Sword Shatters Stars

Chapter 164 + Chapter 165 (If it is so, then so be it) (Both chapters are released together)

Meeting Lin Xiufeng's gaze, Zhao Youyue couldn't wait to ask:
"Uncle! Who exactly is Lin Xiufeng's enemy?"

Zhao Zongshan did not answer, but continued talking to himself:

"Lin Xiufeng's father took revenge in a way that was understandable from his perspective, and Lin Xiufeng's enemies also made choices that were understandable from their perspectives."

“Each generation has its own grudges. The case of the avengers at the 95th Hospital ended in tragedy, and should have been, and already has been, brought to a close.”

"The tragedy is history, and it should end when the event is over. So I don't want you to keep dwelling on it. I hope you can focus on the present and look to the future."

"Uncle! Who exactly is Lin Xiufeng's enemy?"

Zhao Youyue grew increasingly uneasy and impatiently pressed for more information.

Instead of answering, Zhao Zongshan asked, "Xiaoyue, does Lin Xiufeng know your parents' surnames? Does he know why you call me uncle?"

Zhao Youyue shook her head. "They're all sad things. We don't dare touch each other's pain, and we try our best to avoid it."

“I understand.” Zhao Zongshan nodded, then said, “Then tell him now.”

"Why are you suddenly bringing this up!" Zhao Youyue stood up excitedly, almost pressing him for an answer: "Uncle, tell me quickly! Who exactly is Lin Xiufeng's enemy?!"

Zhao Zongshan did not answer, but instead looked at Lin Xiufeng and said:

"Xiaoyue's mother is my biological sister. Her father's surname is Qian. He married into our Zhao family. Although he is not very capable, he is very loyal to my sister."

"Impossible!" Zhao Youyue cried out in terror, her mind collapsing as she instinctively retreated, knocking over a wooden chair. Her expression was one of extreme agitation.
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Mom and Dad were both killed by a madman! You said it! You said it!"

Lin Xiufeng held the wine and slowly took a sip. He didn't expect that he could suppress his emotions so calmly.

This wasn't like him at all; he felt even more strongly that—

At that moment, he felt as if he were possessed by his father.

His inner emotions were extremely agitated, but his face remained as restrained as Zhao Zongshan's.

He slowly took a sip of his drink, then gently set down the glass, and said calmly:
"Xiaoyou, don't worry, let's listen together."

Zhao Zongshan nodded approvingly and said, "Very good. You are calmer than Xiaoyue when things happen, that's great."

Seeing Zhao Youyue's emotional state and her devastated expression, unable to accept reality, Zhao Zongshan sighed and said:

"Of course I will protect you, and of course I will eliminate all the adverse effects of the September 5th case on you. Neither you nor your family members know about this."

"I should have even eliminated any possible influence from Lin Xiufeng."

“But I didn’t do that because I have principles and a conscience.”

"It was inevitable for me to save my own sister, but I cannot continue to create tragedies after this one. The grudges of this generation have come to an end, which is the best ending."

Lin Xiufeng raised his glass in a toast and said, "Yes. If Minister Zhao were to seek revenge, what would be wrong with killing my whole family? Thank you, Minister Zhao, for showing mercy."

“It’s good that you understand this.” Zhao Zongshan raised his glass in a toast.

Lin Xiufeng saw it, saw the changes in the flow of Heavenly Martial Power within Zhao Zongshan's body.

Zhao Zongshan appeared unguarded, but in reality, he had been secretly maintaining his Heavenly Martial Power, keeping it dormant.

When the wine glasses collided, the force was too great, and they suddenly shattered.

Fragments, scattered and flying.

The wine splashed everywhere.

Lin Xiufeng sighed and blamed herself, saying, "I'm still young and can't control my emotions."

Zhao Zongshan said calmly, "I can understand."

Zhao Youyue stood alone to the side, at a distance, watching Lin Xiufeng's profile, repeatedly muttering to herself:

"Impossible, impossible, impossible..."

Zhao Zongshan glanced at it and sighed. "The truth is not easy to bear. I originally hoped that Xiaoyue would never have to know these things, but you are so determined to trace it back that it can't be covered up sooner or later."

"Yeah, I'm actually the one Xiaoyou was looking for: someone who doesn't want me to die, but also doesn't want me to have a good life! This is so melodramatic..."

Lin Xiufeng smiled wryly; he had no choice but to smile.

He felt that if he couldn't control his emotions, he would lose control and go crazy.

"Impossible! It can't be like this!" Zhao Youyue suddenly cried out and rushed out.

The circle of Heavenly Warriors outside suddenly closed in!

Qin Yong quickly raised his hand to stop them, and watching Zhao Youyue run out, he sighed softly and didn't chase after her...

He knew he needed to give Zhao Youyue space to process things on her own.

Zhao Youyue ran alone to a certain spot on the volcano, and when she stopped, she burst into tears!
Suddenly, Lin Qiru's figure appeared on the rock to the side.

Lin Qiru looked at Zhao Youyue, neither smiling nor sad, just staring at her coldly for a while, and then suddenly disappeared.

Inside the room, Zhao Zongshan looked at Lin Xiufeng and nodded approvingly, saying:
"You surprised me. It's good that you can bear the truth."

"I admire your ability to seize opportunities before, and I also admire your composure now."

"At today's family dinner, I'll be frank, my most hoped-for outcome is—"

"It means that you can calmly face the situation, bear the truth with Xiaoyue, and work together to put an end to the grudges of the previous generation."

Lin Xiufeng was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Zhao Zongshan and said:

“I understand your good intentions. I also understand how Xiaoyou is feeling right now. I am a man, so I should take more responsibility and take the initiative to comfort and console her.”

"But I have a slightly excessive request, and I hope Minister Zhao will grant it."

“We’re all family now, you say that,” Zhao Zongshan said, his expression remaining unchanged.

"As a son, I cannot forgive and forget an enemy with a smile. But I understand the cause and effect of the matter and I understand Minister Zhao's helpless choice at the time."

"I hope Minister Zhao will let me hit him two hundred times without fighting back, as I would like to express my gratitude for avenging my parents."

"After two hundred strikes, all grudges will be wiped clean, and the past will never be mentioned again!"

"Whether it's when I'm young and need to vent my anger, or when I want to do something to avenge my parents, please grant my request!"

"These two hundred strikes alone will definitely deplete Minister Zhao's accumulated martial arts strength."

"It's that simple?" Zhao Zongshan was somewhat surprised.

Zhao Zongshan had assumed that Lin Xiufeng's calm demeanor would prompt him to demand some compensation.

As a result, Lin Xiufeng chose to vent her emotions instead of seizing the golden opportunity to demand compensation, which truly disappointed Zhao Zongshan.

This performance is far inferior to his ability to seize opportunities during the previous operation to wipe out Fan Tian.

Zhao Youyue's father was prone to acting on emotions and failing to prioritize when it came to crucial issues.

A person who cannot seize opportunities and lets them slip away for other reasons will never achieve great things.

In the end, all he gets is the empty reputation of being a good person.

If some people pursue this as their goal, then so be it.

But the Lin Xiufeng that Zhao Zongshan remembered was not this kind of person.

"This is my only request, please grant it!" Lin Xiufeng said, raising his glass in a toast and drinking it down.

"As you wish! For your and Xiaoyou's future, you are worth sacrificing dozens of layers of my martial power!"

"Let's stay here in this house. After all, it's a family matter and shouldn't be made public."

Zhao Zongshan readily agreed, stood up, swept the dining table aside, and stood still, his body covered in golden level two Heavenly Martial Armor.

"This... I can't fight it..." Lin Xiufeng said helplessly. "Alright! As you wish!" The level two Heavenly Martial Armor on Zhao Zongshan's body transformed into Heavenly Martial Power and was absorbed back into his body.

Among martial artists, being beaten two hundred times in one-sided beatings is not pleasant, but with Zhao Zongshan's reserves of martial prowess, he didn't care.

Before Lin Xiufeng made his move, Zhao Zongshan shouted an order to the outside world:

"No one is to approach under any circumstances without my order!"

Qin Yong, who was outside, immediately gave a second order. Although he did not know the situation inside, he knew that the result was relatively ideal.

Lin Xiufeng suddenly erupted in anger, wildly swinging his fists and relentlessly punching Zhao Zongshan's head, face, and body!
Every punch caused Zhao Zongshan, who was not wearing the Heavenly Martial Armor, pain.

But Zhao Zongshan endured it, relying on the Heavenly Martial Power within his body to withstand Lin Xiufeng's attacks!

With each punch, Zhao Zongshan's muscles and skin deformed, and some even dented.

Along with this came the Heavenly Martial Power emanating from Zhao Zongshan's body.

Most of the dense Heavenly Martial Power was absorbed by Lin Xiufei, while the rest spread out, going further and further away.

The warriors surrounding the room were unaware of what was going on, but they remembered Zhao Zongshan's order from moments before, so many pairs of eyes looked uneasily at Qin Yong.

Qin Yong was also a little worried and called out, "Is the minister alright?"

"Don't come any closer!" Zhao Zongshan gritted his teeth and replied with four words, continuing to endure Lin Xiufeng's relentless attacks.

In the blink of an eye, he had already landed dozens of punches on him.

In the blink of an eye, the spreading Heavenly Martial Power suddenly jolted Zhao Youyue awake.

She thought Lin Xiufeng and Zhao Zongshan had gotten into a fight, so she rushed back.

Zhao Youyue neither knew nor cared about the so-called order not to approach.

Qin Yong called out, but he couldn't stop her, so he let Zhao Youyue run into the house.

While everyone's attention was drawn to Zhao Youyue, Lin Qiru slipped through the brief blind spot where the two were looking away and went straight into the house through the back door.

All of this happened in a short time.

Lin Xiufeng has already thrown 143 punches.

Zhao Zongshan gritted his teeth and endured 143 punches.

Zhao Youyue suddenly burst in, saw what was happening, and screamed in terror, "No—!"

When Lin Xiufeng threw his 144th punch, he suddenly turned his fist into a palm, and the tip of the black Heavenly Martial Sword condensed at his fingertips!

Zhao Zongshan was shocked and hurriedly activated the Heavenly Martial Armor, while his figure retreated rapidly!

However, he was shocked to see a ball of black light shoot out from the tip of Lin Xiufeng's sword and strike his Qihai acupoint!

"This is impossible!" Zhao Zongshan exclaimed in shock, waving both hands in disbelief.

However, the black light that struck him was Meteor Chasing the Moon!

The burst of power instantly pulled Lin Xiufeng over!
Even faster than Lin Xiufeng arrived was the Heavenly Martial Sword, which had just formed ten centimeters in front of his palm!
The Heavenly Martial Armor that Zhao Zongshan hastily conjured only had level one defensive power!
Driven by the power of Meteor Chasing the Moon, the Level 1 Heavenly Martial Armor was pierced through by Lin Xiufeng's incredibly powerful thrust!

The Heavenly Martial Sword pierced into Zhao Zongshan's Qihai acupoint.

And there lies Zhao Zongshan's Heavenly Martial Heart.

He grabbed the Heavenly Martial Sword with one hand and pushed Lin Xiufeng backward with the other.

“You’re wrong…” Zhao Zongshan tried his best to continue.

But the rampant release of Heavenly Martial Power left him powerless, unable even to speak.

Lin Xiufeng's emotions finally and completely erupted!
He endured for so long just to ensure a fatal blow!

His eyes were filled with hatred, anger, and resentment!

He stared intently into Zhao Zongshan's eyes, finally able to pour out all his pent-up resentment.

"You're a great older brother! Isn't that what you want me to understand about you?"

"I understand! I really understand!"

"But what makes you think that just because I understand you, I'll forget my own position? Huh?"

"Aren't you too used to having everything under control?"

"Have you forgotten that if you were in my position, even if you understood, you would still seek revenge?"

"Even if you, Zhao Zongshan, are great enough to lead the evolution of all mankind—you are still an enemy that I, Lin Xiufeng, must kill!"

"You killed my parents! My father, my friend, my playmate, someone I couldn't live without!"

"My parents have always been a part of my long-term future outlook!"

"They are an indispensable part of my vision for a happy life!"

"We just want to live a peaceful life! No ambition, no extravagant hopes, just an ordinary life!"

"You destroyed everything with your own hands! Even if you did it to save the universe, I, Lin Xiufeng, will still kill you!"

"You think you're so clever, that you can control people at will, right?"

"You think I'll be kept in the dark if you don't tell me what Lin Qiru did?"

"Are you willing to take two hundred blows from me for Zhao Youyue's sake, or to use my and her strength to deal with Lin Qiru? Or is it to better use me to lure Lin Qiru into the trap you've set?"

"Do you think I couldn't have guessed any of this?"

Zhao Zongshan gripped the black Tianwu Sword, which was piercing his Qihai acupoint, with all his might, but it was just a futile and powerless struggle.

At that moment, he couldn't utter a single word, let alone call for help.

The only one who could possibly save him is Zhao Youyue.

Zhao Youyue rushed over in alarm, grabbed Lin Xiufeng's arm, and pleaded anxiously:
"No! Don't kill him! Please, don't—"

"Lin Xiufeng! No!"

Zhao Youyue shouted urgently, raising her hand to hit Lin Xiufeng repeatedly.

Lin Xiufeng looked at Zhao Youyue, tears welling up in her eyes...

He knew how confused Zhao Youyue was, because he was also confused and didn't know how to sort things out, nor did he think he could.

Lin Xiufeng looked at Zhao Youyue, smiled, raised his left hand, punched himself, and said:
"It was agreed that I would help your enemies. It seems you can't help my enemies."

"Don't kill him! Lin Xiufeng, I beg you, I beg you—"

Zhao Youyue tried her best to pull, but she couldn't budge her at all. She cried and shouted, her voice filled with the terror of losing her uncle.

Suddenly, Zhao Youyue said urgently, "Lin Xiufeng, let's put aside the grudges of the previous generation, okay?"

"As my uncle said, the grudges of the previous generation ended with the previous generation!"

"Let's not talk about it anymore, let's not even think about it. Let's just focus on how we should live our lives! Okay?"

Lin Xiufeng smiled, but her eyes were filled with tears.

Zhao Youyue noticed that Lin Xiufei's hand had fallen down, and she was overjoyed. She turned her head to take a look.

But then, Zhao Zongshan dispersed into a cloud of celestial martial power.

"Uncle, uncle—uncle!"

(End of this chapter)