Azure Heaven Saber
Chapter 274 - 274 34 Heaven has eyes

Chapter 274: Chapter 34 Heaven has eyes! Chapter 274: Chapter 34 Heaven has eyes! This time while escorting Feng Yin to the Western Army, the journey was fraught with many unexpected twists and turns, and the dangers far exceeded their initial expectations.

Even Zhuang Weiran, as a Heavenly-Level cultivator, was forced to grapple with the concept of human frailty in new ways. From initially being not belittling the danger, thinking that as long as one acted carefully, there would be no peril, to later being surrounded on all sides, on the brink of annihilation only to be saved by the Dark Guards, and then the collective struggle against Heavenly-Level masters stronger than himself, escorted by the Heavenly Horse along the way, and experiencing Bu Changkong’s menacingly casual demonstration of strength, all these made Zhuang Weiran’s perspective shift time and again.

No longer did he think that regaining his Heavenly-Level cultivation made him extraordinary. He entertained the notion that when Feng Yin went for group training, he himself, alongside his old partner, should retreat and concentrate on cultivation for a period, in the least to revive all the techniques that he had neglected and regain his full strength in the true sense, only then might he feel somewhat at ease.

“The world is vast, and truly full of capable individuals.”

This was Zhu Weiran’s current mindset.

“However, it doesn’t hurt to observe a battle at this level…”

Zhu Weiran, having ascertained the strength of those who left a mark, regained his masterly demeanor.

The trio continued to move forward.

After a while, an open and chaotic battlefield at The Other Side ahead came into view.

This place seemed to have been a dense forest originally, but the fierce battle between the two people had turned this area into a flat land.

Sword Qi and Blade Qi had pulverized all the trees in this area into a thick layer that blanketed the ground.

This battle had clearly been going on for a while; large patches of blood were already coagulating.

On a tree stump, a figure clothed in black, pale as a sheet, leaned against the stump. No, it was a sword plunged straight into his chest, impaling him onto the stump.

This man was not dead yet, but in this dense forest, with injuries like these, there would be no way to save himself. Even if he was a Human-Level cultivator, he could not hope to survive for long. He was merely clinging on to life at this point.

Seeing Feng Yin and his companions approach, the man’s fading eyes lit up. He weakly whispered, “Please… grant me a swift end.”

The trio moved closer.

Hu Lengyue suddenly shivered and instinctively said, “Such a vicious attack!”

Because they were far away earlier and the man was dressed in black, it seemed as if there were no other wounds other than the sword in his chest. But now that they were up close, they saw that his body was covered in no less than a hundred wounds. To say that his body was covered in a multitude of injuries would be an understatement.

Moreover, a multitude of ants and mosquitoes covered many of the wounds, along with small creatures such as golden-winged honeybees…

Upon closer inspection, all the wounds on his body were drenched in a viscous liquid resembling honey.

The person who had put him on the tree obviously did not want to kill him cleanly, but intended to make him suffer tortures far worse than death before he died!

Bitten by thousands of insects!

The phrase “Bitten by thousands of insects” is typically a term used to express a strong curse, and it is extremely rare to see it realized, yet at this moment, it stood gruesomely true right before their eyes!

The honey smeared on the wounds had some hemostatic capabilities, which kept him from dying swiftly due to excessive blood loss. A sword in his chest pinned him firmly onto the stump, preventing any movement. Moreover, the ligaments in his hands and feet were all severed, leaving him powerless to struggle.

He could only remain like this, watching as ants and insects slowly devoured him!

The bugs had to consume his internal organs, completely depleting his Qi and blood to the point of complete collapse, before he could die!

Presumably, the person who had attacked him had intentionally preserved his eyes, and had refrained from targeting his head. If Hu Lengyue’s estimation was correct, the attacker had even fed him medicine to treat his wounds before leaving.

You can’t even pass out.

You could only watch as you were being eaten alive.

What’s more, this man in black, with broken limbs and riddled with injuries, was unable to move, but his internal injuries were not severe. With his Human-Level cultivator’s physique and its recovery capability, he could survive a considerable period, probably wouldn’t die for ten days or even a half month!

No wonder when he saw the three of them, his first reaction was not to cry for help, but to ask for a swift death.

At this moment, a swift death was much more desirable to him than being rescued.

Feng Yin shook his head. This man was so gravely injured and his desire for death was so strong. Though Feng Yin could save him, he did not know whether the man was good or bad. Seeing such a vendetta from the martial arts world, getting involved would definitely lead to endless trouble. Feng Yin didn’t want to provoke any unnecessary trouble at this moment.

With a clanging sound as the steel blade was drawn, Feng Yin said in a low voice, “My friend, I’ll see you off. I hope that your journey to the underworld will be a smooth one.”

A glimmer emerged in the man’s eyes filled with pain, even a hint of a smile, he strained out, “Thank you.”

Saying that, he slowly closed his eyes.

Just as Feng Yin was about to swing his blade, the intense Blade Qi stirred and immediately scattered the bugs that were on the man’s body.

However, as a swarm of bees flew up from the man’s body, somehow, something fell out from within his clothes with a clatter.

A badge, shimmering with dazzling golden light, fell to the ground.

That was… the Heavenly Judgment!?

This man was a killer from Heavenly Judgment, golden-colored… Gold Rank!?

Feng Yin abruptly ceased the movement of the blade he’d already swung out.

“Heavenly Judge Gold Rank?” Feng Yin asked in a deep voice.

The man forced open his eyes: “…Strike… Strike down…”

Feng Yin sighed, put his blade back in its sheath and stepped forward. He promptly pushed a healing pill into the man’s mouth, then released his cultivation to operate the Spiritual Transformation Technique. The abundant spiritual energy gathered in his palm and patted it onto the man’s shoulder.

With a thud, the potent spiritual power began to shake the surface of the man’s body.

Squish, squish, squish…

Countless insects that had burrowed into flesh were suddenly shaken and expelled.

This man groaned quietly, his eyes fluttering open. A measureless pain and intense surprise mingled in his gaze as he incredulously stared at Feng Yin, clearly not understanding why Feng Yin chose to act as he did.

“A Gold Rank assassin of the Heavenly Judge Club is worth saving by me.”

“Is there still a chance to save me?”

“There is!”

An exhilarating brightness filled this man’s eyes. Despite his agony, he conjured up the strength for a weak smile, managing to mutter, “To wander the jianghu in my lifetime, triumphant in countless killings, living out of faith that heaven holds no grudge, relying on my steel blade as my gold medal; punishing the devils and leakage of blood, no demons or ghosts can escape…”

A profound admiration replaced the surprise in his eyes as he voiced, “I finally understand today, the divine heavens…do indeed have eyes!”

Feng Yin, Zhu Weiran, and Hu Lengyue were all struck dumbfounded.

Just as they fathomed an unprescendented number of situations, they did not expect that he could compose a poem at such a moment!

You really don’t think your life matters, do you?!

Or is it…reciting a motivational poem has become instinctual to you?!

Is this really the time to showcase your literary flair?!

Upon second thought, Feng Yin suddenly understood how this man must be feeling right now.

Just as Feng Yin had comprehended earlier, the assassin from the Heavenly Judge Club, acting like the heavenly path with the goal of rooting out evil and maintaining peace.

Each of their movements reflected a deep sense of righteousness. They all possessed an upright and dignified spirit, a true embodiment of chivalry and heroism.

Nonetheless, due to their professionalism, they often acted alone and remained unacquainted with each other.

Even though they were convinced that they were always doing the right thing, they received little to no acknowledgment from others, with the exception of various rewards from fulfilling the Heavenly Judge Club’s objectives.

They were, after all, assassins.

Those with the potential to make it into the legends, such as Wenrou, were kept under careful watch and protection by the Dark Guards due to her outstanding potential.

But not everyone was afforded such treatment.

So, their sense of solitude, of ‘standing alone against the world,’ is almost identical.

Especially when they accomplished some dangerous missions that instead attracted massive enemy forces, they were left to fend for themselves. Everything was left to their own strength and perseverance… Inevitably, they were confronted with wavering faith and a profound sense of loss.

Take this Gold Rank assassin for instance, who was left to confront enemies alone and was overwhelmed. Knowing death was near, he could only wait for it to claim him. It would be impossible for him not to harbor some resentment.

While I strive to uphold righteousness and maintain peace in the world, where is Heaven when I am cornered and against the ropes?

This world that I have exhausted my life trying to keep peaceful, what has it repaid me with?

Everyone says the wheel of Heaven’s laws turns justly, but where is the justice when it’s my turn?

Due to this mindset, when they are at the brink of despair, staring at death in the face, and a miracle suddenly descends from heaven, their understanding of the Heavenly Path, their belief in karma, and their resolution in choosing the righteous path…this burst of emotions is unparalleled.

The heavens have finally seen my efforts!

All these years of persistence were not in vain!

Heavens do have eyes, this saying holds true!

Empathizing with his situation, Feng Yin naturally understood the man’s mental process even more so.

Of course…he was rendered speechless by – and admired – the man’s ability to compose a poem at such a time.

He almost gave the man a thumbs up: “Bro, you certainly have nerves of steel!”

……

With the help of Zhuang Weiran and his wife, the man’s body was soon cleared of hazards. Many small insects had burrowed into his flesh, gnawing away at his muscles. Some had even made their way into his stomach.

This situation could only be handled by Feng Yin. Any other healer in the world would only watch helplessly as life slipped away from the man.

Feng Yin gave him a pill infused with the essence of the Spiritual Transformation Technique, thus preserving his life. He then stimulated the life force in the man’s Dantian, allowing the energy of Spiritual Transformation Technique to circulate throughout his body and keep his vital energy channels connected.

As for the insects that hid within his body…don’t forget about the unique property of the Spiritual Transformation Technique. Anything that makes the slightest contact with it will be destroyed, absorbed into the technique, and redirected to nourish the injured individual’s physical body. This extraordinary feat is unmatched and unparalleled by any healer in the world.

Zhuang Weiran and Hu Lengyue, using their spirit control to create water, repeatedly washed his body to remove the honey at the wound site, preventing the insects from regrouping.

During this process, this man who had so gallantly composed a poem earlier had completely lost consciousness.

……

[Writing this chapter, I suddenly became aware of my evolution. In my previous books, many of the main characters would ‘go against heavens’. But now, I would dare not write in the same way… I have indeed changed tremendously.]