Chapter 41: I Am Not Afraid of Death

The rain poured down in torrents. It lashed against the pristine white ground of Chu Muye’s courtyard, splashing upward as if countless arrows were being fired from the earth. The downpour was so intense that the sky and the ground had become indistinguishable. The Milky Way seemed to have spilled from the heavens, casting white, surging waves before the streets.

It was amidst this deluge that Chen Zhi'an gripped the hilt of his Yangsui blade.

Chu Muye felt he had underestimated Chen Zhi'an. The youth sitting beside him wore a look of intense focus, as if he were waiting for a single command from Chu Muye to draw his blade and kill.

Qi Tianchong’s eyes flickered with surprise. He studied Chen Zhi'an closely, a rugged grin spreading across his coarse face. No longer bothering to conceal his intent, he raised a finger with great effort and pointed toward the sky.

"Do you know why the rain is so heavy today? It is because a great figure has arrived in Sunan Prefecture. With a single word of command, he can shatter the clouds above and command the heavens to release this torrential deluge."

Qi Tianchong’s voice was raspy, seemingly unafraid of the blade in Chen Zhi'an's hand. "He is the true, undisputed number one martial artist of the world. His name is etched upon the Divine Creation Stele, and his words are carved into the Ninth Stele beneath the Dao. To look upon him is like gazing at a glorious palace—he is a living king of the martial path. As the saying goes: 'The gates of the nine heavens open to reveal the palace, where all nations bow before the crown!' It is because he has drawn the attention of nearly every powerhouse and commanding officer in Sunan Prefecture that I was able to slip into this city."

"His physical body is peerless; he has withstood the Five Disasters of Thunder and dared to wrestle with the Dragon Lord himself. Such a man—even if he were sitting before me gravely wounded—I would not dare to kill."

Qi Tianchong’s tone shifted abruptly. "Before him, I am as you are before me. Chen Zhi'an, I can smell the True Essence upon you. You are merely at the level of 'True Essence Becoming a Tree.' Even if your essence is denser than an average cultivator's, what does it matter? I have exhausted my essence and divine spirit in a battle of wills against Chu Muye, but so what? My flesh and bones are like mountains and peaks! Even if I sat here and let you hack at me for ten days, you could not kill me."

Qi Tianchong spoke with arrogant pride, glancing at Chen Zhi'an with disdain.

Chen Zhi'an remained silent. Beside him, Chu Muye nodded slowly. "The Jade Palace Realm is a true watershed. Those below it are indeed worthy of such arrogance. Zhi'an, I still have words for the Heaven-Swallowing Tiger of West Penglai. You should leave."

Hearing this, a look of regret crossed Chen Zhi'an’s face. Just as he prepared to stand, Qi Tianchong asked, "Chen Zhi'an, you wanted to kill me the moment you saw me. Where did you get the courage and the murderous intent? Was it just to earn a small merit for Chu Muye?"

Chen Zhi'an paused. He lowered his head, as if lost in memory. The rain thundered against the roof, sounding like ten thousand waterfalls crashing down.

"I heard about the Wu Zhu incident in the old alleyway. The storyteller was a man of some history, and he told it with vivid detail. He said that all twenty-something men of that great household were beheaded, without a single survivor. The fates of the thirty-odd women were even more tragic; they were tortured before they died. At the time, I felt nothing. I only thought they were unlucky."

"But today, seeing Senior Qi, I remembered it again. And suddenly, it felt wrong that fifty-some people, known for their kindness and charity, were slaughtered by West Penglai, yet the world remains indifferent. It truly feels... wrong."

Qi Tianchong asked coldly, "Are you not afraid that there was a hidden secret in the Wu Zhu estate, something that invited the blades of West Penglai?"

Chen Zhi'an shook his head. "It is said that a statue of the Wu Zhu patriarch was erected on Lotus Mountain. The mountain wanderers and the townspeople pooled their money to pay for it. Those who couldn't afford it melted down their own cooking pots and kitchen knives to contribute copper and iron, just to plate the statue in gold. If you listen to what people say about a man, and look at the deeds he performed, he couldn't have been that wrong."

Qi Tianchong nodded. "So you wanted to champion the weak and draw your sword to kill me?"

Chen Zhi'an was remarkably candid, even bordering on shameless. He smiled. "If there's a chance to kill, I kill. If it's a matter of convenience, I do it. But since Uncle Chu says I cannot kill you, then it is not an absolute necessity."

Qi Tianchong remained composed. "That is the anger of the weak, Chen Zhi'an. You are still too frail. You are far from qualified to champion the injustices of this world."

"Let me tell you: the reason West Penglai went to the Wu Zhu estate was for two reasons. First, we coveted their vast wealth to provide for our own. Second, Wu Zhu was blind to the situation and refused our recruitment. If West Penglai wants to recruit people to the mountain, we must establish our authority. You guessed correctly—those dozens of people in the Wu family died for nothing!"

Qi Tianchong spoke without a shift in tone, as if recounting something as light as a feather.

Chen Zhi'an seemed unmoved. He sheathed his Yangsui blade and stood up.

Qi Tianchong’s chilling voice rang out again. "You want to seek justice for people like Wu Zhu? Then do you know how we dealt with the four hundred orphans?"

"Those four hundred orphans had received great grace from Wu Zhu. Many had already begun to study martial arts and letters. How could West Penglai allow them to leave? If even one of those four hundred became a talent, it would be a nuisance to us."

"So, we slit the throats of all four hundred orphans and burned the Wu estate to the ground. The fire burned for three days and three nights. Countless people came to put it out, but the blaze was too massive. What could those commoners possibly do?"

Qi Tianchong’s voice suddenly paused, his unchanging expression finally flickering. A smile curled his lips. "Chen Zhi'an, West Penglai is this overbearing. I am sitting right here, right now. If you want to show off your mettle and perform the chivalrous deeds found in storybooks, now is your chance!"

Chu Muye’s expression darkened. He frowned, staring coldly at Qi Tianchong, murderous intent surging in his eyes.

Chen Zhi'an remained impassive, standing with his blade at his side.

Qi Tianchong let out a sudden laugh. "This world is exactly as it is. High-ranking officials sit in their offices and give a single order, and countless people go off to kill, and countless others lose their lives. West Penglai are mountain bandits, so our bloody methods are to be expected. But do you know how many officials sitting in high places are exactly the same? You think you have a sense of chivalry, but you don't even dare to draw your blade against a bandit like me. How can you hope to seek justice?"

"Who said I was a man of chivalry?" Chen Zhi'an finally spoke. As he bowed to Chu Muye to take his leave, he continued, "I said earlier: if I could kill Senior Qi while it was convenient to do a good deed, I would. But to know something is impossible and yet let one's blood boil, to fly into a rage—what is the point of that?"

"I am only seventeen years old, just catching a glimpse of the path of cultivation. In this great world, I am but a weak youth."

"A weakling, even with a mountain of rage, can burn nothing but weeds. So, Senior Qi, you do not need to provoke me with words. Do not dream of planting demonic thoughts in my heart."

Chen Zhi'an appeared remarkably carefree, devoid of impulsiveness, as if he had seen right through Qi Tianchong’s intentions. He spoke casually and stepped toward the exit of the small courtyard on Dongfeng Street.

Chu Muye had told him to leave, and indeed, there was nothing he could do here. With his current cultivation, he couldn't even scratch Qi Tianchong. Seeing that his presence was futile, Chen Zhi'an decided to leave decisively.

Chu Muye found himself unable to see through this child of an old friend. Even Qi Tianchong’s eyes sparkled with interest. "Not to mention Chu Muye, Chen Zhi'an, you are truly remarkable. I did not expect such a pleasant surprise today, to meet such an extraordinary youth."

"But Chen Zhi'an, your guess is still wrong, or perhaps just not quite right. My words were indeed meant to cloud your mind, to make you feel stifled and unable to vent, to ruin your state of mind and stagnate your future cultivation. But at the same time... I was merely stalling for time."

Stalling for time?

Chu Muye and Chen Zhi'an both furrowed their brows.

*Creak...*

The subtle sound of a door opening was masked by the pouring rain. But both Chu Muye and Chen Zhi'an were practitioners. Even though Chu Muye’s divine spirit was exhausted and his True Essence was depleted by the effort of sustaining it, he still possessed extraordinary senses.

Chen Zhi'an had also broken through to the level of True Essence and formed a "Miraculous Tree," making him no less remarkable. Naturally, he heard the sound hidden beneath the rain.

Then came the sound of footsteps treading on water.

A moment later, Chen Zhi'an saw a man in his thirties, clean-shaven, with extremely dark skin, walking slowly into the yard.

At a single glance, Chen Zhi'an recognized him.

"When I was arrested and thrown into the dungeon after the incident at the Huangmen courtyard, I encountered this man in the cell."

Even though the man no longer had his thick beard and the murderous glare was absent from his eyes, Chen Zhi'an knew this was the person who had spoken to him in the cell!

"It is you. We meet again."

The man grinned. "Back then, I asked your name and age, and you remained silent. Today is a good day; I, your master, happen to want to ask your name properly."

The newcomer walked forward as he spoke, reaching the center of the courtyard before bowing to Qi Tianchong from a distance.

Qi Tianchong tilted his head, a mocking smile on his face. "The province of Suyu is currently in turmoil, with countless powerhouses arriving. I came to Sunan Prefecture specifically for Lord Chu. However, with the situation being so volatile, I dared not bring my brothers from West Penglai, lest they be seen and become a burden. But Lord Chu... the 'Iron Horses and Mud Snakes' of West Penglai are everywhere."

"This man is named Qiu Sanxiu. He was waiting in the prefectural prison long ago. Today, with all the experts of the prefecture away, it is the perfect time for him to walk about."

"In this situation, this Mud Snake doesn't need to be very strong. A cultivation of the Divine Spirit Realm is enough to settle the outcome. Lord Chu, am I right?" Qi Tianchong asked.

Chu Muye frowned. "West Penglai has traveled ten thousand miles, risking the danger of being in the same city as General Xuanzi and General Tiebi, just to kill me. I wonder, who could afford such a price?"

Qi Tianchong shook his head, ignoring Chu Muye’s question and looking instead at Chen Zhi'an.

"Just as I said, you truly surprise me... Chen Zhi'an... are you willing to come with me to West Penglai? Once on the mountain, even if your cultivation is currently weak, you shall have the title of a Young General! When the day comes that our Iron Horses gallop into the sea and our Mud Snakes fly into the sky, West Penglai will surely dominate the world. Wouldn't it be better to seek your 'chivalry' then?"

Chen Zhi'an stood under the eaves, his Yangsui blade at his waist, watching the man from afar. The newcomer stood in the rain, letting it wash over him, neither dodging nor avoiding, staring back at Chen Zhi'an in silence.

Qi Tianchong didn't care. He shook his head. "Since you are unwilling to agree and don't want to go to the mountain with dignity, that is easily solved. I will simply have Qiu Sanxiu break your legs, drag you up the mountain, and then set the bones for you... A martial artist at the True Essence level won't die that easily."

He seemed determined to take Chen Zhi'an back to the mountain.

In the rain, Qiu Sanxiu rubbed his wet, shaved head, his eyes suddenly filled with murderous intent.

Chu Muye’s thoughts raced, but he realized they were in a death trap. "I still underestimated the malice of those great figures in the capital. They want to kill me through West Penglai before I have even taken office."

"And... a mere Divine Spirit cultivator has become the deciding chip!"

He realized that after being demoted for several years, during which Chancellor Song had risen to power, the court had likely become a vortex of bone-crushing, soul-destroying intrigue!

"No need to guess. To dare send someone to kill an official about to take office as a Vice Minister—it must be either the State Preceptor or the Duke of Anguo!"

Chu Muye took a deep breath. "It is just a pity that Zhi'an is dragged into this for no reason."

He prepared to squeeze out his last bit of True Essence to summon his Divine Aspect and fight to the death to get Chen Zhi'an out.

Chen Zhi'an, who had remained silent, suddenly spoke.

He looked Qiu Sanxiu up and down as the man stood in the rain, and said softly, "Divine Spirit cultivation, yet he fought someone upon leaving the prison. Even if he tried to hide it, there are knife wounds on his palms. His True Essence must be significantly depleted."

The other three were bewildered.

Chen Zhi'an thought to himself, "I wonder if taking that [Blood-Burning Ginger Fruit] would be enough to kill him."

Qi Tianchong seemed to have lost interest in talking and simply raised a hand toward Qiu Sanxiu.

"Even if I am injured and my True Essence is depleted, how difficult could it be to kill you?" Qiu Sanxiu whispered to himself.

True Essence surged through his body, sharp and intense, piercing through his clothes. The Divine Spirit Realm—nurturing the spirit in the 'Mud Pill' palace, using the spirit to drive True Essence, containing all things in the world, and attaining longevity!

Reaching the Divine Spirit Realm meant one was a cultivator of true mystery. For instance, Qiu Sanxiu—even injured and exhausted—when he channeled his Divine Spirit and circulated his True Essence, a fierce aura erupted from him. His exposed skin turned a fiery, burning red.

"The Red Lotus Sutra..." Chu Muye immediately recognized the origin of the technique.

Qiu Sanxiu finished his technique in an instant, bent his knees, and leaped forward. Like a crimson leopard unleashed, he rushed toward Chen Zhi'an, his immense True Essence pushing aside the air and crashing down.

The violent energy nearly set the surrounding air on fire, and for a moment, the sky seemed to bloom with burning red lotuses.

Chu Muye was about to squeeze the last bit of energy from his body to control his remaining essence, when he suddenly noticed Chen Zhi'an, standing under the eaves, make a move.

He did not know when Chen Zhi'an had drawn his Yangsui blade.

A strange technique began to circulate instantly. Chen Zhi'an’s internal True Essence accelerated to the limit—it was actually burning! A thin layer of aura appeared on his treasure-blue robe.

The veins on his right arm, which held the blade, bulged. His blood flowed at high speed, and the True Essence Miraculous Tree in his energy gate trembled, shedding endless amounts of True Essence like falling leaves.

*Whoosh... Boom...*

In that moment, Chen Zhi'an’s internal True Essence seemed to be ablaze. A flame of light condensed on his Yangsui blade.

And then... this light became blindingly brilliant before the eyes of Chu Muye and Qi Tianchong.

Chen Zhi'an gripped the blazing blade and swept it horizontally!

*The Twelve Layers of the Eight Capitals Heading North!*

Like a mad dragon ascending to heaven, the blade, carrying the fire, brought forth a torrent of True Essence like a great river, colliding with Qiu Sanxiu’s Red Lotus technique.

A sound like a thunderclap exploded in the void. A violent storm erupted in the surroundings.

Chen Zhi'an and Qiu Sanxiu clashed and instantly separated, both landing and then rushing at each other again, carried by the surging tide of their energy.

"How is this possible?" Qi Tianchong’s expression shifted.

Then he smelled it... the True Essence around Chen Zhi'an was burning, becoming incredibly powerful!

"Is it the effect of that blade?" Qi Tianchong’s thoughts raced. "No, that blade is only forged a hundred times; how could it have such power?"

Even Chu Muye was baffled.

But there was no doubt that Chen Zhi'an had become terrifyingly formidable.

The moment he landed, his blade performed a hundred changes, striking at Qiu Sanxiu with peerless True Essence.

Qiu Sanxiu formed the Red Lotus Seal with his hands, his long, steady breath blowing out, seemingly igniting the very air. The scorching heat blocked Chen Zhi'an's path, and the brilliant fire masked Chen Zhi'an’s vision.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Qiu Sanxiu stepped twice to the side and leaped. With murderous intent in his eyes, his bones cracked, and his muscles were engorged with True Essence.

The not-so-tall Qiu Sanxiu grew a foot taller in an instant. His massive shadow blotted out the pouring rain, and a crimson, flame-wreathed arm whipped down, aiming to lash at Chen Zhi'an’s head.

Chen Zhi'an’s blade momentum never faltered, like an army taking a city, moving straight toward the "Eight Capitals Heading North," majestic and unstoppable. With his other hand, he stirred up a violent current, like a tiger’s head biting into the void!

*Clang!*

The blade light flashed. The *Twelve Layers* collided with the Red Lotus whip again, sounding like a lightning strike. The two were evenly matched.

But within the fire, Qiu Sanxiu’s left fist shook, carrying bursts of Red Lotus True Essence, intending to smash into Chen Zhi'an’s heart upon landing.

As his fist pierced through the fire, a tiger’s head seemed to emerge from below, biting down on his right wrist. Chen Zhi'an flipped his wrist, his five fingers hooking like tiger fangs.

Amidst a flash of blood, Qiu Sanxiu remained calm. Fire erupted in his eyes as he swung a leg like a giant hammer, smashing it into Chen Zhi'an’s sword-wielding right arm.

The aura on the treasure-blue robe dissipated rapidly, but it protected Chen Zhi'an’s arm.

They separated once more.

"Hundred-forged blade, mysterious treasure robe, perfect blade technique!"

"Is this really the True Essence Realm?"

Qiu Sanxiu stood in the courtyard, his expression stiff, but he dared not be careless. Because Chen Zhi'an, having landed, seemed completely uninjured. He held the Yangsui blade, which flickered with ink-black fire, and slashed horizontally.

The blade’s cold light was chilling, the murderous intent intense.

Qiu Sanxiu dared not delay. He activated the precious Red Lotus technique, pushed his powerful body to drive his True Essence, and used his Divine Spirit to perceive the changes in Chen Zhi'an’s blade.

But then, Qiu Sanxiu discovered...

Chen Zhi'an’s blade was truly profound, with countless changes hidden within that horizontal slash. No matter how he predicted it, the technique always produced astonishing variations.

"If the blade technique is this mysterious, then I can only break it with brute force!"

Qiu Sanxiu’s energy gate and Mud Pill palace moved in unison, his Divine Spirit squeezing every drop of True Essence. His body was now like a burning furnace, erupting with a fire that consumed all. And all this fire was condensed into his palms!

Qiu Sanxiu planted his feet firmly on the ground. His palms, wide as fans, brought forth a violent aura, fanning out two storms!

The attack was too powerful; the pouring rain seemed to be blocked, the houses in the yard shook, dust filled the air, and roof tiles flew off. The ground cracked.

Qiu Sanxiu’s eyes were filled with murder. He never expected that the boy he had seen in the cell, who was only at the 'Nurturing Qi' stage, could now go toe-to-toe with him after only a few days.

"Smash you to death!"

The Red Lotus True Essence, like a collapsing mountain, crashed toward Chen Zhi'an. Chen Zhi'an gripped his blade, the *Twelve Layers of the Eight Capitals Heading North* bringing forth thousands of changes as he charged at Qiu Sanxiu.

The Red Lotus palm print descended, but Chen Zhi'an abruptly checked his momentum and leaped up in the blink of an eye.

The *Twelve Layers of the Eight Capitals Heading North* descended from the sky!

"Army Breaker Style!"

The blade fell, and blood splattered!

Qiu Sanxiu’s palm print hit the ground, cracking the earth and shattering the wall, but Chen Zhi'an’s blade had landed on his head.

The Red Lotus technique was profound, and a Divine Spirit cultivator's reactions were incredibly fast. Even though Chen Zhi'an’s change was swift, Qiu Sanxiu still managed to channel True Essence to his skull to protect his flesh and Mud Pill.

But... Chen Zhi'an’s blade had already fallen. Even if it had only cut halfway, it was enough to take Qiu Sanxiu’s life!

At this moment, Chen Zhi'an’s flaming Yangsui blade was embedded in Qiu Sanxiu’s head. Qiu Sanxiu’s eyes were wide open, but blood gushed out, obscuring his vision.

"Such a fierce blade technique... how can it be stopped or changed as easily as picking up a leaf?" Qiu Sanxiu’s consciousness blurred as he muttered to himself, before collapsing dead!

Chen Zhi'an retracted his blade, feeling the excruciating pain throughout his body, and nearly collapsed.

Chu Muye frowned. Qi Tianchong’s pupils contracted.

Chen Zhi'an, who had been lunging forward, suddenly executed an unbelievable slash toward Qi Tianchong!

He was only two yards away from Qi Tianchong, who had been slightly distracted by Chen Zhi'an’s impossible performance and was caught off guard. His muscles were not yet coiled for defense.

Chen Zhi'an’s blade, flickering with fire, slashed across his arm, cut into his flesh, and landed with surgical precision on the tendons and ligaments at the joint.

It happened too fast—faster than even Chu Muye and Qi Tianchong, whose Divine Spirit was exhausted, could react.

*Slash!*

Qi Tianchong’s right arm was severed clean at the root. It flew high into the air as blood sprayed wildly.

"You brat!"

Qi Tianchong spat out blood and roared. The blood from his severed arm turned golden, like golden needles, and pierced straight at Chen Zhi'an.

Even the blood of such a powerhouse could transform into weapons!

Chen Zhi'an blocked in a hurry, but he was still struck by the golden needles, which carried terrifying force. The impact sent him flying, and he crashed heavily into the ground, creating a deep pit.

"Cough... cough... cough..."

Chu Muye’s eyes were wide, unable to believe the scene before him.

Chen Zhi'an leaned on his blade and stood up from the pit, feeling the power of the [Blood-Burning Ginger Fruit] fading away.

"Pah!"

He spat out a mouthful of blood, chewed on something, and spat out a tooth. He looked at the ashen-faced Qi Tianchong. "I lied earlier. If I didn't draw my blade against you, I really would have developed demonic thoughts."

Qi Tianchong, like Chu Muye, was incredulous. "How dare you?"

Chen Zhi'an spat out more blood and grinned. "A cowardly person, even with a mountain of rage, can burn nothing but weeds, because they only draw their blades against those weaker than themselves."

"But I am different."

"I am not afraid to die."

Chen Zhi'an added silently: "Because I have already died once."