Chapter 19: Outbreak Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
“Third Brother’s coming back.” Slave Ji excitedly announced the news like a young wife waiting for her husband’s return. His face was full of expectation. Simultaneously, the way he looked at Slave Huan changed.
Slave Huan was the treasure he would like to consecrate to Han s.h.i.+qi. It was very difficult to find a benefactor in Golden Roc Fort, so he could not be jealous of anyone.
Gu Shenwei, who was forcibly named “Slave Huan”, was freed from all his ch.o.r.es. He had nothing to do every day. He just rested and waited for the killer Han s.h.i.+qi’s “kind” visit.
“Smile more. How many times have I told you! Don’t look so lifeless.” Slave Ji often lectured Slave Huan. He also wanted to find an opportunity to pa.s.s on some “skills” to Slave Huan.
Gu Shenwei could only try to avoid seeing him as much as possible. Han s.h.i.+qi and Slave Yao had no direct connection at first. Things started to intertwine when Slave Yao made the same request as Han s.h.i.+qi. Moreover, Gu Shenwei’s solution was related to both of them.
In conclusion, Slave Yao had to die and Gu Shenwei needed to take the white handkerchief back. He had mastered the Yin and Yang energy. He could begin to practice the shortcut manual. If the power of Yin and Yang Strength was as immense as Gu Shenwei’s father said, he would be able to take revenge soon.
It was risky for people to practice the shortcut manual, as Qigong Deviation would break out in two or three years, but Gu Shenwei did not care. He would pay any price to save his missing sister and kill all his enemies.
Gu Shenwei no longer cared about his own life. Sometimes he even thought that death was better than living, especially when he saw the slave mark on his right arm.
It became more and more obvious that Slave Yao had entered into Qigong Deviation. The indications were the sharp pains that radiated from his Tianchi acupoint to his Tianquan, Quze, and Neiguan acupoints. Occasionally, his arms would tremble uncontrollably.
Gu Shenwei hypocritically advised him not to practice too fast. The more frequently he reminded Slave Yao, the harder Slave Yao practiced. Slave Yao did not take the shaking of his arm seriously and thought that the symptoms would naturally alleviate once he achieved a higher level.
Gu Shenwei was almost done reciting the whole practice of Yin and Yang Strength to him. The description of the Yang Strength after the third level attracted Slave Yao so much that he was even more reluctant to slow down in his practicing.
It was difficult to lay a solid foundation for practicing Yin and Yang Strength. In the beginning, the force might not be as powerful as the other martial arts to some extent. Therefore, pract.i.tioners would not be able to remold themselves until reaching both the second levels of Yin Strength and Yang Strength.
Gu Shenwei had been secretly searching for the white handkerchief the whole time. He would stealthily search Slave Yao while helping him correct his posture, but the white handkerchief was too light and thin to be felt from his clothes. Sometimes when Slave Yao was not there, Gu Shenwei would check his luggage. Unfortunately, he found nothing.
Slave Yao had hidden the white handkerchief very well.
Seeing that Han s.h.i.+qi was returning soon, Gu Shenwei was out of patience. He had once wanted to ask Mama Xue for help. However, he felt shameful that a killer would fancy a catamite. Besides, Mama Xue might not willingly interfere. Also, she could not solve the key issue, which was that Han s.h.i.+qi could recognize Gu Shenwei.
That was unless Gu Shenwei got into a fight like a month ago when his face was badly beaten, then Han s.h.i.+qi would not recognize or even have the slightest interest in him.
However, this simple plan was not easy to implement. In fact, the relations.h.i.+ps among these nine young slaves had changed from when they had just arrived at Golden Roc Fort in the beginning. Slave Yao’s status improved every day. He fully controlled the five young slaves. Even Slave Huan was unanimously considered to be his follower. Only Slave Qi and Slave Xie, the two brothers, stood out as a separate group.
Gu Shenwei would rather ally with these two brothers if he needed companions in Golden Roc Fort, even if they viewed Gu Shenwei only as a pa.s.ser-by and barely spoke to him. Gu Shenwei thought it over. He decided to look for a fight with them.
Slave Qi did not seem to know any Kung Fu but he was burly and had strength. Gu Shenwei hoped that he would not displease Slave Qi too much or he could get seriously injured.
Gu Shenwei needed to wait patiently now. When Han s.h.i.+qi came back to Golden Roc Fort, he would fight with Slave Qi.
When Gu Shenwei was free, he would usually sit on the edge of Ghost Cliff. Here, Slave Ji would not bother him. No matter how desperately he wanted to teach Gun Shenwei his “skills”, he would never set foot in this place.
Gu Shenwei often wondered how many bodies were thrown into Ghost Cliff. “Do the bodies slowly decompose or are they directly eaten by beasts? Perhaps there are tigers and wolves wandering underneath, waiting for food to fall from the sky.”
It suddenly dawned on him. Was he thinking about his own fate, to be or not to be? To hopelessly live for revenge or to end his life by jumping off the cliff?
In his mind, Gu Shenwei hated a life filled with responsibility, revenge, humiliation, etc. He should have lived a completely different lifestyle that would suit him better.
“It’s the Will of the Divine,” he thought.
Every time he pondered his fate and future, Gu Shenwei came to the same conclusion. G.o.d supported him, an orphan who knew little Kung Fu, retaliating against the most dominating killer organization in the Western Region.
Like a humble follower on his last breath, Gu Shenwei survived because he believed in the nameless Will of the Divine. He had to and could only have faith in it.
The Will of the Divine manifested again just as he expected.
On the 30th day after entering Golden Roc Fort, Slave Yao died. For the rest of his life, Gu Shenwei would never forget how Slave Yao looked as he died. Although Gu Shenwei did not personally kill Slave Yao, he was the first person to die because of him.
That morning, the nine teenagers routinely visited the Eighth Young Master’s yard to show courtesy to the Eighth Young Mistress. Miss Luo began to complain about the Meng family as soon as she stepped into the yard. “What’s the Meng family so proud of? Her ancestors were just humble tradesmen and porters. Now the Meng family lends money for interest and gathers people to gamble. How many people have died because of that! How can their business continue to run without my father’s help?”
“Miss, don’t be angry. You’re Bighead Kingpin’s daughter and should not be bothered by such trifles from a sn.o.bbish person.” Maid Little Sui, once named Little Ru, comforted her. Miss Luo had four maids and their names were previously “Chen, Xin, Ru, and Yi”—which means happiness. Now they were changed to “Chen, Xin, Sui, and Yi” because the Supreme King’s daughter was called Shangguan Ru.
The Supreme King’s wife was Lady Meng, who came from one of the richest families in Jade City in the Western Region.
“Humph, the Shangguan family are murderers and arsonists like my family. Lady Meng is so precious. Why did she marry the Supreme King of Stone Castle?”
Mama Xue stopped Miss Luo in time. After all, they currently lived in Golden Roc Fort. They had better not reveal the story of the Shangguan family.
Miss Luo entered the main hall and sat behind a folding screen. Only then were the slaves allowed to raise their heads while kneeling down.
“Swear to me.” Miss Luo arrogantly ordered just like all the other self-conceited n.o.bles. She gained satisfaction from these meaningless and insincere oaths.
The slaves repeated the oath one by one. They were often interrupted by Miss Luo when she felt like someone’s tone was not sincere enough. If so, she would command Mama Xue to prod him until she was satisfied.
Everyone’s oath was similar to what they had vowed on the first day. Every time Miss Luo felt upset, they would swear to her repeatedly.
This was by no means a good start to the day, but it was the same every day. After finis.h.i.+ng the vows, the slaves would escape from Miss’s and Mama Xue’s supervision and spend the rest of the day normally. Though he never mentioned it, Gu Shenwei a.s.sumed that Slave Yao sometimes probably had a hard time learning martial arts from Mama Xue.
The swearing ritual came to an end that day. Only a fumbling old woman was left. She could never clearly vow to Miss Luo. If Mama Xue reminded her of the vows, she would be able to finish quickly, but then next time she would still forget the oath.
Miss Luo constantly accused the old woman of disloyalty. This time, she added her anger and censure on the Meng and Shangguan families. To everyone’s surprise, at that moment, Slave Yao started laughing.
This was not an ordinary laugh, but a huge laugh. He laughed hysterically. Finally, he was out of breath. It seemed like he was taunting everyone in this yard as if they were clowns, and the most ridiculous one among them was Miss Luo, who sat behind the screen.
Slave Yao laughed so strangely that no one knew how to stop him. Mama Xue rushed at him and kicked his side until he was rolling on the ground.
“You’re crazy! Why are you laughing?”
The place she kicked was an important acupoint of the human body, but it had no effect on Slave Yao. He continued laughing with his belly pressed and pointed at Mama Xue’s face.
As sober and steady Mama Xue was, she became confused and puzzled. Mama Xue could not help rubbing her face. Then, she burst out in anger and shame, kicking Slave Yao and hitting his vital acupoints.
Slave Yao no longer rolled on the ground. His body lay as still as a fallen statue, but his laughter never ceased. It became more and more shrill, sounding like a beast was inside him.
Everyone in the yard was frightened and retreated away from Slave Yao. Sitting behind the folding screen, Miss Luo asked in horror, “Is he bewitched?”
Mama Xue did not believe in the possession of evil spirits at all. She kicked his Taiyang acupoint again. At last, he stopped laughing. “Don’t be afraid, Miss. He is just lacking Internal Breath.”
Only Gu Shenwei knew the truth among the crowd. Slave Yao’s Qigong Deviation had broken out but it was beyond what he had imagined. The consequences of practicing incorrectly were actually very miserable and painful. He had thought that there would only be spitting of blood and then death.
Mama Xue ordered the other young slaves to carry Slave Yao back to their yard.
There were rooms in the small yard for dying slaves. These young men carried Slave Yao quickly into one of the rooms and then all ran away at once. Only Gu Shenwei remained.
Slave Ji glanced at Slave Yao and gloated after hearing them come in. However, he hated to stay with a dying man, so Slave Ji left hastily after telling Gu Shenwei to guard him.
Slave Yao was barely alive, breathing shallowly. Gu Shenwei checked that there was no one else in the room. He rapidly climbed on the bed and searched Slave Yao for the white handkerchief. He then pressed Slave Yao’s Tianchi acupoint on his chest, raising his Yin Strength. He pa.s.sed Internal Breath into Slave Yao.
Slave Yao screamed suddenly and awoke a few minutes later, staring blankly in silence.
“Where is the white handkerchief? Give it back to me!”
Gu Shenwei, who had placed all his hope on the white handkerchief, eagerly yelled. He could not let Slave Yao die without saying anything.