Chapter 23: Life is Precious

"Lu Li of Huashan, I ask Uncle Liu to end his own life."

Lu Li bowed to Liu Zhengfeng.

The great hall was suddenly so silent that a needle drop could be heard; it was as quiet as death.

Some people were completely confused by Lu Li's actions; he had gone to great lengths to protect Liu Zhengfeng's family, yet now he wanted to take Liu Zhengfeng's life? "What is this Lu Li doing? First he opposes the Songshan Sect, and now he stands on the side of the Songshan Sect?"

"A little brat whose hair hasn't even fully grown yet, and you're out here stirring up trouble? Flipping back and forth, hurry up and get back where you came from."

Many in the Jianghu did not understand the reason behind this, only feeling that the Huashan Shura Sword's brain might not be working right. Some cursed out loud, but many others fell silent.

Especially the people of the Five Mountains Sword Sects; although they also had a sliver of doubt, they soon understood Lu Li's approach.

Indeed, this was the best way to handle it.

Not only did it punish the person who colluded with the Demonic Cult, but it also preserved his family and highlighted the style of a righteous sect.

There was no shortage of deep-thinking people in the Jianghu, such as He Sanqi and Mr. Wen, who all perceived the fairness and humanity in Lu Li's actions.

They were even more surprised that this matter was gradually being led by the Huashan Sect!

Compared to the aggressive nature of the Songshan Sect, Lu Li's approach was clearly more popular!

Liu Zhengfeng felt miserable in his heart; he bowed to Yue Buqun.

"Senior Brother Yue, I must still trouble you to take care of my family and send them out of the Central Plains."

Having said this, he took a deep look at Lu Li.

Then he suddenly raised his palm and struck himself.

After hearing two thuds, blood flowed from Liu Zhengfeng's nose and mouth, and he slumped to the ground.

The heroes all around knew that Liu Zhengfeng had severed his own heart meridians and did not have long to live.

A Golden Basin Hand-Washing ceremony that had been decorated with lanterns and colored streamers had ended in such a way, and they could not help but sigh repeatedly.

Yet there was no regret in Liu Zhengfeng's eyes; he only sighed: "In one's life, a soulmate is hard to find.

I met a soulmate, but I implicated my family.

Today, Brother Qu is not here, and that Laughing Proudly in the Jianghu music score will be lost forever from now on."

"Hahahaha!

Who says I am not here?"

Suddenly, a figure in black flashed over from outside.

"It's Qu Yang!"

As soon as the figure stood still, Ding Mian of the Songshan Sect recognized Qu Yang and struck out with a fierce palm.

He was known as the Tower-Lifting Hand, so this palm technique was naturally extremely powerful.

In an instant, the fierce and heavy palm wind enveloped Qu Yang; others, agitated by the palm wind, could not help but retreat.

Qu Yang sneered and raised his hand, unleashing a cluster of Black Blood Divine Needles.

Ding Mian knew this hidden weapon was coated in deadly poison and immediately withdrew his palm to dodge, but many people around could not dodge in time and died on the spot.

Qu Yang laughed loudly, suddenly raised his palm, and also severed his own heart meridians, sitting side-by-side with Liu Zhengfeng.

Under the wary gazes of the heroes, he untied the bundle on his back and took out a seven-stringed ancient zither, while Liu Zhengfeng took a jade flute from his bosom; the two looked at each other and smiled.

Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!

Wu! Wu! Wu!

The sound of the zither and flute rose; the two tones were suddenly high and low, one rising and one falling, echoing each other.

Although the sound of the zither and flute was extremely complex and ever-changing, every note was rhythmic and melodious, moving the heart.

Although the heroes did not understand music, they felt their blood boiling.

After listening for a while, the sound of the zither and flute changed again, and everyone felt an inexplicable sense of sorrow in their hearts.

Sentimental people like Yilin and Yue Lingshan were already streaming with tears.

Suddenly, with a sharp 'zheng' sound, the zither music stopped instantly, and the flute sound also ceased; in an instant, everything around was silent.

Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang looked at each other and sighed: "Everyone must die in life; to have found a soulmate, one has no regrets even in death."

"What you say is true, worthy brother. Who would have thought that before dying, we would finally play the Laughing Proudly in the Jianghu music score once!

Having played this piece, what more could one ask for in this life?"

Seeing that these two had long since cast aside thoughts of life and death, and were willing to die generously for a piece of music,

the crowd could not help but be moved.

Lu Li thought to himself that these two were so obsessed with music that they could even abandon their lives and families.

Perhaps many people could not understand Liu and Qu, but how many people in this world are obsessed and refuse to turn back? There is a famous saying: "Life is precious, love is of higher value.

If for the sake of freedom, both can be cast aside."

How many people in this world are obsessed with power, obsessed with peerless martial arts, obsessed with love, and even obsessed with freedom?

In the eyes of these people, what do life and family count for? Liu Zhengfeng took a booklet from his bosom and looked at Lu Li: "Junior Nephew Lu, thank you for protecting my family. This Laughing Proudly in the Jianghu Music Score is the result of our life's work; I ask you to find a successor for this piece."

Lu Li accepted it in silence.

Seeing that their wish was fulfilled, Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang each grasped the other's palm, their internal energy surging together to shatter their heart meridians, and they closed their eyes and passed away.

... While everyone was sighing, Lu Bai suddenly said gloomily: "Junior Nephew Lu, please bring that music score over. It is called a music score, but I fear it contains information from the Demonic Cult."

Lu Li sneered: "Are you deaf? Could you not hear the music just now?"

Lu Bai had tried to attack the Liu family earlier but was blocked by Lu Li; now, being mocked by Lu Li again, he already harbored hatred in his heart.

"That is hard to say. I heard that the Lin Family's Evil-Warding Sword Technique was recorded on a cassock, and Junior Nephew Lu has seen it.

Your sword technique was superb just now; did you learn the killing sword art from the Buddhist robe?"

Lu Li said: "For that matter, please ask the uncles of the Songshan Sect to go and ask Yu Canghai and Mu Gaofeng."

"It is just that Mu Gaofeng has already been killed by me. If you all want to ask him, do you need my help?"

In the original work, Yu Canghai also brought everyone to the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony, but because of Lu Li's appearance, Yu Canghai obtained the Evil-Warding Sword Manual and had already returned to Songfeng Temple to practice in secret.

As for the matter of the Evil-Warding Sword Technique, Lu Li had already intimidated the petty villains by slaying Mu Gaofeng, so many people dared not come to trouble Lu Li again.

Lu Bai mentioned the Evil-Warding Sword Technique at this moment, wanting to trip Lu Li up, but he did not expect that the crowd of heroes would not be used by him.

His scheme had long been dissolved by Lu Li invisibly.

Fei Bin had a cold face; today, the limelight of the Songshan Sect had all been stolen by Lu Li.

Seeing the Liu Family family members lying beside Liu Zhengfeng's corpse wailing and crying, anger surged in his heart, and he drew his long sword and suddenly thrust it toward Liu Jing.

Suddenly, a sword lay horizontally before him; it was none other than Lu Li.

"I didn't expect Alliance Master Zuo to even order you to slaughter women and children?"

Anger suddenly rose in Fei Bin's heart; he thought to himself that this youth was full of schemes and must not be left alive, so he immediately brandished his sword to kill Lu Li.

One could see that his every move was murderous, and the momentum of his sword wind was like a rainbow.

Lu Li sneered, first using Huashan sword arts to resist, but after seeing whatever sword technique Fei Bin used, he actually used his previous move to launch a surprise attack, leaving everyone stunned.

Only then did they believe the talent Lu Li had displayed when he slew Mu Gaofeng.

In fact, Lu Li had long since learned the Songshan Sect sword arts, but he had not revealed them until this moment.

After ten moves, Lu Li and Fei Bin both used the move 'Eternal Human Dragon', yet Lu Li's sword was faster, suddenly wounding Fei Bin's arm.

Everyone was greatly shocked; Lu Li had actually defeated Fei Bin using Songshan Sect sword arts.

Whether it was that the Songshan Sect had already lost popular support, or that Lu Li's performance was too stunning, the crowd of heroes all cheered loudly.

Yue Buqun stepped forward and said in a clear voice, "Li'er, do not be rude."

"Senior brothers of the Songshan Sect, and all the heroes present, now that Liu Zhengfeng has been executed, his family members shall be escorted to the Western Regions by the disciples of my Huashan Sect, Taishan Sect, and Hengshan Sect."

"As long as they never set foot in the Central Plains again for the rest of their lives, everyone shall not seek trouble with them."

The crowd of heroes nodded in agreement.

"That is very good."

"Master Yue is righteous."

Fei Bin had been defeated by a junior and his face was ashen; Lu Bai and Ding Mian also had no confidence.

Seeing that the general trend had passed, the members of the Songshan Sect left dejectedly.

That day, the Liu Family members wore mourning clothes, cremated the corpses of Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang, and buried them together with their zither and jade flute amidst the mountains and waters of Mount Heng.