Chương 39: Golden Finger (Part IV)

"Do you want some tea, Young Master?" Bai Xiaomeng whispered, massaging Wang Chen's shoulders. They were alone in the same house Lucian and Wang Chen had previously used for training.

"Little Meng, I ate a lot! I can't handle more," Wang Chen chuckled in response. Then, he muttered, "Just another sip, just one more." Bringing the cup to his mouth, he took a mouthful of the warm, yellow ganshou tea. The liquid burned like fire, blending a woody sweetness with a faint acidic aftertaste. It was unique in a way that filled Wang Chen with comfort, making him remember the warm sunlight.

Smacking his lips, he felt that the tea's aftertaste brought a strange sensation, a mixture of longing and emptiness. Part of him thought this was because he could finally drink tea as if it were water, etiquette be dammed. It was oddly liberating, but it also brought to mind that he had no one but Bai Xiaomeng to scold him when needed. Thinking about Bai Xiaomeng, he was amazed by her capabilities.

During the week they had spent basically alone, she had prepared their food and brewed tea, the taste improving each day. She had also set traps and caught a few rabbits for them to eat, so they wouldn't have to depend on the stash of rice and other vegetables. Now, with her little hands on his shoulders, Wang Chen felt the heavens had blessed him! Closing his eyes, he smiled and turned to her.

He was about to thank her for everything, but l ooking at her big brown eyes, clear skin, silk-like hair, and full lips made him feel intoxicated. It was enough that he let out a small moan of pleasure. The sound escaped his lips without control, making him blush and turn his face away. Bai Xiaomeng giggled softly, pressing his shoulders harder.

"Young Master, do you want—" Unfortunately for him, she was interrupted by Lucian entering the room with heavy steps. Swiftly, Bai Xiaomeng took two steps back and bowed, cupping her hands out of respect. Such an action made Wang Chen sigh in sadness, the sound akin to a whimper.

"It is good to see you, Grand Cultivator," Bai Xiaomeng said, glancing at Lucian's bloodstained hands.

"I prepared another set of clothes and left them in the other room, along with a wooden basin for your bath. I will fetch the water—""Stay out of the house for the rest of the day." Lucian interrupted her.

"Me and Wang Chen have work to do." Nodding, Bai Xiaomeng went to the door. She walked by Wang Chen and waved at him. In return, Wang Chen waved back and shook his head with a wry smile, trying to clear his mind. Letting out a tired sigh, he positioned himself cross-legged with his palms resting on his knees. Then, he glanced at Lucian and asked, "Should I do the same as before, or is there something different, Benefector?" Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Receiving no answer, Wang Chen raised his head and felt a chill run down his spine. Lucian was staring at him with a cold expression. And while t hat alone was not surprising, Wang Chen also noticed that Lucian held a sword in his right hand. The weapon had appeared out of thin air, as far as he was aware.

"I suppose you must be curious about where I was keeping this sword," Lucian said, waving the blade through the air.

"It is common sense to hide a weapon from others' view. You only need to understand your target's field of vision and keep the blade within their blind spots. For example, this sword was behind me, and through the way I walked, moved my head, arms, and legs, it remained out of your and Bai Xiaomeng's perception." Wang Chen hastily stood up, feeling unsafe sitting down with Lucian waving the weapon. However, he soon froze as the blade rested at the tip of his nose.

"Of course, there is a need for good dexterity and bodily control to hide a weapon as big as this sword, but the technique itself isn't difficult. If someone tells you this technique is only for daggers, then that's a skill issue, as an old friend used to say." With a single motion of the double-edged longsword, Wang Chen's clothes were torn into tatters, leaving his upper body exposed. Instead of screaming or trying to flee, Wang Chen remained in place.

His fists trembled as he asked with a mixture of anger and fear,"Is this my punishment for failing to follow your orders, Benefactor?" Lucian lowered the sword and shook his head.

"No," he said, staring into Wang Chen's eyes.

"This is an opportunity to begin your revenge. Tell me the names of those you want to kill." Wang Chen did not hesitate, saying, "Huoxing Shen and Zhou Ren. Both bastards are still alive. You told me so."

"Huoxing Shen is a person you can't currently kill," Lucian said with a smile.

"Maybe you will never be able to." Wang Chen furrowed his brows, waiting for Lucian to continue. In fact, he hoped that Lucian had more to say.

"He is not a rogue cultivator, nor someone who fled the war," Lucian said, his gaze unwavering.

"He is one of the Young Masters of Peacock Mountain, a group of cultivators under the Huoxing Clan. This force is stronger than a common cultivation sect. Even the sect that Liu Tian belonged to can't hold a candle to Peacock Mountain. And this Liu Tian is the same cultivator who destroyed this village alone, killing dozens of people like cutting grass." Each word felt like a needle driven into Wang Chen's mind.

By the end of Lucian's explanation, he could only swallow his emotions and lower his head, muttering with a darkened expression,"You would not be saying all this just to tell me revenge is impossible." Lucian stepped closer, the sword still in his right hand.

"I am telling you this so you understand and accept that, as you are now, you will never be able to touch a single hair on Huoxing Shen's head," Lucian said, pointing at Wang Chen's chest with his left hand.

"You need to grow stronger. And I'll help you. I'll help you to change." Drawn in by his words, Wang Chen asked in a daze,"And how should I change? Am I not a jiangshi already? What more should I change?" Having absorbed Xu Hua's memories, Lucian knew exactly what to say to a young man like him.

"Change your fate," Lucian said, placing his left hand on Wang Chen's shoulder.

"Stop being a bug that wastes its life. Your life is no longer your own, Wang Chen. Your ancestors are watching you. Bai Xiaomeng depends on you. Fight back, for them!" Wang Chen stared at Lucian with wide eyes. Seeing the inner fire reflected there, Lucian spoke,"Endure the pain and fight to change your fate, or die trying!" Just as Wang Chen nodded and opened his mouth to respond with enthusiasm, Lucian moved his right hand.

And in a blink of an eye, the double-edged longsword pierced straight through Wang Chen's chest.