Chapter 121: 121. I Am the Senior Brother

121. Chapter 121: I Am the Senior Brother

Rain poured down.

Inside the ruined temple, water leaked everywhere, dripping and damp; yet Zhao Ge and the others, exhausted from days of travel, did not rest. After a brief reunion, they immediately began working.

“Rongniang, collect everything usable from the corpses—don’t waste it. The Zhao Martial Arts Hall is gone; we have nothing left—not a weapon, not a single silver tael. The bows and crossbows Han Sui and Jin Bufeng brought were top-grade gear from their own halls. Even if we don’t use them, we can sell them.”

Zhao Ge sat on a stone inside the ruined temple, giving orders to his disciples: “Daughter, help your senior sister. Her arm is injured and she moves slowly. Remember, search their clothes carefully—look for Qi-Blood Pills. If you find even a few, swallow them immediately to replenish the blood you’ve lost.”

“Yes, Master. I’ll go right away.”

Rongniang’s arm was wrapped in bandages, splinted with two wooden boards—immobile, but as a martial artist, her strength remained intact; gathering supplies posed no problem.

Zhao Qian nodded and joined in.

Facing the corpses scattered across the ground, the two girls showed no discomfort—they lived in this era, accustomed to death.

Zhao Ge added: “Skinny Monkey, you work hard—go down the mountain and gather the horses left nearby. Bring back every one you can. Don’t go too far; once you’ve got what you can, return quickly. This wilderness holds unknown dangers.”

“Wait a moment, Master—I’ll bring back their fine horses.”

Skinny Monkey nodded, picked up a bamboo hat from the ground to shield from rain, grabbed a steel blade and a strong bow for defense, then stepped out into the downpour.

Li Yi stood guard at the temple entrance, beneath a dry eave, silently gazing at this new world.

“Senior Brother,” Skinny Monkey greeted. “Master told me to fetch the horses—I’ll be back soon.”

“Why do you call me Senior Brother?” Li Yi suddenly asked. “I joined after you.”

Seeing Li Yi respond, Skinny Monkey grinned happily: “In the Zhao Martial Arts Hall, the first disciple admitted as a formal student becomes Senior Brother. You were Master’s first formal disciple—you’re our Senior Brother.”

“I see,” Li Yi nodded, understanding. “Go. I’ll watch from here. If there’s danger, I’ll come to your aid.”

“With Senior Brother saying that, I’m at ease.” Skinny Monkey’s spirits lifted, and he dashed into the rain with light steps.

Li Yi’s eyes saw clearly in darkness, glowing faintly. He could see over two dozen fine horses left at the mountain’s base by the dead. But due to tonight’s thunder and rain, several had broken free from loose reins and fled—yet many remained. If all were brought back, everyone could ride tomorrow.

Master Zhao Ge’s foresight was truly excellent.

One moment they had barely survived death; the next, he was already gathering supplies, planning for tomorrow’s survival.

Even Zhao Qian, a girl barely sixteen, moved swiftly among the shattered flesh, searching for anything useful.

Some silver coins were stained with blood; she didn’t recoil. She washed them under the leaking roof with falling rain, then carefully stored them away.

The dead’s possessions became the living’s means of survival—nothing wasted.

Everyone felt this was natural.

It seemed the law of the jungle—strong prey on the weak—had seeped into every inch of this world. Those born here, martial artists included, all inherited it.

Li Yi fell silent for a moment.

He felt an unspeakable cruelty in this world.

“Since I’ve come to this world, I must adapt to its rules. If it truly has no order, only the jungle law of survival, then I must rise to the top of this food chain—become the strongest predator. Otherwise, I’ll be swallowed whole by this world, let alone protect those around me.” Li Yi thought to himself.

He had always understood one truth.

One person cannot change a world—only adapt to it.

Li Yi’s goal was to blend in, yet never lose his core.

He was still an evolved man from the modern city. He still intended to return to Tianchang City. He wouldn’t abandon morality just because laws didn’t exist here. If he did, he’d become exactly what the blade’s resentment claimed: inherently evil, steeped in demonic nature.

After adjusting his mindset, Li Yi felt lighter.

At this moment,

in the rain, Skinny Monkey had gathered eighteen fine horses. But strangely, when they reached the temple’s front, they refused to advance—no matter how hard they were pulled, they stood frozen, as if sensing some forbidden danger ahead.

“Senior Brother, look—what’s wrong with these horses? They won’t move, and they’re terrified,” Skinny Monkey asked, puzzled.

Zhao Qian, having finished gathering supplies, stepped out and said: “Could it be the smell of blood?”

Skinny Monkey immediately replied: “Impossible. These are trained warhorses—they don’t flinch at blades or crossbows, let alone fear blood.”

Li Yi suddenly realized: “These horses smell my scent. That’s why they’re afraid. Let me step back and test.”

He stepped backward into the ruined temple.

Once farther away, Skinny Monkey found the horses could be pulled again—this baffled him.

At that moment, Master Zhao Ge, hearing the conversation, approached. He glanced briefly, then said: “Mengde, is it your clothing? What kind of garment is this? What’s its significance? Tell your Master—let your sisters and brothers learn something.”

His experience was sharp—he spotted the key immediately.

Zhao Qian, Rongniang, and Skinny Monkey—all who had just tied the horses—turned to look at Li Yi.

Only now did they notice: Li Yi’s garment was extraordinary. In the firelight of night, it shimmered with shifting light, embroidered with a five-clawed black dragon—vivid, fierce, and majestic.

“It’s called a Flying Fish Robe,” Li Yi explained. “A close friend gave it to me. Made from Qiu Dragon hide—indestructible, impervious to water and fire, immune to insects.”

“Qiu Dragon hide? Dragon skin?” Zhao Ge’s expression changed. “Mengde, do dragons still exist in your world?”

In the Four Seas and Eight Provinces, dragons had vanished—long lost to myth.

Li Yi thought a moment, then said: “In my world, we call such beings ‘transcendent creatures.’ Whether true dragons exist, I don’t know—but Qiu Dragons, Jiao Dragons—certainly do.”

After the Skyfall Event, even mythological creatures had emerged.

Hearing this,

Zhao Qian, Rongniang, and Skinny Monkey were stunned.

Senior Brother’s world truly had dragon bloodlines?

“To make clothing from Qiu Dragon hide means someone in your world hunts dragons,” Zhao Ge marveled. “Unbelievable. No wonder Mengde is naturally extraordinary—living in such a world makes sense.”

“By the way, Senior Brother, what’s that?” Skinny Monkey suddenly pointed to the sniper rifle resting in the temple’s corner. “I saw Little Sister carrying it.”

Zhao Qian explained: “It’s a weapon Brother Yi brought—a firearm, but ten to a hundred times more powerful. It can kill enemies from ten miles away. Those men who suddenly exploded earlier? Killed by this.”

“A firearm that kills from ten miles away? And with such power?” Zhao Ge was stunned again.

The Four Seas and Eight Provinces had firearms—thunder bombs, firelocks—but their power was ordinary, useless against powerful martial artists.

Li Yi said: “This firearm is called a sniper rifle. Developed in my world specifically to hunt transcendent creatures. I brought it to save Master, just in case. But ammunition is limited—once gone, it’s just scrap iron.”

“I see. Mengde, you’re thoughtful, well-prepared. That’s right—when facing enemies, prepare thoroughly, leave nothing to chance.” Zhao Ge nodded. “I saw the weapon’s power just now—truly astonishing. A Blood-Refining martial artist struck by it dies instantly. Even at my peak, I couldn’t survive a single bullet.”

“Can this firearm kill a Meridian-Opening master?” Skinny Monkey’s eyes widened, then he burst with excitement: “With this weapon, we have a chance to avenge ourselves!”

Zhao Ge sighed: “After this, I’ve seen clearly. The Zhao Martial Arts Hall’s downfall was inevitable—excess leads to decline. If we return to avenge, we’ll face another slaughter. How many more lives will we lose?”

“My disciples are all that remain. Let go of vengeance.”

He shook his head, willing to abandon revenge.

“This—this can’t be! Master, so many brothers’ blood demands vengeance!” Skinny Monkey dropped to his knees, tears streaming: “I know you fear for our safety, but think of yourself! The Coffin Ginseng is still in that traitor’s hands. Without returning to Sanyang City, how do we retrieve it? How do we heal your wound?”

Zhao Ge snapped: “Enough! How many more lives must be sacrificed for this old man’s life? I’ve reached my destiny. Let me die. You must live.”

“Mengde.”

He turned to Li Yi: “I ask you one favor.”

“Master, speak.”

“When I die, you become head of the Zhao Martial Arts Hall. Please take them away from the Four Seas and Eight Provinces. Bring them to your world. Give them a path to live. They’re mediocre, incapable of great deeds—but they can still serve you.” Zhao Ge’s aged face held a flicker of hope.

He looked like an old man, entrusting his final wishes.

Li Yi should have agreed—but he fell silent.

Because Earth wasn’t safe either.

Earth’s evolved ones fled across dimensions to escape the Second Skyfall—yet Master here had no refuge either, also seeking escape.

If so, what meaning did it all hold?

Just dying in another world.

That shouldn’t be.

Li Yi’s gaze sharpened, brightening: “Master, I know you’ve suffered greatly, but you mustn’t lose heart. Those villains drove you out of Sanyang City—I’ll help you take it back. The enemies must be purged. The Martial Arts Hall must be rebuilt. Everything lost will be reclaimed. As Senior Brother of the Zhao Martial Arts Hall, I bear this duty.”

“All of you—do you follow me to seek vengeance, or follow Master and abandon this feud?”

He turned to the others.

“I follow Senior Brother. Vengeance,” Skinny Monkey stood up, voice trembling with emotion.

“I follow Senior Brother,” Rongniang’s eyes burned with stubborn resolve—she wouldn’t flee like a coward.

Zhao Qian hesitated, glancing between her father and Li Yi, then bit her lip: “I follow Brother Yi.”

“Good.”

Li Yi nodded, then added: “Master, rest assured. I’ll retrieve the Coffin Ginseng and fully heal your wound. With you alive, and your disciples united, everything will recover.”

Seeing Li Yi’s firm resolve, and remembering his disciples’ blood-deep grudges, Zhao Ge drew a deep breath, abandoning his earlier weakness: “If Mengde says so, then I have no more hesitation. We’ll return to Sanyang City once more.”