Chapter 191
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Private Meeting (3)
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There was no ground to plant his feet in midair. Not only could he not dodge, he had to resolve the issue facing him using only his upper body. But by nature, to exert force, one must start from a stable lower body.
That was why the old man's resistance was pathetically feeble. He couldn't even channel his internal energy, thrusting the spear purely with arm strength. Hoping his long-reaching spear would strike first.
In contrast, Flying Tiger had aimed to strike down from the start. It was a technique he was always confident in, and now even more powerful. Before this mission, he had received special training from Adjutant General Baek Jeong of Zhao Family Manor on downward strikes, refining his form even further.
And so, as the Azure Gold Sword poured forth blue light and plunged down, a single streak of azure lightning flashed.
Splurt— Argh!
The result was obvious, and gruesome.
The spear shattered before it could even touch, and its owner was split in two from side to side. With that, another life scattered blood rain and exited the martial world.
Whoosh—
Flying Tiger landed in the courtyard, glanced briefly at the hut the old man had been guarding, then headed there. It was time to draw this to a close.
Creeeak.
The simple hut was filled with darkness and the aura of death. A single beam of moonlight slipped through the open window, flickering like a stranger.
And on the bed lay a dying old man. His withered, twisted form, as if cursed, was utterly wretched.
The old man didn't spare a glance at the entering Flying Tiger. Staring blankly at the ceiling, he opened his mouth.
"You've come after all."
"You know me?"
"The Killer. Not sent by the Hanzhong Fortress Lord? Then from Ye Mountain's Zhao Family Manor, right?"
"Yes."
Flying Tiger nodded from the entrance and approached the old man on the bed.
At that moment, the ceiling near the door rippled softly, like wallpaper in the summer rainy season. And it began quietly taking the form of an assassin in camouflage garb.
Swish.
Flying Tiger spun suddenly, hurling the rope dart from his left hand. It embedded in the assassin hanging upside down from the ceiling, and he yanked it down, dropping him to the floor with a thud.
No sooner had he done so than Flying Tiger stepped forward and swept the Azure Gold Sword horizontally. Before the fallen assassin even hit the ground.
Slash.
The assassin crashed to the floor. He crawled feebly toward the open door, then collapsed midway over the threshold.
The assassin said nothing even in death. Not even a small groan. And Flying Tiger turned back wordlessly, approaching the old man without further ado.
As if nothing had happened.
So the old man on the bed asked instead.
"How did you know?"
"Impressive skills. I had no idea when I first arrived here. But I noticed during the scuffle with that burly old man outside. Probably leaked your presence without realizing it. It was so noisy, after all."
"I see."
"Disappointed?"
"Asking if I'm disappointed now that I'm about to die? Not that. Can't you tell from my state? It's just... regrettable that those who stayed by my side passed first."
The old man spoke of regret, but his voice was dry and emotionless. As he said, with one foot already in the afterlife, this world stirred no feelings in him anymore.
Then no persuasion or threats would work.
Flying Tiger sighed and asked.
"How did you end up like this?"
"Before that, let me ask. What of Wan-baek?"
Flying Tiger stared at the old man. Even now, inquiring after Im Wan-baek—he must have been important to him. Their nicknames were linked: 'Stone Fire Spear' and 'Lightning Palm' combined to 'Lightning Stone Fire'.
And now, the Stone Fire Spear was asking after the Lightning Palm.
"He died by my hand. And before dying, he named you. That's why I came to question you."
"He sold me out?"
"Maybe his final ploy, luring your enemy—me—into a trap. He must have sensed his own death."
"Heh, interpreting dreams better than the dream itself. No need to try so hard. I knew long ago that Baek-a lacked talent and resolve."
"......"
"But I was fond of him. I gave him his nickname myself—a special bond. Probably because he was close to my disciple in life. So I promised to pass on all my arts in place of my dead disciple. On the condition he join the revenge and earn merit."
"So that's why he joined Zhao Family Manor's blood oath?"
"Regrettably, he died because of me. So, how did he meet his end? Did he fight bravely?"
"I don't know. When I found him, he'd already taken heavy wounds at Zhao Family Manor. Couldn't even resist, just like you now."
"Futile."
"Hard to even die well in this world."
Flying Tiger spoke honestly, and Zuo Ying-qi kept his promise. He explained why he was in this state.
"I was fine until a year ago. Around when the Shaanxi Unification War was nearing its end? The Fortress Lord was often away, leaving Hanzhong Fortress empty. Oddly, that's when I caught a cold, and my body never recovered. Ridiculous—a martial artist who'd honed his body lifelong, bedridden by a mere cold? What humiliation. In hindsight, I should have seen it as an omen, but I was busy then and brushed it off. Only a few months ago did I realize it was chronic poisoning. By then, it was too late to do anything."
"Who did it?"
"Heh heh heh, who else? Obvious. Even though I was cautious, I don't know how they administered the poison through sound. I can only admire their ingenious method."
"The Hanzhong Fortress Lord. But knowing he was targeting you, why stay here?"
"His son was here."
"His? The son of that senior brother you were close to?"
"You know everything. Baek-a blabbed. Yes. I urged the boy to forget Hanzhong Fortress and leave with me, but he said he loved it here and would die here. What could I do?"
"That boy is now your dead disciple. His death... he joined the suicide squad to punish the neutral Zhao Family Manor back then?"
"Yes. I should have stopped him... He insisted on earning merit and recognition honorably. Couldn't break his stubbornness. Foolishly."
"Hmph. So you decided to take revenge on Zhao Family Manor? After that mess, no remorse?"
"Do I feel wronged? Of course! That boy was my everything. With a thousand fires raging in my chest, what should I have done?"
"Kukuku, Stone Fire Spear Zuo Ying-qi! Your own flesh tearing hurts, but others' bloody tears? None of your business?"
"Hmph, so what? Is revenge rational calculation? You follow your heart."
"Is that so? Then I can take your head on my whim, no complaints?"
"Tsk tsk tsk. Coming here to spout that? You're a strange one. Isn't that why you came? What, give me a noble excuse now and you'll spare me?"
"......"
'Revenge is from the heart, not reason? Sounds like sophistry... but it rings true. Reality is like that. Hmm, what would true Chief Jo say?'
Flying Tiger had no retort, so he thought, 'Foolish bastard. Got beaten elsewhere, vented on the innocent, now dying.' And the old man retorted, 'So what now, fool? Think what you want.'
Thus, the two exchanged sticky smiles, staring at each other.
......
They talked a bit more after that.
Flying Tiger realized he could sever Zuo Ying-qi's head at will, but controlling the mouth attached to it was beyond him. So he stopped racking his brains and openly asked his curiosities.
Surprisingly, Zuo Ying-qi answered most straightforwardly.
Perhaps no need to hide in this hopelessly ruined state. Or maybe, dying lonely, he was glad for someone to chat with.
Most was as Flying Tiger had guessed.
The Martial Qin Alliance's suicide squad was annihilated, and no one took responsibility. Even after the war's victory, no compensation or mention.
Because it was a past they wanted buried.
Moreover, Lion Hall, the victory's main player, suffered no losses. Quite the opposite—the squad incident weakened the allies, solidifying their position.
Thus, the suicide squad was thoroughly abandoned, enraging their loved ones. Some sympathized with that rage. Seven such gathered, swore vengeance via blood pact, birthing the Chu Rebellion.
Though it started with revenge, they knew it alone couldn't grow the group.
The targets weren't just Ye Mountain's Zhao Family Manor, but Lion Hall and the entire Martial Qin Alliance leadership.
So they pushed the slogan 'Righteous Wind Movement'.
Look at the Martial Qin Alliance leaders' corruption. They hoard everything while we—the true victors who bled—get scorned.
So unite.
Unite to raise the righteous wind, excise the rot, and rebirth the Martial Qin Alliance! Like Chu's heroes against the once-unifying tyrant Qin.
That was the origin of the Chu Rebellion.
"A new world? Hilarious. From what your Chu Rebellion did, the world you're changing doesn't look desirable."
"No position to pick and choose, and grudges piled up, so many grew radical. Some friends left in disillusionment; others fanned the chaos gleefully. As for me... as you see, I could only watch in this state."
"Just watched? Then why cozy up with the serial killer Ghost Face?"
"Ghost Face?"
"Yeah, that madman."
"You mean the Dance Melody Manor incident?"
"Right. Who the hell is Ghost Face? Why do you all protect him?"
"That... I can't say."
Flying Tiger tilted his head.
Even now? Still something to protect?
So he asked.
"Why? Afraid his identity leaks? Like a cherished one...? Hmm, for example, say Ghost Face is called 'Hwa-a'."
"Hwa-a?"
"Don't know Hwa-a? That burly old man called him Thousand Autumn Spear so fondly?"
"......!"
Zuo Ying-qi, ever emotionless, twitched his eyebrows and reacted fiercely for the first time.