Chapter 201: Man Is Bound to Die Sooner or Later (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 201: Man Has One Death (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Liu Wen, dispatched by the Liu clan of Jingzhou to manage Xinglin Pavilion in Shu, was no fool.

Even though the tale spun by Chen Yi at first seemed a riddle, the moment he heard the words "brother" and "at the point of death," something stirred in him.

Liu Jing had been killed by the man before him.

Thus, a second thought crystallized: this person could not be part of the Black Fang.

"Who are you, really?"

Before Chen Yi could answer, Liu Wen’s voice cracked into incoherence, as though he had finally discerned the discordant thread.

"My lord, my cousin..."

"Scholar, forced to journey to Shu..."

Liu Wen muttered these words repeatedly, his face flickering with dawning realization, disbelief etched upon it as he stared at Chen Yi.

"You—you you... you are..."

Chen Yi smiled faintly. "You guessed it?"

"Indeed, I never intended to hide it from you."

"After all, few men of Liu’s stature and generosity would part with thirty thousand taels of silver without a second thought. It would be a shame to let you perish unbeknownst."

"Is that so?"

But Liu Wen heard none of it. His mind remained shattered by the revelation. He could not even summon the will to beg.

"How could it be you?"

"Clearly a scion of the Chen clan, cast out like refuse, a husband unwelcome in his own home, a scribbler whose fame rests merely on ink and paper..."

"I’ve seen countless such maggots, all meeting ignoble ends. Yet why—why you?"

"Why you, this low-born wretch!?"

It was then Liu Wen fully comprehended. His sixth brother had perished, and though the Xiao clan knew not the culprit, he had been forced to appoint a scapegoat to appease the Liu family’s wrath.

Yet this man—Chen Yi—had remained hidden, orchestrating schemes from the shadows.

Liu Wen recoiled in fury, his heart a furnace of resentment and outrage. To suppress these feelings would surely drive him mad.

Chen Yi observed this, his expression calm. "Perhaps I merely got lucky."

Then, with deliberate care, he removed his iron mask, revealing a face strikingly handsome.

"I did indeed fare well here, encountering a few people I hold dear. It was no small thing to find a sense of belonging."

He paused, regarding Liu Wen, still lost in daze. "I do not wish to see hard-won joys snatched away, nor peace disrupted by meddling hands."

"So, I labored to ensure those who sought to turn this place into a mire of blood—all of them—would perish."

At this, Liu Wen blinked, his gaze fixing on the stranger’s face, now utterly unfamiliar in the daylight. A madness flickered in his eyes.

"Do you think you are someone!?"

"You’re nothing but a Xiao scum, a dog tied to their household!"

"You’ve done much, yet they’ll never reward you. In their eyes, you remain merely a tool to keep Xiao Zhonghong in check!"

Chen Yi inclined his head, neither confirming nor denying.

Such unflinching composure drove Liu Wen to the brink. His features twisted into a grotesque snarl.

"You dare smirk! Even if you eked out this victory, the Liu clan will exact their price—on you, on the Xiao family!"

"Even if we Liu clan win nothing, the great houses of Shu, Jingzhou, and beyond all yearn to see the Xiao clan diminished, to carve up the realm! They’ll watch, waiting for their chance!"

"And what of the Chen clan in Jiangnan Prefecture? Do they not harbor such thoughts too?"

Speaking thus, Liu Wen believed he had struck a nerve, laughing wildly. "When that day comes, what then? What will you do? Will you wipe out the Chen clan as well?!"

Chen Yi regarded him silently, pondering deeply. A sigh escaped his lips. "Perhaps."

He had never considered this. In his mind, the Chen clan of Jiangnan would never cross paths with him again. Even Chen Yunfan, were he there, would merely seek an audience. He had never fathomed standing against the Chen family.

If such a day were to come...

Hmph. He was always one to side with kin, never with principles.

What did the Chen clan of Jiangnan have to do with him?

With that, Chen Yi steadied himself, his gaze drifting toward the Iron Wall Town. He saw Liu Rong and others approaching. "Enough."

"Time grows late. It is time to send you on your way."

The wild, desperate grin on Liu Wen’s face hardened, a flicker of regret, anger, and fear crossing his features. Perhaps he had begun to grasp the inevitability of death.

Then, with sudden urgency, Liu Wen pleaded, "Gentleman, have mercy! Grant me life, spare me!"

"I am of use! I can aid you!"

"Money, men—anything! Just spare me!"

"If you let me live, I’ll help you crush the Liu family. Even if you must have me kill them, you only have me. The Xiao clan won’t aid you—I can be your strength!"

Chen Yi regarded him, a smile touching his lips. "No."

"If you bore no malice beyond me alone, and still held some value, perhaps I might spare you."

"But who did you provoke? Who did you offend?"

Chen Yi thought of Xiao Wan’er’s panic when the Liu family first sought her hand, her startled face when Liu Wen had wronged her. His heart tightened.

"I apologize! I offer compensation—"

But this time, Chen Yi had no patience left.

His hand moved, and a gunshot cracked.

The bullet found its mark in Liu Wen’s chest, the muzzle lingering as it sank into flesh.

Though Liu Wen felt no pain, he sensed the thrust, the violent stir in his breast.

“No, no, please, please spare me…”

Chen Yi paused slightly upon hearing this, as if remembering something, and smiled:

“Almost forgot, there’s one matter I haven’t told you.”

“In fact, even if I hadn’t deceived you into coming tonight, you wouldn’t have lived much longer.”

“Because your third sister has allied with the Five Poison Sect, seeking to destroy you.”

Liu Wen’s face showed a flash of resentment mixed with sudden shock: “She, she dares?”

Chen Yi looked at him, his voice tinged with sorrow: “The Spring Gathering Building—its collapse was no accident. It was her trap for you.”

“Well then, my part is done.”

“Go on, farewell.”

With that, Chen Yi rotated his long spear without hesitation, cleaving Liu Wen’s heart asunder.

Liu Wen’s mouth instantly spilled blood. Yet drawing some unknown strength, he lifted his hand, glaring at Chen Yi with bitter hatred:

“I’ll wait for you…”

Chen Yi sneered, wiping the spear clean:

“Here’s a saying for you.”

“A man is destined to die, whether light as a feather or heavy as Mount Tai.”

“The meaning is simple, so I urge you to take your leave soon—perhaps you might even reach the realm of beasts.”

“Even if you wait for me beyond there, you’ll only be mocked and ridiculed. Why bother?”

“You, you…”

Liu Wen’s eyes instantly bulged with blood, his trembling finger pointing at Chen Yi before falling silent.

Chen Yi snorted: “At last, you’ve died without even opening your eyes—wasted breath.”

With a mutter, he closed Liu Wen’s eyes.

Soon, the others—Rou Lao and the others—arrived. Chen Yi thought a moment, then stepped forward with his spear.

As expected.

Several iron-flag officers from the Iron Wall Town escaped.

Those fiends encountered no obstacles.

But when they saw Chen Yi, their running feet halted.

“Who are you?”

“Why are you wearing the black-tooth elder’s robes?”

“Quick, look—how did Lord Liu die?”

“Careful, this one’s dangerous!”

Chen Yi scanned the group, his gaze settling on Rou Lao, signaling: “Kill them all.”

Rou Lao nodded with a smile: “Long overdue.”

Seeing Liu Wen’s corpse on the ground, he’d guessed the outcome—nothing surprising.

The other fiends, however, stood confused, unsure what had transpired.

The soldiers from Iron Wall Town, having just escaped death, knew even less.

Yet they sensed Chen Yi and Rou Lao meant to kill them, and quickly realized:

“That bastard ‘Knife Madness,’ and this pale-faced one—you’re looking for death!”

“You two think you can kill us?”

“A joke!”

But by then, the question of whether it was a joke mattered little.

After giving orders, Chen Yi didn’t leave Rou Lao to handle it alone—he struck first.

His hands gripped the spear’s end, spine rigid, body taut.

Flowing internal energy condensed the air and earth into a blade at the spear’s tip.

Then, a chill light erupted—Chen Yi surged forward with the spear,

Like an arrow loosed from a bow, piercing several fiends in a straight line.

“Death-seekers!”

The fiends drew weapons, charging forward.

Some tried to block, others slashed with blades—none foresaw Chen Yi’s perfected spear art.

Only moments later, they realized their bodies had been crushed beneath a mountain.

Their once-swift forms sank like quicksand.

Chen Yi, meanwhile, stood untouched.

The spear passed through.

Its light swept forth, cleaving the fiends as if thin paper torn by a blade—bodies severed, weapons snapped.

One technique, five deaths.

Rou Lao’s eyes widened: “G-great… g-g-great…”

Chen Yi pressed on, unceasing, cursing: “Great? The reinforcements are coming—stop dawdling and fight!”

Rou Lao swallowed his awe, drew his blade, and charged at the approaching fiends, shouting:

“Boss, you’re a real martial arts genius! A master in fist fighting? And now spear arts too…”

“If we count medical arts…”

“My God, what kind of monster is this boss, anyway?”

Still, Rou Lao’s hands moved swiftly.

He and Chen Yi flanked the remaining fiends, blocking their escape.

In three breaths, they cut down the rest in a flash, cleaving through chaos.

Even the soldiers from Iron Wall Town fell.

When all was quiet, Chen Yi glanced at distant flames racing toward the horizon, lingered not a moment, and turned away.

“Get the carriage, return to the city.”

“Yes.”

Rou Lao sheathed his blade, sprinting toward the waiting carriage.

Chen Yi stepped back in front of Liu Wen, pulling a letter from his chest and placing it gently into the man's embrace.

To ensure its authenticity, he deliberately smeared some of Liu Wen's blood upon the letter.

Having completed these acts, Chen Yi leaped onto the carriage.

"Forward!"

Liang understood the situation clearly; with two swift cracks of the whip, the carriage surged toward Shuzhou.

Once the carriage emerged from the forest and raced along the official road, Liang's spirit loosened slightly, and he dared to speak:

"Old master, might I beseech a favor of you?"

Chen Yi descended from the carriage, landing beside him, and sheathed his five-foot spear as he inquired, "This matter of such gravity?"

Liang let out a hearty laugh, "When you have leisure, might you show me the ropes?"

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, turning to regard him with a half-smile, "Do you take me for a mere pretender?"

"Your excellency misunderstands me; I simply mean to express my keen interest."

"After all, your fists and spear work are rare in thejianghu."

Liang added further, "Should you deem it untrustworthy, I shall reduce my cultivation to match your realm."

"Indeed, such need not be so..."

Though Chen Yi did not particularly relish sparring, he harbored no strong objections.

After all, he had often sparred with Pei Wang and Lu before.

Yet he was well aware of his own limitations.

With his current martial prowess and cultivation, he could manage to humiliate those weaker than himself, but against Liang—ever a seasoned traveler of thejianghu—his experience was insufficient.

Chen Yi pondered, "As for the matter of combat, I consent."

Before Liang could rejoice and speak, Chen Yi continued, "Though I agree, not now."

"The affairs of the three towns' summer grain being burned have only just begun; several follow-up troubles remain unresolved."

"When all dust has settled, we shall spar then."

Liang nodded, smiling, "I heed your words."

His heart was at ease; his mood fully relaxed.

"Old master, after this matter, will we face further peril?"

Chen Yi nodded, securing his five-foot spear, and glanced sideways at the trees along the road:

"Trouble will surely follow."

"First, the incident at Mingyue Tower is no small matter."

"Should Black Ya perish, the trouble will come later; if he lives, he will inevitably investigate who leaked the information."

"Then there is the burning of the summer grain in Tiebi Town; someone must pay the price."

"The Xiao family and the Qinghai army will not abandon their pursuit of the truth behind this affair."

"Yet foremost among the threats are the Liu family of Jingzhou, and... another patron."

To think, Chen Yi still did not know this person's identity.

He made a note to himself.

"The third danger... for you and me, it is a pressing matter indeed."

Liang seemed unperturbed: "Trouble does not frighten me."

"I merely fear the adversary may lack strength, rendering the conflict too dull."

Chen Yi glanced at him, half-smiling, "What of Xiao Jinghong?"

Liang paused, recalling that formidable general, and let out a dry chuckle.

"She... she would not come seeking us, would she?"

"My previous letter to her in your name—she will inevitably come looking for you."

"Old master, may I speak the truth?"

Chen Yi fixed him with a stern gaze: "Of course not."

"Thus, for the time being, you must hide. I shall have Zhang Da Bao deliver your provisions and necessities regularly."

Liang sighed in resignation, nodding: "Very well."

Facing that extraordinary genius, this cultivation-defying general, he could not trust himself to keep a secret.

Chen Yi understood this too; hence, he too would remain inconspicuous for the time being.

In fact,

Beyond the matters he had just mentioned, several incidents might draw him into peril.

For instance, Yin Wei, Nu Htu, and Zhangque would surely not let him escape.

There was also the Liu family of Jingzhou.

Even if Liu Wen had perished here tonight, the Liu family would surely find a way to deflect the blame for the arson of the three towns' summer grain.

At most, they might lose some interests.

Regardless of the outcome, the Liu family would inevitably investigate Liu Wen's death and the events of this night.

At that time, Chen Yi would need to devise a way to clear all traces.

Or... divert the Liu family's attention?

After a moment of silence,

"Old master, where shall we go next?"

"First, let us proceed to Chunyu Tower and retrieve some items."

"That sum of silver?"

"Indeed, it would be a pity for others to gain it cheaply..."

......

Half an hour later,

The once-bright night sky dimmed, thick clouds gathering from all directions.

They rolled in, splitting the heavens with lightning.

Thunder boomed ominously.

A torrential rain began to pour.

At this moment, on a hill outside Tiebi Town,

Li Changqing stared coldly at the two rows of corpses gathered on the ground, his voice a chilling whisper:

"Who among you did this?"

“Are these all?”

A vice general in fernsilk armor bowed politely. “By the time we arrived, the battle here had already ended.”

“Except for discovering a cart track, no other suspicious individuals were found. However—”

He paused, glancing at Li Changqing’s face, then continued, “However, all the deserters have already been here.”

Li Changqing laughed angrily, “So the general still owes thanks to those who crossed the river and dynamited the bridges?”

The soldiers around him immediately knelt. “We are incompetent! Please punish us!”

Li Changqing hummed, “Punish? The grain stores were burned—how could a mere phrase of punishment set that right?”

Yet he knew the matter had little to do with these soldiers.

Rather, he himself bore the heaviest blame.

He scanned the area.

His gaze settled on Liu Wen, eyebrows furrowed, and he approached directly.

His bodyguards hurried to follow.

Li Changqing drew near, scrutinizing him carefully.

“This man… dressed in fine armor, remarkable bearing, a member of an esteemed family?”

Typically, someone of such distinction at this time would hail from noble clans.

Yet Li Changqing couldn’t discern the man’s identity, nor could he confirm it outright.

He was about to order a thorough investigation when his eye caught something on Liu Wen’s chest.

Precisely, he saw a corner of paper peeking from the corpse’s chest.

Li Changqing crouched, lifted the man’s robe, and pulled out the stained paper.

“A letter?”

Without hesitation, he opened it, letting the light from his bodyguard’s torch illuminate the words.

A mere glance.

The once-pained Li Changqing now wore a look of relief.

“Hah… there’s always a way out, good, good…”

“Who would’ve thought, a mere skirmish today, yet the traitors had plotted this all along. No wonder the general failed to see it in time.”

Xiao Dongchen, you wicked scoundrel!

You deserved to suffer for the general’s sake!

Li Changqing couldn’t help but feel pleased.

Originally, the Iron Wall Town had burned the summer grain stores—no matter what he did, he’d bear the blame.

But now, things were different.

With Xiao Dongchen’s signed letter, along with the corpse of this noble-born man before him, he could at least balance his deeds.

Thinking this, Li Changqing ordered the bodies to be taken back to Iron Wall Town.

Just then, a cold, slightly angry voice echoed across the town:

“Li Changqing, come here!”

“You were told two days ago about someone planning to burn the summer grain—how could you be so careless?”

Li Changqing’s smile froze. Xiao Jinghong?

Damn it, he’d forgotten about that.

Now, balancing deeds seemed impossible.

(Chapter Complete)