Chapter 273: When People Die, the Storm Stops

Chapter 273: When the Person Dies, the Wind and Rain Cease

In the midst of wind and rain, atop the train.

The sea tides surge around them, and mist wanders by their hands.

"To defy the Mo Xu is to wage war without righteousness; to privately trade firearms and weapons, to redeem one's limbs with forged tools."

A cold, merciless voice emanates from the red eyes.

Ma Wang Ye lifts his hand in a gesture, determined to turn against the water, as Shan Jun forcibly controls Mo Chi's frail body to stand, facing the torrential rain, spreading his arms wide.

Ma Wang Ye reaches behind his back, slowly draws out the Embroidery Spring Blade, and with both hands, slashes down at Mo Chi's arms!

Puchi!

A heart-wrenching, lung-splitting scream erupts from Mo Chi's throat, mixed with intermittent pleas for mercy.

But what awaits him is the blade's light again, this time falling upon his legs.

In an instant, Mo Chi is left only with his torso trembling within Shan Jun's body.

"To betray the Mo Xu and embrace love, to betray one's fellow brothers, to redeem one's five senses through feeling the world."

These words are spoken by the Mo Gong troops members who willingly sacrifice themselves for Mo Chi.

They have betrayed the Mo Xu, but not the righteous path.

Chi!

The Embroidery Spring Blade pierces the roof, and a thin dagger, like a cicada's wing, shoots from Ma Wang Ye's palm, penetrating both eyes and slicing the nose bridge, with a cross-shaped wound gushing fresh blood.

Mo Chi twists his body desperately, the ferocious, terrifying wound, under the assault of the storm, quickly loses its color, revealing a ghastly pale texture.

He wants to rage and curse, but his tongue has already been severed.

"To defy the Mo Xu is to be a demon; to insult the pioneers' spirits, to repay with one's life rooted in self-reliance."

The dagger aims at Mo Chi's brow, inch by inch, piercing through his skull, leaving only the hilt outside.

"On the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth month in the eleventh year of Jia Qi, aboard the Cross-Sea Train Rangyi, the Bright Ghost Ma Wang Ye executes the rebellious Mo Chi with Mo Xu's punishment. Report to the Elder Council, inform the brothers below, do not forget the Mo will! Embrace love and kinship!"

In a world unseen by Li Jun, Ma Wang Ye's solemn voice echoes within the realm of the Mo Xu Bright Ghost.

Dong.

Shan Jun slowly separates from Mo Chi's corpse, his knees bending as he kneels on the ground.

Ma Wang Ye also leaves Li Jun's body, his spine straight, standing before him.

The cold rain strikes the two figures, so different in form, yet equally cold in their Mo armor.

"Who kneels here?" Ma Wang Ye's voice is neither sorrowful nor joyous.

But Li Jun, standing beside him, hears a hint of bitterness and sorrow.

"Six-grade Mo armor, Bright Ghost Shan Jun."

"Shan Jun, do you think this will make me spare you? The Bright Ghost and the host are two sides of the same coin; your betrayal of Mo Chi is just as unspeakable, and your sins cannot be absolved!"

Shan Jun's voice is low, "This is not betrayal, but a return from confusion."

Ma Wang Ye curses, "Go to your mother's return from confusion, you knew there was no hope, so you feared!"

"Struggles in the mortal world, the yellow liang floats and sinks, after so much hardship to have a chance to return to the mortal realm, of course I fear."

Ma Wang Ye is unable to contain his rage, "Since you fear returning to that cold, dark Bright Ghost realm, fear falling into a slumber without knowing when you'll wake, since you remember what we Bright Ghosts have all endured to become what we are now, why do you aid the wicked?"

"I had no choice; within the link between the host and the Bright Ghost, the host holds the dominant position, I could not resist Mo Chi at all."

Shan Jun slowly raises his hands, cradling his palms, projecting a scene.

The scene is in the 'Sea Moon Rising' carriage, where the deceased Mo Chi sits on a rosewood grandmaster's chair, conversing with him.

"Shan Jun, I traded the Bright Ghost and the Wild World Group for my own gain; do you not blame me for being cold and ruthless? Not a single heartache?"

"I do not approve, but I obey."

The scene is brief, abruptly ending.

Deep helplessness reveals itself in the blue mechanical eye, "I truly am powerless."

Bang!

Ma Wang Ye kicks him to the ground, bends down to grab his helmet.

"Even if you fear death and cannot stop Mo Chi, you could have reported this to the Elder Council, let them deal with this traitor!"

"The Elder Council? Ma Wang Ye, do you truly believe they are the ones who strictly adhere to Mo family rules, selflessly devoted good people? This world has no such abundance of good people!"

Shan Jun raises his voice, staring directly at the flashing red eye, "Mo Chi was merely the supervisor of the Mo Gong troops; have you ever considered why he could make so many moves in the Four Sea Guards, why so many people turned a blind eye? Or why the Wild World Group in the Wa people's area would bow and scrape, daring to violate the rules and enter to kill for him?"

Ma Wang Ye is struck as if by lightning, muttering lowly, "You insects."

"It is them, not me. Just as you said, we are all Bright Ghosts, but we are only Bright Ghosts! Why should I bear the blame for the host's mistakes?!"

Shan Jun lifts his head, not looking at Ma Wang Ye, but speaking to Li Jun, "Mo Chi had already prepared to flee, secretly ordering me to move the profits obtained from trading with the Wild World Group, even the entire funds of the Mo Gong troops! As long as you let me go, I am willing to hand over this money!"

Li Jun crosses his arms before his chest, indifferently, "Ma Ye, another one wants to buy their life with silver; will you sell it?"

"You all believe that silver is more important than human nature, that this world is just this way, that those who conform are comrades, and those who stand out are mad dogs."

"I, Ma Wang Ye, also enjoy pleasures, drink wine, and pursue women; I too like silver. But I do not want, in my moments of enjoyment, to think of my brothers still struggling for their livelihood! When drinking wine, to hear in my ears the bitter cries of those who sell their sons and daughters! When speaking of love, to see in their eyes only the torrent of material desires!"

"I am a Bright Ghost, and only a Bright Ghost. But if someone insists on this, I would rather abandon everything and take up the blade to fight to the death."

The Embroidery Spring Blade is drawn out, resting on Shan Jun's shoulder, Ma Wang Ye speaking each word deliberately, "Therefore, this life of yours, I cannot sell."

"I only ask for a chance, a chance to choose a new master! Mo Chi is dead, my Mo armor grade has dropped to eight-grade, no longer a threat to you; spare me."

Shan Jun faces a desperate situation, his raised arm, the armor plating dimmed, as if corroded by time.

"I will not send you back to the Bright Ghost realm to slumber, for you are unworthy to be a Bright Ghost again."

Ma Wang Ye grips Shan Jun's head, stabs into the deep blue mechanical eye, prying out the hidden control core.

Sssslaaash!!

Shan Jun's body arcs with electricity, parts peeling off like shed skin, cursing wildly, "Ma Wang Ye, if I were a divine artifact, today you would die!"

"A person who does not act rightly, do not blame the path for being uneven. The Mo Xu has spirit; it will not let someone like you become a divine artifact."

Ma Wang Ye's expression is disdainful, his chest armor unfolding layer by layer, like a pitch-black maw, swallowing Shan Jun's control core.

"My life has always been about drifting along, living freely; you bastards forced me to this!"

The dull, lifeless Shan Jun scatters into a pile of broken parts, blown by the sea wind, sliding off the roof, sinking into the raging sea.

Ma Wang Ye suddenly sighs, kicks Mo Chi's corpse into the sea as well, only then returning the Embroidery Spring Blade to Li Jun.

Li Jun gazes at Ma Wang Ye in surprise, "You really did it?"

"Yes."

"What the hell is this principle? Which part of 'investigating things to attain knowledge' applies here?"

"Similar to your medicine."

Li Jun looks puzzled, "Can it be the same? Can it really elevate one's grade?"

Ma Wang Ye let out a cold snort, "I told you before, Master Ma is a divine weapon! Don't ask—Ming Gui's affairs, even if I explain them, you wouldn't understand."

When a person dies, the wind and rain cease, the clouds part, and the moonlight shines bright.

Li Jun smiled and asked, "Now that the matter is settled, Zhao Qingxia should have reached Lai Zhou Fu by now, right? How will you return? Swim?"

Ma Wang Ye muttered in reply, "I'm not going back—it's dull."

"Oh? Planning to tag along with me?"

"Don't flatter yourself. Master Ma simply doesn't wish to see those bastards—I fear I might stab them dead."

Ma Wang Ye stretched lazily, his mechanical frame emitting a synthetic crack of bones, "Besides, Ju Zi Tang won't let me in either."

"Why?"

"They claim I've brought disgrace upon myself. Isn't that slander?! I'm as pure as they come." Ma Wang Ye seethed indignantly.

Li Jun grinned, "Then let's head to the Wokmin District."

"First, let's agree—Master Ma demands foot-washing, baths, massages, and..." Ma Wang Ye counted on his fingers.

"All in all, I shall contribute my strength to the ailing economy of the Wokmin District!"

"Two million silver dollars will suffice to play you to death!"

"Deal!"

In a fit of laughter and banter, the train security guards finally arrived. They peered cautiously from the junction of two carriages, eyeing the two figures standing atop the roof.

No one dared speak, let alone lift their guns.