Book 14: Chapter 112

Counter

Yan Liren frowned. What are you up to this time?

What do you mean? Ming Feizhen grinned. Im a fish on a chopping board. All I can ask for is to be spared; nothing else matters. Besides, what use do I have for your familys secret thats for pract.i.tioners of internal disciplines? Isnt it moronic to throw away your life for someones familys secret manual?

It all flowed reasonably, but Yan Liren still felt it was too easy to be true. A man as distrusting as him wouldnt trust someone so easily.

But Im not giving it to you for free. You have to spare me if I write it out.

Yan Liren smiled. Youre a true cowardly scoundrel. Deal. I swear not to harm your life today if you write it out.

Ming Feizhen shook his head. There are three of you. What good is it if only you swear the oath?

Cuo Xitong had a grudge she was h.e.l.lbent on avenging, while Yan Jiangnan was against his father pardoning Ming Feizhen from the beginning, so Yan Liren glared at the two and asked, Dont worry. Im here. I wont let them harm you, either, good enough?

What if you dont, and you dont let them, but you control the mind of a guard to stick a spear in me?

Dont push your luck. Killing you is as easy as killing a chicken right now. Dont forget you still owe me a son. Dont a.s.sume I have that much patience. If you think you can go on living without any qualms after giving me the manual, youre dead wrong. I only promised to let you off the hook today. Keeping pus.h.i.+ng it, and Ill remove all your limbs before I interrogate it out of you.

Ming Feizhen simpered. The way you throw your weight around makes me want to puke. Can you drop the pretence? Remove my limbs? You wont get half a word out of me if Im so much as less one strand of hair. You want to interrogate me? Go for it. Ill be happy to write you a manual to drive you mad.

The reason Yan Liren was courteous initially was due to the points Ming Feizhen pointed out. The original plan was for him to play good guy after Cuo Xitong hurt Ming Feizhen. Despite his skills, Yan Liren had no answer for Ming Feizhens shamelessness.

This isnt going to go anywhere. Its hard having a life as valuable as mine. Fine, we can forget the oath. Hero Yan, swear another oath to protect me, and Ill believe you.

Yan Liren went along with the demand since it was his only option.

Okay, please release my right hand now.

Yan Liren: What for?

Ming Feizhen narrowed his eyes and wrinkled his nose. How else am I meant to write? Show me how you write with your foot. Even if I could, my feet are restrained.

That wont be necessary, replied Yan Liren, smiling. You were able to turn the underground palace on its head despite having no internal energy, and you managed to fend off all the a.s.sa.s.sins last night. Giving you a free arm might be more than we can handle.

Yan Liren actually had Cuo Xitong prepare Ming Feizhens foods every night at the behest of Yan Jiangnan, but he never expected tonight to be the night Ming Feizhen walked into the trap.

How am I supposed to write, then? If I could use telekinesis, I wouldnt be tied up here. Id have used my mind to cut all of you up already.

You have a mouth. You recite it. Ill write it.

Recite it?

Yan Liren smirked. Is there a problem? It sounds like you really like trying to play games.

Ming Feizhen shook his head in disbelief. Fine, but under one condition.

What?

Knock the other two out.

While the two were evidently enraged, Yan Liren questioned, Why?

For your sakes. You cant let outsiders hear the secret. Ms. Wu is a smart lady and has a good memory. What alternative do you have besides silencing her?

Why do I have to knock out my son, then?

Ming Feizhen chortled, making the father-son duo feel uneasy. I already imparted a portion of Sinister Soul Breather Palms to Brother jIangnan, and hes already progressed along quite a bit. Although hes still inferior to you, his potential is limitless. You two have quite the rift between you right now. Are you sure you wont betray each other down the road? If I were in your shoes, I wouldnt feel so safe.

You wont sow discord between us! Dad, h-he is spewing nonsense.

Yan Liren raised a hand for silence, got behind Cuo Xitong and knocked her out. Jiangnan is my son. Just recite it.

Yan Jiangnan, relieved, fetched writing instruments, then started recording.

As long as youre happy. All right, Im starting.

Yan Liren expected Ming Feizhen to continue stirring the pot as he recited the manual, but there was no foul play. In fact, Ming Feizhen occasionally provided extra notes for clarification.

Yan Liren went up to Yan Jiangnans back and queried, Jiangnan, does that correspond to what you know?

Whilst writing, Yan Jiangnan replied, Yes. It is our fam-

Yan Jiangnan felt a soft palm strike to his back prior to pa.s.sing out.

Yan Liren pulled his son off the chair, picked up the brush and demanded, Repeat the last four lines.

Tsk, tsk, thats father and son for you. Ming Feizhen subsequently resumed reciting the manual.

Yan Liren didnt believe there were any false parts in the recital he heard; if there were, then he could only blame his own incompetence for not picking up on it. It wasnt a long manual, and Ming Feizhen went rather quickly, so it only took just over an hour to recite the entire thing.

Man, my mouth is dry. Elder Yan, if you have any good in you, can you get me a drink?

Yan Liren exhaled after spending a decent while revising the manual. Finally. My familys secret manual has finally returned to its rightful owner, he remarked prior to fetching Ming Feizhen a bowl of water and feeding him.

Ming Feizhen chugged the entire bowl of water. Youre a pretty good guy, Ol Yan.

Yan Liren snickered. Youve worked hard to recite it, and the journey will be tiring. Wouldnt it be too miserable if you had to go without any water?

Oh? Ming Feizhen formed a small smile. Where am I journeying to? I dont work without pay.

The netherworld. Youll have to go without water or food.

I thought there were people among the unorthodox factions who kept their word. Guess I was wrong?

I do honour my word. I always uphold my oaths.

What do you mean, then?

I sword to not harm you if you gave me the manual. Did you write it? My son and I wrote it. What part did you have in it?

Ah, gotcha. No wonder why you said all that hala bala about not harming today to distract me from the key to your oath. Sc.u.m. True sc.u.m.

Yan Liren wiped away his smirk. Hmph, Ive had it with you. You killed my eldest son and turned my sons against each other. I cant pardon you.

Yeah, yeah, you can make another son. You only care about the manual. As for the brothers fighting, didnt you deliberately force Yan Jiangnan to break up with his lover? Youre the one who incited it, arent you?

You sure you want to spend your last moments worrying about someone elses family problems?

Are you sure? Hey, hey, help me out here!

Hahaha, you think I wasnt aware you recited the manual to buy time? Arent you puzzled as to why n.o.body is here after so long? I already took control of the two examiners guarding the door. n.o.body else will come here tonight.

Im seriously going to die if you keep chilling!

What an embarra.s.sment. Die!

A strong breeze sp.a.w.ned from behind Yan Lirens head as he raised his hand.

I thought youre the Grand Examiner. Arent you supposed to be a hot shot? Unlike the breeze, the speakers voice was soft.

Yan Liren spun around and uncorked his palm strike behind him instead of at Ming Feizhen, but blood poured from his left shoulder. Although the blade didnt s.h.i.+ne, there was no doubt that it was a broadsword that nearly cleaved his shoulder off. While Yan Liren was strong enough to fight an armed opponent without a weapon himself, the fact that he was injured first put him at a disadvantage.

The broadsword user was around, yet Yan Liren couldnt spot him. Every time Yan Liren did catch a glimpse, his opponent came at him from unthinkable angles.

Childis.h.!.+ Yan Liren used his hands as if they were yin and yang, ensuring he could fend off any attack regardless of where it came off.

Upon blocking his opponents attack, Yan Liren heard, Bitter Meeting enunciated.

As the blade emerged from behind black garments, fragmented fabric rained down. At the same time, the blade went spinning towards Yan Liren at high velocity. Even though Yan Liren managed to block the slashes, he gradually collected increasingly more cuts on his hands; it was as if he was up against someone with a grudge that wouldnt be settled until he was totally shredded. His opponent was one of the very few broadsword users who prioritised the intent behind strikes rather than its form. Twenty-plus slashes later of gradually increasing speed, the broadsword user suddenly stopped in front of Ming Feizhen.

Arent you supposed to be tough? How did you end up as a prisoner in a chair? the broadsword wielder queried.

I was out of my element. I was waiting for you to come to my rescue, but d.a.m.n were you slow. Any later and I wouldnt be trash talking with you.

Yan Liren: What is he doing? Why did he disengage?

The broadsword wielder smirked. How did you know I was here?

I started figuring out who helped me on the first night by process of elimination. You were the only likely person. By the way, how did you sneak in?

Hmph.

When the broadsword wielder removed his black cloak, Ming Feizhen gasped in surprise.

Yan Liren: What are you two do ing?

Yan Lirens vision suddenly went dark. A head rolled off the shoulder supporting it. The rest of his body fell apart, literally.

Ming Feizhen smiled. I thought it was weird when I couldnt find anyone who fit the bill among the imperial guards. Disguising yourself as an examinee clever. How did you do it? Are the examiners so darn useless?

Theyre not useless. At least, theyre as adept at fooling people as I remember. I had to put in some work to make it in again. Dont celebrate just yet. Though Im wearing this disgusting attire, I can still kill you.

The familiar face belonged to none other than the unquestionably loyal man to Shang Bies.h.i.+, the guard dog Tiangou.