Chapter 1171: Watching (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]
Why did you hit me?
The boy had barely uttered those harsh words when he was slapped across the face.
The spot where he was hit was the same spot where Kang Bosui had slapped him before.
The boy's eyes reddened with anger as he yelled, "You, a woman who looks respectable, why do you bite people right away?"
As expected, the boy was slapped again right after he finished cursing.
Enraged, he slammed the dice down and roared, "I'll let it slide because you're a female ruler, but you slap me twice right off the bat! Do you really think I don't have a temper? Watch out—"
As the sword tip pressed against his Adam's apple, the boy became obedient.
He asked gravely, "Who sent you to kill me?"
Following this, Yu Zi sneered and retorted to the boy: "Kang Jishou, your mouth is foul. Whose grandfather do you call yourself? I didn't hit you before because I respected my teacher and was polite. I'm hitting you now simply because I want to slap you in the face!"
I've been plagued by Kangshizhan too many times over the past ten years.
Before, you couldn't fight city hall with your arm, but now she's city hall.
This young boy, Kang Shi, whose body hasn't even fully developed yet, thinks he can escape her grasp? He's got a sharp tongue; he deserves a good beating!
The boy covered his face, looking aggrieved: "Before? We've met before?"
His social circle is really small.
Aside from the servants and maids in his household and the female elders, the only women he came into contact with were the ladies he met in brothels.
The strange woman before him appeared to be in her early twenties, with thick, sharp features and a menacing aura; she certainly didn't seem like someone who could be raised in a brothel. And what was she talking about, "respecting teachers and valuing the Way"?
A flicker of doubt crossed young Kang Shi's eyes, then his gaze lit up. Ignoring the sword still threatening him from Yu Zi's hand, he leaned closer and asked, "Are you my student? My future student?"
[Kang Jishou, are you looking for death?] If she hadn't reacted quickly and deflected the sword, young Kang Shi would have had his throat pierced by a single blow!
Young Kang Shi didn't care about such trivial details.
He stroked his chin and circled Yu Zi twice.
His bright eyes gleamed with approval: "The Empress's valiant bearing is all thanks to me? I never knew I had this talent!"
Yu Zi said impatiently, "[Always good at patting himself on the back.]"
She has achieved her current abilities because she has worked hard enough.
The special tutoring Kang Shi gave me back then was only sporadic; if I hadn't persevered, there wouldn't have been any later developments.
[And also, you believe everything I say?]
Young Kang Shi adjusted his robes, which were ripped open to his lower abdomen, trying to regain a semblance of composure: "Whether you believe me or not is unimportant. I don't think I can beat you. I'm at your mercy; if I believe you, I'll just gain another student."
Why not take advantage of a good deal?
To put it bluntly, his lack of faith doesn't stop him from taking advantage of others.
Yu Zi: [...]
The crowd who witnessed this scene were speechless.
Young Kang Shi crouched down to pick up the clothes scattered on the ground, and loosely put them on: "May I ask your honorable name, Your Majesty?"
[Yu Zi, Yu Weiheng.]
"Wei Heng, that's a good name. What do you need me for?"
Yu Zi said impatiently: [I'll kill you!]
Those two words made everyone's hearts tighten.
The young Kang Shi, who was tidying up his clothes, looked up in surprise, stared blankly at Yu Zi for a long time, and asked: "You want to kill me? Why do you want to kill me? Did I do something beastly in the future?"
Yu Zi shook her head: 【No.】
"Then that's treason and disloyalty!"
Yu Zi sneered, "I didn't expect you to be so glib when you were younger. What reason do I need to kill you? Besides, we have no master-disciple relationship; you only helped me."
Seeing that he couldn't fool him, young Kang Shi spread his hands: "You can kill me, but before that, I need to kill two people!"
Yu Zi raised an eyebrow: [Last words?]
Young Kang Shi said, "I don't know what I did wrong that you want to kill me, but you can't let me die with my eyes open, can you?"
Yu Zi turned around, sword in hand, and said, "Follow me."
Young Kang Shi asked, puzzled: "What?!"
Yu Zi coldly replied: [Murder!]
Young Kang Shi stamped his foot in exasperation and followed: "Just us?"
Two people are enough!
Her scholarly methods were unique and ruthless enough; she only ambushed two people in the illusion, and killing them several times would have been easy for her.
Yu Zi's promise was quite impressive.
The young Kang Shi personally severed the heads of the father and son, who were sworn enemies. He squatted on the ground, staring at the two heads side by side, his eyes dark and filled with intense hatred. Just as he was about to exhale and speak, the woman's toe lightly touched the son's head. The head deftly jerked upwards with the force, like a football being kicked away, splattering blood all over his face.
He helplessly wiped his face with his sleeve.
You're so inconsiderate...
No sooner had she finished speaking than Yu Zi kicked the other head away, sending it crashing precisely into the one in front. Both heads rolled together into a corner.
Young Kang Shi nervously swallowed a mouthful of saliva.
He was just a teenager, not the future Minister Kang who would be accustomed to life and death. Yu Zi's actions seemed far too cruel to him. He subconsciously touched his head, feeling that Yu Zi wanted to kick his brain: [Be careful, your foot might hurt.]
In a voice barely audible: "My feet don't hurt, but my shoes are still dirty."
Looking down at the young Kang Shi, Yu Zi, with her excellent eyesight, could even see her own reflection in his eyes. That reflection was holding a sword, the blade pressed against the young man's brow. The sword hung suspended in mid-air, not falling. Young Kang Shi sighed, puzzled: "I don't understand. You said you wanted to kill me, but there's not a trace of murderous intent in your eyes."
Upon hearing this, Yu Zi put down her sword.
With his strength waning, he wearily said, "You won, Kang Shi."
Young Kang Shi was baffled: [What? I won?]
"Your scholar's way is 'always losing at gambling,' right?" Ignoring the boy's shocked gaze, Yu Zi said, "I remember you said that you gamble a little for fun in your daily life, and you'll lose to everyone except the lord, but when it comes to a real life-or-death struggle, you'll be the only winner."
Always losing at gambling?
Isn't this another way of always winning at gambling?
If he wants to win, he will definitely win.
so--
"You win, Kang Jishou." Yu Zi repeated, sheathing her sword. "One must know what not to do before one can know what to do; that's what my mother taught me. I certainly wanted to live, to care for my great-uncle in his old age, to bring glory to my family and make my mother happy in the afterlife. I was willing to do anything to climb the social ladder, but I never imagined that your corpse or anyone else's would be among my stepping stones."
Young Kang Shi sat on the ground, staring blankly at her.
Yu Zi's eyes welled up with tears: "Strategist, you scheme to win people's hearts. I'll tentatively believe you're telling the truth, and not trying to deceive me... Fine, even if those words were a lie, I'll accept it."
He blamed himself for not being skilled enough.
Young Kang Shi was immediately at a loss.
Hey, Weiheng, don't cry either.
[Weiheng, it's alright now, come out.]
The boy's bewildered voice almost overlapped with another mature male voice. In his other single eye, Kang Shi followed his memory to a remote village outside the Fugu administrative center. A crowd had gathered in front of a house in the village. Kang Shi drew his sword, deflecting the blunt knife that the woman was about to plunge into the child's abdomen. He then opened his palm to draw back his sword, turning the blade to point at the onlookers who were terrified by the sudden turn of events.
The arrogant and domineering manager, surnamed Diao, snapped out of his daze and yelled in a shrill voice: "What kind of bastard dares to mess with your grandpa!"
Kang Shi showed no mercy and beheaded Diao in public.
A human head rolled on the ground, the villagers were terrified, and screams broke the silence.
[Murder! Murder!]
This Mr. Diao is a big shot.
Their entire village is implicated in their deaths here.
In an instant, these cowardly and treacherous people, fearing they would be implicated, fled or scattered. Even the lackeys brought by Diao tried to escape, but a wall of literary energy blocked their path. Kang Shi caught up with them and killed them all with a single sword strike. With a flick of his sword, blood splattered across the ground, leaving a long, crimson trail. Kang Shi turned and walked straight towards the haggard woman who was tightly clutching her thin son.
The moment the woman's face was revealed, Yu Zi's great-uncle immediately stood up, staring intently at her face, his lips trembling, and two streams of tears almost rolling down his cheeks. Although he hadn't yet revealed the woman's identity, just by looking at her face, he knew that this was his poor niece.
Yu Zi's birth mother, Yu Meiren.
The boy in Yu Meiren's arms was terrified, clinging to his mother and wailing. Startled awake by her son's cries, she loosened her grip on the knife, the blunt blade clattering to the ground. She hugged her son back, weeping silently. Kang Shi knew the mother and son were just an illusion, but even he was moved by this scene. He asked her softly, "Where is Wei Heng?"
Yu Meiren was afraid of the strange man in front of her.
He asked nervously, "Who is Wei Heng?"
Kang Shi was stumped by this question.
Yu Zi hadn't revealed her former name, and Kang Shi was worried that asking would reopen old wounds. Kang Shi thought for a moment, then looked at the woman before him who bore a striking resemblance to the adult Yu Zi, and said earnestly, "[Wei Heng is your daughter, Madam.]"
[Mine? My daughter?]
But she only has one daughter, and her name isn't Weiheng.
Kang Shi smiled and said, "[Weiheng is your daughter's name when she grows up. Her surname is Yu, her given name is Zi, and her courtesy name is Weiheng. She is now a hero who strikes fear into the hearts of her enemies. Madam, she is very beautiful.]"
Everything he said was like a foreign language to women.
His eyes were full of wariness as he looked at Kang Shi.
But seeing that the bad guys who almost drove her family to their deaths were all killed by him, just based on that alone, this man is a good person.
Yu Meiren bit her lower lip, seemingly hesitant.
Are you Wei Heng's husband?
In her understanding, a woman's courtesy name was either given by her parents at her coming-of-age ceremony or by her husband after marriage. With her own future uncertain and her husband's family all heartless and cruel, her poor daughter was destined to live in a quagmire, unlikely to have a peaceful and honest future. The only thing she could think of was that her daughter would grow up, marry, and have her husband give her a courtesy name. The stranger before her had clear features and an air of righteousness; he seemed like a reliable person.
Kang Shi shook his head: "No, I'm her colleague."
Yu Meiren asked softly, "What about this character?"
Could it be that she will name her daughter after this?
Kang Shi said: [It was named by Chu Wuhui.]
Yu Meiren nodded: "Chu Wuhui is Wei Heng's husband."
Kang Shi was speechless: [Chu Wuhui was Wei Heng's legitimate teacher, although Chu Wuhui wouldn't admit it.]
But the homework that Chu Yao corrected didn't say that.
Yu Meiren's mind was in complete disarray.
Based on her understanding, she simply couldn't imagine the truth.
Is the person in front of me Wei Heng's colleague?
Was Chu Wuhui Wei Heng's teacher?
Yu Meiren looked blank. What did Wei Heng do after that?
The boy in her arms had recovered from his fright and was sobbing softly in his mother's embrace. Yu Meiren lowered her head to comfort him, humming a tune that Yu Zi used to hum. Kang Shi looked around, suppressing his emotions, and asked, "Does Madam know where Wei Heng is?"
Yu Meiren's body stiffened.
She recalled the murderous intent that had recently arisen within her.
He closed his eyes briefly and pointed behind him.
Kang Shi hurriedly went inside to search. The dimly lit, cramped, dilapidated house was piled with firewood. He listened intently and finally heard a faint, suppressed murmur coming from the direction of the firewood pile. He raised his hand and moved aside some of the firewood that was covering the girl, and sure enough, he saw her curled up.
Because he is thin, his eyes appear exceptionally large.
She was covering her mouth tightly with both hands, her body trembling violently, tears of fear streaming down her face. Kang Shi was somewhat taken aback to see Yu Zi like this. When he first met Yu Zi, she had been wandering and begging in Fugu City for several years. Back then, she was almost the same height as the one before him, even looking more sallow and thin.
It's not hard to guess how much suffering they endured during those years.
He forced the most harmless smile and reached out his hand to her.
[Weiheng, it's alright now, come out.]
The child, Yu Zi, cowered, too afraid to move. She looked weak and pitiful, showing none of the fierceness she displayed when they first met—kicking his chest, tearing a layer of flesh from his hand, spitting on him, and cursing him filthy. He found it rather novel: "You've finally fallen into my hands!"
The next moment, the child Yu Zi cried her heart out.
The commotion startled Yu Meiren, who rushed in carrying a blunt knife.
Kang Shi: [...]
He waved his hand sheepishly: "It's a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding."
He never expected that a single sentence would frighten someone to tears. In his memory, Yu Zi was someone who could calmly appreciate the hundreds of torture instruments used by the Ministry of Justice. Not only could she appreciate them, but she was also a ruthless character who could enthusiastically develop new uses for prisoners.
She alone invented more than a dozen new torture spells.
It made a great contribution to reducing the crime rate in Kangguo.
Kang Shi sighed, looking at Yu Zi, whose lung capacity was astonishing. He had no choice but to "cede territory and pay reparations," giving her all the precious items he was wearing and promising to take her shopping. He wondered if Fugu City was still bustling or if there were any places to go.
The child had limited stamina, and soon all he could do was sob.
Yu Zi buried herself in her mother's arms and sobbed with lingering fear.
Mother, Mother...
I'm afraid...
Although the way her mother had raised the knife to kill her was terrifying, she was still her most beloved mother. When she was scared, all she wanted was her mother's embrace.
[I'm not afraid anymore, I'm not afraid anymore, Weiheng.]
Yu Meiren gently patted the back of the child, Yu Zi.
After the commotion, with corpses still needing to be dealt with, Yu Meiren had no choice but to entrust her children to Kang Shi's care. Kang Shi accepted the task, and the one adult and two children sat on a small stone stool in front of the house.
The little boy, already sleepy, nestled in his arms. The child, Yu Zi, curiously played with Kang Shi's sword, stroking its glittering gems, and looked up at Kang Shi, asking, "Really, you're giving them all to me?"
Kang Shi said: [Yes, it's for you.]
But it looks really expensive.
Kang Shi smiled and said, "My legacy is naturally of great value."
[Mantle and legacy? What's that?]
Kang Shidao: [My family's wealth.]
The child, Yu Zi, suddenly brightened up: [Wealth?]
Seeing her greedy look, Kang Shi laughed heartily.
After her initial joy, child Yu Zi was puzzled. Why would the other person give her their family fortune? She racked her brains: "My father is dead, so, do you want to be my father?"
In her eyes, her mother was an absolute beauty!
I'm slightly less impressive, but she's an absolute beauty!
So, this kind person must want to be her father!
Kang Shi almost laughed himself to death.
You two, mother and daughter, are definitely... a mother and daughter!
The child, Yu Zi, had a head full of question marks.
One thing she understood was that the other person didn't seem to want to be her father: "Kind person, I don't even know your name."
This is a kind person who gave me all my family's wealth.
With this money, she can take her mother and brother to live a good life. Her grandfather and grandmother are bad people, and she should leave them all in their hometown!
Kang Shi looked at the setting sun and said: "My name is 'Zhu'."
The child, Yu Zi, exclaimed in surprise: "Your name is Pig?"
Immediately, her eyes showed pity: "You're so pitiful. Your father and mother must not like you, that's why they named you Pig."
Kang Shi, having understood: [...]
He helplessly ruffled the small bun that Yu Zi had tied up.
[It's a pig, but it's really quite stupid.]
The child, Yu Zi, didn't understand why he had suddenly become so downcast. Could it be because she had said his parents didn't like him? She whispered comfortingly, "Pigs are actually very smart; they understand human speech."
Kang Shi gently patted the restless boy in his arms.
[I'm not worried about my eldest brother, I'm only worried about my third brother. His health isn't good, and if he suddenly finds out I'm gone, I'm really afraid it will trigger his old ailments... And there's Qi Yuanliang, no, it's Le Zheng. With his personality, I'm really afraid he'll cause a huge uproar, dig me up and whip my corpse to vent his anger, and even take it out on you. Don't be afraid of him, he's just a paper cat, he really thinks he's a tiger...]
I haven't been afraid even once in the past ten years!
Qi Shan, who was being tickled by a cricket: "???"
Kang Shi continued speaking in a language that the child Yu Zi could not understand.
[Actually, it was wrong of me to cause such heartache to my loved ones for the sake of 'outsiders,' but Weiheng, a true man has principles of conduct, and I cannot force myself to do something against my conscience. Even if you hadn't been implicated by me, I couldn't gamble with your life. My opponents at this gamble are enemies, not colleagues or family.]
Is the world a game, and all living beings the gamblers?
[Haha, I thought I could truly detach myself from the bigger picture, that I was the one holding the game, different from the other gamblers, but in the end—]
He couldn't continue gambling this time.
He was no different from other gamblers.
Those so-called calm and extraordinary qualities are nothing but self-deception.
Gambling is gambling; once you sit at the gambling table, you're a gambler.
so--
He is the real "Zhu".
In every sense of the word.
[Wei Heng, you've won this round.]
The child, Yu Zi, looked at Kang Shi with a confused expression.
Young Kang Shi looked at Yu Zi in a panic.
In that instant, the two illusory realms of time and space reached a certain unity.
Rumble—
The thunderous roar was awe-inspiring.
A divine might descended from the illusory sky, and an indistinct male-female voice rang in their ears: "You, truly have no regrets?"
That sound was very strange.
Even those separated by the illusion felt the oppressive aura.
Shen Tang didn't react much, only vaguely feeling that the female voice was somewhat familiar—hmm, why was she so sure it was a female voice?
Abruptly changing her initial anxious mood, Shen Tang scratched her head to hide a smile that seemed to be reaching for the heavens. Seeing Kang Shi and Yu Zi's choices, her intuition told her this was a sure thing. In contrast, the others, especially Kang Nian and Yu Zi's great-uncle, wore expressions of grief and despair—neither of them had survived! Even if only one had lived!
[This is what my heart desires.]
Though I die nine times, I will not regret it.
|ω`)
Hehehe, aren't you surprised?
P.S.: This is the update from the 20th. Don't wait for the update tonight.
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