Evil Venerable of the Sword Dao Chapter 5 - 5 005 In the Future Do Not Ask for Help from Others

5: Chapter 005: In the Future, Do Not Ask for Help from Others 5: Chapter 005: In the Future, Do Not Ask for Help from Others Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation The Zhou family, Forbidden Chamber.

Arriving in this Forbidden Chamber felt like a surreal experience for Zhou Yan.

His father had spoken of discovering a remedy for his persistent affliction, and now, in under two hours, he found himself lying on a mat within this very secret chamber.

Witnessing the pool of blood surrounding the figure, the vivid crimson staining the floor, Zhou Yan was left in a state of stunned disbelief.

An profound silence permeated the forbidden chamber at this moment, devoid of any sound.

The figure submerged in blood stirred slightly.

With great effort, he turned his head, his voice a ragged whisper, "Is that Yan'er who has arrived?"

"Yes, Father."

Zhou Yan's eyes burned, yet he forced himself to remain composed, stifling the unshed tears. He held his breath, careful not to betray his emotions lest his father perceive them.

He moved deliberately to the side of the blood-drenched middle-aged man and knelt.

The middle-aged man opened his bloodshot eyes. In that instant, a residual killing intent and sharp Sword Intent radiated from them. However, as his gaze met Zhou Yan's, the piercing look akin to a hawk's softened, replaced by an immeasurable paternal tenderness.

It was the first time Zhou Yan truly comprehended such profound fatherly love, a familial bond as vast as the ocean, an upbringing sacrifice as weighty as a mountain.

Zhou Yan remained kneeling, his gaze fixed upon his father, whose current state was both tragic and shocking. His heart felt as though it were being cruelly sliced.

Who could have inflicted such harm? Who would strike when his father had just glimpsed hope for recovery, thus devastating him so grievously and extinguishing all hope for the Zhou family?

Even if the Zhou family had indeed declined, why would the Great Zhou family display such callous indifference, offering no assistance, no inquiry whatsoever?

In that moment, his inner equilibrium faltered.

"Yan'er, from now on, remember to depend solely on yourself for all matters. Do not seek aid from others, do you understand?"

The man lying in the blood sighed with a sense of forlornness, his words a murmur.

Zhou Yan offered no immediate response, merely sighing internally. "Throughout these years, this child has endured countless cold glances and sarcastic remarks within the family. When seeking help, who is truly available to turn to?

... Since my fortuitous encounter and the grandmaster's inheritance, I had already resolved not to rely on anyone for help in this lifetime..."

Having spoken, Zhou Wangchen, with trembling hands, produced a statue and presented it to Zhou Yan.

Zhou Yan accepted it without hesitation.

As he took the statue and looked down, Zhou Yan's expression shifted slightly in surprise.

Sensing his reaction, Zhou Wangchen, still reclining in the blood, seemed to offer a faint smile. "You have seen it, have you not?" he rasped.

"Yes," Zhou Yan confirmed, nodding his head.

He had always been forthright, and this occasion was no different.

"Although my time is rapidly dwindling, I still possess some value. Someone from the Great Zhou family will arrive to sustain my remaining life force. If, one day, you achieve notable standing within the Great Zhou family, they might be able to cure me."

Zhou Wangchen gazed intently at Zhou Yan, a flicker of bitterness clouding his eyes. "There are matters I cannot fully explain to you, but you must strive diligently. Your father does not fear death itself, but at this juncture, his demise is truly unfeasible. My ultimate hope is to witness you attain the Sword Heart Realm. Remember this; do not let your father down. Prior to reaching the Sword Heart Realm, do not even contemplate investigating this incident or seeking retribution on my behalf. This matter is now concluded, and the Zhou family will experience a period of tranquility."

Zhou Wangchen's voice carried the weight of years, his breaths growing increasingly shallow.

A profound bitterness welled up within Zhou Yan. He clenched his hands so tightly that they drew blood.

From his understanding, his formidable father, enduring such a plight, had chosen to 'humbly' persist, not solely due to unresolved affairs, but undoubtedly for a specific, calculated reason.

This reason, discernible from his father's words, was a conditional opportunity, offered as a form of charity that might potentially lead to success.

The Great Zhou family, ever since his father's downfall, had consistently disregarded this particular branch of the Zhou family in Canglan City, treating them with utter indifference.

Why, then, was there now an entanglement?

Zhou Yan could not ascertain the precise cause, but he could make an educated guess.

He was no longer the naive youth who understood nothing. He now possessed the accumulated memories of a grandmaster from "Earth"!

"Father, your words are deeply engraved in my heart. Please rest. When you awaken, all will undoubtedly be well!"

Zhou Yan spoke with an unwavering resolve, his voice firm and determined.

Without any sign of reluctance or sorrow, his composure offered the greatest reassurance to Zhou Wangchen.

“Yan’er, you have truly matured; it brings Father great comfort,” Zhou Wangchen spoke softly before quietly closing his eyes.

The once-brilliant eyes that had captivated countless young women faded just before shutting, never to gleam again.

Zhou Yan’s heart quaked, his soul shuddered, and he felt as if an immense weight, thousands of pounds heavy, pressed down upon his entire being.

Yet, he remained kneeling steadfastly, unyielding.

…

Several other individuals were present in the chamber at that moment.

These included the Family Head, Zhou Wuzhen; the Preaching Elder, Zhou Wuyan; the Great Elder, Zhou Wuwei; the Second Elder, Zhou Wuhen; the Zhou family’s most exceptionally gifted young lady, Zhou Lingyi; and Zhou Lingyao, the third generation’s strongest talent, ranking second.

All of them observed silently from the periphery, refraining from any speech.

As Zhou Wangchen neared his final moments, Family Head Zhou Wuzhen let out a sigh, approached Zhou Yan, and gently helped him to his feet.

“Grandfather…” Zhou Yan’s voice cracked, a dawning realization suggesting the gravity of the situation.

“Do not distress yourself. Your father is merely in a temporary slumber. He will undoubtedly recover one day,” Zhou Wuzhen stated with a hint of resignation, his words sounding more like a comforting platitude than a firm promise.

Zhou Yan’s body trembled violently.

For the very first time, he felt an overwhelming self-loathing for his insufficient strength.

If only his power could shatter the very heavens and earth, like that Master Xingyi, possessing the might to rend the void itself! Who, then, would dare to inflict such pain upon his father?!

His tightly balled fists clenched even harder, his fingertips digging deeper into his palm, yet he registered no sensation of pain.

Zhou Wuzhen exhaled a profound sigh.

From his palm, he produced a peculiar Light Saber, no larger than a thumb.

The instant this Light Saber materialized, an overwhelming Sword Intent permeated the entirety of Canglan City.

For a fleeting moment, the city fell into an unnerving silence.

At this critical juncture, both Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao’s complexions turned ashen almost instantaneously. However, the Preaching Elder swiftly enveloped them with an unseen force, providing immediate succour.

Concurrently, the protective energies emanating from both the Great Elder and the Second Elder were also extended to Zhou Lingyi and Zhou Lingyao in rapid succession.

Remarkably, Zhou Wuzhen, while wielding this spiritual Light Saber, experienced no adverse effects.

Only Zhou Yan, it seemed, was collectively overlooked by the three esteemed elders present.

Such a potent and dominating Sword Intent did not cause Zhou Yan to falter.

Though his frame quivered incessantly, like a small vessel tossed in a tempestuous sea, threatening to capsize at any second, his spine remained ramrod straight.

He stood unbent, like a figure cast from unyielding steel; no cruelty, no hardship, no sorrow, no ruthlessness, nor despair could force him to yield.

It appeared as if nothing in existence could compel him to surrender!

It was at this precise moment that the Preaching Elder noticed the unaddressed state of the obstinate young man.

A subtle shift occurred within his heart as he observed the boy’s tranquil countenance, his eyes resembling a bottomless dark pool, devoid of any visible ripples!

His visage, pale, bore an unusual, sickly hue, mirroring the appearance of Zhou Wangchen from years past!

His slender lips were pressed into a tight line, marked by faint traces of crimson blood that rendered the line strikingly vivid.

His nose, high and subtly aquiline, accentuated the thinness of his pallid face.

Such features readily conjured memories of Zhou Wangchen’s audacious declaration years prior, vowing in the ancestral hall to renounce his hair and ignite a familial upheaval!

Back then, Zhou Wangchen had borne a striking resemblance to this very image.

Be it then or now, without question, this was the most unforgettable and strikingly handsome face Zhou Wuyan had ever beheld.

Perhaps the solitary distinction lay in Zhou Wangchen's spirited demeanor then, contrasted with Zhou Yan's current state as a talentless soul, utterly depleted of potential.

Internally, he emitted a sigh, his gaze conveying a touch of sadness and profound regret, as he addressed Zhou Yan, “Yan’er, come here. Do not impede the Family Head as he performs the divine art of sealing.”

His words were simple, yet the latter part left Zhou Yan with no grounds for refusal.

Zhou Yan silently acquiesced, his body swaying under the oppressive weight, moving as if carrying an immense burden.

In an instant, a powerful surge of energy dispelled the heavy pressure, and Zhou Yan suddenly experienced a sensation of weightlessness, a profound feeling as though his very being was poised to ascend.

However, he paid it no further mind, instead standing silently to the side, observing as the diminutive Light Saber transformed into a miniature sun, engulfing his father.

His father’s form was completely absorbed by this radiant Light Saber, as if plunging into an fathomless black void.

Subsequently, the Light Saber pierced through the chamber’s ceiling, shattering all barriers, and ascended into the vast, starlit expanse like a fleeting meteor, vanishing from sight.

The chamber was then reclaimed by a profound and somber stillness.

“Cough, cough.” Family Head Zhou Wuzhen emitted a coughing fit, expelling clots of blood which dissipated into a fine mist, rising into the air.

“Family Head—” “Family Head, your condition…”