Ghost Stocks

Chapter 45

The Pacific War raged on, and Japan began transferring troops from Northeast China to Southeast Asia. But all of this seemed distant to Masako; she could only see the people and events around her. Her husband, Honda Taro, hurriedly left early that morning, his expression grim and frightening. Over a month ago, Honda returned home with an injured arm. He claimed it was an accidental fall, but many outside said he had been injured in a duel with a Chinese guard from the Manchurian Imperial Palace. Her husband had always considered himself a master swordsman and had never taken the Chinese seriously. Masako desperately wanted to know who had injured him. But she dared not ask; men were known for their tempers, especially during wartime, which made them even more volatile.

Masako overheard her neighbors talking about how Mr. Momoki Kenjiro, the top Japanese kendo master in Xinjing, was going to duel a Chinese man today. They seemed to think the Chinese man was doomed, and that Colonel Momoki's actions were beneath his dignity. Masako wondered if this Chinese man was the palace guard who had injured her husband. This thought made her a little worried for Honda Taro, but then she realized it was unnecessary; after all, it wasn't Honda who was going to fight!

Just then, Yako seemed to hear a sound outside the window. Before she could turn around, a cold wind swept past her, and a few drops of blood dripped from the ivory in front of her. She looked up and saw a strange man standing opposite her. He was pale and very handsome, even somewhat refined, but now his face had an almost ferocious expression, especially his bloodshot eyes, which shone with a beast-like light. His clothes were almost completely torn, hanging in strips on his body, and his body was covered in bloodstains, whether his own or someone else's, was unclear. His left thigh was injured, bound with a bandage, which was clearly torn from his clothes and was still slowly seeping blood.

"Are you Honda Taro's woman?" The man's voice was slightly hoarse, with a suppressed tone. Masako was stunned by the sudden appearance of the man and nodded almost instinctively. Then, she came to her senses and instinctively opened her mouth to scream. The man opposite her suddenly extended his right hand. They weren't close to begin with, but the moment he reached out, his middle finger was already at Masako's chest. Masako felt a numbness in her chest, which then spread throughout her body. She couldn't make a sound, and even her limbs were immobilized.

Masako was unable to move or speak, but she could still see. After the man subdued her, he searched the room and soon found paper and pen. He then began to write on the low table in front of her, stroke by stroke. Masako could see the contents of the paper out of the corner of her eye. The man was writing in Chinese characters: "Honda Taro: You killed my family, so I have also abducted your woman. If you want to get her back, please come to Luanshi Mountain, 100 li southeast of Xinjing City, alone in ten days. If you bring someone else or do not come, then in ten days I will strip her naked and hang her on the city gate of Xinjing, with 'Wife of the Japanese Pirate Honda' written on the left and 'For the enjoyment of the whole city of Changchun' written on the right."

The man didn't leave immediately after writing the note; instead, he went back to the kitchen, seemingly to gather a lot of provisions. Once everything was ready, he picked up Yako, hoisted her onto his shoulder, and jumped out the window. Yako could speak Chinese and read Chinese characters; when she saw the contents of the note, she was utterly horrified! It seemed this man was Chinese, her husband's enemy, and had come for revenge. But such methods were far too insidious! Too cruel! She now only hoped her husband could rescue her as soon as possible.

Carried on the man's shoulder, Masako felt as if she were floating on clouds. She couldn't understand how someone with an injured thigh could leap and dart across the rooftops like a bird, barely making a sound. Several times, Masako saw patrolling soldiers, but the man always managed to avoid them. Snowflakes began to fall, and the north wind grew particularly biting. Masako didn't know how this man had gotten out of the new capital city, because she had already fainted.

When Masako awoke, she found herself lying in a small cave, with a layer of dry grass beneath her—the kind of grass the Manchus called "wula grass." She realized she was completely naked and instinctively covered her chest with her hands, feeling a chill run through her, yet also a surge of warmth. Looking ahead, she saw a roaring fire burning near the cave entrance, and through the firelight, she could see the man outside.

The man knelt naked in the snow, rubbing his body with clumps of snow. His skin was very pale; were it not for the well-defined, muscular physique that suggested his robust build, one might easily mistake him for a frail scholar. He rubbed the snow against his body and the numerous wounds, large and small, until his skin was slightly red, radiating warmth in the snow, as if enveloped in wisps of white mist. After cleaning himself, he picked up a small porcelain bottle, poured some powdered medicine onto two wounds on his thighs—gunshot wounds, apparently from bullets piercing his legs. These appeared to be the most severe injuries he had sustained.

Masako saw the man's thighs and also his lower body. His genitals, wiped with snowflakes, stood erect in the air, appearing exceptionally imposing. Masako lowered her head, unable to look any longer. Masako moved slightly, causing the dry grass beneath her to rustle softly. The man outside the cave, with keen senses, immediately rose and strode in.

The footsteps grew closer, and Masako dared not look up, unsure of what awaited her. The man's feet were planted in front of her, and she felt her hair being grabbed and lifted by a hand, forcing her to tilt her head back to face his abdomen. She looked up and met his gaze, which was filled with a complex mix of emotions—confusion, pain, and hatred! She heard him say, "Are you still waiting for Honda to come and save you? I'm telling you, you won't have that chance. I will kill you with my own hands, just as he killed my family, I swear!"

Masako opened her mouth to say "No...", but the hand that was grabbing her hair pressed down hard, a force she couldn't break free from. The man's penis entered her open mouth, almost blocking her throat, and she could only make muffled, indistinct sounds.

...

For several days, Masako endured this humiliation. She fully felt the man's hatred, and also his powerful physique. At first, she didn't know how long she could endure it; perhaps not even a day. But after a few days, a strange feeling arose, a feeling stemming from the strange man. He exuded power; if he wanted to crush Masako, it would be as easy as crushing an ant. Yet, so far, he hadn't shown any intention of harming her—except for their daily physical intercourse. Each time he forced her into intercourse, a glint of wildness flashed in his eyes, just as it had when she first met him. His movements were intense, seemingly venting a powerful hatred, but his gaze wasn't directed at her. His eyes always looked into a blank, empty void, and after each release of his desire, his expression would become calm, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

If this man only wanted a woman's body, Masako wasn't afraid, or rather, she could tolerate it. His behavior was an invasion of a woman's rights, but it was still somewhat normal, at least much more normal than her husband, Honda Taro. At least this man wasn't so perverted, unlike her husband who would always come up with all sorts of unbearable sexual ideas after drinking. War had driven many people to the brink of madness, but some things weren't caused by war. She had asked the Japanese housewives she knew, and their experiences in their married lives were mostly the same, whether during wartime or in the peacetime before. Time passed, and Masako noticed that the man's gaze towards her was becoming increasingly calm, but when he looked towards the snowy plain outside the cave entrance, the hatred in his eyes grew stronger.

...

Honda found the place one night, nine days later. That night, just like the previous days, the man was still on top of her, but the vigorous movements suddenly stopped, and he withdrew from her body. Masako didn't know what had happened; she only saw the man press his ear to the ground and listen for a while, then he picked up his sword and disappeared out of the cave.

Honda easily found the cave where she was hiding in the rocky mountain; the blazing fire at the cave entrance was the best guide. Honda didn't come alone, but with seven others. This was a great humiliation for a samurai like Honda Taro; he didn't want others to know, but he had also witnessed that person's methods and dared not face her alone. So, after much consideration, he called upon his fellow disciples and five of his closest disciples. These people stealthily approached the cave, set up an ambush, and surrounded it. The cave wasn't large; almost everything inside could be seen from the outside. Only Masako was inside; no one else was there. In the end, only Honda entered the cave.

After the man suddenly left the cave, Masako didn't know what had happened. A short while later, someone entered the cave, and in the firelight, it was her husband, Honda. Masako was about to call out when she heard several screams almost simultaneously outside the cave. The screams were short and abrupt, five in total, interspersed with two hasty gunshots. Honda, who had been cautiously approaching the cave, suddenly turned around upon hearing the gunshots. A figure carrying a sword appeared at the cave entrance—it was the man who had left not long ago.

The man didn't speak, only letting out a low, beast-like growl as he thrust his sword at Honda. At such close range, it was impossible to aim with a gun, but thankfully Honda had been carrying his katana cautiously since entering the cave, and now he could only parry. All of this happened in a very short time; at least, Masako hadn't had a chance to make a sound. Only a series of rapid clashing sounds filled the air, accompanied by a shower of sparks.

Honda was clearly unable to withstand the man's fierce onslaught, retreating step by step to the deepest part of the cave, even backing up behind Masako, who was lying on the ground, her back against the cave wall. The man, sword in hand, pressed forward, now standing in front of Masako. It was a strange scene: a man with a sword had cornered a man with a knife at the end of the cave, and between the two men lay a naked woman, her mouth agape, her face filled with terror.

Honda was clearly at a disadvantage, but the man was also struggling. Lying on the ground, Masako saw that the wound on the man's left leg had reopened, blood flowing down to the ground, and Honda's sword strikes were almost certainly aimed at his opponent's left leg. During the fight, the man noticed Honda suddenly smile strangely, sheath his sword, and dodge to the side, leaving a large opening behind him. In a duel between experts, such an opening is a fatal mistake; how could Honda make such a blunder? The sword-wielding man didn't pursue, but also dodged to the other side. In that split second, a gunshot rang out, the bullet striking the cave wall where the two had just fought, sending up a spray of stone dust.

Masako looked up and saw another person appear at the cave entrance. This person was Honda Taro's junior apprentice and one of Honda's best friends. He was now standing steadily at the cave entrance, holding a gun, and was quickly cocking it again. In the narrow cave, this person had no way to avoid the man with the sword. It seemed that he hadn't eliminated all the ambushes outside the cave, at least he had missed this gunman. Just when Masako thought the man was doomed, something unexpected happened. A golden light flew past and pierced the gunman's chest at the cave entrance. The gunman screamed and fell to the ground with a spray of blood from his chest—it turned out that the man had knelt down and thrown his sword, killing the attacker at the cave entrance with a flying sword.

Everything happened so suddenly. The man was no longer holding his sword, and Honda Taro shouted as he stepped forward, thrusting his blade straight at him. The man dodged the gunman's first shot, but he couldn't possibly avoid Honda's deadly second strike. At that moment, Masako suddenly felt her body lighten as the man lifted her up and held her in front of him—her bare breasts were directly facing the tip of Honda's thrusting blade.

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(Young Master Xu: Hehehe! "Ghost Stocks" has finally made it onto the cover of the supernatural section! Thank you all for your support! It's a pity it hasn't made it onto the weekly charts yet; it's far behind on the recommendation charts and a little behind on the click charts. I hope those who like this book will help promote and recommend it. I'll be busy updating while bowing in gratitude!)

Part Four: A Pair of Chopsticks, Chapter 32: Sixty Years in the Flash

Masako opened her mouth to shout "No!", but the man's left hand gripped her neck, rendering her weak and unable to utter a sound. She could only stare at Honda with terrified and pleading eyes. Honda saw Masako's gaze, but his eyes showed no hesitation; instead, they gained a touch of ruthlessness. His knife thrust forward even faster than before. Honda gritted his teeth, the blade piercing below Masako's left breast. There seemed to be a pause, not because Honda had softened, but because Masako's ribs had caught the blade.

Honda tightened his wrist, seemingly hearing the soft crack of bone breaking. The blade tip pierced through the man's body, aimed straight at him, its momentum seemingly intent on pinning him to the ground. Honda felt the blade strike the man's body, but despite all his strength, he couldn't push the blade forward even an inch. Masako's body had blocked Honda's attack, albeit for a fleeting moment, but for a master, that instant could determine many things. The man, just as the blade pierced his chest, extended two fingers of his right hand and caught the tip. Honda felt the blade freeze in mid-air, unable to move. Then, with a crisp clang, the frozen blade suddenly released its grip. All his strength vanished, and his taut body lurched forward, the force dislocating his right arm. The blade, along with Masako's body, fell to the ground.

Honda finally got a clear look at his kneeling opponent, who was holding half a blade tip between his right index and middle fingers—what kind of strength was that? The man had actually snapped a finely forged steel sword in half with his fingers! Perhaps only in the face of life and death could one unleash such immense potential! Honda's sword was gone, and he was injured. A chill ran through him. Before the man could get up, Honda turned and ran out of the cave. Honda now had to admit that he was no match for this man; even Momoki Ken'o, the top warrior in the Xinjing army, was no match for him.

Seeing Honda Taro escape, the man got up and gave chase. With a flick of his right hand, a flash of cold light shot out, and half a blade pierced Honda's buttocks. Honda cried out in pain, but ran even faster. Just as the man reached the cave entrance, he suddenly heard a sigh-like groan—the sound of Masako lying unconscious on the ground. The man stopped, his expression hesitant. He looked at Masako inside the cave, then at Honda fleeing outside, shook his head fiercely, and turned back into the cave.

...

Masako had no idea how many days and nights she had been unconscious. The excruciating pain in her chest had numbed her; she couldn't open her eyes and couldn't tell if she was unconscious or conscious. She only felt her consciousness becoming uncontrollably blurred, trying to escape her body, but a cool sensation and a warm current alternately pulled her back to reality. It wasn't until three days and three nights later that Masako awoke and realized that the cool sensation came from the white powder in the man's porcelain bottle, while the warm current came from the man's palm pressing against her back.

When Yako woke up, she found herself in a cave again, but it wasn't the same cave as before. The man was sitting in front of her, applying medicine to her wounds, his own body bandaged with scraps of clothing. There wasn't much medicine in the porcelain bottle; the man used it all on Yako, neglecting to treat his new knife wound on his chest or the existing gunshot wound on his left leg. Yako opened her eyes and immediately felt a piercing pain in her chest, letting out a groan. The man heard her, looked up at her with a strange expression, and said calmly, "You're awake. It seems you've pulled through. Your life should be saved. The Divine Muscle Powder and my internal energy can keep you alive; how long it takes to recover depends on yourself."

"Who are you? Why?" These were the first words Masako spoke to the man.

“My name is Feng Xingzhi. I saved you because I made an oath. You should remember that I once swore to kill you with my own hands, so I can’t let you die by Honda’s knife.”

The man's reply was reluctant, but it wasn't the answer Masako wanted. She asked again, "I don't want to ask why you saved me; I want to ask why all of this happened?"

Feng Xingzhi's gaze seemed to be fixed on the distance as he said calmly, "If you want to know why, then I'll tell you my story..." (The story of Feng Xingzhi's duel with Momoki Kensuke has already been told to Feng Junzi and the others by Mr. Xiao in the previous text, so it will not be repeated here.)

Feng Xingzhi told his story for a long time, and by the time he finished, it was already dark. The firelight at the cave entrance cast flickering shadows on his face. He kept his head down, lost in thought, and Yazi looked at him silently for a long time. Finally, Feng Xingzhi spoke first: "I used you to block Honda's knife, so I owe you my life. It was only when Honda escaped that I realized I had made a mistake. My family is innocent; they shouldn't have died because of me, and neither should you. I'll take you back after you recover." After saying this, Feng Xingzhi ignored Yazi's reaction and walked out of the cave.

For the next few days, the two remained silent, barely speaking to each other. Yako was badly injured and barely had the strength to speak; even opening her mouth aggravated her chest wound. Feng Xingzhi, on the other hand, avoided eye contact with Yako, spending his days changing her dressings and applying medicine, and periodically supporting her back with his hand to channel a strange warmth. Feng Xingzhi told Yako that they were now far from Xinjing, in a place called Bingheyu, a place almost uninhabited, accessible only in winter when the mountains and rivers were frozen.

Masako's injuries were healing day by day, and she could already take a few unsteady steps. However, Kazekichi looked much more haggard than before, indicating that the daily supply of warmth to Masako was taking a heavy toll on him. The medicine powder in the porcelain bottle was used up, and Masako's injuries had improved significantly, but a new problem arose.

When Feng Xingzhi took Yazi to hide in Binghe Valley, he hadn't brought any food. For the past month, he had been fishing through the ice or occasionally hunting wild animals in the snow to feed them. However, after more than a month, the snow fell heavier and heavier, the ice on the river grew thicker and thicker, making it impossible to cut through, and the mountains and fields had lost all traces of birds and beasts. Food was dwindling, and the weather was getting colder. The two had little clothing to begin with, and what they had before was now tattered. The fire alone was no longer enough to keep them warm. Yazi was barely holding on thanks to the warmth Feng Xingzhi channeled into her body every day, while Feng Xingzhi was growing weaker and weaker. He no longer wiped his body with snow, but instead tried to sit cross-legged in a slightly warmer spot behind the fire. Most of their limited food was given to Yazi, who was recovering from her injuries. Nearly two months after the heavy snow blocked the mountain pass, an unexpected event occurred, adding insult to injury and nearly driving the two to the brink of despair.

It was dusk when Feng Xingzhi, who had been sitting cross-legged behind the fire, suddenly stood up, picked up his sword, and stood warily at the cave entrance. The entrance was now blocked; a pack of wolves surrounded the cave entrance, seemingly afraid of the fire, and hesitated to approach. Yako also noticed the danger, but Feng Xingzhi gestured for her not to go near the entrance.

There were nine wolves in total, three of which were noticeably larger. One of these three had white fur, unlike any of the other wolves, and appeared to be the leader of the pack. A man and his sword faced off across the fire, neither making a move. As darkness fell and the fire dimmed, the white wolf let out a low growl, and the pack finally launched their attack.

Two gray wolves leaped across the fire and pounced on Feng Xingzhi. Feng Xingzhi stepped forward and stabbed one wolf in the throat with his sword, simultaneously striking the other wolf in the neck with his left hand, knocking it into the fire. The smoldering branches in the fire immediately scorched the wolf's fur, and the wounded wolf let out a long, agonizing howl. The howl seemed to further fuel the pack's ferocity; three wolves charged forward side-by-side, the largest one in the center, leaping over the gray wolf in the fire towards Feng Xingzhi.

Feng Xingzhi swung his sword and stabbed the wolf on the right. His sword was accurate, striking a vital spot, from the throat to the heart in a flash. The wolf fell to the ground, unable to rise again. But in that instant, Feng Xingzhi could no longer stand still at the cave entrance. He dodged back two steps, kicked another wolf away with his right foot, and then slashed his sword at the head of the giant wolf in the middle. The sword's main power lies in thrusting; slashing movements generally do little damage. However, Feng Xingzhi's sword was extremely sharp and powerful, cutting into the giant wolf's skull. The giant wolf fell to the ground, and Feng Xingzhi used both hands to pull the sword out of the wolf's forehead. This pause gave the other wolves an opportunity to attack.

A series of howls erupted as all the remaining wolves, except for the white wolf king, pounced on Feng Xingzhi from different angles. Unable to launch a solo attack, Feng Xingzhi ducked low, turned, and unleashed a whirlwind kick. Simultaneously, he swung his arm, his sword arcing through the air as he executed a sweeping attack, encircling an area a meter or more around him. The gray wolf that had just crawled out of the fire was kicked away, flying far outside the cave with a pitiful howl. The kick had completely caved in its chest, leaving it clearly dead. Feng Xingzhi's sword also struck another gray wolf's neck, nearly cleaving it in two. Blood gushed out, and another wolf carcass fell to the ground. The other two wolves dodged, but the remaining giant wolf leaped over Feng Xingzhi's head, charging straight at Ya Zi inside the cave—something Feng Xingzhi hadn't anticipated at all.

Yako crouched on the ground, her back against the cave wall, her body curled up in a ball. The wolf lunged at her, its gray form engulfing her. Yako screamed, closing her eyes in despair. She heard a sharp clang, but the wolf didn't pounce. Opening her eyes and peeking through her fingers, she saw a sword pierce the wolf's body mid-air, the tassel still trembling. It turned out that Feng Xingzhi, seeing the wolf leap over him towards Yako, had advanced instead of retreating, stabbing one wolf to death with his sword. He then turned to avoid the attack of another wolf, throwing his sword at her. Feng Xingzhi had used his flying sword technique to save Yako from the wolf's jaws, but he was now unsteady, and the gunshot wound in his left leg, inflicted during his whirlwind kick, had reopened.

Beside Feng Xingzhi stood a wolf. Having missed its initial attack, it seized the opportunity while Feng Xingzhi was off balance and leaped at him again. Without a sword, Feng Xingzhi could only parry, raising his left arm to block. The wolf opened its mouth to bite his arm, but Feng Xingzhi suddenly stepped forward, twisting his left arm outwards to trap the wolf's head under his armpit. The wolf's sharp teeth tore a long gash in his arm, and blood immediately gushed out. The wolf struggled desperately under Feng Xingzhi's armpit, but the arm holding it was as hard as an iron clamp. Feng Xingzhi gathered his breath and snapped the wolf's neck. Before he could release his grip, he felt a sharp pain in his right chest; his healed knife wound had reopened. At that moment, he heard a deafening roar, and a huge white shadow pounced towards him—the white wolf king had finally made its move.

Feng Xingzhi, losing his footing, could no longer withstand the ferocious attack. Both man and wolf fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. The scene seemed to freeze in that instant. Feng Xingzhi lay on his back, his injured left arm pinned down by a wolf carcass, while his right arm was raised to his chest, a chokehold gripping the white wolf's throat. The massive white wolf lay on top of him, its sharp teeth bared at his throat. Feng Xingzhi's fingers could snap a steel sword, but now, exhausted from hunger and cold, wounded, and weakened by prolonged fighting, he could barely hold the wolf's throat, unable to push it away even an inch. He felt his body go limp, the wolf's mouth, emitting a foul odor, drawing ever closer to his face. Just then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ya Zi standing before him.

Yako held Feng Xingzhi's sword in both hands, the one she had just pulled from the wolf's carcass. Feng Xingzhi and the white wolf were locked in a stalemate, neither able to move. Yako, usually the weakest, had become the most powerful being in the cave. Feng Xingzhi lay on the ground, his gaze meeting Yako's. He found her looking at him too. Yako's eyes held sorrow, pity, and hatred. Feng Xingzhi watched as Yako raised her sword. He closed his eyes; this strike could kill the white wolf, but it could also pierce his weakened body. Finally, unable to hold on any longer, Feng Xingzhi fainted in that instant.

...

When Feng Xingzhi awoke, he found himself lying on a bed of wolf pelts, dressed in clothes sewn from wolf pelts. There were no needles or thread in the cave, but Yazi had cut small slits in the edges of the wolf pelts and then threaded them together with very thin strips of leather, creating simple clothing. Feng Xingzhi tried to sit up, but felt weak and extremely dizzy. Yazi, unaware that he was awake, remained sitting by the fire at the cave entrance, roasting wolf meat, also dressed in the wolf pelt clothes. Feng Xingzhi's Heavenly Heart Sword was now in Yazi's hand; this incomparably sharp ancient sword was no longer a weapon of death, but had become an iron skewer for roasting wolf meat.

Feng Xingzhi was truly ill this time, suffering from a high fever for several days. There was no medicine in the cave, and Yazi kept applying snowballs to his forehead. Feng Xingzhi pulled through thanks to his strong physique and profound internal strength, and of course, he also had to thank the wolf pelts and meat left behind by the pack of wolves for their warmth and sustenance. Life is truly strange; Feng Xingzhi and Yazi had almost perished in the wolf's jaws, but in the end, it was this same pack of wolves that helped them survive the snow-covered winter. The wolves were the ones who wanted to eat them, but in the end, it was also these wolves who saved them.

Three months later, it was early spring. The weather was still cold, but the snow in the mountains had begun to melt. Feng Xingzhi and Yazi had almost fully recovered from their injuries. They remained silent. Feng Xingzhi tried several times to find an opportunity to say something to Yazi, but he always found it difficult to speak. Although Yazi didn't talk much, her expression had gradually become more peaceful. Besides handing Feng Xingzhi roasted wolf meat every day, she would occasionally take the torn parts of his clothes to have them mended. Although they were silent, a strange tacit understanding had developed between them.

But they had to leave; the ice and snow had begun to melt, and if the glacier thawed, they wouldn't be able to leave the valley. Shortly before leaving, Feng Xingzhi discovered a hot spring in the valley, not far behind the mountain where the cave entrance was located, and returned to tell Yazi. Yazi was overjoyed and insisted on taking a bath before leaving. She had loved hot springs since childhood and hadn't bathed in months. Over these past few months, Feng Xingzhi's beard and hair had grown wild and unruly; the two men in wolf skins looked like mountain savages, and Feng Xingzhi also felt he should give himself a good grooming.

Feng Xingzhi, sword in hand, accompanied Yazi to the hot spring. Yazi removed her wolfskin coat and entered the spring naked. Feng Xingzhi stood guard by the spring with his back to her, shaving with his sword. Birds chirped in the valley, sunlight shone on the snow, creating a pure white scene. The sky was a deep blue, and even the wind seemed gentle. Yazi had been soaking in the hot spring for a long time, but Feng Xingzhi was in no hurry, simply sitting there quietly waiting. Then he heard Yazi's voice behind him: "Master Feng, aren't you going to come down and wash? I'll help you scrub the dirt off your back."

Masako's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to echo through the valley in Feng Xingzhi's ears. He was unaware that the hot springs in Masako's hometown had a custom of mixed-gender bathing, and hearing her words, he felt a pang of shame. In fact, when he first kidnapped Masako, he had repeatedly violated her body, but now he felt inexplicably embarrassed. Feng Xingzhi remained silent, removed his wolf skin, and turned to enter the hot spring.

The hot spring in the snow emitted billowing white steam. It took Feng Xingzhi a while to adjust to the scene before him before he saw Yako sitting opposite him. Yako had washed away the grime, her long hair still wet and draped over her shoulders. Her white skin was slightly flushed from soaking in the hot spring, giving it a delicate pinkish glow. This was the first time Feng Xingzhi had observed Yako so closely. He noticed that Yako's features were beautiful, and her full breasts were half-floating on the surface of the water. With the gentle ripples on the water, small waves spread across her cleavage, and a pair of alluring nipples were faintly visible in the mist.

Feng Xingzhi was momentarily stunned, his gaze fixed, his body subtly reacting with desire. A strange connection seemed to exist between them; as Feng Xingzhi's body reacted, Yazi's face flushed. Yazi didn't speak, but took a deep breath, stood up from the waist-deep hot spring, and walked towards Feng Xingzhi with open arms. Everything happened so naturally. Feng Xingzhi, sitting in the water, embraced Yazi's waist, burying his nose in her cleavage, and Yazi's hands instinctively wrapped around the back of his head. They remained quietly embracing for five minutes, perhaps ten, until almost simultaneously, they broke the silence. Feng Xingzhi suddenly stood up from the water, forcefully lifting Yazi's waist and hips. Yazi's hands slid down from behind his head to hook around his neck, her legs wrapping around his waist, her body becoming a writhing snake…

After a long while, the two calmed down from their intense activity and sat quietly in the hot spring. Yako gently wrote words on Feng Xingzhi's chest with her finger, and asked as she wrote, "Master Feng, you swore to kill me with your own hands. Has that vow changed now?"

Feng Xingzhi: "The oath I, Feng, have made will never change, so I will still kill you with my own hands. But the timing is uncertain. Maybe I can do it when you are on your deathbed in a few decades."

Masako sighed softly: "There can't be decades left. Honda will definitely kill me when I go back. Actually, I already knew he wasn't there to save me in the cave that day. He wanted to kill both you and me at the same time."

...

In a guest room at the Bingyu Hotel in the Bingheyu Scenic Area, Feng Junzi recounted the story of Feng Xingzhi and Ya Zi from sixty years ago to Tao Muling. When he talked about the scene in the hot spring, Feng Junzi couldn't help but sigh: "Life is unpredictable, and fate is fickle. I never thought that Ya Zi would eventually die at the hands of Feng Xingzhi."

Hearing this, Momoki Rin couldn't help but ask, "What happened to them after they left the Glacier Valley? Didn't Honda Taro try to kill Masako?"

Feng Junzi: "No, after Masako returned, Honda Taro had already died in the Pacific War, and Momoki Kenjiro was transferred to the coastal port of Pingyou for garrison duty. In those war-torn times, no one paid attention to a woman like Masako. She first returned to her parents' home, and when she went to Xinjing, no one asked her where she had been for the past few months—Honda Taro had always said that his wife had gone back to her parents' home for a short stay."

Momoko Rin, still wanting more, pressed on, "Did they meet again later? How did Masako die at the hands of Kazekage?"

Feng Junzi: "Of course we meet again, but that's another story. I'll tell you about it slowly later. It's almost dawn now, we should get some sleep. We're going out to play today." After saying that, he lay down on the bed fully clothed and closed his eyes. Tao Muling looked at the sky outside the window and also lay down on the other bed.

Part 4: A Pair of Chopsticks, Chapter 33: The Fallen Shadow of the Immortal Sword and the Memories of the Heroes

Before updating, let me answer a few questions.

Having read around chapter 20 of the fourth part, why did the author have to subject such an innocent girl like Lin Zhenzhen to such harm? I strongly protest! I hope the author can find time to revise some of the very unpleasant chapters next time. (Pighead A <7-26 00:29>)

A: I didn't want Lin Zhenzhen to get hurt either, but there was no other way. The writing had reached that point, so I had to grit my teeth and write it that way. Actually, sometimes the fate of the characters in a story isn't entirely in the author's hands. Plot, characters, setting, and logic are an integrated whole.

It seems like the story's content doesn't have much to do with those chopsticks, even though it's a thread running through the whole text. I wonder if Mr. Xu deliberately buried this thread so deep, or if he wanted to bring it back to the main theme at the end? (Qi Tun Tian Qi <7-26 15:08>)

A: Those chopsticks are an important clue and also an important "prop," almost as important as half the main character! Keep reading and you'll find out; I'll leave you with a little suspense for now.

This is truly a good book, but Lin Zhenzhen is a strong girl; she probably wouldn't just give in obediently. There should be fighting and struggle... The author should have written it in more detail. (Crazy Beauty <7-26 16:22>)

A: According to the plot in the text, Lin Zhenzhen's humiliation was not an accidental encounter with thugs, but rather coerced by a "successful person." Resistance would certainly occur, but logically, it shouldn't be as you described.

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On the morning of May 1st, when Feng Junzi and Taomuling set off, the sun was already high in the sky. They took a boat to the entrance of the valley between the east and west sections of Binghe Valley, completed the horse rental procedures at the scenic area management office, and rode towards the west section. May is the best time of year in the mountains, with lush greenery everywhere, dotted with colorful wildflowers of unknown species. The streams were shallow, only knee-deep, perfect for horseback riding, or one could walk along the riverbanks in the valley. The two strolled along, enjoying the scenery, and before they knew it, they had traveled quite a distance. There were fewer and fewer tourists on the road, but Taomuling's enthusiasm remained high, urging her horse straight into the depths of the valley.

As the terrain rose higher, the mountain streams grew shallower and became increasingly intermittent, and no other tourists could be seen. Feng Junzi called to Tao Muling to dismount and rest. The two tied their horses to a tree at the foot of the mountain and walked a distance up the hillside to sit down under a large rock, chatting and drinking water. Feng Junzi picked some wildflowers nearby and wove them into a crown for Tao Muling to wear. Tao Muling was amazed by Feng Junzi's skillful craftsmanship. As the two were chatting and laughing quietly, they suddenly heard voices carried on the wind.

The voices came from the foot of the mountain not far away, and Feng Junzi could hear them clearly due to the wind direction. He recognized two voices on the wind—Xiao Yunyi and Lin Zhenzhen—he hadn't expected them to come to Binghe Valley as well. Feng Junzi put his index finger to his lips, signaling Tao Muling to be quiet. He didn't want to be seen by them under these circumstances, and he was also very interested in what they were saying because he heard his own name. Xiao Yunyi and Lin Zhenzhen walked side by side at the foot of the mountain, unaware of Feng Junzi's eavesdropping ears on the hillside.

Xiao Yunyi: "What do you think of comparing Chang Wu and Feng Junzi?"

Lin Zhenzhen: "They were classmates in middle school. They are both very good people. One is calm and generous, and the other is smart and dashing."

Xiao Yunyi: "They are all good people, and I've noticed they've all been very kind to you. If you absolutely had to make a comparison, who do you think is more outstanding?"

Lin Zhenzhen: "You can't compare people like that; everyone has their own unique characteristics."

Xiao Yunyi: "I think Chang Wu is more stable and gives people a sense of security. Feng Junzi doesn't seem to be like that. Don't you think so?"

Lin Zhenzhen sighed: "You're right. From a woman's perspective, Chang Wu can indeed give her the sense of security she needs most. Being with him makes her feel very at ease."

Xiao Yunyi seemed determined to press on this topic: "So you chose Chang Wu, and now he's your boyfriend. But there are some things you might not know. Feng Junzi has also done a lot for you. Don't you think he likes you very much too?"

Lin Zhenzhen was taken aback, then asked in return, "How do you know so much? Have you taken a liking to that kid? If you're too shy to say it, I can help you."

Xiao Yunyi: "That's not what I meant. I just wanted to know what you were thinking. Actually, Chang Wu is more down-to-earth, unlike Feng Junzi who's so frivolous. You don't know, do you? Feng Junzi brought a Japanese woman home, and they've been living together for a month."

As soon as Xiao Yunyi spoke, both Lin Zhenzhen beside her and Feng Junzi on the hillside were taken aback. Lin Zhenzhen was surprised because it was the first time she had heard of this matter, while Feng Junzi was surprised because Xiao Yunyi had told Lin Zhenzhen about it at this particular time and place, and he wondered what the girl was thinking. Lin Zhenzhen asked in surprise, "That's impossible. Feng Junzi doesn't seem like that kind of person. Besides, why didn't he tell me?"

Xiao Yunyi: "What is your relationship with him? Why do you have to tell me everything? Of course it's true. Of the five of us who came together, only you don't know. If you don't believe me, ask Chang Wu and the others."

The two had walked far away, their voices fading into the distance. Feng Junzi sighed, a strange sense of loss welling up inside him. He turned his head and saw Tao Muling, who was looking at him with a strange, ambiguous expression. A little embarrassed, Feng Junzi asked, "What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Peach Bell: "You seem a little disappointed. That girl likes your friend, not you. Actually, you like her a little too, don't you?"

Feng Junzi: "Actually, that may not be the case. I do have a good impression of her, but not to that extent."

Peach Bell: "No matter what your feelings are for that girl, it has nothing to do with whether you're disappointed or not. As a man, you don't want to be outshone by someone before you've even made it onto the stage. Maybe that's just vanity. But don't be too disappointed, another girl seems to be very interested in you."

Feng Junzi: "What did you say? That girl! She's interested in me? How could that be? She was clearly belittling me just now."

Peach Bell: "Don't forget what I do. I can't be wrong about this kind of thinking. She sees that girl as a potential rival, which is why she uses another man who can resolve the conflict to belittle you. Which of those two girls do you actually like? Don't lie to me. You should know me. You can't lie to me."

Tao Muling's words stunned Feng Junzi. He thought to himself: If Lin Zhenzhen had truly chosen between him and Chang Wu, then Chang Wu was undoubtedly more suitable. After experiencing a painful past, Chang Wu could indeed provide her with a greater sense of security. Was his disappointment due to this? Then who was the person in his heart? Or did such a person even exist? Thinking this, he looked up at Tao Muling and asked, "Aren't you often able to see through people's hearts? Then look into my eyes, tell me, who am I thinking about?"

Tao Muling met Feng Junzi's somewhat deep gaze, and for some reason, she felt a little flustered, her mind momentarily blank. She saw that Feng Junzi's pupils seemed very large, and within them was a human face—it was herself—this was, of course, due to the reflection of light. Tao Muling blushed and lowered her head.