This long sword was the most powerful Magical Treasure in Lu Yuanshan’s possession. One thrust, if it connected, would have undoubtedly killed Lu Maoxian.
The sword tip was aimed at a gap in the carriage canopy, but Lu Yuanshan still hadn’t made his move.
He Haiqin said impatiently, "This junior still hasn’t learned. If you go easy on him now, you can’t blame him for being ruthless later."
Lu Yuanshan’s hesitation wasn’t out of mercy for Lu Maoxian; he was worried about earning a bad reputation.
The Coachman, Tan Fucheng, sensed something was amiss and said to Lu Yuanshan, "I’ll go check on the Second Young Master."
Seeing this, He Haiqin asked, "Should I make myself scarce too?"
Lu Yuanshan nodded. "Could I trouble you, Uncle He, to help me keep watch? I’m worried this old fellow has brought help."
"Xiao Shan, isn’t that why you called me here? To deal with his reinforcements? Whether they come hidden or in plain sight, let them come. Today, I’ll show you what I’m made of. Even if he brings an army of thousands, I’ll clean them up for you, leaving no trace. Are you at ease now?"
"Thank you, Uncle He."
Tan Fucheng went to the alley entrance. He Haiqin walked to a distant spot, faced the wall with his back to Lu Yuanshan, and lit a cigarette.
Lu Yuanshan thrust his sword downward.
SQUELCH!
Blood splattered Lu Yuanshan’s face.
The blood was fishy, salty, and sticky. Lu Yuanshan looked down.
This wasn’t Lu Maoxian’s blood. It was Lu Yuanshan’s own. He had stabbed himself in the stomach.
Lu Yuanshan turned deathly pale, his body shuddering violently.
He looked towards the gap in the carriage canopy and saw Lu Maoxian still struggling under the carriage.
Lu Yuanshan pulled out the long sword with his last ounce of strength, but it was too late.
He tried to shout, but though his mouth opened, no sound came out.
He looked towards Tan Fucheng and Lu Yuanhai at the alley entrance. Both men stood with their backs to him.
He Haiqin was at the other end of the alley, seemingly closer. But he, too, had his back to Lu Yuanshan, smoking by the wall.
None of them saw Lu Yuanshan.
Lu Yuanshan was dying. Stabbed by this long sword, he couldn’t possibly survive.
He wanted to strike one more time, to take Lu Maoxian with him, but now he couldn’t even lift the sword.
He recalled Monkey Qiu’s words: "Some things aren’t worth the gamble because we can’t afford to lose."
Now he knew some things truly couldn’t be risked.
In the blink of an eye, he had lost everything.
Dragging his heavy body, he stumbled towards Lu Yuanhai.
He wanted to warn his younger brother.
After only two steps, Lu Yuanshan’s torso disintegrated into chunks of flesh, leaving only his head and limbs to fall to the ground.
The long sword CLANGED to the ground. The Coachman and Lu Yuanhai whirled around to see Lu Yuanshan’s scattered remains.
Lu Yuanhai, stunned, stammered, "Brother..."
Heedless of everything, he rushed towards Lu Yuanshan. But as soon as he got close, Lu Yuanshan’s head and limbs also exploded.
Lu Yuanhai’s face was spattered with blood and gore. He stood stunned for two or three seconds, then picked up the long sword from the ground.
Sword tip pointing down, Lu Yuanhai held the long sword aloft. Next, with just a slight adjustment of the angle, he could drive the long sword into his own stomach.
The Coachman, Tan Fucheng, realizing something was wrong, yanked a handful of white sugar from his robes and tossed it into the air. "Have some sugar!"
The throw was accurate. Two coughs sounded from mid-air, as if the sugar had entered someone’s mouth.
The Coachman shouted again, "You’ve eaten my sugar! Kindly loosen your grip!"
The opposing force slackened. Lu Yuanhai regained control of his hands and quickly threw the long sword to the ground.
The Coachman grabbed Lu Yuanhai, and they fled for their lives.
It seemed someone pursued them for a short distance, but eventually let them go.
Tan Fucheng breathed a sigh of relief, then glanced at Lu Yuanhai beside him.
Lu Yuanhai’s mouth was twisted, his eyes rolled back; his condition was unclear.
Everything happened very quickly, in less time than it takes to smoke a cigarette.
He Haiqin was still smoking in the corner. When he finished his cigarette, he stamped out the butt and walked over to the rickshaw.
Lu Maoxian was still struggling inside the carriage when a voice came from the darkness, "This carriage is too heavy; I can’t lift it."
He Haiqin pulled a paper packet from his pocket; it contained braised beef. After eating a few pieces, he lifted the rickshaw by one wheel with a single hand.
Lu Maoxian quickly scrambled out from under the carriage canopy, staring at He Haiqin in astonishment.
Lu Maoxian knew someone was secretly protecting him; it was a promise from a Saint. But he had never imagined that person would be He Haiqin. He Haiqin was the very person he was most wary of.
He Haiqin set down the rickshaw and continued eating his beef. "What are you staring at me for?" he asked. "Craving beef? Want a couple of pieces?"
Lu Maoxian asked, "Patriarch He, are you trying to save me or kill me?"
"Saving you, killing you, it’s all the same. You decide; I’m fine either way," He Haiqin laughed. "It’s just that I find talking to those young pups rather tiresome. Speaking with an old fellow like you is much more straightforward."
Lu Maoxian understood He Haiqin’s meaning and said respectfully, "Patriarch He, if you have any instructions, please just tell me."
He Haiqin smiled. "First things first: there’s a Saint on Sage Peak. What is his true identity?"
That He Haiqin could ask such a question proved he had indeed been in contact with the Saint. However, his understanding of the Saint was very limited; they were still merely in a cooperative phase.