Chapter 8

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Still oblivious to what had happened, she felt a gust of wind whistling in her ear, and it seemed to carry along feelings of love.

“Follow me as your master from this moment on Ping’er. Gone were the days of suffering as I, your master, will never subject you to any forms of suffering. I will teach you the mastery of swordplay so you will no longer live the life of common-folk.”

“Master…”

It was unclear to her as she felt a strong urge to give her master a tight, warm hug.

She felt that right now, she was the most blessed and luckiest handmaiden in the entire realm, to have received such grace and protection from her master.

At the same time, Zhou Yan, too, was excited.

“Master, your sword seems to be poking me.”

As the young lass spoke, unexpectedly, she seemed to understand what had happened, thus prompting her startled scream as she struggled to free herself from his hug.

“Yes, it seems my little Ping’er is way too attractive. It’s only today that I, the young master, had noticed.”

Zhou Yan laughed seductively as he spoke. It seemed that all his worries and problems had disappeared the moment this awkward interaction happened.

“Oh…Master, you’re naughty,” said Ping’er as she blushed nervously.

Zhou Yan teased her further and laughed. “Which do you, Ping’er, prefer, a master that is naughty or a master who is orderly?”

“Master…”

Flustered by his comment, the young lass looked up almost instantly. Nervously, she said, “I… I prefer Master in his current state.”

“Hahaha, now we’re talking, come on now, let your master give you a kiss. If we wait any longer, it would not be as fun.”

Thus, Zhou Yan rejoiced as he felt much better after the exchange they both shared. Even though he understood the severity of his father’s condition, he felt weirdly optimistic about his future and confident about saving his father. Not a single concern, nor worry consumed his mind.

“Master.”

Without any hesitation, Ping’er inched closer to her master while keeping her head lowered as she blushed mildly. It was an incredibly adorable sight to watch as she shuffled closer towards her master.

It was impossible for Zhou Yan to have the heart to abandon nor to ignore a lass so adorable and beautiful like her. In what way was she ever inferior to Zhou Lingyi other than the status as a lowly handmaiden?

Zhou Yan could no longer understand his previous feelings and perspectives about things. Ever since he inherited the collective memories of the ancient sage, he felt that all relationships between everyone should be equally regarded. It was like the way he treated Ping’er, with absolutely no gap between their social statuses. It would be undeniable for a person as scrupulous as Ping’er to feel her master’s sudden intimacy.

…

“Hmph… It seems like the apple never falls far from the tree to have borne such a b*stard son. It’s so bold of you to even dare lay a finger on a lowly handmaiden. You disgust me!”

Before Zhou Yan could even embrace Ping’er, a high-pitched voice echoed through the air.

Without even looking, judging from the voice alone, Zhou Yan knew it was none other than Zhou Lingyi!

She had actually come.

“How inappropriate. Here we are, doing everything in power for his father, and yet there he stands with reservations of lust to spare. Hence, trash like you would always be trash. How utterly useless.”

At this very moment, another maiden’s voice filled the air.

This voice was laced thick with mockery and judgment. Her tone was filled to the brim with emotions of resentment and envy.

More resentment could be felt through her piercing eyes as she glared into Zhou Yan’s soul.

Zhou Yan paid no mind to any of her judgment since he knew what Zhou Shuangshuang’s purpose was for being here.

“My dear sister, I’ve spoken countless times in the past that this lowly worthless servant like her is the embodiment of bad fortune. Look at her, how bold must she be to act inappropriately in public. She needs to know her place. Hence she must be punished!”

A manly voice spoke.

This man was none other than Zhou Cheng, Zhou Shuangshuang’s brother. The very man who had reserved feelings of lust towards Ping’er. He was the infamous spoiled rich lad of the Zhou family. Judging from his raw strength alone, it seemed he had ascended to rank one Blade’s Cardinal.

As he spoke, his gaze was focused entirely on the lass, who stood close by Zhou Yan’s side, as he completely ignored Zhou Yan. The predaceous nature of his gaze struck fear in Ping’er’s heart, stopping her from explaining herself.

She inched closer to Zhou Yan’s side, utterly terrified of facing these practitioners of the blade’s art.

“Do you happen to be deaf, Zhou Yan? We’re speaking to you.”

At the same time, Zhou Xian took a step forward. As he glared at Zhou Yan, it almost seemed like he was taking pleasure out of Zhou Yan’s suffering.

A sunken, weighted look manifested in Zhou Yan’s gaze as his arm reached for the hilt of his sword at his waist. Although his palms were drenched in freshly dried blood that he inflicted upon himself earlier, he was unaffected as his reflexes were incredibly nimble.

With inhumanly fast speed, he wielded his sword in his hand. He was so quick that not a single soul noticed it.

“It appears to me that you, too, can feel anger. Here I thought you had permanently destroyed your mind by your selfless action of pushing your body beyond its limits! Know your place if you know what’s coming! I was sent by the Grand Elder himself to make sure you did not take more training resources that rightfully belonged to the family than you deserved. Trash like you is unworthy of anything, so have I made myself clear?”

Seemingly sensing impending danger, Zhou Xian’s pupils constricted. However, Zhou Cheng was still mockingly provoking the lad.

That was not the end of it, nay, this lad was not just provoking Zhou Yan. In his gaze, he had a glint of a challenge as he started contently at the sword in Zhou Yan’s hand. A thick, sinister wave of intent radiated from his gaze.

It was an invitation to a challenge. He hoped that Zhou Yan would take the bait and initiate the first strike, thus formalizing the duel. However, judging from the looks, Zhou Yan, as a practitioner of the blade’s art, was wielding a broken sword. A tool of such high regard and importance was broken by the hands of this lad. It was an act of disgrace to the highest degree.

The only people who harbored any grievances towards him would be the group that was all gathered here at this moment. Not a single person was left out.

Through the perspective of the collective memories from the ancient sage, his personality changed. He was no longer bothered by the squabbles of these children who stood in his face. Completely unfazed, a wave of a firm and cold resolve was present through his gaze. He slowly glared at each and every one of them until his eyes rested upon Zhou Lingyi’s face.

Zhou Lingyi frowned as she was displeased by Zhou Yan’s menacing gaze. Not backing down from her stance, the lass stared back at him while holding back her anger, not willing to show any emotion.

“Well, then! I understand now, they may both leave.”

“Leave? You may leave this lowly scum of a servant behind! Do not ruin the good name of our Zhou family!” said Zhou Cheng aggressively.

A flash of menace radiated through Zhou Yan’s gaze. This glare of pure, unhinged menace pierced Zhou Cheng’s soul in an instant.

“Ping’er will be coming with me.”

At this moment, a maiden draped in a white, silk cloak approached the courtyard. The lass seemed exceptionally skilled, judging from her face alone. However, it seemed unfortunate that she looked as if she was plagued by an unknown ailment as her face was pale. This unknown ailment made her look weak, almost as if, delicate.

However, Zhou Cheng dared not to oppose this maiden’s orders.

“Lady Ning’er, this matter does not concern you, Ping’er is a handmaiden of our Zhou family. Forgive my insolence my lady, but I cannot comply…” Zhou Cheng spoke with no intention of backing down.

“The Zhou family…How disappointing.”

Ning’er merely took a glance at Zhou Cheng as she noticed this man was adamant of not complying with her orders. As she glanced over to Zhou Yan, a look of disappointment filled her eyes as she thought about the lack of action this man showed in defense of his own handmaiden. However, this lass hid her emotions well.

“Master… I am merely a lowly servant of no status. Knowing your heart still held a place for me, master, I have no regrets.

“Master, you are the most admirable man in my life. If there’s a next life, I will follow you once more. I will be your handmaiden for an eternity.”

Ping’er dissolved into a puddle of tears as she slowly walked out. She was not ready to cause any more trouble for her master thus, completely submitting to them.

The maiden cloaked in white merely stood idle, spectating the whole scene as she did nothing to intervene. However, the glint of elegance and beauty that was present in her eyes earlier had faded away. As of the current state, her eyes were dim and lifeless.

“Huff…”

Zhou Yan released a long-winded breath, as his respect and bond with the Lord of his family completely vanished.

He refused to believe that these men who possessed such vast power had no knowledge of the event that was currently transpiring.

‘Would they rob him of the resources of his final year? His personal handmaiden, someone who had grown up alongside him, would they too rob her from him?’ thought Zhou Yan.

“Ping’er, there would be no need for you to wait for our next life, just serve me well in this life.”

Zhou Yan suddenly extended his arm to grab Ping’er’s cold hands.

At that very moment, he could feel the violent trembling of Ping’er’s body. He felt the silent encouragement and motivation given to him by the lady in white. It was also at this moment, the dimmed, lifeless pupils of this mysterious maiden clad in white whose name was Ning’er, a lass that feared nothing with an unknown past lit up instantly.

“What’s the matter? Can’t bear to let her go?”

Zhou Cheng provoked further.

Zhou Xian simply chuckled mockingly.

Zhou Shuangshuang however, simply stared at Ping’er with an envious look, as she was unable to contain her emotions.

Zhou Lingyi only had an arrogant look on her face as she seemingly looked down on them, placing herself on an unreachable pedestal. She almost seemed like a jester gazing down a bridge, tempted to take a leap of faith.

“If you can defeat me in combat, then it proves my own inability to defend Ping’er. Hence, you may have her!” said Zhou Yan with a cold tone.

“Hahaha, trash like you dare to demand something so outrageous!” Zhou Cheng chuckled like a mad man.

“Master, don’t fight him. Can’t you see that they’re looking for a reason to fight?” replied Ping’er frantically as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Without saying a word, the blade in Zhou Yan’s palm morphed into a silver light, one that pierced the heavens and the very earth with a single ‘swoosh.’ This light was filled with a vast ancient menacing aura.

This attack was merely a basic form of the ‘Sword Art of Clear Waters Heaven’s Blade.’ However, with this basic attack alone, it seemed as if a veil of water surrounded them. This scene alone was enough to shock anyone.

Zhou Cheng was stunned by this attack. Before the lad could even respond with an onslaught of his own, with a sudden ‘swoosh,’ a ghastly, almost god-like energy pierced through his defensive Qi energy, deflecting the silver blade he just unsheathed out of his hands, as it pierced straight through his chest!

“Urgh…”

A fountain of blood gushed out his gaping wound as it shot out as far as three miles away. Zhou Cheng was instantly thrown into the sky above, then was smashed onto the ground upon landing.