"These so-called experts of the martial arts world, they need not be mysterious and elusive, or even look and sound exactly like were, or even act the part, once they have found a little fame."
Ling Xiaozui looked at Yun Yang as he said, "Always remember, if a person can’t be himself, then there isn’t much meaning even if he has any higher achievement. At least, it rings true to this person’s being!"
Yun Yang repeated his words several times in his heart, immediately won over by their wisdom.
If a person can’t be himself, then there isn’t much meaning even if he has any higher achievement.
Sweat seeped profusely and drenched Lao Mei and Fang Mofei’s clothes as they listened, feeling Ling Xiaozui’s words being etched into the deepest part of their soul like the resonating ringing of early morning bells.
After the meal, Ling Xiaozui finally asked, "No need to hold back and be hesitant now. I have lost our bet. Seeing as to how I've lost, I should fulfill what has been wagered. You can tell me what it is now."
Yun Yang took a deep breath and said, "I would like to ask you to kill someone for me."
"Kill someone?" Ling Xiaozui smiled bitterly. "I knew the request would be illicit, but I have to inform you about a disclaimer first. Although I’ve killed plenty of people in this lifetime, there are four types of people I shall never kill."
"Mercy for loyal officials, mercy for men of justice, mercy for naïve women." Ling Xiaozui said smugly.
"That's three. What’s the other type?" Yun Yang questioned inquisitively.
"I don’t kill people from the Four Seasons Tower either!" Ling Xiaozui answered with a slightly guilty look in his eyes.
Yun Yang sat up abruptly. "You won’t kill people from the Four Seasons Tower?"
It had been said that Ling Xiaozui and the Four Seasons Tower were at each other’s throat back in the day, killing legions of people yet there was never news of the grudges ceasing; both sides stood irreconcilable. Yun Yang had even thought of joining efforts with Ling Xiaozui to tackle the Four Seasons Tower; the job would definitely be easier with the help of the latter’s martial skills!
How could he have expected Ling Xiaozui to reveal that he was not about to start killing anyone from the Four Seasons Tower?
Yun Yang was disconcerted then, his plans thwarted.
It's fine if you can't bring yourself to kill anyone else, but are you saying that you don’t kill members of the Four Seasons Tower? Then why did I go to so much trouble to locate you?
I should have just saved myself the trouble!
Did you have to kill the opportunity for our cooperation so quickly?
Is that really acceptable?
"I went head-to-head against the Four Seasons Tower due to an incident back in the day and it has gone on for a hundred and thirteen years. It was only then that I really killed anyone from the Four Seasons Tower and only because I was either ambushed, attacked, or someone had tried to assassinate me, almost everywhere I went."
Ling Xiaozui began to reminisce about the old days. "No, not almost. It was every day. At any point in a day, I was trying to slip the layers upon layers of intricate traps set by the Four Seasons Tower."
"I depended only on my skills and enthusiasm then. Despite the delight of revenge, despite the triumph of overcoming each battle, despite the gratification of killing so many enemies, I knew myself better. The days were spent in moments of life and death, each step was arduous and cautious. Even with a high cultivation base and the ability to maintain an endless flow of mystical Qi, the heart grew tired. There’s always a limit to a person’s heart."
Ling Xiaozui continued, "Those days were spent on slaughtering and not much else. I killed more than a dozen people on a single day in those times. When it came to killing the last few people, I grew hesitant. Not because I got soft-hearted but because I got tired of it…"
"Of course, this is not the main reason I’ve given up chasing after the Four Seasons Tower. Perhaps I should say that I was set on exterminating the Four Seasons Tower since the very beginning but never have I thought that the Four Seasons Tower’s scale was this grand. The reach of its power was unprecedented and the secrecy of its organization unimaginable. Much later, I found two of the four supreme lords of Four Seasons Tower by chance and managed to heavily wound them. I was irritated enough to provoke the mastermind of the Four Seasons Tower to appear, just over a hundred years after I began to oppose them."
"Mr. Nian suggested a single, final battle, after meeting me. Both of us battled for a full day and an entire night but there was no sign of who would win or lose. If it had gone on, there was only death for both sides – we wouldn't have left with just injuries. We ceased our struggle, and Mr. Nian spoke to me."
Ling Xiaozui sighed as he recalled the memories.
"What did he say?" Yun Yang asked excitedly.
If all he knew was true, this was the moment that called for the cessation of the titanic war between Ling Xiaozui and Four Seasons Tower.
These words had to be significant enough to convince Ling Xiaozui to give up.
"Mr. Nian said, ‘Brother Ling, I know why you have come to Four Seasons Tower. It is because your sworn brother, King of Transcendental Saber, Li Wujun, has died at our hands. That is why you wish to wipe us out; you seek vengeance for your brother. This is absolutely sensible given the relationship the both of you had; admittedly, you’ve done well all these years, where you even managed to shake the foundations of the Four Seasons Tower."
"But you should know this; Li Wuju was killed because he had first killed three of the Four Seasons Tower’s men."
"We killed Li Wujun for revenge, or it would have been hard to pacify the men of our tower. You oppose us for revenge as well, but let us put the issue of unending grudge aside for a moment. Today, I shall only speak of truth. I believe that you, Ling Xiaozui, have many family members. Your relatives, even those related to Li Wujun, including the brothers, friends, and family in the martial arts world must be plentiful in number."
"All these people have helped and did their part when you went up against the Four Seasons Tower, directly or indirectly dealing a terrible blow to us. There is only one thing I wish to ask – have we ever attacked any one of them?"
"This tower’s main objective is to take revenge against the perpetrator and never involve others who are not the culprit. This is the dignity that holds this tower high, it is also our guide. However, you, Ling Xiaozui, are so strong that manpower alone can’t wipe you out!"
"However, even if we couldn't kill you, couldn't we have gone after your brothers? Even if we were so inadequate and failed to kill your brothers, it would be impossible for every one of your brother's family members to be experts. If the Four Seasons Tower had wanted to, you might not have been able to save anyone other than yourself!"
"Even if you had given your all to protect just one person, you would ultimately have been disappointed if the Four Seasons Tower really wanted to go after him or her."
"But we didn’t."
"No matter if you think of it this way, or perhaps you have never thought of it… this is a huge favor we have performed for you."
"The first and foremost objective of the Four Seasons Tower is to take revenge when there is a reason for it and never involve others who are not the culprit. While this is the dignity that this tower holds high and our guide in all that we do, you, on the other hand, have killed thousands of our people all these years!"
"That is why I’ve come for a fight with you but you’re far too strong. This battle has proven that you can’t be exterminated by man alone! Therefore, I have decided that if Brother Ling still feels that his bloodlust is not sated, I shall pass the word down that the Four Seasons Tower shall retaliate in the most extreme ways towards Ling Xiaozui. However, the target will no longer only be you but everyone related to Ling Xiaozui. There shall be no end until both sides are destroyed!"
"On the other hand, if Brother Ling thinks that the Four Seasons Tower is still an enforcer of justice in the martial arts world who bears you respect, then we shall make peace from now on and no longer intervene in each other's lives. This grudge of a hundred and thirteen years shall end right here, right now."
Ling Xiaozui gave a soft sigh as did Yun Yang.
Mr. Nian’s words were impeccable! If Yun Yang were to be put in his shoes, he was no longer certain that he could single-handedly smoothen things out or coerce Ling Xiaozui to comply with it.
Of course, if it were to be Yun Yang – since he had the ability to go neck and neck with Ling Xiaozui - he would definitely have gone all the way even if both parties ended up losing. The vengeance of brothers would remain his first choice.
"From then on, both sides have ceased fighting." Ling Xiaozui said, "I have also promised that as long as the Four Seasons Tower does not provoke me first, I shall not kill their men."
"This is why there is a fourth group of people that I will not kill."
Ling Xiaozui’s clear gaze set itself on Yun Yang as he said calmly, "I am guessing that the person you wish to see dead is from the Four Seasons Tower, seeing as to how you’re so concerned about this."
Yun Yang grinned sardonically. "I can’t confirm that the person is from the Four Seasons Tower just yet. Besides, the Four Seasons Tower’s men have always been elusive. Since when have they ever exposed their identities on their own volition? How could I know who is and who isn’t from there?"
Ling Xiaozui tilted his head and said, "Why not tell me his name, and we shall see."
Ling Xiaozui knew that Yun Yang was trying to gloss over the fact that his target was a member of the Four Seasons Tower. He did not mind though. If he could kill a Four Seasons Tower’s member and return the favor, he would be happy to – as long as he did not break his promise!
Yun Yang coughed. "Actually, I believe that you would be quite hard-pressed to eradicate my intended target, so the fact that he or she is from the Four Seasons Tower is rather moot!"
Ling Xiaozui's interest was somewhat piqued by this statement, and ventured to ask, "Who is your target that it’s so hard for even me to handle?"
Yun Yang chuckled. "This person’s ability is superb, it has even exceeded the levels of the cultivators I am familiar with. However, my ability is insignificant so my judgment can’t exactly be trusted. Perhaps this person wouldn't even catch Elder Ling’s eyes. Anyway, I said that this task would be difficult for Elder Ling because this person seems to have fulfilled all three terms of your ‘no-kill’ policy. Back in the day, he was the late emperor’s teacher when he was still the crown prince. Then, when the late emperor was enthroned, he became his crown prince’s teacher. When His Majesty was enthroned, he retired from service. However, he is now the crown prince’s teacher once more…"
"in the eyes of the people, this person is a loyalist among loyalists – the teacher to three generations of emperors." Yun Yang continued, "Since he has educated three generations of emperors, you can imagine his age. At least, he looks elderly and certainly past his prime… This person is even a profound scholar of the Empire of Yutang; his disciples are plenty and widespread across the world. He could be said to be the forefather of Yutang’s scholars – a prestigious sage of noble character…"
Ling Xiaozui sucked in his breath. "A teacher to three generations of emperors, the predecessor to all scholars, a person of lofty virtue and should be highly regarded by the rest – This is the person you intend to kill?"
As he stared at Yun Yang, it was clear that he was wondering if this young man was in possession of all his faculties!