Chapter Fifteen: Can't Go On Living

On the first page, a towering figure at least two meters tall came into view. He wore a helmet adorned with sharp horns and a metallic skull mask covering his face. His shoulders were armored, and he was clad in a dark gray robe. In one hand, he gripped a heavy sword. The other hand was a mechanical arm, lacking a palm and instead featuring a ferocious beast-head iron box. From this beast-head iron box extended an iron chain connected to a weapon that resembled... a blood drop saber. Liang Jin recognized this weapon, but unlike the light, agile, and slender blood drop sabers he knew, this one was a heavy-duty version. It was enormous, crafted entirely from metal, and visibly very heavy—at least two hundred jin. Held in hand, it could serve as a steel round shield; swung around, it resembled a massive meteor hammer capable of easily shattering bones. The blood drop saber was connected by a chain as thick as a wrist, studded with spikes. The cage at the bottom had an inner circle blade designed to decapitate and an outer circle blade as well.

Liang Jin stroked his chin and commanded, “Huang Xingzi, show me a few moves.” Beneath the metallic skull mask came a deep voice, “At your command.” Slowly, he rose to his feet. The iron chain from the beast-head box rapidly extended as the heavy steel blood drop saber in his hand began to whirl. The weapon’s massive weight produced a roaring sound and powerful gusts that stirred the fallen leaves around, forcing Liang Jin to step back several paces. A mere brush from this blood drop saber would assuredly break multiple bones. With a sharp whoosh, the blood drop saber violently flew forward, striking first a thick tree trunk. The tree was instantly cleaved in half, but the weapon’s momentum carried it further, smashing two more trees before its blades embedded deeply into the third tree’s trunk, coming to a halt. The iron chain reeled quickly back into the beast-head box on Huang Xingzi’s mechanical arm, generating tremendous pulling force. Instead of retracting the weapon, Huang Xingzi used the chain’s tension to propel himself forward toward the blood drop saber with such speed that even Liang Jin could barely see him—a blur. Within a blink, Huang Xingzi appeared dozens of meters away, pulled to the tree where the blood drop saber was lodged. A flash of sword light followed as his massive sword fiercely struck, slicing the tree into two.

Liang Jin gasped, “Too fast to see clearly. Too fierce to fight.” He wondered, “Is this really just sixth-rank power? It feels stronger than any sixth-rank martial artist I know—almost like another level entirely! Could a sixth-rank at its limit be comparable to a fifth-rank?” Liang Jin found it hard to discern. His own strength was only at early seventh rank, and Huang Xingzi’s displayed combat prowess could easily crush dozens of him. Yet Liang Jin believed Huang Xingzi’s true power had yet to be fully revealed and would only manifest against formidable opponents. “This means I have gained an absolutely loyal and fearsome enforcer,” he thought. “With this war puppet, I finally have the means to protect myself.” Satisfied with the war puppet Huang Xingzi, Liang Jin marveled at the potential of higher-grade war puppets, imagining how much stronger they might be.

Then, with a flick of his divine intent, Huang Xingzi vanished from sight and reappeared inside Liang Jin’s inventory panel. Liang Jin had already tested that within a certain range—about fifty meters—he could recall items to his inventory at will. “By leveraging the war puppet’s ability to appear and disappear anytime, it will surely become one of my greatest weapons,” he mused while gazing at the bright moon overhead. He knew he had to hasten healing the sick. Once he treated ten thousand, then a hundred thousand people, the rewards would be immeasurable.

Suddenly, he sensed someone approaching his main body. Returning his attention, Liang Jin remained on guard. The palace was supposed to be deserted at this late hour; no one should be roaming freely. With many imperial guards nearby, how could no one be checking? Clutching his red-tasselled spear tightly, he focused intently. The footsteps were clumsy, clearly from someone untrained in martial arts. There was even a faint sweeping sound. Soon, the newcomer appeared: it was Zhao Bao, a young eunuch, carrying a broom.

Liang Jin instantly understood. Zhao Bao’s cleaning quarters were nearby, and sometimes when little eunuchs were punished, they were forced to clean thoroughly without rest. Only under such circumstances could he be moving about at night without being caught by the guards. It seemed Zhao Bao was in trouble again. Stumbling toward Liang Jin, Zhao Bao clung to him silently, tears streaming down his face.

“What’s wrong, Zhao Bao?” Liang Jin asked, noticing his distress. Zhao Bao’s pale complexion and vacant, despondent eyes revealed his despair. He wiped his tears and then took some items from his bosom. “Brother Jin, please take these,” he said. “This silver hairpin is the money I saved to buy for Xiao Lian. Could you give it to her for me?” “These silver coins are my entire savings—please give some to Xiao Lian and keep the rest.” “And this is the handwritten copy you once gave me; I’m returning it to its rightful owner.” Liang Jin frowned. It felt as if Zhao Bao was entrusting him with a final farewell. He did not take the items but spoke gravely, “Zhao Bao, explain yourself. If you’re facing difficulties, consider me a friend and tell me.”

Zhao Bao’s nose reddened as he began to sob bitterly, wiping tears with his sleeve. Liang Jin was surprised; Zhao Bao was a stoic person who rarely cried like this. Something unbearable must have happened. Indeed, after a bout of weeping, Zhao Bao confessed, “Brother Jin, I really can’t go on living. This palace is no place for a person.” “I can endure how others treat me, as long as there is hope.” “But why... why has heaven cruelly snatched even my last hope?” “Brother Jin, I can’t take it anymore... without hope, I don’t intend to suffer further.” “If possible, please take care of my body tomorrow—don’t let them discard it carelessly...” When Zhao Bao looked up, his expression shocked Liang Jin—full of despair and a deadly resolve. Truly, the young eunuch had contemplated ending his own life.