Chapter 81: Chapter 60: People of Iron Sword Sect
Translator: 549690339
Holding the gradually chilling corpse in his arms, Lu Yuan felt a hint of sadness in his heart, remaining silent and taciturn.
In actuality, he had been extremely attentive to the movements in Zhou’s backyard while he waited outside.
And so, when Tang Huaping screamed in fright, Lu Yuan managed to respond promptly, killing the man in blue attire.
Yet, even so, when faced with Zhou Ze who was at his last breath, he was utterly helpless.
The plan was sound.
Yet, when put into action, it went awry.
Who could have anticipated that the man in blue attire would detect the poison so quickly and act so decisively? He didn’t hesitate for a moment before ending Zhou Ze’s life.
Zhou Ze’s plan to poison him first and then alert Lu Yuan to wrap up the situation was in vain.
If it hadn’t been for Zhou Ze’s daughter-in-law’s scream which alerted Lu Yuan who had been anxiously waiting, he might have continued to wait until everyone in the courtyard were dead, not hearing the whistle.
“Dr. Zhou, Dr. Zhou, you’ve been careful and astute all your life, yet in the end you died at the hands of the martial arts you always belittled and considered useless. Is this fate?”
Lu Yuan sighed, reaching out to close Zhou Ze’s eyes.
For a friend to die before his eyes in such a horrific manner left an awful taste in his mouth.
The Jianghu is indeed cruel.
Even those who honestly stay at home, dutifully conducting their businesses, never know when disaster will strike and involve the entire family.
Dr. Zhou is the most obvious and bloody example of such a scenario.
“Thus, my unwavering belief is correct. In this world, one must practice martial arts. Only with martial arts, with strength, can one control their destiny.
Otherwise, despite all your contrivances, wealth, and power, you can’t defend your own life against an enemy within three steps.”
Lu Yuan has long been able to profit from hunting, he could live in comfort with the silver taels he earned. Yet, why hasn’t he done so?
Isn’t it because he deeply understands that in this world that respects martial power, mere wealth does not constitute real strength.
If you hoard grain, and someone else hoards weapons, your house will become their granary.
In this society where the weak are prey to the strong, only by mastering martial arts and concentrating power in oneself can one possess real strength.
Other wealth, power, these are but illusions.
Consider Zhou Ze’s last words. Saying Lu Yuan was right, it’s not unlike a regret-filled lament having understood this point.
Letting down Zhou Ze’s body, Lu Yuan got up and walked to the corpse of the man in blue.
As an experienced Hunter, butchering his game after a hunt was instinctive to him.
Suppressing the impulse to dismember the corpse in front of him, Lu Yuan began to search the body.
In no time, a pile of items appeared on the ground next to him.
A bag with silver taels, a silver token, and a scroll.
There were only a little over thirty silver taels, Lu Yuan just glanced at it and put it in his robes.
Then he picked up the token, flipping it over a few times, his expression becoming somewhat stunned.
[Iron Sword]
The two large characters stamped on the token were particularly conspicuous.
Turning it over, a small sword pattern was printed on the back, and next to it were a few small characters.
[Fourteenth Generation True Disciple, Guan Yunfei]
“This person is a true disciple of the Iron Sword Sect?”
Lu Yuan carefully studied the token several times, then took a closer look at the dead man’s hands. After confirming they were those of a swordsman who practiced regularly, his mind went blank.
Wasn’t it supposed to be bandits who held Zhou’s family hostage?
Wasn’t it supposed to be ruthless murderers who wouldn’t spare even pregnant women?
How did it suddenly turn into a true disciple of the Iron Sword Sect?
Since when did disciples of the Iron Sword Sect stoop so low that they needed to kidnap doctors’ family members to heal themselves?
And how could an Iron Sword Sect disciple’s moral character become so depraved?
Many questions and uncertainties attacked Lu Yuan’s mind.
But he simply couldn’t afford to seek answers now.
Because at this time, Lu Yuan had realized something, something very important.
“I killed a true disciple of the Iron Sword Sect.”
Thinking of this, his vision began to darken.
Not because he was cowardly, but because the matter was just too serious.
Killing a home-invading thief is quite different from killing a true disciple of the Iron Sword Sect.
If Lu Yuan were to kill the former, with his own strength and Zhou’s testimony, he would be considered a hero. He could even go straight to the officials and, who knows, he might be rewarded.
As for the latter, even if this Guan Yunfei was a home-invading thief, killing Zhou Ze and Tang Huaping in the process, would Lu Yuan still dare to go to the officials?
Death would be certain.
“How dare a mere civilian like you, a Hunter, kill one of ours?”
Lu Yuan could already envision the backlash he’d face if the matter got out.
The consequences would undoubtedly be pursuit and execution from both the Iron Sword Sect and the official forces.
Looking at Guan Yunfei’s actions, it’s clear.
Even the so-called disciples of prominent martial arts sects have such a deplorable character in private.
And the Iron Sword Sect that could produce such disciples is also quite obvious.
Lu Yuan would not gamble on them deciding not to pursue him for killing their member due to their feelings of guilt.
Placing one’s fate in the hands of others is an extremely foolish thing to do, no matter how you look at it.
One needs to control their own fate. That’s the choice a wise person would make.
“It looks like I’ll have to apologize to Dr. Zhou.”
Lu Yuan put away the token, his gaze falling on the bodies next to him, feeling helpless.
Originally, he planned to report to the authorities and let Zhou Qing handle his father’s affairs slowly after approval from the officials.
But now that Guan Yunfei’s identity is clear, this plan cannot be carried out.
This true disciple of Iron Sword Sect died at Zhou’s house, no doubt.
Basing only on this point, Zhou Qing can’t escape involvement.
So Zhao Qing being implicated, no, it should be said that Lu Yuan was implicated by Zhou’s family, could be ascertained.
Hence, if he really were to report this to the officials, not only would Lu Yuan die, Zhou Qing would not survive either.
The choices left to the two of them came down to one, to covertly dispose of the bodies and then flee.
“I’ll have to give Xiaoqing a good talk later.”
Lu Yuan sighs, then picks up the third item he found on Guan Yunfei’s body, the scroll.
Upon glancing at the title of the scroll, [Replenishing Qi Heart Sutra], he immediately knew this was a martial arts secret book..