CHAPTER 405: CHAPTER 356: I’M GOING TO KILL YOU!

At this moment, it seemed as if the entire world had fallen silent.

Shantong’er froze in place, only feeling a deafening roar in his ears, as if the world around him was collapsing, and he himself was about to fall into the abyss, shattering into dust.

He didn’t know how long it had been before he slowly heard his own heartbeat, and the heavy, rapid sound of his breathing.

Was he still alive?

He was still alive!

But, his body seemed foreign to him now, those hands that never trembled even when wielding the copper hammer weighing two hundred pounds, now shook violently, nearly unable to support his body, about to fall forward.

And if he fell—

He slowly lowered his eyes, looking at the blade around his neck. The sharp blade, despite being forcibly broken by him, remained undamaged. Even as his breathing intensified and his adam’s apple bobbed, the edge had skimmed his neck, leaving a faint blood mark.

Shantong’er trembled violently again, his whole body stiff as iron, not daring to move.

Yet the blade remained steady as a rock.

The hand gripping the hilt in reverse showed no sign of trembling, and the blood flowing from the cracked tiger’s mouth emitted a fierce aura, deterring any thoughts of resistance. Yu Wenye spoke in a deep voice, facing away from him, "You’ve done all you need to do."

"...!"

Shantong’er’s breath hitched.

After saying this, Yu Wenye lifted his head to look at Xiao Yuansui, whose face was now dark, with murderous intent surging like tidal waves in the wake of Shantong’er’s failure. Yu Wenye merely said blandly, "His combat power in your village—or even looking at the whole world—is top-tier."

"..."

"But today he failed, all because of you."

"..."

"Because you overestimated your strength, you brought him against me, leading to this disastrous defeat. Thus, this defeat should be attributed to you, not him."

Xiao Yuansui clenched his fists, his knuckles popping.

He said coldly, "You speak such words in my village, are you not too full of yourself?"

"..."

"Or do you truly believe that after taking the head of the general amidst thousands of troops, you can still leave here alive?"

"Second Brother!"

This time, before Yu Wenye could speak, Shantong’er, with the blade pressed against his throat, suddenly spoke up. The gaze of everyone fell once more on his rigid back, only to see the child’s shoulders tremble slightly, then he slowly said, "Even if you won’t let him leave, I—I’ll protect him, make sure he leaves alive."

Xiao Yuansui’s brow furrowed deeply.

The surrounding disciples burst into anger, shouting angrily, "Ninth Master, what are you saying?"

"Are you planning to help outsiders against your own people?"

"This man is the enemy of Wanggang Village!"

Shantong’er remained silent for a long time, seeing that the blade pressing against his throat showed no sign of movement, so he slowly stood straight, turned around, looked at Yu Wenye’s broad back, then over his shoulder toward Xiao Yuansui at the gate, saying in a serious tone, "They were right just now; I am very unhappy in Wanggang Village."

"..."

"I don’t like what you do, even though you’re all noble men, even though you have village rules. When you plunder villages and passing merchants on the mountain, someone always kills the innocent indiscriminately, even sparing neither women nor children. But I haven’t left because I—I wouldn’t have enough to eat if it weren’t for you, wouldn’t have survived until today."

"..."

"So, I’ve been thinking of ways to repay your kindness."

He glanced at Yu Wenye again, continuing, "Earlier, I indeed wanted to kill him. Killing him would settle the debts I owe here in the village. He knew it, but he—he did not turn his blade on me. Therefore..."

Yu Wenye slowly turned to face him, Shantong’er looking into his deep, stern eyes, spoke softly, "I, I want to go with you. Can you let me be full?"

At this, the entire Wanggang Village was in upheaval.

"You’re betraying us?!"

"You ungrateful wretch, defecting to the enemy!"

"We truly misjudged you!"

Everyone was pointing at Shantong’er, cursing and reprimanding him angrily, while Yu Wenye remained still, showing no joy, simply watching this child regaining a tad of innocence and childishness, somewhat awkward before him. After a while, he said solemnly, "Following me would mean joining Duke Sheng’s army, being well-fed is not an issue. But, we too would conquer cities, we too would fight battles."

Shantong’er spoke softly, "When Duke Sheng entered Daxing City, he did not kill indiscriminately."

"..."

Yu Wenye raised his eyebrows slightly, showing a look of unsurprise.

Shantong’er continued, "Actually, at that time, I thought about staying by his side too, but I—I had adhered to my vows for too long, too eager to come out and see the outside world. Only to find—"

Only to find that what he faced upon coming out was a world torn apart by war.

At this moment, Yu Wenye let out a long sigh.

He did not say much, just slowly turned away, glancing at Shen Wuzheng, who nodded lightly.

Yu Wenye then looked at Xiao Yuansui, whose face had turned to steel, saying, "It seems, the outcome of this battle is already decided."

"..."

Xiao Yuansui looked at him coldly, "Not necessarily."

Yu Wenye slowly withdrew his arm, the bent blade held reverse at his side once more, asked, "So, you still wish to engage me?"

Xiao Yuansui shook his head, "I do not wish to engage you."

"..."

"I wish to kill you!"

"...!"

This time, Yu Wenye’s heart skipped a beat.

Given everything that had transpired, for the people of Wanggang Village, or rather for Xiao Yuansui to want to kill him was only natural. Yet somehow, he felt that Xiao Yuansui’s emotions seemed a bit off.

After all, Xiao Yuansui was a very astute person, adept at strategizing, capable of snatching victory from defeat amidst chaos and rising again; even during the past unfavorable situation at Xingluo Granary, he was calm, negotiating with him, finally retreating with all his men and seizing some grain.

But now he seemed fixated on one thing—killing him!

Such fixation since their meeting, and now, seems to have affected his actions.

Why?

Why does he want to kill him so badly?

Could it be—

Yu Wenye’s heart grew chaotic, but Xiao Yuansui had already slowly raised his arm, about to command the disciples, enraged because of Shantong’er’s defection, surrounding them.

Just then, several people rushed out of the village, their faces full of panic, gasping as they ran to Xiao Yuansui’s side, their voices trembling, "Master, something has happened!"