Chapter 39

Yan Daping was a well-known figure in the martial world, but in Feng Yi's hands he was like a three-year-old child; once caught, his whole body went limp, unable to offer any resistance.

These two slaps hit his face, half his body went numb, and the second slap, struck with greater force, sent Yan Daping flying more than ten feet, landing limp on the ground as his cheeks visibly swelled.

In an instant, Yan Daping's face became like a pig's head, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and he couldn't help shouting, "Surname Feng, do you think high martial arts lets you recklessly slander people? Today killing me is easy, but trying to pin the crime of murdering my master on me, Yan Daping, is pure fantasy!"

In the martial world, people place the utmost importance on respecting teachers and valuing the Way; even the most wicked scoundrel dare not openly insult his master, let alone kill him.

When Yan Daping, Wan Zhenshan, and Qi Changfa plotted to harm Mei Niansheng, it was at night, for fear of being discovered.

Afterward they all agreed on the same story, claiming Mei Niansheng had died of depression after losing his martial arts secret manual. How could they easily admit to this crime?

Feng Yi gave Yan Daping a deep look, then slowly nodded and said, "Good, today I'll let you die with full understanding. Do you still remember the Three Dou Flat in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze?"

Ding Dian had already explained to Feng Yi in detail how the three had plotted Mei Niansheng's death, so Feng Yi remembered this place clearly and could not be mistaken.

A twitch crossed the flesh on Yan Daping's aged face; his narrowed eyes held a hint of suspicion as they fixed on Feng Yi's face.

"The Three Dou Flat in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze" is indeed the place where the three brothers plotted to kill their master.

Feng Yi's eyes flashed, he raised his brows and said, "Eleven years ago, you, Wan Zhenshan, and Qi Changfa, at the Three Dou Flat, plotted to kill your master Mei Niansheng over the 'Linked City Sword Manual'; Qi Changfa struck from behind, first wounding the old man and piercing his lung, then the three of you, weapons in hand, surrounded him, driving him to jump into the river. Do you also want me to repeat what was said among you, in full detail?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Daping's heart churned like stormy waves; he leapt up, his face full of terror, his voice trembling as he asked, "Did the master tell Ding Dian, and then Ding Dian tell you?"

The news of Ding Dian's burial of Mei Niansheng eventually leaked, so it was no surprise that Yan Daping heard Feng Yi expose his great sin of killing his master; it was easy to guess that Ding Dian had told Feng Yi.

Yet Yan Daping, like Wan Zhenshan and the others, harbored a sliver of hope, thinking that although Ding Dian had obtained Mei Niansheng's treasure, perhaps he had only come to collect the corpse, and the two might not have truly interacted.

After all, Mei Niansheng had been stabbed in the back by Qi Changfa's sword, which pierced straight through his lung—a fatal wound in itself.

Moreover, Mei Niansheng had jumped into the Yangtze after a prolonged struggle; how could he have had the strength to explain anything to anyone? Though they did not know the miraculous nature of the Divine Illumination Skill, its vitality far surpassed that of ordinary cultivation arts.

But they knew the saying, "Family shame should not be aired publicly."

Especially in their view, given Mei Niansheng's iron will and proud spirit, he would never tell others that he had been killed by his own disciple.

After all, Mei Niansheng's name was renowned; otherwise, the three brothers would have long been purged from the sect. How could they dare to swagger in the martial world? How could they now have the gall to seek out Feng Yi? As Feng Yi calmly said, "You think your crime of killing your master was hidden, but you never imagined that back then, Great Hero Ding himself stood beside and witnessed the whole process, which is why he saved Master Mei and received from him the transmission of the Divine Illumination Classic and the Linked City Secret."

A chill rose from Yan Daping's spine, spreading through his body, and his heart sank instantly; but as a man of deep scheming and established reputation, he quickly regained composure, thinking to himself, "Whether blessing or calamity, misfortune cannot be avoided."

He immediately let out a long sigh and said, "Since you already know everything, I won't hide it any longer; in fact, I too have my difficulties—listen as I explain in detail."

Feng Yi waved his hand and said, "No need; isn't Wan Zhenshan's birthday celebration coming up soon?"

Yan Daping stared in astonishment and said, "You know that too?"

Feng Yi sneered, "I know more about your brothers' affairs than you do. I only ask you: how do you want to die?!"

Yan Daping's old face flushed red as he asked, "What do you mean?"

Feng Yi said, "I originally intended to wait until Wan Zhenshan's grand birthday, when you three brothers were gathered, and then deal with you."

"Your luck is not bad; compared to them, you actually have one more option."

As long as you, at Wan Zhenshan's birthday banquet, expose the heinous act of you three brothers killing your master, that would save me some trouble, and I will let you die a bit more comfortably.

Yan Daping looked at Feng Yi with an indescribable expression, then laughed helplessly and said: 'Young Hero Feng, are you out of your mind, or have you drunk too much, or is your fever raging?'

Feng Yi said lightly: 'You're unwilling?'

Yan Daping said angrily: 'Wan Zhenshan is a prominent figure of Jingzhou, wealthy and influential, and has wide connections in the martial world; if we say this at his birthday banquet, can we still be human?'

Yan Daping said: 'What hero of the martial world could spare us? Either way it's death; why should I listen to you?' Feng Yi said sternly: 'Because death and death can be vastly different!'

To be killed by a palm strike is death; to be killed by a sword thrust is also death.

But if one's bones are crushed, thrown into the mountains to feed wild beasts, or shut in a cave to slowly await death, that too is death!

Upon hearing this, Yan Daping involuntarily stepped back three steps, nearly stumbled, and stammered: 'You're actually so vicious; aren't you afraid of heavenly retribution?'

Feng Yi said coldly: 'I've never heard that killing beasts incurs heavenly retribution.'

Yan Daping's thoughts raced, but he could not think of a single good excuse; he felt deeply disappointed, thinking: 'This brat is too clever; I must change my approach!' Suddenly he looked up and laughed loudly, a grim sound.

Feng Yi frowned slightly and said: 'If you laugh again, I will make you laugh for three days and three nights without catching your breath.'

Yan Daping knew that if he struck his own laughter pressure point, would he not be laughed to death; his laughter ceased abruptly, his eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he gritted his teeth and said: 'You're right; eleven years ago, my three brothers indeed besieged our master, causing him to jump into the river.'

But was he himself without fault?

Feng Yi snorted coldly: 'You can still be more shameless; after all, you are capable of such heinous acts that destroy human ethics, and I would not be surprised at all!'

Yan Daping said: 'May I ask, why do martial practitioners take a master?'

It is not merely to learn profound martial arts, to gain fame and achieve great deeds in the martial world! Since Mei Niansheng took us as disciples, he ought to have imparted all his skills wholeheartedly, yet how has he treated us? We have been his disciples for many years, yet he has not passed on the Liancheng Sword Technique to us; seeing your Divine Illumination Technique today makes us feel like three-year-old children.

Moreover, the martial arts of the Four Marvels of Jiangnan—how could any of us three disciples of the Mei Sect hope to match them?

He lacked benevolence first, so do not blame us for lacking righteousness!

Upon hearing this, Feng Yi's eyes widened suddenly; he flashed forward, and with a slap, Yan Daping received another blow to the face, his whole body flung outward more than ten feet, rolling twice.

Yan Daping spat out a mouthful of bloody foam mixed with a few teeth, then struggled to his feet and sneered: 'Back then, when we could not obtain what we sought, we saw that this old man was secretly looking for a successor.'

Once someone inherits his mantle, what would we become? After years of longing, how could we let it go to waste? That is why, left with no choice, we acted against him.

But for a hypocrite like him who seeks fame and reputation, dying at the hands of us disciples who betrayed master and ancestors is also just deserts!

Defecting with you from the Longsha Gang to deal with Ling Tusi is indeed being forced into it, having no other choice!

A flicker of cold light passed through Feng Yi's eyes as he said coldly: 'Are you suggesting that I have no right to avenge Master Mei?'

Yan Daping snorted coldly: 'Whether you have the right, I won't say for now. I merely want to say that Mei Niansheng's lack of benevolence and righteousness came first, and I have a clear conscience.'

Feng Yi stared unwaveringly at Yan Daping, his clothes and hair fluttering despite the absence of wind.

Yan Daping then added: 'Everyone knows about your affair with Ling Tusi.'

But no matter how high your martial arts, you cannot change the fact that you come from the Longsha Gang, nor can you silence the endless gossip of the world.

After a moment, Feng Yi smiled faintly and said: 'Do you think you're the only smart one in the world? Just because you can think of something doesn't mean I can't, nor can others. It seems my saying that meeting you would save me some trouble—you haven't understood a thing!'

Saying that, he flashed forward, grabbed Yan Daping's chest, twisted his wrist slightly, and already lifted him head-down.

Yan Daping felt shocked and angry, wanted to resist, but his inner strength wouldn't rise at all; his whole body felt weak and sore, and he silently cursed: 'Let you be proud for now; someday I will make you look foolish!'

Feng Yi lightly shook his hand, jingling back and forth, and from Yan Daping's chest fell several taels of broken silver, a snuff bottle, and a porcelain vial.

(End of chapter)