Chương 97: Nie Feng

Qinghe County City, The Song Manor. Seeing Chen Zihao so deeply understand the meaning of gratitude and repaying a debt, Song Que was even more pleased. He hurriedly helped him up:"Brother Chen, there is no need for this. It was merely lifting a finger." Chen Zihao knew the severity of his own injuries better than anyone. Although the other party spoke of it lightly, he knew in his heart that to pull him back from the brink of death, this Brother Song must have paid an unimaginable price!

He shook his head and said, deeply moved:"I do not know what kind of miraculous panacea Brother Song used, but its value must be exorbitant! It is a pity that I have nothing left in my hands to compensate you." Speaking of this, he remembered something and reached into his robes to search, but grasped only empty air.

"Is Brother Chen looking for these?" Appearing in his hand at an unknown moment, Song Que smiled and handed him two secret manuals—the very martial arts inherited by his Chen Family! Seeing these two books, Chen Zihao was overjoyed:"So they were with you, Brother Song! I was afraid I had dropped them along the way! Brother Song, I have nothing else. These two martial arts manuals inherited by our Chen Family may not be peerless divine arts, but their power is by no means ordinary!

Allow Zihao to 'borrow flowers to offer to the Buddha' and present these to you, Brother Song, in hopes of partially covering the cost of your medicine." Hearing this, even with a face as thick as a city wall, Grandee Song couldn't help but blush! He hurriedly coughed lightly to hide his embarrassment:"Ahem... Actually, it didn't cost that much. Since they are your family's inherited martial arts, Brother Chen, please keep them." Song Que was genuinely embarrassed here!

After all, to save the man, aside from expending a little energy, he hadn't lifted a finger! From carrying the man to changing his clothes, everything had been done by Xiong Ba! As for these two secret manuals... did he dare admit he had already secretly copied them?!

"The Chen Family no longer exists. Keeping them will only bring more sorrow. My mind is made up; I respectfully ask Brother Song not to decline any further."

"Sigh, then this junior will respectfully obey rather than politely decline." Only then did Chen Zihao breathe a sigh of relief:"That is for the best. I must also trouble Brother Song to let me stay here until tonight. Once the city streets are empty, I will leave secretly so as not to bring trouble upon you, Brother Song." This Grandee Song hasn't even started his persuasion campaign yet! How could he let him go so easily?!

Rightfully putting the two secret manuals away, Song Que shook his head and smiled:"Brother Chen, do not be hasty. I have a proposal I would like to discuss with you."

"Oh? What proposal? Please enlighten me, Brother Song!" Chen Zihao's eyes lit up as he asked. Pondering for a moment, Song Que spoke:"I wonder, if you could achieve your revenge, what would you be willing to sacrifice, Brother Chen?"

"Everything. Including my life." Chen Zihao spoke with resolute determination, without a shred of hesitation. Song Que nodded inwardly, then spoke in a deep voice:"If I can help you achieve your revenge, Brother Chen, would you be willing to submit to me?" Hearing this, Chen Zihao was slightly taken aback. After a moment, he spoke with difficulty:"Since Brother Song saved my life, I should naturally repay you with my life!

But regarding my Chen Family's matter, you should know, brother: the enemy's power is terrifyingly massive. I fear..."

"Does Brother Chen fear I cannot fulfill this promise?"

"I am not looking down on you, Brother Song, but the enemies' strength is profound; it is difficult for us to oppose them. If, in the future, I am fortunate enough to survive after washing away this humiliation, I am willing to serve you then. Would that be acceptable?" Chen Zihao spoke frankly and decisively. Seeing this, Song Que wasn't angry. He smiled and asked:"What if I can guarantee to help you achieve your revenge within five years? Perhaps not even five years—what about three years?"

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"Are you speaking the truth, Brother Song?"

"I have practiced martial arts for less than three years, and now, at fifteen years old, I am already a Fourth-Grade martial artist. I dare to declare that within five years, I will definitely surpass Du Ruhui and his ilk!"

"Furthermore, has Brother Chen heard about the recent incident involving Lingying Temple?" Hearing Song Que state that he had stepped into the ranks of the Second Tier at only fifteen years old, Chen Zihao was shocked to his core! Hearing the other party's question, he thought for a moment before asking excitedly:"I heard this feat was accomplished by a youth surnamed Song from Qinghe County! Could it be..."

"Indeed, it was I! I can guarantee that if I cannot fulfill this promise within five years, I will invite a Grandmaster from Lingying Temple to step forward and seek justice for you, Brother Chen!" The prestige of a Grandmaster could not be violated! That the other party could help him achieve his revenge—Chen Zihao believed it without a doubt! Thrilled, he knelt down, his face flushed red as he shouted:"Chen Zihao pays respects to the Master...! Cough... cough..."

Exerting too much force caused him to cough up a mouthful of blood, but he didn't care! His entire being was filled with an exhilarating, uplifting sense of excitement!

"Brother Chen, there is no need for this! Please, stand up!" Grandee Song was slightly stunned by his directness. He had originally thought he would need to use persuasive rhetoric! Who knew that after just two sentences, the other party would kneel, leaving him feeling a bit unsatisfied! He hurriedly helped the man up again.

"Master... cough cough... you may address me directly by name!" Using An Jin to stroke the man's back and smooth his breathing, Grandee Song smiled benevolently:"Brother Chen, catch your breath first! There's no need for this; we can just address each other as brothers." As the sharp pain gradually subsided, Chen Zihao spoke solemnly:"The order of seniority and status cannot be disrupted! Since Zihao has acknowledged you as Master, from now on, you may simply call me by name!"

Having grown up in a prominent family spanning centuries, the concept of hierarchy and status was deeply ingrained in him. Knowing it would be difficult to sway him, Song Que could only smile bitterly:"Then just call me 'Young Master'! Calling me 'Master' feels too strange."

"Yes, Young Master! Thank you, Young Master, for taking me in!"

"Brother Chen... ah... Zihao. Since you have agreed to follow me, I must state this upfront: I will definitely help you avenge your grievance, but not right now!"

"Without my orders, you are not allowed to arbitrarily seek out your enemies! It is best you bury this matter deep in your heart, and do not return to Lingjiang Commandery for the time being. Wait until I feel my strength is sufficient, and I will naturally help you avenge this blood feud!" Chen Zihao was not a brute with courage but no brains. The more cautious Song Que was, the more he felt the other party was truly considering his well-being, solidifying his belief that Song Que would do as he said!

Therefore, he solemnly guaranteed:"Young Master, please rest assured. I will not act rashly!"

"Mm, very good," Song Que nodded in satisfaction.

"Furthermore, you need to change your name! The name 'Chen Zihao' is too conspicuous."

"Young Master, I had the same thought. My mother's surname is Nie. I originally intended to use a pseudonym with her maiden name to avoid the eyes and ears of others." Surname Nie? Song Que's eyes lit up! An image surfaced in his mind of a man—handsome, heroic, possessing peerless chivalry, hailed by the world as the 'Son of the Wind', the 'God in the Wind'!

"How does 'Nie Feng' sound?"

"Thank you, Young Master, for bestowing this name! From now on, I will be called Nie Feng!" Chen Zihao—now Nie Feng—agreed immediately without hesitation. With his heart already 'dead', he cared little for such things. His life now only had one and a half goals: to exact his revenge, and if he accomplished that, to live for the other goal—repaying the Young Master's kindness!

"Having fulfilled his mischievous urge, Song Que felt incredibly cheerful! He secretly resolved that in the future, he absolutely must find a martial art called Three Parts Return to Origin for Xiong Ba, to match Nie Feng's Wind God Kick! I just wonder where Bu Jingyun is! [1]" [1: Author's note: Xiong Ba, Nie Feng, and Bu Jingyun are legendary characters and martial arts from the classic martial arts comic The Storm Riders (Wind and Cloud).] Sigh...

I wonder when this Grandee Song will finally 'transform into a dragon'!

"Nie Feng, your injuries are not yet healed. Stay in this courtyard for now. Later, I will have someone bring you some tonics to nourish your vitality."

"Understood, Young Master."

"As for your injuries..." Having not been certain he could recruit the man before, Song Que hadn't put much effort into healing him—if he lived, he lived; if he died, he'd bury him! Now that he was one of his own, naturally, he couldn't be so perfunctory! A leader who doesn't care for his subordinates is obviously not a good leader! But using the Tesseract's energy right now was obviously inappropriate. After all, the fewer people who knew about it, the better!

He even had to use methods to hide it from Li Xin, let alone someone who had just sworn loyalty like Nie Feng.

"Young Master, I can circulate my energy to heal myself. There is no need for you to expend any more wealth." Healing is an absolute must! I can't let him feel his leader is cold-hearted! Song Que thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up, and he said joyfully:"I still have a few pills left! Wait here a moment!" He ran off, and it wasn't long before he returned, holding a porcelain bottle containing several milky-white pills the size of longan fruits.

These were primitive antibiotics refined personally by Song Que! With crude tools, they naturally couldn't be as pure as in his past life, but they definitely had an effect! For someone like Nie Feng, who needed treatment to prevent internal organ infections, wasn't this perfect?! I just don't know if there are any side effects... but with a martial artist's physique, it'll probably just cause a stomachache at most! That should be it. It'll be fine!

Besides, with 'Divine Doctor Song' right here, what is there to worry about?! Having convinced himself, Song Que quickly handed the bottle to Nie Feng.

"Take this. Take one pill after you finish eating later. It will be very helpful for your injuries." Seeing Grandee Song 'hesitate' for a long time earlier, Nie Feng assumed the pills inside the bottle must be incredibly precious! He was deeply moved and said:"Thank you, Young Master, for bestowing the medicine."

"Haha, no need to be polite!"

'Shameless' Song laughed dryly and changed the subject:"Go wipe yourself down first; someone will bring food in a bit. Focus on healing your injuries; we will discuss things further in a few days."

"I will follow the Young Master's arrangements entirely." Extremely satisfied with his attitude, Grandee Song smiled, nodded, offered a few more words of care, and then left him to rest and recover in peace.