Chapter 59 Kindness

"He is really my eldest uncle?"

Hearing this, Duan Yu looked at Duan Yanqing, who was tossed aside by the fairy-like young lady and lay on the ground like a dead dog, and could not help but ask.

Shi Fei nodded and said, "Without a doubt! He is your father's cousin. The eminent monk Kurong of Tianlong Temple is his biological uncle."

"Are you also a member of the Duan family? Then why..." Duan Yu asked, looking at Duan Yanqing, who lay motionless.

He could not figure out why Duan Yanqing had always targeted the Duan family.

"Could it be that the Duan family has wronged you?" Duan Yu asked again.

Duan Yanqing remained silent.

Things having reached this stage, how could he possibly beg mercy from a junior of the Duan family?

"You must know that twenty years ago, a coup took place in Dali. It was at that time that he was ambushed by his enemies and severely injured," Shi Fei sighed and said:

"His face was completely ruined and both his legs were crippled. It is truly pitiful for a living man to be reduced to this state."

"When he survived and went to Tianlong Temple to seek out the monk Kurong, Kurong saw his disabled condition and tacitly condoned Duan Zhengming becoming the Emperor of Dali."

Duan Zhengming was the current Emperor of Dali, the biological brother of Duan Yu's father Duan Zhengchun, and also Duan Yu's own eldest uncle.

"Although the monk Kurong had taken monastic vows, he still held enormous influence over the Duan clan. Had he supported Duan Yanqing back then, Duan Yanqing might well have become the Emperor of Dali."

"Going from a crown prince to a cripple, he harbored bitter resentment in his heart and wanted to reclaim the throne."

"It's just that he was weak in solitary strength and roamed the pugilistic world employing ruthless and vicious methods, earning him the moniker of 'Most Wicked'."

Shi Fei explained Duan Yanqing's past to Duan Yu, filling the young man with a profound sense of sorrow.

"So that was how it was..." Duan Yu looked at Duan Yanqing with a trace of pity.

Seeing the pity in Duan Yu's eyes, Duan Yanqing roared angrily, "Who wants your pity!"

"Those worthy of pity invariably have hateful aspects to them, yet how innocent were the people he killed?" Shi Fei sighed and said, "Coupled with the fact that he shares blood ties with your Duan family—"

"If you kill him now, you can avenge the wronged souls who died under his hands, and at the same time rid your Duan family of a major trouble."

"Is that not the best of both worlds?"

Indeed!

Killing him would be the best of both worlds!

It would both avenge the innocent and resolve the troubles of the Duan clan.

Duan Yu felt this reasoning made sense.

Murong Xing, standing nearby, saw his mischievous friend being manipulated and wanted to say something, but didn't know how.

He knew Murong Fu was delightfully wicked and must have some ulterior motive for instigating others to commit murder.

Yet he could not think of what reason that might be.

Old Two Yue saw Shi Fei inciting Duan Yu to kill Duan Yanqing and hurriedly blurted out, "Master! That's my boss! You..."

His boss was his master's cousin once removed—the relationships here were chaotic enough.

"No! I am going to take him back to Dali!" Duan Yu suddenly shook his head and said, "I cannot kill him!"

Of kind disposition, he had never even killed a chicken since childhood.

The only exception was shortly before in Dali, when he and Mu Wanqing were being hunted down, and he had thrown stones at their pursuers to prevent them from climbing the mountain.

As a result, two men were struck by the stones, fell off the cliff to their deaths, and frightened another into a fatal misstep. That was the first time in his life he had ever killed someone, and it had filled him with grief and self-reproach for a long time.

He truly disliked killing.

Killing could not solve problems.

"I will take him back to Dali and discuss how to resolve this matter with my father and my uncle," Duan Yu said solemnly.

Making such a decision demonstrated a truly benevolent heart; even Wang Yuyan looked at him with newfound respect.

Unfortunately, Duan Yu was simply not Wang Yuyan's type.

"No! Just let me die!" Duan Yanqing rasped from the ground.

He had done no wrong to the Duan family; it was the Duan family that had wronged him!

To make him bow his head to Duan family members like Duan Zhengming would be tantamount to shattering his pride!

A person could be disabled, but not devoid of dignity!

A life without dignity was one he would rather perish than endure.

"Sigh... As you wish!" Shi Fei waved his hand and said.

Duan Yu was truly the same old Duan Yu; even when facing an enemy, he was willing to use kindness to reform them.

In the original tale, he had even saved his romantic rival, Murong Fu.

Had Duan Yu possessed a slightly darker mind and killed Duan Yanqing, only to discover later that Duan Yanqing was his biological father, the scene would have been too exquisite to behold...

Alas, he wouldn't get to witness that wonderful show.

The instigation had failed!

"Now that this fine show is over, we should go eat Xiao Long Bao in Wuxi," Shi Fei said as he stood up, bent down to pack away his camp stool, and addressed those around him.

A camp stool was an essential self-defense weapon for traveling the pugilistic world and staying away from home, so it had to be properly packed.

"I wonder what sweet Xiao Long Bao tastes like!" Shi Fei said with curiosity.

At that moment, Wang Yuyan said to Shi Fei, "The martial arts world is so vast, it must be extremely interesting! Cousin, I am going to go take a look!"

"Your legs are on your own body, do as you please of course!" Shi Fei waved his hand.

He naturally knew what Wang Yuyan was going off to do.

Never would he have expected Wang Yuyan to take a liking to Qiao Feng. How truly... unexpected!

After cupping her fists in salute to the group, Wang Yuyan turned gracefully and strode off in a certain direction.

Seeing the direction Wang Yuyan was heading—which happened to be the way Qiao Feng had departed—Duan Yu felt a pang of desolation in his heart.

He felt somewhat dejected, knowing that no matter what, he could never compare to Qiao Feng.

Glancing at Duan Yanqing, Duan Yu also said to Shi Fei, "Young Master Murong, I must also take Duan Yanqing back to Dali now."

"Thank you all at the Canhe Villa for your hospitality over the past few days. Duan Yu will keep it in mind!"

"You're too polite! It was nothing more than an extra pair of chopsticks!" Shi Fei smiled and said, "I hope that as you travel the rivers and lakes in the future, you'll make a few more 'younger sisters'!"

Duan Yu's face darkened. He turned to Murong Xing and said, "Brother Xing, I am leaving!"

"Hey~ Aren't you going to stay a few more days and wait for news from Dali?" Murong Xing asked with a hint of disappointment.

It had been so difficult to find a fun, mischievous friend.

"I won't wait!" Duan Yu suddenly said, "Brother Xing, are you interested in coming to Dali for a visit?"

"Huh?" Murong Xing instantly perked up.

Duan Yu said, "Dali has Erhai Lake, rice noodles, and plenty of fascinating customs. It's loads of fun!"

Murong Xing felt his heart itch with curiosity. He always felt ill at ease back at Canhe Villa and repeatedly said, "Alright, alright, alright! Let's go together!"

Shi Fei glanced at him and said, "At your age, it's indeed fitting to go out and see the world, and get a proper beating from the pugilistic society!"

"My legs are on my own body, what business is it of yours?" Murong Xing said, slightly irritated by Shi Fei.

"The old man is not dead. Do not be surprised when you see him!" Dropping this single sentence to Murong Xing, Shi Fei took Abi and headed toward Wuxi City.

With that, the group parted ways into different directions.

Wang Yuyan went in search of Qiao Feng and Azhu.

Shi Fei and Abi went to Wuxi to eat Xiao Long Bao.

Duan Yu, Murong Xing, and Old Two Yue escorted Duan Yanqing back to Dali.

Back in the Apricot Forest, Wang Yuyan and Azhu had saved many people and were etched deeply into the memories of countless souls.

The two maidens were known respectively as "The Female Overlord, Lady Wang" and "The Full Moon Demonic Blade, Azhu"! Meanwhile, the news that Qiao Feng was a Khitan spread far and wide across the martial arts world.

Such was the pugilistic world—one never knew whether the bizarre or tomorrow would arrive first.