373: Eunuch Zhou

Liu Yuan was somewhat timid, but his mind was still sharp.

Soon, he confirmed which sewer led to Third Squad Leader’s home.

The two walked on the stone paths along both sides of the sewer.

Only their footsteps echoed in the silent sewer.

Liu Yuan walked in front, holding the cleaver, his Heart-Nature growing more anxious with each step.

He started to get scared because, in his Heart-Nature, this kind of thing was too crazy—going to someone else’s house through the sewer in the middle of the night with a cleaver to chop them?

This kind of thing was beyond his comprehension; he didn't even think it was something a normal person could do.

And this was Tianhe Pass; what if they were caught?

He had many questions but didn't dare to ask, fearing that the old man behind him would look down on him. His gaze was already full of disappointment because his legs were trembling.

Finally, the two arrived at the sewer pipe that led to Third Squad Leader’s house.

Liu Yuan looked up at the manhole cover, preparing to lift it.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Xiao Fan frowned.

Liu Yuan was startled and said, “Going…going up…”

Xiao Fan shook his head, lamenting his lack of progress, and said, “Listen carefully.”

“Today, your task is to stab this cleaver into that Third Squad Leader’s crotch, intimidate him, and, without revealing any trace of your whereabouts, do not let anyone discover that you did it!”

“There’s no way the Green Training Camp dorms don’t have surveillance. If you just walk up like that, you’ll be discovered the next day.”

“Then, your talent is Water Spirit, right?”

“You know how to transform into water, right?”

“So now, put the cleaver into your Storage Ring, then flow through the sewer into that Squad Leader’s bedroom, and then, stab the cleaver into his crotch!”

“Along the way, you must clean up all your traces, so no one discovers anything, understand?”

“I won’t help you; you’ll complete the rest of the matter yourself.”

Liu Yuan stared blankly at the sewer and said, “This…I transform into water to enter this stinky ditch?”

“This…it’s so disgusting.”

Xiao Fan shook his head and said, “You don’t want to pay anything, you can’t endure any grievances, yet you still shout about wanting to reclaim your dignity?”

“Alright, go back to your Di Yi Academy and be your good little boy.”

With that, Xiao Fan turned around in disappointment and left.

Liu Yuan stood alone, bewildered, beside the foul-smelling ditch, watching Xiao Fan gradually walk away, the words echoing in his mind.

You don't want to pay anything?

Yet you want everything?

Yes…

Thinking about the humiliation he had endured then…

After Xiao Fan had completely walked away, he suddenly roared and punched the nearby wall.

At this moment, the timidity in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by anger.

Because anger is the best way to hide fear.

…

Three in the morning.

Xiao Fan sat with his legs crossed, watching a vulgar, melodramatic, yet engaging soap opera.

While watching, he ate a late-night snack in the living room, which he had made himself.

Suddenly, the door was opened.

A figure in a black robe stood at the doorway, but a very unpleasant stench emanated from beneath the black robe.

From under the black robe, a hoarse yet somewhat excited voice came: “A gentleman’s revenge is from morning till night.”

“Old man…this feeling is really good.”

Xiao Fan glanced at him and said indifferently, “I’m going to sleep. Be quiet when you shower.”

With that, he turned off the TV and went back to his room, the octopus rings on the table still emitting an enticing aroma.

After showering, Liu Yuan sat in the living room, legs crossed, imitating the old man, watching the vulgar, melodramatic soap opera, an octopus ring in his mouth.

But his attention was not on the TV at all.

The past few hours were definitely the most thrilling of his life.

Quietly moving in the shadows, doing crazy things that normal people wouldn't do, and always at risk of being discovered and getting into trouble.

This feeling made his adrenaline surge, making him no longer afraid, but calm and rational.

He was thinking.

What kind of person was the old man in his youth? How many things had he experienced to be able to produce such a detailed sewer route map at any time?

It certainly wasn't prepared for me early on.

That must be a habit.

A habit of never delaying revenge overnight.

I’m starting to love this feeling.

The next evening.

Liu Yuan hummed a little tune as he returned home, carrying a large bag of ingredients and a professional cookbook.

He spent a full two hours making this meal.

But Xiao Fan didn't rush him; instead, he was somewhat expectant.

Indeed, the nine dishes finally placed on the dining table were all perfect in color, aroma, and taste.

Liu Yuan held a towel, meticulously wiping his palms and the cleaver, his posture like a calm butcher.

He looked in the mirror, observing himself, and smiled slightly, muttering, “I’m very satisfied with you now; you’re much stronger than before.”

He would forever remember the old man’s understated words.

You don’t want to pay anything, yet you want everything?

If you don’t put in effort, how can you make good food?

If you don’t put in effort, how can you defeat your opponent?

I will put in more than anyone else, and I will win. If I can’t win openly, then I’ll win covertly!

At the dining table, sitting opposite Xiao Fan, Liu Yuan reverted to the Heart-Nature of a child.

He spoke with a full smile, chattering away, looking as if to say, “Please praise me quickly.”

“When I went to the Green Training Camp today, it was hilarious.”

“That person from the Third Squad was very flustered, but after seeing me, he immediately tried to humiliate me. But I just lightly glanced at his crotch and then gave him a brilliant smile.”

“He instantly cowered and then went to report to the instructor.”

“I immediately started feigning innocence. Anyway, I always look like a good student, so how could the instructor think that a good kid like me would take a cleaver to someone else’s house in the middle of the night?”

Xiao Fan nodded slightly, eating his meal unhurriedly.

At this moment, Liu Yuan suddenly said, “Old man, we have an instructor who seems to have a great reputation. I wonder if you’ve heard of him.”

Xiao Fan raised an eyebrow.

Liu Yuan continued, “He’s also an old man, named Zhou Xinyang.”

“I heard that he has a unique Martial Arts method for helping people condense ‘Intent,’ and he’s a renowned strong practitioner in this Tianhe Pass, with his Realm even reaching Martial Saint!”

At this, Xiao Fan put down his chopsticks and frowned.

Zhou Xinyang was the old man with the unique Martial Arts that his elder brother had told him about.

He just happened to encounter him?

“You know him?” Liu Yuan asked curiously.

Xiao Fan chuckled lightly and said, “His reputation is widespread, so of course I know of him.”

“But I haven’t interacted with him.”

“What’s his personality like?”

At this, Liu Yuan pouted and said, “That old man’s personality is much worse than yours.”

“He’s the type who…really likes to put on airs, very haughty, the kind of person who makes others call him ‘Grandpa Zhou’ when he goes out.”

“In the Green Training Camp, no one dares to talk back to him. If he says one, no one dares to say two.”

“The most important thing is his demeanor; he’s a bit like an eunuch, like those old historical dramas you watch every day, you must know—those old eunuchs who are second only to one person and above ten thousand, often look at people askance, speak in thin, sharp voices, and frequently make orchid hand gestures.”

“I don’t know how else to describe it, but he just immediately makes people think of an eunuch.”

“Then a classmate secretly gave him a nickname, calling him ‘Old Eunuch’.”

“He was overheard, and unexpectedly, that old man Zhou was really petty. He immediately got angry and almost sent that classmate back to the mainland.”