My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 645 - 429: What Does It Have to Do with Me? (Two in One)

Huang Jing's soul was lost in Yuanfeng Building.

Heavy rain poured down like a torrent, spreading the blood over the ground, the crimson turning into muddy puddles.

Only after Chen Yi tidied up his tattered clothes did the crowd awaken from their daze, trembling lightly in the rain, accompanied by the faint sound of clashing weapons.

Huang Jing died just like that?

Many couldn't fathom it, finding it unimaginable that the once formidable Huang Jing would meet his end here.

The pale eyebrows of Elder Liu Yang from the Six Sun Pavilion dripped with water, his lips parted and closed again, as if he couldn't reconcile that Huang Jing should die in this way.

But once Chen Yi sheathed his sword and saber, Liu Yang Pavilion Master snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and declared loudly:

"The outcome is decided, life and death dictated by fate. No further pursuit, all grudges and vendettas washed away, erased like ink on a ledger. From here on, no one shall seek retaliation. The heavens bear witness, and the gods shall attest!"

This was the final verdict.

A collective sigh of relief swept across the gathering, breaking the silence with bursts of chatter, though the rain soon drowned out the voices. Chen Yi turned and strode away, almost without a backward glance.

Not even sparing the expense for a coffin.

Perhaps fortune, perhaps misfortune — before dispersing his wealth among his fellow martial artists, Huang Jing had wisely reserved for himself a burial shroud and a coffin. Though bloodstained, the shroud could still be washed and mended for use.

As for the cost of the tomb, some would pitch in and gather the funds, ensuring Huang Jing wouldn't have to rest in a pauper's grave.

Elder Liu Yang, the senior presence, stepped forward first. He examined Huang Jing's body carefully before sighing deeply.

Flying Sword Zi and Thunder Bear also approached; the former's expression was more shocked than sorrowful, while the latter, a hulking figure forsaking monkhood, raised a single palm and solemnly intoned: "Namo Amitabha Buddha."

"And so… this matter comes to an end…"

Elder Liu Yang stroked his beard, as though convincing himself.

Traveling hundreds of miles to Shantong City did not lead to the imagined heroism, nor a grand martial arts gathering, but instead descended into chaos and triviality. Even sighing over it seemed too insubstantial.

Flying Sword Zi approached the edge where the fatal sword struck. Known for his obsession with swordsmanship over the years, he marveled, stunned before the blade's precision: "This sword strike… is excellent…"

Elder Liu Yang, naturally also having noticed the strike, replied with heavy eyes, "Not just excellent, but extraordinary."

Flying Sword Zi could not articulate the nebulous sense it evoked. All he knew was that the move was cunningly lethal. Instinctively he asked, "Pavilion Master, what do you mean?"

Elder Liu Yang recalled the duel earlier — Chen Yi's one sword amid the rain, followed by Huang Jing unleashing dozens of saber strikes, each layered with lethal force, a momentum pushed to its peak. Had even one saber connected, it could have cost the Thousand-Household Leader his life in an instant.

Yet, not a single saber struck.

"Master Huang lost his son long ago; he has long harbored a death wish. He feared neither death nor sacrifice — the most fearsome in the martial arts world are such reckless souls, trading their lives for vengeance. However… the Thousand-Household Leader had already seen through his determination. Instead of seizing the chance for a killing blow, he pierced Huang Jing's side, denying him the opportunity to trade life for life.

Each saber slash carried murderous intent, yet every strike fell into empty air. The longer it went on, the more Huang Jing lost his composure.

The more he missed, the more anxious he became. The more anxious he became, the more he missed. Until finally, Huang's Saber and Eight Diagrams Step — once a balanced harmony of harsh and soft — were reduced to brute force alone."

Flying Sword Zi gasped in awe: "In other words, Master Huang desperately wanted to trade life for life, but couldn't even manage a wound in return…"

"Precisely. The Thousand-Household Leader, cunning as he is, kept retreating after striking, leveraging his movement to avoid harm. Master Huang's urgency worked against him; the more he sought to trade lives, the closer he came to losing his own. Had Huang kept his wits about him, perhaps the victor… would still be uncertain…"

Elder Liu Yang recalled Huang Jing's outstretched saber, then glanced down to see Huang Jing's wide-open eyes, still staring unblinkingly at the heavens.

A death of unrest.

"The brilliance of that strike lies not merely in striking, but in its singularity… 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

It slays both the man and his spirit!"

Flying Sword Zi, grasping the treacherous artistry of that fatal strike, felt a flash of realization seize his mind.

He gazed at the sword's edge with even greater caution.

That strike was not only premeditated long before the duel,

but its execution was ingeniously calculated to perfection…

Slowly, Elder Liu Yang closed Huang Jing's eyes with his hand. After a prolonged silence, he released one long sigh:

"Though I hate to say it… it was extraordinary, truly extraordinary…"

...…

"Huang Jing is dead?"

Chen Yi was rounding a street corner when he unexpectedly heard Wei Wuque's voice.

Turning his head, he saw Wei Wuque indeed standing in the alley under the cover of an umbrella.

Chen Yi stopped in his tracks, nodded, and replied:

"You already saw it, didn't you?"

"I didn't see it. In fact, I didn't expect… you'd challenge Huang Jing to a duel." Wei Wuque shook his head. "If it weren't for my subordinate reporting the movements to me, I wouldn't have even shown up here."

Chen Yi nodded faintly and prepared to leave.

But Wei Wuque, deeply curious about Huang Jing's death, couldn't hold back. He had heard of Huang Jing's reputation — his martial arts ranked above even Tang Ze's. Yet Huang Jing had fallen to Chen Yi, the latter bearing only torn and slashed garments, without a single wound.

He pursued the question: "How did you kill Huang Jing?"

Chen Yi halted again.

"You shouldn't have been able to kill him so effortlessly."

Chen Yi cast Wei Wuque a glance and spoke slowly: "He was powerful, but he didn't value his life enough. If he feared death just a little, I would've struggled."

"…Struggled?"

Hearing this, Wei Wuque fell silent momentarily. Huang Jing had only… come close to making Chen Yi struggle?

"Perhaps even left me seriously injured."

Wei Wuque's mood took a noticeable turn for the better.

Chen Yi continued: "He died because he was too unafraid of death. He slowly unraveled himself and faded away."

"Then do you fear death?"

"I won't die."

Won't die…

This man truly believed he wouldn't die.

Wei Wuque's eyes flickered subtly, falling into silent contemplation — an indescribable and faintly peculiar thought brewing within him.