Chapter 2: Like Knives Facing You
“If I get sick and die, I won't blame you, right”As he spoke, with a flick of his hand, he swung open the fence that stood at the street corner.This is a translation of the provided text. Please note...Please attribute the source when reposting.
A biting wind whipped across the face.
At such a high speed, the lack of Dao Yuan's protection is tantamount to being sentenced.
In the howling wind, Lin Zhengren felt immense pain at a physical level.
His nape was being choked, held like a dog, so humiliatingly. His limbs were stiff and hanging limp in the air...
He had no time to consider his appearance.
Because all his thoughts were devoted to one crucial question —
How to survive
At the Yellow River summit, the national representatives, the Tianjiao (heavenly pride), were attacked by the Blood Ghost and retreated before the competition even began. They won a spot in the main tournament, but they didn't even make it to the stage.
The state of Zhuang was almost a laughingstock throughout the world.
For the right to walk on the viewing platform by the river, generations of people in Zhuang Guo had made great sacrifices.
It might take more time to wash away the shame of this incident.
As a subject of the Zhuang Kingdom, Lin Zhengren did not personally experience the shame. However, he forced himself to feel it. Only by knowing the depth of national humiliation could he more deeply understand Du Ruhui's anger. Only by profoundly understanding Du Ruhui's anger could he find his own way forward.
So he closed his eyes against the wind, tears streaming down his face. As the pride of a nation, he was usually someone who could look down on his peers. This moment was both humiliating and pathetic.
The most skilled of the officials, Du Ruhui, was not given any respect by him because he had thoroughly denied him.
At this moment, he allowed himself to feel his emotions. He was so sad that tears streamed down his face.
He himself couldn't tell, this overwhelming feeling of shame that filled his heart, was it because he was treated like a dog by being dragged by the scruff of his neck, or because of the national humiliation he felt!
He could feel the wrinkles on her hand clearly at the base of his neck, and especially the unwavering determination that came through it.
Du Ruhui already had murderous intent.
He did not regret his choice to vomit blood and forfeit at first, because the sweeping victory of Jiang Wang was precisely the best inner abode in the world. If he had struck at that time when his blade was untested, even a powerful figure like Yu Xi could have been careless.
In the eight matches of the main competition, his match against Jiang Wang was definitely not the most anticipated. Zhenjun Yu Xi might not have paid much attention to it. However, Jiang Wang's powerful soul force that had effortlessly defeated Xiang Bei could have killed him several times in an instant on a spiritual level.
That's too risky.
Even if the one presiding over a meeting of the Yellow River's finest scholars were someone as powerful as Yu Xi, a master of deriving Dao... it would still be too risky.
Isn't Dongguobao dead
Although Touching Sorrow isn't dead, how much better is it The puppets need to be rebuilt, the alien beasts need to be found and raised again... How much cultivation time would this take It's practically wasted!
Taking the stage is a gamble, and he's not willing to take it.
In fact, he thought very clearly.
After I left, throughout the entire state of Zhuang, many considered him to be the most gifted.
Both Ge Ba Dao and Duan Li were defeated at the Lock Dragon Pass, and the rest of the disciples from the Outer Halls are quite mediocre. For now, there is no other promising figure in Zhuang Guo who could hope to ascend to godhood.
After Du Ruhui, there was no one to succeed him.
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He, Lin Zhengren, is undoubtedly the most promising.
A prodigy who can reach the main event of the Huanghe River Tournament certainly has the potential to achieve godlike status.
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He held a certain importance to the state of Zhuang. This can be seen from Du Ruhui's good attitude towards him.
This is his reliance. And he considers destroying the Blood Fiend and forfeiting the match as a huge sacrifice to help the country preserve its face. Duke Du should be able to see this effort.
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From the current situation, it seems he overestimated his own importance and underestimated the significance of the Yellow River Meeting...
Just a moment ago.
Did Zhuang Gao and Du Ruhui, along with other advisors, have any other options
Who is it
That Fu Baosong who was trampled in public
Li Jianqiu, who was defeated so easily
Is it still that reckless, life-loving soldier Du Yehu
Looking back, it was a scene Emperor Jing never expected to see come to pass.
The problem has suddenly become many times worse!
The Emperor's words mean that at this Yellow River Assembly, the distribution of benefits belonging to the State of Zhuang has been erased. The humiliation he inflicted upon them must now be reconsidered.
These past two days, waiting for the results on the bridge railing, every moment has been agonizing.
Because he understood that after the Yellow River's meeting ended, it would be Zhuang Ting's turn to settle accounts with him.
King Zhuang of Zheng was not a miserly ruler. On the contrary, he was generous and willing to reward his meritorious officials handsomely. However, there was one thing about King Zhuang's rewards or "investment," he always wanted to see a return.
The country sent him to the Guā Hé Tái, and the state minister personally escorted and guided him, even incurring the displeasure of Sheng Guo, such a powerful first-class vassal state, just to support him in defeating Jiang Lí Mèng...
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All of this is related to the honor and benefits associated with the viewing platform on the Yellow River.
In the end, I only reaped shame and loss.
He still left a bad impression on Emperor Jing, and the host of the event, Zhenjun Yuxi who came from Yuqingshan, also inevitably felt animosity towards him...
This time, I lost everything!
>
After much deliberation, as someone who bet everything on this, he also has little hope of survival.
He certainly thought about running away, but knew there was no chance of escape.
He's been acting determined these past two days.
He sobbed, admitting his cowardice and fear. He confessed that upon learning his opponent was Jiang Wang, he was overcome with terror. He expressed pain and remorse, stating his willingness to accept any punishment, while also hoping to atone for his sins through service.
While Du Ruhui never expressed his stance.
This unspoken attitude terrified him.
Now that the Yellow River Conference has just ended, Du Ruhui directly flew back to Zhuang Guo with his haste, like carrying a dog waiting to be slaughtered to the slaughterhouse. He didn't even want to put on a show of politeness—or perhaps showing Zhuang Guo's disdain for such a coward as him was already Du Ruhui's facade.
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What can I do
The benefits he could gain from the Yellow River Gathering were no longer within his reach. Leaving such a grand occasion as the Yellow River Gathering, compared to the overall situation in the world, the power of these young prodigies was still too weak.
...and its own value...
Although he considered himself to be of extremely high value, far surpassing people like Fu Baosong and Li Jianqiu.
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But I am afraid that in the eyes of Zhuang Gaixian and Du Ruhui, a Lin Zhengren who died on the Guanhe Platform would be more valuable than one who survived.
The truth about Maple Forest City, was it deduced by him and then hinted to me How could he not know how the emperor and his minister would consider this!
These two people only compare him when he was dead and him surviving, so he's now the first among the young generation in Zhuang Guo. Now he's being hung like a little dog by the back of his neck!
What to do!
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Lin Zhengren struggled to gather his strength, speaking with great difficulty against the biting wind: "Zhengren knows that a thousand deaths cannot atone for this crime. Fortunately, everyone in the Unlimited Field forfeited, so our Zhuangguo isn't very prominent..."
The wind continued to howl.
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As for his "reminder", Du Ruhui was apparently unmoved.
The nature of his withdrawal was completely different from theirs. Of course, he knew this himself.
But still, I have to say, I've fought for myself.
The road is forged step by step. Even with the slightest chance, he wouldn't let it pass him by.
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After enduring another round of the biting wind, Lin Zhengren said again: "I truly hate my own incompetence, unable to stop it. To allow Jiang Wang, that traitorous rebel, to take the top spot! A person who hates his country so much, with such talent and now holding this prestigious title, situated within the powerful Qi state, has become a major threat to our Zhuang nation!"
The cloudscape retreated at lightning speed, while the wind blade remained.
Lin Zhengren asked with difficulty, "Have you ever thought about... how to deal with him"
In the biting wind, Du Ruhui's voice finally rose: "You don't need to worry about this anymore."
Lin Zhengren let out a sigh of relief in his heart, but his face became even more pained: "It's... I'm already a dead man. Whether I worry or not is insignificant. It's just...cough cough!"
>
He gasped for breath, coughing violently before continuing, "If you decide to take him down, I'm a very useful tool. My entire clan died at his hands, we have a blood feud. I am his stain, my existence itself is evidence of his wickedness."
Du Ruhui suddenly stopped, still holding Lin Zhengren's neck with one hand, lifting him up halfway, and looking down at him.
Usually a kind person, Du Ruhui displayed the demeanor of a prime minister in this situation.
>
He looked deeply into Lin Zhengren's eyes: "I'm actually very doubtful now, you Lin family... was it really killed by Jiang Wang"
The distrust and disdain in these words were so obvious, yet a big stone fell from Lin Zhengren's heart.
Only if Du Ruhui truly wanted to utilize this matter would he need to consider its veracity.
So he...found his value over others!
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Lin Zhengren struggled to control the pain on his face, forcing himself to appear more humble and submissive: “Wangjiang City belongs to Zhuang Guo. How real this matter is depends on how much you want it to be. I am willing to cooperate in any way.”
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There was no response.
A gust of wind howled past, and a wisp of cloud spun a lonely figure in the air.y changed to a serious expression: "Jiuyézi, have you ever thought about how long it's been since we last saw an 'outsider'"Jiang Wang noticed that at this time, his shattered knee had already stopped...