Chapter 83: New Horizons

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Thousand Steps of the Thunder God is a blindingly fast technique. Liu Jin wishes he could order Lei Kong to take them out of Five Bats City at once. Alas, there is one last thing he needs to do—a letter he needs to deliver. Hopefully, before people realize that, for all intents and purposes, Branch Master Ruan no longer exists.

That is why, after ditching their disguises, they go straight to the Five Blessings Auction House. Branch Manager Bianfu is very surprised to see him, something Liu Jin can understand quite well. His own survival was something he doubted right until the very end. So many things could have gone wrong.

So many things can still go wrong.

Ruan Goutin may have quite thoroughly burned his bridges with the disciples of the Eternal Raging Valley. However, that does not mean Liu Jin’s actions won’t have consequences. The story of a child walking into a branch of the Eternal Raging Valley and banishing the Branch Master is not one that can ever be known by the public. The loss of face would be too much.

Even if the public never learns of this matter, the Eternal Raging Valley will have to investigate it. When they do, how will they judge his actions? Will they look upon them favorably? Condemn them?

Will they even care?

Liu Jin is not willing to stay and find out. He has had quite enough of the Eternal Raging Valley. Branch Manager Bianfu may have plenty of questions for him, but Liu Jin knows every minute counts. He only has enough time to leave the letter in Branch Manager Bianfu’s hands along with clear instructions.

This letter is not for Xiao Fang. That one he sent before going into the Eternal Raging Valley, something Liu Jin now regrets. If he were to write it now, he’d probably say a few things differently.

This letter is for his wife.

Whether it will reach her or not is uncertain. Branch Manager Bianfu might even decide not to send it, judging it too dangerous to keep associating with him. Even if he does send it, it would all depend on Song Daiyu. There is no guarantee she will help him.

However, this is all Liu Jin can do right now.

His task done, Liu Jin and Lei Kong leave Five Bats City with all the speed of lightning. It doesn’t take more than a few seconds, yet Liu Jin savors every one of them.

“I can’t believe we’re alive, my lord,” Lei Kong says, coming to a stop a few miles away from the city. He is breathing heavily. Not because he is tired, but rather out of pure relief.

“For once, we agree on something.” Liu Jin takes a deep breath, and he’s surprised by how refreshing it is. He feels lighter now. Even the sky seems bluer.

The city is not yet a dot in the distance. Liu Jin can still see its gates and the line of people waiting outside them. He can still see its mighty walls. It is hard to believe how much trouble he had while inside them.

The city looks so small from this distance.

“Enough.” Liu Jin shakes his head. “Let’s move. We cannot afford to dally here much longer.”

“Wait!”

Liu Jin tenses in preparation for an attack. Beside him, Lei Kong is already preparing his Qi. Before anything can happen, however, Liu Jin recognizes the voice calling out to him. He raises his hand to stop Lei Kong.

On the distance and quickly making his way over to them is Cui Tian.

“Wait!” He shouts once more, moving fast enough to leave a trail of dust behind him. He is nowhere near as quick as Lei Kong, but it doesn’t take him much time to reach them.

“I… was not expecting to see you,” Liu Jin admits.

Cui Tian laughs even as he struggles to catch his breath. “I should be the one saying that!”

He sways unsteadily on his feet before resting his hands on his knees, barely keeping himself standing. He had clearly run with all he had.

“I saw you walking out of the Five Blessing Auction House. The moment I did, I understood you were leaving the city. I had to catch up to you.” Cui Tian chuckles breathlessly. “Did you know it worked? Ever since you went into the Eternal Raging Valley, no one else has been taken. No one has said anything, but I don’t see how it could have been due to anyone but you. That you are leaving the city right now… does it mean…?”

“You don’t have to worry. Things worked out in the end. Branch Master Ruan will no longer need anything from the people of Five Bats City. You can tell Si Lan and her father everything will be fine. You’ll also be glad to know there is no need for you to sneak them out of the city.”

Liu Jin smiles as he says this, hoping to cheer up Cui Tian. However, the reaction he gets is not one he expects. Cui Tian stares at him in utter befuddlement. He looks at him as though he were staring at something incomprehensible.

“Why?”

Liu Jin is a bit taken aback by the reaction. “What do—”

“Why?” Cui Tian repeats again, lost. “Why this?” He throws his arm out. “Why do all this? Why even involve yourself in this situation? You did it in Eastern Port City! Now you’re doing it again! I… at first, I thought you were after something, but what possible reason could anyone have for coming into conflict with one of the top four sects of the Empire on behalf of us? You barely know Si Lan! You have not even met Doctor Si! As for you and me, we’re acquaintances at best! Why risk so much for someone you barely know and who will never be able to repay you!”

Why?

Why is he doing this?

It is a question Liu Jin has pondered countless times.

This time, he can answer it.

He knew it from the start, yet couldn’t bring himself to admit it. It took arguing with Ruan Goutin for him to be able to face himself properly.

“Why?” Liu Jin smiles. It is bright and tinged with sadness. “How could I stand by and watch while cruelty is being treated as reasonable? My father did not raise such a person. I couldn’t not intervene. That is all.”

“You couldn’t not do it?” Cui Tian repeats. He throws his head back and laughs. “I give up.”

“Huh?”

“You are amazing! This debt… you may not care about it, but I’ll never forget it!” Cui Tian kneels before Liu Jin. “I know I’ll never catch up to you. Neither in might nor spirit will this Cui Tian ever be your equal, but… I promise you this! I will grow stronger so that when we next meet, it will be I who can be of use to you!”

Liu Jin looks on as Cui Tian’s forehead touches the dirty ground. It is uncomfortable to have someone so big kneeling before him. Normally, he’d just tell him to stand up.

Right now, though…

“Do you really mean that?”

“Of course, I do!”

“Even if the way you end up repaying me is by doing something others would consider small? Even if you don’t play a large part and receive no glory?”

“Even if!”

Liu Jin looks at Cui Tian. He looks at the resolution written plainly all over his face and sighs.

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“Here.”

Cui Tian blinks in surprise and barely misses the small bag Liu Jin tosses at him.

“I had prepared to use them to gain Branch Master Ruan’s favor, but there ended up being no need for them,” Liu Jin says as Cui Tian opens the bag. “Unfortunately, I am not in a position so comfortable that I can say I’ll never need your help. That is why you’ll need at least that much.”

Cui Tian gasps. “This is…!”

His words end up caught in his throat. It is only fitting. The bag he holds contains Pills of Bliss. Cui Tian stares at them for several seconds before looking up at Liu Jin.

“You are giving this to me?”

“Don’t misunderstand. This is not a kindness I am doing to you,” Liu Jin tells him. “You can use them for yourself or even share them with your fellow disciples. That matters little. I am just making it clear that you will need at least that much if you want to repay me. Otherwise, you won’t be strong enough to do so.”

In other words, one could say he is investing in Cui Tian.

Maybe Song Daiyu was right about him back then.

“I… I understand! I will not forget! I will definitely, definitely, repay you!”

“It pains me to say this, but I will not forget those words. Now, return to the city and tell no one of this. Go!”

Cui Tian looks like he wants to say more yet chooses to obey. He dashes away, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

“That was quite merciful, my lord. He will be able to grow stronger in hopes of one day repaying you, even though that day may never come.”

“No, that day will definitely come,” Liu Jin says, much to Lei Kong’s surprise. He turns away from Five Bats City and looks at the horizon, taking in its vast emptiness.

“Lei Kong, you have seen many cities, haven’t you?”

“I have, my lord.”

“What happened here, how common would you say it is?”

“I… cannot claim to know all the details of the situation. In fact, I am still not sure of all that happened. My lord and I were not able to talk for the past three weeks, but…”