A Murderous Night of Black Wind and Moonless Sky

Dusk drew near, and the twilight deepened.

It was time for the Martial Academy to close again.

As usual, Jiang Ye sat in the shadows by the entrance, his back against the cold doorpost, his eyelids half-lowered as he watched the disciples leave in twos and threes.

"Junior Brother Hu, would you like to come to my house for sesame cakes today...?"

Lin Xiaohe's voice was a little softer than usual, almost carrying a hook, as she followed Hu Tian out through the Martial Academy gates.

"Sure..."

Hu Tian paused, grinning as he glanced at Lin Xiaohe, just about to agree.

Then a clear voice sounded from behind them, carrying a trace of arrogance all its own.

"Junior Brother Hu!"

Zhang Xu led two or three Inner Courtyard disciples calmly over the threshold.

He did not even glance at Lin Xiaohe beside them. He merely lifted his chin at Hu Tian, his smile open yet impossible to refuse.

"Come on. This senior brother will take you to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion for a taste of the world today!"

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Hu Tian nearly answered without thinking, the smile on his face instantly turning toward Zhang Xu.

He only had time to toss Lin Xiaohe a look that was both placating and perfunctory before turning around and naturally slinging an arm over Zhang Xu's shoulder. His manner was intimate and familiar, as though he had long since become one of their circle.

"With a little more time, maybe I can worm my way into that circle too."

Lin Xiaohe stood where she was, gazing at the figures receding amid twilight and laughter, a flicker of hope showing between her brows.

If she could form even the slightest connection with that circle, the Wild Wolf Gang would probably become somewhat wary of her and no longer dare come to her door so openly to extort her.

At that thought, the faint displeasure in her heart at Hu Tian's easy abandonment of her was instantly overwhelmed by something stronger—resentment toward Shi Lei, and... a cold sense of relief.

She resented his recklessness and impulsiveness. Not only had he failed to solve the problem, he had brought even greater trouble upon them, nearly costing her family their meager savings.

And she was even more relieved that she had acted decisively, cutting herself off from him completely and cleanly.

What could someone like Shi Lei bring her, other than misplaced honesty and fists that caused trouble?

In this world, those were the cheapest things of all—and the most harmful.

"Hmph! Back then... I truly must have been blind..."

Lin Xiaohe cast a cold glance toward the darkened Martial Practice Field, let out a short snort through her nose, then turned without another shred of attachment and stepped into the gathering night.

Watching Lin Xiaohe's figure gradually disappear, Jiang Ye slowly rose to his feet. His eyes were thoughtful as he murmured softly to himself.

"There is still one person who hasn't come out."

Twilight lay like gauze over the silent Outer Courtyard.

Training implements lay scattered across the ground.

And in the farthest corner against the wall, a figure was holding the opening stance of the Mountain Crushing Fist at an exceedingly slow pace, even trembling so faintly it was nearly imperceptible.

It was Shi Lei.

The bruises on his face looked even darker in the dimness. His lips were pressed tight, but his eyes no longer held their usual boulder-like resolve. There was only vast, hollow confusion within them, and even... a trace of distraction.

His fists were clenched, yet his strength seemed to have nowhere to settle. His whole body looked unsteady and absent-minded. He did not appear to be practicing a fist technique so much as punishing himself.

Jiang Ye's footsteps were light, but they still sounded clear in the silence.

Shi Lei spun around as though startled awake from a dream. When he saw who it was, panic and embarrassment flashed across his face, and he hurriedly withdrew his misshapen stance.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth, trying to force out a smile, but only pulled at his wounds and looked even more miserable.

"I... I'm sorry, Old Man Jiang..." His voice was hoarse and dry. "I... I got so caught up practicing that I forgot the time again. I delayed you from closing up. I'll put everything away and leave right now."

Without even waiting for Jiang Ye to respond, he turned away in haste, lowered his head, and began clumsily gathering up the scattered stone locks, wooden posts, and other training implements.

Jiang Ye said nothing. He merely sighed softly and began helping him gather the scattered implements.

"Old Man Jiang, I might... not come here to practice anymore..."

After putting all the implements back in place, Shi Lei hesitated for a moment before suddenly speaking.

At those words, Jiang Ye gave Shi Lei a long look and said in a low voice.

"You have not even been at the Martial Academy for two months, and your fist technique is already close to entering the gate..."

"Why do you want to give up at such a critical moment?"

The words seemed to strike Shi Lei's sore spot. His body swayed almost imperceptibly.

The remaining glimmer in his eyes struggled violently before ultimately sinking into an even deeper gloom.

"With my... bone structure and talent..." His voice dropped further, nearly becoming a mumble. Every word was soaked in icy self-denial. "Even if I enter the gate with the fist technique, I'm afraid I still won't achieve anything."

He suddenly drew in a breath, as though he wanted to expel all the stifling foul air from his chest, only for it to catch in his throat.

"Junior Brother Hu... how many days has he even been here? The headmaster personally instructs him, and the Inner Courtyard senior brothers all rush to befriend him. Junior Sister Lin..."

At that name, his voice suddenly twisted with pain and humiliation he could not conceal.

"She could turn around and attach herself to him, so attentive and considerate... And me? I practiced my fists until I was ready to die, stood up for her, came back covered in wounds, and what did I get in return..."

He choked up and could not continue. He merely gritted his teeth hard, veins faintly rising at his temples. His eyes reddened quickly, yet he stubbornly lifted his head, refusing to let the moisture truly fall.

Jiang Ye listened quietly. There was no surprise in his eyes, only the understanding of a deep pool.

Lin Xiaohe's bone-chilling betrayal, along with Hu Tian's appearance, had dealt Shi Lei far too great a blow.

"Sorry, Old Man Jiang. I said too much."

Shi Lei abruptly turned his face away, his voice trembling with embarrassment as he turned to leave.

"Boy Shi..."

Jiang Ye's voice was not loud, yet it was like an invisible thread that caught his panicked steps.

Looking at the battered young body before him, whose very spirit seemed to have been drained away, he slowly spoke.

"I once heard the headmaster say many times that bone structure and talent... are the bowl of rice Heaven grants you."

"But whether you can hold that bowl steady, whether you can eat your fill, whether it tastes sweet or bitter once it reaches your mouth... sometimes, it does not entirely depend on Heaven's expression."

"Flowing water does not vie to be first; it vies to flow without end!"

Shi Lei's body jolted violently. Light instantly returned to his dim eyes. "Flowing water does not vie to be first..."

"Old Man Jiang, do you think I still have a chance?!"

His gaze burned with urgency, carrying all the hope of a drowning man clutching driftwood. It locked firmly onto the old man's face.

Jiang Ye did not answer his question directly.

He merely looked quietly back into the youth's flame-like eyes, neither joy nor sorrow on his face.

Everyone had their own path. How could he know what would happen if Shi Lei continued down his?

Perhaps he would suffer and persevere until he entered the gate, only to become an ordinary martial man struggling with the currents in these troubled times.

But he did not need to say that.

Some fires needed only a single spark.

Shi Lei did not press him for a definite answer.

He stood there, his chest heaving violently as he repeatedly chewed over those eight words.

"Flowing water does not vie to be first... it vies to flow without end... flow without end..."

With every repetition, the light in his eyes grew brighter. The spine that had been crushed seemed to draw a thread of strength from the depths of his marrow, slowly straightening once more.

A moment later, he suddenly took a step back. Facing Jiang Ye, he dropped with a thud to his knees, his forehead striking the cold ground heavily.

"Thank you, Old Man Jiang, for enlightening me. I, Shi Lei, will never forget this kindness for the rest of my life!"

Shi Lei's voice was hoarse, yet every word was final, carrying the force of a heavy hammer falling.

After saying that, he did not linger. He sprang up, turned, and strode toward the gate.

Jiang Ye stood where he was, watching that back disappear swiftly into the night, straight and tall once more. He smiled faintly.

"Looks like he'll be the first one to reach the Martial Academy again tomorrow."

The night had grown deep.

Creak—

With a soft sound.

The narrow door of the gatehouse opened a crack. A dark figure silently slipped out, then gently pulled it shut behind him until it fit perfectly into place.

The dark figure stood still beneath the eaves' shadows for a moment, then slowly raised his head.

A common piece of coarse black cloth covered his face, leaving only his eyes exposed.

Under the pitch-black sky, those eyes held none of their daytime age or weariness. Instead, their light was contained within, deep as an ancient well or Cold Pool, and sharp as a thin blade about to leave its sheath.

It was Jiang Ye.

A moonless night with howling winds.

Time to "eat people" and make some money!