Creak-
The storehouse's old doors swung open, letting in a gust of wind and rain.
Lightning flashed, revealing a figure standing outside with a sword at his waist and a hand on its hilt. Only the outline of his body, steady as a mountain, was visible.
"Father..."
The woman's face was pale. She spread her arms in front of Jian Yuhua, grief and despair in her eyes.
Jian Yuhua seemed to have expected this and remained quite calm.
"Second Miss, go back first. I'll apologize to Master, then come back in a little while."
The woman shook her head hard, tears brimming in her eyes, but could not speak.
Thud.
With a soft sound, the woman's eyes lost focus and her body went limp.
Jian Yuhua caught her, slowly lowered her to lean against the wall, then walked over to the pile of odds and ends and took out a wooden pole intended as a hoe handle.
"Master, are you truly so heartless?"
Zhou Huaili slowly stepped forward, his eyes utterly indifferent.
"For the past two years, this old man has treated you as his own. This old man could give you anything. Half a lifetime of this old man's achievements rested on today's contest. This old man told you beforehand that I didn't need you to win, only to keep your mouth shut. Why couldn't you control that tongue of yours?"
Holding the long pole, Jian Yuhua no longer had any of his usual reverence in his eyes.
"My Fu Family of Liangzhou has been loyal and steadfast for three hundred years. When the nation fell, the family perished with it. We've never produced a single unfilial son. We're nothing like jianghu rabble such as your Zhou Family."
"Heh heh..."
Zhou Huaili nodded slightly, slowly drawing his sword.
Shing...