Raising Orphans, Not Assassins
Vol. 2 - Ch. 41 - Patricide! Leaving the City!

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Chen Ye and Xiao Lian stepped out of the Orphanage and onto the deserted street.

Xiao Lian pulled a golden cylinder from her sleeve, about eight inches long, gleaming like it was crafted from pure gold.

At the end of the cylinder were two trigger joints.

Chen Ye accepted the Peacock Plume. It felt smooth and warm in his palm.

He applied a slight pressure. Though it looked like soft gold, the cylinder was surprisingly firm and solid.

“Director, press the first trigger, then the second. The flying needles inside the Peacock Plume will shoot out,” Xiao Lian said, her tone brimming with excitement.

This kind of hidden weapon—the Peacock Plume—was truly one-of-a-kind in the world.

She had crafted it with her own hands and knew well just how deadly it was.

Even a top-tier First Rank expert might not survive its strike.

The only pity was how rare its crafting materials were.

If she hadn’t stolen hidden weapon materials from Tang Sect, the Peacock Plume wouldn’t have come into existence so early.

But making a second one? That might not be so easy.

Chen Ye’s fingers gently traced the surface of the Peacock Plume.

This legendary weapon of the martial world… now truly rested in his grasp.

It felt almost unreal.

He held it for a while, then suddenly raised the barrel of the Peacock Plume and pointed it at his own left palm.

With his right hand, he pressed the first trigger.

Xiao Lian’s eyes widened and she cried out, “Director!”

Before the words had even fully left her mouth—

Chen Ye pressed the second trigger.

In the next instant—

A dazzling burst of multicolored light flashed before both of their eyes.

It was beautiful. Like a peacock fanning its tail.

Xiao Lian’s gaze glazed over with wonder, as if she were staring at the most breathtaking thing in the world.

Ding! Ding!

Two light sounds rang out from Chen Ye’s left hand.

Xiao Lian snapped back to her senses with a jolt.

She looked anxiously at his palm.

Chen Ye’s hand was completely unharmed. Two fine needles lay quietly on the ground.

“Dean!”

Xiao Lian rushed to his side, nervously examining his hand.

Chen Ye chuckled.

Once the Peacock Plume’s needles fired, the second trigger automatically rebounded.

One more press would fire it again.

“I’m fine. This weapon could easily take down a First Rank expert,” Chen Ye said calmly.

To his eyes, the Peacock Plume came with two innate attributes: 【Qi-Breaking】 and 【Dazzling】. He had wanted to see if it would affect him.

It was... fascinating. As expected from something created by the system.

That dazzling burst of color just now—he had seen it too.

But it hadn’t affected him the way it had Xiao Lian.

Apparently, the Dazzling attribute didn’t work on him.

He casually handed the Peacock Plume back to Xiao Lian and said seriously, “Xiao Lian, keep this with you. Use it for self-defense.”

“But I must say this—there aren’t many First Rank experts in the world.”

“Above First Rank, there are the Grandmasters. The Peacock Plume might kill a First Rank easily, but it may not work on a Grandmaster.”

“Don’t go on a killing spree. Think carefully before using this.”

Hearing his sincere tone, Xiao Lian was momentarily stunned. Her bright eyes shimmered with shifting emotions.

Gratitude, joy, sorrow, coldness... a swirl of conflicting feelings flashed through her gaze.

She gave a slight bow, her face full of respect. “Understood.”

Chen Ye looked at her and smiled faintly. “I know there's someone you’ve always wanted to kill.”

“Now that you have the Peacock Plume, you finally have the power to do so.”

“But before you do, I hope you think it through.”

“Patricide... is easy to say, but hard to bear.”

He gently patted her on the shoulder and turned to leave.

Xiao Lian stood silently in the street, watching his back with a complicated expression.

---

Jingzhou Prefecture, Sha County

Yuelai Inn.

Outside, rain poured like buckets, the pattering sounds endless.

It had rained all night without pause, and showed no signs of stopping. The endless downpour seemed eternal.

Lying in bed, Da Ming tossed and turned, staring blankly at the wall.

He had woken in the second half of the night.

To his ears, the rain outside sounded especially noisy.

He couldn’t sleep.

The thought that, in just two more days, he would arrive in Jiangling and see Miss Xiuxiu again—

That made his heart race and any trace of sleep disappear.

“Brother Ming?”

The voice came from the bed opposite—Xiong Shan.

“Brother Xiong,” Da Ming turned and answered.

“You can’t sleep either?” Xiong Shan chuckled.

Da Ming gave a sheepish laugh.

Xiong Shan sat up, got out of bed, walked to the window, and pushed it open.

Outside was a grey world, the entire city shrouded in rain.

Water streamed off the tiled rooftops, dripped from the eaves, and pooled on the ground.

The streets were flooded, completely deserted.

This rain really was heavy.

Judging by the sky, dawn was near.

Xiong Shan sighed softly.

Rain or not, he still had to head to Jiangling.

He shut the window, sat back on the bed, and said with a smile, “Brother Ming, the rain’s pretty fierce out there.”

“If you’re heading to Jiangling, you might be delayed a few days.”

Da Ming sat up too and chuckled.

“I’ll leave as soon as it’s light.”

Xiong Shan raised a brow in surprise.

“What’s the rush?”

Da Ming scratched his head shyly. “I’m going to find a girl.”

Xiong Shan’s interest was instantly piqued, and he pressed for details.

Da Ming recounted how he and Xiuxiu had met.

After hearing the story—

Xiong Shan fell silent.

He’d assumed Da Ming was some military man, at least an aide to a deputy general.

Who would’ve guessed he was just a woodcutter?

A magistrate’s daughter…

And a woodcutter...

Xiong Shan opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again.

From an outsider’s view, Da Ming did seem like a toad lusting after a swan.

The gap between them was enormous. One in the heavens, one on the ground.

Xiong Shan thought for a moment, but in the end, didn’t say anything.

When he was twelve, he was still shooting rabbits on the plains.

What did he know about love?

But honestly, Da Ming seemed like a good-hearted, simple man.

And because of that, Xiong Shan found himself liking him even more. He even started to see him as a promising young talent.

So what if he’s just a woodcutter?

In the future, who’s to say who’s worthy of whom?

After thinking it over, Xiong Shan laughed heartily. “Brother Ming, you’re a man of passion! A true romantic!”

“Perfect timing. I need to go to Jiangling too. Once it’s light, we’ll go together. In this storm, we’ll watch each other’s backs.”

Da Ming nodded and grinned.

This Brother Xiong... was quite a good guy.

Before long, a rooster crowed loudly through the city.

After a simple breakfast at the inn, the two donned straw raincoats and hats, braving the rain as they left.

The sky was dim and gray, the light gloomy.

Rain poured endlessly from the heavens, drumming relentlessly onto the streets.

Puddles rippled and splashed.

Da Ming and Xiong Shan ran through the empty streets toward the city’s northern gate.

After a long run, their clothes soaked through, they finally arrived.

At the gate stood just two soldiers on guard.

They didn’t make trouble—just waved them through.

But just as Da Ming and Xiong Shan were about to step outside, a guard behind them called out:

“Where are you two headed?”

Da Ming answered in his honest voice, “Jiangling City.”

The soldier shouted back, “You don’t know yet? Last night, the Peach Blossom Flood overflowed the riverbanks.”

“It already submerged several small towns. The official road from Sha County to Jiangling is underwater.”

“They’ve been working on flood defenses all night in the west of the city. You two look strong. Why not lend a hand over there?”

“At least you’ll get all the steamed buns you can eat.”

“If you insist on going to Jiangling now, you’ll have to take the mountain path.”

“And in this rain... who knows how long that’ll take.”