Shijian had spent several days squatting inside the small wooden barrel, which had severely depleted her vital energy. She rested on Purple Smoke Island for a full half-day before finally recovering her senses. Throughout this time, Axiu never left her side for a single moment, tenderly wiping her body and roasting fish for her to eat, which gradually restored the greater part of her vitality.
Though Gouge sympathized with Shijian's ordeal, he was more concerned about Shituo on the boat. Axiu also urged him, "Big Brother, go take a look at that man on the boat. I'm worried he might be the very person who stood behind that little girl in the pink dress the other day."
Gouge nodded. After making sure Shijian was all right, he leaped back onto the bow of the boat. He saw several black birds perched on the wooden planks, tearing at the flesh of Shituo's corpse. A trace of sorrow, felt by one martial artist for another, welled up in Gouge's heart. He thought to himself: What is the use of supreme martial arts? After a lifetime of fierce and ruthless contention, one inevitably comes to this kind of end, with even one's corpse left to be pecked at by birds. Waving his hand to chase the flock away, he squatted down this time to carefully examine the cause of Shituo's death.
Chapter 24