# 540
**Chapter 541: The Argument**
Guan Zai stared fixedly into Ye Fan’s eyes, his gaze growing colder by the second.
“Sword Saint…” Guan Zai gritted his teeth. “Just because he’s the Sword Saint of Great Xia, you can ignore whether he lives or dies? Just because he’s the Sword Saint… you can force him to walk to his death?”
“I didn’t force him.”
“Bullshit!”
Guan Zai cursed furiously. “Ye Fan, I know you too well. You’d never directly order him to go—but you’d tell him how many people would die if he didn’t, what Great Xia would lose, until he felt he *had* to go.
You’re using his simplicity and kindness to turn him into Great Xia’s sword!
How is what you’re doing any different from the people who bullied him in the past?!”
Ye Fan’s body trembled almost imperceptibly.
He was silent for a long time, then slowly said:
“This… is the duty of a Human Apex.”
“Duty? Hah…” Guan Zai sneered. “Sword Saint, Human Apex, the responsibility to protect Great Xia… Ye Fan, you’re always standing on your moral high ground!
If it weren’t for you, Zhou Ping would never have walked this path!
Zhou Ping!
He was just a kid who got bullied his whole life, who loved wuxia stories and dreamed of becoming a hero!
Why did you have to make him shoulder the burden of a Human Apex, make him the Sword Saint, make him protect the very world that left him covered in scars?
The weight you made him carry—it was too heavy!
He should’ve lived in that little restaurant, grown up peacefully, read the books he loved, lived a quiet, happy life…
He was never meant to walk this road!”
Guan Zai’s breathing grew heavier, rage reddening his eyes. He grabbed Ye Fan by the collar.
“Let me tell you something, Ye Fan—Zhou Ping never owed this world a damn thing. But this world? It owes him *everything*!
You, Ye Fan, you guard this country. You’re great, noble, you’ve done right by everyone in this nation—but…
You,
You failed Zhou Ping.”
Ye Fan’s lips trembled uncontrollably. He took a deep breath, then his right hand shot out like lightning, gripping Guan Zai’s wrist.
Hoarsely, he said:
“I admit—I owe Zhou Ping more than I can ever repay. But do you think I *wanted* to stake everything on a kid?
If I had his talent, his power—if I could’ve gone in his place—I wouldn’t have blinked, even if it meant death!
But not everyone *is* Zhou Ping!
The outer gods surround us, the gods of Great Xia are in slumber—we’re out of options.
If we want to turn the tide in this desperate hour, to fight gods with mortal strength, I had no choice but to bet it all on him!
If we lose this round, Great Xia becomes meat on the chopping block!
And,
I never *used* him.
Zhou Ping may be simple, but he’s not stupid…”
Ye Fan’s voice faltered for a moment, then rasped again: “He… was a good kid.”
Silence.
Guan Zai’s bloodshot eyes bored into Ye Fan.
After what felt like forever, he snorted coldly and released Ye Fan’s collar.
“If anything happens to Zhou Ping,” Guan Zai said coldly, “I’ll kill you myself.”
Ye Fan straightened his collar, his voice calm:
“When that time comes, you won’t need to.
I’ll give back the life I owe him… with my own hands.”
**Boom——!!**
A dull roar echoed from the distant clouds. The sky visibly darkened.
Ye Fan turned to look. The once-calm sea now churned violently. Black waves rose like a curtain, surging toward them.
Brilliant divine light pierced the clouds. Four figures, radiating terrifying divine might, parted the mist and stepped through the void, advancing slowly.
Four of the Nine Pillars of Egyptian gods—united.
Their divine pressure poured out without restraint, stirring the sea into chaos. A cataclysm was brewing beneath their feet.
“This lineup… we can’t win,” Master Chen sighed as he saw the four figures.
“Even if we can’t win—we fight.” Ye Fan’s hand rested on the hilt of his blade. He glanced back at the city behind him, his crimson cloak whipping in the violent sea wind.
“We stop them at sea. They don’t reach the city.”
“Any reinforcements?” Lu Wuwei asked.
“Only five Human Apexes—where would reinforcements come from?” Guan Zai shook his head, looking at Ye Fan. “Ye Fan, you said you had a plan to win this. Was that true?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Guan Zai turned to face the four figures on the sea, pressing down the brim of his cap.
“Then… we fight them to the death.”
**Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh——!!**
Along the coastline, the four Human Apexes shot out like arrows, skimming across the raging waves, charging straight at the four gods in the sky!
The earth shook. The heavens trembled.
…
**In the mist.**
By the furnace, Lu Yu glanced at the Sword Saint sitting nearby, eyes closed, and worry crept into his gaze.
“Senior Chen Han… I feel like… the Sword Saint’s condition is getting worse?”
Beside him, Chen Han shook his head.
“I don’t know. I touched his hand earlier, tried to sense his condition. He’s hurt far worse than he looks… two different divine powers are tearing through his body. In an instant, they shredded my mental energy.
So I don’t know the full picture.”
“Two divine powers?” Lu Yu blinked. “Wasn’t it just the Wind God?”
“More than that.”
“Can’t your Forbidden Ruins heal him?”
Chen Han gave a bitter smile. “You overestimate me. His injuries are far beyond what someone at my level can treat.”
“Then what do we do? Just… watch?” Lu Yu’s voice was tight. “I’m scared… that if he closes his eyes again… he won’t wake up…”
“Watch your mouth,” Chen Han snapped, glaring.
Lu Yu shut up.
Chen Han hesitated, then stood and whispered to the three kids nearby. Together, they walked toward Zhou Ping.
“Sword Saint,” Chen Han called softly.
Zhou Ping’s eyes remained closed.
“Sword Saint?” Chen Han raised his voice slightly.
Zhou Ping slowly opened his eyes. Bloodshot veins webbed across them. His lips were colorless. He looked utterly drained.
“What is it?” he asked.
Chen Han smiled and pulled a hand-rolled cigarette from his pocket, offering it.
“I don’t smoke,” Zhou Ping said quietly.
“Sword Saint, this might help with your condition…”
“I don’t smoke.” Zhou Ping repeated, then gestured to the three children. “And there are kids here. You shouldn’t either.”