novelzi Chapter 216: Probably a Fool
Chapter 216: Probably a Fool
In the world of Martial Dao, inheritance is a matter as grave as life and death.
It is akin to the prevalent maxim in the secular world: of all the unfilial acts, failing to produce descendants is the worst. This holds true for the Sects and Branches, regardless of alignment—neither good nor evil factions can afford any negligence in the continuation of their lineage.@@@@
Yet, the stronger an individual in this world is, the harder it becomes for them to have offspring. It’s as if by some cruel twist of fate, they are being punished by the heavens. As a result, those mighty beings, sparse in kin or entirely without heirs, often turn to the mortal realm to select disciples with exceptional innate bones to pass on their mantle.
Sato Shinichi was not only a disciple of Musashi but also the brightest and most esteemed pupil in his life. It is a common practice for the mighty to bestow their favored disciples with a life-saving item, a token that could be revealed in dire times to vouch for their Sect, prompting both parties to temporarily step back from conflict, barring irreconcilable hostility.
For a life-saving item is also a tool for vengeance; should a beloved disciple die, the perpetrator can be traced through those who fought with the deceased. If you were the killer, your death is sealed; if not, the absence of the real culprit still warrants your doom.
Ye Feng was unaware of this.
The old beggar from whom he had obtained three pages in exchange for two buns on a rainy day; the shameless old man who had found him during a vacation and spent days in the Northwest Countryside being pursued relentlessly by a flirtatious sister-in-law; the old fellow who never bothered to have him call him master—he had no idea how much the old man had done for him this time.
Of course, even if Ye Feng knew, he would probably just grin. With the elder’s knack for saving his own skin, hunting him down was only proper!
As the night approached and after a brief rest, Ye Feng sought out Shuiyuan Longzhi, the Ronin Guild’s officer who had not fled. He was watching Ye Feng quietly, with a katana laid out in front of him.
"Ye Feng, do you know whom you have killed?"
Shuiyuan Longzhi’s face was composed as he gazed at Ye Feng, his expression mingling respect with pity.
"I know."
"The Lord of the Path of Divine Slaughter, Sato Shinichi, disciple of Sword Saint Musashi."
Ye Feng’s own face was equally calm; there was nothing left to hide for a man about to die.
"Right, but not exactly."
"That’s just one of Lord Sato’s identities. You wouldn’t understand the spirit of a Fusang Warrior. Not just anyone can be chosen as guild leader, not even Musashi’s disciple."
"Ye Feng, if you don’t want to involve others because of this matter, then take those two Black Blades. They are famous swords. Incidentally, one of them is the Mourning Blade."
Indeed, none of the prior owners of the Mourning Blade had met good ends.
Hidden within the handkerchief was the gleaming blade. Shuiyuan Longzhi smiled as he gripped the sword and performed seppuku, a determined act pointing to certain death. He was a criminal, and the entire Ronin Guild perished because of him.
One could only hope his homeland would grant forgiveness.
"I don’t understand, and I don’t need to."
"You have your spirit, and I have my faith."
Ye Feng watched in silence until Shuiyuan Longzhi had passed. He then tilted his waist slightly; even for a sworn enemy, he was willing to give such a person the respect they deserved.
The two swords were Black Blades, their dark-colored blades exquisitely patterned.
Ye Feng understood what Mourning Blade meant—it signified an ominous blade. But for supernatural and esoteric beliefs, Ye Feng obviously did not care. Looking at the scabbards, he saw two small seal characters engraved on each.
One read ’Autumn Water,’ the other, ’Yama.’
Autumn Water!
Ye Feng suddenly grasped some of the meaning behind Shuiyuan Longzhi’s words. The sword known as Autumn Water represented a family in Fusang with an esteemed reputation—the Longma Family.
"King, how are your wounds?"
Before Ye Feng could leave, Xiao Chuanqi had already come over, having executed a group of pirates woefully weaker than even a Half-Step Martial King with little more than the effort of running an errand.
Seeing Ye Feng’s uniform darkened to a green shade by blood, Xiao Chuanqi was genuinely shocked—bone was faintly visible in the wounds on his shoulder and palms.
"It’s no big deal. Did you finish them all off?"
Ye Feng looked at his palms, where flesh flayed by the blade was regrowing at a rate invisible to others, discernible only by sensation.
"Not one left!"
A hint of bloodlust flashed across Xiao Chuanqi’s eyes.
Here it comes again!
"Huh? Ye Feng!"
"Let me think, you’re Ye Feng, aren’t you the one from the Northern Border?"
Tankuli suddenly slapped his forehead and pointed at Ye Feng to ask.
This time, it was Ye Feng’s turn to be surprised, because the expression on Tankuli’s face was one of excitement, and it was not feigned. Quietly, Ye Feng said:
"There is more than one Ye Feng in Central China. In the Northern Border, well, to tell you the truth, I am Ye Feng, the Northern Border King."
"By the way, I’m the one who killed the people on the island."
Seeing that this guy was straightforward, Ye Feng couldn’t be bothered to beat around the bush with him anymore.
"The Northern Border King, it really is you."
"This makes things difficult. Although you’ve saved my sister, you have killed someone from our Reserve Corps."
Tankuli’s recently relaxed brows furrowed once again.
"Joking, how would I save someone from the Soul Pirate Group?"
Ye Feng scoffed coldly.
You should know that Charlotte Qiongling, that foolish woman, even boasted about conquering the East Sea; even though the East Sea is an ocean, it is still part of the Xuanyuan Nation’s territory, and will not tolerate anyone’s trampling.
So, Ye Feng killing someone from the Soul Pirate Group was long overdue, just like earlier.
"The person you saved is in the Mingbei Kingdom."
Now Ye Feng understood.
The Northern Border of the Xuanyuan Nation is indeed the vast Snow Kingdom, the Mingbei Kingdom.
Ye Feng, as the King of the Northern Border, had destroyed countless Mingbei Kingdom strongholds in his lifetime. The Northern Border Legion had killed many people, but they had also saved many; after all, not every country in the world was as friendly as the Xuanyuan Nation.
"That’s because I didn’t know her identity; what do you want to do?"
Ye Feng was clearly not interested in accepting this gratitude. If he knew that a woman was from the Soul Pirate Group, she would probably have already met her end.
"You saved my sister Atehui, my only sister. I must repay that debt, but you’ve also killed our people."
"Let’s do this, you and I will duel."
"If you win, you can leave, and I won’t send anyone after you. If you lose, then join our Soul Pirate Group."
Ye Feng wasn’t sure if this man was genuinely foolish or pretending, but looking at the man’s slightly dull expression, Ye Feng was more inclined to believe the former.
Agreed!
It wasn’t that he was afraid of the pirates on this ship; he simply wanted an opportunity to reassess these pirates.
There are good and bad people everywhere.
"Ye Feng, you are injured; this is not fair."
The battlefield quickly cleared for the two of them, and as Tankuli looked at Ye Feng’s injuries, he paused and then suddenly thrust his trident towards his own stomach.
Hiss! One by one
The trident almost pierced through.
This action stunned Ye Feng and Xiao Chuanqi, and they both independently came to the same conclusion.
Probably an idiot!
Of course, they had to admit, such an idiot was somewhat endearing.
"Tankuli, I suddenly don’t want to kill you anymore; you deserve a second look from me."
This man, pulling out the trident from his belly to confront him, was too good a man to be a notorious pirate.
It was truly a pity!