Chapter 273

Huguang, Changde Prefecture.

Huanhua Sword Sect.

A young man stood outside the mountain gate, bowing to the ground. It was not until the sound of hoofbeats faded away and completely disappeared from his ears that he slowly stood up, looked toward the end of the mountain road, and let out a long sigh.

Turning back to walk into the mountain gate, the disciples gathered around one after another, asking questions in a chattering manner.

The young man, who was usually gentle and peaceful, no longer had the mood to explain to his junior brothers and sisters, waved his hand perfunctorily, and walked quickly back to the main hall.

"Sigh..."

As soon as he sat down, he let out another long sigh.

"How did I suddenly run into this matter... what should be done, Master..."

He raised his head to look at the empty main seat.

The young man's name is Liu Chengxuan, the eldest disciple of the Huanhua Sword Sect, and also the backbone of the sect at this time. The group from the Huanhua Sword Sect that Li Miao met outside the gate when he was heading to Shaolin was led by him.

At this time, the Huanhua Sword Sect was already precarious.

Because the sect leader of the Huanhua Sword Sect had run into one of the "Seven Killings" a few months ago and was abducted, his life or death unknown.

For these past few months, the affairs of the Huanhua Sword Sect had all fallen on the shoulders of Liu Chengxuan, the eldest disciple. And he was still holding onto the last glimmer of hope, not announcing the news of the Huanhua Sword Sect leader, nor taking over the position of sect leader.

But it just so happened that today, the Embroidered Uniform Guard came to the door and brought the news of gathering at Mount Song on the 15th of the eighth month.

Liu Chengxuan tested a few words and understood the Embroidered Uniform Guard's meaning.

"Eldest disciple? You are not worthy of attending the banquet of our Commander!"

"No sect leader? Choose one yourself!"

"Coming to notify you is giving you face; not going is being unappreciative. Since you don't even want your face, don't think about keeping your head!"

That Embroidered Uniform Guard looked gray-faced, his lips cracked, as if he had been rushing on the road for several days without rest, his tone was irritable, and after speaking, he turned and left, not giving Liu Chengxuan any chance to explain.

And then, it came to the present.

Liu Chengxuan was sitting in his seat sighing when a woman turned out from the back hall, walked to him, and reached out to press on his hand.

"Senior Brother."

This woman's name is Wen Lianrong, Liu Chengxuan's junior sister, and also the daughter of the Huanhua Sword Sect leader.

Liu Chengxuan slowly lowered his head and pressed his forehead against her hand.

"Junior Sister... what should be done?"

"Don't wait anymore, we have no choice."

Wen Lianrong said softly.

"I will announce the news of Father's death. From today on, you are the sect leader, and you and I will go to Mount Song to attend the banquet together. No matter what happens, you and I will bear it together."

"Junior Sister!"

Liu Chengxuan raised his head abruptly.

"Master, he may not—"

"Senior Brother."

Wen Lianrong interrupted his words.

"Once you enter the Jianghu, life and death are the boundaries."

"Although it is said in the Jianghu that our Huanhua Sword Sect is just a bunch of bookworms, don't forget, we are a sword sect!"

"With your indecisive style, if Father saw this in the underworld, could he close his eyes? Could he lead the Huanhua Sword Sect forward?"

Wen Lianrong took a deep breath, turned and walked to the door of the main hall, looked at the disciples outside the door, and just as she was about to speak, she choked up abruptly.

Although she understood the principles clearly, she still couldn't open her mouth to announce her father's death. She was afraid that as soon as she opened her mouth, she would burst into tears.

A hand was placed on her shoulder.

Liu Chengxuan walked to her side, squeezed her shoulder, then blocked her behind him, took a deep breath, and said loudly.

"Disciples, listen to my orders."

"I have something to announce..."

————————

The next day.

The mountain gate of the Huanhua Sword Sect slowly closed.

Liu Chengxuan looked at the mountain gate deeply, leaped onto his horse, but then turned to look at the mountain gate again, not moving for a long time.

Behind him came Wen Lianrong's voice.

"Senior Brother, don't look anymore."

"The matter has been explained clearly, Junior Brother Wei will guard the mountain gate well. If we die outside, Junior Brother Wei will pass on the sect inheritance for us."

"Let's go, don't delay the time."

Liu Chengxuan closed his eyes, forcibly moved his gaze away from the mountain gate, turned around, clamped his horse's belly, and set off on the road.

Wen Lianrong also followed on horseback.

The two traveled on the mountain road for a while, then arrived at the official road, but were speechless for a moment.

"Senior Brother... so many Jianghu people..."

Liu Chengxuan also swallowed his saliva secretly.

It was just that on this official road at this time, there were scattered groups of Jianghu people, at least a dozen of them, carrying swords and blades, rushing in the same direction as them.

The two looked at each other.

"This assembly of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, didn't it only invite the sect leaders of major sects? Why are there so many Jianghu people heading there on the official road hundreds of miles away from Mount Song?"

The two walked forward for a while, saw a familiar dart head of a dart agency nearby, and rode over to bow.

"Dart Head Wang."

The old dart head also returned the salute.

The three exchanged pleasantries for a while, and Liu Chengxuan took the opportunity to ask the question in his heart.

The old dart head laughed.

"The two of you are taking it for granted. The Jianghu has been surging for the past six months, and all Jianghu people have seen it. At this time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is suddenly holding such a grand event, and those of us who have not received an invitation naturally want to go and see the excitement."

"Of course, at first, everyone had some concerns about the fierce reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"But it is said that the Shaolin Abbot and the Wudang sect leader have already set off for Mount Song."

The two suddenly realized.

"So it turns out these two sects are guaranteeing it."

The old dart head laughed.

"Yes, and not only that. The Sword King Pavilion of Bashu, which first spread the concept of 'Heaven-Man' in the Jianghu, also set off directly, and they are probably almost at Mount Song by now."

"'Heaven-Man'! Jianghu people, who doesn't want to see the brilliance of this so-called Heaven-Man with their own eyes!"

"And—"

Speaking of this, the old dart head lowered his voice and whispered.

"The two of you also know about the assassination of the Emperor last year by the Moni Sect."

"Now, I guess many people are not thinking about watching the excitement, but want to see if this Heaven-Man can overturn the Embroidered Uniform Guard's stall."

"For the past six months, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has killed quite a few people in the Jianghu, and their methods are far more ruthless than in previous years. But whether this is killing chickens to warn monkeys or just bluffing, no one can say clearly."

"At the very least, until now, the Embroidered Uniform Guard has not been able to produce a Heaven-Man, and even a peak expert is missing."

"I heard some gossip. This time, the Embroidered Uniform Guard invited not only major righteous sects, but even evil sects were invited together. Those who are related, along with many demons in the Jianghu, are all heading toward Mount Song."

"It's not impossible that they want to suppress the prestige of the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

The two looked at each other and cupped their hands in unison.

"In that case, the two of us understand."

They prepared to turn and leave.

The old dart head behind them looked left and right, but called out in a low voice again.

"The two of you, wait."

The two looked back, and the old dart head leaned over mysteriously, beckoning them to get off their horses.

After the two got off their horses, they followed the old dart head into the crowd of the dart agency.

Under the cover of the crowd, the old dart head whispered.

"There was one more thing just now that I didn't tell the two of you."

"But, your sect leader helped me a lot in the past, and now his life or death is unknown, and your sect is all tied to the two of you, so I have to give a reminder."

Liu Chengxuan frowned and said in a low voice.

"Dart Head, please speak."

The old dart head whispered.

"Actually, it's a follow-up to what I said just now."

"I just said that many evil experts who didn't receive an invitation want to mix into this grand feast. Those who have relationships with the invited evil sects can naturally enter together."

"But, what about those demons who are not even willing to be approached by others in the evil path?"

Liu Chengxuan and Wen Lianrong's expressions changed.

"Did the Dart Head receive news?"

The old dart head nodded.

"I travel north and south in this business. Although my martial arts are insufficient and I can't get on the table, my news is still a bit more informed than ordinary sects."

"Some time ago, I ran into an eight-bag elder of the Beggar Sect, and he told me something."

The old dart head lowered his voice.

"He also has extensive friendships and has relationships with most sects in Huguang. A few days ago, he went to the Iron Palm Gang in Linjiang Prefecture on his way, wanting to go to Mount Song with them to attend the banquet."

"Guess what happened?"

The two looked at each other and shook their heads.

The old dart head lowered his voice.

"The Iron Palm Gang, wiped out!"

"What!?"

The two said in astonishment.

"The Iron Palm Gang has first-class experts sitting in the sect, and they were wiped out? Linjiang Prefecture is not far from our Huguang, how come there is no news at all?"

The old dart head whispered.

"Who's to say, but before that eight-bag elder came to the door, let alone us in Huguang, even the Jianghu people in Linjiang Prefecture didn't notice anything!"

"That day he knocked on the door for a long time, but there was no response at all, so he immediately became suspicious, climbed over the wall into the courtyard, but didn't see a single person."

"He felt something was wrong, so he searched carefully in the courtyard, finally found a secret room, pushed the door and went in, and was immediately so frightened that he didn't dare to move."

The old dart head said sinisterly.

"The entire Iron Palm Gang, over a hundred people, were all neatly stacked in this secret room like firewood, packed to the brim!"

Getting excited, the old dart head made a circle with his left thumb and index finger, and then five fingers of his right hand squeezed in, imitating the style of stacked corpses.

"Just like this, not a single gap."

"All dead!"

Both of them felt a chill throughout their bodies.

The old dart head sighed.

"From here on, it's all speculation between me and that Beggar Sect elder."

"To be able to do this, one must at least be a peak expert proficient in poisons. Who this person is, the two of you should have already guessed."

Liu Chengxuan took a deep breath.

"Tang Men defector, 'Corroding Heart Green Pouch', Tang He."

"Exactly."

The old dart head nodded.

"This person is a long-famous evil-path peak expert in the Jianghu, but I have never heard of her having any grudges with the Iron Palm Gang. Instead, she was hunted down by the Embroidered Uniform Guard several times before and was seriously injured."

"Moreover, this person is proficient in the art of disguise. The Iron Palm Gang is also on the invitation list of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"The two of you, understand now?"

"For us little minions who are just watching the excitement, the most dangerous thing is on the 15th of the eighth month, at Mount Song, where we might be dragged into the fight."

"And for sects like yours that have been invited by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the most dangerous thing is the road to Mount Song. Especially your sect, only two second-class experts are attending the banquet."

"I don't know how many lone evil experts want to borrow your faces and heads."

Liu Chengxuan's expression had already turned completely dark.

"But, disguise techniques shouldn't be that common, right?"

He said slowly.

The old dart head waved his hand.

"Disguise techniques and disguise methods are not the same thing. Techniques are hard to come by, but methods are everywhere. They don't need to be vivid and lifelike, as long as they look roughly similar and can mix into the banquet, that's enough."

"Moreover, dealing with the Embroidered Uniform Guard is no small matter. It's not impossible that these people have already colluded in secret, and it's not impossible that someone has a disguise technique in their hands."

"The two of you, be very careful on this road."

Liu Chengxuan's heart had already sunk to the bottom, but he still bowed deeply to the old dart head first.

"Many thanks!"

The old dart head's words were at great risk.

First, speaking these words to the two of them was already offending "Corroding Heart Green Pouch" Tang He;

Second, he actually couldn't be sure that the two people standing in front of him were the real ones.

After all, the Iron Palm Gang matter had been leaked, and Tang He would definitely look for the next target. The Huanhua Sword Sect, which was not far away and had insufficient strength, was actually very suitable.

Precisely because of this, the old dart head hesitated for a long time before calling the two of them over, and under the cover of his own team, dared to speak to them.

The old dart head waved his hand, signaling that there was no need to say more.

The two then turned and got on their horses to continue their journey.

After hearing the old dart head's words, both of them lifted their hearts. The long swords that had been hanging on the saddles were re-hung on their waists. Their left hands held the reins, their right hands never dared to leave the sword hilts, and they never dared to get too close to other Jianghu people on the road.

They traveled like this for fifty or sixty miles, but nothing happened.

The sky gradually darkened.

The two looked around, no Jianghu people followed, and there were no villages in front or behind.

Liu Chengxuan got off his horse, led the horse into the forest, traveled for a hundred feet, and saw a dilapidated house.

Judging by its shape, it looked like a temporary resting place for nearby hunters and woodcutters, not very orderly, broken and dilapidated, and the windows were not sealed.

There was a faint flickering firelight inside.

The two looked at each other.

"Leave?"

"Leave!"

The two turned around without hesitation and were about to leave.

But they didn't want to, as soon as their feet moved, they heard a light laugh from behind them.

"Two little cubs, quite vigilant."

"However, wanting to leave at this time, I'm afraid it's a bit late, right?"

In an instant, Liu Chengxuan and Wen Lianrong's hair stood on end.

The two turned around in unison and looked at the dilapidated house.

A man walked out from inside, with a thin and small build, an ugly face, and a broken sword hanging from his waist, swaying with his walking pace.

A pair of triangular eyes with hanging brows, with small pupils embedded in the large whites of the eyes, stared fixedly at the two.

Liu Chengxuan gritted his teeth and drew his sword.

"Broken Sword, Xu Bing."

The ugly man reached out and took off the broken sword, spun it in his hand, held it in reverse, and sneered.

"Recognize me?"

Liu Chengxuan gritted his teeth and said.

"Recognize your weapon. Are you waiting for us?"

"Of course."

"Why?"

"Naturally, to go to Mount Song."

Liu Chengxuan's expression sank.

"You are just a first-class expert, and you want to try the methods of the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Xu Bing laughed sinisterly.

"That, you don't need to worry about."

Liu Chengxuan gripped the sword hilt tightly.

This person is a famous evil-path expert, a top-tier figure among first-class experts.

What the old dart head told them in the morning was fulfilled in the evening.

With the martial arts of the two from the Huanhua Sword Sect, even if it were two against one, they would not be his match.

He made his final struggle.

"There are quite a few people who saw the two of us set off today. Even if you have a disguise technique, you are only one person and cannot impersonate both of us to attend the banquet."

"Moreover, you are first-class, and we are both second-class. If we really fight, although we are not your match, we can leave a few sword wounds on you. It's not impossible that you would be seriously injured."

"Is it really appropriate to choose us as a target?"

Xu Bing laughed wildly upon hearing this.

"Hahahaha——"

"Sure enough, still a fledgling! I've already arrived in front of you, and you're still thinking about persuading me to leave? Since I've been waiting for you here in advance, how could I not have figured out your situation!"

Xu Bing laughed coldly and said slowly.

"Who told you that I was the only one waiting for you here?"

Before the words fell.

Clang! ——

Behind Liu Chengxuan, a sword sound came.

This sound, he couldn't be more familiar with.

Wen Lianrong had drawn her sword and was pressing tightly against his back.

This meant that behind him, there was another enemy.

"Who is it?"

Liu Chengxuan did not look back, but stared fixedly at Xu Bing, not moving his gaze.

"One-Foot Red, Lu Yu."

Wen Lianrong's answer came from behind.

Liu Chengxuan let out a long breath and actually laughed.

"Junior Sister, it seems that the two of us are going to die here today."

"Yes."

"I only became the sect leader for one day."

Wen Lianrong also laughed lightly.

"Yes, and I haven't even been the sect leader's wife for a day, isn't that even more of a loss?"

Liu Chengxuan laughed.

"I'll try harder in the next life."

"Good."

Wen Lianrong answered.

The two already understood that there was no way they could survive.

Opposite them were two first-class experts.

Xu Bing, a master of blade techniques, that broken sword was broken by a peak expert back then. But he didn't change his sword, instead using this broken sword to walk the Jianghu, finally creating a brilliant broken-blade technique, and his attainments in blade technique can be seen.

Lu Yu, a master of grappling, who likes to tear open the opponent's neck, letting blood spray out along the artery, as high as several feet, hence the name "One-Foot Red."

These two are both evil-path.

Liu Chengxuan gripped his sword tightly.

Before even leaving Changde Prefecture, he and his junior sister were about to die.

Only yesterday did he make up his mind to look after the Huanhua Sword Sect for his master, and today he was about to break his word.

However—even if I die, I must leave a few sword wounds on the two of you!

Liu Chengxuan slowly raised his sword to his chest.

Even if I only served as sect leader for one day, even if no one sees it, I will not let the Huanhua Sword Sect lose its reputation!

In an instant—

"Watch the sword!"

Liu Chengxuan shouted and was about to raise his sword to kill Xu Bing.

"Holy crap."

Suddenly, a cry of surprise came from one side, directly interrupting Liu Chengxuan's generous heart to die.

He turned to look.

I saw a young man emerge from the dense forest, looking to be in his twenties, with a clear and handsome appearance, and luxurious clothing, who should be a rich young master. It's just that his face was faintly pale, as if he were a bit kidney-deficient.

He was staring blankly at the few people, as if he had been frightened and stunned.

Liu Chengxuan secretly thought it was bad and hurriedly opened his mouth to say.

"This young master, these two are Jianghu bandits with countless lives in their hands. Leave quickly, we will block them for you!"

After saying this, he was about to step forward to fight with Xu Bing.

But he heard Xu Bing sneer.

"Whoever sees it must die! You can't block anything!"

Before the words fell, he had already bypassed Liu Chengxuan and rushed straight at the young master.

And the young master seemed to have been frightened silly, standing in place without moving, just watching Xu Bing's broken sword get closer and closer to his neck.

"It's over."

Liu Chengxuan hurriedly chased after him, but it was too late.

He couldn't bear to see this young man die innocently, so he closed his eyes.

Suddenly, several angry curses from Xu Bing came from the front!

"Your mother! Body-fitting soft armor!"

"Beast! Using lime powder!"

"Holy crap! Tang Men pill poison!?"

Thud—

When Liu Chengxuan opened his eyes again, Xu Bing had already fallen to the ground, bleeding from his seven orifices, his whole body twitching.

And the young master stood with his hands in his sleeves, looking at Lu Yu with a smile.

"Yo, Miss Lu."

He walked slowly around Xu Bing's corpse and walked toward Lu Yu.

"Not coming to silence me?"

"Oh right, there's one more thing, I forgot to ask before killing, fortunately you didn't come together, otherwise I really wouldn't have the antidote."

He smiled kindly.

"Who is it that instructed you to kill those attending the banquet?"

(End of chapter)