely before turning around and leaving.

…

Sitting inside of a car provided by the Security Bureau, Li Yang opened Jiang Xue’s parting gift. The present was a music box, which played music from a pair of folk legend lovers. Listening to this music, Li Yang still remembered Jiang Xue’s words of farewell. “I believe that our feelings are like these folk legend lovers. Even life and death cannot separate us!”

Hearing these words revealed that deep down, Jiang Xue’s heart still enjoyed dreaming.

Thinking about these words, he recalled Jiang Xue’s expression, causing his heart to be in a state of unrest. However, Li Yang immediately began to smile. “Maybe it was simply something she said during the spur of the moment. Most likely, two years later, Jiang Xue would have already found another man. I already belong to the country, love is simply wishful thinking! That beautiful angel I saw before falling unconscious was simply a beautiful dream…”

Li Yang was wrong. Jiang Xue did was not making a rash decision and was serious. That half an hour over the phone everyday felt short for both of them.

With each phone call, Li Yang felt like he was getting increasingly stuck in a muddy swamp. He was already beginning to realize that he could not abandon Jiang Xue, however he could not leave the country either.

However the Security Bureau 11th Division was indeed an excellent opportunity! The members of the Security Bureau 11th Division all had spouses. If he entered the Security Bureau 11th Division, not only could he be together with Jiang Xue, he could serve his country at the same time.

Li Yang looked forward to the days where he could live together with Jiang Xue. At the same time, this caused him to await the assessment even more. “If my internal energy was a bit stronger, then wouldn’t that bring more assurance? Sadly I began cultivating internally too late and my meridians have already stabilized!”

“Work harder, work harder! In the future I must practice harder. Even if I do enter the Security Bureau 11th Division and stay by Xue’s side, I still need to carry out missions at least once a year. In addition, upon entering the Security Bureau 11th Division, the missions will all be important and difficult. If I die during a mission, what will happen to Xue? Only by studiously cultivating and increasing my strength could I live a longer life, survive missions, and stay together longer with Xue!” Abruptly, Li Yang stopped near a street light. “Meridians, stabilized meridians is the biggest obstacle preventing me from increasing my strength! If I started cultivating internal energy from a young age, then my Flying Dagger would be several times more powerful than right now. Meridians, meridians! So frustrating!” Li Yang’s fist violently hit the pole of the street lamp, causing the pole to suddenly have a faint fist imprint.

Chapter end