Chapter 1412: Chapter 145 Western Swordsman_3
Ah Dai finally got a definitive answer and understood who the three friends mentioned by the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang were. He was to compete with the three great Sword Saints! What a daunting task, could he really do it? Even the weakest Western Swordsman would be hard to defeat, let alone the other two Sword Saints. Thinking of this, Ah Dai said, "Uncle Harry, oh no, Grandpa Harry, if I replace my mentor to participate in the contest of the four great Sword Saints, what ranking do you think I could achieve?"
Harry was slightly taken aback, then said, "You’re taking Di Si’s place? Your power is indeed formidable; Di Si must have invested a lot of effort in you. However, with your current power, you’d probably only rank about third or fourth, comparable to me. I hadn’t set foot on the continent for twenty years, and to think that a young Sword Saint like you would emerge. However, I guess Di Si wouldn’t let you participate. That old guy cares about ranking much more than I do; how could he willingly give up the first place? Ah Dai, your potential is boundless. Perhaps in another twenty years, you might be able to take over Di Si’s position as the No.1 master on the continent. Keep up the good work. I just wonder if I’ll be able to see that day."
Ah Dai glanced at Mie Feng, wondering if he would even have twenty years ahead of him. He did not reveal the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang’s ascension into the Divine Realm, as he would never speak of this unless he reached the same level of strength as the Sword Saint. Ah Dai silently resolved that even at the cost of his life, he must maintain the Sword Saint of the Tian Gang’s top ranking in the fourth quadrennial contest of the four great Sword Saints nine hundred and ninety-nine years later. He must not disappoint his mentor who had ascended to the Divine Realm.
Harry said, "The village should be just about tidied up by now; let’s head back. As long as I am here, even if the Empire of Sunset City sends a large army, they are unlikely to benefit from it. However, you must not reveal my identity. I do not want my ordinary life to be disturbed. After participating in the last contest of the Sword Saints in just over a year, I will never leave here ever again."
Mie Feng asked, "Swordsman Harry, did your children learn any of your profound martial arts?" She had not spoken until now because she was still in shock after hearing Harry, the Western Swordsman himself, recognize Ah Dai’s strength as comparable to a Sword Saint. Although she knew Ah Dai was strong, she had not expected him to possess the strength of a Sword Saint. Such a young Sword Saint was unimaginable!
Harry shook his head, saying, "No. After I realized that an ordinary life is the happiest, why would I let my children get involved in all this strife? I only hope they can lead a peaceful life until they grow old and die. To others, we four Sword Saints might have innumerable glories, but they do not know the sacrifices we made are proportional to those glories. To elevate our martial arts to the pinnacle, we gave up many pleasures that ordinary people take for granted. As for my so-called unique skills, it doesn’t matter if they fade into obscurity."
Listening to Harry’s words, Ah Dai felt as though he understood something, but he couldn’t articulate it. The three quickly returned to Hak Village, which had returned to peace, the corpses and people subdued by Harry had disappeared, clearly thoroughly cleaned up. Harry quickly ripped off the green garment he was wearing, revealing the clothes of a commoner underneath, and once again became an ordinary farmer of Hak Village.
Ah Dai said, "Grandpa Harry, you just told me not to commit too much killing, but isn’t throwing those you subdued into the river just as good as killing them?"
Harry smiled faintly and replied, "No, not necessarily. That was their punishment. I sealed their acupuncture points with my fighting spirit, putting them into a state of suspended animation. Past ten miles down the Light and Dark River, the water becomes calm. Those who survive will wake up when they are carried by the water to the Dark Province. Whether they can survive their journey back is up to their fate to see if Heaven grants them a second chance at life. Ah Dai, I told you not to be too killingsome for your own good. You must realize that every time you kill a person, your heart grows a little more ferocious, which could hinder the progress of your martial arts and adversely affect your spirit. Besides, even the worst people can’t be completely devoid of conscience; it’s better not to kill if possible. Every life has the right to exist. By the way, just call me Uncle Harry, otherwise, if my wife hears you call me grandpa when we get back, she might get suspicious."
Ah Dai nodded and said, "I’ll remember what you said. But against those who are utterly wicked, I will not show mercy. Killing one bad person might mean saving thousands of good people."
Harry sighed, "What you say isn’t wrong either, we just hold different beliefs. I hope you can find the right balance. However, coming from the Tian Gang Sword Sect, you don’t need me to worry. If you do something wrong, I’m afraid that old guy Di Si will never forgive you. Haha, let’s go home."
As soon as they entered the house, Harry’s wife came up to greet them, grabbed Harry by the ear, and scolded, "You old fool, where did you run off to? I’ve been looking all over for you, almost worried to death." Though her gestures were fierce, the concern in her eyes could not be hidden. Harry cried out in pain and said, "I, I, I was just helping everyone throw people into the river!"
