Chapter 59: with translation of chapter title

Speaking of Di Yun and Qi Fang, Yan Daping left the Wan household, found a carriage, intending to take Qi Changfa back to his hometown.

After all, although Qi Changfa's meridians were shattered throughout his body and his bones broken, thanks to the nourishment of the Divine Illumination True Qi, he had not yet breathed his last.

Regardless of whether Yan Daping's repentance was genuine or not, his admiration for Di Yun's filial devotion came from the heart. He therefore told Di Yun and Qi Fang about the matters concerning their martial brothers and master, lest hatred cloud their spirits and cause them to die at Feng Yi's hands.

Having interacted with Feng Yi, he came to understand him well, knowing that while Feng Yi might spare Di Yun and Qi Fang today, if they sought revenge, that would be another matter entirely.

He did not want these two youngsters to seek their own deaths.

As for killing Feng Yi, Yan Daping knew that relying on Di Yun and Qi Fang would never make it possible.

Even if their martial arts were roughly comparable to Feng Yi's, they would still have no chance of victory!

In fact, Di Yun and Qi Fang had long understood that Qi Changfa's killing of his master was truly heinous, yet since he was both father and master, listening to Yan Daping's nagging, they remained silent.

As the three were proceeding, they suddenly heard a deep shout: "Halt!"

Qi Fang felt a fierce gust, looked up, and saw a dark shadow leap down from the roof; five withered fingers shot out like lightning, and before she could react, her shoulder was seized.

She felt the claw like a pair of hot tongs, a surge of heat rushing from her shoulder through her whole body; she let out a pained groan, her body grew hot, and the hand she had just raised to counterattack went limp.

The Blood Knife Patriarch swept his wide sleeve, drawing Qi Fang into his embrace.

Qi Fang was both startled and angry, but unable to break free, she could only shout, "You filthy monk, let go!"

The Blood Knife Patriarch gave a heh, tapped her mute point, and thus Qi Fang could not speak a word.

Yan Daping and Di Yun turned their heads to see an old monk placing a sharp blade against Qi Fang's neck.

Seeing his face full of wrinkles and his sunken eyes flashing with cold light, Yan Daping unconsciously asked, "Who are you..."

Di Yun saw the monk's strange appearance, but noticed a blood-red long blade laid across his junior sister's neck, and exclaimed, "Quickly release my junior sister!"

He threw down the carriage, turned, and with a left-hand thrust struck toward the monk's chest.

Yan Daping also drew the sword hidden in his cane and lunged forward.

The old monk laughed ha-ha and said, "I don't even put that old fool Mei Niansheng in my eyes; do you two dare to offer treasures?"

Before he finished speaking, a red flash appeared, and the uncanny Blood Knife slashed swiftly at Yan Daping.

Yan Daping then remembered that his internal energy was gone, and he cursed inwardly, "Damn it, what's the point of showing off!"

In the hurry, he raised his sword to block; with a "clang," the sword in his hand snapped, his arm went numb, and he hastily bowed and retreated.

The Blood Knife Patriarch moved with incredible speed; he shook the Blood Knife, striking the broken blade, which shot toward Yan Daping like an arrow released from a bow.

His Blood Knife suddenly bent left and then slashed at Di Yun.

Di Yun saw Yan Daping make a move, still thinking this martial uncle had some capability, but he never expected him to be so useless.

Yan Daping now lacked internal energy; his strength was not even comparable to a sturdy youth, and though he still had techniques, they were of no use against the Blood Knife Patriarch.

Yan Daping was so frightened his soul nearly fled; he retreated in panic, but the broken sword came with such speed that there was no way to dodge.

Just as he was about to resign himself to fate, a white light flashed from the side, sparks flew, and the broken blade snapped with a "pa," embedding itself in the ground tiles.

Yan Daping glanced over, startled and delighted, his lips trembling, unable to utter a word.

At the same moment, Di Yun saw the blood-red shadow flicker, yet he felt no fear and still rushed forward,

The Blood Knife Patriarch needed only a slight wrist flick to chop off Di Yun, but he instead tilted the blade and struck Di Yun's chest.

Di Yun felt his bones about to break, and he stumbled back several steps with a scraping sound.

He realized this old monk's martial arts surpassed even his master's, likely comparable to Feng Yi's, but what surprised him was that the monk did not press the attack; instead, he seized his junior sister and floated back several zhang.

Di Yun shouted, "Come fight me if you dare—why grab my junior sister?"

Before his words finished, he saw the old monk's gaze fixed dead on his rear, one hand gripping his junior sister, the other holding a blade sideways at her neck, and he laughed, "What do you say?"

Then a cold laugh sounded: "What's this act all about?"

Di Yun glanced over and saw Feng Yi standing about a zhang away, Yan Daping with downcast eyes, standing to the side.

Di Yun was quite surprised: "Is it you?" After a brief hesitation, he added, "Did you bring him here?"

Feng Yi sized up Di Yun from head to toe and snorted, "I think your affinity with him is too great."

Feng Yi feared that pursuing too closely would lead to a trap and loss, so he kept his distance from the Blood Knife Patriarch; who would have known that this bald thief leaping from the roof would encounter Di Yun's group? By the time he arrived, the Blood Knife Patriarch had already seized Qi Fang, and rescue came too late.

Yet he also had reason to suspect that this Blood Knife Patriarch, though a villain to others, was a "lucky star" for Di Yun.

Otherwise, in such a large city as Jingzhou, how could they have run into the Blood Knife Patriarch?

Di Yun naturally did not understand Feng Yi's implication, and solemnly said, "I have never met him before—how could there be any affinity?"

The Blood Knife Patriarch laughed, "We had no affinity before, but we will from now on; we could even become brothers-in-law!"

Saying this, he reached out with his left hand to touch Qi Fang's chin: "Marvelous, marvelous!"

At that moment, some bold townspeople gathered around, basically grasping the meaning of his words; Feng Yi waved his hand and shouted, "All right, release her, and I'll let you go!"

The Blood Knife Patriarch's eyes shifted, and he said, "Hero Feng, are you trying to fool a three-year-old?"

"I release the person with my front foot, and you let me walk away with my back foot, then hack the monk to pieces with chaotic blades, and still claim you indeed let the monk go but didn't say you wouldn't pursue—who would I go to for justice?"

Feng Yi knew this monk was old and crafty, but he did not expect him to lay bare his thoughts in a single sentence.

Di Yun's face flushed with anger as he said, "This venerable monk, what grudge do you have with him? You ought to settle it yourself; what kind of hero is it to seize my junior sister?"

The Blood Knife Patriarch gave a cold snort and said, "If the Patriarch could settle it, why would I still be grabbing your junior sister?" He grew agitated, stirring his internal energy, and began to cough violently.

Di Yun, finding this reasonable, could not help but say, "Senior, then what deep grudge do you have with Feng Yi that cannot be resolved?"

The Blood Knife Patriarch chuckled heh-heh, "There's no great grudge, merely some differing views."

Di Yun was quite astonished: "Just because of differing views, you also have to draw blades?"

Feng Yi said lightly, "Are you very sympathetic with him? Here you are asking this and that!"

Upon hearing this, Di Yun's mouth fell open in surprise.

Yet the Blood Knife Patriarch sighed, "This child's conscience is quite good. In my Blood Knife Sect, many are strong in martial arts but few have good consciences; I really would like to let you join my Blood Knife Sect, kid—are you interested?"

Di Yun replied, "Release my junior sister, and I'll consider it!"

Di Yun also did not know what sect the Blood Knife Sect was; he merely felt that this monk's martial arts were very high, and if he could learn even a bit of it, his future quest for revenge against Feng Yi would hold a bit more hope.

Haha, no wonder he's Qi Changfa's disciple—he'll do anything for gain!

Damn it!

Pah! As he spoke, footsteps sounded, and dozens of sword-and-blade wielders drove the civilians aside, closing in; a glance showed they were all jianghu folk.

Di Yun's heart jolted; looking around, he saw contempt and mockery in everyone's brows and mouths—only Feng Yi gazed at him with a faint smile, looking quite interested.

"Feng Yi," the Blood Knife Old Ancestor said with a cold grimace: "The monk's inner strength is greatly depleted; do you think my three-legged-cat inner power could snap this girl's pulse, and could my Blood Knife slit her throat?"

He placed his Blood Knife against Qi Fang's neck with his right hand, and pressed his left hand on the vital point behind her heart; either hand alone was enough to send her to the underworld.

Di Yun shouted: "You……"

Shut up!

The Blood Knife Old Ancestor's gaze shot to Di Yun's face as he barked: "Say another word and I'll slit your junior sister's throat."

Seeing that everyone around were jianghu folk and his own true qi nearly exhausted, the Blood Knife Old Ancestor wondered whether he could survive today—it was hard to predict.

His innate ferocity had long overwhelmed any appreciation for Di Yun's innocent heart.

Di Yun saw him cleave Yan Daping's sword with a single slash—cutting his junior sister's throat would be a mere flick—his body trembled, and he could only stay silent.

Feng Yi saw Qi Fang's face swollen and bruised, her eyes full of sorrow and bewilderment.

Thinking of how she originally, in the story, attended a banquet with her father and senior brother; in just one night her father became a murderer and fled to escape guilt.

Her senior brother became the "Strong Sword Meal" (homophone), and was thrown into prison.

After finally letting go of them, she married Wan Gui, only to learn that her father and senior brother had been harmed by Wan Zhenshan and his son; she later died at her husband's hands, while Qi Changfa remained alive but never cared for her. This woman's life was tragic beyond compare.

Moreover, today, because I pursued the Blood Knife Old Ancestor, she not only lost her father but also suffered insult from the wicked monk; Feng Yi's heart felt as if a five-flavor bottle had been overturned, and he could not describe the taste.

Feng Yi's various reactions pleased the Blood Knife Old Ancestor, who said: "Feng Yi, I'm asking you a question."

Feng Yi collected his thoughts and said frankly: "Killing her is easy for you; killing me is no trouble for me!"

He glanced at Qi Fang and said lightly: "If you could kill her, I'd have one less enemy and keep my hands clean—why not?"

"Hahaha..." the Blood Knife Old Ancestor burst into laughter,

He deliberately displayed his deep inner strength; besides shaking the roof tiles, everyone's ears rang with a buzz.

The heroes knew his so-called "three-legged-cat inner strength" was also beyond ordinary people.

Someone shouted loudly: "Hero Feng, the Blood Knife Sect is wicked and shameless to the extreme, a public enemy of the martial world—each day he lives brings another day of harm; kill him with one sword!"

"Yeah, killing that Qi girl alone while saving countless people—this is the most profitable deal there is..."

Before he finished speaking, the Blood Knife Old Ancestor flicked a finger; with a swish, that man's chest went numb—he had been struck in an acupoint by a pebble.

The Blood Knife Old Ancestor coldly said: "When the Old Ancestor and Hero Feng are speaking, do you lot have a right to butt in?"

He stood firm like a tiger that won't fall; his eyes were on Feng Yi alone, so he called him a hero and gave him praise, not fearing the crowd's numbers.

Feng Yi said calmly: "What do you intend? Lay out a path."

The Blood Knife Old Ancestor looked at Feng Yi with a half-smile and said: "Do you want me dead, or her?"

As he spoke, the Blood Knife trembled, and a thread of blood trickled down Qi Fang's snow‑white neck.

Di Yun, furious, was about to speak when the Blood Knife Old Ancestor flicked a finger; a stone flew and struck his mute point.

Little did they know the Blood Knife Old Ancestor's swordsmanship had reached the point of acting at will, without a hair's breadth of error.

That slash just now was merely to intimidate—he had only nicked a bit of Qi Fang's flesh.

Though Di Yun felt relieved, Feng Yi couldn't help laughing in anger, saying: "Old bald donkey, are you stupid? The Qi surname shares neither kinship nor grudge with me; she still wants to avenge her father, and I haven't killed her—cutting the weeds and roots already counts as utmost benevolence and righteousness.

And as long as you live a day, my heart won't be at peace—you say, can I still spare you for her sake?

"You damn baldhead, missing a screw in your brain?"

Though the Blood Knife Old Ancestor was insulted, he wasn't angry; instead he grinned and said: "Feng Yi, why would I use her to threaten you rather than seize a passerby on the road?"

His smile was both mysterious and confident, as he said: "When the Old Ancestor, left with no choice, employs this move, he naturally has full confidence.

Otherwise the Old Ancestor would have already ended himself—how could he end up in your hands, suffering like Wan Zhenshan and Qi Changfa?

No one expected him to say that; they all froze, turning their gazes to Feng Yi—including Di Yun.

Could it be that Feng Yi truly harbors affection for Qi Fang?

Even Qi Fang turned deathly pale, staring fixedly at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi chuckled and said: "I'd love to hear your reasoning in detail!" He took a sip from the gourd at his waist.

In his mind he called up the system and glanced— the achievement points for upgrading Divine Illumination Skill to pure‑blue furnace fire were still far short.

The reward for the "Clean Up the Sect" quest still hadn't arrived.

Even though he knew the last system settlement would be delivered only after he was completely out of danger, he still resented the delay.

He had a plan to save Qi Fang, but it demanded precise control; if he faltered, the Blood Knife Old Ancestor's fate was uncertain while Qi Fang would surely die, so he dared not act rashly.

After all, having transmigrated into this world, he did not want Qi Fang, this ill‑fated woman, to die again at his hands.

This isn't fear of consequences; it's simply that he cannot bear it.

Whether it's killing the Blood Knife Old Ancestor or hoping that Ding Dian, Di Yun, and Qi Fang stay alive,

Feng Yi's wish is for a single thought to penetrate!

The Blood Knife Old Ancestor gazed at the calm Feng Yi, pondered a moment, and said: "Hero Feng, you are a martial arts prodigy; young as you are, under heaven it's hard to find a match, and in character you are wise and decisive.

In whatever you undertake, everyone must utter the word 'conviction'—even the Southern Four Oddities, whose sign you snatched, would have to swallow their pride.

Feng Yi shook his head, chuckled, and said: "No matter how many hats you pile on me, I'll still kill you!"

The Blood Knife Old Ancestor laughed loudly: "No need for modesty—if I were in your place, those self‑righteous heroes would have long hunted me down and torn me apart limb from limb.

Your methods, Old Ancestor, I cannot but admire.

Moreover, your heart toward enemies is ruthless—you not only kill but also exterminate their hearts; you have no wife, children, or elders to use as hostages; the Old Ancestor thinks it over and sees you have no flaw, and aside from ambush, there is no other way to force you to submit.

But in the Wan Manor, you show favoritism toward that clueless lad and that little lass—highly unusual for anyone.

He suddenly chuckled: "Back then I wanted to seize them, but feared you'd notice, so I could only hold back."

"Fortunately, heaven has eyes, letting me meet them in dire straits—hehe—and with your current conduct, the old ancestor is quite sure my idea is right!"

"Hero Feng, you have clearly lost this round; do you still want to continue the fight?"

"(End of chapter)"