Chapter 16

Ding Dian was anxious as if on fire, but he knew that if he heeded Xia San Dao, he would no longer be fit to be human. Yet seeing the blood threads on Ling Shuanghua's neck, he felt worry, heartache and anger filling his chest, and involuntarily clenched his fists, veins bulging.

In Ling Shuanghua's eyes, there seemed to be only Ding Dian; she merely looked at her beloved with hot tears in her eyes, saying nothing.

It seemed as if only she and Ding Dian existed between heaven and earth.

Feng Yi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, the power of love is indeed great, great enough to transcend life and death; he couldn't help but admire this deeply enamored man and woman.

Anyway, he felt that if someone held a knife to his throat, even if he loved another, he wouldn't have the mind to look at them.

Ling Tusi, however, exclaimed urgently: 'Xia San Dao, you want to kill Feng Yi, yet how can you use my daughter as a hostage? I order you to release my daughter!'

Feng Yi saw his concerned expression, knowing this person's conduct was wicked, yet someone as noble as he placed great importance on reputation, so putting on airs here was quite normal.

Yet he couldn't help thinking: 'This man is utterly wicked and evil, truly remarkable; his acting is beyond reproach! If I lacked my foreknowledge advantage, encountering such a person, could I see through his scheme?'

Feng Yi had no answer.

Ding Dian, however, was furious to the point of madness, glaring and shouting: 'Xia San Dao, grievances have heads, debts have owners; if you want to avenge your son, you should seek Feng Yi to settle it! To threaten with a weak woman—how could that be what a hero ought to do?'

Xia San Dao's face darkened, he gritted his teeth and said: 'Damn the hero! Ding Dian, you are a hero, you are a good man! But what's the result? These past three years you've lived worse than a dog!'

So I, Xia San Dao, only look at results, not at methods!

Ding Dian's anger rose, but Xia San Dao's blade edge was pressed against Ling Shuanghua's neck; he was three zhang away from her, such a great distance that even if he struck like lightning, he could not risk it! Feng Yi saw this, naturally understood Ding Dian's concern, felt remorse in his heart, yet his expression remained unchanged as he smiled at Ling Tusi and said: 'Chief Ling, this is indeed putting you in a difficult position!'

Ling Tusi heard these words, seeing that he showed no fear nor anger, still chatting and laughing happily, with a calm expression, he couldn't help but admire and asked: 'Why is that?'

Feng Yi said proudly: 'It's difficult for you, who are versed in both civil and military arts, rich and noble, yet you have lost your sanity over the Liancheng treasure.'

Today, just to save your life, you actually, before all your subordinates, do not hesitate to threaten the enemy with your daughter's life—so vile, truly a waste of having read the sages' books!

Moreover, you can pretend so convincingly—hehe, truly an eye-opener!

Ling Tusi had not yet spoken when Xia San Dao let out a wild laugh, his voice grim and shrill, like the cry of a night owl.

Feng Yi frowned slightly and said: 'What are you laughing at? Don't you know how unpleasant that sounds?'

Xia San Dao's laughter ceased, his face darkened, and he said solemnly: 'Feng Yi, you really think you're clever! Do you think I'm listening to Ling Tusi?'

Feng Yi sneered: 'Isn't that the case?'

Xia San Dao angrily said: 'I have followed Ling Tusi for over twenty years, always obeying his lead; who would have thought my son would die, I want to kill you to avenge him, yet he lightly tells me to prioritize the greater good!'

He completely disregards my grief over losing my son!

Saying this, Xia San Dao burst out cursing: 'Damn the greater good!'

His greater good is the Divine Illumination Skill, the Liancheng Secret; for that he does not hesitate to use his daughter! But my greater good, my everything, is only for my son! My son is dead, and now I have only one thing: to avenge my son!

Saying what, after obtaining the secret skill, let me kill Feng Yi to avenge my son, but now he has become a prisoner!

Truly laughable to the extreme! If he had listened to me, he would have had you killed that very night; how could there be today's disaster?

Xia San Dao's final words were clearly directed at Ling Tusi.

Everyone saw his gaunt, elongated face flickering in the torchlight, like a living ghost, and everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

At this moment, everyone had sorted everything out.

Ling Tusi is indeed despicable and shameless, using his daughter to capture Ding Dian in order to obtain the secret skill; after subjecting him to torture, he then sent Feng Yi undercover.

Unexpectedly, Feng Yi killed Xia San Dao's son; Xia San Dao wanted revenge, but Ling Tusi did not permit it.

Now seeing that Ling Tusi could hardly protect himself, with no hope of revenge, he nonetheless seized Ling Shuanghua to threaten Ding Dian, aiming to kill Feng Yi. Feng Yi couldn't help but startle, then burst into loud laughter, laughing for a while before sighing and saying: 'Chief Ling, for some external possessions you have not only alienated your daughter, but even your longtime follower Xia San Dao has betrayed you—having sunk to this point, is there any flavor left in being human?'

Everyone thought likewise: Ling Tusi's trusted aide Feng Yi had rebelled, and even his most loyal follower Xia San Dao jumped out to oppose him.

As for his own biological daughter, needless to say.

If the father is unkind, the daughter likely cannot be filial.

Is this not the situation of being abandoned by all and estranged from kin? Ling Tusi's face turned iron-blue, his lips twitched, but in the end he spoke nothing.

No one knew what he wanted to say, nor what he was thinking.

Feng Yi turned his head to look at Xia San Dao, smiling lightly, and said: 'However, I didn't expect that someone like you, two-faced, feigning tiger's might, sinister and vicious, would actually possess such deep paternal love—your son is far happier than Eldest Miss Ling.'

He had originally thought that Xia San Dao was putting on a double act with Ling Tusi, but hearing now, this person actually harbors a deep hatred, seeking only to avenge his son; he not only finds it somewhat troublesome, but also feels a bit ashamed, having underestimated human nature too much.

Not mentioning anything else, Xia San Dao's grief over losing his son outweighs his loyalty to Ling Tusi; this is where Feng Yi's judgment went wrong.

He kept this lesson firmly in mind, and also realized,

He also thought of Hua Tie Gan in the original storyline, who had clearly been a renowned great hero for decades, yet in just a single day became a despicable petty person!

Simply because human nature changes with environment and experience.

Good and evil lie in a single thought! Suddenly hearing Xia San Dao's vicious laugh: 'Ding Dian, what Feng Yi just said is good!'

I am the butcher's block, you are the meat; now Miss Ling is in my hands, you take Feng Yi's head and I will give you Eldest Miss Ling intact, even if you later kill me, I will accept it! If you do not obey, even if you break out of the cage, it will be in vain!

Ding Dian's heart raced, his brows furrowed; he surely did not wish to kill Feng Yi, but Ling Shuanghua was in Xia San Dao's hands, his son had died, this blood-deep enmity naturally outweighed everything, and he would not fear death.

Suddenly, Feng Yi stepped forward and let out a long, loud laugh, his voice extremely exuberant.

Xia San Dao saw him still able to laugh, and involuntarily shouted: 'What are you laughing at?'

Feng Yi heard his shout, suddenly had a brainwave, his smile faded, and he said lightly: 'In Brother Ding's eyes, my life is surely not worth as much as Miss Ling's, but am I Feng Yi a blade of grass? Does he definitely have the ability to kill me?'

Xia San Dao snorted coldly and said: 'Do you take me for a three-year-old child? If Ding Dian wants to kill you, how could you possibly survive?'

Ding Dian's eyes almost burst, yet he remained calm, saying: 'Xia San Dao, you have made a fine calculation, thinking that as long as you hold Shuanghua, you can threaten me! As for my sparring with Feng Yi, victory or defeat aside, but if I strike him, what would that make me, Ding Dian?'

Xia San Dao gave a vicious snort, tightened the blade pressed against Ling Shuanghua's neck, and said coldly: 'Ding Dian, whether left or right I am a dead man, yet you still dare to pose as a great hero and a good man before me!'

Fine, using Eldest Miss Ling as a shield is not bad either. Just don't regret it!

Feng Yi frowned and said: 'If you release Miss Ling, I guarantee you won't die, and I'll also give you a large batch of gold!'

Xia San Dao growled low: 'My son is dead, all my hopes are gone; you think I'm like Ling Tusi, caring only for profit?'

Feng Yi sighed and said: 'Why bother? If you had such paternal love earlier, I would not have killed Xia Wan Chong!'

Xia San Dao burst out cursing: 'Damn you! Stop with your cold talk! Ding Dian, I've run out of patience!' As he spoke, he tightened his grip; Ling Shuanghua gave a soft groan, and her neck was cut again.

Feng Yi saw this, his qi circulated throughout his body, his outer clothes stirred without wind, making a sound as they fluttered; he raised his brows and said in a deep voice: 'Brother Ding, the day I was punched and kicked by you I still cannot forget; today, seizing the opportunity, I also want to see how my Divine Illumination Skill compares to yours.'

Ding Dian turned his head to look, Feng Yi blinked and gave him a look; Ding Dian suddenly burst into laughter: 'Indeed heroes come from youth!' Suddenly his eyes widened, killing intent surged, and he shouted sternly: 'Then take this move!' His right palm swiftly chopped toward Feng Yi's face.

He merely lifted his shoulder; Feng Yi's body slanted back three steps toward Xia Sandao, his right hand thrusting out a palm, his left hand stabbing forward with the single-edged sword.

As their palms met, only two muffled 'thud, thud' sounds were heard, like faint thunder rumbling in thick clouds; strong wind burst outward, everyone felt a tremor underfoot, and those nearby retreated several steps.

Feng Yi and Ding Dian's two figures instantly separated.

For some unknown reason, the single-edged sword in Feng Yi's hand had actually broken into two pieces. Feng Yi flung his hand upward; the broken blade, like a long rainbow, shot straight into the sky.

Ding Dian, meanwhile, seemed like a string of illusions, darting out diagonally.

Xia Sandao was greatly startled by the scene, and moreover Ding Dian's flight direction was not toward him; feeling relieved, he couldn't help but wonder, his eyes instinctively turning toward the knife in the sky.

At that very instant, only Ding Dian's loud shout was heard: "Strike!"

This cry was like a wounded tiger's mournful howl, shaking everyone's eardrums to ring and their hearts to sway.

A white light sliced through the night sky, carrying a wailing sound, and shot toward Ling Shuanghua like lightning.

Xia Sandao was shaken by that fierce shout, his thoughts unsettled; caught off guard, with a clang, he felt a jolt in his tiger's mouth, and the knife in his hand was flung away from Ling Shuanghua's neck.

Xia Sandao could not hold on; the knife not only flew from his hand, but his tiger's mouth was also shaken open, drawing blood.

In that instant, Feng Yi already sprang forward, lunging over two zhang; his palms repeatedly pushed aside, shaking apart the few people before him left and right, his legs like coiled springs, his whole body shooting forward with a "whoosh", he grabbed Ling Shuanghua's arm and pulled her over.

In shock and anger, Xia Sandao's ferocity surged; he clawed toward Ling Shuanghua's back, a fierce move from the "Great Capturing Hand".

However, Feng Yi had come with stored energy; this move of his didn't even touch Ling Shuanghua's clothing.

Saying it is slow, it happens fast! In the blink of an eye, everyone's vision blurred; Ding Dian also flashed in, and before Ling Shuanghua could understand what was happening, she was already held in his embrace.

Feng Yi, without a thought, stepped forward; his left palm like a blade chopped toward Xia Sandao's wrist, his right hand grabbed the opponent's shoulder—this move executed in one breath, swift beyond words.

Xia Sandao's claw missed; before he could change his move, he suddenly felt pain in his right hand, then kicked his left leg toward Feng Yi—but as soon as his toe lifted, his shoulder went numb, a warm current flowed from his shoulder into his viscera, his blood surged to his throat, and he could no longer move.

Feng Yi seized Xia Sandao's shoulder well point and shouted, "I was about to see great success accomplished, and you give me trouble!"

"Pa-pa," his right hand swung left and right, slapping Xia Sandao's cheeks; the second slap was even stronger.

Xia Sandao's eyes went black, a bloody, salty taste filled his mouth and nose; before he could even feel the pain, he toppled straight out a zhang away.

Feng Yi called out, "This punch is for Ding Shixiong!" Without waiting for Xia Sandao to hit the ground, he launched a straight punch into his abdomen.

Feng Yi had practically already grasped the universe, yet a single Xia Sandao had nearly capsized him; the pent-up frustration of a long time now burst forth, possessing the force of thunder and ten thousand jun.

With a puff-like dull thud mixed with the sound of breaking bones, Xia Sandao suddenly shouted, his blood boiling throughout his body, nearly bursting his brain, and he flew out like a paper kite.

Feng Yi's form flickered, and he shouted, "This kick is for Miss Ling!" With a "peng" sound, he kicked Xia Sandao's abdomen, lifting him directly up and sending him soaring into midair.

Feng Yi suddenly reached out, snatched a knife from the hand of a Longsha Gang member, leapt up, and shouted, "This knife is for the honest man!" With a "swish" sound, he rushed straight at Xia Sandao's right hand.

"Siss," Xia Sandao's right hand's five fingers all fell off, fresh blood spattering onto the ground.

Xia Sandao's heart filled with shock and anger: "Who is the honest man…"

Before his thoughts could cease, with a "plop" he fell straight to the ground.

He had no idea that the honest man was Di Yun, who had not yet come to Jingzhou.

In the original plot, he had accepted bribes from the Wan family, treated Di Yun horribly, subjected him to severe punishment, and even cut off his right hand.

By saving Ding Dian this time, Feng Yi effectively seized Di Yun's opportunity for the Divine Illumination Scripture, which also counts as venting his anger for him.

Even if, in this world, this event had not occurred, or perhaps there would never be another chance for it to happen.

But Feng Yi does whatever makes him happy; he is not a judge who needs to base decisions on fact and law! He is merely an ordinary jianghu person: seeing something displeasing, he must make it die.

Feng Yi flipped and landed, then spoke loudly: "You should go see your son!"

Xia Sandao's mouth gushed blood like a spring; he gave a grim smile: "Lord Ling, despite all your calculations, you never imagined you'd fall into your hands—heh, I die in… your hands, and it's not in vain…"

Xia Sandao exhaled sharply, his body stiffened, and only a faint smile remained frozen on his face.

No one knows whether, in his final moments, he truly felt his death was not in vain.

Ling Tui Si, perhaps feeling the sorrow of a fox when a rabbit dies, cried out in loss: "Three Blades!" He wanted to step forward, but his subordinates held him back.

He then looked at Feng Yi, then at Ding Dian, and sneered: "Excellent tactics! You two really keep old man surprised and delighted! Xia Sandao said it well—old man's downfall is truly not in vain!"

Feng Yi smiled: "Easy to say!"

From the moment Feng Yi and Ding Dian launched their offensive until Xia Sandao's death, though it took only the blink of an eye, the danger was such that everyone stared wide-eyed! In fact, when Feng Yi and Ding Dian clashed palms, though the momentum was great, they did not meet head-on; Feng Yi instead pushed and pulled, and Ding Dian, seeing Feng Yi draw his sword, understood the intent, so while breaking Feng Yi's single-edged sword, he also borrowed the force of Feng Yi's palm to fly out diagonally.

Feng Yi then threw the broken blade, drawing everyone's gaze; Ding Dian seized the instant when Xia Sandao's gaze left him, hurled the blade, knocking aside the knife pressed against Ling Shuanghua's neck, and Feng Yi took advantage to surge forward and rescue Ling Shuanghua.

This maneuver was the essence of wisdom, martial skill, experience, and tacit understanding combined; and in that split second of lightning-fast action, knocking away Xia Sandao's knife required precise timing, judgment, angle, and timing—any slight error would certainly doom Ling Shuanghua—so this arduous task could only be Ding Dian's.

After all, although Feng Yi's inner strength was also strong, he had never practiced concealed-weapon techniques; his hand had only power, no aim—even if he threw ten times, he could not guarantee he could deflect Xia Sandao's knife.

Yet he and Ding Dian coordinated so perfectly without any verbal exchange, truly not easy; even Ling Tui Si's high standards had to concede.

Ding Dian embraced the still-startled Ling Shuanghua, inhaling her fragrance, feeling both sorrow and joy, murmuring: "Shuanghua, I am so happy… I am so delighted!"

Suddenly he burst into loud laughter, shouting: "I am so happy, I am so delighted!"

This sound drifted and swirled through the night sky over Jingzhou city, heard throughout half the city; in the distance, several nightingales just about to land and perch on trees were frightened by it into fluttering up with a "puling-ling" sound…

Ling Shuanghua looked at Ding Dian; in an instant her body grew hot, all fear and anxiety turned to nothing, propriety and etiquette cast aside, she wrapped her arms around his waist, lightly pressing her face to his shoulder, tears streaming without end.

Ding Dian also, with tear-filled tiger eyes, held her in his arms and whispered hoarsely: "Shuanghua!"

Everyone watched as the two clung tightly, four streams of hot tears flowing together, wetting him and her…

(End of chapter)