Chapter 45 Xia Wei-Enmity
"What……"
Upon learning of the Hengshan Bandit's arrival, Xia Wei was startled, but her fear was quickly replaced by a fighting spirit: "This is the opportunity I've been waiting for. I want to take his head with my own hands and avenge my father and brother!"
Ye Jie's expression was not optimistic. "The bandit Hengshan is no match for the shrimp-headed man. The shrimp-headed man only has the realm of the middle stage of the third level, but he doesn't know any martial arts. You were able to kill the shrimp-headed man thanks to his excellent martial arts. The bandit Hengshan's Heart-breaking Devil Palm is as powerful as a heavenly-level martial art. What's more, he is one major realm higher than you and two minor realms higher. How can you be his enemy?"
"this……"
Xia Wei was a bit embarrassed, but her expression remained firm: "There is still a strong defense force in Qingshi Town. As long as we work together, even the Hengshan bandit will surrender obediently."
Seeing that Xia Wei had made up her mind, Ye Jie stopped trying to persuade her. However, at this moment, he heard a low gurgling sound.
Hearing this, Xia Wei's pretty face flushed, and she lowered her head in embarrassment: "Master, the Hundred Refinements are too exhausting for my physical body, and I'm hungry again."
Ye Jie smiled and said, "Didn't you just kill a third-level monster? Eating it will be of great benefit to your cultivation."
Xia Wei walked over to the headless corpse of the shrimp-headed man and took a look at it. She couldn't help but feel troubled and complained, "This monster has lost its head, leaving only its body. It looks no different from an ordinary human. If I eat it, wouldn't it be the same as eating a human? It's really disgusting."
Ye Jie shook his head, walked slowly to the chopped-off red shrimp head of the shrimp-headed man, and pointed to Xia Wei:
"You don't understand this, do you? Don't be fooled by the shrimp-headed man's burly body. All of his spiritual energy is concentrated in his head, which is a very tonic. Compared to that, the spiritual energy stored in his body is dispensable."
Xia Wei picked up the red-shelled shrimp head thoughtfully. After a moment of observation, she said in surprise, "It's just as Master said. This shrimp head is full of spiritual energy. It's truly a tonic... But how do I eat it?"
Ye Jie suggested, "I suggest you steam it. This red-shelled shrimp head is the main ingredient of the famous dish, steamed shrimp heads, which is famous throughout the area. Once this dish is cooked, it is so delicious that the kids next door are crying with envy."
Xia Wei did as she was told, built a simple stone steamer with the ingredients at hand, and started cooking.
Soon, the rich aroma of shrimps wafted into the air, making one's mouth water. After taking out the shrimp heads, Xia Wei saw that they were elastic, plump, and fresh. She could no longer control her appetite and began to feast on them.
After a hearty meal, there were still some broken shrimp shells scattered around Xia Wei's feet. She burped loudly, and seeing her master staring at her, she covered her mouth embarrassedly, her earlobes burning.
After devouring the monster food, Xia Wei closed her eyes and felt a vast spiritual energy coursing through her body. She sat cross-legged, breathing in and out, completely absorbing this spiritual energy.
Ye Jie stood by her side, quietly protecting her. When Xia Wei opened her eyes again, a glimmer of light ignited in her eyes, and her aura surged. Even Ye Jie was shocked and stood still. It took him a while to recover. He sighed:
"Judging from your aura, you've already reached the middle stage of the Second Stage, the same realm as me... It's only been a few weeks since you embarked on the path of cultivation. This kind of progress is truly astonishingly fast. Looking around the world, I'm afraid there's no one else like you."
Xia Wei stood respectfully beside Ye Jie, her moist eyes filled with deep gratitude: "Xiao Wei was able to reach her current state of cultivation thanks to Master's careful teaching. If it weren't for Master, Xiao Wei wouldn't know where she would be now."
Ye Jie patted her shoulder and sighed, "If you were given a little more time to continue growing, the Hengshan Bandit would not be your opponent at all. Unfortunately, time is running out. Now the Hengshan Bandit is approaching. Are you really ready? He is more powerful than any opponent you have encountered so far. Fighting him now will only bring you great danger."
Xia Wei's expression was calm, her eyes firm. "The hatred for my father's murder is irreconcilable. I'm ready!"
"Very good." Ye Jie nodded in praise and took out the round and large clam pearl. "This clam pearl contains rich spiritual power, enough to help you break through the third level. However, the spiritual power is blocked, and it is quite difficult to absorb it. Even with your extraordinary talent, it will take several months to absorb it all. At least before you challenge the Hengshan bandit, it will not be able to provide any help. It is regrettable."
Xia Wei's eyes fell on the clam pearl, but another idea emerged in her heart. After telling Ye Jie, Ye Jie was stunned at first, and then accepted it with pleasure.
Back in Qingshi Town, the atmosphere was depressing and gloomy, with everyone feeling threatened. Xia Wei could hear the townspeople's cries of grief from time to time:
"That bandit from Hengshan is about to attack. I heard he's a murderer. Anyone who falls into his hands will eventually die. What should we do? Woo woo..."
"Don't be afraid. Commander Zhang Yong has already assembled the palace soldiers. All the men in town will take up arms to resist the Hengshan bandits. We are far more numerous than those thieves, so we will be fine."
"What's the point of having a large number of people? How many of the palace soldiers are cultivators? Only cultivators can control the direction of the battle. No matter how many ordinary people there are, they will be slaughtered by cultivators like cutting melons and vegetables, and can only serve as scapegoats."
"That's not true. We don't need to defeat the Hengshan bandit. We just need to resist his attack and hold out here for three days and three nights. Commander Zhang Yong has already sent out a call for help, and the river patrol general is leading his troops here. As long as we hold out until the patrol general arrives, the crisis will be resolved."
"Three days and three nights... Can we really hold on until then?"
Xia Wei walked past the crowd and quickly came to Qi Feng's house. Just as she was about to knock on the door, she was stopped by someone.
"What are you doing here? Leave now."
Xia Wei looked closely and saw two spearmen holding long spears standing outside Qi Feng's house, blocking others from approaching. Her eyes darkened. "I came here to look for Aunt Wang, what are you doing here?"
Xia Wei carried a seven-foot-long Mo Dao on her shoulder. The massive blade formed a stark contrast with her petite frame. The spearman recognized Xia Wei's identity: "It's her... She's the one who lifted the tripod in the training ground."
The spearman exchanged glances with his companions, each seeing the surprise in the other's eyes. They said fearfully, "The Hengshan bandits are approaching, and we have been ordered to protect Qi Feng's widow, Wang."
"I see." Xia Wei was just agreeing when Aunt Wang in the house heard the noise, opened the door and invited her in.
After not seeing her for a few days, Aunt Wang seemed to have aged ten years. Her skin had lost its former luster and looked pale and weak, her lips were chapped, and her eyes were dull. When she saw Xia Wei, she still forced a smile and said,
"Miss Xia Wei, long time no see. I haven't seen you since my husband met with an accident. I heard from the monster hunters that you were trying to save my husband until the very last moment. I thought you were also... Now that I see you are safe and sound, it is naturally the best of luck."
"Aunt Wang, I..." Xia Wei felt a lump in her throat and wanted to speak but couldn't say anything.
Seeing that Xia Wei's clothes were worn out, with her sleeves mostly torn and barely covering her arms, and her body was stained with blood, Aunt Wang stood up and brought her a set of clean, tidy clothes.
"This is the clothes I wore before. If you don't mind, you can wear them."
Xia Wei thanked Aunt Wang and took the clothes. Aunt Wang went to wait outside the room. Suddenly, a cold wind blew up the corner of her clothes, as if someone had walked past her. She looked around, but there was clearly no one around. She could only sigh and think it was just an illusion.
After Xia Wei changed into her new clothes, Aunt Wang returned. Seeing her in a blue shirt, with an upright figure and a youthful aura, she looked completely refreshed. She couldn't help but smile with satisfaction:
"Miss Xia Wei is very impressive. This dress is perfect for you."
Ye Jie followed behind Aunt Wang and also saw Xia Wei's new clothes. Seeing that she was looking at him, he nodded at her.
"By the way, Aunt Wang, look at this."
Xia Wei took out a round clam pearl and placed it in front of Aunt Wang.
The clam pearl is as big as a fist, white and plump in appearance, flawless in surface, and with a fine and firm texture, as if it is the purest crystal in nature. There is spiritual power flowing inside, emitting a bright glow, and you can tell at a glance that this thing is extraordinary.
"This is..." Aunt Wang was stunned and her lips began to tremble uncontrollably.
Xia Wei's expression was gloomy and bitter. "Brother Qi Feng was attracted by its light and was determined to get it at all costs. He ignored the potential threat and ultimately died at the hands of the shrimp-headed man."
Aunt Wang covered her face and wept, "I warned him that nothing was more important than his life, but he ignored my advice and ended up dying tragically at the hands of a monster, leaving no trace of his body... Poor child, he lost his father before he was even born..."
Xia Wei was also feeling upset. "After days of training, I finally slew the monster and avenged Brother Qi Feng. Brother Qi Feng risked his life to bring the pearl back to his family. Now, I'm fulfilling his wish."
Aunt Wang was stunned and looked at Xia Wei with disbelief. Then she heard her say, "I'll give this pearl to you, Aunt Wang, and keep it for yourself."
"What are you talking about..." Aunt Wang quickly shook her head. "Girl, this is something you risked your life to get. How can you just give it away? This gift is too valuable. I can't accept it. You should keep it."
Xia Wei pushed the pearl over, a stubborn look on her pretty face. "Aunt Wang didn't despise me when I was starving. Instead, she provided me with hot meals. Now, she's even given me clothes. I have no way to repay this kindness. I can only express my gratitude with this pearl."
Aunt Wang didn't take it, but waved her hand to refuse. "Silly girl, it's not worth the same. With this pearl, you won't have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of your life. I'm not the kind of person who asks for favors in exchange for something in return. You should take it back."
Xia Wei glared. "How can kindness and righteousness be measured by value? If Aunt Wang doesn't want to accept it, then I don't want this dress anymore!"
Seeing Xia Wei's adamant attitude and her refusal to listen, Aunt Wang had no choice but to accept the pearl with reluctance. Seeing this, Xia Wei finally felt the burden in her heart finally lifted.
Aunt Wang took the pearls back to her room and put them away. Xia Wei smiled at Ye Jie who was waiting beside her, her braids drooping down her cheeks. "Master, Xiao Wei did a good job, didn't you?"
Ye Jie patted her little head: "Will you regret it?"
"What is there to regret? I want to repay kindness and take revenge. Xiaowei only wants to take revenge in this life." Xia Wei raised her head, her eyes as bright as torches.
Looking at her clear and bright starry eyes, Ye Jie felt something in his heart and smiled and said, "I bet that in your previous life, you must have been a heroic and righteous immortal with great ambition and righteousness."
Xia Wei couldn't help but smile, and soon she saw Aunt Wang coming back with a booklet and a crystal clear spirit stone in her hands.
"Miss Xia Wei, you brought back such precious gifts, and I have no way to repay you. It just so happened that a few days ago, when I was sorting out my husband's belongings, I found these things. They should be the exercises practiced by cultivators. There is no use for me to keep them, so I will give them to you." Aunt Wang said.
Xia Wei nodded and took the technique and spirit stone from Aunt Wang. She pretended to flip through them, unable to read. Ye Jie stood behind her and read the technique word for word to her, his eyes filled with deep surprise.
"Wild Waves and Sea-Splitting Sword? This is a technique from the Human Immortal Path. Rather than calling it a technique, it's more like a remnant of a move, similar to the Mysterious Shadow Blade Dance you mastered. Even though it's just a remnant, its power far surpasses all the techniques you've learned so far. A single strike of the sword is enough to sever the flow of a river... If I'm not mistaken, this should be a remnant of a Heavenly Rank technique!"
Xia Wei was stunned and hurriedly asked Aunt Wang about the origin of the technique: "Aunt Wang, this Crazy Wave Sea-Splitting Sword is so powerful. Where did Brother Qi Feng get it from?"
Aunt Wang was puzzled. "Is this move very powerful? My husband has practiced it for years and hasn't mastered it. Don't believe the raging waves that split the sea. It's just a bluff. If this move was really that powerful, he wouldn't have died at the hands of the monster."
After a pause, Aunt Wang continued, "My husband once met a river patrol general in plain clothes during his early years. Because he patiently helped the general with directions and was eloquent, he was appreciated by the general and was taught a few techniques. That's how he embarked on the path of cultivation."
"River Patrol General..."
Xia Wei silently memorized the name and then listened to Aunt Wang say, "Since Miss Xia Wei likes it, you can take this booklet away. And the glowing stone too. I don't even know when he picked up such a strange stone."
Ye Jie coughed dryly, and when he saw Xia Wei looking at him, he shrugged his shoulders and made an innocent look.
After saying goodbye to Aunt Wang and walking out of the house, Ye Jie looked delighted and reminded Xia Wei:
"Heavenly-grade techniques are always priceless. Even if it's just a single incomplete move, its true value is no less than that pearl. As the old saying goes: Good deeds and evil deeds are always rewarded. Your good deeds have brought you rewards beyond your imagination."
Xia Wei was puzzled: "If this move is so powerful, why does Qi Feng still use it..."
Ye Jie sighed, "This is all about talent. Incomplete moves are inherently more difficult to master than complete techniques. Even a genius with astonishing comprehension would have to spend a considerable amount of time deducing them, let alone the incomplete moves of a heavenly-level technique. The difficulty of learning them is beyond the imagination of ordinary people. Qi Feng didn't have that talent, and until his death, he had only mastered the basics of this move..."
As she was speaking, the soldiers in front suddenly stopped Xia Wei.
A soldier stepped forward and said respectfully, "Miss Xia Wei, Commander Zhang Yong wants to see you."