Chapter 274: Heavenly King and Old Master

It was already late at night.

Idle clouds obscured the moon, the courtyard was silent.

The stillness was somewhat abnormal.

Feng Yi's senses were naturally extraordinarily sharp; at this moment he circulated his inner energy, his true qi shifted, and he sensed movement around him—just breathing sounds, some light and fine, some long and continuous; within a radius of several dozen zhang, many martial arts experts lay hidden.

Moreover, the number of people inside and outside a li or two was not small, amounting to several hundred.

With Feng Yi's martial arts, there were not many things he avoided; he thought, 'If these people are dealing with me, it's a good chance to test the group-killing ability of the Blue Sea Tide Rising Melody; if they have nothing to do with me, watching the excitement would also be fun!' Thinking this, he turned into a breeze and leapt onto the roof.

Just then came a creak, the sound of a door moving; someone inside said, 'Brother Xiang, your esteemed arrival, Xue Ju has not come far to greet you; please forgive us!'

Feng Yi lifted a tile to look; he saw the hall decorated grandly. In the center hung a scroll of the Wealthy Peony; beneath it stood a table of food and wine.

A short-bearded man stepped back half a step; he wore all black, neither tall nor short, his clear features mixed with a touch of heroism.

At that moment a person turned around, entered the inner hall, and said with a smile, 'You have guests?'

He wore white clothes, his face gaunt; beneath his chin grew a scattering of long white whiskers, hanging over his chest, and in his hand he held a sabre resting on his shoulder.

Xue Ju laughed, 'Aren't you the guest?'

Old Man Xiang stared at him, examined him for a moment, then suddenly laughed loudly: 'Brother Xue, I am actually a fugitive!'

Xue Ju said, 'I knew you would come these two days, so I have prepared food and wine each day waiting for you!'

Old Man Xiang walked straight to the table, sat down with a smile, and asked, 'Why?'

Xue Ju said, 'Because I am the only one you trust, and also the one you must come to find.' He brought two large bowls, placed them on the table, then lifted a jar of wine, pouring it steadily to fill both bowls, and said, 'Your arrival proves my guess was right; you also trust me!'

He raised his wine bowl: 'Come, Brother Xiang, I toast you!'

Feng Yi watched coldly, thinking, 'Could this old man be Xiang Wentian?'

Old Man Xiang did not raise his bowl, smiling, 'Aren't you afraid?'

Xue Ju said, 'Afraid, so I sent my family away; to be able to die together with the Heavenly King and Old Master is also my honor.'

Saying this, he drained his bowl.

Feng Yi thought, 'The Heavenly King and Old Master—surely it is Xiang Wentian. All around are ambushes; in this drama of catching a turtle in a jar, it's still unknown who is the turtle.'

Only saw Xiang Wentian nod slightly, then immediately put his sabre on the table, lifted his wine, and said, 'Good brother!'

'Come, let's drink until we're done!'

The two drank their bowls dry.

Since the wine had been drunk, there was no need to stand on ceremony; thus Xiang Wentian grabbed his chopsticks and ate heartily.

The two began exchanging cups, and in no time each had drunk over ten bowls.

Their drinking capacity was actually huge; after consuming so much they showed no sign of intoxication, and while Xiang Wentian chatted, discussing ancient and modern, it was evident his learning was extraordinary; when the conversation grew lively, his spirit soared, truly a well-educated scholar, not at all like a hero of the martial world.

Feng Yi observed his extraordinary insight, his lightness skill was superb, and he bore the aura of a master; for such a person to join the demonic sect is truly puzzling.

Xiang Wentian had eaten and drunk his fill, then wiped his mouth and laughed, 'Brother Xue, how long has it been since we last met?'

Xue Ju replied, 'About three years.'

Xiang Wentian clapped and laughed loudly, then suddenly said, 'I came only to ask Brother Xue one question.'

Xue Ju said, 'What question?'

Xiang Wentian said, 'I am looking for a person.'

Xue Ju's expression grew somewhat troubled, his eyes flashed, he lowered his voice: 'You're looking for what person, brother, I don't know,'

'Strange.' Xiang Wentian chuckled: 'If you don't know, how could you be waiting for me here?'

Xue Ju remained silent for a while, then said, 'All I know is that the sect is hunting you; otherwise I know nothing.'

Xiang Wentian gave a sinister smile: 'You once went to Lonely Mountain Plum Manor; what were you doing there?'

Xue Ju gave a light smile: 'As the Incense Master of our sect, I oversee affairs in several places; perhaps the slaughter has weighed too heavily on my mind, making it hard to calm. I thought to cultivate my sentiments with music, chess, calligraphy, and painting; I know there are several masters there, so I came personally to visit.'

'Great!' Xiang Wentian laughed and rose: 'The constant fighting in the martial world also annoys me; you and I are kindred spirits!'

'Come, come, fill it up, I'll toast you with a bowl, let us become sworn brothers.'

Just as his hand was about to rest on Xue Ju's shoulder, Xue Ju turned his palm, seized the opportunity to lock his pulse; Xiang Wentian's hand shrank slightly, and he flicked a finger toward his palm.

Xue Ju yielded his palm, thrust his elbow forward, striking Xiang Wentian's lower abdomen.

Xiang Wentian's hand fell to protect his abdomen, his middle finger joint slightly raised, aiming at the elbow.

The two repeatedly grappled using the Small Seizing Technique; their moves were subtle, to laypeople it looked like mere pushing, but in Feng Yi's eyes he gave both a thumbs-up.

However, Xue Ju's elbow thrust was a feint; as soon as his elbow extended he retracted, bent his knees, leapt up with a crash, shattered the window, and flew out.

Xiang Wentian raised his hand, the wine bowl in his hand shot toward Xue Ju.

Xue Ju kicked out; the wine bowl shattered, wine splashed everywhere.

Suddenly Xiang Wentian's face turned purple, veins bulged on his forehead, he retreated two steps, sat in the chair, gripping his sabre's hilt as if to rise, but in an instant he sat down again.

He suddenly felt a soft, warm mass of qi slowly moving in his abdomen, his limbs growing weak; coldly he said, 'Brother Xue, you actually poisoned me?'

Xue Ju laughed loudly: 'Brother Xiang, that's not the case; I also can't hold my liquor!' He then said, 'Brother Xiang, come, let's enjoy the moon and drink together—how wonderful!'

Xiang Wentian shouted: 'Damn it! I treated you as a brother, yet you schemed against me!'

Suddenly Xue Ju laughed heartily, proclaiming loudly: 'Brother Xiang, your heroic spirit reaches the heavens; I admire you endlessly. Now I accompany you in drinking the poisoned wine, which also counts as fulfilling our brotherly bond!'

As soon as the words left his mouth, clangs and clatters came from outside—the sound of swords being drawn, of running and jumping.

Xiang Wentian suddenly understood Xue Ju's scheme; to hook him, Xue Ju spared no effort in sharing food and drink, feeling his true qi gather and scatter intermittently.

With a clatter, the gate flung open; outside, heads surged, swords and spears gleamed, cold light flashed in all directions, every face bore a resolute air—all were followers of the Sun and Moon Sect.

'What heavy killing intent!' Xiang Wentian's eyes suddenly shot two fierce beams; he shouted, seized his sabre, kicked out, and the table with its food and wine flew toward the outside crowd.

Only heard a clang like a dragon's roar; Xiang Wentian drew his sabre, like lightning shielding his head, and leapt up from the roof.

Xiang Wentian's fame shook the martial world; undoubtedly he is a master who seizes opportunities, knowing whether he can escape hinges on this very struggle.

When Feng Yi again saw the ambushers appear, his body had already risen, soaring upward, riding clouds and wind as a rule, he swept onto a large tree; after all, only by gaining height and gazing afar could he properly watch the show.

He saw a point of light flicker in the distance, like a firefly jumping a few times, then suddenly the light blazed up, gathering into a flow that windingly came toward this side.

"So many people?" Feng Yi also felt surprised, thinking that to deal with just Xiang Wentian, actually hundreds of people had come.

In a blink, he saw Xiang Wentian smash through the roof, shoot up into the sky, followed by broken tiles and dust pouring down like a heavy rain.

Eight black shadows brandished their weapons and lunged; Xiang Wentian suddenly let out a great shout, a blade flash like a splitting lightning, and then the sound of clashing swords and blades was heard.

Sparks flew everywhere; the eight black shadows' weapons dropped to the ground one after another, and the people also fell from the roof. Upon inspection, several found their wrist tendons all severed.

The field fell into silence; the demon cult followers all had their souls snatched away by that one blow of Xiang Wentian.

Feng Yi saw clearly: Xiang Wentian's blow looked clumsy but was actually exquisite, the force sinking inward; with one stroke he severed the wrists of eight martial arts masters, indeed extraordinarily formidable.

Xue Ju stroked his short beard and laughed loudly: "No wonder he shocks the jianghu; the petty villains hear his name and lose courage. Even after being hit with the Tendon-Transforming Powder, he can still be this fierce!"

After a moment of stunned silence, the cult members realized he had been poisoned, they wailed angrily and rushed forward again, brandishing their blades.

Xiang Wentian seemed to have succeeded with that strike, but in fact he had already exerted all his lifelong ability. At this moment he dared not linger in battle; he leapt out, just about to land on a rooftop.

But as his true qi moved, a sour-numb force spread through his whole body; in an instant his true qi had completed one circuit, and Xiang Wentian felt his entire body go sore and limp, barely able to hold his sword.

He had not expected the poison to be so vicious; he cursed silently, and Xue Ju leapt up, his right claw shooting out like a hawk snatching a rabbit, aiming for Xiang Wentian's chest.

Xiang Wentian let out a long whistle, brandished his saber, trying to protect his whole body, but his dantian had gone silent, his true qi not rising, his movements full of openings. Xue Ju struck out with a palm, piercing the saber net and hitting squarely on Xiang Wentian's left chest; a flash of red crossed his face.

Yet Xiang Wentian was also formidable: he suddenly discarded his saber and struck out with a palm, uncanny and unpredictable, landing squarely on Xue Ju's chest.

With his usual strength, even a strong horse or sturdy ox would be killed by a single palm; now his true qi could not condense, yet he summoned the last of his lifelong energy—who would have thought that Xue Ju, after taking that palm, seemed unharmed and continued to unleash palm after palm.

Peng peng peng, several sounds.

Xue Ju struck several vital points on Xiang Wentian's chest; with a thud, Xiang Wentian rolled off the roof onto the ground.

Xiang Wentian endured the strange pain, stared at Xue Ju and shouted: "Xue Incense Master, your Golden Bell Shield Iron Cloth Shirt makes you impervious to blades and spears. Even if you want to deal with me, let's come out openly and fight fairly. Such underhanded tactics—do you not fear losing face, or do you not fear bringing shame upon the Sun Moon Divine Cult?"

Xue Ju slowly withdrew his hand, saying arrogantly: "Xiang Brother, we each serve our own masters, each display our abilities—why bother with such windy remarks?"

Moreover, you and I both know our own capabilities; if I could defeat your Right Envoy Xiang, why would I go through all this trouble? I am not like Feng Yi, a mere rat who only knows how to wag his tongue.

Feng Yi secretly sighed: "This person's martial arts is not low; it's just a pity he lacks openness and righteousness, wasting such fine talent."

But hearing the last sentence, he also wondered secretly: how did I become a rat?

He was very curious.

No mistake, one character, one shot, one internal, one in, one one look!

He really wanted to ask, but knowing that as soon as he appeared there would be nothing to see, he could only suppress his curiosity for now, and later talk it over with him, discuss this issue.

Xue Ju suddenly shouted: "Xiang Wentian! You have betrayed the cult and plotted rebellion; I, acting on the cult leader's order, will eliminate treachery and warn against evil!"

Saying that, he waved his hand; two black-clad cult members stepped forward and used a pair of fine steel shackles to lock Xiang Wentian up.

Xiang Wentian wondered: "You're not going to kill me?"

Xue Ju replied: "The cult leader pities your momentary confusion, seeing that you haven't yet sunk deep into evil, so he hopes you will repent and return to the right path, not think of joining forces with the Holy Maiden, and let me escort you to Black Wood Cliff to await judgment."

"Repent and return?" Xiang Wentian coldly stared at Xue Ju: "Joining forces with the Holy Maiden?

Dongfang Bubai rebelled first; what right does he have to judge me? Moreover, you say this, the Holy Maiden will know and will not spare you!

Xue Ju fixed his gaze on Xiang Wentian, sizing him up.

Seeing his strange look, Xiang Wentian coughed and said: "Why are you staring at me like that, old man?"

"Holy Maiden?" Xue Ju snorted coldly: "The Eastern Sect Leader did not immediately order the death of Miss Ren, but instead granted her the title of Holy Maiden. That was already the Sect Leader's mercy.

Yet she turns out to be ungrateful for the Sect Leader's kindness, even colluding with you, a rebel against the cult, plotting to seize power.

That would be bad enough, but now everyone knows.

What kind of person is Feng Yi!

In Hengshan City he boasted without shame, actually wanting to compete with the Sect Leader for superiority; such a rude madman, as a member of the Divine Cult, upon encountering him should be cut down into thousands of pieces like Old Lu and the others.

Yet Miss Ren, as the Holy Maiden of our cult, actually issued orders forbidding the heterodox jianghu from causing trouble for him.

Feng Yi used the Sect Leader's prestige to make a name for himself; the Holy Maiden, holding the Sect Leader's generous gifts, fawned over pretty boys.

The two of them each got what they wanted, showing off their might in the jianghu, but the Sect Leader himself suffered a great loss of prestige.

Hmph, the Sect Leader is tolerant toward people and does not quarrel with the younger generation; Elder Yang will surely settle both old and new scores with her, and you still expect her to save you—keep dreaming!

Feng Yi could not help but suddenly realize: "So that's it—I once spoke rudely to Dongfang Bubai, and Ren Yingying sent word through the jianghu forbidding anyone to bother me; in others' eyes I naturally became a kept man, calling me a rat is actually polite!"

Thinking this, he immediately stopped being angry.

He felt the accusation was justified.

Feng Yi is just this clear‑minded.

Having come out into the world, having done something, one must accept it; when beaten, one must stand at attention—this awareness he has always possessed.

Xiang Wentian sneered: "I don't know why the Holy Maiden acts this way, but I do know that you won't live long."

Xue Ju twisted his short beard and smiled: "How so?"

Xiang Wentian said: "Do you think today's words will spread through the jianghu first, or will I be the first to go up Black Wood Cliff?

Among our cult members, everyone knows that the Holy Maiden does not place any man in her eyes; you actually claim she is doing it for a pretty boy—hee hee. Even if the Holy Maiden were dealt with by Dongfang Bubai, those who have received her favor, even if only one‑tenth feel grateful for her kindness,

Xue Incense Master, you would also be hard‑pressed to escape death, and you know what kind of people serve under the Holy Maiden—you must know how miserable your death would be."

He said this with a yin‑yang tone; Xue Ju was furious, gripped his sword hilt, leapt forward a step, glared at Xiang Wentian for a moment, then slowly loosened his grip on the hilt and said: "Xiang Brother, we have been friends for many years; in the jianghu we seek neither fame nor profit—we have reached this point only through blood‑soaked struggle. What is the Holy Maiden?

It's just that he has a good father, a good uncle. As long as you say you will wholeheartedly loyalty to the Sect Leader, I, as your junior brother, will naturally plead for you, and we will remain good brothers!"

Xiang Wentian glanced at him and said coldly: "I think we don't need to bother."

Xue Ju shook his head: "Xiang Brother, why be so decisive?"

Xiang Wentian said: "We have been friends for many years; you too were once a trusted aide of the Sect Leader Ren, yet you claim it's all for fame and profit.

But in the jianghu one must at least speak of righteousness.

Think back: the Sect Leader Ren treated Dongfang Bubai like a brother, promoting him to the Bright Left Envoy and handing over all authority in the cult.

Yet how did he repay that?

You, as the chief guard of the Ren Cult Master, are probably the only one who knows all this best.

That's enough.

What is Yang Lian Ting anyway?

Dongfang Bubai, what nonsense did he commit, letting him take over the Holy Cult? The elders of the cult either died or were imprisoned; a perfectly good Sun Moon Holy Cult has become mired in corruption—what has it become?

Xue Ju sighed, his face very grim: "Brother, speaking of that person, I was once his confidant, but actually I'm just a lackey who follows orders—obeying commands is my duty."

That person holds power, I listen to him; when the Eastern Cult Master ascended, I also listened to him; this is my way of survival, there's nothing to say.

Yang Zongguan's actions have their pros and cons; I, the younger brother, have shallow insight and dare not speak further, but victors become kings and nobles, losers become bandits.

Don't talk about righteousness here either.

You, with your right hand, ask yourself sincerely: if your martial arts talent surpasses that person and the cult master, or if the cult master bestows upon you the position of Left Envoy of Light that he once held, letting you truly be 'one beneath, ten thousand above', and also gives you a chance to ascend to the cult master's position, ask yourself, would you still act this way, insisting on finding that person?

Everyone listened, bewildered, but Feng Yi's heart jolted: "Hmm, his meaning is that Xiang Wentian knows he is no match for Dongfang Bubai, so he seeks Ren Woxing to regain everything!" Then he thought again: "Could it be that I, together with this petty man Xue Ju, am measuring a gentleman's heart with a petty mind?"

Suddenly hearing Xiang Wentian chuckle, he said: "Brother Xue, your words are too heavy. As the saying goes, 'One without ambition cannot stand.'"

I, Xiang Wentian, joined this cult to accomplish a great undertaking in the martial world.

We are all martial practitioners; killing and arson are everyday fare, but we should keep our word and see our deeds through.

But it's because of you lot, who act improperly, who, whenever there's profit to be gained, break oaths and abandon agreements, take advantage of others' peril, acting against morality—these scoundrels cause the world to speak of our cult, all labeling it a demonic sect, despised by the orthodox martial world!

Having said that in one breath, the demon cult's disciples all looked at each other in blank dismay; the more rash and foolish among them even kept nodding, showing a simple-minded smile.

Xue Ju muttered: "Those so-called orthodox sects are no different?"

The Fuwei Escort Agency sends gifts to the Qingcheng Sect every year, yet they still wiped out his entire family for the Bixie Sword Manual—what else could anyone say?

The Five Mountains Sword Sect claims to be united and uphold orthodox martial energy, but do you know that when Liu Zhengfeng retired, the Songshan Sect first seized his entire family's women and children; if it weren't for Feng Yi this troublemaker inserting a pole, the Liu family would surely have been utterly exterminated.

Heh, but after he did this, who would remember his goodness? People in the martial world say he cannot distinguish right from wrong, does not observe morality, is just a brute who relies solely on strength, and everyone wants him dead!

Go ask around in the martial world; nowadays everyone is saying that the cult master has held the title of the world's top martial artist for years, the newer waves push the older ones, and now it should belong to Feng Yi—what do you say that means?

Xiang Wentian snorted coldly: "Surely someone hopes Dongfang Bubai and Feng Yi will meet to see who's superior!"

"Indeed!" Xue Ju clapped his hands: "Feng Yi this pretty boy killed Tian Boguang and Yu Canghai in a single day, forced Mu Gaofeng to kowtow and beg for mercy, and made the Five Mountains Sword Sect everyone retreat. He's stealing the limelight, causing everyone to envy and resent him, especially those orthodox sects."

But the orthodox martial world dare not openly oppose him, only saying he obtained the Bixie Sword Manual to stir up greed in the martial world. They also say the cult master is not the world's top martial artist, which anyone can see is a ploy to use a knife to kill someone.

You say, with such orthodox martial world, whether they approve or not, why should our Sun Moon Holy Cult care? The result is what matters most!

Xiang Wentian's face sank, he coldly said: "So Chief Xue is using poison to make things difficult for this old brother of mine?"

"Alright!" Xue Ju waved his hand: "Brother Xiang, we each serve our own masters; different paths, no plot together!"

I have also fulfilled brotherly loyalty toward you; this will have to wrong you. Then he raised his hand, and four demon cult disciples lifted Xiang Wentian away.

Feng Yi's body swayed, and he sank into the vast darkness.

(End of chapter)