“Eat slowly, eat slowly. No one is going to take it from you. There are plenty of noodles, enough to fill you up completely.”
Chen Zui smiled warmly as he watched the little boy wolf down his food.
Just then, he noticed that Ye Zhibai was staring straight at him.
“What are you looking at?”
Ye Zhibai looked away, raised her teacup to take a sip, and spoke in a slightly unnatural tone.
“Nothing. I just didn't expect... someone like you to have a gentle side.”
“Someone like me?” Chen Zui chuckled. “What kind of person am I?”
“Just...” Ye Zhibai paused for a long while before squeezing out, “The kind who is far too ruthless.”
“I was ruthless because that wicked monk deserved to die.”
Ye Zhibai fell silent.
She realized that although this man always spoke in a flippant manner, he had his own principles in how he acted.
When it called for lethal force, he never showed mercy, but when mercy was warranted, he left room for leniency.
Just now, he had even spent money to buy the snow ginseng from the boy.
That way, those men would have no further excuse to trouble him.
“I’m full! Thank you, Big Brother! When I make something of myself in the future, I’ll definitely repay you!”
The little boy set down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and said solemnly.
Chen Zui laughed. “You're so young, yet you worry so much. It's just a few bowls of noodles, nothing worth repaying. By the way, what’s your name?”
“Just call me A-Man!”
The little boy answered readily.
Pfft!
Hearing this, the beggar A-Man beside them couldn't hold back and spat out a mouthful of tea!
The little boy scratched his head and asked, “What is it? Is something wrong?”
Ye Zhibai cast an exasperated glance at the beggar A-Man and said gently, “It's nothing, ignore him. Where are your parents? Why did you come out to gather snow ginseng all by yourself?”
At this mention, the cheerful look on Little A-Man's face instantly collapsed into a downturned frown. He trembled, holding himself back from answering.
Ye Zhibai and Chen Zui exchanged a glance, unsure of what had happened.
Just then, the middle-aged woman running the eatery walked over and let out a long sigh.
“Sigh, this child has too much pride and refuses to talk about it.”
“What happened?” Ye Zhibai asked hurriedly.
“To tell the truth, this child is truly pitiful.
“His mother died of illness when he was young, leaving just the father and son to depend on each other.
“His father was quite a capable man.
“He raised the boy without ever letting him suffer cold looks from others.
“It's just that a few days ago, his father provoked someone he shouldn't have provoked...”
“My father didn't provoke him! That man... that man was the unreasonable one!”
Little A-Man shouted at the top of his lungs.
“What exactly happened?”
Chen Zui frowned and gestured for the woman to continue.
“The child's father used to be a martial artist who wandered the martial world.
“Decades ago, the sect he belonged to had a bit of a reputation.
“However, thirty years ago during the great war between the Grand Zhao and Grand Shuo Dynasties, their sect suffered heavy casualties and was left with no successors.
“And after the war, our Grand Zhao imperial court began cracking down on martial sects under the pretext that martial prowess violates prohibitions.
“His sect had no choice but to disband on the spot.
“And his father had inherited a fine blade from his master.
“His father never let that blade leave his side.
“As you know, this region isn't peaceful. Foreign tribes from Grand Shuo often invade.
“In fact, half the credit for our small town reaching its current size belongs to his father.
“If he hadn't driven off the foreign tribes time and again, people like us wouldn't have been able to survive at all.
“Let alone run businesses here.
“But as misfortune would have it, a few days ago, the Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect passed through here. Claiming he took a liking to the blade in his father's hands, he wanted to claim it for himself.
“That was left behind by his father's master on his deathbed, so how could his father simply hand it over?
“In the end, the Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect severed the hamstrings and tendons in his father's hands and feet. Unable to get back up, he bled to death on the ground!
“And that blade was taken away by the Young Sect Master.”
“Outrageous! This Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect is far too lawless!”
Beggar A-Man said, filled with righteous indignation.
The woman running the eatery shook her head with a sigh.
“It's no use. In this territory, the Jinyang Sect is the law. No one can do anything to them.”
She looked at the little boy again and said gently, “Still, Little A-Man takes after his father—he has backbone! He didn't shed a single tear in front of that bunch!”
“Is this Jinyang Sect really that formidable?”
Beggar A-Man asked in confusion.
Ye Zhibai nodded gently.
“Originally, in the northwest region, only my Frost-Sigh Sect held absolute dominance.
“The Jinyang Sect was merely a third-rate sect that arose twenty years ago.
“But because they pledged allegiance to the imperial court, they surpassed us in a mere twenty years.
“You could say they are like water and fire with our Frost-Sigh Sect.”
“I see. The relationship between the imperial court and the martial world here in Grand Zhao is truly tense, unlike over in our Grand Shuo.”
Beggar A-Man propped his chin in his hand and sighed.
“No matter what sect or what Young Sect Master he is, a life for a life is the natural order of things,” Chen Zui said flatly.
“You aren't thinking of making a move against Meng Huaiguang, are you?” Ye Zhibai frowned.
“Meng Huaiguang?”
Ye Zhibai nodded gently.
“Yes, Meng Huaiguang is the Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect.
“It is said that he possesses exceptional martial talent. He once accompanied his father to Mount Taihua for blade discussions, and even when facing disciples of the Ten Great Sects, he was not in the least bit inferior.
“As a result, he developed an arrogant and unruly temperament.
“And everyone in the Jinyang Sect has pinned all their hopes of stepping into the ranks of first-rate sects onto him alone.
“If you injure him, the Jinyang Sect will never let the matter drop.
“I fear you won't make it out of this territory alive!
“Even if... I could report to my sect to take you in, it wouldn't be a lasting solution...”
Chen Zui raised his hand, cutting Ye Zhibai off.
“I, Chen Zui, never drag anyone else into my affairs. You're thinking far too ahead.”
Hearing this, Ye Zhibai couldn't help blushing.
“Exactly! Brother Chen wouldn't go to any Frost-Sigh Sect with you. If he goes anywhere, he should come with me to Grand Shuo!”
“I'm not going anywhere.
“Right now, I only want to find that so-called Young Sect Master of the Jinyang Sect who doesn't deserve his own name.”
Hearing this, Ye Zhibai frowned slightly.
“Though it is strange. Someone like Meng Huaiguang, who is so used to living in luxury—why would he come to a place like this to suffer?”
“Uh... I heard that their group is heading to the border...”
The eatery woman said in a low voice.
Chen Zui’s lips curved slightly.
“The border, is it? Interesting.”
“Big Brother, you don't need to provoke those people just to help me. I'll practice martial arts diligently, and when I grow up, I'll take revenge with my own hands!”
Little A-Man said earnestly.
Chen Zui looked down and ruffled his hair.
“You're still young. Some things should just be left to adults.
“Even if it's someone you don't know, you can feel completely at ease leaving it to them.
“You must remember, this is where we martial artists must not shy away from doing what is right.
“When you grow up, you can protect others like this, too.
“And practicing martial arts doesn't necessarily mean our hands must be stained with blood.
“Do you understand?”
Little A-Man nodded, half-understanding.
Chen Zui smiled slightly.
“Just wait. I will bring your father's blade back.”
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