The wind cave, suspended in mid-air, resembled a halo around the moon on a clear night, exuding a serene beauty.
However, the circular sword energies that continuously radiated from within the cave represented boundless terror and death!
All the dozen or so clones of Yang Zhenren were instantly shredded by the sword energies, vanishing without a trace.
Yang Zhenren's ultimate technique, intended to take Ying Chen down with him, was thus effortlessly neutralized by Ying Chen.
At this moment, Yang Zhenren felt an indescribable despair spreading through his heart.
This despair was unlike anything he had experienced, not even when he had nearly fallen into enemy territory and his life hung by a thread!
"So you're not just a martial arts master, you also know Xuanmen arts..."
"So not only is your martial arts attainment astonishing, but your Xuanmen arts also far exceed imagination."
"Why? Why would such a prodigy be born in this world? It's truly unfair!"
"I began cultivating at the age of three, and have now been cultivating for over sixty years. I never imagined that after a lifetime of diligent and painstaking effort, I wouldn't even have caught up to your starting line."
"The heavens are blind, the heavens are unjust!"
Yang Zhenren let out a mournful cry.
He truly felt, from the bottom of his heart, that heaven was unfair!
Why were some people born into wealth and status, while others had to scavenge for scraps like stray dogs?
Why did some possess luxury cars and villas from birth, while others never even had a ride in one their entire lives?
Why were some blessed with innate supernatural abilities, while others toiled their entire lives in mediocrity?
"Unfair?" Upon hearing Yang Zhenren's cry, a mocking smile appeared on Ying Chen's lips.
"See, this is the typical logic of wicked people like you. If the one being oppressed today wasn't me, but an ordinary person, you wouldn't have uttered a word about unfairness when you killed him and stole his belongings. You would have simply thought it was the survival of the fittest, the strong preying on the weak."
"If you weren't facing certain death today, but had turned and fled, you wouldn't have cried foul either. Instead, you would have meticulously planned your revenge."
"The only reason you feel it's unfair now is because you've fallen behind, because you're in a desperate situation and unable to change it."
"In reality, are the heavens truly unfair? Not necessarily. The heavens actually gave you many chances."
"For instance, when you learned the truth from the Min couple, if you had shown a shred of reason, you wouldn't have come looking for me, and you could have avoided this fate."
"For instance, after we met, I earnestly told you the truth. If you had possessed even a little sense of fairness and justice, you could have avoided this fate."
"For instance, after we began fighting, you clearly sensed something was amiss. At that moment, if you had immediately admitted your mistake and apologized, you could have also avoided this fate."
"You missed all three opportunities perfectly. After missing them, you now curse heaven for its unfairness."
"Do you think it's really heaven that is unfair, or yourself?"
Faced with Ying Chen's questioning, Yang Zhenren was stunned.
He instinctively wanted to retort, but after searching his mind, he couldn't find a single word of refutation!
Because what Ying Chen said was all the truth!
His so-called unfairness of heaven was merely the powerless displacement of anger and complaint after his own self-destruction!
In reality, no matter how talented or powerful Ying Chen was, it had nothing to do with him.
Ying Chen had not provoked him, nor had he casually killed him just because he didn't like him.
Instead, it was he who had provoked Ying Chen!
It was like a mouse deliberately provoking a lion, and when bitten to death by the lion, complaining to heaven about its unfairness in being born so weak.
Heaven itself would probably give it a swift slap!
"Thank you. In my next life... I'll be mindful."
Yang Zhenren offered a heartfelt thanks to Ying Chen.
Then, with a sudden tilt of his head backward, he collapsed to the ground.
He had finally reached the end of his strength, and breathed his last!
"One hopes!" Ying Chen said softly, looking at Yang Zhenren's corpse.
Then, with a wave of his hand.
Yang Zhenren's body instantly plummeted into the mountain ravine, swept away by the roaring sea, and sank to the seabed.
Thus, his sea burial was completed.
After all, he was once a master; some basic dignity in death should be afforded to him.
At the same time, the lightning-charged wind cave created by Ying Chen disappeared, and silence returned to the world.
Were it not for the ravaged state of the mountain peak and the still roaring sea at its base, one would have no idea that a great battle had just taken place here.
And it was a battle that, if its details were ever leaked, would surely astound the entire Xuanmen world.
"Wake up."
*Slap!*
Ying Chen approached Hu Daheng and, with a slap to his face, said.
Hu Daheng, as if truly deep in a slumber, only opened his eyes hazily after a long while.
And as he opened his eyes, he displayed a strong morning grumpiness.
"Bastard! Who told you to wake me up?"
"Didn't I tell you? You must let me sleep until I wake up naturally during this period! Even if I sleep for three days and three nights, as long as I'm not dead, you're not allowed to wake me!"
"If you violate my rules, slap yourself!"
In his groggy state, Hu Daheng clearly mistook Ying Chen for one of his servants.
Without a word, he demanded that Ying Chen slap himself, as per his rules.
"Alright," Ying Chen replied, without any trace of anger, and nodded.
Then, with a loud *slap*, the sound of a heavy blow echoed.
Five red marks instantly appeared on Hu Daheng's face.
"..." Hu Daheng was dumbfounded.
He remained stunned for a good while before finally coming to his senses.
He finally saw clearly that the person before him was not his servant, but Ying Chen!
"It's you! You're not dead?" Hu Daheng exclaimed in shock.
He had assumed that Yang Zhenren had already killed Ying Chen!
"Where is Zhenren? Where did Zhenren go?" Hu Daheng looked around blankly, unable to find any trace of Yang Zhenren.
"Ah, he had some urgent matters to attend to and left early. If you're in a hurry, you can go join him," Ying Chen replied indifferently.
Hu Daheng clearly didn't grasp the hidden meaning in Ying Chen's words.
He still thought that Yang Zhenren had subdued Ying Chen and left with the fragment of the artifact.
A hint of confidence surged in his heart, and he extended his arm towards Ying Chen: "Hmph, you have no manners. Not only are you considered a prisoner of war, but even if you weren't, there's a matter of seniority between us! I pledged allegiance to Zhenren first, so I am naturally your senior! What's wrong with giving a senior a hand? Are you feeling wronged?"
Ying Chen continued to smile without speaking, remaining unmoved.
"Very well, I've noted your attitude. When I meet Zhenren, I will report it to him truthfully! You should know that Zhenren detests those with rebellious spirits the most. He will surely make you pay!"
"I'll give you one last chance!"
"One!"
"Two!"
Hu Daheng looked at Ying Chen arrogantly and began to count.
Just as he was about to utter "Three," Ying Chen moved.
Hu Daheng couldn't help but reveal a smug smile: "That's more like it! A wise man knows when to submit, you're being sensible, and there won't be so much trouble. I can..."
However, Hu Daheng's words were cut short.
The smug smile on his face vanished, replaced by a look of profound terror.
"You... What are you doing?"
Hu Daheng cried out in shock, his voice strained.
He had expected Ying Chen to reach out and help him up, but instead, Ying Chen's hand had grabbed his neck!
"Helping you up!" Ying Chen replied earnestly.
"It's just that I don't like to help with arms; I prefer to help by the neck."