Chapter 53 The Abducted People

Aside from Zhao Wuji, there were three other masters present: the "Hero of the East" Tu Xiaotian, the sole remaining expert of the Hainan Sword Sect, Hailingzi, and the one-armed Eagle King, Sikong Shu. Yet, despite these four formidable figures, the blade had vanished.

Who could have snatched the sword from the hands of these four?

When Zhao Wuji uttered the name "The Great Thief Xiao Shiyilang," the others quietly departed.

At that moment, only two remained in the small courtyard—a man and a woman.

Under the man's unwavering gaze, Shen Bijun turned her body gracefully, cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and vexation. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Ren Yi replied softly, "There are four great joys in life: ‘Relief after a long drought, meeting a friend in a strange land, the wedding night, and the moment of triumph in the imperial examination.’ I have no kin, no roots; though I studied for a few years, I am no scholar. Without drought, there can be no relief, so now I only yearn for the wedding night."

Shen Bijun’s cheeks flushed deeper, tears welling in her eyes, overwhelmed with a sense of injustice.

"You scoundrel!" she exclaimed.

Ren Yi answered calmly, "Call me what you will. Besides ascending to the heavens, there seems to be nothing beyond my reach."

Shen Bijun laughed bitterly. "How can someone like you exist? Do you have no sense of shame?"

Ren Yi’s voice remained indifferent. "So-called human ethics are merely shackles for the foolish of this world. I am a prodigy born under heaven’s grace, and thus need not concern myself with such trivialities."

Watching his self-satisfied demeanor, Shen Bijun felt utterly powerless.

"You are skilled in martial arts. Is your practice meant only for wickedness?"

Ren Yi smiled. "My name is Ren Yi. Naturally, I learn martial arts to do as I please, to follow my heart. You say it is evil, and you are not wrong. Because that is who I am—no reasons, no grudges. Whoever I wish to kill, I kill. And though others may resent or resist, they can only endure me."

Shen Bijun had never heard such words before and found it hard to believe. "How can you say such things?"

Ren Yi said, "These are the truth. I have no need to lie to you."

Shen Bijun raised her voice. "Bullying the weak is no true skill!"

Ren Yi smiled faintly. "In this world, there is always strength and weakness. If you are strong, naturally others are weak. Bullying the weak is no skill? Then what truly is skill?"

Her voice trembling, Shen Bijun retorted, "How are you different from those cruel men who oppress women and ruthless villains who kill without count?"

Ren Yi replied, "There is a difference. Even if I am a villain or a devil, I am the greatest villain and the greatest devil under heaven. Does that not suit the greatest beauty of the martial world?"

Shen Bijun’s face flushed scarlet, torn between shame and anger. "Who would match with you? You use your martial arts to bully and kill with a smile. If you ever met someone stronger than you, what then?"

Ren Yi countered, "Is there truly such a person in this world?"

Clenching her teeth, Shen Bijun insisted, "There must be. You will surely meet someone like that."

Ren Yi smiled and asked, "You wish me dead, don’t you?"

Shen Bijun was taken aback. It was not that she wished him dead, but she found him utterly detestable—forcing her to marry him and speaking so brazenly.

She sighed. "If someone were to want to kill you without cause, what would you do?"

Ren Yi nodded. "It matters not. Even if the whole world sought my life, I would not care."

Shen Bijun gasped, "Aren’t you afraid to die?"

Ren Yi shook his head with a smile. "No. It’s just that no one in this world can kill me."

Shen Bijun gritted her teeth. "Anything can happen!"

Ren Yi pondered briefly, then smiled faintly. "If such a day ever comes, by then you will have borne me countless children."

Shen Bijun’s face turned pale, trembling, "You... you... I..."

Ren Yi smiled gently. "No need to fear yet. At least, I will not force you."

"R-Really?"

Ren Yi nodded.

Relieved, Shen Bijun relaxed; yet when she looked again, his face stirred an inexplicable dislike within her.

At that moment, a young maid approached. Her name was Xiao Cui—delicate and charming, she had served the old lady of the house for years.

Carrying several small dishes and a pot of wine, she said, "Miss, Master Ren, the old lady is tired and has gone to rest early. She specially asked me to bring some food and wine for you both."

Ren Yi glanced at her, a faint, elusive smile playing at the corner of his lips.

Shen Bijun had already told Xiao Cui to set down the food. She had not eaten all day and was hungry; anger only deepened her hunger.

As she reached out to eat, a large hand suddenly grabbed her.

Startled, Shen Bijun yanked her hand back. "What... what do you want?"

Ren Yi touched her delicate, soft hand with both care and sigh, then said lightly, "The food and wine are poisoned."

Xiao Cui panicked, "No, no poison! Master Ren, I did not poison it. Miss did not poison it. There is absolutely no poison in the food or wine!"

Shen Bijun hesitated. Naturally, she believed Xiao Cui’s words but trusted Ren Yi’s not at all.

Xiao Cui’s face was full of alarm and grievance, bending slightly as if to plead with Ren Yi. The moment she bent down, a flash erupted from the jade belt at her waist—a burst of silver light shot out like a torrential rain.

Shen Bijun’s vision blurred. Before she could dodge, the storm of silver light hurtled toward their faces.

Suddenly, the silver light twisted sharply!

Ren Yi’s long sleeve swept gently, instantly sweeping countless silver needles onto the tree trunk to the right.

Shen Bijun was startled and looked at Xiao Cui—she had already stepped back several paces.

Xiao Cui smiled and asked, "Brother Ren, how did you know the food was poisoned?" The voice was crisp and pleasant, yet it was not Xiao Cui’s voice.

Shen Bijun cried out, "Who are you? Where is my grandmother?"

Xiao Cui mischievously blinked, "Sister Shen is clever. The old lady has been invited out as a guest. Sister Shen, do you want to come too?"

Shen Bijun’s panic deepened. "You—you captured my grandmother?"

Xiao Cui no longer answered her, instead giggling and looking at Ren Yi. "Brother Ren, you haven’t answered me yet. How did you know the food was poisoned?"

Ren Yi replied, "Because besides being the best martial artist under heaven, I am also the finest physician."

Xiao Cui clapped her hands, laughing, "Brother Ren, you truly are a man of great talent!"

Ren Yi smiled, "You are quite bold yourself. Aren’t you afraid to die?"

Xiao Cui sighed softly, murmuring, "Of course I’m afraid. But if I die, the old lady will probably die with me. Oh, I forgot to tell Sister Shen—if I don’t return within half an hour, the old lady will surely be dead."

Shen Bijun’s face went pale as she looked at the man beside her.

Ren Yi said, "Don’t worry, I have no intention of killing you. I know even if I capture you, I won’t get any answers. You may leave."

Shen Bijun’s heart tightened as she grasped his sleeve.

Xiao Cui exclaimed, "Brother Ren, you don’t want to know where the old lady is?"

Ren Yi smiled, "You will tell me."

Xiao Cui was surprised, "If I left, why would I tell you where to rescue her?"

Ren Yi still smiled, "Because you want me to save her. So you would definitely tell me where she is, to set a trap for me, right?"

Xiao Cui’s expression changed, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "Brother Ren, it turns out you are not only the best in martial arts and medicine, but also very clever."

Ren Yi said, "You should leave now."

Xiao Cui giggled, "Then I will leave now. The old lady is at the Mountain God Temple, forty li south of the city. Remember to come tomorrow." With that, she leapt onto a treetop and vanished in an instant.