Chen Mu hadn’t expected that, in his preparation to sneak back to Nanyang Prefecture City, he would end up on the same boat as Zhuo Yinghai.
“Has he given up on catching me since he can’t find me?”
Although Chen Mu wanted to turn around and leave, that would be too conspicuous. Instead, he pretended to be concerned and comforted the older man, “Elder sir, one should always look ahead. The river scenery is so beautiful, we shouldn’t let troubles disturb our good mood.”
“Thank you for your kind intentions, young brother,” Zhuo Yinghai replied, bowing slightly in thanks, but his face remained filled with sorrow. He couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing, “The concubines at home have borne me more sons, and now there’s not enough inheritance to go around.”
Chen Mu: “…”
“You really are a sword that hasn’t dulled with age,” Chen Mu said with a forced smile.
“Not as energetic as you young people,” Zhuo Yinghai said, laughing and waving his hand dismissively.
“You’re too modest, old sir. Judging by your attire, you must be extremely wealthy and noble. Even if they inherit a bit less, it’s more than enough for your descendants to live in wealth and honor for their lifetimes.”
Zhuo Yinghai immediately made a gesture of distress, “You don’t understand.”
“I have eleven sons and seven daughters, and beneath them, grandsons and granddaughters.”
“Although my granddaughters do not bear the Zhuo surname, they are still of my bloodline. I have to provide them a dowry as well. But I’ve just calculated and found that I can only give each of them ten shops, a thousand acres of paddy fields, and five small cargo ships that are thirty meters long each.” Experience tales at m v|l–NovelFull.net
“If I grit my teeth, at the very most I can add two chests of jewelry.”
“It’s too shabby!” Zhuo Yinghai slammed the railing hard.
Chen Mu: “…”
My five thousand taels of silver wouldn’t even be enough to fill the gaps in your teeth, would they?!
Is it too late for me to turn around and leave now?
“It’s my fault for being useless, earning too little for the family,” Zhuo Yinghai lamented.
“When I become the gang leader, I must raise the dockage and protection fees. We can’t even afford to eat… “
“I must take my leave!” Chen Mu immediately said, making a gesture of salute.
This place is no longer bearable.
“Ah, young brother, please don’t take offense. When people get old, they tend to ramble on,” Zhuo Yinghai said with a face full of apologies, stopping Chen Mu.
“Do you think I’m showing off my wealth?” Zhuo Yinghai asked with a smile.
Chen Mu just smiled and said nothing.
Zhuo Yinghai seemed to understand Chen Mu’s silence, “What I mentioned just now might appear to be considerable wealth to the common folk.”
“But you don’t know. For someone of my stature, earning more also means spending more.”
“Travel requires luxurious ships and carriages, clothes and jewelry must be exquisite, and even eating and drinking necessitate high standards.”
“I’m pained spending money on these things too. Wouldn’t it be better to save it and let it multiply? But to earn more money, I need to maintain appearances,” Zhuo Yinghai said, his face expressing his feelings.
Chen Mu nodded, “Why not rent these luxurious carriages and ships then?”
“What do you mean?” Zhuo Yinghai looked puzzled.
“Rent someone else’s, no need to buy,” Chen Mu hinted meaningfully. “Even if you did buy them, you could still rent them out to others.”
“Smart thinking, young brother!” Zhuo Yinghai laughed, “I must have a drink with you.”
“Someone! Bring up the wine and dishes.”
Below deck on the pleasure boat, a man in a black tight suit acknowledged the command, walking solemnly up to the second floor with a serious face.
He was carrying a red food box and strode towards the two men.
But as he walked, he began to stagger, looking like he was drunk, lurching to one side and then the other, before falling with a thud three meters away.
Zhuo Yinghai: “…”
“Has he suddenly taken ill?” Chen Mu peered over with a look of concern.
“No matter, he’s just seasick,” Zhuo Yinghai said nonchalantly. “Get two men to carry this fellow away.”
He then walked forward himself, intending to pick up the food box.
Thud!
The two burly men who had run up to carry the fallen man now collapsed themselves.
Chen Mu looked on with concern, “It seems your men might be in poor health. Perhaps we should forget about the meal.”
Zhuo Yinghai slowly turned around, his smile gradually fading, “You’re quite insensible. Wouldn’t it be nice for you to simply enjoy a final meal?”
Clang!
Sparks flew everywhere.
Zhuo Yinghai’s jet-black right hand shielded his face, and two Iron Lotus Seeds, like petals of a flower about to bloom, were crushed and deformed into an attractive shape.
“Heh…” Zhuo Yinghai grinned at Chen Mu, “Caught myself a big fish.”
“Why do you want to serve me a final meal?” Chen Mu wondered. He was quite confident in his Face-changing Technique; Zhuo Yinghai shouldn’t have been able to recognize him. The Sleeve Sword slid silently from his sleeve into his palm.
“Your eyes are shaped like those of my enemy,” Zhuo Yinghai shrugged. Then he suddenly tore off his large cloak, revealing his muscular upper body.
Hum!
A layer of black film spread forward from his back. Below his neck, he was quickly covered by Jet Black Soul Strength.
“Just because the shape of my eyes is similar? You’re prepared to take my life?” Chen Mu said in disbelief, “How many people must you mistakenly kill?”
Is this person’s heart pitch-black?
“You mean this?” Zhuo Yinghai said with a genial smile, “As long as I kill enough people, one day I will kill the right one, don’t you think….”
Wuu wuu wuu….
The Iron Lotus Seeds rained down on Zhuo Yinghai like droplets in a storm.
Ding ding ding ding….
Sparks flew everywhere.
The Iron Lotus Seeds struck Zhuo Yinghai’s body, shattering like quail eggs against an iron plate.
Zhuo Yinghai swung his arms to shield his head and face.
“Useless, useless, useless! Haha….”
He laughed heartily as he strode towards Chen Mu.
“You country bumpkins have no idea how powerful Soul Strength is!”
In the time it took to utter those words, Zhuo Yinghai had already closed the distance to Chen Mu.
Jet Black fingers spread open, resembling iron claws, suddenly vanished into thin air.
When they reappeared, they were alarmingly close to Chen Mu’s neck.
The air itself felt sliced apart, creating white waves.
The five thick fingers, like five sharp short knives, sliced across Chen Mu’s neck.
Whoom!
The air roiled, and Chen Mu’s figure abruptly vanished.
Hmm?! Zhuo Yinghai’s face changed as he swiftly lifted his right hand toward the sky.
Clang!
A sharp pain shot through the palm of his hand.
Zhuo Yinghai looked up fiercely, only to find that Chen Mu had somehow ended up slanting on the ceiling, his Sleeve Sword striking out like a venomous snake.
If he hadn’t reacted quickly, that strike would have pierced straight through his forehead.
“Nice movement technique!” Zhuo Yinghai laughed boisterously.
His right leg kicked out suddenly, the muscle-bound limb resembling a python’s tail, violently lashing out at Chen Mu suspended in mid-air.
Thump!
The wooden ceiling was instantly shattered by that airborne kick.
Then his legs spun like wheels, unleashing a flurry of kicks in the air.
It took only a few kicks for him to smash a large portion of the second floor of the building.
Chen Mu had no choice but to dodge left and right in the narrow corridor, relying on his bizarre movement technique to narrowly avoid his opponent’s attacks. From time to time, he would thrust out the Sleeve Sword, aiming for the enemy’s vital points.
The sounds of metal clashing were unending.
“Just as I expected, not good enough.” Chen Mu’s figure quickly retreated, widening the gap between them.
Looking at the tip of the Sleeve Sword, dotted with blood, his face was full of solemnity.
“A precious sword?!” Zhuo Yinghai’s eyes brightened as he noticed the dense specks of blood on his body.
It was a precious sword capable of piercing through Soul Strength.
“Give it to me!” Zhuo Yinghai’s hair and beard stood on end as he ferociously charged at Chen Mu.
Chen Mu lowered his head, seemingly petrified, motionless.
“I didn’t want to…”
Three eerie syllables slipped out. Five tufts of black smoke silently emerged behind Zhuo Yinghai.
“Why must you force me?”
A surge of intense emotion, like a tidal wave, overwhelmed his mind.
Chen Mu suddenly raised his head, thin threads of blood creeping into his eyes, his mouth agape, dribbles of saliva trailing down from the corners: “I’m hungry!”
Whoom!
The five swirls of black air spiraled and instantly burrowed into Zhuo Yinghai’s back.
Zhuo Yinghai’s face still held the frenzy of battle, yet his chest inexplicably lacked a large chunk.
With a plop, he fell in two pieces at Chen Mu’s feet.
The black smoke, like a swarm of locusts, voraciously descended upon Zhuo Yinghai’s corpse.
Chen Mu staggered back, his face pale as he leaned on the railing, murmuring to himself with a lost expression, “I didn’t want to kill.”
“Sigh….”
“It seems he brought quite a few subordinates with him…. Hmm.”
“….”