abcnovels
Chapter 20: I Cannot Underestimate Either
Chapter 20: I Cannot Underestimate Either
The raging fire burned.
Amidst the blazing heat, a giant tree slowly toppled to the ground with a bang, and sparks of fire splashed everywhere.
The spider leader made a shrilling hiss that pierced their eardrums.
This was its territory, its home and now it was being burned to the ground. What it saw before its eyes made it furious.
Unlike regular spiders, it did not fear the flames and its spiderwebs had a qualitative change that made it resistant to fire.
With the main culprits in front of it, it was going to throw all its anger at them!
It did not worry about Zi Di as she was already trapped in the spiderwebs and only had a black iron level aura.
It's only concern was Zhen Jin.
This teenager’s aura——the spider could not sense it.
1
The spider leader’s killing intent was focused toward Zhen Jin.
It shot more and more webs at Zhen Jin.
At first, it had only bound the spear and the youngster’s hands with webs, however it quickly covered Zhen Jin’s body in a layer of spiderwebs, so much so that it was beginning to cover up his ears and nose.
If Zhen Jin had a dagger to cut the webs, he could have freed himself from this predicament.
Huang Zao had the opportunity to throw him the dagger, but he didn’t!
So, Zhen Jin was caught in dire straits.
2
A blade was critical to escape this trap.
Perhaps if Zhen Jin had that longsword, he could easily solve this situation.
Even a knife would’ve been fine if he didn’t have a longsword.
In short, anything that wasn’t a spear.
Zhen Jin did not give up as he constantly used his full strength to break free of the spider webs!
Although his strength had increased, he was still far from what was needed to break free from the webs.
His attempts only brought him more despair.
If he could not struggle free despite using all his strength, then he had no hope. Recklessly struggling would only tighten the spiderwebs around him. It was like sinking into quicksand; futile attempts would only hasten death.
Zhen Jin remained motionless and anxiously tried to find a way to escape his crisis.
As a layer of spiderwebs wrapped around him, the spider leader seeing the teenager seemingly resigned to his fate, pressed its face close to him. On its hideous looking face, there were a total of ten orb-like-eyes that were packed tightly against each other.
The spider’s eyes stared at Zhen Jin, and its mouth faintly opened with a creaking sound, like it was laughing at Zhen Jin!
It wanted to carefully ravage this teenager. It wanted to skewer him, to drain his blood while injecting spider venom into Zhen Jin’s body. It wanted to watch the venom corrode the youngster’s body from the inside out and see it slowly rot. Finally, after the teenager finished rotting into a liquified ooze, it wanted to suck the remains bit by bit into its belly, leaving nothing behind.
This was the consequence of offending it!
3
Zhen Jin didn’t struggle, gritting his teeth as he was forced to look at the spider leader.
4
As both sides faced each other, they were but a few steps away from each other.
As the spider leader raised its two front legs, its front feet seemed like sharp swords as they easily cut through the spiderwebs.
Soon after, Zhen Jin grunted as he felt the two dagger like spider legs attempt to pierce through his back.
The chainmail displayed its value as it resisted the two legs.
This hindrance infuriated the spider leader even more.
It ruthlessly pulled on a spider thread and closed the distance between it and Zhen Jin, its eyes only a palm’s width away.
Skree——!
The spider leader’s large mouth opened and Zhen Jin’s face was sprayed with a rotting stench.
At the same time, lots of green sticky liquid dripped out like saliva from the spider’s mouth.
Zhen Jin’s eyes opened wide as he thought the spider leader was going to bite off his head!
But the next moment, the spider leader slightly relaxed, closed its mouth and shook its head at Zhen Jin.
Zhen Jin actually saw the spider leader’s face ridiculing him and smiling viciously.
His heart froze and he immediately realized: the spider before him purely wanted to intimidate him, torture him, and slowly eat him. All while allowing him to experience the pain in full. Hearing the screams, cries, and howls while watching him struggle little by little to death!
The pressure on the chainmail was increasing. It had finally reached its limit. The chainmail was no longer able to protect him and it was pierced by the spider’s sharp legs.
The spider legs finally stabbed into Zhen Jin’s flesh.
The teenager first felt cold, then the pain attacked him.
Besides the intense pain, there was also extreme fear.
5
Zhen Jin could distinctly feel the movement of the two feet. They impaled his skin and one continued to slowly penetrate deeply, endangering his internal organs. The other leg was obstructed by his ribs.
The spider leader continued to exert itself as it started to fracture Zhen Jin’s ribs.
“Ahh!” Zhen Jin couldn’t help but shout in pain as his handsome features were distorted instantly.
The fire continued to burn bright as it reflected off Zhen Jin’s malevolent face, he now looked as if he were a devil.
The spider leader was quiet as it enjoyed itself, and its dozen eyeballs perfectly reflected the teeanger’s expression. However, the spider leader was quite disappointed it didn’t find any cowardliness or pleading from Zhen Jin——only indignation and hatred!
The flame within Zhen Jin’s heart burned greater than the surrounding forest fire.
“Ah, ah, ah!” As the spider leader tormented him he continued to groan.
His head felt like it was going to split open and explode when a new memory appeared.
It was a martial arts tournament packed with people.
The showdown in it was nearing its end.
“You are truly worthy of being a former southern noble!” said a teenager as he was forced into a corner.
His body was injured with some wounds so deep they showed bone. He was in an extremely difficult situation.
This was the templar knight Qing Kui.
His opponent was a middle aged man with two slender beards, and he was completely unscathed. He slightly raised his head and leisurely strolled in front of Qing Kui.
Zhen Jin found himself among the crowd, nervously watching the two.
His eyes were mainly focused on the middle aged man.
It was because this middle aged man was his father, the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch!
There were many familiar templar knights crowded around Zhen Jin.
“Qing Kui, surrender if you can't win!”
“His opponent is too powerful and he is too young. There is no shame in losing.”
“Think of your younger sister Qing Kui, don’t be stubborn.”
The young templar knights shouted many things.
Qing Kui’s sister was also present, right now her face was completely pale and her body trembled like a pitiful little flower in a howling wind and fierce storm.
6
Qing Kui took a breath. His body was shaking as he used his remaining strength to lift his sword at the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch.
“Alas!” a sigh rang out from somewhere in the crowd.
“This duel was initiated by Qing Kui, wanting him to concede defeat is practically harder than repelling a large dragon.
1
“What can be done then?”
“Even if Qing Kui admits defeat at his own accord, it would depend on whether the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch wishes to let him off.
“Yes, Qing Kui’s father and grandfather both died in the war at the hands of the Bai Zhen Clan. The two clan’s hatred runs deep.”
Qing Kui shouted out a war cry as he launched another futile charge.
The Bai Zhen Clan patriarch effortlessly dodged, and with a slight twist of his sword, he disarmed Qing Kui.
Cling.
The longsword flew into the air and embedded its green blade into the marble behind Qing Kui.
The difference in their strength was clear.
Qing Kui’s sister could not bear it any longer as she begged the old knight who was incharge of the duel: “Uncle Commander, on behalf of our family’s many years of friendship, I ask you to save my older brother.”
This old templar knight was the commander of the 5th legion.
He coldly snorted and looked annoyed: “This is a sacred knight duel between knights. It is fair and impartial. There will be no favoritism.”
He looked at Qing Kui’s younger sister with a stern gaze: "I have been trying to save your older brother for a long time, however as a member of my 5th legion he did not obey its commander, but insisted on challenging the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch.
“Hmph. How old is he? How strong is he? He hasn't even fully cultivated his Qing Clan’s signature battle art, Bronze Arms, yet he still dared challenge the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch.
“Is this the fearlessness and bravery of a knight? It is the foolishness of being blinded by revenge!”
“The result is as you see. You watched the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch use the Thousand Needle battle art to completely destroy your older brother’s Bronze Arms.”
“The Thousand Needle is the advanced version of the Bai Zhen Clan’s signature battle art, the Hundred Needle Wind. It is a move that can only be used with a gold level cultivation. Hundreds, even thousands of imperial knights have died to it. Back then, even I was pierced through the heart by a Bai Zhen Clan rapier!
“Your elder brother Qing Kui did not respect the Templar Knight creed, he abandoned courage and went against patience. This is his own undoing”
2
“As the current patriarch of the Qing Kui clan, he needs to bear responsibility for his recklessness. He must pay the price——even if that price is his life.”
The commander’s merciless words showed no quarter and rendered her powerless. Qing Kui’s younger sister fell to the floor paralysed, covered her face, and wept.
The surrounding templar knights were silenced by the commander’s rebuke although they were indignant.
They could only grit their teeth and clench their fists.
The Bai Zhen Clan patriarch gave the commander a deep look before approaching Qing Kui again. He said in an arrogant tone: “Patriarch Qing Kui, what other abilities do you have to continue resisting? Where is your battle qi?”
“Then, I will take your life.” The Bai Zhen Clan patriarch slowly raised his rapier and held it pointing upward, its tip was up to his nose.
“This will be the final act of your life. So, keep your eyes open and watch it.”
“Be at ease, killing you with the Thousand Needle art is rather excessive. You fall short compared to your father and grandfather, therefore the Hundred Needle Wind is more suitable to bury you.”
“If you are lucky enough to stay alive after taking this move, I will spare your tiny life. There is no harm in that, right?"
After saying that, the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch’s rapier turned into a bright sword shadow.
Qing Kui roared. He had been waiting for this moment.
He activated the remaining battle qi in his body into a flashing green light that vaguely resembled a knight’s lance.
Bang!
Both sides collided and passed each other.
An arm flew in the air, dripping blood as it fell outside the arena.
The arm held a rapier.
It was the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch’s arm!
The audience was shocked.
It was deathly still.
Plop, Qing Kui fell motionlessly to the ground.
The Bai Zhen Clan patriarch used his left arm to cover his wound, his complexion was extremely pale.
“Fath- father!” Zhen Jin cried, his voice was trembling violently.
The old commander entered the arena at this time to separate the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch and Qing Kui.
With deeply furrowed eyes and solemn expression, he looked at the middle aged noble with a severed arm: “Bai Zhen Clan patriarch, the words spoken in a duel are sacred. This duel is over.
The middle aged man’s eyes contracted as he glared at the unconscious Qing Kui. He gritted his teeth as the blood constantly flowed, his face full of anger and hatred.
After a while he nodded and slowly stumbled off the martial arena with malice and unwillingness.
“Father!” Zhen Jin ran like the wind to assist the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch.
The surrounding crowd was cheering, and Qing Kui’s younger sister was crying tears of joy, the young templar knights raised their arms and were shouting loudly, and an inconceivable amount of passersby were yelling.
7
The middle aged man looked around and took in the surrounding spectacle, his face had already regained tranquility: “My son, look at me. Tell me the clan motto.”
“You should not overestimate people and you should not underestimate people.” Zhen Jin barely raised his head and said with a sobbing voice.
“Very good, remember it, inscribe it in your heart! the Bai Zhen Clan patriarch gritted his teeth and said firmly.<br data-text="true">
PSA
After much thought, we have decided to retranslate the title of ???? from U
nlimited Bloodstone
to
Infinite Bloodcore
due to plot and how we have translated certain terms in prior chapters. Ok now that that’s clear, on to something else.
"Do you know the difference between an error and a mistake, Ensign?"
"No, sir."
"Anyone can make an error, Ensign. But that error doesn't become a mistake until you refuse to correct it."
<ul data-offset-key="3enmr-0-0">
Grand Admiral Thrawn
Notes
Ok Zhen Jin roll for a strength check… fail. Uh shit it seems you failed in breaking out of the spiderweb. Uh roll for a willpower check...fail. Well it seems you are now in a state of fear and thus have decreased stats. Cmon I believe that you can at least pass this endurance check...fail. Facepalms, well your ribs are now fractured and you have internal bleeding. Where on earth did your MC luck go? Wait, wait, hold on, did you borrow these dice from Sven? Sighs. Ok one last intelligence check before you need to roll for your death save...success! Oh nice congrats Zhen Jin you get a new memory. Oh you were wondering what it would give you? Well looks like you are going to have to find out next time
on Dragonball Z
!
Also it's nice that Zhen Jin has an actual parent. Most Xianxia protagonists (actually many protagonists) either suffer from the dead parent cliche or the parental abandonment cliche. It is too bad he doesn’t have a name cause the author sucks at creating them. Seriously, Qing Kui is the clan elder of the Qing Kui clan…wut.
Deus’ Notes
So...did his father just underestimate the qing guy, then tell zhen jin to not underestimate others? Lmao.
Talk about not setting an example. I guess it would teach zhen jin “this is what happens when you underestimate someone”
It was probably really useful. But it came at the cost of his arm to teach zhen jin that. Not a fair deal.
His father would have been the regular arrogant character if he refused to admit defeat. But he was still arrogant enough to not be wary, which cost an arm.
Tallying up, he is a nice father, but I don’t know about his scheming abilities or anything.
Translation Notes
I believe this answers the question of Zhen Jin’s cultivation level.
(water mt tai is dire straits) (I did not have eyes to see the dire straits ahead of me)
(I can’t believe zhen jin didn’t give a spider face and burned its house down)
(????: to bite the teeth tightly (
i
diom)
(????: extreme saturation (idiom))
-
(????: howling wind and torrential rain (idiom))
(????: crying tears of joy (idiom)) (????: inconceivable (idiom))
Editor Notes
[I prefer ‘more difficult’ by itself]
(“patience” this dude low key telling him to wait until he was strong enough to take revenge. I bet he hates bai zhen clan deeply as well)