Chapter 165
Chapter 165
At Viscount Zhu Nanting’s proposal, the manager of the Autumn Wind Pavilion seemed to consider it for a moment before nodding in agreement. In truth, Viscount Zhu Nanting was an exceptionally stingy man, but now that he had nearly squandered his family’s fortune, he had become rather bold. Revenge against Shen Lang was his only conviction. With no fortune left to speak of, why would it pain him to spend his last gold coin? As long as he could succeed in his revenge! The two spurred their horses south, followed by several dozen assassins. As they drew closer and closer to Shen Lang, Viscount Zhu Nanting trembled with anxiety.
“Manager Xue, there won’t be any unexpected complications with this assassination, will there? Shen Lang is a particularly cunning bastard who always has an elaborate scheme prepared.”
On that point, Viscount Zhu Nanting was indeed a victim who had suffered greatly from Shen Lang's schemes. Although the manager of the Autumn Wind Pavilion was affiliated with the Xue Clan of the Count of Wu'an’s Estate, his status was relatively higher than that of other servants. The Autumn Wind Pavilion was an organization of assassins, but this could not be revealed publicly. So what business did it conduct on the surface? It sold pastries. The pastries they made were so exquisite and delicious that they were known as a famous delicacy of the State of Yue.
Manager Xue Feng was the head of the Lu River Commandery’s Autumn Wind Pavilion, responsible for one-third of the profits earned throughout the entire Tiannan Province. On the surface, he appeared to have no connection to the assassin organization, or even to the Xue Clan. To ordinary people, he was just the portly manager of a pastry shop. In reality, he was also a great master of the pastry arts. Thus, unless one belonged to the upper echelons of society, they would not know that the Autumn Wind Pavilion was the most powerful assassin organization in the State of Yue. Hearing Zhu Nanting's words, Manager Xue Feng let out a disdainful laugh.
“Once a contract is accepted, there is no one our Autumn Wind Pavilion cannot kill.”
The manager handed over a portrait and continued.
“This is the man driving Shen Lang’s carriage. Our Autumn Wind Pavilion possesses a list of all the martial experts in the world, along with their portraits. This man is not even considered an expert. Furthermore, his temples are sunken, his complexion is sallow, and his muscles and veins are withered. He simply does not have the appearance of a master of high martial arts.”
Zhu Nanting was momentarily impressed by their resourcefulness but still asked worriedly.
“Shen Lang, that vile wretch, is extremely sinister and cunning. It would be best to handle this with caution. What if he has soldiers lying in ambush nearby?”
“Our investigation has shown that there are no ambushes within a radius of several dozen li. I have dispatched one-third of the assassins from my Lu River branch. That’s enough to kill not just one Shen Lang, but ten of them. To be more direct, even if Jin Mulan were by his side, Shen Lang would still certainly die.”
Only then did Viscount Zhu Nanting feel relieved. There was no way someone with martial arts superior to Jin Mulan’s would be by Shen Lang's side, so this time, that bastard was surely a dead man.
“If he’s so easy to kill, why did you take ten thousand gold coins from me?”
“Viscount Zhu Nanting, you are trying to kill the son-in-law of a Count’s estate. And let me be perfectly clear. If a certain higher-up had not wished for Shen Lang's death, we would not have accepted your contract, no matter how much money you offered.”
‘A higher-up? The head of the Xue Clan? Or the Third Prince?’
Viscount Zhu Nanting made another proposal to the manager.
“Then, in a little while, may I be the one to personally kill that bastard Shen Lang? I will pay you more!”
* * *
The Sword King, Li Qianqiu, continued to press on. Shen Lang recalled how Grandmaster Zhong Chuke had once evaluated his innate martial aptitude. The man before him was also a grandmaster, and one who ranked among the very top within the State of Yue! Shen Lang couldn't help but ask him.
“Senior Sword King, could you take a look at my innate constitution? Is it suitable for practicing martial arts?”
“Unsuitable.”
Shen Lang was taken aback.
‘Senior Sword King, aren’t you a bit too honest? Look at Grandmaster Zhong Chuke. He’s so much more tactful.’
“Your wife’s innate martial aptitude is very high, but no matter how high it is, it can’t compare to Big Dummy’s. I have never seen such a remarkable constitution.”
Shen Lang was surprised again.
“You know Big Dummy?”
“Zhong Chuke brought him to meet me.”
Shen Lang understood at once. Grandmaster Zhong Chuke had brought Big Dummy over to show him off. It seemed the two grandmasters were friends. The closer the friends, the more they liked to boast in front of each other. It was as if to say, ‘In the past, you had a great disciple like Tang Yan, didn't you? Well, now I have a disciple, Big Dummy, who is even greater than Tang Yan.’
“What good is a high innate aptitude? Practicing martial arts will not lead to a good end. What use is it, no matter how high my martial arts are? I know my enemy is right there, yet I can do nothing.”
His voice was filled with regret.
“Power is the greatest force in the world, and martial arts are useless before it! Look at His Majesty Jiang, who was acknowledged by all as the world’s number one expert, and the Emperor of the Great Yan Dynasty, who knows no martial arts at all. The two vied for control of the world, but what was the result? The Great Yan Dynasty unified the world, and all the nations under heaven bow and scrape before it. What use is it, no matter how skilled we grandmasters are? We can defeat a hundred men, but can we defeat a thousand, or ten thousand?”
The Sword King’s voice was full of desolate emotion.
“Senior Sword King, I cannot yet cure the deadly poison your wife was afflicted with. However, I will certainly find a way. A way to one day restore your wife to her former self.”
The Sword King was startled, then nodded his head.
“Thank you.”
“Senior, is your disciple Tang Yan’s innate martial aptitude second only to Big Dummy’s?”
The Sword King shook his head.
“No, there is another. That person’s innate martial aptitude is higher than Tang Yan’s, so she would be second to Big Dummy.”
“Who is it?”
“Qiu Yao’er!”
Shen Lang couldn't help but be surprised.
“Her? Qiu Tianwei fathered a daughter with such an incredible bloodline?”
“I find it strange as well.”
“Big Dummy’s father is a militia leader named Song Yi, and his martial arts are ordinary. Is it possible for Big Dummy to have such an extraordinary innate martial aptitude?”
The Sword King thought for a moment before answering.
“An incredible bloodline could emerge as a mutation. But the probability is very low. Generally, martial aptitude is inherited.”
‘Damn it!’
Shen Lang suspected there was a shocking story hidden within. Big Dummy’s mother was very, no, exceedingly beautiful. She had fled to Maple Leaf Village in Xuanwu City, married Song Yi, and gave birth to Big Dummy seven months later. Everyone thought Big Dummy was a fool because he was born prematurely.
But if he was born prematurely, how could he have weighed so much? Soon after giving birth to Big Dummy, his biological mother passed away. Afterward, Song Yi treated Big Dummy with extreme coldness and cruelty. Not only that, but when Big Dummy was injured, he immediately threw him into a mountain valley to die. Perhaps Song Yi wasn't trying to harm his own child, but was instinctively trying to eliminate another's seed?
“Is Qiu Yao’er that remarkable?”
The Sword King wore a thoughtful expression before finally answering.
“In a few years, she will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the grandmasters.”
‘No way. She’s that amazing? That female pirate is that strong? This is unexpected.’
The two fell silent again. Senior Sword King was clearly not one for small talk. Then, he suddenly spoke.
“Shen Lang, I’ve heard that the Count of Xuanwu's Estate is in a precarious situation, as if walking on thin ice. If a great calamity should one day befall the estate, you may come to our Sword Sect. We do not contend with the world, and I lack the ability to do so, but I should be able to protect your life.”
Shen Lang was deeply moved. The Sword King seemed cold, but he was a warm-hearted person. But on second thought, it made sense; he was capable of teaching a martial arts fanatic like Tang Yan. His character must also be very sincere. Just then, the sound of hooves echoed as Shen Lang’s carriage was surrounded. Dozens of assassins from the Autumn Wind Pavilion and over ten warriors from the Zhu Clan had encircled Shen Lang and the Sword King.
“Hahahaha.”
A peal of crazed laughter was heard. The voice arrived before the person could be seen. Viscount Zhu Nanting strode out from the front of the group, glaring at Shen Lang with eyes full of resentment.
“Shen Lang, you didn’t expect this, did you? We meet again.”
Shen Lang said in a surprised voice.
“Is Viscount Zhu Nanting well? Good heavens, what has happened to your family recently for you to become so haggard?”
It would have been better if he hadn’t said anything, but bringing up his family made Viscount Zhu Nanting feel as if he would burst with anger. He said in a cold voice.
“Shen Lang, this is all your doing. You dug out the dikes of our family’s reservoir, submerging the great enterprise our family had passed down for over a hundred years. You are truly vicious!”
Shen Lang made a gesture of complete ignorance and said.
“Viscount Zhu Nanting, don’t slander people. Don’t you know where my home is? Besides, didn’t that accident happen when I was at the Lu River hunting grounds, hundreds of li away? That morning, I was even slapped across the face by my wife while helping her get dressed. Look here. My right cheek is the proof. Do you see the handprint?”
Zhu Nanting shouted in fury.
“Shen Lang, you rampant clown. Still acting at a time like this, how pathetic!”
“Viscount Zhu Nanting, what are you doing with so many people? Are you on your way to some urgent business?”
Viscount Zhu Nanting smiled menacingly.
“What do you think we’re doing with so many people? We’re here to take your dog life, of course!”
“Are you trying to kill the son-in-law of a Count’s estate in broad daylight? Aren’t you being a little too bold?”
“You’re the one who refused the path of life and charged toward death. Who can you blame for bringing this upon yourself? You should have stayed hidden in your turtle shell, so why did you have to crawl out and run rampant? If not you, who else should die? In a desolate place like this, who would even know if a stray dog like you died?”
Just then, the Sword King, Li Qianqiu, suddenly spoke.
“To accept a contract from the Autumn Wind Pavilion to kill the son-in-law of a Count’s estate—this is against the rules.”
Manager Xue Feng of the Lu River branch said.
“Shen Lang is merely a live-in son-in-law, an insignificant ant. Why shouldn’t we be able to kill him?”
Shen Lang’s eyes narrowed.
‘Autumn Wind Pavilion? Yan Nanfei of the South Sea Sword Sect? The Xue Clan, relatives of the Count of Xuanwu’s Estate?’
“Did your master behind the scenes order you to kill me?”
“No. Would our master personally give an order to kill an insignificant wretch like you? However, our master dislikes you greatly. When a nobody is disliked, what else is there but death?!”
Was this master the head of the Xue Clan? Or the Third Prince? What grudge did Shen Lang have with the Third Prince? Perhaps there was some. For instance, the Third Prince’s lackey, Li Wenzheng, had died after being framed by Shen Lang. Furthermore, the incident of burying a straw doll to curse the Crown Prince could have easily implicated the Third Prince. The Third Prince was a formidable figure. He was the only prince who could stand on equal footing with the Crown Prince. He even had far more support than the Crown Prince from the military and officials with martial backgrounds.
At that moment, Viscount Zhu Nanting said.
“Enough. Shen Lang, don’t even think about stalling for time. No one can save you in this desolate place. You are a dead man! I will personally cut off your head, skin you, and pull out your tendons, then throw your corpse to the dogs for food. Even in the eighteenth level of hell, you will regret ever crossing me!”
Viscount Zhu Nanting drew his sword and shouted.
“Go!”
The Sword King sighed lightly, stepped down from the carriage, and drew his sword. His sword was a special wooden one. This was not for show, nor was it specifically to counter the Heavenly Meteor Sword Style. For the past few years, he had been using a wooden sword exclusively. It was carved from ordinary wood and looked extremely crude, like a child’s toy. However, upon seeing the wooden sword, Manager Xue Feng of the Autumn Wind Pavilion asked in a trembling voice.
“Excuse me, but are you perhaps…”
The Sword King replied.
“I am who you think I am.”
Then, with a light shake of his body, the coarse, gray robe fell away, revealing a blue robe beneath. The face of a man who had weathered painful and harsh times vanished, and in his place stood a handsome, middle-aged grandmaster. Merely standing there, he seemed like a great and lofty mountain. Manager Xue Feng of the Autumn Wind Pavilion trembled as he asked in a shaky voice.
“M-Master Li, can we pretend we didn’t meet today?”
“That will not be possible.”