Beyond Fear Part 03

This was an unfinished bridge in the neighboring village. There were no boats going out this morning, so it was exceptionally quiet.

There were three paths behind Zhang San. Out of habit, he had already thought of five different escape routes.

Why he could think of five escape routes when there were only three paths was not important, please do not pay attention to so many details.

Zhang San went behind Old Wang, raised his dagger, and was about to stab down!

Old Wang had just sat down and picked up his fishing rod...

All this fell into Zhang San's eyes.

Damn! His mother, he picked up a fishing rod!!

It was actually a fishing rod!

Zhang San's hand shook for a moment, the silvery light on the dagger flashed, and through the reflection in the river water, it made Old Wang's eyes blink. Old Wang instinctively turned his head back and saw Zhang San's familiar, kind face.

"It's you? Why aren't you asleep yet?" Old Wang asked caringly.

Zhang San held up his hands, a look of intense enthusiasm on his face, and said, "Uncle Wang, when I got up I didn't see you, and I saw that the fishing rod and bucket were gone from home, so I guessed that you must have come fishing."

Old Wang laughed and said, "We are still on the same wavelength, come on, why don't we fish together? Let's learn from those books...what were those four words again?"

Old Wang was not very literate, and it took him a while to remember: "Right, the book said ‘cultured gentleman’, right?"

Zhang San's made up family background included having studied for two years, so he immediately responded, "Uncle, it's called 'cultured gentleman'."

Old Wang laughed and said, "What's the difference? Come on, let's fish together and see who can catch more."

Zhang San had a radiant smile on his face. He discreetly put away the dagger behind him and sat down beside the bridge with Old Wang, casually picking up another fishing rod.

...

...

Incidentally, for professional safety, Zhang San, Zhang San's master, and Zhang San's master's master were all medical experts.

The reason was that the sect was too poor to look down on doctors, so they had to treat themselves.

So Zhang San had read a medical book before, titled:

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Abbreviated as PTSD

Zhang San had always thought this was a nonsense book, until later when he became an independent assassin, and encountered the first "fishing industry personnel" mission, he realized...

Damn! This nonsense medical book was true!!

...

...

Somehow, Zhang San's hands were shaking a little.

Therefore, the current Zhang San seemed to be somewhat afraid. If others saw this, they would definitely not know what he was afraid of.

But a beggar who had been kindly adopted by Uncle Wang for quite a few days, should not logically show fear while sitting next to Uncle Wang and leisurely fishing together.

Illogical performance was by no means good performance.

But Zhang San understood very well that this was not because his acting was bad, but because of that damn PTSD.

A fisherman, a fishing rod.

These were not frightening by themselves.

But when combined, Zhang San was inexplicably afraid.

Cold sweat, shaking hands...

No, he was already starting to want to escape.

There was already the urge to give up on the fifty taels!

But!

Was this about fifty taels?!

Zhang San roared at himself in his heart!

Because of this damn disease, how much had he missed, far more than just fifty taels?

This was about many fifty taels!

How many more years could a person expect to live?

Zhang San, how many more years, how many more fifty taels could you miss?

Your life was already nearing its fourth decade.

There were not many decades left!

I know you are afraid.

But fear is not shameful, who in this world has not been afraid?

Yet people live in order to overcome fear again and again! To transcend fear again and again!

Otherwise, a hundred years later, how will you face the greatest fear of being born human—death!

That's right!

Go for it, Zhang San.

Transcend fear, regain new life. Tomorrow you will be a better assassin!

Do you still remember your conversation with your master? That being born a man is the saddest thing in the world.

But courage can transcend all sadness and fear.

Ah!!!

...

...

At that moment, a fish took the bait in the water!

A big fish, enticed by the tender bait, yet it cost its life.

Perhaps people were the same as fish, giving their whole lives for some "bait" like "money" or "food".

Yet the fisherman's mouth curved into a smile.

Old Wang stared intently at the big fish, the corners of his mouth gradually revealing excitement.

And the next moment!

The person next to him let go of the fishing rod, and the fishing rod fell into the water.

A silvery light flashed, belonging to an extremely sharp dagger.

Old Wang seemed to notice something.

Old Wang, holding the fishing rod, suddenly turned his head back!

Then came a plop!

Zhang San knelt!

Zhang San knelt!

Zhang San cried loudly: "Uncle, please take me as your son!"

Old Wang had just wanted to turn his head to show off the big fish he had just caught to Zhang San, but never expected to see this scene. Old Wang quickly put down the big fish, wanting to help the young man up.

But unexpectedly Zhang San cried and kowtowed to Old Wang, crying, "My whole family is dead, wandering all the way, suffering who knows how many cold glances, only you Uncle Wang have been good to me, so please take me as your son!"

Old Wang didn't think too much of it either, just wanted to get Zhang San to stand up, but didn't expect Zhang San to stubbornly refuse to get up.

Old Wang had no choice but to promise.

And so, Zhang San became Old Wang's adopted son.

As Zhang San cried, he also shifted his knees slightly.

After all, kneeling on such a sharp blade, he felt his knees were about to be cut open.

...

...

At night, Old Wang fell asleep.

Zhang San left the neighboring village. When the fisherman was no longer holding a fishing rod, Zhang San was actually still afraid, just not as afraid.

But he still chose to give up on this mission.

Because he had failed.

He had originally come to overcome fear.

But in the end he had surrendered to fear.

Although Zhang San had always believed assassins need no face, since he had failed, he might as well forget it. The thirty-five taels at home could probably still buy steamed buns for half a year.

In the night, Zhang San's desolate silhouette gradually disappeared.

...

...

However, Old Wang slowly got up in the middle of the night.

Old Wang's expression revealed a calmness and wisdom different from usual. He murmured, "Why didn't this assassin make a move at the critical moment?"

"Strange, with my state of mind back when I was in seclusion here as a fisherman, it's impossible for an ordinary person to detect anything wrong."

"However, this assassin's acting was quite good. For a full five days, even I thought he was really a beggar. His expression, movements, and even when he mentioned his hometown and family, he showed no abnormalities at all. To think my cultivation base of 'Duan Wuya' was actually fooled by an ordinary person."

Old Wang pondered for a long time, still somewhat unable to accept being deceived by an ordinary person.

He stood up, looking out the window pensively, and continued, "If not for that flash of the knife dazzling my eyes today, I would not have had suspicions, would not have used my spiritual sense, and would not have seen through his identity as an assassin."

"Who would send an ordinary person to kill me?"

"To kill me, or to test me?"

Alone in the night, Old Wang stood with hands clasped behind his back, murmuring to himself.