Chapter 759: The Silent Sword of the Crowd

This was the first time Li Lang had taken the initiative to speak today.

The entire garden plummeted from a lively bustle into absolute silence. Even when Seeing Pei Ye had broken the sword in the pool just moments ago, the atmosphere hadn't been this pin-drop quiet.

Li Lang rarely held any stance on worldly affairs, but when they did, it was often irresistible.

In this instant, many thought that the biggest news of the day might not be the "I Cannot Defeat My Own Sword" topic, nor Seeing Pei Ye's reappearance in the Divine Capital.

No matter how the young swordsmen performed or who won or lost, it was all a safe game. Even if the juniors fought with real fire, it wouldn't affect the friendly relations between the two sects. The Kunlun Yanri Palace was also present today, yet no friction could be seen between them and the Divine Capital's Sword Academy.

When you care, it is a matter that stirs all your emotions; when you don't, it is as if it doesn't exist. The wins, losses, and rankings of a few young people could not shake the landscape of the Jianghu.

But collisions between sects were as cold and cruel as iron.

It wasn't at a sword gathering in the magnificent Divine Capital, but in the darkest corners of the Jianghu, where no one cheered and no words were spoken. In those years when the Immortal Platform did not intervene, who knew how much blood and how many severed limbs had been spilled in wild shops along the rivers.

Especially within the Thirty-Three Sword Sects, conflict between any two sects would stir up huge waves in the Jianghu.

Li Lang and Kongdong certainly hadn't reached that point yet, and the current Kongdong was far from worthy of standing opposite Li Lang, but it was, after all, one of the Lower Twelve Sword Sects, and this was, after all, an attitude stated personally by the Heavenly Tower of Li Lang.

Many people were actually not entirely ignorant.

Last autumn, there was a riot in the Kongdong Mountains. It was said that many people died, the forbidden Sword Abdomen Mountain was broken into, the 【Mountain Jiazi】 was activated, and in the end, the Shaolong Immortal Platform moved in, and the seventeen peaks were under martial law for the entire winter.

Very few people truly knew what had happened, but not too many sects were completely in the dark either.

The Great Kongdong spanned a hundred miles, and with many eyes and ears on the seventeen peaks, sealing the news was truly not an easy task.

It was said that in October, the Shaolong Prefecture City even issued a feather-letter regarding this matter, and although it was quickly retracted and erased, some news still leaked out.

And that was a very thought-provoking time. Ming Qitian, the sole disciple of the Li Lang Sword Lord, was heading south after questioning the Tianshan Mountains, passing through Kongdong in September.

Of course, no one knew what relationship she had with the Kongdong riot or what she had experienced in the Great Kongdong, but everyone who followed her path of sword-questioning would discover that after that, the young Sword Lord's world-questioning tour stopped for a full month, and she didn't set out again until winter. And this time, she had set out from Li Lang.

After Kongdong, the Glazed Sword Lord returned to Li Lang and stayed for a month.

Since then, news from Kongdong had almost vanished. Although it was said they participated in the Shaolong Jade Sword Gathering and the current Feather Scale Trial had also come to the capital, it was rumored that people from the Immortal Platform and the Dao Enlightenment Society had already moved into the Lotus Heart Pavilion, and its traffic with many familiar sects had been cut off and regulated.

Whether Li Lang's intentions were involved in this could naturally be imagined.

Now, this sentence, "Under Li Lang's eyes, one must not encounter Kongdong," was clearly an extension of this situation.

It was just that many people hadn't expected Li Lang's attitude to be so cold and hard. They were already at the Tianshan Sword Banquet, and Kongdong had only sent up a green disciple at the very end, yet they had been hit with such a ban again.

Until the Feather Scale Trial ended, Li Lang would remain in the capital, so Kongdong could not participate in any sword gatherings.

If one had to say, this wouldn't cause any substantial harm, but it would make many realize that this matter, which was originally in the shadows and tacitly unmentioned, was not something Li Lang avoided talking about.

Before Kongdong entered the capital this time, they clearly didn't know about this clause. No matter what expectations they had for this trip, they would return empty-handed.

It was hard to say what goal Li Lang wanted to achieve or what situation they wanted to put Kongdong in—they probably didn't care at all.

This sentence was an attitude; it was expressed the moment they saw Kongdong. Li Lang clearly didn't care about the occasion either.

The garden was silent. Tianshan probably hadn't expected this scene to happen either. The voices at the central tables were cut off, and several true disciples were slightly stunned, then their smiles faded.

This was a matter that had suddenly appeared and was a hundred times more serious than the sword banquet, or even the Feather Scale Trial. No one wanted their words or actions to cause a misjudgment.

Only Zhang Jingbi still stood on the pool holding his sword, his body as stiff as a wooden carving, his face as white as flour.

At this moment, he thought he should probably go back, but for a moment, he didn't know how to move his legs. He also thought he should say a few words to maintain the dignity of his sect, but he couldn't think of any words, and he couldn't even open his mouth.

He subconsciously looked at the deer tail in his field of vision. When he first entered the pool, this true disciple had been looking at him with a warm smile, but now that face was flat and emotionless. The only expression in those eyes was perhaps a bit of curiosity; Dongting had long been in the south and had limited understanding of this northwestern affair.

He looked again at Qun Fei beside him. Tianshan was the host of this sword banquet, and in the past few hours, any accident, big or small, had been properly handled by several jade maidens. But at this moment, this 【Young Master】 had her lips slightly pursed, her beautiful brows and eyes slightly lowered. It was clear that Tianshan had strict regulations on what matters should be handled by the Eight Steeds and Seven Jades and what matters were not allowed to be interfered with.

And the person qualified to speak had not appeared.

Who dared to stand before Li Lang?

"Reporting to the senior, this junior has two words to say." A clear voice that shocked everyone rang out among the seven seats.

Many people felt a string of electricity run from their spines to the back of their heads, and countless gazes gathered in an instant—no one had expected that anyone would dare to speak to Li Lang at this time.

It was Seeing Pei Ye who had stood up.

There was no gentle smile on the youth's face either. His expression was upright and calm, and he cupped his hands and said: "Pei

Ye speaks presumptuously. Last year's Kongdong affair was a private conspiracy by a few, not a joint conspiracy by Kongdong. Many loyal and righteous people among the seventeen peaks were also harmed. This young hero Zhang on the pool is the descendant of a righteous hero who died for his principles. Now that the chief culprits of Kongdong have been executed, many of the remaining disciples are not all sinners and mediocrities."

The garden was completely silent. Qun Fei turned her head and stared at him. The other tables did not turn their gazes, but all of them slightly widened their eyes.

None of the people who had just been discussing listing the youth back as number one on the Jade Sword Register spoke now. They all silently watched that figure, not even exchanging glances with each other.

The atmosphere on the pavilion was also quiet. The young girls didn't really understand the severity of the sect conflict, but they could certainly discern the tension in the atmosphere at this moment. They hadn't expected Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye to stand up either.

For a long time, Li Lang had been the Immortal Mountain standing at the top of the Jianghu, and also the unique peak of the Sword Path, hidden in the clouds and mist of the high heavens. It had no conflict of interest with the vast majority of sects. Everyone was looking forward to how they could get closer to it, and never thought that anyone would dare to offend Li Lang.

More importantly, Li Lang and Kongdong were in conflict because of the young Sword Lord. That Glazed Sword Lord didn't know what she had encountered in the Great Kongdong, and the inside story was still sensitive. How could you dare to speak for Kongdong and anger Li Lang at this time?

But the youth just stood there, looking at the high stone. All five Li Lang seats cast their gazes at him.

After a moment, Wen Suoqu said in a faint voice: "I know, and then?"

The atmosphere in the garden seemed to tighten. Li Piaoqing pursed her lips, as if she wanted to go down. Cui Zhaoye stopped her.

Seeing Pei Ye cupped his hands again, his voice very steady: "I do not recognize the true disciple Ji Zhuowu. But Zhang Jingbi, Guan Qianyan, and Kong Lanting, who are present, were all victims of last year's affair. They have excellent character and do not fear the enemy. They are all Kongdong true disciples who do not shame their masters."

"Whether it is good or evil, Li Lang does not care." Unexpectedly, Wen Suoqu actually opened his mouth to answer the youth. He lowered his eyes indifferently, "Whether Kongdong is clean now is also not important. What you said may be right, but the sect's negligence in allowing the Joyous Death Tower to sneak in is Kongdong's crime; the greed that blinded them, and Ji Changyun colluding with criminals, is also Kongdong's crime. If there is a crime, there is punishment. Kongdong bears it together; there is no reason for separation."

Seeing Pei Ye nodded: "I know."

Wen Suoqu watched him silently, and the garden was silent.

"I know." Seeing Pei Ye repeated, cupping his hands to the four directions of the garden, "Since Kongdong has committed this crime, they should bear this responsibility. As Senior Wen said—all under Li Lang's eyes must not encounter Kongdong. After leaving the Tianshan Guest House, Seeing Pei Ye is also willing to convey this law for Li Lang."

"..."

"It's just that I feel that someone must say the words above." Seeing Pei Ye put down his salute and leaned over to pick up the sword on the table, "Not just to Senior Wen, but also hoping that all the gentlemen present can listen a little."

Then he looked at the youth standing stiffly on the pool and said gently: "Jingbi, I

will spar with you."

"..."

The four directions were silent, and Seeing Pei Ye walked down to the pool carrying his sword.

Wen Suoqu nodded and said in a faint voice: "Since it is so. Before I die, Seeing Pei Ye must not enter within three hundred miles of Li Lang Mountain. Any Li Lang sword in the Dao Enlightenment Society must not be practiced."

Seeing Pei Ye didn't speak, nor did he look back. He stood on the pool, no different from when he was pointing out the Tianshan disciples just now. He casually performed a sword salute and carried the sword behind his arm.

"Please. Haven't seen you for a few months, let me learn the sword techniques of the Colorful Wufeng." Seeing Pei Ye smiled slightly.

The moment the youth stepped onto the pool surface, Zhang Jingbi suddenly perceived his cold and stiff body again, as if the youth were a heat source.

He gripped the sword in his hand. At this moment, he thought he should have left earlier and shouldn't have dragged Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye into the water. But the youth's calm and smiling eyes were looking at him, and he suddenly felt that such pushing and polite gestures had lost their meaning. He pursed his lips and raised the sword in his hand.

"... Kongdong Zhang Jingbi, clumsy in person and inferior in sword, please give me your guidance, Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye."

Zhang Jingbi was a descendant of the Colorful Wufeng, and he practiced "Phoenix Mountain Singing".

Seeing Pei Ye had seen this sword technique before when he was in Kongdong. At that time, Seeing Pei Ye could see that Zhang Jingbi practiced very hard, but he really didn't use it very well; now, only a few months had passed, and his attainments in this sword technique had advanced by leaps and bounds. More importantly, Seeing Pei Ye could now understand this sword technique too.

Its structure became very clear in Seeing Pei Ye's eyes. After a few rounds, Seeing Pei Ye had roughly figured out Zhang Jingbi's position, pointed out the flaws he saw one by one, and helped him analyze how to learn it well in the future.

This was the quietest sparring session since the sword banquet began, and the clear sound of sword blades colliding could be heard all the way to the corners of the garden.

"... Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye. You, you actually didn't have to speak for me. After today, we probably won't participate in sword gatherings anymore... and even implicated you in offending Li Lang." Zhang Jingbi said in a low voice.

"What offending or not, it's not worth mentioning, it's all small matters." Seeing Pei Ye smiled and said in a low voice, "If it weren't for your father Zhang Meiqing not being afraid of offending the sect leader or the Lotus Heart Pavilion, I probably wouldn't have the life to stand here today, and Sword Lord Ming might have really encountered a disaster."

He paused, his smile fading: "I have always kept a sentence from Peak Master Zhang in mind. If you are grateful, I hope that one day when you take charge of Colorful Mist, you can also mention it from your heart."

"What?"

"It is not an act of chivalry."

"..." Zhang Jingbi was stunned.

"To protect oneself wisely, to fear strength and profit... is not an act of chivalry." Seeing Pei Ye supported his shoulder.

Zhang Jingbi didn't actually take in Seeing Pei Ye's teachings on sword path, but these words provided another kind of support, making the youth's neck straighten up. Until he finally left the pool and sat back at his seat, his posture remained upright.

Seeing Pei Ye also carried his sword back to the seven seats by the pool.

No one greeted him when he sat down this time. After a

moment, He Yaoyao beside him squeezed out a sentence: "Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye, you are wrong."

Seeing Pei Ye was stunned and looked at the woman in the yellow skirt: "True Disciple He, how am I wrong?"

He Yaoyao was a bit embarrassed. She hesitated for a while and said in a low voice: "That last move of 'Phoenix Mountain Singing' that True Disciple Zhang used actually wasn't wrong, because it had to connect to the next sword technique. You, you definitely haven't read Kongdong sword theory, that's why you said his use was redundant..."

Her voice grew smaller, and she hurriedly added: "Of course, Young Hero Pei, your level is very high, and everything else you said was very precise."

Seeing Pei Ye was silent for a while and said: "True Disciple He."

"Ah?"

"Let's be friends."

"... Ah?" He Yaoyao was stunned and a bit sad, "So we weren't friends?"

The pavilion was also quiet for a long time.

After a while, someone said in a low voice: "If Li Lang doesn't like Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye, then I won't like Li Lang either."

"Exactly, and they don't allow Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye to go to Li Lang... Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye doesn't care to go anyway."

"Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye is so good."

"Li Lang... what's so great about Li Lang..."

Although everyone was attracted by Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye's brilliant personality at this moment, their momentum for speaking harsh words wasn't very strong.

After all, Li Lang's reputation was truly too great... especially that Glazed Sword Lord. They only knew Seeing Pei Ye after Cui Zhaoye introduced him, but long before they cared about Jianghu sword affairs, they had already heard the name "Ming Qitian".

Extremely young, extremely beautiful, extremely powerful, and with a clear and transparent mind... she had millions of supporters in the Divine Capital.

It was President Li who stood up from the railing. Her spirit looked very good, and she smiled: "Look, I said it earlier, Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye is not lustful, nor is he addicted to fame and fortune. He is neither from a high family nor a beauty; Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye only has a heart of chivalry."

Qu Xin said suddenly: "Exactly, much better than Ming Qitian's 'Bright Mirror Ice Mirror Heart'. Isn't she just a wooden person?"

Everyone immediately echoed: "Exactly!"

Li Piaoqing hurriedly interrupted. She actually liked Sword Lord Ming very much, but she couldn't take the lead in defecting at this time, so she changed the subject: "I see the sword banquet is about to disperse. For the rest of the afternoon, the swordsmen will be free to come and go in the garden. I will go help Tianshan with some organization. Everyone can also go down. You can talk to whoever you want to see—of course, don't bother them."

"We want to see Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye!"

"Can we see Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye?"

"President Li~~"

This was clearly the question everyone cared about most.

Li Piaoqing smiled: "That goes without saying. You don't need to go find him; we will invite Young Hero Seeing Pei Ye over—if he has time."

On the stage

surprised cheers erupted immediately, chattering into a group.

Li Piaoqing gave two instructions and then left first, agreeing to come back later. Cui Zhaoye gave everyone two instructions and was about to go downstairs when she felt someone poke her from behind.

She turned her head and saw Qu Xin standing quietly behind her, holding up a hand with a flat expression: "President Cui, you should rest. I'll go invite Seeing Pei Ye."

"..."

Cui Zhaoye narrowed her eyes. These words were very appropriate, but she always felt that once Li Piaoqing left, the presence of this little medicine monarch from Mount Tai Medicine Hut suddenly became stronger.

"I can find him; I know the smell on him." Qu Xin thought for a moment, "I can also invite He Yaoyao over; we are very familiar."

"You are familiar with Huang Yunxian?" Cui Zhaoye was slightly stunned, but after thinking about it, the two sects were indeed not too far apart, so she nodded, "That's the best. If you succeed, I'll credit you with a merit."

"Please rest assured." ===== CHAPTER 760 =====