Chapter Twenty-Nine: Matters Concluded

The Four Symbols School was considered one of the oldest martial halls in Feiling County, yet even so, martial artists at the fifth stage were exceptionally rare. To reach such strength, one needed at least a second-tier, top-notch foundation. Counting every member in the entire school, there were perhaps only barely a dozen who reached that level, most of them no longer young and seldom residing at the martial hall.

After quite a long wait, at last a tall man in his mid-thirties appeared before Fan Zhong and his companion, a longsword gripped in his hand. “I am Liu Yongzhi, instructor of the Four Symbols School. I do not know who you are, or why you—” He had spoken only half his sentence before Fan Zhong swung his blade once more.

With a ringing clash, the gleaming blade sent the man’s sword flying and the man himself crashed to the ground, a bloody wound appearing across his chest.

“Instructor Liu!” The bystanders gasped in shock, rushing forward to help.

Fan Zhong shook his head. “So weak, yet you call yourself a fifth-stage martial artist? My junior brother is almost stronger than you!”

Chen Fan could only smile wryly in silence. He was on the verge of breaking through to the fourth stage, and his strength did rival some fifth-stage fighters, but since he hadn’t actually fought, he couldn’t be certain he was stronger than the man just now.

Liu Yongzhi also forced a bitter smile, sweeping his gaze toward Chen Fan beside Fan Zhong. Suddenly, his eyes widened in recognition. “You... you’re Chen Fan?” He had met Chen Fan once half a year ago at the martial arena, and still remembered his face. The poor light earlier had kept him from noticing, but now, up close, he finally confirmed the young man’s identity.

At Liu Yongzhi’s words, the disciples of Four Symbols School erupted into a commotion.

Not long after, a powerful voice rang out from outside, “Who dares cause trouble in my Four Symbols School?” With that, an old man leapt into the room—it was none other than the school’s venerable master himself.

Liu Yongzhi and the others hurried to greet him respectfully, “Master!”

The old man waved his hand lightly, holding a black iron staff, and fixed his gaze on the two men opposite him. Seeing Fan Zhong standing on his own school’s plaque, a flash of anger crossed his face, his brows knitting tightly. “Who are you, really?”

Fan Zhong squinted at the old man, his pupils flashing, then burst into laughter. “Finally, a real opponent!” With that, he strode forward thunderously, his blade flashing once more.

Chen Fan’s eyes widened in astonishment—his senior brother certainly had a temper.

The master of Four Symbols School was a sixth-stage martial arts expert. Though he couldn’t compare to the likes of Li Linliu, he was a veteran of countless years. His senior brother was truly fierce! Remembering his brother’s performance at the Demon Slaying Tournament, how he had dispatched beasts of his own level as easily as chopping vegetables, it was no wonder his blade technique had long since reached subtlety and perhaps even greater mastery. Chen Fan could only marvel.

The silver light was dazzling. After a single resounding clash, both men stepped back. The old man’s face flushed crimson, filled with shock. It was also the first time Chen Fan had seen his senior brother forced to retreat.

Yet, an instant later, Fan Zhong laughed uproariously again. “No wonder you’re at the sixth stage—your blood and qi circulate endlessly. But your strength is still lacking...” Excited, he brandished his blade, unleashing a flurry of fierce strikes.

A succession of razor-sharp flashes sliced through the air, forcing the old man to retreat again and again, his black iron staff barely managing to ward off the blows, each collision ringing out with a deafening clang. Fan Zhong’s laughter grew even bolder, his attacks quickening.

At last—

With a sharp crack, the master’s staff was split in two by Fan Zhong’s blade. Blood spattered everywhere. The master himself was sent hurtling backward, a crimson gash blossoming across his chest. Propping himself up with the broken staff, he struggled to rise, blood pouring from his mouth.

“Master!” Liu Yongzhi and the others rushed to support him.

Fan Zhong sheathed his blade with disdain. “You’re the weakest sixth-stage martial artist I’ve ever met.”

The old man managed a bitter smile, his lips twitching. “I concede...”

Such a grand Four Symbols School—though not all members had appeared, now that their strongest leader had fallen, who else could possibly stand against a monster like Fan Zhong?

Before Fan Zhong could reply, Liu Yongzhi quietly moved to the old man’s side and whispered, “Master, this man is Chen Fan’s senior brother, and that youth is Chen Fan himself!”

The old man’s expression changed abruptly. “You... what is it you want?”

Fan Zhong looked at the defeated crowd and lost all desire to continue fighting. He shook his head. “Someone attempted a night raid on my junior brother’s home. I captured him on the spot.”

The old man’s eyes widened in shock. “It wasn’t me! I already apologized to Chen Fan for the matter with Yu Xingzheng, sent a gift earlier today, and another heavy present is already on its way to Yandu City. Why would I harm his family?”

“Hmph!” Fan Zhong shook his head, speaking coldly, “Whether or not you sanctioned it, Four Symbols School cannot escape responsibility. I give you twelve hours to give my junior brother an explanation—otherwise, your school can follow that brat Yu into the abyss!” With that, Fan Zhong turned away sharply.

“Let’s go, junior brother!” Chen Fan glanced back at the master, who, supported by his disciples, now seemed as frail as any ordinary old man. Mixed emotions filled his heart as he followed his brother out.

…

The entire affair took less than an hour, and when they returned home, they even managed a nap. By then, his sister-in-law and little Chen Xi were still asleep, unaware of the night’s events.

The trio had originally planned to leave the next day, but stayed one more night.

By evening, disciples from Four Symbols School arrived with an invitation.

In a secret private room at Jiangshan Tower, the school’s master arrived not only with more gifts, but also with two men, both tightly bound—one was Yu Xingzheng’s cousin, Yu Haitao; the other, a middle-aged man.

Fan Zhong sneered. “I told you Four Symbols School was involved—do you believe me now?”

The old man’s lips quivered, his face still pale, as he pointed to the middle-aged man. “This is my nephew, also Yu Xingzheng’s father. Last night’s events were entirely his doing...”

Fan Zhong waved his hand, and the long blade flashed from behind him.

With a hiss, both the bound men—Yu Haitao and the middle-aged man—were decapitated on the spot. Blood spurted from the headless corpses as they crumpled to the floor.

“Were these the only masterminds? Yu Xingzheng has no other close kin?”

The old man’s breathing faltered, then he nodded. “Anyone else involved has been dealt with. Yu Xingzheng’s mother died long ago, he had no siblings. As for Yu Haitao, his parents died even earlier... I guarantee that what happened today will never be revealed. Both Yu Xingzheng’s father and Yu Haitao will be reported as dying by accident...”

Fan Zhong gave a cold laugh, nodding. “Very well. If you wish your school to survive, let the matter end here. Old master, do you object?”

The old man shook his head. He looked as though he had aged ten years in an instant, yet breathed a sigh of relief. “No objections.”

…

As Chen Fan followed his senior brother home, a heavy silence hung between them.

Suddenly, Fan Zhong turned and asked, “Junior Brother Chen, do you blame me for being ruthless?”

Chen Fan shook his head. “I killed Yu Xingzheng because of our own enmity. His father sought revenge, turning his hatred on me. I don’t want to die, nor see my family shamed. The only choice was to kill his father.”

From the moment he faced Yu Xingzheng atop the life-and-death arena, Chen Fan had understood this truth. That was why, after the Demon Slaying Tournament, he had returned to Feiling County immediately. After last night’s attack, he couldn’t even imagine what kind of torment his sister-in-law and niece might have faced had they been captured.

Fan Zhong nodded. “It’s good that you understand. In the world of martial artists, enmity is inevitable. Since you have enemies, and the hatred runs so deep, if you don’t want to be killed, you must strike first. Some foes, even those you’ve never met, must still be eliminated.”

Fan Zhong’s father was a general in the Azure Python Army—the most traditional, domineering kind of warrior.

“Don’t let it weigh on you. This is the cruel reality for martial artists. In the future, you’ll encounter more people you’ll hesitate to kill... It takes courage to spare someone, but even more to kill. Even our master, as kind and honest as he is, had to kill countless people when he first arrived in Yandu City before he secured his position.”

Chen Fan nodded. “I understand, senior brother.” Rather than feeling guilt, it only strengthened his resolve to keep growing stronger. In this more primal world, hatred was nothing compared to the power of one’s fists. If he were strong enough, he would have been even more ruthless than his brother.

…

Of course, Chen Fan had never expected that upon his return to Feiling County, the Four Symbols School would nearly be wiped out by his own senior brother.

The master, Gao Yi, was clearly a shrewd man. Now that the matter was settled, he would surely know how to keep his disciples in line. As for the Yu family, who knew how many were implicated by this incident—after Gao Yi’s intervention, they would now be utterly ruined.

Chen Fan paid a final visit to the Bao family, bidding Bao Tianyou a regretful farewell...

Then, taking his sister-in-law and little Chen Xi, he set off for Yandu City.

Upon returning to Yandu, Chen Fan indeed received the gift Gao Yi, master of Four Symbols School, had promised: three True Essence Pills. These were far more potent cultivation medicines than Gathering Essence Pills or Deer Fetus Pills, and even the White Cloud Hall lacked a reliable supply. Chen Fan accepted them without hesitation.

…

His master was the head of White Cloud Hall. Once his sister-in-law arrived in Yandu, she was quickly found suitable work at the martial hall. Chen Fan did not continue living with the pair—now that he was older and she was a widow, propriety had to be observed. He would visit occasionally for meals, and little Chen Xi often came running to his place.

Within a few days, the disciples of the hall gradually learned of little Chen Xi’s identity. Naturally, no one dared bully her. With her delicate, adorable features, she became beloved among the female disciples.

…

Not even a month after the Demon Slaying Tournament, Chen Fan took the True Essence Pills given by Gao Yi, and his progress in tempering his true essence improved greatly. As he neared the completion of the third stage of martial arts—no more than ten or fifteen days away—his master suddenly summoned him.

“Have you ever heard of hidden sects?”

That was the very first question his master asked.