With the Blade-Chapter 65 - 58: Carpenter Li

Just after Du Chengfeng rode away, Li the carpenter was still shaking in fear at the sight of the axe in the storeroom.

It wasn’t just because of fear, but literally shaking. He felt that the axe seemed like a block of ice frozen in winter, just a glance made him feel chilled to the bone.

He dared not touch it, truly dared not, no matter what, he wouldn’t touch the axe, not even once.

With a resolute stomp, Li the carpenter simply closed the storeroom door. In this situation, he wouldn’t be able to do any carpentry work, he might as well keep the axe inside to at least feel a bit more at ease.

Just as Li the carpenter was about to return to the main hall to make some food for his wife and children, his courtyard gate was pushed open.

"Have you seen my curved saber?"

It was Yang Sanlang who entered, going from house to house asking about his missing saber.

"I distinctly remember bringing it back..."

"I haven’t seen it."

Li the carpenter scratched his head.

He clearly saw it, after all, Du Chengfeng came with the curved saber, but he wouldn’t admit it, since Du had taken it, it must be for a significant purpose.

"Why don’t you look again?"

"No need to search, maybe this is one of the ancestor’s tests for me."

Yang Sanlang considered briefly but decided not to continue searching.

Indeed, there was no need to search further, Yang Sanlang had already asked the whole village, Li the carpenter’s place at the village entrance was the last house he questioned, and if it wasn’t found here, it truly didn’t need searching.

"Perhaps this is what the ancestors want to tell me, the saber is not so important, the person wielding it is what matters."

Saying this, Yang Sanlang, having run around the village, simply sat down and asked Li for a bowl of water.

Being neighbors, Li didn’t refuse, moreover, Yang Sanlang was someone he had watched grow up, a talented person—yet only up to a few years back. Since his acquaintance Du Chengfeng arrived, Yang embarked on his obsessive path, and it hasn’t ceased till now.

Thinking about it, Li felt a bit regretful, but there wasn’t much he could do.

After all, Du was too formidable.

Two tomcats together would fight, let alone two tigers, young men are often competitive, bound to pit their strengths against each other—but compared to Du, this Yang, who seemed like a young tiger initially, could only be considered a tomcat.

As they say, comparisons can be frustrating; Yang was evidently one of those frustrated.

The night Yang went to challenge Du, the villagers eventually heard about it. Du spared Yang’s life, but his almost indifferent attitude crushed Yang within.

Li knew about the challenge, but considering their enmity, and Yang’s deeds were indeed inappropriate, he chose not to meddle.

"Ah..."

Reflecting upon this, Li took out the sugar jar, adding sweetness to Yang’s watery drink.

He could only express his pity this way.

"Thanks, Uncle Li."

After a moment of silence, Yang accepted the bowl.

At this moment, the sound of galloping horses reached from afar.

"It’s... it’s him returning."

Li turned toward the door direction but deliberately didn’t mention Du Chengfeng by name.

"He left in the morning, by this time, he’d be back."

"...Uncle Li, there’s no need."

Yang forced a smile.

"I’ve conceded. Living till now, frankly, my life is practically borrowed from him. Though saying I’m reconciled is insincere, I realize that my disdain doesn’t matter; it won’t be acknowledged."

"All the same."

Li handed another sweet water bowl.

"Men are like that, growing up by observing another. Your father passed early, and old Yang had a gentle temperament. He could teach you literacy but couldn’t teach you to be a man..."

"Let’s not discuss this, Uncle Li."

Yang shook his head and prepared to drink the next bowl.

But as Yang intended to lift the bowl from the table, he noticed the sugar water inside slightly rippling.

"Hm?"

Yang instinctively looked up, hearing the increasingly loud hoofbeats.

This wasn’t the sound of a single warhorse; it was unmistakably dozens of horses galloping!

The hoofbeats echoed like thunder!

"It’s a cavalry troop!"

Yang swiftly stood up.

"Quick, Uncle Li! Find something to barricade the door! They’re about to..."

Bang—

Before Yang could finish, the already fragile wooden door was smashed wide open.

Hu riders, clad in furs, dismounted, their crimson eyes akin to demons from hell.

Bare-handed, Yang intended to rush forward but was seized by Li and pulled aside.

"This way!"

Clenching his teeth, Li dragged Yang to the storeroom.

The Hu people closed in from behind, it left Li no choice; he swiftly flung the storeroom door open, shoving Yang inside.

"Take the axe! Quickly!"

"Wha..."

Yang glimpsed the large axe; he recognized it as the one wielded by the Armored Hu General who had once broken into Yang’s fortress.

Could he truly wield this axe?

Could he truly use it to slay foes?

"I... Ah!!!"

As he reached for the axe, Yang grimaced with pain as if shocked.

His arms were already covered with frost.

Clearly, the axe rejected him, not even allowing him to touch it.

"What’s wrong!"

Li, hobbling on one leg, kept fleeing, even sustaining two cuts on his back. But when he raised his head, he was met with deeper despair.

Yang couldn’t wield the axe.

"Ah..."

In his utter dismay, two curved sabers slashed at Li’s shoulder.

The sabers sank into flesh, blood gushing forth, Li was chopped down, unable to rise.

Yet at this moment, he saw those crimson-eyed Hu dragging his wife and children from the house.

The children cried, his wife was dumbstruck in fear—indeed, facing these crimson-eyed Hu, facing those Evil Qi drenched weapons, who wouldn’t be scared? Who wouldn’t fear?

Li was scared too, more than anyone else, he feared. He was timid, he fainted at the sight of blood, afraid of death, even couldn’t bear to kill a chicken. Those Deadly Weapons were his nightmare, every night he recalled that bloody day, those bodies strewn about.

And his cowardice.

If being virtuous ensured survival, he always thought, kindness would suffice for living each day, he persistently believed. He never wanted much, just to live as normal, with his family, was all he desired.

But it wasn’t enough.

Far from enough.

"Ah..."

Seeing the Hu’s sabers arching toward his wife and children, Li finally abandoned all thought.

"I entrust my life to you."

With these words, Li grasped the icy axe handle.

Despite frost over his arms, Li clung tightly to the handle, unwavering.

"I offer you my life, regardless of your demands, as long as my family’s safety is ensured!"

Buzzz—

The north wind howled; blood flowers scattered.

The heads of those fierce Hu once filled with menace now lay on the ground.

Li’s eyes, like theirs, now fully crimson.