Chapter 34: Reliable

Are Shi Fei and Li Xunhuan enemies?
Perhaps.
Are they brothers or friends?
That, too, is possible.
Between them, they are neither friends nor brothers, nor are they enemies.

Shi Fei said, "Little Li's Flying Dagger, never misses its mark."
Li Xunhuan replied, "I am not invincible. You should take the rumors of the pugilistic world with a grain of salt."
If it truly never missed, it would not be ranked third in the Weaponry Record.

Shi Fei said, "I want to try it."
Since he was already dreaming of Li Xunhuan, would it not be a wasted dream if he did not test the Flying Dagger?
Li Xunhuan looked at Shi Fei, thinking he was joking.
Shi Fei asked, "What? Do you think I cannot catch it?"
Li Xunhuan shook his head and said, "I believe you certainly would."
No one understood the terror of Shi Fei better than he did. A man who could render him like a puppet within a range of ten feet—how could such a man fail to catch his blade?

Shi Fei said, "Let us try. What if your blade manages to kill me in one strike?"
Li Xunhuan was reluctant; he had no reason to raise his hand against Shi Fei. He needed to clarify Shi Fei’s intentions—whether he was friend or foe—rather than strike him dead.

Shi Fei took a sip of wine. It was frozen, which added a unique flavor to it. Most alcohol in this era was rice wine, similar to fermented glutinous rice juice; when frozen, it tasted sweet and sour, quite delicious.

"Let us make a trade," Shi Fei said.
Li Xunhuan asked, "What kind of trade?"
Shi Fei said, "Although I promised not to control you, I can control others. For example, Long Xiaoyun."
Li Xunhuan understood the terms of the deal immediately. He said, "Are you truly going through with this? The Flying Dagger has no eyes; I cannot hold back."
Shi Fei replied, "That is exactly why I do not need you to hold back!"
Li Xunhuan asked, "When?"
Shi Fei said, "After we finish this wine."

The wine was finished quickly. They arrived at the foot of the Money Gang’s stronghold, by the side of the Min River.
Shi Fei noticed someone watching from the shadows in the distance—could it be Old Man Tianji?
He did not care. He turned to Li Xunhuan and said, "Come!"
Li Xunhuan asked, "Must it be this way?"
Shi Fei merely urged him, "Stop stalling."

Li Xunhuan hesitated for a moment, let out a sigh, then slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently touching the flying dagger hanging at his waist.
The blade was short, sharp, and entirely silver, reflecting a dazzling light under the sun.
With a slight flick of his wrist, the dagger left its sheath. It carved a perfect arc through the air, accompanied by the sound of tearing wind, speeding straight toward Shi Fei.
This throw was made without the slightest hesitation or trace of artifice, like the most natural breath of wind in the world—silent, yet incomparably sharp.

The flying dagger hit Shi Fei’s throat without surprise.
Shi Fei could have dodged, but he did not.
With a metallic "ding," the dagger was deflected by Shi Fei’s throat.
"To be able to pierce my protective aura—your strike is indeed extraordinary," Shi Fei remarked.
When one’s martial arts reached Shi Fei’s realm, one did not merely possess a protective aura; one became impervious to blades and spears.
It was all because, in his previous dream, he had practiced recklessly, pushing his martial arts into a strange state. Who could have imagined that martial arts could reach such a point?
Were they truly that powerful? But then again, in a dream, logic held no sway. Who would try to reason with a dream?

Watching the dagger bounce off, a complex expression appeared on Li Xunhuan’s face; he could not tell if it was surprise or worry.
"It is just that you are too weak!" Shi Fei said. "You cannot unleash the full power of this blade! Therefore, you need to be strengthened!"
As he spoke, he moved before Li Xunhuan and pressed his large hand onto his head.
"The immortal touches my crown, and I attain eternal life!"
A continuous stream of internal energy poured into Li Xunhuan’s body, causing him to let out an involuntary groan of pain.
"Hold on! How can a great man not endure even this little bit of pain?"
At that moment, Li Xunhuan wanted to curse. Who just forces internal energy into someone else without a word? Did your energy cost nothing?
Shi Fei did not know if his internal energy cost anything; he only felt that the true energy within him was like the ocean—boundless and limitless.

A quarter of an hour later, Shi Fei released Li Xunhuan, who was drenched in sweat.
He felt his body surging, a sensation so overwhelming he had to let it out, and he could not help but let out a long whistle.
This whistle caused the true energy within him to circulate rapidly, forming a new cycle.
The sound of the whistle startled more people who were watching from the mountains and the shadows.

Shi Fei looked at Li Xunhuan and said, "Again!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xunhuan did not hesitate. An indescribable aura radiated from him; the surrounding air seemed to solidify, and even time seemed to stand still.
He slowly raised his hand, his fingers gently tracing the patterns on the flying dagger, each touch like a dialogue with his own soul.
If he wanted the blade, he would give him the blade.

Just then, Li Xunhuan’s eyes became unusually bright, as if stars were flickering within them.
He took a deep breath, his entire strength converging into his fingertips at that moment. Then, with a slight flick of his wrist, the dagger shot forth like an arrow released from a bow.
A brilliant light, like a shooting star tearing through the sky, left a gorgeous trail behind.
That light contained endless power and beauty, carving a perfect arc, its speed so fast that it was impossible to capture, leaving only a faint afterglow.

The light suddenly converged, turning into a wisp of smoke, piercing through Shi Fei’s protective aura and striking his throat with precision.
"Good... blade." With the dagger embedded in his throat, Shi Fei could still speak.
He pulled the blade out, leaving only a bloody hole in his throat that trickled red.
"Are... are you alright?" Li Xunhuan asked, watching Shi Fei pull out the dagger.
Shi Fei, blood bubbling from his throat, replied, "Do I look like I am alright?"
"..."

Shi Fei looked at Li Xunhuan, then at the people hiding in the shadows, and said, "You are all too weak; this is truly boring!"
These people could not spark the slightest interest in him for a fight. Controlling them further would only be a waste of time.
The show was over, and the dream should end as well.
He took out the black handgun.
If he wanted to die, he still had to rely on this thing!
What use were martial arts? In a critical moment, a gun was always more reliable.
Shi Fei aimed the dark muzzle at his own mouth, and then, with a "bang," the bullet tore through the back of his skull. Blood and brain matter sprayed from the back of his head.
"You..."
Amidst Li Xunhuan’s bewilderment, Shi Fei fell into the Min River.
"???"
Li Xunhuan was confused. Why would Shi Fei choose to commit suicide? Was he truly dead, or was there another conspiracy?

Shi Fei, having fallen into the Min River, did not die. He was too strong; even with a gaping hole in his head, he remained alive.
Helpless, he could only let his blood drain away. Afterward, he felt a wave of drowsiness slowly wash over him.
He fell asleep again, or rather, he passed out.
In the darkness, he felt his consciousness slowly clearing, as if "floating" up from the abyss.
And so, he opened his eyes.
He was awake—he had awakened from his own dream.