Chapter Thirteen: Target of All
On a certain street, the rain fell in a gentle, persistent drizzle.
Thunder echoed after each lightning flash, and raindrops, like pearls, scattered onto rooftops, trees, and glass windows, producing a lively patter...
The road was eerily deserted, empty and silent. Every household’s doors and windows were firmly shut.
At this moment, within a narrow alley, a chill suddenly surged forth. A man dressed in flowing white robes emerged, stepping out with icy lotuses blooming beneath his feet.
As the rain touched him, it instantly turned to mist, merging into a cold aura that clung to the man’s form.
He paused at the steps before a doorway, his profound gaze fixed on the main estate of the Qi family, as if searching for something within.
A sudden thunderclap split the air. From inside, a towering man radiating an aura of relentless slaughter strode out, dragging a blood-red greatsword behind him. He seemed to have just emerged from the depths of hell itself, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.
“Senior Wang Sheng!”
At the sound of the piercing sword’s hum, the man in white’s expression changed slightly. He quickly walked out of the alley and respectfully bowed to the massive figure before him.
“Shui Yi, you’re as swift as ever!” Wang Sheng ignored the rain falling from the sky, stopping in his tracks. He gazed steadfastly at the sword in his hand and murmured to himself.
Fresh blood, washed clean by the rain, shone with a sharp brilliance. Wang Sheng swung the sword a few times before sheathing it across his back.
Looking at the man in white before him, Wang Sheng’s expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this.
“A trivial skirmish, hardly worth mentioning!” Shui Yi shook his head, speaking with unwavering resolve.
His eyes were filled with unconcealed admiration as he looked at Wang Sheng, who remained calm as ever. Shui Yi knew that Qi Yulang, a third-tier master of Void Meditation, had surely fallen to Wang Sheng’s blade. If not for this, Shui Yi himself would never have dared to act so freely.
“By the way, I didn’t kill Yu Ze. Apologies!” Shui Yi continued.
Perhaps out of sentiment, Shui Yi had ultimately shown mercy; otherwise, he would not have been delayed for so long earlier.
“It seems your hatred has been gradually buried by time,” Wang Sheng remarked with a nod, his tone indifferent.
“No, when you sought me out, that part of my memory awakened. It is indelible,” Shui Yi replied, shaking his head again with a grave expression.
Wang Sheng nodded. Though he only knew fragments of Shui Yi’s background, he understood that the depth of his enmity justified the annihilation of an entire clan. Being able to kill those who deserved it without succumbing to madness, maintaining such equanimity, was rare. Wang Sheng couldn’t help but gaze at Shui Yi with admiration.
“You are no longer the bullied Kuang Zhen. Congratulations, you are free now!” Wang Sheng patted Shui Yi’s shoulder before passing by him.
“Free?” Shui Yi turned, his gaze somewhat dazed as he watched Wang Sheng depart...
“Perhaps it’s time to pursue my own path!”
After a long moment, Shui Yi nodded and walked away in the opposite direction.
...
Outside Han Cheng Gate.
Amidst the bustling crowd, three figures of varying heights paused, each holding an umbrella.
“Tianming, this is the place where the Heavenly Sword Sect holds its annual registration!” The young man in the center lifted his head, pointing ahead as he spoke to the tall figure beside him.
“Then let’s go in!” Tianming folded his umbrella and addressed his two companions.
After more than an hour’s journey, Tianming and Leng Yuansheng had finally arrived in the Han Cheng district...
Chang’an City was enormous, Tianming mused; by his estimation, it could rival one of the provinces on Earth.
“Stop right there. If you want to enter, pay the fee—one hundred gold coins per person!”
As Tianming led the way, the guards on either side crossed their spears, instantly blocking the entrance, which was only wide enough for two people.
“What... There’s a fee to register?” Tianming turned in confusion to look at Leng Yuansheng and the others.
“Where did this country bumpkin come from, dressed so well yet so clueless!”
“Exactly, doesn’t even know the basics.”
“Hey, kid, if you don’t have money, stop taking up space!”
Seeing Tianming dressed in fine clothes, the people queuing behind Leng Yuansheng began to chatter, some even mocking him outright.
...
Leng Zhide lowered his head, embarrassed.
“Sigh!”
Leng Yuansheng rubbed his forehead, disappointed. He had assumed Tianming understood and hadn’t mentioned it, but now their ignorance was laid bare.
He took Leng Zhide’s hand and turned to Tianming.
“Tianming, don’t mind it. Every sect charges a registration fee for new disciples—it just varies from one to another. But in truth, the Heavenly Sword Sect is among the fairest.” Seeing Tianming’s puzzled look, Leng Yuansheng awkwardly explained.
“I see.” Tianming nodded. Perhaps this was an opportunity for business.
While Tianming was pleased to learn something new about this continent, the two guards at the entrance grew impatient.
...
Thump, thump...
“Enough with the chatter. Are you going in or not? If not, get lost and stop wasting everyone’s time.” One of the guards tapped the ground with the butt of his spear, glaring with impatience.
Perhaps because Tianming looked young, his tone was sharp and unkind.
“Could you please inform someone inside that Tianming has arrived?” Tianming replied calmly, unbothered by their words.
After all, it was his own fault, so Tianming didn’t make a fuss, deciding to wait for Brother Pei to arrive.
“Tianming? I’ll believe that tomorrow. Either pay up or leave; we only collect fees, not messages. If you know someone inside, send word yourself.” The guards’ faces were stern, their weapons blocking the entrance with icy disdain, unmistakably mocking.
“Forget it, then...” Tianming decided not to stir up trouble, knowing he was in the wrong.
“Wait!” Just as Tianming was about to step aside, Leng Yuansheng quickly interrupted.
“Don’t you know he’s a friend of Senior Wang Sheng? Even your inner disciples call him brother. Who do you think you are, treating him so rudely?”
Seeing Tianming subjected to such contempt, Leng Yuansheng couldn’t bear it and rebuked the guards.
...
As soon as Leng Yuansheng spoke, the guards and the crowd fell silent, mouths agape.
A hush fell over the scene.
Tianming sighed; without money, one could hardly move a step. Could he tell them his funds had been swallowed up by Dora?
“Silence! Do you think someone like you could even know Senior Wang Sheng?” came the angry shout of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
“Exactly, look at your cultivation level—every kind of bird flocks in a big forest.”
“Even if you do know him, it’s embarrassing you can’t muster a mere hundred gold coins.”
...
With the cultivator’s words, the crowd quickly regained their courage, joining in the ridicule without reservation.
Perhaps the distance between the north and south of the city was too great, and news had not yet spread. Wang Sheng’s recent exploits had overshadowed Tianming, so even those who recognized him were content to watch the spectacle or seize the chance to kick him while he was down.