"Do you know for whom I skinned that entire family back then?"

As soon as these words came out, the aura around Yan Zheng suddenly changed. Gone was the lifeless demeanor from before, replaced by a murderous aura so intense it seemed on the verge of exploding out of control.

Despite his wounded body, he somehow found the strength. Before Yan Qing could react, Yan Zheng stepped onto the edge of the giant sword and leapt up, the Soul-Reaping Whip cracking through the air.

Yan Zheng focused his frenzied killing intent and charged like a falcon towards the Corpse-Raising Team that was supposed to protect him, looking as if he was going to recklessly open a gap in their formation. Unfortunately, before the whip technique could be completed, Chai Xin's Dragonfly Feathers sliced through the air, disrupting the whip's momentum.

The members of the Corpse-Raising Team stood silently around like actual corpses, not moving an inch.

"Oh my, you still care about that? Back then you cried and told your master that you were willing to do anything as long as you could get revenge. Now for the sake of your flesh and blood, you want to betray the Sect?"

Chai Xin still didn't take Yan Zheng seriously. The Dragonfly Feathers flashed a couple times as the blade scraped across the barbed whip, making a grating sound that gave people goosebumps.

"Shut up."

Chai Xin acted like he didn't hear. "If you're going to collude with outsiders, at least pick the right ones. Even allying with Cutsleeve Kong would be better. I heard Ku Mountain Sect killed the real Elder Huo to infiltrate... You should replace collaborators who show such contempt for the Sect."

His all-out attack failed. Dragging his wounded body, Yan Zheng spun around and returned behind the Compassion Stone Sword, his expression a bit distorted. The Soul-Reaping Whip sensed his killing intent and the jet-black whip trembled slightly.

They couldn't kill Chai Xin. The gap in experience and strength created a chasm that couldn't be crossed with just courage. But as long as the Deity Summoning Formation activated while Chai Xin and his trusted subordinates were still on the mountain...

Yan Zheng locked his eyes on Chai Xin and slowly straightened his back.

"If the Sect is ruined by outsiders, who will help you take revenge against Taiheng? Who will investigate information on your enemies for you?" Chai Xin was unaware of the killing formation approaching and continued his "heartfelt" speech.

Yan Zheng: "Those who kill will be killed in turn. I'll pay my price, you pay yours."

"Enough, stop making a scene." Chai Xin snorted a laugh. "Your price? I haven't seen you pay any price. Rather, your master gave you lodging, taught you martial arts. You've reaped all the benefits... Think more about how your parents died. You haven't even avenged their blood feud, don't imitate others fighting for power and wealth."

Upon hearing this, Yan Zheng's murderous aura suddenly solidified.

He stared at Chai Xin with a pair of blood-red eyes. The resentment and anger from before were all contained within an unsightly smile. Interactions between master and disciple in demonic sects were not as polite as righteous sects. But the tone Yan Zheng used now was more fitting for facing an "enemy" than a "master".

"Blood feud not avenged?"

Yan Zheng's voice was hoarse, his smile revealing a hint of despair.

"The 'blood feud' you speak of, I finished avenging six years ago. In the end, you nearly listed out all the high-ranking members of Taiheng Sect as my list of enemies. Over these years, using the excuse of seeking vengeance for the 'Yan family descendants', how many demons and monsters have you recruited? How many unrelated people have you brutally killed?"

"This blade called a 'disciple', is it handy to use?"

By the end, his voice nearly carried the taste of blood.

However, Chai Xin just paused slightly before clicking his tongue. "What was I thinking, so it was just this matter. I merely borrowed your name to kill a couple people... Back then, how magnificent was the Sect Leader. Whether old, young, sick or crippled, anyone he disliked would be killed. How can you be so petty!"

"It's not the first day the Ling Sect has killed unrelated people, haven't you heard? To have the mighty demonic sect do work for you for free, where in the world would you find such a good deal?"

Right after, the old man seemed to think of something and laughed shrilly. "If you really don't want to be used by the Sect, you could have found a place to end your own life after avenging the blood feud. My good disciple, why don't you go die?"

He said this with incomparable arrogance, as if certain he had Yan Zheng by the throat. Not far away, the Vermilion Tower appeared faintly in the mist. Although it only had a faint shadow, in Yan Zheng's eyes, it was like a thorn deeply embedded in a wound.

"Six years ago, I indeed thought that way and acted that way."

Yan Zheng didn't react with the embarrassed anger of having his cowardice exposed as Chai Xin anticipated. He merely lifted his eyelids, a strange blankness in his expression. Fresh blood flowed down his tattered red robes, pooling into a small puddle on the stone slabs, emitting a faint metallic stench.

"Perhaps deeming my burial items too meager, the Heavens disagreed and didn't let me die. These six years, I've been accumulating my own burial items... As for the matter of blood feud, your disciple has something to say."

Yan Zheng looked at Chai Xin a few steps away, his voice getting softer and softer.

Compared to eight years ago, Chai Xin's appearance had hardly changed. For an old man, eight years passed in the blink of an eye. But for Yan Zheng, it was a long time that could transform a youth into an adult.

When he first met Chai Xin, he was soaked in the blood of others. Now he was soaked in his own blood - a fitting beginning and end. The memories of the past clung to him like a nightmare in broad daylight once again.

His original name wasn't Yan Zheng. To avoid pursuit and killing, his ancestors had changed their surname to "Yu".

His father Yu Chunhui was born with a pair of ghost eyes. To protect his parents, wife and children, he blinded his own eyes early on and became a blind doctor. Yu Chunhui's medical skills were superb. The family bought a property near Yi City and lived a fulfilling life.

His father concocted medicines while his mother did intricate carvings. They even made a pair of "demon skin soft lenses" to conceal his eye color, allowing their son to play in the sunlight like a normal child. His father was gentle, his mother intelligent. The family made a living by treating illnesses and saving lives. Yan Zheng originally thought there couldn't be a more peaceful life in the world.

Until eight years ago, when his father's old friend fell ill.

That old friend was a jade craftsman surnamed Wu who originally had a sizable income. But then illness struck like a landslide, turning him into a bottomless pit devouring money. The Wu family had elderly and young to support, all relying on the jade craftsman. Seeing their pillar about to collapse, the family quickly sold their house and property, to the point of nearly having to sell their children.

[... It just so happens he's a jade craftsman. Why don't we give him our family heirloom jade pendant and let him cut off a portion to sell? That jade is of excellent quality. Made into a thumb ring, it can sell for two to three hundred taels of silver, enough for his medical treatment.]

At that time, his parents specially avoided him and went to the back courtyard to discuss. Yan Zheng still quietly followed and overheard everything clearly. His father's words were as gentle as always, and he remembered every word with utmost clarity.

His mother hesitated a bit: "Husband, are you sure that jade is okay? Didn't they say it might be from Yan... Alas, you said before we should hide it well and only take it out as a last resort in desperate times."

Yu Chunhui replied: "Demon Lord Yan has been dead for a hundred years. Not to mention ordinary people don't know about these kinds of objects. This time we'll have Old Wu split and modify it, so we can rest assured keeping it at home in the future. Our two families have had over a decade of friendship. Old Wu has watched Ah Zheng grow up all along. We really can't just watch his family be ruined."

His mother was silent for a while, then sighed.

"Alright then. His pair of chubby and cute children, he's always doted on them. It would be a pity to sell them off..."

His parents had always been too soft-hearted, to the point of near foolishness. Yan Zheng had thought countless times, if only his father had been a bit more hard-hearted, a bit more cautious, inheriting even a thousandth of Yan Budu's selfishness, would his parents still be here?

When Craftsman Wu got the jade pendant, he thanked them profusely, nearly kowtowing to Yu Chunhui despite his illness. Unfortunately, unbeknownst to Yu Chunhui, this old friend's distant relative was a subordinate of Taiheng, and had long been very familiar with the Yan family heirlooms that had been lost.

Especially the jade pieces.

At that time, Yan Zheng didn't think too much of it. How could his omnipotent parents be wrong? Besides, Uncle Wu had always been kind and amiable. Whenever they met, he would give Yan Zheng candied fruit, and had never even said half a harsh word to him.

This was an act of righteousness and loyalty, nothing to nitpick about.

However, in the end, all Yan Zheng got was a lament of "Run quickly, don't look back".

But even without looking back, he still saw the flash of Taiheng's long sword, and remembered the thud of his parents' bodies hitting the ground.

Without his father concocting medicinal soups, Yan Zheng's eye lenses quickly withered and shriveled, unable to conceal his ghost eyes. Yan Zheng could only use tattered cloth strips to blindfold himself as he staggered and wandered the streets.

The Wu family of craftsmen thus became prosperous. The whole family moved out of the destitute alleys into a spacious and clean large courtyard. Their pair of children wore silk padded jackets, even plumper and fairer than before.

The neighbors called Craftsman Wu, who didn't fear demons, a "righteous citizen".

What a righteous citizen indeed.

Yan Zheng stole a knife and snuck into the Wu residence on a dark and windy night. Upon seeing those eyes, the usually kind face of "Uncle Wu" was full of terror.

"Ah Zheng, Uncle deserves to die. Uncle was muddleheaded for a moment, just a moment!"

Craftsman Wu stammered. Yan Zheng's knife tip cut a line of blood on his neck, nearly making him pee his pants.

"A-And you have to understand, the jade ring was only worth two to three hundred taels of silver, but the clues to the Yan family's descendants were... were worth three thousand taels. Uncle had no choice, Uncle also did it for the family... Y-You put down the knife first. Uncle will kneel and apologize to you, okay?"

"Ah Zheng, your little brother and sister are still waiting for Uncle to go home!"

The craftsman looked at those blazing ghost eyes, scared out of his wits with snot and tears streaming down his face. Hearing this person mention the two children, Yan Zheng's hand trembled slightly. As a result, Craftsman Wu took the chance to grab his wrist, looking like he was about to call for help at any moment.

Yan Zheng's back exploded with chills as cold sweat and hot tears nearly flowed out at the same time. He used all his strength to viciously stab the blade into Craftsman Wu's neck. The next instant, scalding blood sprayed all over his face. Craftsman Wu's eyes went wide as he quickly went silent.

The acupoint and medical knowledge his father had taught him in the past became the most suitable killing techniques. A person's neck was harder than he imagined, with more blood than he imagined. The gasping breaths before death were also more raspy and unpleasant than he imagined.

Just for the sake of Craftsman Wu's life, his parents were brought to their doom. And in less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick, he had easily taken it away.

An endless sense of absurdity and emptiness swept over him. Yan Zheng nearly couldn't hold the knife steady. There was still one left. Yan Zheng thought in a daze that he had to survive and find the Taiheng disciple who killed his parents that day...

"Not bad killing intent for a first timer. You have some talent, just too foolish. Paired with those eyes, it's really a waste."

A coarse and unpleasant voice sounded. Yan Zheng raised his head and saw a one-eyed old man who looked like a dried radish on the roof of the Wu family home. With hands still covered in sticky blood, Yan Zheng's soul was flying outside his shell in disorder. Where would he have the mind to pay attention to some old man?

"How old are you?" The old man leaped down, blocking his way.

"Thirteen." Actually not quite, but thinking of how his family used to celebrate his birthday together, Yan Zheng felt another wave of nausea in his stomach.

"A bit old, but it'll do. Come with me. This Venerable guarantees you'll have food and clothes, and will also help you take revenge."

Yan Zheng turned to leave. Chai Xin chuckled and picked him up like a little chick: "You little brat, how can you not appreciate a good deal? If this Venerable hadn't made a move, with the huge ruckus you caused, the family would have heard long ago! You killed someone, but then lose your own life too. Leaving an enemy out there, how could your parents rest in peace?"

Yan Zheng stopped struggling. He blankly opened his eyes wide and saw the dark red bloodstains on the old man's hands. He shifted his gaze and saw a row of porcelain plates deep in the courtyard. He nearly vomited on the spot.

Craftsman Wu's pair of children were indeed dead. The round heads of the two children were placed in the center of large porcelain plates, cushioned by thinly sliced bodies, eyes still open in terror. Further back were the Wu family elders and womenfolk, each corpse plated exquisitely with a pungent stench.

Yan Zheng's soul instantly flew away. For a moment he couldn't figure out if him killing Craftsman Wu at the door was cruel or, in a sense, merciful.

"Killing just one isn't satisfying. This is how the Ling Sect takes revenge. Yu Zheng, I know all about your situation - a little beggar boy like you going against Taiheng is a pipe dream. Come, follow this Venerable back to the Divine Sect. This Venerable will be your master and take good care of you."

Chai Xin said with a grin, the carrot finished, he took out a stick again.

"Anyway, you can't escape being implicated in today's events. With the Wu family ending up in such a miserable state, the authorities and Taiheng will definitely do their utmost to capture you, this 'wicked spawn'. What will you do? Why don't you let this Venerable break your legs and watch you try to flee as a cripple?"

With both threats and enticements, the young Yan Zheng, relying on that raging hatred, finally compromised.

At that time, he was still young and thought that every path in this world could be a path of return.

"The 'Zheng' in the name your parents gave you doesn't mean to fight, but to live up to expectations. Ah Zheng, you must live up to expectations and become the best doctor in Yi City."

...But what about your ending?

He was no longer Yu Chunhui's son Yu Zheng, just Yan Budu's descendant Yan Zheng.

Chai Xin made use of his ghost eyes to recruit dangerous individuals into the Ling Sect, seizing quite a bit of territory from Red Hook and Taiheng. Yan Zheng closed his eyes, plugged his ears, and focused on practicing martial arts, relentlessly investigating the person who killed his parents back then.

In any case, even without him, the Ling Sect would still go around killing people everywhere. Hatred was the best anesthetic. Yan Zheng placed conscience and hatred on two ends of a scale, barely maintaining a balance.

His revenge was justified, he had no other choice.

Chai Xin was true to his word, and "helped" him quite a bit. The old man set one target after another for him, and after each target died, Chai Xin would always say lightly, "This master specifically interrogated them, it's not this person, no matter, let's continue."

This kind of life continued for two years. When Yan Zheng turned fifteen, a member of the Taiheng Sect quietly sought him out.

The person was gaunt in appearance and looked quite pained. Yan Zheng originally thought this person wanted to join the Ling Sect, but who knew that as soon as he opened his mouth, the words that came out nearly froze Yan Zheng.

"It was I who killed your parents."

The Taiheng Sect member knelt before Yan Zheng, his forehead suddenly slamming into the stone slab, leaving faint traces of blood.

"After killing the two that day, quite a few people came to Taiheng Sect to reason with them. They said the couple from the Yu family were charitable and kind, and truly were not wicked people... Today's evil fruits in the martial world were entirely brought about by me. I'm sorry."

What was he saying? Yan Zheng thought in a daze, what is this?

"Back then, when Craftsman Wu presented the Yan Budu jade pendant to Taiheng, the scouts who returned also fanned the flames, saying the Yu family committed many evil deeds, which happened to match the words from the Wu family. I was anxious to establish merit, and didn't investigate thoroughly before..."

Is this a confession? A disciple of an orthodox sect, admitting fault to him, the leader of a demonic sect? This must be a scheme, the ones who killed his parents must have had ulterior motives and been extremely wicked.

"People of the Yan family, kill on sight." Yan Zheng wrapped his whip around the person's neck and said softly. "The rules of Taiheng Sect don't mention good and evil, you don't need to put on such a show of remorse."

This person couldn't possibly think that by saying a few soft words, he would spare his life, right?

With the life of his enemy in his hands, Yan Zheng's blood nearly all rushed to his head, and his breathing also quickened. Facing imminent death, this person should reveal his true ugly nature. He must strike when this person is at his most fearful, repaying tooth for tooth, letting his enemy experience the feeling of losing everything.

"The rules are dead, people are alive." That person didn't struggle, he only raised his eyes, which held no light. "Pushing the evil one has done onto 'this is how the sect is' can fool the world, but not oneself."

Yan Zheng's heart suddenly contracted, spasming with a sharp pain.

He composed himself and forced a cold laugh: "Anyone can preach. Even if you are truly repentant, I will not let you off."

"The debt of blood must be paid, this one asks for nothing more."

Yan Zheng's hand trembled. He clenched his teeth, averted his gaze, and suddenly tightened the long whip in his hand.

With a crisp crack, the person's neck snapped and the corpse heavily crashed to the ground. A simple life, even cleaner and more straightforward than when he killed Craftsman Wu. But Yan Zheng felt no joy at all, instead his heart felt extremely stifled.

Rather than getting revenge, it was more like he fulfilled that person's wish.

His enemy was not lying, that accumulated pain and guilt day after day did not seem false. Yan Zheng was very familiar with it. Whenever he heard the elders boasting about their torture and killing methods, comparing the number of lives on their hands, he would look at the bronze mirror and see the same emotions in his own eyes.

He originally thought he would get used to it, but who knew the sense of guilt would increase day by day. Now that the target of his hatred had suddenly disappeared, the scales in his heart teetered on the verge of collapse. The pain suppressed for two years broke through the earth, suffocating him until he could not breathe.

Could it be that everything he had done so far for the sake of revenge had no meaning at all?

Yan Zheng kept his wits about him. He secretly disposed of the corpse and mixed that person's name into the investigation list, saying he would personally go investigate. However, Chai Xin only glanced at him.

After a few days, the old man pretentiously said: "This master has investigated in detail, those people have no connection to your parents."

"Good disciple, why don't you take a look at this old dog elder. Around the time your family died, he happened to be near Yi City. Back then when they found the surviving descendant of the Yan family, Taiheng only offered a reward of one thousand taels of silver. The extra two thousand taels was a private addition, ordinary people can't afford it, it must have been additionally rewarded by this old thing..."

Yan Zheng's heart jumped.

Near Yi City... When he planned to kill Craftsman Wu, Chai Xin was also near Yi City. Yi City is not close to Zongwu Mountain, and as the esteemed sect leader, how did Chai Xin happen to be wandering around Yi City and even set things up in advance waiting for him? He hid very well after his parents were killed, even Taiheng couldn't find him, yet the Ling Sect discovered his plan for revenge?

Something wasn't right.

Could it be that the "Taiheng scout" who fanned the flames according to his enemy was not actually from Taiheng? Behind his sea of blood and deep hatred, it seemed someone else had been pushing the waves and lending a hand. In that case, the one who benefited the most from killing his upright parents and taking the orphan filled with hatred was...

That night, Yan Zheng secretly went to look through the account books of the Vermilion Tower without telling anyone.

From that day on, the scales in Yan Zheng's heart completely toppled over and shattered on the ground.

Now looking at the smug Chai Xin in front of him, Yan Zheng only felt an indescribable disgust: "Back then, Master really made a good calculation - on one hand giving Craftsman Wu extra reward money, on the other confusing Taiheng Sect's perception. As soon as my parents died, you got a ghost-eyed puppet filled with hatred for Taiheng."

"Everything only cost two thousand taels of silver, quite a bargain. Fortunately, I checked the account books when I was fifteen, you should have destroyed the record of those two thousand taels."

Unfortunately, just as Yan Zheng expected, Chai Xin's conscience had long rotted away completely. After hearing everything, Chai Xin didn't show the slightest guilt.

Seeing Yan Zheng's angry reaction, he instead clapped his hands and laughed: "Oh my, my disciple is even more capable than I thought. If you had said so earlier, this master wouldn't have put on an act, acting is quite tiring."

"You little brat knew early on, but you couldn't bear to give up this sect leader's chair. This master let you sit in it for six years, was it comfortable? Sect Leader Yan, pushing all the blame onto this master, you'll be squeaky clean and not count as an evil person?"

Having said that, Chai Xin turned to Yan Qing with great interest: "Kid, you heard it too. This is just a rotten debt, the people the Ling Sect killed these years still have to be recorded on my beloved disciple's head-"

Yan Qing subconsciously shook his head.

Not to mention the Buddhist sayings carved by Master Kongshi, the Compassion Stone Sword was also incomparably heavy. Yan Qing had lost too much blood, his hands and feet felt waves of cold weakness, just gripping the stone sword required all his strength. Chai Xin's voice seemed to be separated by a thick layer of water, he could only vaguely hear it unclearly.

But he could see Yan Zheng's reaction beside him very clearly. Yan Zheng's originally pale face turned a few shades whiter, and the hatred on his face grew heavier.

But Yan Qing only felt that Chai Xin's rambling chatter was annoyingly loud. He hadn't fallen yet, so this battle wasn't over... He hadn't lost yet.

Was Yan Zheng an evil person under the orthodox concept? Did it matter? He had personally witnessed Yan Zheng's previous cooperation with that Yu Zikuan. At this moment, Yan Zheng wanted to uproot the Ling Sect, and he only needed to assist him.

"Elder Chai."

"This is how the Demon Sect has always operated. If you're deceived, you can only blame your own lack of brains. The strong preying on the weak has been the rule for a hundred years..."

"Elder Chai," Yan Qing politely interrupted him again.

"Hm? Speak."

Yan Qing took a deep breath, not looking at Yan Zheng beside him. He moved his sore wrists, his face displaying an exceptionally simple smile, his tone mixed with ample confusion -

"Pardon me, but they say nine out of ten words from the Demon Sect are lies, and the remaining one is biased. Elder, you keep saying 'those deceived deserve it'... Do you actually expect me to believe you, or do you hope I won't believe you?"

He wasn't strong enough yet, at least not strong enough to be distracted by this nonsense and let his mind wander during a fierce battle. Perhaps it was because his mind had dulled, or just his temperament. With the dispersal of the myriad worries and fears, Yan Qing instead felt a nameless confidence arise.

Chai Xin's mouth opened and closed, in Yan Qing's eyes it was all just like Lord Bai munching on vegetables. Just now, Chai Xin had spoken for a long time with a malicious smile, his voice shrill, but Yan Qing hadn't heard a single word.

Old Man Chai was subtly choked up for a moment, and could only pretend he hadn't heard: "You also heard what my disciple said just now. This person is an undeniable member of the Ling Sect. If you don't want to aid a tyrant in his evil deeds, you'd best obediently give up..."

"Didn't hear it," Yan Qing said calmly.

Chai Xin: "...?"

Yan Qing: "He's also a member of the Demon Sect, why should I go out of my way to believe someone? We're in a life-or-death struggle, not a court of law."

It turned out while they had been pouring out their bitter grievances, this Ku Mountain Sect member had been openly spacing out the whole time, not taking in a single word.

Even Yan Zheng turned his head, a trace of doubt flashing across his face - he had originally thought this person was upright and honest, but now looking at him, he was still ultimately a descendant of the Yan family after all. Yan Qing's ghost eyes were half-closed as he calmly looked at Chai Xin a few steps away. His movements were as steady as ever, but his aura contained a bit of unfamiliar arrogance.

That arrogance mixed with his gentle demeanor was especially infuriating. Compared to him, the straightforward Yan Zheng seemed much more likable.

"That bald donkey Kongshi's sword is nothing special, only recognizing petty men and unable to distinguish hypocrites. Since you didn't hear, I'll..."

"Senior, forgive this junior's dullness. Even if I agree Yan Zheng is an evil man, then what? ...Will Senior readily let me go? Or does Senior feel his own evil is more approachable, making this junior feel more drawn to it?"

Chai Xin was at a loss for words.

Yan Qing's words weren't forceful, but they prevailed in being neither servile nor overbearing, his tone serious, and his sarcasm especially potent. Summarized like this by him, Chai Xin really seemed like an idiot spouting nonsense.

What was with this kid, how did he suddenly start sarcastically mocking people?

Seeing Chai Xin not respond, Yan Qing coughed up some blood and smiled again: "Since Senior has no other teachings, then this junior will continue to only discuss actions and not intentions."

Yan Zheng swung his Soul-Reaping Whip, unable to hold back a laugh.

"Good, very good, indeed worthy of being this seat's blood-related brother." He propped up his swaying body. "Yan Qing, he doesn't dare take our lives. Why not risk it all?"

If he could have such a battle before dying, he could also die content.

Having someone unexpectedly add to his frustration, Chai Xin's face flushed purple. He gave up a bit on the Jade Bell Sword Technique, deciding to quickly end things: "Everyone attack! It's fine to be a bit ruthless, just leave them a breath of air!"

"...Then I guess we continue fighting."

Yan Qing let out a long breath, his tone steady.

"Then before we fight, allow this junior to express some thanks first. If it weren't for you two creating a tangled mess before me, perhaps I would still be thinking about this and that."

Things like right and wrong, cause and effect, weighing pros and cons, and the gap in strength. Faced with a complex truth ahead and a deep abyss behind, Yan Qing suddenly felt enlightened.

Yan Zheng had been raised under Chai Xin's control, restricted in every way. They had only held out until now relying on the first two forms of the Jade Bell Sword Technique. The third form with the greatest power, Yan Qing had never successfully used before.

In his current state of mind, he suddenly wanted to give it a try.

The third form was called "Cleaving Gold and Stone". Only utmost sincerity could cleave gold and stone. If he was cautious and hesitant like before, his heart filled with extremely complex emotions, how could he speak of utmost sincerity?

In the extreme of utmost sincerity, one simply gives their own life to save others. In that instant, would righteous men really think so much?

They would only see what was before their eyes and exert all their strength. Matters behind them could be discussed later.

The Compassion Stone Sword in his hand seemed to lighten again. Yan Qing closed his eyes. He didn't think about the heavy difference in strength with the master and disciple of Ku Mountain Sect, nor did he think about the impact and consequences of winning or losing this battle. He simply emptied his mind, leaving only the demonstration by Yin Ci that day.

The third form of the Jade Bell Sword Technique, Cleaving Gold and Stone.

A technique that harms the enemy at great cost to oneself, only to be used as a last resort. Now at this final juncture, the more he used it, the more fluid and relaxed he became.

The sword path was upright, stirring up gusts of vital energy. The approaching Corpse-Raising Team had barely touched the sword wind before being blown away by the substantial sword technique.

Although the set of sword moves seemed a bit unpolished, the sword intent within was even purer and more gentle than Yin Ci's demonstration. Chai Xin, seeing the situation was unfavorable, tried to stop the giant sword with his Dragonfly Feathers. But the Soul-Reaping Whip was soft and light, while the Compassion Stone Sword was extremely heavy. The pair of thin daggers were like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, nearly breaking.

This sword path actually faintly exuded the might of Jianchen Temple, perfectly countering Chai Xin's techniques. Where it was lacking, Yan Zheng made up for it all. The two's techniques complemented each other, actually not allowing a single Ling Sect member to approach.

Even Chai Xin was caught by the Soul-Reaping Whip, unable to dodge in time, and had his forearm severed by the Compassion Stone Sword.

Old Man Chai retracted his Dragonfly Feathers with one hand, frantically saying: "Putting on an act! This sword move consumes a lot and lacks killing intent. I don't believe a brat like you can keep it up. When you stop, this old man will slice off that arm of yours..."

Halfway through his words, he suddenly widened his eyes.

The tip of a bright dagger emerged from his chest, still coated with a thin layer of fresh blood. Chai Xin spat out a mouthful of blood, his shocked gasps almost horrified, a gurgling sound coming from his throat.

It was an assassin, an extremely skilled one. Otherwise, how could they have broken through the Corpse-Raising Team and approached without a sound? But where did this assassin come from? This clearly wasn't the style of the orthodox sects...

"Slice what?" That assassin's voice was sweet and steady. "Slice who?"

Chai Xin fearfully turned his head, only to see a pair of smiling willow-leaf eyes. That person had a teardrop mole at the corner of their eye, a pair of eyes brimming with evil charm.

Having said that, the person swiftly withdrew the short blade in his hand and nimbly retreated a few steps. The members of the Corpse-Raising Team, who had just been heavily injured by the sword technique, had not yet been able to react when their throats were cut cleanly and neatly.

However, this person was outnumbered, and there were still a few who slipped through the net and tried to make a desperate attack - before they could get close, they were shot through the heart by arrows, one after another.

In an instant, blood spattered everywhere.

The remnants of the Ling Sect were like wheat after a storm, and in less than half a cup of tea, the two reinforcements had harvested them all.

After finishing off each corpse with a knife, Su Si neatly put away his flesh-cutting knife. Yu Zikuan also leaped down from the high ground, with a long bow on his back, his eyes quickly scanning over Yan Zheng's injuries.

"San-zi, I just went to send a message, how did you get yourself into such a state." Su Si wrinkled his nose. "It's terrible, the sect leader's medicine box is going to be emptied by you again, will you have any of your monthly allowance left this month?"

Yan Qing's face turned pale, and he trembled as he supported his body with his sword. The heroic spirit he had mustered up earlier instantly deflated. "But... but I learned the third move of the Jade Bell Sword Technique..."

His voice grew smaller and smaller, and he probably felt that with the sect leader's thick skin, he probably wouldn't care about this little progress. Moreover, he hadn't come as planned and hadn't gone down the mountain to meet up until now.

The more Yan Qing thought about it, the more he felt that the future was bleak, so he could only change the subject, "Where's Lord Bai?"

Su Si propped up one of Yan Qing's arms and supported him, "That stupid goose was caught by the people from the Red Hook Sect, but they will treat it well with good food and drink. Compared to the stolen goose, your situation here is more pressing. Anyway, I know the habits of the Red Hook Sect, if we can steal it once, we can steal it a second time."

"Didn't you say you ran into Lord Bai by chance..."

"Don't worry about such trivial matters." Su Si said solemnly, instantly changing the subject. "Brother Yu, I'll take him down the mountain first. You should also hurry up on your side - that Deity Summoning Formation is no ordinary formation, Shen Zhu may not be able to grasp the timing accurately."

Yu Zikuan didn't go to support Yan Zheng, he only replied with a muffled "hmm". The relaxed expression on Yan Zheng's face also disappeared, and he shook his head at Yan Qing, making a gesture of farewell.

Yan Qing was dizzy and his vision was blurry, and he still had to hold the Compassion Stone Sword with one hand, so he really couldn't think too much. He nodded to Yan Zheng, then hurriedly turned to Su Si, "You took care of the people from the Red Hook Sect? What was their reaction when they found out we found the key?"

The Red Hook Sect was not the Ling Sect, they were experts in finding things and had been guarding here for quite some time. It was hard to say whether the lie that Shi Jingzhi had made up in the urgency of the moment would be seen through by someone with knowledge.

"Oh, that's not the message I sent." Su Si smiled with particular delight, "I fabricated a more wonderful 'secret letter', not only will they withdraw quickly, but they also won't cause trouble for us at the foot of the mountain."

"What 'secret letter'?"

Su Si gave a cold laugh, "I told them that Dark Blood Witch had died and told them to hurry back to attend the funeral."

Yan Qing: "..."

He always felt that after this battle on Mount Zongwu, they had truly and thoroughly offended the Red Hook Sect to death. He sincerely prayed that Sect Leader Shi and Senior Brother Yin would not slaughter Su Si.

Author's Note:

Su Si (whispering like a panda): Look at the secret letter, your sect leader is dead, hehe.

Red Hook Sect: Wuwu!!!!!

Su Sigou, really isn't a good thing.

Sect Leader Shi: Throw him away then.

Devil Head Yin: Mm, throw him away.