Chapter 57

That night, the rain fell heavily!

In the dim twilight, all that could be heard was the sound of water rushing past, from the front to the horizon, in the vast wilderness. Everything was in disarray, battered and broken by the rain, merging into a muddy stream.

A black boot stepped into the muddy stream, splashing up a curtain of water. Looking up, a man tightly wrapped in a straw cloak and hat stood there, coldly gazing at the rugged mountain path ahead.

His lightness of movement was extraordinary; even in such harsh weather, he could leap nimbly between steep cliffs and boulders. The slippery rock walls left shallow indentations where he stepped, like a gazelle darting along the steep mountain path.

He looked around, and a few indistinct shadows flashed not far away, dressed similarly to him. The man raised his head slightly, looking at the distant mountain peak barely visible through the night and rain. That was the headquarters of the Ming Sect, the location of the Holy Fire Cave, less than ten miles away.

In the darkness, dozens of such travelers were advancing toward that place. A young man in a green robe led the way, holding a light paper umbrella. Despite the violent storm outside, not a drop of rain penetrated the small umbrella. The young man in green remained dry.

The person beside him was not so fortunate. Even though he was well-covered, his yellow robe was still damp. He lifted his hat and shouted, "Duke, although it's a full moon tonight, the weather is so bad, it might not be the right time!"

"Perfect! When the fight starts, we won't have to worry about cleaning up!" Chen Ang held the umbrella and walked leisurely in the heavy rain, smiling slightly. "The rain can cover many things, some traces, some events. What is about to happen, what is happening, all quietly unfolds in the rain. Under this heavy rain, something is bound to happen, some by us, some by others."

"Rain is the best cover for evil!"

Huang Shang frowned, not quite understanding the meaning of these words. Suddenly, he noticed a faint streak of red in the water at his feet. Following the water's trail, he saw several Ming Sect disciples lying twisted nearby. Their pale faces, with eyes wide open, were filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Duke!" Huang Shang cried out in shock.

A bolt of lightning struck nearby, and in the flash of light, the faces of the dead, with their eyes wide open, looked particularly grotesque and eerie. Not far away, a Ming Sect disciple was impaled on a tree by a long sword, his eyes fixed on the front, his face a mix of pain, anger, and an indescribable sadness.

"Such a wound, so ruthless, so sharp!" Huang Shang examined it and sighed. "The person wielding the sword didn't have deep internal strength, but the sword technique was vicious and sharp, far surpassing that of an ordinary expert. This style can only be the work of an assassin!"

"Not just an assassin, but a woman," Chen Ang said, looking at the sword wound. "A very beautiful, meticulous woman. She struck with the precision and subtlety of applying makeup, creating such a clean and neat wound."

"It seems we've encountered something interesting."

On this rainy night, with murder, a woman, and a challenger, the waters of the Ming Sect, which had not yet been violently disturbed, were already beginning to muddy. Some things, catalyzed by Chen Ang and his companions, were quietly fermenting.

Chen Ang looked at the brightly lit headquarters of the Ming Sect and smiled. Despite the heavy rain, all the alert patrolling disciples of the Ming Sect ignored him. He stepped through the puddles, one by one, entering the heavily guarded headquarters.

Wherever he passed, the eyes of the Ming Sect disciples would become somewhat dazed, easily controlled by the people in straw cloaks behind him. Silently, a large part of the Ming Sect's patrol system was missing.

One by one, the Ming Sect disciples fell silently, replaced by the Dragon Guards in their bright red flying fish robes. Chen Ang approached the Ming Sect's main hall step by step. The hall was brightly lit, and the flickering candlelight even cast shadows through the thick curtains onto Chen Ang outside.

Inside, intense arguments were heard. A rough, loud voice shouted, "This can't be left like this, it can't! Blood debts must be repaid with blood! We rebelled, rebelled against that dog of a court, to avenge Brother Shi!"

"Silence!" Fang La shouted angrily. "Fang Jie, sit down!"

He looked around the hall, filled with agitated disciples, their eyes burning with anger, their weapons tightly gripped. He sighed deeply, closed his eyes, and listened to his own heartbeat. The room fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Fang La spoke bitterly, "Before we understand what happened, none of you should jump to conclusions."

"What is there to understand?" Fang Jie, unable to contain himself, jumped up, ignoring the people pulling him back. "That dog of an official injured Supreme Master Shi, and he didn't last long before he ascended. Isn't that clear? We want revenge! We want justice from the court!"

"What justice?" Fang La laughed coldly. "The court kills rebels; what justice do you want?"

Fang Jie was taken aback, not expecting his uncle to say this. His uncle's resolve to rebel against the court had always been the strongest. Why did he now sound like someone advocating for amnesty? He stiffened his neck and said, "Killing that dog of an official is justice!"

"Great Ming Lord descends, the world is at peace. The Song court, acting against the will of the people, has caused widespread resentment and unrest. We follow the command of the sect to make the Great Ming Lord descend, to bring equality and peace to the world. That is our justice!"

Fang La turned to look at everyone, speaking each word clearly. "For this justice, everyone has risked their lives, forsaken their families, and died at the hands of the court. Isn't that a righteous cause?"

These words carried weight. "The court kills us in the name of righteousness, and we raise the banner of justice against it. Life and death are part of the struggle. What is there to complain about? Do you expect the court to give us a way out?"

The disciples gripped their long knives, their anger turning into firm resolve.

"Lord Fang speaks well! We are in a life-and-death struggle, and casualties on both sides are normal. Talking about justice in this situation is rather absurd," a cold voice came from outside the door.

"Who is it?" Fang Jie shouted. Pang Wanchun, standing beside him, drew a powerful iron bow, and an arrow shot out, piercing the air with great force, aimed directly at the door. The arrow broke through the door before the sound of the bowstring was heard, a lethal shot in a split second.

The voice outside laughed lightly, and the door creaked open. A green figure walked in, holding a sharp iron arrow. Chen Ang smiled and said, "Weren't you waiting for me?"

"Dog of an official, you dare to come here? Today, I will avenge Brother Shi!" Fang Jie looked at Chen Ang with eyes full of hatred and deep jealousy.

Sometimes, a person's 'justice' is fueled by hatred and jealousy. They hate injustice, but it's more about envying the other side of the injustice, the beneficiaries of it. When they become the beneficiaries, they ten times more protect this 'injustice.'

Chen Ang sighed slightly. From the core disciples like Fang Jie, their wishes and awareness, the Ming Sect was no more than this!

He looked at Fang Jie and smiled lazily, "You want to avenge Shi Bao? You've come to the wrong person. If I had spared his life, why would I go to great lengths to kill him? I don't take him seriously."

"Brother Shi was injured by your hand, and he died from his injuries. If not you, who else?" Fang Jie asked angrily. "Did we do it to ourselves? You..."

"You've misunderstood me!" Chen Ang interrupted calmly. "Do you think I'm explaining myself? I'm just stating a fact. Whether you believe it or not is your choice, and I decide the outcome of your choice."

Chen Ang didn't care about the attitudes of the Ming Sect disciples. A mantis blocking a chariot—does the chariot need to care about the mantis's attitude? It just gives a result. He stated a fact, not to change others' attitudes, but out of a habit of being factual. His response to others' reactions was also 'factual.'

If they remained calm, it was irrelevant to Chen Ang. If they acted impulsively, they would be crushed.

"Ridiculous!" "You're asking for death!" The Ming Sect disciples in the hall were enraged by Chen Ang's arrogant attitude, shouting fiercely. Especially the more hot-tempered ones, they were ready to draw their swords.

Fang La's gaze swept over them, and they quieted down, but some still protested, "The court's dog of an official killed our brothers, and he deserves death. We cannot let him go!"

"Indeed," Fang La sighed. "The Ming Sect and the court are like water and fire, incompatible. We are in a life-and-death struggle. Today's battle is inevitable. I have already made a decision about Shi Bao's death. It's not about a fabricated charge but about our different stances."

"Exactly, finally, someone who understands." Chen Ang smiled faintly. "Lord, please."

Before the words were fully spoken, a figure flashed, and with a whoosh of wind, Chen Ang, still in the same posture, seemed to have teleported to the door, standing in the rain, holding his umbrella, waiting quietly.

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