421 A Friend Coming From the South

Hearing Zhu Luo's words, Chen Changsheng subconsciously turned his head aroundto Su Li and that assassin called Liu Qing. Once he left the military fort on the border and had that encounter outsidethe forest, Chen Changsheng had become acutely aware that the frighteningnumber three assassin in the world was following him and Su Li in the shadows.This fact made him feel very uneasy and placed an enormous psychologicalpressure on him. There were even times when he felt like he almost couldn'tstand it anymore.  Only in the moment when he saw the smiles on Su Li’s and that assassin's faceand then saw that assassin's sword like a tree branch breaking through thereflection of the moon in a pool thrust into Zhu Luo's phantasm did he finallyrealize this assassin's actual purpose. This assassin had followed him and SuLi for so many days without attacking, not out of any terrifying endurance andpatience, not because he was seeking an even better opportunity, but because hewas protecting Su Li. He had been waiting for the most dangerous moment beforehe made his appearance! Liu Qing actually knew the Sword of the Golden Crow! It must be known that theSword of the Golden Crow was a secret technique created by Su Li. For it toappear now indicated that he and Su Li must necessarily be very close. In thiscase, what happened tonight in Xunyang City truly had been part of a plan, butit was not a plan concocted by the Great Zhou Imperial Court and the Orthodoxy;rather, it was Su Li's plan, a plan he had developed together with thisassassin. This was what Chen Changsheng was thinking at the moment, and this wasidentical to what Zhu Luo and all the other spectators in the rain thought aswell. But Liu Qing would not admit it, no matter how dazzling his Sword of theGolden Crow had been, even though embers were still drifting about in thedrizzle. He knew this sword technique of Mount Li, but he was not a person of Mount Li. For some reason, the complete lack of persuasiveness in this reasoning madeChen Changsheng believe it. Zhu Luo naturally did not believe. He had made hisown conclusion. It was just that there was currently no time nor any need toseek the truth behind it all. Zhu Luo moved his gaze to Su Li, his expression cold, the moon-like expressionin his eyes seeming almost ready to blaze. He had come today to Xunyang City precisely to kill this person. In the past, even as one of the Storms of the Eight Directions, he wouldn'tdare claim that it was possible for him to beat Su Li. However, the entirecontinent knew that Su Li, in order to break through the demons' encirclement,had suffered severe injuries. He had originally thought killing Su Li would bean exceedingly simple affair, not even requiring his personal intervention. Butnow it seemed that even if he personally appeared, there was still not aguaranteed chance of success. He had suffered a very devastating wound. As expected, a person like Su Li was very difficult to kill. For a similar reason, although he had also been heavily wounded, he was alsovery difficult to kill. In the pouring rain, Wang Po, Liu Qing, and ChenChangsheng's response could be said to be the most unyielding and the mostintelligent, and could even be described as flawless. They had even managed todo the inconceivable and inflict a heavy wound on Zhu Luo, but they still couldnot kill him or make him admit defeat. "I truly did calculate a few things incorrectly." Separated by a fine curtainof rain, Zhu Luo gazed at Su Li and said, "Everyone thinks of you as confidentand casual, playing amongst the world, but in reality, you are proud and aloof,friendless in this world. Moreover, Mount Li is unable to send anyone to rescueyou. But I did not imagine that there were actually people willing to help sucha cold-blooded person as you." These words were naturally speaking of Wang Po, Chen Changsheng and Liu Qing,especially the first two. Whether in temperament or anything else, they wereextremely different from Su Li. Their way of conducting themselves and theirgoodwill to the world were what Su Li ridiculed and despised the most. Yet ChenChangsheng refused to abandon him and Wang Po was willing to journey thousandsof li, all so that they could help him. It was as if they wanted to tell Su Li,this lonely star that killed without regard, that this world was not invariablycold, that there were always some people worthy of trusting. "But you should well understand that they cannot save you." Zhu Luo looked at the Yellow Paper Umbrella in Su Li's hands and thencontinued, "It's impossible for you to live past today. Your struggles arefutile, only delaying." Su Li quietly looked back and said nothing, perhaps out of disdain or someother reason. "You delayed until Wang Po revealed his blade, delayed until that assassinrevealed his sword, but so what?"  Zhu Luo gestured around him at the city and distant plains, both black as thenight, and said, "Look at this world. Only a fool, a youth, and a ghost thatcan't even stand the light stand in front of you, while we are the entireworld." As he said these words, his feet gradually departed from the puddles of waterand his body floated into the air. As his long hair danced behind him, atyrannical Qi enveloped the entirety of Xunyang City. Blood flowed down fromhis chest and his mouth, plopping onto the ground ten-odd zhang below. The drizzle finally ceased and the clouds parted once more, revealing a skythat could be real or unreal. It seemed to possess a moon. Countless swordintents descended like moonlight. Moonlight flowed through the street likewater. On the hard surface of the street appeared innumerable deep crevices, all ofthem sword slashes. This was the result of an expert of the Divine Domain displaying the fullmight of his Qi. Zhu Luo was resolved to use his most powerful attack. Wang Po suddenly opened his mouth and said, "Senior would not even hesitate topay two hundred years’ worth of life essence?" Zhu Luo was already severely wounded. If he wanted kill with Su Li withabsolute certainty, he would need to pay an even greater price. He looked atWang Po and said, "Young master of the Wang clan, didn't you also pay twentyyears’ worth of life essence?" Previously at the inn, Wang Po’s single blade had heavily wounded Xiao Zhangand Liang Wangsun. It must be known that even though Wang Po was at the top ofthe Proclamation of Liberation, in reality, the three people were very close instrength. In order to go one against two and to cause his opponents to lose thestrength to fight in the shortest time possible, he would naturally have toperform an extremely powerful secret technique, even one that could cause harmto himself. For Wang Po to do this, he had paid a great price. Back then, Xiao Zhang and Liang Wangsun had both been very shocked. At this moment when he asked Zhu Luo a question, Zhu Luo had given him thisquestion back in return. After Wang Po’s eyebrows were washed by the rain, they had grown even dullerand droopier. After Wang Po’s clothes had been soaked in the rain, he seemedeven more poverty-stricken. If he were an accountant, then the master that he served would already bebankrupt. But the words he said were still calm and forceful. "I am still young, but Senior is already old." Time was the fairest and the unfairest. Age was precisely Wang Po's greatest advantage over Zhu Luo. Su Li, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly began to roar withlaughter. His laughter contained a boundless joy. And then, he said to Wang Po, "These old things can only die, not sufferdefeat. You don't need to advise him." Wang Po understood, as did everyone else on the rainy street. Tonight, if ZhuLuo retreated, then how could he maintain his hallowed position on thecontinent—how could he remain as one of the Storms of the Eight Directions? Since he was one of the Eight Storms, he could never lose, only win. Even if he had to pay two hundred years of his life. Su Li's laughter echoed through the quiet Xunyang City, filled to the brimwith derision for prestige and the continuance of family lines. Zhu Luo suddenly gazed up at the night sky, a mocking smile on his lips. Su Li's laughter abruptly ceased. Zhu Luo said mockingly to him, "Could it be that you imagined that since weresolved to kill you, only one of these old things would come? You delayed somuch that you ultimately delayed yourself into an abyss. Do you regret it?" The rain over Xunyang City had already stopped and the clouds in the sky hadscattered somewhat, but it was still gloomy and the time of day was unknown. Half of the sky seemed to possess a moon, faintly discernible amongst theclouds. On the other half of the sky, countless shining stars suddenly appeared. Chen Changsheng had no idea what was happening. Gazing up at that starry sky,he realized that his Fated Star was not there. He faintly understood thosestars were unexpectedly all illusory. Who had come? Who could cause such a strange phenomenon in the heavens? Wang Po's expression became abnormally solemn. Liu Qing stood in front of SuLi, his head lowered, blood dripping down his face as he seemed to think aboutsomething. From the distant streets came the sounds of private discussions,occasionally punctuated with a cry of surprise. Liang Wangsun and Xue He showedrather strange expressions. Neither of them had thought that such powerfulforces would appear tonight. Hua Jiefu's complexion was a little pale. He thought to himself, what to donow? A person had come to Xunyang City. He had not yet appeared, but the sky had become a sea of stars. A powerful spiritual sense gradually descended, and the pools of water on thestreet leapt up like they were boiling. That person was called Guan Xingke. He lived on the coast, or possibly in theGreat Western Continent. Every night, he gazed at the stars, something he haddone for more than three hundred years now. (TN: Guan Xingke literallytranslates to 'star gazer'.) That person was very close to Zhu Luo, so much so that they were called theUnrivaled Star and Moon. Of course, he was also one of the Storms of the EightDirections. Xunyang City was completely silent. Wang Po turned to Chen Changsheng and said, "You should leave now." Chen Changsheng’s hand gripping the dagger was slightly trembling. "And whatabout you?" Wang Po thought it over, then said, "I would like to try again." Fully aware that he couldn't, yet still wanting to do it. Fully aware that hewas no match, yet still wanting to fight. In Wenshui, he had worked as an accountant for the Tang clan for three years,and his brush had not erred once. Everything that he said, he would always do. He did not believe that Su Li should die tonight, so he wanted to struggleuntil the end. But he did not believe that Chen Changsheng needed to stay,because Chen Changsheng was just a youth and he still had much of his youth tosquander, to experience. Chen Changsheng very sincerely pondered, but he still could not decide whetherto leave or not. Today's rain was somewhat chilly, and Zhu Luo's sword had been very cold, buthis blood was still hot. In the end, he made a decision. But everybody knew that his decision and even Wang Po's decision were bothcompletely meaningless. For Wang Po, Chen Changsheng, and Liu Qing to force Zhu Luo to this stage wasalready enough to be proud of. In addition, this battle in the rain wouldassuredly be recorded in the history book, but they could do no more than this. Two experts of the Divine Domain simultaneously descended upon Xunyang City. It had already been many years since there had been a scene like this. Many people subconsciously turned to Su Li. Those two Divine Domain experts had specifically come for him. Suddenly, those people that wanted to kill Su Li were filled with reverenceand admiration. In order to kill him, the demons had plotted for many years, sent out everyone of their experts, and surrounded the snowy plains with innumerable soldiers. He had been severely injured, but if the human world wanted to kill him, theyalso had to move two of their most powerful experts. This sort of life was truly something to be proud of, an incredibly gloriouslife. It could be said to have been lived with no regrets. All these people wanted to know what a person like Su Li would say in thefinal moment. Under the watch of countless gazes, Su Li finally opened his mouth. He looked at Zhu Luo floating in the sky and asked, "Can you wait just alittle longer?" It seemed very much like he was acting out a comedic dialogue. It was still a one-person comic dialogue. Zhu Luo slightly arched his brows. "To continue delaying even now, it'ssomewhat out of sorts with your identity. Could it be that the Junior MartialUncle of Mount Li is also afraid of the sea of stars after death?" "Correct, I am delaying." Su Li's voice was very calm. "From the military fortto Xunyang City, I've always been delaying, because this person lives very faraway and requires a very long time to come over." Zhu Luo asked, "You've always been…waiting for someone?" Su Li replied, "Correct." Zhu Luo asked, "Not Liu Qing?" Su Li answered, "He's always been with me, so why would I need to wait?Moreover, I believed he had come to kill me." Chen Changsheng couldn't help but shoot a glance at Liu Qing, thinking tohimself,just what is the relationship between Su Li and this famous assassin? After a moment of silence, Zhu Luo inquired, "Who are you waiting for?" Su Li replied, "I'm waiting for a friend." Zhu Luo said with derision, "You actually have a friend?" If this question were asked to a normal person, it would seem particularlyabsurd. People lived on this world eating alike the five grains, dining onfresh vegetables and ripe fruit—how could one not have a friend? Whether it wasa fair-weather friend or a friend you could go to a brothel with, in brief,they were all friends. But this question was asked to Su Li, so it was notabsurd. The entire continent knew that Su Li trusted no one and had no friends. Even Chen Changsheng knew that he had no friends. The disciples of Mount Li were people of his sect and could even be consideredhis family, but they were not friends. Wang Po was not his friend, Chen Changsheng was not his friend, and it wasvery obvious that Liu Qing was also not. To be precise, this world had many people that worshiped Su Li as a person. But there were very few people with the qualifications to be his friend. And in Su Li's view, those people were all old things, rotted wood, oldbastards— People such as Zhu Luo, such as that Guan Xingke who was almost about toarrive. Zhu Luo was incredibly confident that those people qualified to be Su Li'sfriends, who were also the only ten-odd people on the continent able to changethis situation today, would absolutely not befriend Su Li. An even colder fact was that amongst the strongest ten-odd people in theworld, the majority of them were Su Li's enemies. Zhu Luo simply didn't understand who Su Li was waiting for. If his friend wassome sort of peasant, then such a friendship was the stuff of legends, and wasaesthetically rather meaningful, but just what meaning could it have now? "Even a person like you can have friends, so how can someone as outstanding asme not have friends?" Su Li looked at Zhu Luo and said derisively, "Idiot!" As his words fell, the sea of stars over Xunyang City abruptly began to shake. A dignified and pure, even holy, Qi obstructed all the pressure emanating fromthat sea of stars. And then, a person from the south arrived. The person that came was an old friend of Su Li's. That person's white clothes floated in the air, and then instantly flewten-odd li from the plains outside the city to within the city. That person was a woman dressed in white ceremonial dress. The dust of ten thousand li was all on her sleeve, her white clothes havingalready gradually become clean. She rushed in front of Zhu Luo. Zhu Luo let out a cry of extreme shock and then slashed at her! The white-clothed woman lifted her hand, her sleeve gently waving. With a single wave, the clouds in the sky contorted themselves. Her pure clothes covered the moon. The moonlight suddenly retreated. And then Zhu Luo fell back, swiftly fell back, fell back ten-odd li until hefinally heavily crashed against the city gate. With a boom, dust was sent flying everywhere. After Chen Changsheng had announced Su Li’s presence, the city gate of XunyangCity had always been closed. Now, the gate to Xunyang City was finally opened. The city gate instantly collapsed. On the ground covered with wood and bricks, Zhu Luo kneeled down andincessantly vomited blood. On the street, that white-clothed woman slowly withdrew her finger and turnedto Su Li. This was a woman with a very ordinary appearance. On her face, one couldfaintly make out the light traces of time. Just like the faint lines on the corners of her lips. Chen Changsheng felt that this set of white ceremonial clothes was somewhatfamiliar. The crowd was so shocked that their mouths were agape and they were lost forwords. Hua Jiefu, along with the priests he had brought into Xunyang City, one by onekneeled down to pay homage, shuddering and not daring to speak.