Chapter 2

While speaking, Feng Jue kept a close eye on Shangguan Ruowen’s facial expressions and the changes in his eyes. In his previous life, as the king of assassins, Feng Jue’s perceptiveness could be described as almost pathological.

Seeing the hidden malice and schadenfreude in Shangguan Ruowen’s eyes fully revealed, Feng Jue almost confirmed that this young man was definitely involved in the plot to harm Feng Jueyu.

“I am your brother-in-law, after all, even if not by blood. There’s no need to persecute me like this.” Feng Jue’s face twitched unnaturally, and he had already decided to thoroughly investigate the matter and eliminate this隐患 (hidden danger).

If Shangguan Ruowen could harm Feng Jueyu once, there would be a second time.

Now, I am Feng Jueyu, and I will not allow anyone to threaten me right under my nose.

If there is a threat, I will eliminate it, and I must not be lenient.

“Brother Ruowen, what are you talking about? It’s all my fault for drinking too much and accidentally falling. Speaking of which, I should thank you for your hospitality that day.” Feng Jue clasped his hands, with no trace of blame on his face, but his eyes, fixed on Shangguan Ruowen, flashed with a cold and intense killing intent, though it was brief, like a flash of lightning or a falling star. He did not try to hide it, as this cold gleam was an instinct he had honed over years of treading through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. How could a spoiled brat like Shangguan Ruowen resist it?

Shangguan Ruowen suddenly felt a chill all over his body, his hair standing on end, and he had the urge to leave. Looking around in shock, he felt the cold intensify, becoming unbearable. He quickly laughed and pretended nothing was wrong: “Ha, ha, that’s good, that’s good. When your injuries heal in a few days, I will definitely set up a banquet to cheer you up. Let’s go…”

After saying this, Shangguan Ruowen quickly left the front courtyard, muttering to himself, “It’s spring, why is it so cold?”

Feng Jue watched Shangguan Ruowen leave, and only when his figure disappeared did he turn around. He saw Shangguan Ruofan practicing sword techniques under a willow tree. Looking back at where Shangguan Ruowen had left, he suddenly had an idea: “Whether it’s Feng Jueyu or Feng Jue, you have offended me. From today on, you won’t get away with it.”

“Ruofan~”

On the square, only Shangguan Ruofan was left. Although the square was not large, this call made him break out in goosebumps. His thoughts on practicing sword techniques were interrupted, and he almost stumbled and fell again.

Even Feng Jueyu felt his tone was problematic: “Sigh, this is the first time in my two lives that I’ve led a good young man astray. What a sin!”

A certain person smiled shamelessly, telling himself, “I feel bad, I feel bad…” but he didn’t really mean it.

After all, he’s my brother-in-law, and I should take care of him… we’re family, hehe!

“Brother-in-law…” Seeing it was Feng Jueyu, Shangguan Ruofan’s face first flashed with disgust, then he felt it was wrong to think that way, but he couldn’t get over it. Still, he managed to call out, “Brother-in-law.”

“What the hell is that expression?” Feng Jue’s eyes swept over, extremely dissatisfied. “I’m helping you, why the sour face?”

Forget it, I won’t argue with a kid…

Feng Jue laughed, his face unchanged, walked over, and put his hand on Shangguan Ruofan’s shoulder, as if they were close brothers…

Shangguan Ruofan, with his pure and innocent heart, was about to dodge, but then he remembered that this was his brother-in-law. Although his brother-in-law had a bad reputation and was a poor person, and his sister didn’t like him, his father had said to respect his brother-in-law…

He stopped dodging halfway and let Feng Jue hold him…

“Brother-in-law, is there something?” Shangguan Ruofan asked timidly, his face turning red. He thought to himself, “How embarrassing, they all say Feng Jueyu is a coward, and I’m actually so close to a coward. Father, can I not respect my brother-in-law in the future?” Shangguan Ruofan shouted in his heart.

Feng Jue didn’t notice, looked around to see no one, and whispered, “There is something, something good, hehe. Do you want to hear it?”

“Something good?” Shangguan Ruofan blinked his big, lively eyes, looking at Feng Jue with confusion.

Feng Jue smiled, “Yes, something really good.”

“What good thing?” Shangguan Ruofan lowered his head, not really believing it. He only half-listened, still thinking about the sword techniques.

Feng Jue originally wanted to build up the suspense, but seeing his brother-in-law’s indifferent attitude, he was frustrated. He thought, “Damn, I’ll just say it straight.”

So, Feng Jue quickly transformed into a “creepy uncle” and whispered, “Weren’t you upset about losing just now?”

Shangguan Ruofan didn’t look up, his shoulders silently moving, feeling the injustice again: “I… I…” He was about to cry.

“Damn.” Feng Jue cursed, “Cry your ass off. A man should stand tall and strong, take revenge for grudges, and not cry. Do you want people to look down on you and spread the word that Shangguan Ruofan, the martial genius of the Shangguan family, only cries when he loses? Why don’t you go hug your mother’s legs? How disgusting, how embarrassing?”

Surprisingly, Feng Jue’s provocation worked wonders. With just one sentence, Shangguan Ruofan stopped crying and looked at Feng Jue with a determined, almost wolf-like gaze: “Who said that? I won’t let anyone look down on me. I am the martial genius of the Shangguan family.”

“Then don’t cry.” Feng Jueyu growled.

“I won’t cry.” Shangguan Ruofan wiped his eyes and looked up again.

Feng Jueyu laughed, “That’s right. Losing isn’t embarrassing; what’s embarrassing is not being able to handle losing. Understand?”

Shangguan Ruofan’s face lifted, and he nodded subconsciously. Suddenly, he realized that he had unconsciously gotten closer to Feng Jueyu, not physically, but mentally: “Sister Xing and the others always say that my brother-in-law is useless, even worse than a scholar, and weak. But today, his words seem to make sense.”

He didn’t know that as the king of assassins, Feng Jueyu had also been a professional doctor for five years, and his ability to read people was extremely high. Even a seasoned old hand who had lived most of his life couldn’t match him, let alone an 11-year-old child.

“Good, you understand.” Feng Jueyu smiled, his gaze slightly shifting, scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, he crouched down and lowered his voice, “Do you want to win?” Feng Jueyu began to lure the minor…

“Want to win? Of course.” Shangguan Ruofan, unable to resist Feng Jueyu’s pressure, was completely defeated and controlled. But then he felt discouraged: “But it’s impossible. Brother Ruowen’s strength is already at the middle stage of True Martial, four stages higher than me. I’m not his match.”

“That’s a real strength comparison.” Feng Jueyu’s face turned serious, “I’m talking about the way you fought just now. You can win, and win gloriously.”

“Win? And win gloriously?” Shangguan Ruofan didn’t know that the most powerful part of Feng Jueyu’s words was the last: “win gloriously.”

Children are proud and competitive. If Shangguan Ruofan knew he could win and win gloriously, how would he feel?

Of course, he would be excited…

At this point, Feng Jueyu’s goal was achieved…

“How can I win?” Shangguan Ruofan asked, but then he remembered that his brother-in-law was useless, even worse than a janitor. How could he know how to win, and with such confidence?

Feng Jueyu didn’t know what he was thinking and said, “I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone. Even if someone asks you, beats you, or scolds you, you can’t say. This is our secret. If you agree, I’ll tell you. What do you say?”

“Beat me? Scold me? Can’t say? Why?” Children are simple and naturally ask questions.

This was exactly Feng Jueyu’s concern. He didn’t want to expose his identity too early. As a top assassin, the first thing to understand is how to hide oneself.

Now, the entire Shangguan family knows he is a coward and a waste, unable to read or fight. Isn’t this the best cover?

He must not expose himself before regaining his former skills.

Feng Jueyu chose to help Shangguan Ruofan partly because children are easy to control. Although Shangguan Ruofan is only 11 years old, his intelligence is high, and he rarely goes out, making him like a 7-8 year old. Once he recognizes that this is a secret between him and Feng Jueyu, he won’t tell anyone for a while.

Of course, Feng Jueyu had a second guarantee.

“Then don’t ask. You agree first, and I’ll tell you.” Feng Jueyu stood up, turned his head, and had a “do as you please” attitude.

Shangguan Ruofan thought for a moment, unable to resist the urge to know how to beat Shangguan Ruowen and vent his frustration. Finally, he nodded solemnly, “Okay, I agree. I won’t say.”

Feng Jueyu looked at him and said, “No, you have to swear.”

“What’s with you? Fine, how do I swear?” Shangguan Ruofan was a bit impatient.

Feng Jueyu looked at him, laughed, and said, “Swear that if you tell, your little penis will never pee.”

“Ah?” Shangguan Ruofan’s face turned green, thinking, “Just as Sister Xing said, my brother-in-law is a scoundrel. Not being able to pee, isn’t that going to kill me?”

“Isn’t that going to kill you?” Shangguan Ruofan blurted out, his face turning from green to red.

“Yes.” Feng Jueyu didn’t feel embarrassed at all, thinking this was the best strategy to deal with children: “So you must keep your word. A man’s word is his bond. You can lose your head, you can lose your blood, but you must not break your word.”

This was a double-edged sword. Shangguan Ruofan couldn’t resist. First, he thought his brother-in-law was a scoundrel, but then he thought it made sense, and immediately nodded and swore.

“Can you tell me now?” Shangguan Ruofan was eager. If he learned it now, he could regain his dignity in a few days.

Feng Jueyu pulled him aside, and they squatted in the grass. Feng Jueyu spoke mysteriously and solemnly, “I made you swear because this involves a big secret of the Shangguan family. You must take it seriously.”

“A big secret?” Shangguan Ruofan’s eyes lit up.

“Yes.” Feng Jueyu said, “Because, ‘West Wind Fluttering Shadow, Sunset Gazing at Green Mist’ is not the strongest killing move of the West Wind Sunset Sword Technique. There is another move after these two, and it’s very powerful.”

“Ah?” Shangguan Ruofan was about to jump up, but Feng Jueyu, who had anticipated this, quickly pulled him down and covered his mouth, “Be quiet, this is a big secret. I found these moves in a book in the study by chance, and even your grandfather probably doesn’t know.”

Shangguan Ruofan was almost crazy, and he asked in a low voice, “Is it real? Can I beat Shangguan Ruowen?” The little guy didn’t even call him brother anymore, showing how excited he was.

Feng Jueyu rolled his eyes, “Of course. Not just Shangguan Ruowen, when you master it, you’ll be invincible.”

“Invincible?” Shangguan Ruofan was now unsure if it was real or not, but he could already imagine himself wielding a sword, with a sister on each arm…

Feng Jueyu held back, trying hard not to laugh, his stomach cramping. Looking at Shangguan Ruofan, he thought, “When he uses this move: I… I… I wonder what Shangguan Ruowen will think. Ha, I can’t wait to see that.”

“Tell me, tell me quickly.” Shangguan Ruofan shook Feng Jueyu’s arm, and in this short time, he had already started to see Feng Jueyu as his… his… his beloved brother-in-law.

“Okay, listen.” Feng Jueyu thought it was time, leaned in, and whispered, “Remember, the last two lines are…”

After saying it, Shangguan Ruofan tilted his head, thinking, “Brother-in-law, what… what is a chrysanthemum?”

“A chrysanthemum?” Feng Jueyu felt his stomach was about to burst but held back, “It’s just a term. I haven’t learned martial arts, but I think it means a weakness or a flaw. Think about it, okay?”

Continuing to guide…

“A flaw?” Shangguan Ruofan was now completely under Feng Jueyu’s control, lowering his head to think.

Feng Jueyu couldn’t hold it anymore, his face turning red and purple. Seeing Shangguan Ruofan not responding, he was getting desperate, “Think about it. After ‘Sunset Gazing at Green Mist,’ how did Shangguan Ruowen dodge? Where is the biggest flaw?”

“The biggest flaw?” Shangguan Ruofan still couldn’t figure it out.

Feng Jueyu was about to go crazy, “Is this a genius? What a joke?” He had an idea, “Right, I remember there was a diagram in the book. Look at it and think. Once you understand, you’ll get it. That’s what I think.”

As he spoke, Feng Jueyu drew a human figure on the ground, actually the move “Sunset Gazing at Green Mist” from the jump to the landing, but he changed the ending. Instead of kneeling, he landed with his right foot forward, half-kneeling. This changed the move significantly, no longer just an attack, but exposing the back, allowing for various actions like a backflip, spin, or roll.

This change was powerful, a combination of various techniques and years of assassination experience, a stroke of genius. Of course, Shangguan Ruofan didn’t need to understand too much, just how to turn around.

Feng Jueyu drew a half-kneeling figure, and Shangguan Ruofan immediately understood, exclaiming, “I get it, so a chrysanthemum is… is…”

Feng Jueyu was drenched in sweat, thinking, “You finally got it, you little brat. I’m exhausted.”

Feng Jueyu threw the stick on the ground, clapped his hands, and stood up, “You understand? Go quickly, find Shangguan Ruowen and practice, and get your dignity back. Remember, you swore, don’t tell anyone.” Feng Jueyu smiled and turned to leave.

Shangguan Ruofan suddenly stopped him, looking hesitant, “But brother-in-law, isn’t this bad? After all, after all… after all, hitting there is… too dishonorable.”

Feng Jueyu thought it was something else, but then he was stunned and immediately shouted, “What dishonor? Do you dare say the sword moves created by the Shangguan family’s ancestor are dishonorable? Do you want to betray your teacher and ancestors?”

Shangguan Ruofan was startled, thinking, “Right, my brother-in-law doesn’t know martial arts, so these moves must be from the book. If they’re from the book, they were created by the ancestor. How can they be dishonorable? I’m a fool for doubting the ancestor.”

Thinking this, Shangguan Ruofan slapped himself, his face full of piety and gratitude, “Thank you, brother-in-law. Brother-in-law, rest assured. Father didn’t teach me and my cousins this move for a reason. I don’t want to get beaten. I know what to say.”

“Good, you understand.” Feng Jueyu looked at Shangguan Ruofan meaningfully, surprised that this kid was so clever, “If someone asks you, what will you say?”

Shangguan Ruofan gave him a look, “Easy, I’ll say I learned it on my own.” He picked up his wooden sword and flew to the back courtyard, his voice full of fighting spirit, “Cousin Ruowen, I’ve figured out how to counter it. Let’s fight again.”

Feng Jueyu stood there, stunned, and finally gave a thumbs up, “This kid, he’s really a talent.” He then walked to the main house, holding his cramping stomach…

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