Chapter 48: Pointed at by the Heroes

Lu Li could feel that many people on Hengshan were showing hostility toward him.

After gaining insight into the Hengshan Sword Intent, his internal energy had also become increasingly profound.

Even without intentionally trying to listen, he could perceive the whispers of the people around him.

"Is that Lu Li?"

"It can't be wrong. I was there when he killed Tian Boguang half a month ago; I saw him at the Baofu Building."

"According to what Shi Dengda said, if we hand him over, won't the Sun Moon Holy Cult let us pass?"

"Are you crazy? His swordsmanship is terrifying; I wouldn't dare make a move."

"But we can't just keep cooped up in Hengshan City like this, can we?"

Let us pass? Hand me over to the Sun Moon Holy Cult? It seems that during the half-month I spent in secluded cultivation deep within Hengshan, not only did something major happen, but it was also related to Lu Li.

Ignoring the crowd, Lu Li walked straight toward the private quarters of the Hengshan Sect Master, Dingxian Shitai.

After a young nun went inside to report, Lu Li met with Dingxian Shitai.

"Shitai, what is going on outside?"

Lu Li pointed toward the swarming crowd of martial arts heroes outside and asked.

Dingxian Shitai recited a Buddhist chant and smiled bitterly: "Young Hero Lu, you may not know, but in the half-month you were training, the Sun Moon Holy Cult surrounded Hengshan City. Now, one can only enter this city, not leave."

"The Sun Moon Holy Cult drew a boundary line outside the city; any martial artist who tries to leave is killed by the people of the Sun Moon Holy Cult.

Now that everyone is in an uproar, and my Hengshan Sect is the largest sect here, they have all gathered at my Hengshan."

"It is truly shameful to say, but while my Hengshan Sect has enough to protect itself, we cannot break through the encirclement of the Sun Moon Holy Cult."

Lu Li nodded. He had not expected the Sun Moon Holy Cult to go to such great lengths, but what did this matter have to do with him? Lu Li asked: "When I was walking just now, people had strange expressions when they saw me.

May I ask, does this matter have anything to do with me?"

Dingxian Shitai said: "Young Hero Lu, there is no need to pay attention to what those martial artists say. Sigh, the truth is that Ren Yingying has sent word that it wouldn't be difficult for everyone to leave the city; they only need to offer up Lu Li's head, and the crisis in Hengshan City will be resolved."

"My Hengshan Sect would certainly never do such a thing. I imagine the martial artists were just deceived for a moment, rather than truly harboring hostility toward you, Young Hero.

But human hearts are hard to fathom; Young Hero Lu should still be careful."

Hearing the full story, Lu Li was taken aback.

Back when he killed Ren Woxing at Meizhuang, Ren Yingying and Xiang Wentian had once threatened Lu Li using people from both the righteous and evil paths.

And now, they had actually surrounded Hengshan City to force Lu Li to stand against the entire martial arts world.

This was a blatant scheme; a naked threat designed to make Lu Li the one who harms everyone's interests, thereby inciting the entire martial arts world to boycott him and leaving him with nowhere to stay.

Could Ren Yingying actually achieve this level? When reading the original work, I thought she was a quiet and shy little flower. How has she now turned into the daughter of a demon, is it to avenge her father, Ren Woxing? Lu Li smiled: "It seems this matter really is related to me. Since that is the case, I will go and meet this Sun Moon Holy Cult."

Dingxian Shitai said: "Young Hero Lu, think twice; do not throw your life away for nothing."

Lu Li said: "Thank you for your concern, Shitai, I have my own judgment.

Now that I have observed Hengshan, only Songshan remains. Even without the Sun Moon Holy Cult blocking the way, I would have had to leave Hengshan anyway."

"I have caused much trouble; Lu Li takes his leave."

Lu Li cupped his hands to Dingxian Shitai and turned to leave Hengshan.

He walked out from the backyard.

Lu Li had just arrived at the front courtyard when he heard the clamor of the heroes in the yard.

"Young Hero Shi is right!

The Sun Moon Holy Cult only wants Lu Li; it has nothing to do with us. Why should I have to be cooped up here and unable to leave?"

"That Lu Li doesn't know how to keep to himself, and now we are all implicated in this Hengshan City, as if isolated from the outside world.

Can he, Lu Li, afford to pay for this loss?"

"Lu Li should just die."

"He still has the nerve to hide on Hengshan; why doesn't he just die?"

The heroes were incensed, blocking the Hengshan mountain gate. If Lu Li wanted to leave Hengshan, he would have to force his way through them.

One by one, they loudly cursed Lu Li to die, venting the resentment in their hearts.

The momentum of these martial arts heroes was not a bit weaker than the keyboard warriors of later generations.

Aside from these insults, some people spoke up: "This isn't right. Lu Li killed Ren Woxing, which can be considered ridding the martial arts world of a scourge. Why are we trying to kill him now?"

"Has everyone been driven crazy by being cooped up?"

But these voices were few and were quickly drowned out by the cries for his execution.

Only the voices of Liang Fa and Lin Pingzhi remained, roaring: "Bullshit!

By what right do you want to hand over my Senior Brother?"

"If you have the guts, come!

Win against my, Liang Fa/Lin Pingzhi's, sword first."

Liang Fa and Lin Pingzhi drew their long swords, standing before the crowd of heroes like a lone boat resisting a surging tide.

The tide of heroes suddenly stopped, and they all turned their gazes to the space behind the two.

At the same time, a pair of hands gently patted the two on their shoulders.

"You two Junior Brothers have worked hard. Let me, your Senior Brother, resolve this matter."

Liang Fa and Lin Pingzhi turned back and saw Lu Li's gentle smile.

"Senior Brother."

Lu Li nodded and stepped in front of the two.

Seeing Lu Li walk out, the voices of the heroes grew much quieter.

From the crowd, two people walked out.

Lu Li recognized them; they were Shi Dengda and Zuo Ting of the Songshan Sect.

The Songshan Sect, huh... old enemies.

At the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, Lu Li caused the Songshan Sect to lose face.

On the Helan Ancient Road, Lu Li cut down people from the Songshan Sect.

During the Huashan Sword Qi Dispute, Lu Li cut down people from the Songshan Sect.

Half a month ago in Hengshan City, while killing Tian Boguang, Lu Li caused the Songshan Sect to lose face.

I would like to call Lu Li the Destroyer of Songshan.

Looking at the gloomy face of Shi Dengda, one can imagine he feels extreme loathing toward Lu Li.

"Lu Li, you finally stopped being a coward and dared to come out?"

"It is precisely because of you that the martial arts world has stirred up such waves."

"For the sake of the stability of the martial arts world, and to avoid unnecessary sacrifices, we have unanimously decided to hand you over."

"Will you surrender peacefully, or do you intend to make an enemy of the entire martial arts world?"

Lu Li seemed to think of something amusing and could not help but laugh.

"You want to tie me up and hand me over to the Sun Moon Holy Cult?"

"If I recall correctly, it was I who killed the great demon Ren Woxing; surely that counts as ridding the martial arts world of a scourge?"

"Now that the Sun Moon Holy Cult has surrounded you, handing me over will allow you to leave."

"So, instead of uniting against a common enemy, you intend to betray me to save yourselves?"

"You dare not brandish your blades at the Sun Moon Holy Cult, yet you turn your weapons toward me?"

What a laughable reality.

Lu Li scanned the crowd as if scanning annoying ants.

Provoked by Lu Li's words, the crowd's expressions were very ugly.

Feeling Lu Li's gaze like a sword, they actually dared not meet his eyes.

"Enough nonsense!"

"As long as we hand him over, we can leave Hengshan City."

"That's right!"

"All of this is Lu Li's own fault; what wrong have we done?"

"It is he who caused us to be like this; how can he still be so self-righteous!"

"We should just chop off his limbs and hand him over."

"Do it!"

"With so many of us, how could we possibly fear him alone?"

Shi Dengda roared, and several people behind him echoed, the momentum of their crusade against Lu Li growing stronger.

Amidst the cursing, several people stepped forward, fingers curled into claws, employing grappling techniques to seize Lu Li.

Facing the surging crowd, Lu Li did not retreat but advanced instead.

He faced the crowd and took a step forward.

Then, with a movement of his arm, he swung his sword scabbard horizontally.

Slap!

Slap!

Slap!

With a few crisp sounds, the bodies of those few people were sent flying away.

They landed on the ground with their heads tilted to the side and their eyes tightly shut, clearly knocked unconscious.

Want to catch me? I'll knock your heads crooked!

This sword scabbard was like a fuse, igniting the crowd's fury.

After all, hitting a person shouldn't involve hitting the face.

Seeing this, the heroes roared and charged up violently!