610 Siege (1/2)
Tie Linglong did not say a single word about why she had appeared in the Royal Court, and neither did Chu Nanping ask.
”Let's go find the Dragon King.” Chu Nanping invited.
”Why? He himself said that he didn't want me to appear before him again.” Tie Linglong's tone was still fierce but her whole personality was changing in subtle ways. The hard shell covering her was disintegrating, and with every word she uttered, she took one step closer to the little girl that Chu Nanping was familiar with.
”The Dragon King said that just to vent his anger, and he already forgave you a long time ago.” As usual, Chu Nanping played the role of being a comforter which he wasn't very good at.
”Forgive? I've done nothing wrong. Why do I need him to forgive me? He should have apologized to me.” The more Tie Linglong spoke, the angrier she became and the harder it was for her to maintain her cold demeanor. Eyes glistening, she tried hard not to let the tears out.
Chu Nanping was at a loss as to what he should say. He couldn't even understand his own feelings, let alone understand the complex emotions of others.
After a moment of silence, it was still Tie Linglong who was the first to speak up. ”I can go with you to find the Dragon King, but I won't show up or help.”
”All right.” Chu Nanping revealed a smile.
The one-eyed man looked at the young boy and girl and felt inexpressibly astonished, exclaiming in disbelief, ”You are a disciple of the Essence Pavilion and the attendant of Immortal Peng.”
”I was, but not anymore.”
The two repeated what they said but the meaning was different this time. The one-eyed man shook his head and lamented, saying, ”How can you fall in love with a woman when you mastered the Emotionless Swordsmanship alone? Is she the tool you will use to sever your emotions and break through to the fourth level?”
Chu Nanping was slightly stunned by this comment. He did have a 'tool' in mind, but it had always been Xu Xiaoyi ever since he was eleven years old. It was not until the one-eyed man pointed it out that he suddenly realized that his best 'friend' had become the girl in front of him.
As a matter of fact, his friendship with Xu Xiaoyi had already come to an end naturally. The two had walked further and further apart, to the point that they could only see an obscure outline of each other. They still treasured their former feelings but neither of them intended on reluctantly maintaining them.
Chu Nanping had been trying to break through the fourth level this whole time, but it was also under the one-eyed man's questioning that he suddenly found that he had lost interest in such a goal. ”No.” He hesitated for a moment before explaining his answer. ”I'm not in love with her and she isn't a tool either. This is the end of the Emotionless Swordsmanship, as I will not practice it anymore.”
The one-eyed man looked at Chu Nanping with his mouth agape as if a miser had heard that someone was giving away his great fortune without any reasons. ”You'll be a disciple of the Essence Pavilion after all.”
”No, I won't.”
Tie Linglong, who was listening aside, felt puzzled and also a little shy. ”Let me kill him.”
”That's not necessary.”
”Why? They are masters hired by the Khan; do you want to leave him alive so that he can tell on us?”
”Will you tell on us?” asked Chu Nanping.
”Huh.” Tie Linglong laughed aloud. She was just about to tell Chu Nanping that he would not get the truth with such a question when the one-eyed man lying on the ground said without hesitation, ”Yes.”
With his head lowered, Chu Nanping thought for a moment before speaking to Tie Linglong, ”But you still can't kill him.”
”You're just gonna let him go?”
Chu Nanping turned around, drew his sword, and stabbed out, killing in an instant. ”From now on, I'll kill you for you.”
Tie Linglong felt despised and proudly raised her head, before declaring, ”Do you think my kung fu is so poor that I'm not qualified to kill?”
”No.” Chu Nanping's voice was unexpectedly soft. ”Rather, because you are kind-hearted and always regret it after killing.”
Tie Linglong's killing aura grew heavier once again. ”I just killed three freaks and I don't feel regretful at all.”
”This is not who you are.”
Tie Linglong frowned. The teenage boy in front of her was all good except that the words he said were always mystifying and he still seemed under the influence of the Essence Pavilion. Rolling her eyes, she asked, ”There are a lot of people I want to kill.”
”I'll kill all of them for you.”
”What if I want to kill the Dragon King?”
”Same.”
Chu Nanping's answer was so definite that Tie Linglong was actually startled. She stared into his eyes for a while and said with her lips curled, ”You won't.”
”Neither will you.”
Tie Linglong looked a little fidgety. ”I'm really tired after talking with you. I almost forgot what I said. Let's go. The Dragon King might be killed by someone if we are a bit late.”
The two were just in time to catch the last batch of kung fu practitioners who were heading towards the palace. So they took two horses from the roadside and galloped northward, and just happened to run into Shangguan Fei and Old Man Mu who were practicing by killing people.
Old Man Mu disliked all the disciples of the Waning Moon Hall. He looked the green-eyed little girl up and down and said, ”It's not right, it's not right at all.”
”What's not right?” Tie Linglong withdrew her left hand into her sleeve and could take out her dagger at any moment.
”Han Wuxian has always only let the successfully trained disciples wander Jianghu while she kills those semi-finished products. You are a semi-finished product, so why are out here?”
Tie Linglong was so angry that she smiled instead. ”You must be Old Man Mu?”
”Yeah. So, Han Wuxian mentioned me? The people of the Waning Moon Hall are all heartless, and your Hall Leader is the leader of heartlessness. But she's not that heartless to me.” Old Man Mu was quite proud of himself.
Tie Linglong turned to Chu Nanping, ”This is the man I want to kill. You can do it now.”
Old Man Mu helplessly watched the long sword rush at his chest. He wasn't familiar with Chu Nanping but the handsome young boy he remembered hadn't been so violent. How could he act at once without a word? Even the Dragon King couldn't change his face so quickly.
Old Man Mu had a quick mind. He immediately thought of ten ways to dodge the sword, four of which he could even fiercely counterattack from. But with his current internal energy, he couldn't use any of them, so he could only resort to his eleventh 'unique skill' — plopping down on his knees and begged, ”Miss, have mercy on me please!”