Scattered!
Scattered!
Qin Heng climbed down from the city wall and followed Lin Fan as they departed.
The townsfolk were disappointed. Clearly, there was supposed to be a good show, but it was heartlessly disrupted. Who were these people anyway, always sticking their noses where they don’t belong?
Forget it, forget it. Today’s gossip ends here. Maybe there’ll be more juicy drama later.
Leaving Dawn City, they arrived at the outskirts, a dense forest.
Lin Fan turned to look at the resolute Qin Heng and asked, "Where are you from?"
Helping others feels so fulfilling.
"Qin Heng from the Qin clan of Great Zhou City," Qin Heng answered, grief-stricken, his mind consud by the fact that he lacked a Spirit Root. The thought of this disgrace spreading to his family—it was unimaginable, truly terrifying.
The real issue was this:
Qin Heng regretted it all. His Martial Arts talent was exceptional, making him advance quickly in cultivation. Add to that the help of dicine, and his Inner Strength reached a hundred-year level. He was showered with familial expectations, and it all went to his head; his arrogance alienated many.
He couldn’t begin to imagine how brutal the mockery would be upon his return.
Why must soone so young bear such overwhelming pressure?
"Hmm, Qin Heng of the Qin clan. How old are you?" Lin Fan asked.
"Twenty-six," Qin Heng replied, then asked in return, "Why are you asking this? Aren’t you supposed to take sowhere to die?"
"Here?"
Looking around at his surroundings, he felt puzzled.
"What is there here but trees and grass? How am I supposed to kill myself?"
Clang!
At that mont—
Lin Fan drew his blade, full of anticipation, and said, "No deep reason for the questions. I just wanted to make sure that after I help you, I’ll raise a little mound, set up a Stele, and carve your na and age on it. At least you won’t end up as so naless grave."
"Brother, stop with the nonsense! Stretch your neck out. I promise, with one clean slash, it’ll be swift and painless."
He was getting a bit impatient.
Having a hundred-year Inner Strength would be nice. If it drops out after this, it’s totally worth it.
"You..." Qin Heng stared, dumbfounded at Lin Fan. He hadn’t expected that this guy would personally do the deed, one slash to kill him. But the blow of having no Spirit Root was simply too much.
He wanted to die.
He really wanted to die.
So, Qin Heng really stretched out his neck and shouted, "Don’t hesitate! Cut with all your strength. I’m determined to die, nothing can change that. Slash!"
"Alright, good spirit, brother!" Lin Fan gripped his blade tightly, feeling genuinely excited. This was probably the easiest kill he’s ever had—no effort required, no guilt involved. After all, this was exactly what the other party wanted; he was just doing a favor.
"Co on, I’ll die soon. Thanks in advance. Who knew there’d be soone as kind-hearted as you out there?" Qin Heng said.
Lin Fan chuckled, "It’s just a small favor, no need for thanks. Travel well to the next life, and may you be born with a Spirit Root."
Qin Heng stretched his neck, closed his eyes tightly, his eyelids quivering. Even though he wanted to die, the mont he actually faced death, a primal fear bubbled up. But he forced that fear down and shouted:
"Co on! Cut!"
Lin Fan took a deep breath and said, "Alright, here I go."
No point overthinking now. Raising his hand, he yelled, "Here it cos..."
But suddenly—
"Wait..." Qin Heng quickly spoke up and pulled his head back. "Change the angle. The way my neck was stretched felt... a bit off."
"Fine, reposition yourself." Lin Fan wasn’t in a hurry. He had plenty of patience to wait for Qin Heng to find the perfect angle. After all, he couldn’t deny soone a proper send-off.
Qin Heng stretched his neck once more, his palms sweaty. "Alright, this ti I’m ready. When you strike, make it quick. I really am terrified of pain."
"Sure, no problem." Lin Fan raised his blade again and swung it down hard.
Despite Qin Heng’s cultivation being decent, he felt the sharp edge’s impending strike and the chill on his neck. Instinctively, he pulled his neck back, and the blade sliced through nothing but air.
"What’s the deal now?" Lin Fan asked. "We already agreed; don’t flake on now."
Qin Heng gasped for breath, his hands trembling as he waved them. "Nothing... It’s just, I suddenly felt sothing’s wrong. You see, when the blade falls and my head drops to the ground, well, no matter what, I’m still a Qin clan mber. I can’t die in such disgrace. Let’s find a cleaner spot and try again."
"Alright, whatever you want. I respect your wishes." Lin Fan cald himself down, suppressing his emotions. He had to act carefully, ensuring the guy didn’t back out due to his tone or impatience.
Qin Heng finally found a clean area with grass covering the ground. Satisfied, he said, "Alright, this is it. Now, go ahead and strike. I absolutely won’t dodge this ti."
"Being without a Spirit Root ans I’ll be the butt of jokes if I go back to the family. Rather than live a lifeti of humiliation, I’d rather die and be done with it."
His words sounded quite grand.
Like he was truly determined, unyielding.
Lin Fan didn’t have much to say. He raised his blade again, eyes glimring. Then, with incredible speed, he swung it down. Just as it was about to connect with Qin Heng’s neck, the latter suddenly shouted:
"Wait..."
Lin Fan could have ignored him, but that wasn’t his style.
"What now? Do you even want to die? If you don’t, just speak up earlier. No need to waste everyone’s ti."
Qin Heng’s sweat-soaked clothes clung to him while beads dripped from his forehead. Trembling, he replied, "It’s not that... I do want to die. But when you swung the blade, I knew I’d die... and because I knew, I got scared. Honestly, you’re right. I guess I am wasting your ti."
"I really do have the intention to die... But deep inside, I’m terrified."
"How about this? Could you stick around with for a while? Let talk through my fears and overco them. Then you can help die, is that okay?"
Qin Heng’s request was innocent and naïve.
Lin Fan sheathed his blade quietly, muttering, "Just get the hell out of here. I’ve never seen soone as indecisive as you. Go back to your family and beco their lifelong joke!"
"I’m not doing this for any gain. I’m just naturally warm-hearted, but you don’t even appreciate it. Go find soone else to bother."
"I don’t have ti to waste on your nonsense."
He was genuinely exasperated.
Clearly, he had wanted to die.
So why couldn’t he face his true desires?
If he wasn’t soone Lin Fan didn’t personally hate, he wouldn’t have tolerated this back-and-forth.
Qin Heng looked deeply embarrassed and guilty. "Brother, I’m truly sorry for disappointing you. I know you’re a kind-hearted man, but I just can’t get past this hurdle yet."
Lin Fan gave him a glance, not bothering to reply further. He had better things to do, like wandering around for a stroke of luck—maybe even discovering a hidden Demon lurking sowhere nearby.
Suddenly.
Just as Lin Fan prepared to leave, a mysterious voice echoed from around them:
"How entertaining."
"A True Man wandering the world, stumbling upon two most amusing individuals."
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