Volume One: A Youth Enters the World Chapter Forty-Five: Choices

After a short while, Zhou Xiaodie’s complexion improved. Fang Tian checked her condition and, finding nothing amiss, stopped channeling spiritual energy into her.

“Are you feeling better now, Xiaodie?”

Zhou Xiaodie opened her eyes, gazing at Fang Tian before her, and replied softly, “Much better, Brother Fang Tian.”

“Let me help you up, then.”

“Mm.”

Fang Tian helped Zhou Xiaodie to her feet, and together they walked toward the ice sculpture that encased Zhou Yunshu. As they stood before Zhou Yunshu, both fell silent, not knowing what to say.

After some thought, Zhou Xiaodie turned to Fang Tian and asked, “Brother Fang Tian, what do you plan to do about my father?”

Fang Tian was at a loss. Although the tragedy that befell the entire village was not directly at Zhou Yunshu’s hands, he had played an indirect role in it. Moreover, he had tried to kill Fang Tian as well. To say Fang Tian bore him no hatred would be a lie; to forgive him was simply impossible.

Lost in these thoughts, Fang Tian found himself unable to speak.

Seeing his silence, Zhou Xiaodie understood the pain her father had caused him, a wound not easily erased. She paused, then said,

“How about this, Brother Fang Tian? My father has wronged you, but I don’t want him to be killed by you. If you cripple his cultivation, he will no longer have the strength to plot or act.”

Fang Tian still did not move.

“Brother Fang Tian, do you still want to kill my father?” Zhou Xiaodie asked softly.

Snapping out of his reverie, Fang Tian heard her words and replied,

“No. We’ll do as you say. I’ll cripple his cultivation. That way, whatever he wishes to do in the future, he’ll lack the power to carry it out.”

“All right, Brother Fang Tian. Please do it.”

Fang Tian gathered his spiritual energy and gently struck the ice sculpture.

Crack... crack...

The ice began to splinter, revealing Zhou Yunshu’s form. As he was just about to open his eyes, Fang Tian struck him with a swift palm, sending him staggering backwards.

Zhou Yunshu spat out a mouthful of blood and half-knelt on the ground. Now conscious, he looked at Fang Tian and Zhou Xiaodie before him, and seemed to understand what had transpired.

Seeing that Zhou Yunshu had regained his senses, Fang Tian spoke,

“Uncle Zhou, for Xiaodie’s sake, I won’t kill you. But your cultivation is now gone. I hope you will conduct yourself accordingly.”

“Don’t worry. In my state, there’s nothing more I can do.”

Zhou Yunshu’s heart was a tangled knot. Originally, he had sent Xiaodie to befriend Fang Tian to lower his guard and achieve his own ends. Who would have thought that in the end, it would be his own daughter who saved him? Fate truly works in mysterious ways.

He rose slowly to his feet. His face was ashen, all his former vigor gone. Without stopping, he walked past Fang Tian and Zhou Xiaodie, heading straight for the exit.

Outside, Zhou Yunshu glanced to the side and saw Zhou Quan standing nearby. Without a word, he continued walking.

“Patriarch,” Zhou Quan called, watching Zhou Yunshu’s lonely figure.

Zhou Yunshu waved a hand, his figure gradually fading into the distance as he left the place.

Fang Tian noticed someone outside as well. Glancing back, he guessed it must be Zhou Quan. Since Zhou Xiaodie had managed to come here, it was likely with his help. As for the reason, Fang Tian no longer cared.

After all, the hatred between the two sides ran deep.

Letting go of such enmity would take time; it was best not to meet Zhou Quan for now.

Ignoring the presence of Zhou Quan, Fang Tian turned to Zhou Xiaodie and said,

“Xiaodie, it’s time for me to leave.”

A hint of reluctance flickered in Zhou Xiaodie’s eyes. She whispered,

“Brother Fang Tian, must you go so soon?”

“Yes. But before I leave, I need to pay a visit to the Chen family. Now that Uncle Zhou’s cultivation is crippled, I must deal with Chen Yufeng before he learns of this and escapes.”

“Brother Fang Tian, whether or not you ever wish to return, I will always wait for you.” Tears shimmered in Zhou Xiaodie’s eyes.

The events that had unfolded left her heart heavy. She dared not hope Fang Tian would forgive the Zhou family; she only wished that, should he return, he might spare her a glance.

Hearing her words, Fang Tian’s resolve softened. He drew Zhou Xiaodie into his arms.

“All right. You are you, and the Zhou family is the Zhou family. I don’t care about the others, but at least you have always been sincere with me. How could I bear not to come back to see you? Don’t let your mind wander.”

In truth, Fang Tian still harbored resentment over all that had happened. To say he could simply let go was impossible. If not for Xiaodie’s presence, he would never have wished to return to the Zhou clan again. All he wanted was to leave as soon as possible.

Zhou Xiaodie, hearing his reply, felt both joy and sorrow. She did not know when he would return next.

After a while, she made up her mind. Some things had to be faced; she could not wallow in sorrow forever.

Looking into Fang Tian’s face, her gaze became resolute. She spoke earnestly,

“Understood, Brother Fang Tian.”

“Good. Then I’ll be off. If anyone from Wufeng City comes to ask, just tell the truth. After all, it was I who killed them.”

Without waiting for her to reply, Fang Tian vaulted over the wall and sped off toward the Chen estate.

Watching his departing figure, Zhou Xiaodie felt a wave of emptiness.

After a while, she gathered herself, put away her melancholy, and called toward the door, “Cousin, come in.”

“Has he gone?” Zhou Quan entered.

“Yes, he’s gone. Why didn’t you come in and speak your mind earlier?”

“To be honest, I was too ashamed to face him. Although he killed my father, my father had also killed his kin. It suddenly seems so pointless, all this hatred—yours for him, his for you.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xiaodie knew that most of the hatred in Zhou Quan’s heart had faded, but she still asked softly,

“Cousin, do you still hate him now?”

Zhou Quan shook his head and sighed,

“No, I don’t. If he can let go of his hatred, why shouldn’t I?”

“It eases my heart to hear you say that. After all, our Zhou family owes Brother Fang Tian too much. To end things this way is a blessing.”

Zhou Quan took a deep breath, a smile spreading across his face once again. He said to Zhou Xiaodie,

“Who would have thought, in the end, only you would come to understand these things, Xiaodie. As your cousin, I am truly ashamed. Enough talk. There’s much to do. Let’s leave this ruined courtyard.”

“Mm.” Zhou Xiaodie nodded.

And so the two left the courtyard, now little more than a ruin.

Meanwhile, after a brief journey, Fang Tian had reached the Chen estate. The Zhou clan guards at the gate, seeing it was him, greeted him respectfully.

“Open the gate. I have business inside.”

“Yes, sir!” The guards wasted no time and opened the main gate for Fang Tian, closing it behind him once he entered.

Fang Tian followed the traces of spiritual energy to where Chen Yufeng was hiding. Arriving at a courtyard, he found Chen Yufeng within and opened the gate to enter.

“What should I do? What should I do…”

Inside the room, Chen Yufeng paced back and forth in panic. With his family’s plans in ruins and the Chen estate surrounded, even if he attempted to flee, Fang Tian and the others would catch him.

He had no way out—no one to call upon, no hope of escape.

“Who’s there?”

Suddenly, the door burst open, startling Chen Yufeng so badly he collapsed to the ground.

“It’s me, Fang Tian,” Fang Tian said coolly, striding in.

“What are you doing here?” Chen Yufeng pointed at Fang Tian, trembling uncontrollably with terror.

“What do you think? I’m here to settle accounts,” Fang Tian replied with a cold laugh.

“Don’t kill me, please! I beg you, spare me, please…” Chen Yufeng wailed, clutching his head in panic.

Fang Tian glanced at him, strode over, lifted him up, and pressed a palm to his chest, channeling spiritual energy and crippling him.

“Ah…! What did you do to me?”

Chen Yufeng writhed on the ground in agony, screaming at the top of his lungs.

“Nothing much. I just destroyed your cultivation. Now you’ll have no choice but to behave,” Fang Tian replied.

“What! My cultivation—crippled? How dare you! Fang Tian, you’ve gone too far!”

Ignoring his protests, Fang Tian turned and walked out. Even outside, he could still hear Chen Yufeng’s frantic howls echoing within.

He cast one last glance back, then vanished from sight.