Chapter 4
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This chapter is edited by Cthulhu. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 4: The Last Qiao Family Member
“He’s finally dead.”
Qiao Mu looked at the body at his feet and let out a sigh of relief.
After going back and forth dying several times, Butcher Zheng was finally worn out.
Repeatedly dying and resurrecting in front of Butcher Zheng was no longer something that could be dismissed as “twins.”
When Qiao Mu resurrected and reappeared for the fourth time, Butcher Zheng collapsed on the spot.
Of course, anyone who encountered an enemy that couldn’t be killed would question their own existence.
“Luckily I’m the one who cheated.”
Qiao Mu felt a stir in his heart, and a semi-transparent dialogue box appeared before his eyes.
Death Assessment: D (Courageousness)
Lifespan consumed by death: 0.5 years
Remaining resurrection count for this week: 0/5
Current age: 20
Skill: Long Life Fist (Proficient)
“Only my first death in the vegetable market and the time I caught the blade achieved a Death Assessment of C. In the following resurrections, the Death Assessment has continuously declined.”
“By dying five times, my age has increased by five years, and I have gained five years of experience in diligently practicing Long Life Fist.”
Qiao Mu tightened his fist.
The five years of dedicated practice in Long Life Fist flashed through his mind.
After five years of continuous training, his Long Life Fist had progressed from beginner stage to the proficient stage.
“The Death Assessment of the previous two times, when I died at the hands of Butcher Zheng, was a C. This shows that Butcher Zheng matches the intelligence and is a thoroughly wicked person.”
“Fighting and dying against such an evil person is why the Death Assessment reached a C.”
“I wonder if there are any additional effects if the Death Assessment reaches a B or an A?”
Qiao Mu paused and thought carefully, suddenly feeling that something was a little off.
“Why does my system feel like a leaderboard for best deaths? I need to seriously think about how to die in an impressive, innovative, and skilled manner to receive higher ratings and effects.”
He crouched down and searched Butcher Zheng’s body, finally discovering a piece of paper in his palm.
The paper was crumpled and had tear marks on it.
Butcher Zheng had tried to send a message using a carrier pigeon, but Qiao Mu came back to life too quickly and kept interrupting him. He hadn’t had any chance to release the pigeon.
In the end, the secret message ended up in Qiao Mu’s hands.
After a quick look, Qiao Mu immediately showed a look of sudden realization.
On this trip, he had finally found what he was looking for.
This Butcher Zheng not only recognized his Long Life Fist but also, before running away, had made a special trip to this dilapidated temple in the deep mountains, attempting to spread the message through carrier pigeons.
“The power behind Butcher Zheng must be the archenemy of Heyang City’s Qiao Family.”
Besides this letter, Butcher Zheng had another secret message on him. However, the words on this second secret message were like tadpoles, completely incomprehensible to Qiao Mu.
“Could it be some sort of secret code? If so, this secret code message must be very important if even Butcher Zheng doesn’t know its content.”
Qiao Mu carefully collected both letters, efficiently managed his own bodies, and then walked away quickly.
[…]
Yan City, outer city district.
Qiao Mu, wearing a straw hat, strolled along the long street of the outer city district paved with blue stone slabs, brushing shoulders with pedestrians.
There weren’t many people on the long street, and most looked tired and walked with their heads down, as if they carried worries on their faces.
Compared to the bustling city of River Sun where Butcher Zheng lived, Yan City was quite desolate.
Qiao Mu walked into a noodle shop by the street, chose an empty table in a corner, and ordered two bowls of longevity noodles.
Soon, there were footsteps and the sound of a cane behind him: “tap-tap.”
A blind girl walked into the noodle shop, holding a cane with her eyes closed.
This blind girl was probably in her early twenties, with beautiful features, her long black hair flowing down like a waterfall. Her graceful figure couldn’t be hidden even in her coarse clothes; she looked like a character from a painting.
As soon as she walked in, the many customers in the noodle shop couldn’t help but lift their heads, their gazes following her every move.
They often looked away when they saw the blind cane in her hand and her perpetually closed eyes, then sighed and patted their thighs.
Such a pretty girl, too bad she’s blind.
The blind girl didn’t seem to notice the hustle and bustle inside the noodle shop. She walked confidently to an empty table in the corner and sat down right next to Qiao Mu on the long bench.
She picked up the bowl of longevity noodles on the table and took a bite, asking:
“Why did you order these longevity noodles?”
Qiao Mu replied, “Today is my 20th birthday.”
“Your 20th birthday? But I remember you were still quite young…” The blind girl paused for a moment, then said:
“Then I’m 21.”
Qiao Mu sneered inwardly, what’s the point of comparing ages with him?
Today is his 20th birthday; tomorrow he could celebrate his 30th.
As long as he was willing, not to mention having this little girl call him grandfather, he could even argue with primitive humans through tens of thousands of deaths.
While he was lost in thought, the blind girl furrowed her brows little by little.
“Your voice… doesn’t sound right. You’re not Qiao Mu?”
Qiao Mu was slightly stunned.
In order to kill Butcher Zheng, he had died multiple times, and his physical age had jumped from 15 to 20 in an instant. His voice had indeed matured quite a bit.
He was about to come up with an excuse when he saw the blind girl tilt her head slightly, bring her nose close to his chest, and sniff carefully. The cautious look on her face immediately relaxed.
“It is really you… but why has your voice changed?”
Perhaps due to her blindness, Qiao Canxue’s other senses were much more sensitive than ordinary people’s.
“During the period of voice cracking, you know, all men go through this, it’s very reasonable,” Qiao Mu casually brushed it off.
“Why did you come back so late this time, and were you investigating Butcher Zheng again?” The blind girl’s face turned serious.
“I told you a long time ago, there’s no need for you to do it.”
Speaking of this, Qiao Canxue’s face showed a nostalgic look as she slowly said:
“Since the night the Qiao family was wiped out half a year ago, my eyes have been restless. It’s obviously a sign that the celestial eye is about to open. I am the sole survivor of the Qiao family. The fact that the Martial Saint spared my life is not a coincidence, but rather because I have extraordinary spiritual awareness.”
“Why do you need to take action? When my divine eyes open, be they outsiders or Martial Saints, they will all disappear in the blink of an eye!” The blind girl proudly puffed up her chest and said.
Qiao Mu didn’t pay attention and continued:
“Can you tell me when you plan to teach me the training methods of the Qiao Family’s Long Life Fist in Heyang City?”
The blind girl’s name was Qiao Canxue. She was the only orphan of the Qiao Family in Heyang City.
Qiao Mu had no connection to the Qiao Family of Heyang City. He was called Qiao Mu simply because that was his name in his previous life.
“Don’t aim too high,” Qiao Canxue said seriously. “To develop internal strength, you must first reach the utmost level in ‘force training.'”
“The stage of ‘force training,’ which enhances physical strength and increases internal energy, requires hard work and patience. There are no shortcuts, even with good food, drink, and training under a famous master. It will still take at least five to six years.”
As a descendant of the Qiao family, a martial arts clan, Qiao Canxue, although blind, had been exposed to it and had a profound understanding of martial arts theory.
“I feel like I’m almost done with the ‘strength training’ stage,” Qiao Mu stretched his arm, admiring the muscles that had grown an entire circle.
“You’re just talking tough,” Qiao Canxue didn’t believe him at all.
“Come, let me feel your bones and see how much progress you’ve made.”
With that, Qiao Canxue reached out her hand to touch him.
