Chen Ping's Sword

Chen Ping returned to the south of the city again.

In the mansion of the scholar who traveled to the capital for exams, rented cheaply out of kindness.

Since Chang Sansi died, there were no longer any disciples of Cyan Hall Incense Hall watching here.

Presumably, they also knew that with the martial force of Chen Ping and others, even if they kept a close watch day and night, they wouldn’t dare to arrest them. If they did, it would be seeking death.

As expected, it was cold and deserted here, new leaves replacing old ones on the trees, a circle of fallen leaves not cleaned by anyone.

Chen Ping entered the courtyard, looking at the furniture and arrangements once cleaned and organized by the five of them, now covered in dust, while the kitchen still exuded a breath of life.

He thought again of how Zuo Duanshou had passed away in the Yellow Springs, Hua Lian’er was nowhere to be seen, and Little Stool had been tortured to death.

He stood in the courtyard, silent for a moment.

Little Table had calmed his emotions by now, but he was still holding his own brother in a daze, not reacting even after entering the courtyard.

Chen Ping sighed secretly.

Knowing that this person was originally a scholar, even if accustomed to a wandering life, he was not used to the storms of the Jianghu.

Today’s events had a considerable impact on him.

No matter how much he is comforted, he would not forget that kind of despair... he actually wasn’t a person from Jianghu to begin with, so how could he adapt to Jianghu?

But ironically, leaving the academy, leaving his parents, once he stepped out, it was already Jianghu.

"Zuo Duanshou has also died, hasn’t he?" Little Table sighed for a moment, knowing it wasn’t the time for sorrow and sentimentality, he composed himself, eyes slightly red, and asked.

"Yes, he fought Zhuang Hongyi to the death, finally rescuing his little sister, but was too seriously injured and died untreated."

"To seek benevolence and obtain benevolence, Zuo Duanshou probably wouldn’t blame Seventh Brother for not protecting him. Seventh Brother shouldn’t blame himself," Little Table suddenly said:

"We are actually just burdens. These days, everyone knows, it’s you who held up a piece of the sky, allowing us to live with dignity. But, to continue like this, it’s not feasible."

"You can’t say that." Chen Ping shook his head.

He had just arrived, unfamiliar with anyone, and it’s a happy thing to gain a few genuinely trustworthy companions.

It’s not possible to judge someone’s usefulness based on ability or contribution, rather it’s about supporting each other, struggling to survive...

Little Table seemed to be talking to himself.

"A dragon does not live with a snake. Seventh Brother was born to fly in the sky like a Divine Dragon. Together with us, sooner or later, it will be step-by-step shackles, held by someone’s weaknesses, unable to display abilities."

"This time I’ve seen it clearly, when Seventh Brother did not return that night, we should have heeded Hua Lian’er’s advice and immediately dispersed and hid, changed our appearance, and didn’t linger on Brocade Street...

Although Hua Lian’er didn’t know martial arts, she had a keen sense of danger...

Before dawn, she left quietly alone, while we lingered for stability, not wanting to venture out on a risky journey..."

Little Table’s face looked bitter, almost shedding tears again.

Presumably very regretful, very regretful.

In the mansion near Yuanfeng Pier on North Street, they both didn’t quite believe that Tan Sihai would harbor malicious intent and attack under the cover of night.

As it turned out, later they heard on the street.

That mansion was surrounded and attacked by Dong Jinzhong and Tan Sihai, almost turning it into flat ground.

It can only be said that the treacherousness of Jianghu, the brothers never adapted to, and will never adapt.

Not as indifferent as Zuo Duanshou, ready to put his life on the line at any time.

Not as decisive as Hua Lian’er, ready to flee at the slightest disturbance.

"Stop talking, time is precious, while the enemy hasn’t caught up yet, let’s lay Little Stool to rest and leave the city as soon as possible."

Chen Ping said in a deep voice.

Regarding Zuo Duanshou, because he was concerned about several other companions, Chen Ping didn’t delay much and didn’t bury him.

Considering that Zuo Duanshou died cooperating with the government to rescue people, someone should handle the aftermath, he temporarily let it go, leaving everything to Chief Constable Zhuo Yunfei.

However, for Little Stool, he couldn’t just ignore him.

The owner of this house, traveling to the capital for exams, miles away, very possibly will not return; even if they do, they wouldn’t necessarily care about a body once buried here... so, Chen Ping planned to bury Little Stool in the courtyard, as a resting place.

With great strength, he casually wielded a spade, and in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he dug a rectangular pit.

Placed Little Stool down, then covered him with earth, and spread dust over it, and it no longer looked like a place where an ordinary scholar, who lived like a wild weed and died without a name, had been buried.

"Will they... catch up?"

Little Table’s body trembled.

"Yes, did you notice those Hu People, could have killed you but didn’t, they deliberately let you suffer slowly... and allowed the surrounding people to watch like a drama."

"They did it on purpose, are they trying to lure you?"

At this point, Little Table’s mind slowly became clear, no longer in a daze like before.

"Lure me? I’m just a wanderer, what’s there to lure them with? Their real intention is for me to rescue you, then find Hua Lian’er... to be precise, Hua Lian’er is their real target."

Chen Ping kept a thought to himself that those Hu People could not have expected him to be so skilled, that he didn’t rush to rescue his companions, but instead killed fiercely.

Playing the part so seriously, they got pulled in themselves.

Moreover, Chen Ping was sure his identity hadn’t been exposed, so these Hu People definitely weren’t acting for him.

So, the only explanation is Hua Lian’er.

Her identity, in certain timings or scenarios, could have a huge impact.

Even making those Hu experts go to great lengths to capture her.

The secret behind it, is not as simple as Hua Lian’er thinking it’s sibling rivalry.

Perhaps, those targeting her are not only her own brothers but also external enemies.

Even, targeting her is not because they want to harm her, but to achieve some pre-determined goal.

That’s all there is to it.

The matter is too complicated.

Chen Ping couldn’t see clearly for now.

Yet, step by step.

The enemy’s scheme was, in fact, an open conspiracy.

Even knowing it was a trap, he had no choice but to fall into it.

Because Chen Ping knew that if he didn’t search for Hua Lian’er and they unleashed their influence, sending out people to scour the area...

No matter what, Hua Lian’er, a little girl without self-defense means, could not cope with it.

She might hide for one or two days, but could she hide for ten or half a month, forever?

Seeing the hesitation and fear on Little Table’s face, Chen Ping sighed, "After I leave, try to change your appearance and don’t show up in public anymore.

As long as they find traces of me and Hua Lian’er, they won’t care about you anymore because there’s no value in capturing you again."

So sometimes, having value is a good thing.

But more often, having value is a misfortune.

Little Table didn’t say it, but Chen Ping knew that actually, this person didn’t like an unstable life.

In the past, dreaming of wealth and prominence was just a naive aspiration.

Who wouldn’t want to live peacefully?

"Seventh Brother, take care."

Little Table didn’t say more.

Just nodded heavily.

He knew that protecting one person was already very difficult for Seventh Brother.

No matter what, he couldn’t be a burden anymore.

As long as he wasn’t caught and didn’t become a bargaining chip in the enemy’s hands, that was a tremendous help.

"You too must live well with Hua Lian’er."

After saying this, Little Table covered his face, dared not look any longer, and returned inside, hiding in the shadows.

At this moment, he didn’t want to escape anymore.

He knew that Seventh Brother’s path would be fraught with bloodshed, so no one would have the mind to pay attention to him again.

...

Chen Ping looked back, deeply at the courtyard he had lived in for many days.

Feeling countless eerie glances sweeping across the street.

Some were shadowing him furtively.

He snorted coldly, slipping into an alley, not altering his form, heading straight to the city’s north.

’Hua Lian’er is also nostalgic; her biggest difference from Little Table and Little Stool is her heightened sense of insecurity, always feeling as if someone is out to harm her.’

Therefore, she would never walk under the open sky at this moment, a risk she would never willingly take.

’So, where could make her feel safe and allow her to reminisce the past?’

A thought sparked in Chen Ping’s mind.

He recalled something else.

On the Lantern Festival Night, Hua Lian’er once discontentedly told him, "These lanterns, ribbons, and peach talismans took me a lot of effort to choose, and now they’re gone just as I’d put them up."

As she spoke, her eyes were filled with regret and reluctance.

Rarely had she the chance to decorate a home herself, only to leave it reluctantly.

Always on the road, never stopping.

"If there’s a place where she feels safe and I can find it, it has to be there, because only I know her reluctance."

With this thought, as Chen Ping reached the North of the city, he slipped into an alley, his form crackling and shrinking slightly.

In a nearby wall hole, he retrieved a straw hat and grey clothes he had placed there beforehand, quickly transforming into an inconspicuous, ordinary farmer.

Stealthily, he made his way back to Fireworks Alley.

Here, the noise had faded.

No Hu People, no Jianghu People.

Even the ordinary folk who heard news and came to see the excitement were scarcely seen.

Returning to the previous tranquillity.

As if the previous bloody slaughter had never happened.

Chen Ping slowly walked through the alley, stopping under a crooked tree...

Seeing no one around, pretending to sit and wipe his sweat, he lifted a stone slab covered in moss underfoot, slipped inside like a snake.

Covered the stone slab again, moving forward in the dark, bent over.

The tunnel had no light.

But Chen Ping didn’t need any.

His physique was incredibly strong now, his five organs strengthening three of them.

From the air’s flow and the wind sound his body stirred, he could sense the walls around him.

Could sense where there were pits, where stones blocked the way.

The tunnel was irregular, uneven with earth and stones, winding. Yet Chen Ping moved without a scratch, as if walking a smooth highway under broad daylight, turning a few corners before stopping.

His heavy heart suddenly thumped excitedly.

He suddenly realized he was truly worried, worried that he’d reach the tunnel’s end not to see the silhouette of that person.