Chapter 1309: Let Me See How Much You’ve Improved
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Mings.h.i.+ Yin did not have Duanmu Sheng’s boldness and rashness so he seemed weak and timid in many battles. However, this did not mean he was really afraid of the enemy. Nevertheless, he was slightly frightened when he saw what he had done to Xi Qishu. Under the moonlight, Xi Qishu’s corpse looked even more ghastly.
Mings.h.i.+ Yin did not know how to feel at this moment. He had killed many people, from high-ranking officials and dignitaries to peddlers at the roadside. However, none of them made him feel nervous like Xi Qishu did. It was not because Xi Qishu was strong nor was it because he was afraid of Xi Qishu. It was because of an inexplicable feeling that was a mix of anger, hatred, sorrow, and joy.
After sitting for a long time in a daze, Mings.h.i.+ Yin finally returned to his senses. He inhaled deeply and wiped the blood off his face as he cursed, “What a filthy man!”
A burst of golden energy appeared around Mings.h.i.+ Yin and seeped into his pores before coursing through his Eight Extraordinary Meridians into his Dantian’s sea of Qi. The golden energy vaporized the blood on his body, but there was nothing he could do about his stained clothes. Then, he used his sleeve to clean his Separation Hook over and over again.
At this moment, Yu Shangrong asked, “Do you have anything to say?”
“Uh…” Mings.h.i.+ Yin scratched his head. “I lost my composure earlier. Fortunately, Second Senior Brother appeared in time. Otherwise, I would’ve been done for.”
Yu Shangrong frowned at Mings.h.i.+ Yin making light of the situation. However, he was not one to force others to do things they did not like; this was especially true in regard to his fellow disciples. He was the Sword Devil that everyone respected; a gentleman who treated others with courtesy.
“…”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin sighed before he said awkwardly, “I’m actually from the green lotus domain.”
Yu Shangrong nodded and landed next to Mings.h.i.+ Yin. He raised his head to look at the bright and beautiful moon that hung in the night sky.
“Second Senior Brother, you’re not surprised?”
“I suspected as much…” Yu Shangrong replied, as calm as ever.
“There’s a corpse lying next to us while we talked and admired the moonlight. It’s quite creepy. Let me deal with it,” Mings.h.i.+ Yin said before he used an energy seal to bury the corpse.
…
Under the full moon.
At the periphery of the city.
Mings.h.i.+ Yin sighed. “I had a brother. He was… innocent, foolishly so. He couldn’t speak. Every time he wanted to communicate with others, he would gesture with his hands and feet. He couldn’t hear, but he liked listening to others as though he could hear them…”
“Deaf-mute?” Yu Shangrong asked.
“Yes, deaf-mute…” Mings.h.i.+ Yin nodded. He did not want to use this word to describe his brother. “Perhaps, the heavens felt that the world’s too dirty so they removed noises from his life…”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin, who was sitting on the ground, clenched a fistful of gra.s.s, reducing them to dust as he said, “He was like a piece of white paper, untainted. He liked to laugh. Even if you hit, he’d smile at you.”
Yu Shangrong was puzzled. “Is he not sound of mind?”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin shook his head. “No. He suffered beatings for me, stole food for me to eat, and did all sorts of dirty work for me… He was just naive…”
“He’s a righteous man,” Yu Shangrong said with a faint smile before he asked, “Where’s he now?”
“Dead,” Mings.h.i.+ Yin said without any difficulties. It was as easy as crus.h.i.+ng a bug in his hand, leaving a residue behind that annoyed him. He added, “He was beaten to death by Xi Qishu. At that time, he was only eight years old; a year younger than me.”
“No one cared?” Yu Shangrong frowned.
“How could Meng Mings.h.i.+, the most cowardly person in Great Qin, dare to care?” Mings.h.i.+ Yin cursed, “Trash will always be trash. It’s impossible for him to change just because he got lucky and became known as a G.o.d of War!”
When Yu Shangrong saw that his Fourth Junior Brother’s emotions were under control, he asked with a faint smile, “Who is he to you?”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin replied, “An enemy.”
Yu Shangrong did not say anything in response. He only stood next to Mings.h.i.+ Yin as he held the Longevity Sword and looked into the distance.
After a moment, Mings.h.i.+ Yin continued to say, “We lived in the Meng Residence since we were young. However, I can’t remember the things that happened before I was five. My memories from that time are vague and dream-like. Since there’s a hierarchy in the world, sometimes I wonder why a n.o.ble place like the Meng Residence allowed my brother and me to exist.”
Yu Shangrong asked, “How did you get to the golden lotus domain?”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin shook his head. “I can’t remember. I only remember that I boarded a flying chariot with many other children. Later, the flying chariot crashed, and everyone fell to their deaths. I was the only one who survived. I have to say, my life is really f*cking great.”
“It is quite great,” Yu Shangrong solemnly said.
“When I woke up, I saw master,” Mings.h.i.+ Yin said. Then, he looked to the left and right before he said in a low voice, “Second Senior Brother, don’t you think I was really unlucky? I get beaten up every day when I was in the green lotus domain, and I was still beaten up every day after joining the Evil Sky Pavilion.”
“…” Yu Shangrong really wanted to say something. He wanted to say the other disciples experienced the same thing as well. However, out of consideration for his fellow disciples, he remained silent.
It finally made sense to Yu Shangrong now why Mings.h.i.+ Yin seemed so against the green lotus domain and was so hostile to Zhao Yu. The past was too unbearable, after all.
“It’s getting late. Let’s go back,” Yu Shangrong said as he gently tapped the ground and flew into the air.
Mings.h.i.+ Yi rose to his feet and patted the dust off his robes. He bowed at Yu Shangrong once before he flew after Yu Shangrong.
…
At this time, Lu Zhou cut off his power of sight.
In fact, ever since he obtained a steady stream of merit points, he had been briefly observing his disciples before he finally locked onto Mings.h.i.+ Yin and Yu Shangrong.
“Meng Residence…” Lu Zhou muttered to himself. He racked his brain to see if he knew anything about it. However, after a while, he still did not find anything.
Lu Zhou was very confused. Was it a coincidence that Ji Tiandao accepted these people as his disciples?
‘The bright moon s.h.i.+nes over the sea; from far away, we share this moment together’.
Lu Zhou sighed softly, closed his eyes, and continued to cultivate.
…
The next morning.
The news of Xi Qishu, a general of Great Qin, spread throughout Xiangyang, causing a stir.
Some officials, including the sword expert Bai Yi, who had a close relations.h.i.+p with Xi Qishu hastily gathered.
In the hall of an unknown residence.
The atmosphere was gloomy.
“More than a dozen of General Xi’s capable men were killed by a sword expert. All of them were killed with just a strike. The Birth Charts were taken away in one go! If I weren’t drinking with General Bai last night, I would’ve suspected him.”
A man with a beard and a bun on his head who was dressed in a simple white Daoist robe, holding a sword in one hand, asked, “Sword expert?”
“Xi Qishu’s corpse has been found. The wounds are very strange. There are wounds that were caused by hook and sword. Moreover, based on the condition of his corpse, the culprit is very vicious and ruthless.”
Everyone’s expressions were grim.
“This means there’s more than one culprit. Moreover, the culprits’ cultivation bases are very high…”
“Since they dare to attack General Xi near the capital, they must be strong. However, what’s their purpose?”
At this time, an older official said, “I heard that the Meng Residence was covered by trees and vines overnight. They’re lush and verdant as well. Is it possible that Meng Mings.h.i.+ returned to seek revenge?”
As soon as these words fell, everyone exchanged a glance. They felt chills running up their spines, and their hair stood on end.
“There are no ghosts in this world. Don’t scare yourself. Meng Mings.h.i.+ died a long time ago. I’ve already ordered people to investigate this matter. Xi Qishu’s man, Xian Gao, went to the Zhao Residence yesterday before he died. Young Master Zhao has something to do with this…”
Bai Yi frowned in confusion. “Zhao Yu?”
“Recently, many things have happened. Venerable Master Tuoba and Venerable Master Ye have died one after another. Venerable Master Fan is cultivating in seclusion, and Venerable Master Qin is as elusive as ever. I have a feeling that… that the imbalance is affecting much more than we imagined…”
Bai Yi said, “Let’s report this matter to His Majesty first, and let His Majesty decide.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
…
Afternoon.
At the Zhao Residence.
“Pavilion Master, Mr. Seventh has sent the inscriptions for the jade talisman over,” Yan Zhenluo said and handed a talisman filled with inscriptions over.
Lu Zhou nodded as he took the talisman. Then, he brought the Collective Teleportation Jade Talisman out before lighting up the talisman. In the next moment, the talisman disintegrated into spots of light before shooting into the jade talisman. Subsequently, the jade talisman glowed and gradually grew hotter before it returned to normal.
Lu Li said, “With this jade talisman, we’ll be able to reach the Evil Sky Pavilion in 15 minutes.”
Not only would the jade talisman provide support when needed, but it also gave them a means of self-protection.
Lu Zhou put the jade talisman away and looked at Mings.h.i.+ Yin.
Mings.h.i.+ Yin had tidied up and changed his clothes, looking as though nothing happened.
Lu Zhou called out, “Old Fourth.”
Mings.h.i.+ Yin shuddered before he stepped forward and bowed. “Master.”
“You just received the recognition from the Pillar of Destruction not too long ago, and your cultivation has increased by leaps and bounds. Let me see how much you’ve improved,” Lu Zhou said before he pushed his hand out.
A palm seal shot toward Mings.h.i.+ Yin immediately.