On the street, the father and daughter had long been frightened into silence.
Xiu Wangchou's ruthless methods also prevented others from approaching.
Yet Xiu Wangchou did not care at all. He gazed coldly at the rich young master and said, "It's very painful, isn't it? Do you know how much blood a person has to lose before they die?"
"Why not try loosening your right hand. Maybe you'll die faster and won't suffer as much."
In the next sentence, his tone changed, like a demon, Xiu Wangchou said:
"Or perhaps, you could clench even tighter, lose less blood. Who knows, your rescuers might already be on the way?"
The rich young man shifted his body, tears flowing ceaselessly as his severed left hand and slashed neck made him look somewhat pitiful.
In pain, he wanted to loosen the hand staunching his neck.
Hoping, he dared not loosen the hand staunching his neck.
Thus he struggled between life and death, hope and despair.
Xiu Wangchou got what he wanted.
Evildoers deserve evil retribution.
Xiu Wangchou turned to look at the father and daughter.
The girl was terrified. Although Xiu Wangchou had obviously saved her, she still instinctively shrank back.
Xiu Wangchou felt somewhat disappointed.
After all, he had also hoped for others' gratitude.
However, the girl's reaction was normal, so Xiu Wangchou was not angry. Instead, he took out a bottle of golden sore medicine, the most valuable item on his person.
Xiu Wangchou lowered his head in apology. He said, "I'm sorry little girl. Because of my hesitation, your father was beaten like this. This is the best medicine I have. It is also my apology. Those two thugs didn't try to kill him, so if you apply this to your father, he should recover quickly."
But the girl still looked very afraid.
Xiu Wangchou put the golden sore medicine on the ground, then moved away.
He was behaving very politely and properly.
......
......
He had just killed someone, yet didn't have a drop of blood on him.
So being highly skilled with the sword does have advantages. That is, one can eat without washing their hands after killing someone.
Returning to the restaurant, Xiu Wangchou did not mind the commoners who shrank away in fear. He heartily ate a large bowl of noodles. Having done what he set out to do, Xiu Wangchou's appetite had clearly improved greatly.
In two shakes, he finished the large bowl of noodles.
Xiu Wangchou wanted to pay but found that the owner was hiding to one side, not daring to come close.
Perhaps it was because at that moment, the rich young man's body remained motionless, completely devoid of any signs of life. It appeared he had died miserably in the street.
Xiu Wangchou understood, so he solemnly took out four coins from his bag and placed them on the table. With that, only six coins remained on Xiu Wangchou.
Picking up his sword, Xiu Wangchou left the restaurant.
Then he looked up to the sky and shouted loudly:
"My name is Xiu Wangchou!"
"The true successor of Star Sea Sect, Xiu Wangchou!!"
"I will remain in Xiaoyun County these next few days. Just come and find me if you dare!!!"
Then Xiu Wangchou slowly departed.
......
......
That evening, the yamen's men had already taken away the three corpses.
After townspeople helped settle her father, the girl returned to the street.
But Xiu Wangchou had of course already left.
The girl could only go to her family's noodle shop. Facing the direction Xiu Wangchou had departed that morning, she slowly knelt down and kowtowed several times.
The girl whispered to herself: "Thank you for saving my life, chivalrous one."
It wasn't that she didn't understand gratitude. But a seventeen year old girl, upon seeing such a bloody scene, would naturally first be scared out of her wits.
Only later when she thought back, if not for Xiu Wangchou stepping in, who knows what would have become of her today. The golden sore medicine Xiu Wangchou left even made the doctor she invited praise it as a superior quality top grade item.
The girl gazed in that direction, hoping in her heart to meet Xiu Wangchou once more.
"I haven't thanked you yet."
The girl murmured to herself.
......
......
News that the public master's son was killed in the county city quickly spread in half a day's time. It was said he was killed by a swordsman in white.
However, that rich family scion of the public court had always acted tyrannically, relying on his father's fortune and underworld connections. He had committed many evils, so no one mourned his death. On the contrary, quite a few people secretly applauded.
Within the closed bookstore, the master and disciple also heard the news tonight.
After Wang Xiaoer locked the door he said to his teacher: "Teacher! That man truly is a chivalrous one!"
Zhang San didn't have much reaction. He said, "I estimate that official who interrogated them was killed by him too."
"That official must have been a bad person," Wang Xiaoer said firmly.
Zhang San punched Wang Xiaoer and scolded: "Haven't I taught you not to judge whether someone is good or bad? That's none of our concern."
Wang Xiaoer rubbed his head and said bitterly: "But teacher, that brother in white really is a wandering knight. Just thinking about it makes me feel he's so dashing!"
Zhang San looked strangely at the infatuated Wang Xiaoer and asked doubtfully: "Didn't you say that these days, becoming a knight errant is a thankless task? They can't even support themselves, let alone a family?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Xiaoer earnestly explained: "I did say that before teacher, but dashing they still are whether they have prospects or not."
"So do you want prospects or dashing charm?"
"Hmmm... we assassins still need prospects. We'll leave the dashing charm to those knights! But there's still one thing I don't understand."
Zhang San was quite pleased at Wang Xiaoer's moment of insight and said: "You little sly imp, is there still something you don't understand? Go on, let's hear it."
Wang Xiaoer asked: "Why did he publicly announce his name after killing that guy and say he'd remain in the county a few more days? Isn't he afraid the public court master will send people after him?"
Zhang San calmly answered: "He wanted the public court people to go after him."
"Huh?" Wang Xiaoer said in surprise.
Zhang San continued: "Otherwise, if they can't find him, how would the public court let that father and daughter go? By doing that he is protecting them from reprisal. And you still don't get it?"
Wang Xiaoer was suddenly enlightened. "So in other words, he definitely won't leave the county in the short term."
Zhang San was quite pleased at Wang Xiaoer's insight and said: "That's right. Otherwise, if he only issued an empty threat and fled into hiding, I'm afraid that father and daughter would still face trouble."
Wang Xiaoer sighed: "How difficult it is to be a chivalrous one!"
Zhang San snorted in contempt and said: "It's not that being chivalrous is difficult, it's that he was stupid."
Wang Xiaoer doubted: "Stupid? I think that fellow is quite smart though. He killed evildoers and protected two people."
Zhang San retorted: "If it were me, since I dared to kill the public court master's son so openly, the first thing I'd do is slaughter every member of that public court with 'Wang' in their name! In simple terms, either don't kill, or if you do then wipe out his whole clan."
Wang Xiaoer was shocked.
Zhang San continued his "education in assassination": "Because in a small county like this there are no top masters. With Xiu Wangchou or my ability, massacring their entire court in the first strike would pose no problem. But if you give them time, so long as the public court is willing to spend money, they can easily hire a group of top masters within a few days. By then the tide would reverse. Who lives and dies would be hard to say."
Zhang San solemnly looked at Wang Xiaoer and said coldly: "Remember this, Little Er. Assassins and chivalrous knights are not the same!"