Chapter 32

Shenma's Line (32)

He never dreamed that he would see him again in the western shore, which was the territory of the Huashan Sect.

A moment later.

Numerous martial artists from the Martial World Alliance were seen running in the direction where the cold-hearted man had disappeared.

At a glance, it was clear they were chasing after the cold-hearted man.

At this moment, one of the Plum Sword disciples quietly went out and returned to the inn.

"What happened?"

In response to Zhenxian Zhenren's question, the Plum Sword disciple answered respectfully.

"They are martial artists from the Martial World Alliance. It seems they have spotted a villain."

"A villain?"

"They call him Shuizhenguiya, the cold-hearted man."

Zhenxian Zhenren clicked his tongue with a disapproving look.

"Tsk. So that's why there's all this commotion?"

As Mingjian quietly got up from his seat, Zhenxian Zhenren shook his head.

"Don't get involved. This isn't your place."

"But, Senior Uncle……"

"This is what they need to do. You are currently hosting a distinguished guest on behalf of our sect."

Mingjian bowed his head in response to the stern reprimand.

"I apologize, I was too hasty."

"Most importantly, there are no eternal enemies or allies in this world. Even though we share the same goal now, don't think of the Martial World Alliance and Huashan as one."

"I understand."

Mingjian sat back down, and a small voice was heard from beside him.

"Grandfather seems to dislike the Martial World Alliance?"

"Grandfather?"

Zhenxian Zhenren was momentarily taken aback.

But upon realizing that the question came from Danyuexian, he smiled kindly.

"Can everyone's intentions be the same?"

Danyuexian responded with a principled answer.

"Even if it's a matter of governance, there's no distinction when it comes to treating the sick."

Zhenxian Zhenren smiled and nodded.

"An interesting point. What do you mean by 'no distinction'?"

Mingjian smiled bitterly at Zhenxian Zhenren's question.

After all, Zhenxian Zhenren often used such Zen-like riddles to test his disciples within the sect.

The more you tried to answer, the more you would run out of things to say.

It was a method to make you realize your own shortcomings with a brief, pointed question.

"Senior Uncle……"

Mingjian's voice made Zhenxian Zhenren realize his mistake, and he laughed heartily.

"Hehe, I apologize. If it's troublesome, you don't have to answer. They say a leaky bucket will eventually leak outside the house, and habits are hard to break."

"It's fine. I was the one who asked first."

Danyuexian answered surprisingly straightforwardly.

"The sea accepts all rivers."

"Hmm?"

Danyuexian's answer piqued Zhenxian Zhenren's interest.

"Young doctor, you dream of the sea, do you?"

Despite Mingjian's attempts to dissuade him, Zhenxian Zhenren asked.

"Then let me ask you one thing. Have you ever thought about why the sea can embrace everything?"

Danyuexian answered with an innocent look.

"Because it is the lowest point."

Zhenxian Zhenren involuntarily slapped his knee.

"Right! Truly a profound answer! A profound answer indeed!"

Mingjian looked at Danyuexian with surprise.

It was rare for his Senior Uncle to so readily acknowledge someone.

At the same time, envy and shame washed over him.

He knew better than anyone that he couldn't have answered such a question as quickly or satisfactorily.

Danyuexian seemed different to him now.

It was a childlike answer, but the depth behind it was hard to gauge.

More astonishingly, the group seemed to take such a response from Danyuexian as a matter of course.

It suggested that he was often in such situations.

On the other hand, Danyuexian was puzzled.

He had merely shared his thoughts as a doctor, not expecting Zhenxian Zhenren to praise him so highly.

At that moment, Fan Jiewei got up from his seat.

"I'll go to the restroom."

"Again?"

Fan Jiewei laughed awkwardly.

"I ate too quickly. My stomach is a bit uncomfortable."

Danyuexian looked at the food in front of Fan Jiewei with a puzzled expression.

It was still untouched, just as it had been when it was first served.

Realizing this, Fan Jiewei hurriedly brought the food to his mouth, swallowing it without chewing, and quickly left his seat.

"Come back before it gets cold."

At that moment, Chao Elyang also quietly got up.

"Where are you going?"

"That guy has severe constipation, so I need to keep him company. He'll go faster that way."

Ignoring Jing Yihua's disdainful gaze, Chao Elyang followed Fan Jiewei.

* * *

Shu Mu Xin was speechless at the sudden turn of events. The thirty-strong tracking team from the Martial World Alliance had turned into cold corpses in the blink of an eye, lying in a pool of blood.

A mountain of corpses and a sea of blood!

It was like a scene from hell.

In the middle of that hell, someone was gesturing to him.

It was Fan Jiewei.

Swallowing hard, Shu Mu Xin approached, and Fan Jiewei glared at him.

"Why are you still loitering here?"

"W-well……"

"Just like this!"

Fan Jiewei raised his blood-stained fist, and Shu Mu Xin trembled as if struck by a chill. The image of the Martial World Alliance members falling lifelessly to his fists was still vivid.

At this moment, Chao Elyang, who had been observing Shu Mu Xin closely, spoke.

"What's your reason?"

"……"

"Since I've saved you twice, don't you deserve to be heard?"

Chao Elyang asked Shu Mu Xin, who hesitated to answer.

"I'm not joking."

"No, no!"

Shu Mu Xin, startled, blurted out his thoughts without a second thought.

"There's something the Martial World Alliance needs to find."

"Something?"

Shu Mu Xin cupped his hands, leaving a small gap between them.

"A wooden box of this size. They raided my hiding place and took it, but I don't know where they've stored it……"

"What's in that box? Is it a treasure?"

"Not a treasure, but…… it's more precious to me than anything else."

"More precious than your life?"

"Yes."

Fan Jiewei tilted his head.

"You don't even know where it is?"

Chao Elyang nodded and said to Shu Mu Xin.

"Give up. There's nothing more valuable than your life."

"If I show up again, I'll kill you myself, not the Martial World Alliance. Got it?"

Fan Jiewei's threat made Shu Mu Xin's face pale.

"I will remember that."

Having received a clear answer, Chao Elyang turned to leave but then asked casually.

"What about the children you rescued?"

"They are safe."

Chao Elyang nodded at Shu Mu Xin's answer.

"Take care of yourself at least half as much as you care for those children."

"Long-lived devils, I've never seen such meddlesome ones."

Fan Jiewei also chimed in.

* * *

The group, exhausted from long nights of hardship, decided to stay at an inn to rest. Danyuexian, who seemed to have had a tough journey, fell asleep as soon as he lay down on the bed.

The remaining people continued their conversation.

"What a mess. The Martial World Alliance is really just a bunch of fools."

Fan Jiewei's words were met with a nod from Feng Jin Cheng.

"The conflicts have become more severe recently. They must be constantly looking outward to manage their internal strife."

Chao Elyang added.

"They are even creating enemies where there are none to justify their existence."

"Even that Huashan disciple seemed to dislike the Martial World Alliance, didn't he?"

"Of course, he's not the only one. If you look closely, there are many more."

But it was all just speculation.

As outsiders, they had no way of knowing the internal situation of the Martial World Alliance.

Suddenly, Chao Elyang thought of someone.

"Right, there's that guy."

Xin Xiaofang, an information agency in the middle of the righteous and demonic factions.

Thinking of Ling Suomi, who led Xin Xiaofang, Chao Elyang smiled faintly.

"I need to meet him again soon."

"Who is he?"

"There's a guy like that. He dreams of being a tiger but is only a fox."

Fan Jiewei, who didn't seem particularly curious, changed the topic.

"What about those kids? We can't keep them as a burden forever."

Zhenxian Zhenren had left, but Mingjian and the other three Plum Sword disciples were staying at the same inn as bodyguards.

Chao Elyang had no particular plan for this.

Now that Feng Jin Cheng had accepted them, it was impossible to send them back.

Fan Jiewei scratched his head and grumbled.

"They can't even take off their wigs. How itchy must they be with all the sweat? It's distracting me from my martial arts practice."

Fan Jiewei suddenly got up.

"Fine, I'll handle it."

"How?"

Fan Jiewei grinned and made a gesture of slicing his throat with his thumb.

Chao Elyang frowned.

"You're leading Danyuexian to his death. Killing a Huashan disciple in the Huashan Sect's courtyard? Especially a direct lineage disciple of the sect leader? You'll probably see the most Huashan disciples after the Righteous-Demonic War."

"Ah, then what should I do?"

Han Xuehua, who had been silent, quietly got up at that moment.

"Where are you going?"

"To solve it."

"What?"

Leaving a bewildered Chao Elyang behind, Han Xuehua disappeared down the stairs.

"Will he be okay?"

Feng Jin Cheng's concern was met with a shake of Chao Elyang's head.

"Let's hope he doesn't cause any trouble."

At that moment, Fan Jiewei jumped up.

"Great!"

Fan Jiewei smiled meaningfully.

"Now is the perfect opportunity with the witch not around!"

"Opportunity? What opportunity?"

"Exploring the pleasure quarters!"

Chao Elyang frowned.

"Is that all you think about?"

"Of course. I always think about Danyuexian."

"Why would Danyuexian be involved in that?"

Recalling something Fan Jiewei had said before, Chao Elyang's expression stiffened.

"You……. Don't tell me?"

It seemed his suspicions were correct. Fan Jiewei suddenly left the room and entered Danyuexian's bedroom.

"Danyuexian, wake up. We have a place to go."

"Mmm……. Where?"

"To be reborn as a real man."

Fan Jiewei, holding the still half-asleep Danyuexian, who was rubbing his eyes, leaped out the window and disappeared.

Chao Elyang, who hadn't had time to stop him, was left speechless.

Feng Jin Cheng, who was equally baffled, could only look on as Chao Elyang gave a bitter smile.

"Don't worry. I'll bring him back."

Leaving the sighing Feng Jin Cheng behind, Chao Elyang also leaped out the window.