Chapter 131: A World Without Thieves
Bai Feifei almost never sensed any killing intent from Xie Huailing. She was mostly calm, like a bottomless lake, where everything hidden beneath the surface was invisible to the naked eye. Although there were moments of joy, laughter, and playful banter, the underlying nature of the lake remained the same: she was always thinking something, something that was always unseen.
But from that one glance and those few words, Bai Feifei clearly sensed that Xie Huailing wanted to kill someone.
Or... she wanted to kill more than one person.
She always loved to use one plan to achieve three goals, making millions in profit.
Even if this person is incredibly powerful and his life hangs in the balance, with his death, countless storms and unpredictable unknowns will sweep in, and she will return to the center of the storm; even if she wants to take the lives of others, it will not be an easy task, and to carry out a shocking plan, it will be even more difficult than ascending to heaven—but she is determined to succeed.
A faint, fishy smell followed. The night was deep and devoid of human presence, but Bai Feifei felt nothing of fear, worry, or inappropriateness in standing beside Xie Huailing at this moment.
She also wanted to kill someone, even though it seemed like a pipe dream back then, she has gradually come to this point. She doesn't speak, simply because she understands that Xie Huailing's determination doesn't need her agreement.
What can't a woman with enough ability accomplish?
.
When Xie Huailing returned to the house, it was midnight and there were no lights left. After saying goodnight to Bai Feifei, he did not go to sleep. Instead, he took a bath, put on his outer robe, and sat down at his desk.
She took out a piece of stationery; she was going to write a letter to Su Mengzhen. It was about what she was going to do, the plan she had already made up her mind, an irreversible plan.
She wouldn't write down every step in detail; she simply told Su Mengzhen what she was going to do, and then told Su Mengzhen not to reply to her after this letter. Therefore, after she accomplished this, Cai Jing would thoroughly investigate every rumor related to this city, wishing he could turn the entire city upside down.
She didn't ask Su Mengzhen for anything. Anything Su Mengzhen gave her now risked becoming leverage against her, including any influence Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou had in the city; she wouldn't use that anymore.
For Xie Huailing, what she had was enough to finish this game of chess.
It's simply a matter of... making the best use of resources.
In order to make the best use of the resources, there was one person she needed to persuade.
The boundless morning light, sweeping across the vast expanse, illuminates the entire landscape. Even the white walls and green tiles exude a grand and majestic air, making one realize that Shunyi is truly full of vitality. Perhaps in another month or two, an even more lush and verdant scene will be presented to people's eyes.
This is why Shen Lang loves spring. However, for someone like him, every season has its own charm, and he loves them all. Since he donated his family fortune at the age of ten and has been wandering ever since, he has long since learned to appreciate all kinds of scenery. Now at nineteen, his integrity and magnanimity are far beyond what ordinary people can match.
Even so, he would still be as surprised as any ordinary person to see Xie Huailing in the early morning.
"Miss Xie," Shen Lang greeted her, assuming she had exhausted herself again and was about to go out to continue her work. He kindly advised, "In the world of martial arts, you should take good care of your health."
Xie Huailing shook his head, stood a few steps away from him, and looked into his kind eyes: "I came to see you, Young Master Shen."
Shen Lang was stunned. He sensed something and realized that this "Young Master" was different from before. It was no longer a formal address to a martial arts practitioner, but a title of respect.
Shen Lang wasn't surprised she knew, but he couldn't help remaining silent. He had given up that title nine years ago.
He sighed deeply and said, "This is not the place to talk, Miss Xie. Let's go outside."
There were some things Shen Lang didn't want Zhu Qiqi to hear, not because he thought she would cause trouble, but because he knew it would upset her. Even though he had long since let go of the past, Zhu Qiqi still felt sorry for him. Even though he was a child prodigy, a genius of his generation, Zhu Qiqi would still feel sorry for him.
Xie Huailing agreed. The two went outside and found a small teahouse, ordered a private room, and sat down facing each other.
The moment he sat down, Shen Lang was no longer the wandering swordsman Shen Lang. The blood of Hengshan returned to his life, and he became that ten-year-old child again. After donating his vast fortune to bury his father, he turned and walked into the ceaseless wind and snow.
He smiled faintly and asked, "Miss Xie, is there something you want to say?"
Xie Huailing replied, "I would like to discuss some things about 'Chen Tianjun' with Young Master Shen."
Shen Lang was not surprised and said, "Please speak frankly. I will tell you anything that I can tell Miss Xie."
That's just how he is sometimes; his tolerance is almost unbelievable. He never mentions his suffering to those who know his past. So even though Xie Huailing once felt that Shen Lang was rather indecisive in matters of the heart because of Zhu Qiqi, she later stopped belittling him.
Since he had said that, Xie Huailing didn't mince words: "I've heard that back in the day, 'Lord Shen Tian' traveled all over the country, always ready to help those in need, his righteousness reaching the heavens, and he couldn't stand any petty scoundrels. If he knew of any wrongdoing, even if it was related to the government, he would intervene. As a result, he often escaped death since his youth, making countless enemies. By the time of the Hengshan disaster, hundreds of rats had died under 'Lord Shen Tian's' sword."
“That’s just how my father was.” Only now did Shen Lang’s face show a look of nostalgia and pride in his father. “In my memory, he couldn’t stand anything dirty, and he would go even if it was a mountain of knives or a sea of fire.”
Therefore, he was revered by all and called "King of the Nine Provinces".
But for this man, the title probably wasn't that important. He only sought to act with a clear conscience; what did fame or wealth mean to him? To be upright and honest, to strive for loyalty and righteousness in an unjust world, was the true meaning of "a knight-errant using martial arts to disrupt the law."
That's why so many people lamented the death of "Lord Shentian." The conspiracy of two demons resulted in the death of a truly righteous and upright man. Such is the way of the world; the virtuous are always seen as inferior.
But "Chen Tianjun" probably has no regrets. His death ended a battle that had already turned into a demonic struggle. If he knew this in the afterlife, he would probably smile gently, just like Shen Lang.
Xie Huailing couldn't help but feel emotional. He said to Shen Lang, "I heard that after hearing the news about the disaster at Hengshan nine years ago, 'Chen Tianjun' set off without looking back and without hesitation for a moment."
Many of his childhood memories have become blurred, but that one day remains unforgettable for Shen Lang.
He showed no sign of pain and smiled, "That's true. My father knew when he left that he would most likely not come back, but he still went."
There are some things in this world that you will never regret even if you know you're doomed.
Xie Huailing looked at him and asked her first question. She asked, "That year, was Young Master Shen ever fearful?"
His father left and never returned. At the age of ten, he had to climb Mount Heng with the adults to identify his father's body among the piles of corpses. His only relative in the world, the one who had raised him, died forever that year, leaving him alone in the world with no one to rely on.
"It would be a lie to say I'm not apprehensive."
Shen Lang is not afraid to admit his past weaknesses. Today he is like a perfect person, unmoved by any storm, but he was not born this way: "But I know that my father did nothing wrong. If I were him in the future, I would do the same."
So he donated his family fortune and decided to make the world his home. The wind and snow outside his home would not stop, nor would they be moved by him, but he was determined to continue on this path. Both father and son were gentlemen, and no difficulty could sway their will.
"'Lord Shen Tian' eliminated traitors for the world and quelled the disaster at Hengshan. He died with honor." Xie Huailing said slowly, as if he was filled with sorrow. "It is a pity that the gentlemen of the world are like bright pearls, while traitors are like mud and sand. As the country declines, bright pearls are inevitably covered with dust, while mud and sand accumulate more and more. There is also silt blocking the river, and the water is so turbid that there are no fish."
Shen Lang remained silent. He had witnessed it with his own eyes every day for nine years; there was no need to say more.
The sound circled the tree three times, seemingly near yet far, before suddenly solidifying. Xie Huailing said forcefully, "Among them are countless traitors who exploit the people like lighting lamps in a warehouse, and regard the integrity of the court as a source of hatred. Although I am a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person of the martial arts world), I also hope that the world can be clean and free of thieves."
There are no thieves in the world.
After silently repeating those four words, Shen Lang sighed again. At that moment, his previous impression of Xie Huailing changed, and he suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of respect for her. But wasn't that exactly what he himself thought?
As clever as he was, he understood something and patiently listened to Xie Huailing's next words. Shen Lang already had a premonition.
He was moved even before Xie Huailing spoke, and felt a deep sense of regret after Xie Huailing spoke.
She spoke casually, as if it were a casual conversation, yet every word she uttered carried immense weight. She said, "Last night I visited Dugu Shang and learned from him the identity of the person who recruited Chai Yuguan, and also who exactly wanted to see Chai Yuguan."
She added, “There are some people in this world who are not meant to die and deserve to live to a ripe old age, while others are so deserving of even one more day that they wish they could be torn to pieces to atone for the tears of countless families. Therefore, since he has come, I will absolutely not let him go back alive.”
"Young Master Shen," Xie Huailing called out to him, pushing a slip of paper with his name written on it in front of him. "I wish to rid the world of this traitor."
Shen Lang smiled again.
It's not that he's never afraid, never regretful, or doesn't cherish his own life; it's just that for him, courage and responsibility always take precedence over all other emotions.
Is death scary? Everyone has to die.
Is regret terrible? How many people in the world can have a perfect life?
So even if there was hesitation, it was nothing more than a brief silence. He had made all his decisions nine years ago; his lack of hatred for his father's departing figure destined him to be a chivalrous and upright hero. Even now, amidst a subtle unease and a desire to sigh, he still thought that he should apologize to Xie Huailing.
He shouldn't make hasty judgments about people; at least for now, he sincerely wanted to be friends with Xie Huailing.
Shen Lang smiled and said, "It is also my wish."
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