History Has Fallen Ill-Chapter 97 : Cross-Realm Manifestation of Sainthood! Slaying the Son of Fate

Chapter 97: Cross-Realm Manifestation of Sainthood! Slaying the Son of Fate
Just as Chen Shui mobilized his qi to consume the Silver Blood, the Treasured Mirror in his arms flickered with radiance, pointing in a direction.
He instinctively looked over, only to see the reef washed by waves under the night, nothing unusual, just slightly darker than its surroundings.
Wait a moment!
That patch of darkness was actually moving, heading straight toward Liu Sui and the others on patrol.
“Liu Sui, be careful, there's an enemy attack from the sea!”
As the words fell, Liu Sui and the others were momentarily stunned. Although they hadn’t seen any figures, out of the trust built over time, they quickly retreated.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
The beach where they had just been standing was suddenly pierced by dozens of arrows.
Frightened into a cold sweat, they immediately picked up their weapons and entered a defensive posture.
“No wonder they are the Qi Family Army of the Silver Dynasty—even a group of recruits has such sharp perception, able to detect ships coated with Night-Reef Fish Oil under the cover of night!”
From the darkness came a calm voice.
Soon, several pitch-black ships rushed ashore, their surfaces covered in scales. Even the glow of torches was silently swallowed when approaching them.
Over thirty short-statured figures burst out from the ships, dressed in Wokou attire and wielding Wokou blades. Their gazes were fierce, and their bodies already grotesquely mutated.
Some had tentacles like an octopus growing from their sides, their suction cups coiling around various weapons.
Some had bodies covered in fish scales, appearing half-human, half-fish. Others had shells protruding from their flesh, presenting a deeply disturbing appearance.
“This is... Wokou who drank the blood of monsters!”
At this scene, Liu Sui’s hoarse voice rang out.
They had long heard the old soldiers say that the White Sakura Island Country had become a monster-ridden purgatory. Whether commoners or nobles, in order to survive, they willingly drank monster blood, becoming its kin. This led to bodily mutations and granted great strength.
But the price was the need to devour human flesh and blood to stay alive, hence they often raided the territories of the Silver Dynasty and Goryeo.
However, this was merely drinking poison to quench thirst—eventually, they would still turn into monsters, lose their sanity, and be devoured by higher-ranking monsters.
As new recruits, this was their first time facing monsterized humans. The palms holding their weapons kept sweating, and their breathing grew heavy.
“Kill!”
At the same time, similar ships were landing at different coasts, with sounds of killing and weapon clashes echoing. Other black ships continued to approach the shore.
“Go to hell!”
A Wokou with octopus arms charged forward with a savage grin. But in the next second, a silver spear pierced through his chest.
Silver Blood flowed on the spear!
Chen Shui raised the spear with one hand, lifting the Wokou and making it scream miserably. He said coldly, “Just mass-produced monsterized civilians, only capable of bullying ordinary people. Nothing more.”
With a sudden forceful throw, he flung the Wokou into the sea, suppressing the tension in his heart. In a low voice, he commanded:
“All personnel, apply Silver Blood to your weapons.”
“Form ranks. Kill the enemy!”
“Affirmative!”
At this moment, everyone seemed to gain a backbone. They quickly arranged themselves into the mandarin duck formation they had practiced for two months. They also cut their fingers and smeared their refined Silver Blood onto the weapon tips.
Ordinary blades and spears couldn’t harm these monsterized civilians, but once coated with Silver Blood, the weapons became enchanted with Lawbreaker effects!
However, the enchantment lasted only briefly and required replenishment after use.
Two large shields and rattan shield-bearers took the front, covering the advance. Two wolf-spear bearers followed close behind, using Silver Wolf Spears to harass the Wokou. On each flank were two long-spear bearers, responsible for ranged support and close combat coordination.
At the rearmost were two fire soldiers equipped with Silver Tridents, occasionally launching explosive fire arrows to disrupt the Wokou formation.
There were originally Silver Arquebusiers and cannons, but due to their high cost, they were few and elite, not included among the new recruits.
Despite outnumbering their opponents, the Wokou were immediately thrown into disarray. Many tentacled limbs swung swords, but were blocked by Silver Wolf Spears and then stabbed by long spears.
“Damn it, that disgusting formation again!”
The monsterized Wokou looked grim. Though the mandarin duck formation was unremarkable on large battlefields, it was godlike in small-scale skirmishes.
Though structured as ten-man squads, they could readily switch to double-talented formations—using Silver Wolf Spears for attrition, long spears for thrusting, and fire soldiers for cover.
Unlike dramatized TV series, the real Qi Family Army had achieved a 1:275 casualty ratio in the victory at Taizhou.
With only 20 deaths, they killed 5,500 Wokou.
All thanks to this highly efficient tactic of “shield for defense, spear for attrition, lance for lethality.”
As the captain and core, Chen Shui moved like a dragon with his spear, continuously killing monsterized Wokou.
Strangely, his Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi, originally turbulent, suddenly stabilized as he kept slaying. Taking this chance, he absorbed a fresh batch, further strengthening himself.
The new recruits behind him also gradually calmed down, their coordination improving as they began pushing back.
At other defensive positions, some were caught off guard and suffered disarray due to slow response. Their squads were incomplete and unable to cooperate effectively, but fortunately, they managed to forcibly block the offensive and entered a stalemate.
“No good. We must call for reinforcements. After wiping out this batch of Wokou, we’ll need to support others. Otherwise, we’ll be encircled and surely perish.”
Chen Shui skewered a Wokou with a fish head and human body, calculating silently. He pulled out the fire tube at his waist, opened the bamboo container holding the fire striker, and just as he was about to ignite it, a sword aura swept over.
“Captain, watch out!”
A large shield-bearer in front raised his shield to block, but upon contact with the sword aura, he was blasted several meters away, his shield cracked with a deep gash.
Chen Shui’s fire tube, meant for signaling, was also knocked flying.
With the large shield-bearer gone, many Wokou charged in. The rattan shield-bearers had to hold the front, maintaining the mandarin duck formation to continue resisting.
Chen Shui stabbed two monsterized Wokou in succession, breathing heavily as he looked toward the dark reef beach.
From within, a figure slowly emerged.
It was a young youth with long hair in a samurai topknot and dressed like a wanderer. His left eye wore a black eyepatch, making him a one-eyed youth of about thirteen or fourteen. Stepping on the sand in wooden clogs, he held a black katana derived from the Tang Hengdao in his hand.
“No... that’s a Uchigatana!”
Chen Shui’s gaze grew solemn. The veterans had taught him that compared to the Tachi, the Uchigatana was straighter, faster to draw, and more suited for combat.
“Good eye. It was also you who first spotted our arrival. Ming soldier, you have the right to know my name—Yagyū Jūbei, the successor of this generation's Shinkage-ryū sword art!”
Yagyū Jūbei spoke fluent Ming official dialect and asked Chen Shui:
“What’s your name?”
Chen Shui didn’t answer, but responded with a bow-stance spear thrust.
A Wokou had no right to know his name!
“Mugai-tori!”
Yagyū Jūbei sidestepped the spear tip and reached out with his left hand to seize the shaft. However, upon exerting force, his palm was pierced by countless barbs.
Upon closer inspection, the surface of the spear had been abraded with fine barbs, all smeared with Lawbreaker-infused Silver Blood.
“Spin!”
Chen Shui twisted the shaft, instantly tearing Yagyū Jūbei’s left hand into bloody shreds. The Lawbreaker power infiltrated, weakening his strength by a third.
“Brilliant tactic!”
Yagyū Jūbei praised and decisively let go, parrying the incoming long spear with his right-hand blade.
“Block! Grab! Pierce!”
Chen Shui had only learned three spear techniques before entering the battlefield, but...
They were enough!
Boom!
Fifteen strands of Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi surged within his body. Being the altered version tailored to himself, his physique surpassed other soldiers, reaching the peak of Spirit Awakening Stage mid-level.
Though this Wokou swordsman had peak Spirit Awakening Stage strength, he had now been weakened to high-level Spirit Awakening Stage due to the Silver Blood.
With his physical might and long weapon, Chen Shui could bridge the gap.
His fierce onslaught forced Yagyū Jūbei to retreat continuously. The latter said calmly, “I know you hate us. But weren’t we also forced to survive, becoming monster lackeys collecting flesh and blood? We just wanted to live like normal people too.”
Chen Shui said coldly, “That’s no excuse for invading others!”
If you can't survive—then resist!
Not prey on the weaker!
Yagyū Jūbei’s expression paused. He murmured softly:
“Indeed, I don't like doing this either. That’s why I never drank the Tiangou’s blood. I follow only the path of the sword.”
At that moment, the large shield-bearer rejoined the formation, blocking other Wokou and allowing the captain to continue his offensive.
"Shinkage-ryū — Tengu Scroll!"
Yagyū Jūbei used a defensive technique to block the spear tip, guiding the long spear into the ground, and forcefully stepped on it with his right foot.
"Shinkage-ryū — Floating Boat!"
The uchigatana slashed in a straight line, like a lone wave with a white boat, cutting down toward Chen Shui.
Shinkage-ryū Sword Art specialized in counterattacking after the opponent struck first.
At this moment, Chen Shui sensed the threat of death. However, he did not panic—he had seen far more dangerous storms at sea, which had tempered his resilient heart. He kicked out with his right foot, striking the spear shaft and sending a tremor through Yagyū Jūbei’s leg, causing numbness and loss of balance.
"Now’s the time!"
Chen Shui seized the opportunity and threw a punch. The Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi coiled between his knuckles, charging straight for Yagyū Jūbei’s face.
Forcing him back!
Taking advantage of the moment, Chen Shui drew his long spear, channeled all his strength, and struck fiercely.
Though he had gained the upper hand, he saw no trace of panic on his opponent’s face. Instead, Yagyū Jūbei calmly raised his blade before himself and spoke softly:
"Each serves their lord. It is not a matter of right or wrong."
"Shinkage-ryū — Severing with One Stroke!"
One strike cleaved forth, slicing the Silver Dynasty-standard long spear in half.
"What!?"
Chen Shui was stunned, gripping the broken spear shaft and swinging it furiously, but he was a step too late...
Yagyū Jūbei ducked low to evade, his long hair fluttering as the uchigatana in his hand suddenly thrust forward, like a swallow diving.
‘Shinkage-ryū — Swallow Reversal!’
One thrust shot forth, aimed directly at Chen Shui’s heart!
"It’s over!"
Yagyū Jūbei felt a trace of regret—this man was a capable opponent. Unfortunately, they stood on opposite sides.
They were enemies.
A metallic clang rang out as the short blade snapped. The blade flew through the air, reflecting Yagyū Jūbei’s shocked expression.
His leather armor was torn, and beneath it, a bronze mirror could be vaguely seen at the location of Chen Shui’s heart.
A heart-protecting mirror?
At the same time,
Chen Shui seized the moment, bit his tongue, and spat a mouthful of Silver Blood onto his opponent’s face. The power of Lawbreaker surged, corroding the skin’s surface and even burning the only eye Yagyū Jūbei had, rendering his vision pitch black.
He brandished the broken spear in his hand—"crack"—and pierced through Yagyū Jūbei’s heart.
"I... lost!?"
Yagyū Jūbei lowered his head, his broken eye slowly opening as darkness swallowed his blurry vision.
He was dying.
He died from underestimating his opponent. Though he had overwhelming strength, he was slain by a ruthless foe.
He collapsed backward onto the beach, feeling life fade away as he gazed at the brilliant starry sky. His heart was oddly at peace, and he murmured:
"How wonderful, your world still has stars. My father said White Sakura used to as well, but now they’re all hidden by demons.
If I had drunk the Tengu’s Blood before coming, I might have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage or even aspired to the Law Seed Stage. You’d have been like an ant before me, but... would that still be a swordsman?"
"I didn’t want to be an invader either. I only wanted to protect my little sister, elder brother, and father. That’s why I accepted this mission—to seek a chance to save White Sakura. If this world wasn’t so twisted, perhaps we could have been frie—"
Before he could finish, the remaining half of the spear pierced through his throat, cutting off all sound.
"Your regrets... have nothing to do with me!"
After finishing him, Chen Shui silently stood up.
This man had indeed held back from the start. Perhaps he truly was one of the rare good men from White Sakura, possibly struggling with the morality of his actions.
But... he was an invader!
His sins, like the fishy stench clinging to a fisherman, could never be washed away.
If he won, the ones who would suffer were the people of Jiangnan—his own younger sister and mother.
They were all just fish struggling in the world’s sludge, with no chance to regret.
Chen Shui had to win!
"......"
Yagyū Jūbei looked at him, his gaze complex and speechless, but upon seeing Chen Shui’s unwavering resolve, he couldn’t help but smile.
It wasn’t relief—but envy.
Why weren’t they born in the Silver Dynasty, but in that den of demons, fated to be slaves and blood offerings?
How wonderful...
Little sister, father—I have found peace before you!
Yagyū Jūbei’s pupils dimmed. He died completely. The surrounding Wokou, upon witnessing this, were so terrified that they scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions.
"Don’t let them get away!"
However, the soldiers hungry for merit would not let them escape and began the slaughter.
Just one Wokou head could be traded for half a Silver Bean.
And it was all bright, shining silver!
Chen Shui extended his hand, touching the gradually warming Treasured Mirror, feeling fortunate.
Once again, he had been saved!
The Treasured Mirror had given him two lives. He could not betray the expectations of the Heavenly Venerable!
Chen Shui went on to support the other battlefields, driving back the Wokou, and left behind over a hundred Wokou corpses. The New Recruits Camp suffered twenty casualties.
None of Chen Shui’s squad died—only soldiers from other squads were ambushed and slain.
They achieved a kill ratio of five to one.
Though it couldn’t compare to the Qi Family Army’s main force, it was still a remarkable achievement given the absence of commanders and the surprise attack.
Liu Sui leaned in, congratulating him: "Captain, you truly are a born hero. This time, you’ve earned great merit. A promotion to Sentry Leader is guaranteed, maybe even Hundred-man Commander."
Sure enough, as his old man said, one must recognize their own worth and cling tightly to these heroes to rise in rank, get rich, and live long.
"This was everyone’s achievement!"
Chen Shui replied with a smile, just as he was about to sit and rest, he heard a commotion nearby.
"What’s going on back there?"
Chen Shui turned and looked, only to see firelight raging in the distance, thick smoke billowing.
It seemed to be... the nearest White Water Town!
"How could this happen!?"
Chen Shui’s expression was filled with disbelief. Wokou had already been repelled, hadn’t they?
Why… were villages and towns still being pillaged?
Boom!
In the next second, a dragon roar echoed, and a vast pressure swept over, knocking out all the new recruits, scattering them across the ground.
Chen Shui also staggered and fell, but the soul strengthened by the Catastrophe Lotus allowed him to remain conscious. He vaguely heard muttered curses nearby:
"These Wokou are truly useless. We clearly warned them in advance that there were only new recruits here, and they still failed. Without them, how are we supposed to request silver from the court?
If we can’t obtain blood food, White Sakura won’t send Longevity Medicine or silver mines either. Not to mention the follow-up plans—all ruined by that damned Tiger Qi..."
Chen Shui lay prone on the ground, barely opening his eyes. His vision was blurred, but he vaguely saw a middle-aged man in ornate robes not far away, hair bound with threads of gold and silver, a high topknot wrapped with a luxurious headscarf—a true scholar-gentry appearance—pacing in place.
Floating beside him was a silver lamp cast in pure silver, its flame a faint silvery glow.
"Silver Law Lamp…"
Chen Shui recognized it immediately. This was the Law Lamp of a Silver Law Cultivator, using the soul as the wick and silver as lamp oil to sustain the flame at all times.
An ordinary Law Cultivator would burn at least three taels of silver per month. The stronger the cultivator, the more silver they required.
For this reason, those without a family fortune could never walk the path of the Law Cultivator.
"But if I kill this group of Qi Family Army and make it look like mutual destruction with the Wokou, we might barely pass the deception. Pity they’re all new recruits with little Silver Dragon-Tiger Qi. Had any of them cultivated Silver Sinews, drawing a dozen could refine a decent Silver Tiger Beast as a mount."
The middle-aged man murmured to himself.
"You… you are Master Xu? You’re colluding with Wokou?"
Chen Shui could now see the man’s face clearly and forced himself to speak.
This man—he had seen him before—a gentry of the Silver Dynasty.
From the local Xu Family, whose patriarch was a high official in the court with Ancient Talisman heritage, a regional overlord.
When these new recruits entered White Water Town, they had to notify the Xu Family. Chen Shui, when leaving Xufu, had run into this Master Xu boarding a sedan chair carried by four Silver Warriors, sweeping a disdainful glance over them.
Veterans had said this gentleman was Xu Huangzhi, second son of the Xu Family head, a Silver Law Cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment Stage, just one step away from the Law Seed Stage.
Now, with the great fire in White Water Town, Chen Shui realized he had stumbled upon a terrifying secret.
"Hmm? A martial cultivator with Silver Tiger Qi who remained conscious under the pressure of Silver Dragon Qi? Judging by their tone, you’re the one who ruined the Xu Family’s grand plan. You aren’t of noble descent, so could it be..."
Xu Huangzhi muttered, seemingly realizing something. With a flick of his finger, several streams of Silver Dragon-shaped Qi surged forth, biting into Chen Shui’s shoulder blade, ignoring the gushing blood and lifting him into the air.
Earlier, Yagyū Jūbei had torn his leather armor with his sword, leaving a large gap. With violent shaking, the Celestial Ghost Mirror fell out and hit the ground with a crisp clang.
The mirror surface emitted a faint eerie glow.
"That is… a Secret Treasure!? As expected, treasures find those of virtue!"
Xu Huangzhi’s eyes gleamed with greed. Never had he imagined that a peasant would carry such a treasure—what a delightful surprise.
These Silver Warriors were not only excellent materials for their refining arts but also endless treasure-bringers. Marvelous, simply marvelous.
"No… don’t take it, that was given to me by my Master…"
Chen Shui, pale from excessive blood loss, had his internal Silver Tiger Qi suppressed by the cultivator’s Dragon Qi. Powerless, he could only whisper faintly, subconsciously calling the Heavenly Venerable “Master.”
His consciousness began to fade.
"No matter. Let’s summon your Master too. I just happen to be short one Silver Mirror Platform. A family reunion!"
Xu Huangzhi chuckled lightly. The Silver Dragon Qi morphed into a giant hand and reached toward the mirror.
Once the treasure was secured, he would refine all the new recruits into Silver Blood and brew a goblet of Blood Wine to try. Though they were mere peasants, it had been a long time since he’d tasted rustic flavor.
After all, weren’t Silver Body Cultivators just consumables for Law Cultivators like them?
Bang!
The Dragon Qi hand shattered the moment it neared the mirror.
"What!?"
Xu Huangzhi frowned. He saw the Celestial Ghost Mirror slowly rise into the air, its rough surface beginning to flake off, revealing the void within.
At that moment, dark clouds suddenly gathered in the sky. Thunder Serpents writhed, and rumbling booms echoed.
Patter! Patter!
Raindrops the size of beans began to fall. A heavy downpour started abruptly, washing away the blood on the battlefield.
At the edge of the mirror, countless golden dragon-shaped chains spread out. They wove together into a spinning wheel of light, brilliantly radiant.
Like a great sun tearing through the heavens, illuminating the darkness!
In the void,
Mysterious whispers resounded—like the roar of a True Dragon, like the hiss of an Ancient Serpent, like the cry of a bird of prey, and many other layered sounds, traversing infinite space to reach this place.
Gugiji! Gugiji!
A strange sound came from the mirror’s surface, and then, six eyes wriggled and emerged from within. The dark golden vertical pupils stared coldly at Xu Huangzhi, filled with greed and hunger.
As if,
They had seen a delicious meal!