Chapter 42

Yan Daping won a bout, thinking that if the enemy laid siege, it would be Feng Yi's turn to fight, and he himself was glad to have leisure.

Unexpectedly, the leader of the opposing side waved his hand and said, "A tough point, pull!" The Snow Mountain Sect disciple defeated by Yan Daping leapt up.

But as soon as he set one foot on the roof, he heard a sudden "whoosh", a white light flashed like lightning and thunder, incredibly swift.

With a clang, a cold light flashed; the leader hastily drew his sword to block, but the white light suddenly sped up, and this thrust missed entirely.

With a "puff", the white light struck the Snow Mountain Sect disciple's back, and he immediately spat out a mouthful of blood, about to fall.

The leader reached out and grabbed him, seeing a small white wine cup embedded in his brother's back at the "Spirit Terrace Acupoint"; apparently dead, he tucked him under his arm and flew away.

The others also acted as if they hadn't seen, and followed him away.

Only a distant voice came: "Fast or slow as you wish, what a formidable technique—I have learned it!"

Feng Yi saw the other party about to leave, and casually threw the wine cup in his hand; using the hidden weapon technique taught by Ding Dian, infused with the supreme inner power of the Divine Illumination Skill, truly few in the world can dodge or block it.

Yan Daping leapt onto the roof, looked around, the buildings varied in height, and those people had already blended into the vast night.

He knew that in the darkness, those people were using the buildings for cover, making it nearly impossible for him to catch up, and he wouldn't foolishly pursue them.

But what could be the purpose of the other party doing this?

Is it just to send heads from afar? Yan Daping pondered, stepped down, and called out: "Shopkeeper, prepare some water, let the master soak his feet!"

He and that man were fighting loudly; some timid customers had already fled, the waiter and shopkeeper trembled all over, fearing to be implicated in a manslaughter case; hearing Yan Daping's shout, they immediately responded.

"Please wait a moment!"

Yan Daping pushed the door and entered, seeing Feng Yi standing with his hands behind his back at the window, eyes closed in thought, not knowing what he was thinking; he immediately laughed: "Master Feng, you just said there were eight, but I only see four."

Feng Yi said: "Four are hiding behind the inn's wall."

Yan Daping's heart skipped: "If we pursued and leapt over the wall, wouldn't we walk into an ambush?" He said: "If you had chased out just now, they might not have escaped more than a few."

Feng Yi said nothing, slowly walked to the table, sat down, and trimmed the candle,

Yan Daping thought: "At such a young age, pretending to be deep."

Feng Yi had long sensed that today's affair was strange; setting aside other experience, the principle of not pursuing a desperate foe, he understood better than anyone.

Chasing after someone in the dead of night—who knows what traps await one!

In an unfamiliar place, being steady is very necessary.

All set!

Safe!

After all, Falling Flowers Flowing Water suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Blood Blade Old Ancestor—a bloody lesson Feng Yi always kept in mind! A night breeze blew in, making the lights flicker, Feng Yi's face alternating between bright and dark; he suddenly looked at Yan Daping and said: "I have heard that the Snow Mountain Sect rarely comes to the Central Plains, yet today I see their sword technique is exquisite, indeed possessing unique merits."

But I never expected your martial arts to be so astonishing, actually able to defeat them; show me your sword technique!

Yan Daping lost face before Feng Yi, yet regained some dignity from the Snow Mountain Sect, feeling quite pleased with himself.

Hearing this, he sat opposite him in a relaxed manner, gave a cold chuckle: "My sword technique compared to your martial arts is not worth mentioning; don't make me embarrass myself. Those few moves I just managed were merely stolen from you, only regrettable…

Alas, if it weren't for my master hoarding his secrets, I would not have looked down on these people; none of them would have escaped."

Saying this, his face was full of resentment and regret.

Feng Yi wanted him to demonstrate the Tang Poetry Sword Technique once, so he could memorize and ponder it; hearing this, anger welled up in him unbidden, and he coldly said: "Your master has been dead for over ten years at your hands—where does such great resentment come from?"

"Heh," Yan Daping sneered: "Shouldn't I resent him? Mei Niansheng once said our hearts were not upright, so he refused to pass on the divine sword technique. But since he discovered that several of us had corrupt hearts, he could have simply abolished our martial arts and expelled us from the sect.

Yet he insisted on preserving his "Two Lakes Hero" golden signboard, fearing that unworthy disciples would bring ridicule; thus he kept us brothers around, making us kowtow daily and call him master, while refusing to teach us the true arts, instead benefiting an outsider unrelated to us—Ding Dian.

Pah, the saying goes 'people die for wealth, birds die for food'—he brought death upon himself, yet also made us bear the sin of killing our master; do you think I would be willing?

Feng Yi listened silently, his heart turning cold; this man is so rebellious and ungrateful, yet can utter righteous-sounding excuses. Yet he cannot help but feel: "If Mei Niansheng could see his own deeds reflected in his disciples' eyes,

it is because he cannot let go, cannot release, cannot see past a name—how sorrowful that is." Feng Yi lifted the wine pot, gently poured a cup, and said: "Your master did all that, and you only see these?"

Yan Daping's thoughts shifted, his face full of doubt: "What else have you seen?"

Feng Yi asked: "Among martial artists in the world, how many have skills like that Snow Mountain Sect person's?"

Yan Daping pondered: "That's certainly not many. This person could exchange over thirty moves with me before being defeated—how difficult! Do you think my title 'Earthly Divine Dragon' is just empty boasting?"

Feng Yi replied: "Then is your ability sufficient to establish yourself and make your name known throughout the martial world? And was this taught by your master?"

Yan Daping gave a light cold snort.

Feng Yi tilted his head back, drained the cup in one gulp, and said slowly: "You are full of resentment, claiming you feel no guilt for plotting against your master, only because he hoarded his secrets; you also say your martial arts are inferior to mine and to Falling Flowers Flowing Water!"

Yan Daping interjected: "Are my words not factual? Are they not correct?"

Feng Yi smiled: "These are facts, but the reasoning is not right!

I myself walked into dog-shit luck—this is a fortuitous chance, unspeakable, unreplicable, and incomparable!

Moreover, to obtain the Divine Illumination Scripture, I also wagered my life, letting Ding Dian escape the deadly calamity!

And Ding Dian could obtain the Divine Illumination Scripture only by risking being discovered and silenced by you; he rescued Elder Mei and gained recognition.

And you—what have you contributed, what have you done?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Daping's complexion shifted; he gritted his teeth and said: "Have we not contributed? We have served him for many years, with utmost reverence!"

Feng Yi gave a dark chuckle: "What does a hero seek in taking disciples? You constantly claim Mei Elder is seeking fame through deceit, yet he nurtured three renowned heroes, making his name shine for eternity! What greater display of fame could there be?

Then what does such a person want—your cry of 'Master,' or your service of pouring tea and water? Surely he desires you to be like Falling Flowers Flowing Water, taking upholding justice as your duty, so that the entire martial world may take you as models?

Ask yourselves honestly— which of you three has achieved that?"

Yan Daping's face darkened; he remained silent.

Feng Yi added: "Since you have entered Mei the Hero's school, you ought to observe his teachings; yet you, while eager to learn his peerless martial arts, scoff at the chivalrous path he upholds!

Put simply, you study what benefits you, what lets you indulge desires; but if you wish to restrain your desires and elevate your moral character, you cast it aside.

Personal views differ, but since you think this way, you should not have become disciples of Mei the Hero; you ought to seek the Blood Blade Sect instead!"

Yan Daping's face changed, his brows rose: "What is the Blood Blade Sect? I will go pay my respects to it!"

Feng Yi nodded: "You certainly will not join the Blood Blade Sect.

You took Mei the Hero as master because you wanted to enjoy the prestige and flattery that a righteous hero brings, yet you shirk the hero's duties—since being a hero is so exhausting, how could you become like the Blood Blade wicked monk, who, as soon as he steps out, gets his spine stabbed and is shouted at and attacked?

Yan Daping listened, his eyes lit up, staring at Feng Yi, his heart pounding, his ears burning red.

He knew Feng Yi was right!

Feng Yi drank a cup of wine and said, "So you have taken a master; what your master demands of you, if you cannot do it, you think it's not your fault."

And he must follow your wishes; if he does not follow your wishes, he deserves to be killed, he deserves to die! Even if he has already imparted to you martial arts enough to make your name known throughout the world, you can still forget this great kindness!

This is like a father who has a great estate, feeling his children are useless, so he gives them a guarantee of sufficient food and clothing.

He merely does not want his life's efforts to go to waste, so he wants to find someone capable to take over.

But his children, for the sake of this great estate, have murdered this old father, and still hold a grudge against him, speaking self-righteously, calling him a hypocrite who seeks fame! One may ask, in this world, are there such shameless, wolf-hearted, dog-lunged people?

Yan Daping's emotions surged, both angry and anxious, his old face flushed, his eyes fixed tightly on him.

Feng Yi's gaze flicked toward the door.

Then came a "dong, dong, dong!" knocking sound.

Yan Daping snapped back to his senses and shouted, "Who!"

(End of chapter)