Chapter 1041: Chapter 591: Blind Arrow (Double-Length Chapter) (Part 2)

But sometimes Jianghu is too small, small enough that those who stand on the mountain peak are just a handful of ten people. Even if it rotates every sixty years, most leave behind familiar names from the past, and those interacting with them are influential figures, like the heavenly pool atop the peak, spanning merely dozens of meters, yet standing at the highest point.

This stark contrast often makes people feel that the top ten of the Martial Arts List and the heroes outside the list aren’t part of the same Jianghu.

For these heroes of Qilin Hall, the Hero Conference formed by circumstance, weighing good and evil, riding dragons and tigers, sharing a drink in the grand event, even battling against the Immortals, is undoubtedly an unparalleled honor in this life, enough to be sung and praised within the sect for generations.

But for the top ten of the Martial Arts List, isn’t Dragon and Tiger Mountain only accessible if you wish to go? In the battle against the Immortals, who in the martial path doesn’t have Immortals obstructing their way?

Things that are unpredictable in the eyes of ordinary people are merely so-so for those ten people and their disciples.

Even the Blind Arrow at the bottom of the Martial Arts List, the legendary old man who lost his sight and wandered begging across the world, gives an unspoken oppressive feeling of ’the little dragon conceals itself in the market’.

And using Qian Anning’s death as a battle challenge, this move is undoubtedly grand, precisely because of this, it is apt and true to its name.

Some even feel that Qian Anning’s death was somewhat fortunate, dying a worthy death!

The one responding to the challenge is Chen Yi, this person of a legendary reputation who weighed against the heavens pressing the Heavenly Official to kneel alive, famous without any pretense, on the field, even the heroes are unsure of his martial ranking.

As Chen Yi took the challenge letter and strode away, no one stopped him, nor did anyone dare to.

In Jianghu, speech is through fists, one might not respect authority but must fear it.

At dusk, the road is filled with deathly silence. Chen Yi is stepping over withered branches towards the guest courtyard, dusk condensing like rust in the sky, knife marks imbued with dusk on the stone table. As he steps halfway into the guest courtyard, he pauses.

"What is it?"

As these words fall, a tall and resilient figure steps out from the shadows by the path, Zhao Hong emerges from the shadows of the trees, startling a few crows into flight.

Standing there, he seems to have something to say but remains silent.

Without turning his head, Chen Yi says: "Say what you need to in the yard."

Turning into the yard, Chen Yi directly seats himself under the pavilion while Zhao Hong stands outside.

After a moment, he wraps his hands into a fist, bends his knees, and kneels on the ground,

"I implore the Battalion Commander to avenge my friend." He speaks word by word, his voice like iron.

Chen Yi’s cheek twitches slightly, his eyes narrowing,

He doesn’t agree but instead asks: "Why?"

"Master Qian was my confidant, very close to me personally, today as the Blind Arrow has issued the battle challenge, I hope Battalion Commander will accept the fight," His spine is straight as if a bowstring is invisibly twisted around his neck, "If the Battalion Commander does not accept, please transfer the battle challenge to me."

Chen Yi chuckles: "Oh... you’re afraid I would just walk away?"

"Yes." Zhao Hong responds with neither humility nor arrogance.

Chen Yi scrutinizes him, Zhao Hong coming to plead for revenge was both expected and unexpected.

Expected because Zhao Hong was a friend to Qian Anning, brotherhood worth gold, unexpected because Zhao Hong would kneel so directly. A man’s knees have gold, but compared to brotherhood, it’s like dung.

Chen Yi replies indifferently: "Why must I listen to you?"

"So I ask you to listen to me."

Chen Yi’s eyes narrow slightly and he slowly says: "Qian Anning’s death originally has nothing to do with me, I am not obliged to avenge him for you. You come with empty hands, how could this suffice?"

"I am not empty-handed, willing to risk my life to transfer the Saber Manual I have learned to the Battalion Commander...."

Before he finishes, his offer abruptly interrupted.

"I have no interest in your Saber Manual. I simply do not wish to avenge for you. Previously he challenged me, at that time you bore grudges against me."

The frank refusal leaves Zhao Hong speechless under the pavilion.

Chen Yi waits a moment, about to raise his hand to dismiss him.

At this moment,

Zhao Hong suddenly draws his saber, and fiercely chops at his own finger.

An air of killing intent instantly spreads, blood splashing into the mud, shocking to behold.

Chen Yi narrows his eyes: "What do you mean by this?"

"If the Battalion Commander still remembers my offense, I am willing to destroy my martial arts as atonement."

Zhao Hong forcefully pushed the blood-soaked severed finger forward,

"This finger will serve as collateral."

The bloody and fierce scene caught Chen Yi’s attention, making him ponder for a moment. The mountain wind rustled, leaves fell in profusion, and from the pavilion corner to the courtyard wall, there was nothing but deep silence.

"Let’s go." Chen Yi waved his hand and said, "Take that finger back, it’s an eyesore. I’ll accept the challenge letter, but it has nothing to do with your grievances."

Zhao Hong’s expression didn’t change, nor did he delay. He swiftly collected the severed finger and got up to leave, quickly disappearing from sight with the mountain wind.

He came swiftly and departed just as swiftly.

Donggong Ruoshu emerged from beside Chen Yi, stroked her chin, and said to Chen Yi, "Why didn’t you agree directly? After all, you were going to fight anyway."

Others might not understand Chen Yi, but Donggong Ruoshu did. Chen Yi wasn’t the type to swallow his pride, and with such a direct challenge from the Blind Arrow, how could he not respond?

"Accepting the challenge is one thing, avenging someone else is another. I don’t want to meddle in others’ karma," Chen Yi added, "I don’t like trouble."

"Oh, speaking of which, didn’t you agree to exchange blows with Zhao Hong not long ago?"

"That’s another matter altogether."

Donggong Ruoshu didn’t understand why Chen Yi had to separate these matters. To her, they were all the same, just incidental tasks without much difference.

Chen Yi gazed at the remaining bloodstains in the mud, pondered for a moment, and clicked his tongue, "But this person is truly loyal, willing to sacrifice his martial arts to avenge his brother... such people are rare in the entire Jianghu." He paused and added, "Fortunately, I also have such a person."

Donggong Ruoshu, surprised, said, "You have a brother? You, being such a lecherous person, have a brother?"

"Ha, who said I don’t have brothers? Of course, I have," Chen Yi replied confidently.

"Who?" Donggong Ruoshu racked her brain, searching through all the people, hesitated, and said, "...Min Ning?"

"Yes, Min Ning."

Chen Yi sighed, raised his head to gaze into the distance, and said wistfully,

"What a pity Min Ning didn’t come to this Hero Conference. If she had, I might have gotten fired up, making a name as a great hero for her."

The usually eager and righteous Hero Min would certainly be thrilled to participate in such a grand event in the Jianghu, probably linking arms with Chen Yi, measuring good and evil atop the Dragon and Tiger.

Being both a brother and a wife, Min Ning always held a place called "heroic" in his heart, sharing life and death, being open and sincere... Chen Yi suddenly missed her, wondering if she was thinking of him too.

Closing his eyes, Chen Yi sighed with a sense of loss.

"Are you thinking of Min Ning?"

The sudden cold voice interrupted Chen Yi, causing him to swallow back the breath he’d just sighed out.

He turned his head and saw a one-armed woman approaching slowly.

Chen Yi regained his composure and asked with a slight bitter smile, "How did you know?"

"Just a guess."

Zhou Yitang naturally couldn’t tell this rebellious disciple, because Min Ning was thinking of you too.

Chen Yi sat up, thought for a moment, and asked, "Do you know about the challenge letter?"

Zhou Yitang nodded slightly.

Clearly, she had seen the situation just now, and the Old Heavenly Master likely informed Zhou Yitang first thing.

"Do you think... why did the Blind Arrow do this? I know he’s with the White Lotus Sect, contradicted Dragon and Tiger Mountain, but those White Lotus Sect Saint Heirs... aren’t they listening to the Hidden Crown Prince?" Chen Yi mused, stroking his chin.

The matter of the Blind Arrow being involved with the White Lotus Sect was something Chen Yi had heard of long ago, but when he went to the main hall of the White Lotus Sect, he didn’t see this top ten Martial Arts List figure, even in the depths of the Demon Refining Abyss.

But the Blind Arrow appeared at this moment, doing things completely contrary to the Hidden Crown Prince and others, puzzling everyone, making one have to wonder.

Zhou Yitang pondered and speculated, "Perhaps, the Blind Arrow isn’t listening to the White Lotus Sect but is following... the orders of the Mother of Non-Birth."

Chen Yi’s eyes instantly became sharp.

He learned a lot of inside information from the Holy Emperor, that the Divine behind the White Lotus Sect is Xiang Jun, but Xiang Jun isn’t the Mother of Non-Birth. The role He plays is merely that of the Mother of Non-Birth’s prophet. In other words, Xiang Jun deceived the entire White Lotus Sect for His own use.

If so, then the one the Blind Arrow is following is likely the true Mother of Non-Birth.

"Top ten in the Martial Arts List..."