All Those Painful Years of Investment

The exasperation of the demon taking off and sparing them no attention preceded the anger that flourished in their minds. Win or lose was of no significance to Song Chi since his primary goal was to display his loyalty, which was the complete opposite of Xun Feng’s wish.

Xun Feng had it in the bag, only to suddenly lose the Nine Dragons Fire Jade. The most important task he carried on his shoulders when he was assigned to the capital was obtaining the Nine Dragons Fire Jade that Liaoliao had been painstakingly searching for. How was he going to face his fellow disciples and mentor now that he had lost it and costed them significant problems? The failure also dealt a heavy blow to his pride. As he couldn’t take his anger out on the monster that had taken off, he had to take it out on the only other person present.

“Brother Song, it would seem that both of our hopes have been dashed. What are we even fighting for anymore?”

“… Just say you want to kill me. There’s no need to try luring me into a false sense of security; it won’t work.”

“Do you think so little of me?”

Xun Feng wore on his typical kind smile, which was solid proof to Song Chi that Xun Feng was determined to kill him more than ever.𝙛𝙧𝒆𝒆𝒘𝒆𝙗𝙣𝙤𝒆𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝙤𝒎

Xun Feng clapped once, then said, “You just reminded me: I wonder if the old dirtbag would be able to stay composed if I present your head to him and tell him that the imperial court killed you.”

Xun Feng already considered killing Song Chi if the latter couldn’t be recruited from day one and then fabricating a story. What evidence could be more compelling for his tall tale than a bloody head? There was no need for it to be Song Ou’s head. Why would a scion who only had a surname to his claim to fame be worth more than the next patriarch of Song Clan?

“My father is not the narrow-minded person you think he is, and I’m not as important as you assume. Besides, you can’t kill me.”

Xun Feng, realising Song Chi was trying to expel the poison from a while ago, smirked. He Kanyu would’ve needed an hour, at the very least, if he was in top shape. While Song Chi could rival He Kanyu, there was no way Song Chi had enough time to expel it.

“We won’t know until your head is handed to the old fence sitter, will we?”

Despite losing the Nine Dragons Fire Jade, for better or worse, the power of Xun Feng’s next palm strike came out with the proper power of Lotus Every Step. In exchange for the speed and dexterity of Buddhism’s joint-locking skills that didn’t cost exorbitant amounts of internal energy, his right arm was no longer impervious to blades. Until this point, he didn’t know how Lotus Every Step was meant to feel in his body, nor could he truly appreciate how Liaoliao became Abbot at a young age.

Song Chi lost control of the fight in a matter of handful of exchanges. He had trouble performing as he should’ve due to the poison, while Xun Feng regained normal functioning in both arms plus an enhancement in strength.

Xun Feng felt sluggish when he first incorporated Lotus Every Step into Cold Mountain Temple’s disciplines, but it felt increasingly natural as he used it more. In saying that, he still didn’t understand how a discipline from the Western Regions blended perfectly with a discipline from Cold Mountain Temple. Strangely, however, he couldn’t finish Song Chi despite seizing the dominant momentum.

“Your resistance is futile!” Xun Feng dialled up his speed, varying his strikes between palm strikes, finger spears and claws.

Even though Song Chi looked ghastly white, he was far from slow. While he couldn’t execute Misty Dreams Swamp at the same level again, he was able to time perfect counters that got him out of hell every time he was supposed to go down. Every time Xun Feng pushed harder, Song Chi would push back harder. It was vexing for Xun Feng as he was supposed to be only one inch away from crossing the finish line each time, only for Song Chi to thwart him in the last moment. Xun Feng knew Song Chi couldn’t hang in there for much longer. It wasn’t a question of whether he could end Song Chi or not; it was a question of whether it was worth the effort or not. In the event that Song Chi could stall him for long enough for the others to catch up, then that was a stupid way to fail his mission.

The two of them were suddenly alarmed as a presence they were around not long ago returned. Xun Feng initially thought she wouldn’t have been of much help, but she had changed his mind. It wasn’t clear how she shook off her pursuers, but it wasn’t unthinkable considering the competence she had displayed.

She emerged in between them without any hints prior or any sounds. Had she attacked in the same moment, they both would’ve perished on the spot. They both knew that Song Chi had absolutely no chance of survival if she joined the fray.

“Kill him!”

Bronze Mask drew her broadsword with a reverse grip. Just a blink after Xun Feng yelled the order, his chest had become a geyser of blood. Even by the time he was lying in his own puddle of blood, he still couldn’t fathom what happened. They hired Six Blades, so why did Bronze Mask swing at him?

Bronze Mask ambled over to Song Chi, then removed her mask. She was unmistakably Bai Yumo, but her aura was a stark contrast to her usual aura. “You all right?”

Dusting himself off, Song Chi emotionlessly replied, “I’m fine. I got caught with poison, but I’m okay now.”

If it wasn’t for Bai Yumo’s emotionless tone, anyone would’ve thought the two were close. She wasn’t Bai Yumo, though. An equally unbelievable matter was hearing Song Chi state he was fine after he was poisoned not long ago.

“Confused?” Song Chi condescendingly cast his gaze onto Xun Feng.

Realising his foe hid his true strength the entire time, the floored monk roared, “Song… Chi!”

“I told you what I do for Song Clan far surpasses your imagination.” Song Chi leisurely extended his broadsword that shone a purple glow.

“… Purple Jade… You’re… Purple Jade… Young Master Purple Jade…”

“You joined the dark side to avenge your senior brother and stooped to low levels. Me? For the sake of Song Clan, I joined the dark side and became an assassin.” Song Chi didn’t seem to care about Xun Feng’s feelings. “Both of us are victims of circumstances. You left no stone unturned to steal the Nine Dragons Fire Jade. Even if you didn’t give it to me or lose it to the freak, Bronze Mask would’ve taken it from you, and you still would’ve failed in your undertaking. You were always a clueless pawn. Every time I watched you, I pitied you. I didn’t want to kill you, but you left me no choice.”

Xun Feng’s anger turned to exasperation, then hatred, then fear before finally ending as sorrow.

“I’m not killing you out of personal enmity but personal gain. I am exchanging your life for my clan’s security. I have no right to fault you, and you don’t need to forgive me. Farewell, Brother Feng.”

Xun Feng met a silent end identical to his victims over the years.

Members of Six Blades changed, but their weapons never changed. Six Blades didn’t symbolise there were six members but the six blades they wielded. One member was an assassin, but his mannerisms as the young master of an influential family distinguished him from the others. People only recognised him by the purple jade ornament on his sash and his purple broadsword and therefore called him “Young Master Purple Jade”.

“The Nine Dragons Fire Jade was stolen in the end… Bronze Mask,” Purple Jade said in a stiff voice. “What are Her Highness’ orders?”

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