Chapter 55. Can't Stand an Unsettling Feeling (5)

"......"

Hong Weimin's face noticeably stiffened.

Xuliang shook the bottle.

"I've finished it all, and there's only one left. Come quickly if you want a drink. It's incredibly delicious."

"......"

"Are you not coming? I really won't eat you, you know?"

Hong Weimin looked around.

Miners passing by at a distance were glancing at the two of them. In the past, they would have hurried over and bowed, but not now.

It was due to the rumor that had spread throughout the school a few days ago.

That the Third Young Master Xuliang and the Fourth Young Master Hong Weimin were competing for power.

Grip.

Without realizing it, Hong Weimin clenched his fist and approached Xuliang with his usual leisurely gait.

Xuliang smiled.

"Alright."

Drip.

A thin stream of blood trickled from his tightly clenched fist, as his nails had dug into his palm.

'No need to be so sensitive.'

With so many people watching, he spouted such words.

If it were the usual him, he wouldn't have even snorted, but he kept reacting impulsively. It meant he had lost his composure.

Hong Weimin took a slight deep breath.

'After all, he can't act rashly.'

He had readily agreed to the mediation of the Chief of the Criminal Law Hall. Whether he was sincere or not was unknown, but at least he wouldn't do anything rash for now.

'Even though we are far away, this is still within the territory of the Criminal Law Hall. He knows that too.'

If he tried something here and now?

'His life in the new school would become quite difficult.'

Though he didn't know what the other side was thinking, he had no intention of yielding to the Chief of the Criminal Law Hall's threats. However, he needed some time to save face.

Hong Weimin knew how important face was. Thinking about it, he even hoped Xuliang would act out.

Snap.

When Hong Weimin reached Xuliang, he pointed to the ground with his chin.

"Your cup is there. Don't step on it."

Flap!

Hong Weimin sat down, his long robe flapping. The wind blew in, and dust settled in the cup.

Xuliang smiled.

"That guy."

It felt like an older person looking at a younger, immature one. Though he maintained his expression, he couldn't help but feel annoyed.

"Have a drink."

Hong Weimin silently held out his cup.

Drip.

The aroma of the poured wine was exquisite.

The scent was indeed that of a fine wine. Despite the unpleasant situation, he inwardly marveled.

"Is it good?"

"It's good."

"Let's have a drink."

Xuliang held out his cup.

Hong Weimin stared at the cup for a moment before emptying his own.

"You're so petty."

Xuliang chuckled and emptied his cup as well.

Grip.

In the long, wide sleeves, Hong Weimin's fist clenched again.

He couldn't understand why he was reacting so sensitively. He had always disliked this guy, but not to this extent.

'When did it start? When did I start feeling so annoyed just by hearing his voice?'

After a moment of thought, he easily recalled the time.

'It started then. When I met the Joyful Master.'

Before that, he found him annoying but thought he could always step on him. He was a strange guy who showed unexpected behavior, strong and fierce but not particularly smart.

However, when the Joyful Master was taken away, he genuinely felt anger towards Xuliang.

If he had lost in martial arts, he would have been frustrated but clenched his teeth. But when he couldn't even put up a fight and lost the Joyful Master, he was momentarily stunned.

It wasn't as if Xuliang had charmed the Joyful Master with great eloquence.

'No matter what, he's just a guy who will be devoured by me.'

Hong Weimin lifted the bottle and filled Xuliang's cup.

"Oh? What's this about?"

"......"

"You suddenly changed, and I don't know what to do. Can you be friends?"

"Would you believe me if I said we could be friends?"

"I might, if we have a trustworthy conversation."

Hong Weimin filled his cup and emptied it. Indeed, the wine made by the Chief of the Criminal Law Hall was very delicious.

"Why did you call me?"

"There's no particular reason. I just thought we've never had a conversation like this before."

Hong Weimin frowned.

"We've had many conversations. When we were young, we did."

"Did we? Well, let's say after we grew up. That's not important."

That's right. It's not important.

But Hong Weimin found Xuliang's words strangely grating.

'What is it? Why?'

It felt like there was a small bug wriggling in his ear. He knew it wasn't there, but it kept bothering him.

What is it? Why am I so bothered by his words?

"What are you planning?"

"What do you mean?"

"Do you plan to continue causing chaos?"

A rather direct question.

If it were in the past, he would have been flustered, but after experiencing Xuliang's behavior several times, Hong Weimin was not.

"Are you curious?"

"I expected you to beat around the bush, but you're being honest. Yes, I am curious."

"What does it have to do with you?"

"It does. If you continue causing chaos, I'll be the first target. How can I not be concerned?"

"......"

"It seems you have no intention of stopping."

"Of course not."

"Why do you insist on living so intensely?"

It wasn't mocking. Xuliang's voice was as serious as his face.

Hong Weimin's eyes flared.

"Are you really asking out of curiosity?"

"Stop asking and answer. Why do you live so intensely?"

"Isn't it obvious? We seven brothers will inevitably fight in the future. Or, the moment we became the Master's disciples, we became the closest and most lethal enemies."

"......"

"Our fight started from that moment. It's not surprising that you ask such a question, knowing that."

"Even if we fight, it doesn't mean we have to kill each other."

"Do you want to keep playing with me?"

"No, I just want to hear your honest answer. At least for now."

Drip.

Xuliang filled his cup. Hong Weimin drank it down smoothly.

"Look at the royal family of this country. The fate of princes who don't become emperor is miserable. It's better to die."

"Of course."

"Are you really so naive to think we are different? We are like the royal family. If you don't want to be miserable, you must kill your brothers and become emperor. It might even be merciful to kill them now while they know nothing."

Xuliang smiled.

"Is that what you think?"

"Of course. What kind of peaceful thoughts were you indulging in?"

"I wish for a peaceful life, but the environment is not peaceful."

"True peace starts after seizing power."

"You're wrong."

"......?"

"Thank you for sharing your honest thoughts. Yes, you can think that way. But the idea that a peaceful life starts after seizing power is wrong."

Hong Weimin laughed coldly.

"Are you trying to teach me Confucian principles?"

"What Confucian principles? Why would I lecture a guy who won't listen?"

"......"

"You, being from the Red Sand Sect, have never been satisfied with anything, right?"

"......"

"Will you be able to live peacefully after seizing power? It's a joke. The Master's martial arts are so great that it seems possible, but nothing changes when you sit in that position."

"That's the most absurd and trashy thing I've heard recently."

"So, forget about Confucian principles and speak from experience. If you were talking about Confucius or Mencius, would you be sitting there now?"

"......"

"Are you scared?"

Instantly, a murderous intent flashed in Hong Weimin's eyes.

"Did you call me to insult me?"

"Why is asking if you're scared an insult?"

"The wine tastes bad now."

"Do you want to seize power? Or are you trying to kill to avoid being killed?"

"Why do you keep asking such ridiculous questions?"

"Just answer. Which one is it?"

"Of course, the former."

"Do you want to be the best?"

"Of course."

"I see."

With that, Xuliang closed his mouth. He just kept filling and emptying his cup.

After watching Xuliang for a while, Hong Weimin spoke.

"What about you?"

"Me? What about me?"

"Do you want to be the best?"

"Are you kidding? What a ridiculous question."

Hong Weimin snorted.

"Do you think the same...?"

"Of course not, that kind of thing."

Hong Weimin's eyes widened.

"You're not interested?"

"Think about it. If you seize power and stand at the top of the new school, what then? Managing this, managing that, running around when something goes wrong, and endless meetings. Why would I want such a tiring position? I don't understand you."

"Instead, you can wield absolute power."

"Can you eat power?"

"......"

"If I can't even take care of myself, how can I control others with power? Power is just an invisible illusion."

"An illusion that everyone believes in."

"So, the powerful and those who blindly follow them suffer a miserable fate. They lead unhappy lives, captivated by an illusion that doesn't even exist."

Xuliang shook the bottle, filled his cup, and then Hong Weimin's.

"You've finished it all."

"......"

"You've had your drink, heard your thoughts, and now we just need to confirm one thing."

Even though he had filled the cups, Xuliang didn't lift his.

"The words you said in front of the Chief of the Criminal Law Hall were sincere. I don't want to get into a mud-slinging contest with others. I won't forgive those who mess with me, but I might let it slide based on my mood. I can be quite capricious."

"......"

"What will you do? Do you plan to attack me again from behind?"

"What if I do?"

"I'll leave it to my mood. It won't be like a fairytale."

"I see."

"So, what's your answer?"

Hong Weimin's eyes sank deeply.

A slight smile crept up the corners of his mouth, the same relaxed smile he usually showed to Xin Hui.

"Would you believe me no matter what I say?"

"......"

"If lying has no meaning, I'll say this: I will definitely kill you someday."

"Is that so?"

"Is that an answer?"

Xuliang bowed his head and thought for a moment.

He then smiled and nodded.

"Enough."

Hong Weimin also nodded.

"Let's empty the last cup and go our separate ways..."

BOOM!!

A deafening explosion echoed, shaking the area for dozens of meters.

The person who caused the explosion was turning his head from side to side in front of the broken tree, affected by the shockwave.

"Where are you going?"

"Keh!"

Hong Weimin, who had retreated about five meters, had his hands reddened.

Xuliang smiled.

A smile that was the complete opposite of his previous calm and serious expression, a smile of death.

"I really thought about it deeply, but I can't stand an unsettling feeling."

Crack! Crack!

He unclenched his fingers and activated the Dark Shadow Demon Power.

"I'm going to root it out and go my way, feeling refreshed!"