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When Jufeng stepped out of the Golden Sea Building, his mood was as bright and cheerful as the sun in a clear sky. It had been a long time since he had experienced such a light-hearted conversation, free of burdens and misunderstandings. Even when facing Chen Lao, Romain felt a bit anxious, but Jiang Sheng provided no pressure at all.
Perhaps it was because Jiang Dong was Xue Er's father that Romain subconsciously regarded him as family. Moreover, the righteous aura surrounding Jiang Dong was truly admirable.
Gathering his thoughts, Romain continued on his way. Emotions could not sustain life; in fact, most things in the world were won through reason. He was still uncertain about how Hua Gang's actions would be specifically implemented, so he had to remain cautious.
The Golden Sea Building was located in one of the commercial districts of Yang City, while Hua Gang's Shengming Pavilion was in another district not too far away. Walking there would take about forty-five minutes, but for some reason, Romain chose not to drive or call Hua Gang for a ride; instead, he walked on foot, enjoying the cheerful sunlight and breathing in the joyful spring breeze.
Crossing several wide roads, the bustling crowd filled the air with the vitality of the city, and the scent of spring lingered in the atmosphere.
Liu Xing had lived on a desolate planet since birth. Since arriving on Earth, his gaze had either lingered on Chuyang or been captivated by the splendor of urban life.
"Star, do you like it here or do you prefer your old planet?"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xing carefully looked around at his surroundings before lifting his head to respond: "Uncle Feng... I don't know. It was nice when my parents were together back home. But when Dad went out, Mom would worry all day long, and that made Star unhappy. Here on Earth... I'm really happy when I'm with Uncle Feng and Chuyang. If either Uncle Feng or Chuyang isn't around, Star might still feel sad. So Star doesn't really know where he likes better."
Romain stopped walking and looked down at Liu Xing. Not understanding why his uncle was staring at him, Liu Xing thought perhaps he hadn't answered well and lowered his head sadly.
Romain crouched down, a warm smile blooming on his handsome face. He gently lifted Liu Xing's chin and spoke in as soft a tone as possible: "Star, I'm very glad you understand something that took me a long time to learn. You know? You are so exceptional, with a resilient character and keen insight. However, I want to tell you that no matter how high you rise in the future or how much your life changes, always remember what you said today and act accordingly. Do you understand?"
Liu Xing nodded somewhat blankly but with great seriousness, just as he approached everything else in life with earnestness. Although it was clear he did not fully grasp Romain's words yet, it did not affect his promise to Romain nor his belief that he could remain steadfast amidst the chaotic currents of society in the future.
After this brief interlude, the three continued their journey. Following Kangqu Street led them into narrow alleys that gradually distanced them from the noise of the city and into a quiet Old District seldom visited by people.
Their pace remained steady; however, the atmosphere suddenly became much heavier. Even someone as innocent and naive as Liu Xing sensed that this area was unusual.
In the clear sky floated white clouds; shadows loomed over the yellow springs. Suddenly, a large mass of darkness slowly approached from afar, obscuring an area of several dozen meters around the three.
As the shadow drew near, a gust of wind swept through, causing them to stop.
"Close your eyes!"
Romain whispered softly. Liu Xing understood this instruction was directed at him; without hesitation, he shut his eyes instantly, plunging into darkness while clutching Romain's hand tightly—his youthful fingers trembling slightly as they expressed his inner anxiety and fear.
Though Liu Xing could see nothing before him, it did not hinder him from using his hearing to perceive the outside world. The continuous "clanging" sounds reached his ears; he recognized them as fierce metal clashes echoing angrily. There were also sudden gusts of wind that tousled his bangs before settling back into calmness; then there was Uncle Feng holding his hand—sometimes tight and sometimes relaxed—like a melody being played: sometimes like galloping horses and sometimes like flowing rivers—but never letting go.
In the stillness of closed eyes, Liu Xing felt time passing slowly. He estimated that it had been about a quarter of an hour before all sounds began to fade away. Yet Uncle Feng still did not allow him to open his eyes, so after swallowing hard, he continued to wait in silence.
Tranquility was always fleeting. Liu Xing did not wait long before a more intense melody began to play one after another. Was it artistic? Liu Xing did not know. He only understood that when things appeared at the wrong time, the truth was often bloody.
This time felt longer than before, long enough for Liu Xing's legs to tremble uncontrollably, his strength waning, until Jufeng's voice finally broke through the silence.
Slowly opening his eyes, Liu Xing did not immediately look around but raised his head to gaze at Jufeng's face.
It was still warm and kind, as pure as if untouched by the world.
"Are you scared?"
"No, just a bit tired."
"Then let's go rest."
From beginning to end, Liu Xing's gaze remained fixed ahead without any deviation. The boy was unafraid; therefore, he was unafraid. It was just that deep down, he did not want to see the truth—the truth behind the heavy metallic scent lingering in the air!
Shadows came gently and left just as softly; darkness was brief, leaving behind a more serene desire.
…………
Inside Shengming Pavilion, the atmosphere was bustling yet tense. Many faces showed signs of fatigue, not only from the recent downturn but also from having just experienced a fierce battle.
Heroic Journey, a masterpiece by Li Taibai, one of Huaguo's greatest ancient poets. However, in today's context, it referred to a notorious assassin alliance known worldwide.
This alliance was not formed for the purpose of killing anyone in particular; rather, the assassins of Heroic Journey were far beyond ordinary killers in skill level and were categorized into four tiers. Chang Guohong barely squeezed into the second tier while the rest of Starlight Ranking were either third-tier or even lower.
In Old District, seven second-tier assassins and fifteen third-tier assassins attempted to assassinate Jufeng. This demonstrated how much importance these killers placed on Jufeng. Unfortunately for them, they met their end there while Jufeng remained seated here, chatting and laughing.
Flower Snow Moon had informed Jufeng this morning that the assassins seemed too careless, allowing Hua Gang to catch a glimpse of their trail in Yang City. So the two devised a trap, using themselves as bait to draw out the assassins for an ambush. The process was somewhat perilous; the assassins from Heroic Journey exceeded Jufeng's expectations in strength. However, the outcome remained optimistic—aside from two casualties from Starlight Ranking and three from Hua Gang, there were no other losses on their side.
Indeed, Starlight Ranking had returned earlier; however, Jufeng had instructed them to remain hidden for this very moment. Clearly, their strategy had proven effective.
Jufeng sat beside a table carefully bandaging Zhu Yao's wounds. Initially, the assassins from Heroic Journey only launched probing attacks to draw out their full strength. To counter this, Jufeng and Zhu Yao had no choice but to face all attacks themselves. Zhu Yao fought valiantly against two second-tier assassins and five third-tier ones, taking down five while sustaining injuries himself.
Chang Guohong stood in the corner, his arm bandaged. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction because Zhu Yao was his protégé; for a mentor, nothing could be more gratifying than seeing their disciple surpass them.
Politeness was also present in the Association, and he had witnessed the earlier events firsthand. Even someone as proud as him couldn't help but give Zhu Yao a thumbs up. He knew that if it were him in her position, he could have handled things with greater ease. However, what he admired was Zhu Yao's steadfast commitment to her duty. From beginning to end, she never strayed from protecting Jufeng, which was also why she had sustained so many injuries.
There was another unfamiliar face in the arena, named Tang Haoran, who was skilled with a left-handed knife and was one of Hua Bang San Long—an exceptional master. In the subsequent battles, it had mostly been he and Politeness taking down enemies, and neither had sustained any injuries. When he looked at Zhu Yao, his expression was one of reverence, yet he couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. The reason Jufeng had risen like a comet in such a short time was undoubtedly due to the many talented individuals under his command! From the previous Gun God to the current War God, and now the ethereal Blue Demon before him—how could such a force not thrive?
This was a confrontation in the dark, ultimately ending in Jufeng's victory. However, there were countless assassins lurking about, and the hefty bounty still loomed large. How could the days ahead be anything but tumultuous?
Yet for Jufeng, once a choice was made, there would be no regrets.
Note that it is "no regrets," not "no remorse"; the former is far more resolute!
(To be continued)
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