Chapter 203: Chapter 128: Jianghu’s First Lesson

After the small incident with Lin Fan, the rest of the night passed peacefully.

The next day, however, Shopkeeper Sun was constantly hesitating, looking like he wanted to say something but didn’t dare.

Boss Geng was no longer his boisterous self. Every time he made eye contact with Fang Shuwen, a shiver ran down his spine.

Fang Shuwen knew his time with the caravan had come to an end.

After telling Fang Lingxin, he took the initiative to find Shopkeeper Sun and announce his departure.

Shopkeeper Sun was first overjoyed, but then he looked a little embarrassed.

"Well, Brother Fang, what’s all this about..."

Fang Shuwen smiled.

"Shopkeeper Sun, there’s no need to say more. I understand."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Shopkeeper Sun nodded repeatedly.

Fang Shuwen didn’t say much more to him. After a brief farewell, he left the caravan with Fang Lingxin and Shui Qianrou.

Shopkeeper Sun watched them leave, his expression complicated.

Boss Geng sidled up to him.

"Having second thoughts, Shopkeeper?"

"Sigh. I just think that Brother Fang is a good person."

Shopkeeper Sun said,

"Those Jianghu people must have been spreading baseless rumors."

Boss Geng nodded.

"Actually, I think he’s a good person, too."

"Then why..."

Shopkeeper Sun’s eyes widened as he stared at Boss Geng in disbelief.

But Boss Geng asked with a grave expression,

"But would you dare to bet on it?

"Do you realize that if he had the slightest inclination, he could kill every single one of us in the span of a breath?

"When your life hangs on his every whim, do you dare to gamble on whether he is good or evil?"

"..."

Shopkeeper Sun was speechless for a moment. Finally, he sighed.

"In the end, we’re not from the same world."

...

...

After the three of them had ridden a fair distance away, Fang Lingxin was still indignant.

"Brother Fang didn’t do anything, so why are they acting like this?

"And that guy, Lin! We traveled together for so long, shouldn’t that make us friends?

"He just up and left without even saying goodbye!"

Fang Shuwen glanced at her. ’This little girl’s frustration seems to stem mainly from Lin Fan leaving without a word.’

He could tell that Lin Fan had feelings for Fang Lingxin, but she only saw him as a friend.

When a good friend suddenly leaves without a word and distances themself from you, it’s only natural to be upset.

As for Shopkeeper Sun and the others, Fang Shuwen didn’t see any issue.

In fact, parting ways was truly the best choice for them.

In the beginning, if it hadn’t been for Fang Lingxin’s sudden appearance, he never would have planned on joining their caravan in the first place.

Shopkeeper Sun was just an ordinary merchant, and Boss Geng was just trying to make a living.

Facing a Demon Evil God every day would certainly put them under immense pressure.

Besides, with the trouble surrounding Shui Qianrou, plus the hidden enemy he himself might have, they were all significant hidden dangers.

For people like Shopkeeper Sun, even the slightest ripple effect from these dangers would be a catastrophic disaster.

Lin Fan had nearly dragged them into his mess because of a Purple Nether Sword, but in the end, the group that came looking for him was utterly insignificant.

The Flower Moon Sect, the Joyful Zen Temple, or that group of "filial sons and grandsons" from the other night were all far more ruthless than that bunch.

But Fang Shuwen didn’t plan on explaining all this to Fang Lingxin. It was fine to let the little girl vent and blow off some steam.

Fang Lingxin didn’t keep complaining for long. After a few sentences with no one agreeing with her, she gradually quieted down.

Fang Shuwen took the opportunity to change the subject, and she slowly moved on from her foul mood.

The next period of time was quite peaceful, although they inevitably encountered some bandits and robbers who seemed to pop up out of nowhere during the day.

After dealing with them twice himself, Fang Shuwen had Fang Lingxin take over.

Fang Lingxin knew Martial Arts, and strictly speaking, her skills were quite good.

Whether one’s Martial Arts were considered strong or not depended entirely on who they were being compared to.

She was no match for Fang Shuwen, of course, but compared to her peers, she was already outstanding.

At the very least, dealing with a few bandits and robbers was more than manageable for her.

Her problem was a lack of practical combat experience, combined with her hesitation in battle. She didn’t want to get hurt, but she was also unwilling to hurt others.

With such a fighting style, how much of her Martial Arts could she actually use?

While he was still by her side, Fang Shuwen decided to have her fight without holding back, using those bandits as whetstones to sharpen her skills.

Not only did she need to accumulate experience fighting others, but she also had to build up her courage. She had to learn to kill.

The Jianghu had its own logic, but that logic was built upon the strength of one’s fists.

Not only were Fang Lingxin’s little fists not hard enough, but she also didn’t dare to throw them.

Fang Shuwen felt he had an obligation to teach her how to throw a punch.

But Fang Lingxin had her own questions.

She asked Fang Shuwen,

"Why do we have to kill them?

"They have parents and family, too. If we kill them, their parents and family will be heartbroken.

"Is it impossible to travel the Jianghu without killing people?"

The question was very naive, the kind asked by someone who doesn’t understand the hardships of the world. But it was perfectly normal coming from Fang Lingxin’s mouth; she was, after all, a pampered young lady who knew nothing of worldly suffering.

Therefore, she had no idea how cruel the Jianghu could be.

Fang Shuwen told her,

"We kill them because they want to kill us.

"We have Martial Arts, so they can’t kill us. But what about those who don’t? Do they deserve to be killed by them?

"You say they have parents and family. What about the innocent people who have died at their hands? Did they not have parents and family?

"Traveling the Jianghu doesn’t mean you have to kill. But if you truly want to travel the Jianghu, you must always be prepared to kill."