Bad things happen often

Chapter 90

The man in black didn't answer. He glanced at the surrounding situation, made a few feints, and then leaped away.

Shi Mi was about to give chase when the man in black turned around and used his sword to stir up seawater, obscuring her view.

Xiao Xiao was immersed in the seawater, and felt the wound on her right arm getting more and more painful. She felt weak all over, and her hand gripping the wooden board began to go numb.

At that moment, someone grabbed her hand, pulled her out of the water, and embraced her.

Xiao Xiao was terrified and stared wide-eyed at the man in black.

The man in black put one arm around her waist, leaped into the air, and nimbly hopped across the suspended wooden planks.

Xiao Xiao felt that he was deliberately avoiding her gaze. She quietly pondered the reason, but couldn't overcome her physical exhaustion. It was a strange sense of peace that made her lean against the stranger's chest and gradually drift off to sleep…

...

Beyond the Nine Heavens

A heavy rainstorm brought about a sudden change in the battle situation on the seventy-two islands of the East China Sea.

The "incense that manipulates the zombies" went out one by one, and Wei Qi's side's fighting strength immediately weakened. Although Yin Xiao and Li Si were highly skilled in martial arts, the heavy rain obstructed their vision, and they gradually became unable to use their skills effectively.

Wen Jing and Wen Su were already used to the weather in the East China Sea, so they were not affected at all.

Wei Qi glanced at the situation and gave Xi Yuan a look. The two then led their subordinates in a retreat while fighting.

Silver Owl and Li Si naturally didn't linger in the fight and began to retreat.

The disciples of the East Sea were overjoyed to see their opponents flee. Wen Jing, noticing this, ordered, "Chase them! We cannot let these thieves escape the East Sea!"

Upon receiving the order, the disciples gave chase.

Wen Su was about to take a step to follow, but Wen Jing pressed down on his shoulder.

"You don't need to go..."

Wen Su looked at him and nodded silently.

Wen Jing turned around and started walking back.

Although Wen Su was puzzled, he couldn't ask and could only follow silently. His mind was still unsettled, and he felt waves of pain in his chest. He felt that something very important had disappeared, so quickly that he was caught off guard. From childhood to adulthood, he had never had anything he couldn't give up, but at this moment, his heart ached.

The petite girl never dared to look him in the eye. Fearful, she shrank back among others, refusing to take another step closer. Even though he was willing to do anything to protect her, he could no longer convey his feelings. She had every right to hate him…

How could she, who had never spoken a single word of the truth, shamelessly ask for forgiveness? He deceived her, exploited her, ruined her originally happy marriage… and… killed her closest master…

The Ghost Master…why is she the Ghost Master's disciple? Why does the Ghost Master have such an innocent disciple?…

The face of that person involuntarily flashed into his mind.

When he first saw him, he couldn't believe that there could be someone in the world who looked exactly like him. Even though he had been trained since childhood, he was still surprised when he first saw him.

Like him, the other person was also surprised, but their surprise contained a harmless smile.

He didn't utter a single word, yet the "Ghost Master," rumored to be cunning and shrewd in the martial arts world, guessed everything. To this day, he still clearly remembers what the Ghost Master said to him:

"Young man, you really resemble me... just like me seventeen years ago. But every time I think of myself back then, all I feel is regret... Young man, do you even want to imitate this regret?"

remorse……

He finally understood the meaning of those words. For the past seventeen years, he had never considered what kind of people he had hurt were. Even if he had possessed any compassion in his childhood, it had long been extinguished by the brutal training. And today, for the first time, he noticed how desolate it was to be hated… Who was right? Who was wrong? Obtaining the Nine Emperor Artifacts and unifying the world—was this his ideal? He had followed his mentor's teachings step by step to this point, but had he truly obtained what he wanted? What was it that he truly desired?

In that instant, he remembered the sound of the sanxian (a three-stringed plucked instrument) on the beach. He had never truly loved the sanxian; his only memories were of the pain from practicing day and night until his fingers were raw. But that night, for the first time, he experienced the joy that music could bring. He thought of the oblivious girl who smiled and told him, "Actually, you're nothing like your master..."

Unlike... with just one sentence, his decades of repression vanished...

So what is he doing now?

His mind was in turmoil, which disturbed his breathing.

Wen Jing stopped, turned around, and said, "What, are you feeling sorry for that little girl?"

Wen Su was slightly startled and remained silent.

Wen Jing looked at him and sighed softly, "Is the father-son relationship I've had with you for over a decade less than the few months that little girl has known you?"

“I had no such intention…” Wen Su quickly replied.

Wen Jing smiled faintly, "Whether you like her or pity her, just don't forget that the 'Ghost Master' died at our hands, and she will come to take revenge one day... Will she show you any mercy?"

Wen Su lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Wen Jing shook his head regretfully, "Isn't it obvious which is more important, personal feelings or the pursuit of power?"

"Your disciple will do everything in his power to help Master accomplish this great undertaking," Wen Su replied, his voice slightly numb.

“You just don’t understand…” Wen Jing said, “You are my only successor. If I gain the world, you gain the world. On that day, what kind of woman won’t you be able to have?”

Wen Su then fell silent.

Seeing this, Wen Jing pondered for a moment and said, "Alright... if you want to be with that girl, there is a way..."

Wen Su looked up and stared at him in surprise.

Wen Jing's eyes were filled with desolation, "Help her kill me, the culprit, and all grudges can be wiped clean!"

"Master!" Wen Su exclaimed in alarm, "I had no such intention..."

Wen Jing walked sadly to his side and patted his shoulder. "I know you are filial... Alas, marriage cannot be forced. Just let it go..."

Wen Su suppressed the bitterness in his heart and nodded, "Disciple understands."

Wen Jing nodded and turned to continue walking. But a sudden chilling glint appeared in his eyes…

After walking for a while, the two returned to the East Sea headquarters. Wen Jing gave a few brief instructions and then led Wen Su directly into his secluded room where he usually cultivated in seclusion.

In the center of the room stood a stone platform. On the platform lay a pair of swords. The swords were no more than a foot long, entirely golden-red, with slightly curved blades, each an inch wide, radiating a brilliant light—clearly no ordinary swords.

Wen Jing walked to the front of the stage, picked up the pair of swords, turned around, and handed them to Wen Su.

Wen Su was somewhat surprised, looking at the sword with hesitation.

Wen Jing spoke up, saying, "You've practiced dual swords since you were young, so it's most suitable for you to wield them. Haven't I said it before, everything I have will be yours sooner or later..."

Wen Su remained silent for a moment, then reached out and took the sword.

Wen Jing smiled faintly and said, "Our identities have been exposed. With both old and new grudges, the imperial court will surely launch a full-scale attack..."

"What does Master mean?" Wen Su asked.

Wen Jing turned around and said, "Let's leave the East China Sea and regroup."

Wen Su was somewhat surprised, "Master, are you really going to give up the East Sea?"

Wen Jing looked at the "Zhu Yang" in his hand and said calmly, "Before pursuing hegemony, nothing is irreplaceable. The East Sea is just a stepping stone. I have already formed an alliance with the Japanese seafarers. After leaving the East Sea, I can go to Penglai, return to the Central Plains, and plan my great cause again."

Wen Su was unaware of what Wen Jing was talking about. In the past, he hadn't cared about such ignorance. But now, it chilled him to the bone.

Suddenly, someone appeared at the door.

Wen Su turned around and saw his junior brother, Lin Zhi.

“Island Lord…” Lin Zhi stood there, his eyes filled with grief and fear.

Wen Jing smiled. "So it was you. You heard what I said earlier, didn't you?"

"Island Master, I don't understand why you did this. What does the East Sea mean to you? Just for that 'Nine Emperors Divine Artifact,' you can disregard the lives of all the branch masters and disciples?" Lin Zhi asked after a moment of silence.

Wen Jing did not answer, but said calmly, "Our whereabouts cannot be exposed. You should understand this principle..." Wen Jing's expression was calm, "Don't blame your master for being heartless."

Wen Jing turned to Wen Su and said, "Kill him."

Wen Su frowned slightly and attacked Lin Zhi with his sword.

Seeing this, Lin Zhi had no choice but to retaliate.

Wen Su's skills far surpassed Lin Zhi's, and after only a few moves, he had a chance to win. The blade in his hand was aimed directly at Lin Zhi's brow, and he was using a real killing move.

"Senior brother!" Lin Zhi gripped the blade with one hand and cried out in grief and indignation.

Wen Su's grip loosened, and he was momentarily bewildered.

There was no fear in Lin Zhi's eyes, only grief. This grief seemed familiar.

Do you even intend to imitate this regret? — The words spoken by the Ghost Master echoed calmly in my mind, yet stirred up a storm in my heart.

Wen Su closed his eyes and swung his sword down fiercely.

Wen Jing watched Lin Zhi fall to the ground, a cruel smile appearing on his face.

Wen Su opened his eyes, turned around, and respectfully said, "Master..."

Wen Jing nodded, smiled, and walked out.

...

...This is a dividing line representing Wei Qi's very frustrated escape = =+...

A vast expanse of rain fell over the East China Sea.

Wei Qi stood at the bow of the ship, his expression displeased. Everything that had happened today was beyond his expectations, and leaving the East Sea like this was practically a hasty retreat. If he could still handle all of this calmly, he would be unable to suppress his anger once he reunited with Shi Mi.

He had originally arranged for Shi Mi to stay at sea as backup, just in case. The fact that Shi Mi intercepted Xiao Xiao on the island was exactly what he planned. Everything should have gone smoothly, but the heavy rain disrupted everything. Then, the sudden appearance of the masked man in black was even more inexplicable.

This is a vast ocean, unlike land. Who could come here alone and leave unscathed? Even if one could rescue people and escape, how could one evade capture and suddenly disappear into the sea?

However, his doubts were answered when he arrived at the Lian family's fleet. Around the fleet were dozens of ships, neither Lian family warships nor East China Sea troops; upon closer inspection, they appeared to be ordinary fishing boats. And from the sea, such fishing boats continued to sail towards the fleet in an endless stream.

After boarding the warship, Wei Qi went straight to Lian Zhao's room without saying a word.

The guards wanted to stop him, but considering he was an ally, they couldn't be rude or violent, so they could only let him be.

When Wei Qi entered the room, he saw Lian Zhao sitting on the couch, playing chess by himself.

Seeing someone enter, Lian Zhao looked up and frowned slightly when he saw Wei Qi's disheveled appearance, completely soaked. "Young Master Wei, what happened to you..."

“Young Master Lian, I have a question and have come to ask you about it,” Wei Qi said.

Lian Zhao continued playing chess and said, "Please speak."

"I encountered Silver Owl and Ghost Matchmaker on the seventy-two islands of the East China Sea. Logically speaking, with the Lian family's ship formation blocking the sea, no one should be able to enter. I am curious, how did these two get here..." Wei Qi's tone was unfriendly, almost questioning.

Lian Zhao put down his chess piece, looked up, and said seriously, "Young Master Wei, you've seen it too. Since the retreat the day before yesterday, people from the East Sea have been coming to surrender. The battle in the East Sea is not over yet. To prevent innocent people from being harmed, I ordered these civilians to leave the East Sea immediately. ...During this time, I'm afraid some people may have infiltrated. However, Yin Xiao and Gui Mei are both wanted criminals of the court. Since they have come to the East Sea, we can capture them together. Young Master Wei, there is no need to worry."

Upon hearing this, Wei Qi couldn't help but smile. "Young Master Lian is kind-hearted and truly takes good care of these 'innocent people'."