...
At Old Sun’s house next door.
"...Fang the Kid next door is a Martial Artist; he’s not easy to deal with... Shengzi, don’t go provoking him. It’s not worth it..."
No one knows a son better than his father. Although Sun Sheng had changed immensely, Old Sun could still see some of what was on his son’s mind and tried to persuade him.
"It’s fine, Dad. You don’t need to worry about this!"
Fang Rui’s guess was correct. Sun Sheng did indeed harbor ill intentions toward him.
The reason?
His second brother had been conscripted by Yan Song and died on the city walls... Fang Rui clearly could have helped, but he just stood by and watched...
’That guy Fang helped Aunt Zhao’s family, but not mine... Why? Does he look down on me, Sun Sheng? What’s more, the man has some connection to Yan Song!’
Sun Sheng didn’t dare resent the Taiping Bandits, but he dared to hold a grudge against Fang Rui.
However, Fang Rui was an Entry Grade Martial Artist...
He had also learned from Old Sun that during the recent chaos in the city, a group of thugs had gone to the house next door, followed by a series of miserable screams... Since Fang Rui was still alive, the thugs were either dead or had been beaten and driven away...
’I can’t beat that guy Fang in a fight...’
Sun Sheng was no brute; he wouldn’t use force recklessly. In the Taiping Army, he had learned one thing: to use his brain.
For example, inviting Fang Rui to join the Taiping Bandits had been a test, an attempt to draw Fang Rui into his game and set him up to die... But Fang Rui hadn’t fallen for it.
’A worthy opponent... But there’s plenty of time yet!’ Sun Sheng’s eyes narrowed.
"Sigh. You’re a grown man now, with your own ideas."
Old Sun knew he couldn’t persuade him, so he could only pray in his heart, ’I hope nothing bad happens.’
He didn’t say anything else—after all, wasn’t there a trace of resentment in his own heart? Fang Rui had helped Aunt Zhao’s family, but not his... Otherwise, his second son might not have died!
...
’He really is a threat!’
’But the reason... just because I helped Aunt Zhao’s family and not Old Sun’s? Just because I have some minor connection to Yan Song?’
That’s some reason.
’But then again, the thoughts of a twisted person are often beyond the comprehension of a normal man like me...’
Besides.
In his previous life, Fang Rui had also navigated the bureaucracy. Although he was at the bottom, he had seen plenty of people who would trip you up for no other reason than you being in their way, or even just because they didn’t like the look of you.
Compared to that, someone like Sun Sheng was much easier to accept.
’This Sun Sheng is vicious, toxic, and twisted enough... If I hadn’t noticed, he might have actually caused some real trouble by catching me off guard...’
’But I *did* notice!’
’The man has a fatal weakness: he lacks strength...’
Full of schemes but lacking in strength, great in ambition but short on talent!
’I don’t need to get into a game of wits with you, scheming and plotting. I’ll just eliminate you physically!’
’To avoid any complications from delays, I’ll take care of him tonight!’
Fang Rui made up his mind.
As for Sun Sheng’s identity as a Taiping Bandit?
So what?!
’A Government Office Chief Constable like Chief Huang can be killed; a bandit like Sun Sheng... no, a member of the Rebel Army, can also be killed. Anyone who threatens me, my family, or my friends can be killed!’
Fang Rui thought coldly, ’In this world, it’s eat or be eaten. If you don’t kill, you will be killed. Only by making heads roll and eliminating all my enemies can I feel at ease!’
As the saying goes: Treat your enemies as ruthlessly as the autumn wind sweeps away fallen leaves. And a great man taught me: With power and to spare we must pursue the tottering foe, and not seek idle fame!
...
「A short while later.」
The lights went out at Old Sun’s house.
Tonight, Sun Sheng was sleeping at his own home. After they broke through the County Magistrate’s Office, the higher-ups had given soldiers with families in the city a one-day leave to visit them.
With the Rebel Army occupying the county seat, and with these soldiers’ homes being in the city, they weren’t worried about anyone deserting.
CREAK!
Suddenly, an extremely faint sound broke the silence.
Sun Sheng’s eyes snapped open. He sat up and reached for the machete at his bedside—he had developed this level of alertness in the Taiping Army.
But it was useless!
The dark figure was too fast, like a Ghost. He had just grasped the machete when the intruder was already upon him, snatching it from his hand. The figure’s other hand gripped his throat, lifting him clean off the bed.
"You... who..."
Sun Sheng let out a faint, garbled sound. As the hand on his throat tightened, he found it harder and harder to breathe. His thoughts seemed to stretch out as he recalled the day’s events, and an image of a person suddenly flashed through his mind.
’It’s you!’
Amidst a heart full of unwillingness and despair...
CRACK!
Fang Rui snapped his neck.
...
Afterward.
WHOOSH!
Fang Rui carried Sun Sheng’s body out the door, stuffed it into a burlap sack, and submerged it directly into a nearby latrine pit.
Oh, and out of humanitarian concern—to let Sun Sheng rest in peace and prevent his body from being discovered, thus disturbing his eternal rest—a large rock was included in the sack to weigh it down.
—Of course, the rock wasn’t taken from his own house.
’As for Old Sun... forget it. One person disappearing is fine, but two would be too much of a coincidence!’
’Besides, with Sun Sheng dead, Old Sun’s family line is now completely severed. He’ll have his own troubles to deal with; where would he find the energy to cause problems for me...’
As for Sun Sheng’s disappearance?
Fang Rui wasn’t worried about being implicated.
It was common knowledge that he and Sun Sheng had no prior grudges. They had only met for the first time last night; he had no motive to kill him.
He, Fang Rui, was just an ordinary Entry Grade Martial Artist.
’Besides, with my connection to Jiang Ping’an, and maybe even my old man... it’s impossible that I’d be implicated on some trumped-up charge just because I live next door and have the strength to do it...’
As the night wind howled, Fang Rui mulled this over and hurried back.
...
Back in his room.
Fang Rui lay in bed but felt no desire to sleep, so he simply opened his panel.
One look, and he was startled.
...