756 Spreading One’s Wings (2/2)
”The people it doesn't like always die under its sharp beak. You're still alive, so that means it likes you – I have a scar on my leg myself.”
Han Fen smiled through her tears. She kissed the wound on the back of her hand and declared loudly with her bloodstained mouth, ”I'll remember this wound. The next time we meet, I'll try to get a second one on the other hand.”
Gu Shenwei didn't say how long it was going to be before they met the bird again. Nothing could restrain the giant roc and it was now flying far away. No one knew when it would return. Gu Shenwei had also been feeling that it was relying less and less on him and that sooner or later, it would leave him for good.
After arriving at the mountaintop, several dozen disciples of the Kongtong Sect were standing in neat rows and there were also a dozen disciples of other sects present as witnesses. Dog Butcher and Fan Yongda were heading the procession, waiting for the Dragon King to free them from their pledge – Tu Pianpian hadn't even let them go down to help with the rescue.Find authorized novels in Webnovel，faster updates, better experience，Please click visiting.
”Today, the Kongtong Sect saved me from adversity, which is enough to offset all the enmity between us, so I give my consent to the freedom of Dog Butcher and Fan Yongda. From now on, you no longer have any obligations to serve me.”
Tu Pianpian was very satisfied with the Dragon King's remarks. ”See? What did I tell you? The Dragon King made this decision of his own free will. He's standing right here right now, and nobody can force him. You two may return to the Kongtong Sect.”
Fan Yongda didn't hesitate. He bowed to pay respect to Tu Pianpian. ”Aunt Master.”
Tu Pianpian smiled, which she didn't do very often as she replied back, ”You are a good disciple of Kongtong Sect who know how to repay your gratitude.”
But Dog Butcher didn't say anything. Tu Pianpian's look turned cold as she chastised, ”Dog Butcher, what are you waiting for?”
”You said that… the Dragon King would allow me to choose,” Dog Butcher said hesitantly.
”You still want to be the Dragon King's slave?” Tu Pianpian reprimanded.
”No no,” Dog Butcher denied hurriedly. ”I don't want to be a slave.”
Looking at his younger brother, Tu Pianpian looked relieved. ”You're a grown man now, so you should learn to make your own decisions. This time around, we came to Royal Court. Although we haven't gotten the Khan's head yet, Old Man Mu's clearly no match for you. So many years…”
Old Man Mu chipped in, ”Hey, hey, we haven't even fought yet. How do you know that I'm no match for him? It's Dog Butcher… he's timid. Let me have a competition against him right now if you don't believe me.”
Tu Pianpian ignored him and resumed talking. ”So many years' hard work have not been in vain. Sect Leader will be proud of you when you return to the mountain.”
Dog Butcher nodded repeatedly. Yet after his elder sister finished talking, he said, ”I don't want to go back.”
”What?” Tu Pianpian's attitude changed drastically, and her crutch sank heavily, by more than a foot, into the ground.
”But I also won't be anybody's slave.” Dog Butcher's face was restlessly switching between red and white, like a disobedient teenager trying to reason with his mother. ”I… I… want to spread my wings in the martial arts world.”
Tu Pianpian frowned. She had never expected that her younger brother would say something like this. ”But you will be sixty years old next year.”
”I know. But I have been practicing kung fu for so many years, and before coming to Royal Court, the only actual kung fu competition I took part in was against Old Man Mu…”
”That's not true. You have been in all kinds of kung fu competitions since you were fifteen – they should number at least a hundred, and you won almost all of them. Why do you think people gave you the title 'Old Immortal Dog Butcher?'”
”That's different.” Dog Butcher flushed in his anxiety and he couldn't find the proper words to express his feelings. ”What I am talking about are 'real kung fu competitions' – the kind that gives me buckets of cold sweat, the kind that I will never forget throughout my whole life.”
Old Man Mu giggled secretly, and said to the Dragon King in a low voice, ”Dog Butcher said he 'would never forget' me. Ha. Yet I don't remember a damn thing – except that I once kicked his ass really badly.”
Tu Pianpian frowned more and more tightly, ”It's very simple if you want to spread your wings in the martial arts world. Just come back with me to the Central Plains, and I'll bring you to visit all the sects and schools.”
Dog Butcher shook his head firmly. ”There are too many rules in the Central Plains and that's not what I want. Elder sister… Senior Sister, please allow me to make my own decision.”
”Nonsense! You're an old man who's going to die in a few decades, not a teenager – how could you possibly abdicate your position of Kongdong Sect Elder and talk about such nonsense as 'spreading your wings in the martial arts world?' Come back with me.”
Dog Butcher's head drooped lower and lower, and yet he didn't move at all. Fan Yongda also ventured at persuading her. ”Aunt Master, Uncle Master Dog Butcher's kung fu is excellent and he can take care of hims—”
”Bullshit! Who allowed you to talk? I'll deal with you later.” Tu Pianpian was furious and started striding away. After a few steps, she said to those disciples who were confused and adrift, ”What are you waiting for? Move!”
The disciples of the Kongtong Sect and other sects followed her hurriedly. Fan Yongda was the last one to leave. He cupped his hands before his chest in a gesture of subordinance and said to the Dragon King, ”You saved my life and I may never repay the favor…”
”Like I said, we're even.”
Fan Yongda still felt guilty. He tightly bit his lower lip with his upper teeth, and finally made up his mind. He walked beside the Dragon King, craned his neck and said in a low voice, ”Wei Song seems to have a series of plans for the Western Regions. Dragon King…”
”I'll be cautious about it.” Gu Shenwei knew what he was hinting at.
Fan Yongda nodded and hurried to catch up with the disciples of his sect.
Gu Shenwei looked at the sinking sun in the distance, wondering how the kung fu competition he had missed had gone. Then he turned to talk to Dog Butcher. ”Are you the Dog Butcher who's about to spread his wings in the martial arts world for the first time?”
”Hmm, that's me in the flesh,” Dog Butcher puffed out his chest. Although his face still looked a little pale, it was filled with a smile.
”I'm the Dragon King of the Western Regions, and I could use some help. The pay is good, with many perks. Would you like to join me?”
”I'd love to. I don't care about the pay. Just don't kick me aside when you go on an adventure.”
In the distance, Tu Pianpian's voice suddenly came over. ”Little doggy, don't you come back without achieving anything.”
Dog Butcher was deeply embarrassed.
Gu Shenwei glanced at him, and thought 'It's nice to have an elder sister.'