Blood Saber Sect

Blood Saber Sect

After killing three men in a row, Li Yuan finally felt his heart beating a little faster.

Pushing the cart swiftly beneath the moonlight, once his heartbeat settled, a feeling of numbness rose within him again.

Killing people and killing pigs... there did not seem to be much difference.

That was the only way he could think of it.

Back in the little courtyard at home, Li Yuan took off his clothes and examined them again and again. There were a few bloodstains.

So he fetched soap pods and a wooden basin, intending to wash the blood from his clothes.

He had barely made any noise when the door to the small house opened.

"I'll do it." Yan Niangzi leaned against the doorframe and watched him.

"I should do it." Li Yuan covered the bloodstains with his hand.

Yan Niangzi walked behind him, wrapped her arms around his neck, and leaned against his back. "What kind of man works outside all day, then comes home and still has to wash his own clothes?"

Li Yuan still did not move.

Yan Niangzi leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I'm already used to my man smelling of rouge and wine. A little more smell of blood won't matter."

"Heh." Li Yuan could not help laughing. He moved his hand aside, revealing the bloodstains on his clothes. His smile faded as he said in a low voice, "I killed three people."

"Were you hurt? Did anyone see you?" Yan Niangzi asked.

"No."

Li Yuan sighed softly. "Only after killing someone did I realize how fragile life is in these troubled times."

He had killed Qian San before, but that method of killing and what he had just done carried entirely different impacts.

Yan Niangzi said nothing. She sat beside her man, took the wooden basin and soap pods, and began scrubbing the clothes in the basin.

The winter wind and cold water reddened her face and hands.

After washing for a while, Yan Niangzi giggled. "Why are we washing clothes in the courtyard? Are we airing them out under this huge winter moon?"

Li Yuan said, "I thought you wanted to do it outside. The moon, the flowers, the night breeze... it seemed like it might be romantic."

"I thought that was what you wanted," Yan Niangzi said with a smile.

The two returned indoors.

Inside, it was warm.

Early the next morning, the sky was clear.

Golden sunlight shone over the earthy village paths and rows of mud-brick houses.

Li Yuan had just stepped outside when he saw Uncle Youcai, eyes red and hands tucked into his sleeves, pacing anxiously outside.

"Uncle Youcai, what's wrong?"

"Brother Yuan." Uncle Youcai nearly burst into tears. "Go take a look at A'Bao."

Li Yuan froze for a moment, then said, "All right," and hurried off with Uncle Youcai.

When they pushed open the door, the tall, skinny youth was still lying on the bed, but his face was the color of wax paper, as though he were on his last breath.

Hearing the noise, Tian Bao forced his eyes open and called out, "Brother Yuan... I... I don't think I'm going to make it."

Li Yuan glanced at Uncle Youcai and tossed him two large coins. "Uncle, hurry to the county town and get a doctor."

Holding the two large coins, Uncle Youcai said, "Thank you, Brother Yuan. Thank you."

"Go!"

"Mm."

Uncle Youcai did not dare delay. He hurriedly called someone over, and the two ran toward the county town.

Li Yuan sat beside Tian Bao.

"Brother Yuan, I... I wanted to follow you. I wanted to make something of myself. I wasn't afraid of anything.

"But..."

The youth gave a miserable laugh. After a long silence, he sighed. "I'm too weak.

"I wanted to carve out a future with nothing but blood and courage, but my body simply won't give me the chance.

"I only lost one eye, yet I already feel like I'm about to die.

"Why am I so useless? Why?"

Li Yuan held his hand. "A'Bao, don't panic. Wait for the doctor."

"It's useless, Brother Yuan.

"It's useless."

The youth muttered, then began groaning painfully again.

A long while later, Yan Niangzi arrived carrying a lunchbox.

Li Yuan wanted to share some food with Tian Bao, but the youth could not eat anything and had no appetite at all.

Sometime after noon, Uncle Youcai returned with the doctor.

It was the same doctor as last time. The moment Yan Niangzi saw him, she asked, "Doctor, there are still three packets left from the medicine you prescribed last time. Can we return them? Even if it's for less money."

The doctor said impatiently, "Are you getting him treated or not?"

Yan Niangzi was a little angry, but she did not flare up.

The doctor sat by the bed and examined Tian Bao. After looking him over for a while, his brows furrowed.

The air in the small house was utterly silent.

The doctor stood up without saying a word and stopped once he reached the door.

Uncle Youcai understood at once and hurried outside.

The doctor said, "He won't live much longer. Medicine won't help. Prepare for the funeral."

Uncle Youcai's eyes immediately reddened. "Doctor, please, save him. He's my only son. My wife died long ago, my eldest son went off to war, and now I only have this one son left. Please save him. You can have whatever you want. I'll give you anything."

The doctor said, "It's no use."

Uncle Youcai said, "It's only one eye."

The doctor said, "That's true, but the wound affected other parts of him. It's no longer a problem with his eye. His body simply can't hold on."

Yan Niangzi, who had been listening nearby, suddenly asked, "Wasn't the medicine you prescribed for me last time meant to replenish qi and blood? Can he use it?"

The doctor said, "Give it a try. If it works, it works. If it doesn't, it doesn't."

Yan Niangzi hurried home to fetch the medicine.

The doctor left as well.

Inside the house, Li Yuan sat quietly.

He was a ninth-rank martial artist and could clearly hear what was being said outside.

But the youth on the bed could not.

"Get some good rest, A'Bao. The doctor prescribed medicine for you.

"Take your medicine, eat well, sleep well, and you'll be fine," Li Yuan said.

Tian Bao answered softly. He was exhausted. Closing his eyes, his face remained pale and his breathing weak as a thread.

Li Yuan leaned a little closer and whispered, "If I told you that the three men who hurt you are already dead, would that make you feel a little better?"

Tian Bao suddenly opened his eyes, a trace of relief appearing in his smile.

"Thank you, Brother Yuan."

Before long, Yan Niangzi ran back, took out the medicine, and began decocting it.

After Tian Bao drank it, he fell asleep again.

The next day.

Tian Bao did not get up again.

He passed away in his sleep.

Uncle Youcai no longer cried. He was like a walking corpse.

Li Yuan gave him three taels of silver and some meat, then helped him bury the youth and carve a crude stone marker.

Li Yuan had not been especially close to the youth, but he had placed some hopes in him. Now that he was suddenly gone, Li Yuan felt heavy-hearted and reflective.

Sure enough, in these troubled times, if one wanted to hold on to their gains, they needed the strength to match them.

If one did not deserve those gains, one should not even go near them.

The silver from selling the wild boar had not gone into Tian Bao's pocket. He had merely helped push the cart and done some manual labor, yet because he had gotten entangled in the matter, he died.

At this time, beside Silver Creek.

Within a grand and imposing estate, a handsome, fair-faced middle-aged man with a somewhat effeminate air sat in a pavilion, watching the water.

The surface glittered in the sunlight, and painted pleasure boats occasionally passed by.

"Sect Master, have some," said the pretty maid beside him, holding fruit to the middle-aged man's lips.

The middle-aged man said coldly, "I'm not the sect master. I'm the deputy."

The maid did not respond, pretending she had heard nothing.

Those maids who had heard him and responded were already dead.

Just then, a Black Robe Disciple with red trim hurried down the path to the pavilion. Holding up a roster in both hands, he said, "Sect Master, these are this month's recommended candidates."

Without even looking, the middle-aged man said, "Those from Silver Stream Village may enter the outer sect and study martial arts techniques.

"As for those from elsewhere, send them to work at the various establishments for a few years first. Then assess them."

The Black Robe Disciple said, "This year, an Outer Sect Disciple recommended a youth. He said the boy could draw a powerful bow with one arm and possessed unusual strength. He's a promising seedling."

"Where is he from?"

"Little Ink Village."

"Heh." The middle-aged man sneered. "Just a mud-legged peasant. How much character could he possibly have? Send him to one of the establishments. We'll see in a few years."

The Black Robe Disciple said no more. He bowed respectfully and withdrew.