Chapter Twenty: Killing with a Borrowed Blade

Night deepened.

Outside the city, a bonfire had already been lit.

The mountain demon lurked in the darkness, guarding silently, unmoving.

Little Yu had already gone to sleep.

“That young man in black has a temperament that despises evil as a sworn enemy. He could be called a chivalrous hero.”

Qingyuan recalled the scene of the young man in black wielding his blade earlier, pondered briefly, and said, “He can already move his vital energy and blood; he’s just one step away from forming inner strength.”

Once a martial artist condenses inner strength, he becomes a figure of note. Especially that young man in black—he seemed not yet old, but was already a prodigious talent in martial arts. Such a person among cultivators could stand alongside those at the second heaven.

Mr. Ge snapped a branch and tossed it into the fire, remarking, “He possesses great skill, yet neither joins the army nor considers defending his homeland. What use is that?”

“How do you know I won’t defend my homeland?”

Suddenly, a voice came from the forest.

The mountain demon had already sprung up, crouching on the ground with its arms pressed down, eyes fixed ahead, itching to move.

A man emerged from the woods, holding a long saber, and in his other hand, a long spear—its shaft a dull gray, its tip sharp and fierce.

It was the young man in black who not long ago had killed in the tavern.

He seemed to be wounded.

Mr. Ge glanced at him, withdrew his gaze, and casually tossed something over, saying mildly, “This is medicine for your wounds.”

The young man in black took it, but didn’t use it immediately, instead tucking it away, saying, “A superficial wound, no need for medicine… Medicine is costly, and I’ll need it later. I’ll keep it as my payment for saving you from this trouble.”

He sheathed his saber, set the spear on the ground, and said, “My name is Zhao Xu.”

Qingyuan replied, “Qingyuan.”

Mr. Ge remained silent, and the mountain demon was even more reticent.

“Seems you’re the only one glad to see me,” Zhao Xu spread his hands and looked at Mr. Ge, saying, “Old sir, you’ve misjudged me. I, Zhao Xu, am not some lackey. This time, I’m going to enlist.”

“Oh?” Mr. Ge raised an eyebrow, “Which faction?”

Zhao Xu drew his saber and wiped the blood from it, saying, “In present-day Shu, military authority is fractured. The bulk of power is held by Jiang Bojian, a smaller portion by Yan Yu, and the scattered remnants by Hu Hao, that eunuch. Hu Hao is no good—I’d never be his underling…”

He finished cleaning his saber, sheathed it, and began wiping the spear, continuing, “So I’ll join Yan Yu.”

Mr. Ge asked, “Why not Jiang Bojian, who holds most of the power?”

Qingyuan was somewhat curious, but not enough to press further.

Zhao Xu paused, then said, “Because one day, I’ll kill him.”

Mr. Ge asked, “Do you have a history with him?”

Zhao Xu nodded, “Yes, he was once my role model.”

Mr. Ge was even more surprised, “Then why do you wish to kill him?”

“Because I’m from Tianshui County,” Zhao Xu replied coldly. “Jiang Bojian is also from Tianshui. When Ge Zhan was defeated, Jiang abandoned Tianshui, retreated to Qishan, and handed Tianshui over, causing it to fall once more into the Southern Liang’s hands. Deng Yin of Southern Liang is ruthless—in order to prevent unrest in Tianshui, he nearly slaughtered the entire city.”

“I was young then, escaped the massacre, fled Tianshui, but now I can never return to my homeland.”

He snorted coldly, “The massacre was Deng Yin’s doing, but the abandonment was Jiang Bojian’s. One day, I’ll kill them both.”

Mr. Ge fell silent.

Qingyuan had never commanded troops, but he understood the situation.

“If one hesitates, chaos follows,” Qingyuan said. “Had he not abandoned Tianshui, he couldn’t have held it anyway, and would only have lost more men. Sacrificing the small to protect the greater, retreating to Qishan—strategically, it wasn’t a mistake.”

“But he still abandoned the place that raised him,” Zhao Xu retorted, his expression toward Qingyuan growing unfriendly.

Mr. Ge suddenly spoke, “But Yan Yu’s military power is limited; in matters of war, Jiang Bojian will always be the primary leader.”

“If gold exists, it won’t remain buried,” Zhao Xu replied. “If I have ability, I’ll make a mark wherever I go. If I don’t, it’s only proof my skills are lacking—I have no one else to blame.”

Qingyuan and Mr. Ge exchanged a glance, both finding the young man stubborn and determined.

After some time, Zhao Xu packed away his saber, picked up his spear, took some dry rations, and said, “Till we meet again.”

Qingyuan saw he was still heading toward Li City and asked, “Why are you going there?”

Zhao Xu replied, “Earlier, someone in the city wounded me, but I injured him badly as well. Now I’m going back to finish him off—he’s a villain, nothing good…”

Mr. Ge remarked, “If so… you may end up killing two more.”

Qingyuan glanced at Mr. Ge and understood his meaning immediately.

There’s a method called ‘using another’s blade to kill.’

He chuckled inwardly and remained silent.

Zhao Xu asked, “Two more?”

Mr. Ge nodded, “Yes.”

Zhao Xu pressed, “Who?”

Mr. Ge answered, “The magistrate of Li County, and the Wang family’s steward.”

“Why should I kill them?” Zhao Xu said. “What crimes have they committed?”

Mr. Ge shook his head, “I don’t know—perhaps they haven’t done evil. One’s an official, the other a wealthy man; maybe they win hearts, distribute porridge and rice, do good deeds, act as benefactors.”

Zhao Xu frowned, “Then why would I kill them?”

“Because the magistrate of Li County is close to the Wang family, and the steward is the uncle of that Wang scion.”

Mr. Ge explained, “The Wang scion has committed murder, arson, rape, abduction—he’s arrogant and lawless, yet remains unpunished only because these two shield him, allowing his behavior.”

“They may not commit evil themselves, but they indulge their kin?” Zhao Xu said coldly. “How is that any different from committing evil by proxy? The martial world is full of so-called famed heroes, who have a reputation for justice but always cover up their relatives’ crimes, letting them run wild. I’ve killed quite a few of those types myself—just recently I slew one such hero named Shi.”

He looked at Mr. Ge, “Once I investigate, I’ll act. But if you’re tricking me into avenging a personal feud for you, hmph…”

“It is indeed for personal revenge,” Mr. Ge said, unafraid of Zhao Xu’s fierce gaze. “But what I said is true—none of it is false. I imagine, since you’re about to enlist, you wouldn’t want the Shu you defend with your blood to be overrun by such scoundrels.”

Zhao Xu paused, nodded, then dragged his spear and headed toward Li City.

Qingyuan watched his retreating figure in silence.

“I know you’re more skilled than he is, and even that monster is stronger than him, but you won’t act easily.”

The firelight cast a dim glow on Mr. Ge’s aged face. He sighed, “Shu cannot have such vermin—at least, in my sight, it should remain clean.”

Qingyuan nodded, paused, then smiled, “There’s one thing you’re mistaken about, Mr. Ge.”

Mr. Ge asked, “What is it?”

Qingyuan laughed, “I am somewhat stronger than him, but the mountain demon is likely no match for him.”

Mr. Ge was taken aback.

The mountain demon growled, pulled off its hood, revealing a face covered in thick fur.

A tuft of white hair crowned its head, the rest black; its eyes were pale gold.

It slapped the ground angrily, clearly upset.

The mountain demon’s commotion woke little Yu.

Qingyuan frowned, “No misbehavior.”

The mountain demon scratched its head and quieted down.

Qingyuan thought for a moment, stood, and said to Mr. Ge, “I’ve barely managed to bring it under my tutelage. Since it’s troubled, let me go enlighten it.”

Mr. Ge nodded, “Don’t mind me—go on.”

Qingyuan cupped his hands and walked toward the mountain demon.

Ge Yu’er, bleary-eyed from sleep, found it amusing and struggled up to follow behind.