Dreaming for 10,000 years

Chapter 384 Old accounts
The winds of change in the martial arts world always shift faster than the clouds in the mountains.

In just one year, the name of the "New Huashan Sword Sect" spread like wildfire throughout the martial arts world. Although this group acted strangely, they were upright and honest, specializing in robbing the rich to help the poor, punishing the wicked and eliminating evil. They even traveled thousands of miles for a complete stranger, causing a great uproar in the martial arts world.

What's even more astonishing is that this group of people were using the long-lost Huashan Sword Sect's ultimate technique!

The one who caused the biggest sensation in the martial arts world was the white-haired old man who called himself "the number one swordsman in the world".

"The number one swordsman in the world? What arrogance!"

In teahouses and taverns, there are always young, inexperienced martial arts practitioners who slam their fists on the table and shout. But whenever an older generation of martial arts masters murmurs, "That one is Feng Qingyang," the entire tavern suddenly becomes so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

At the summit of Mount Song, Zuo Lengchan rubbed the latest intelligence report, his icy inner energy unconsciously condensing into frost in his palm. Outside the window, spring rain pattered, conveniently masking the crisp sound of him crushing a teacup.

He stared at the glaring name on the letter, "Feng Qingyang," "and of all times, at this very moment."

The plan to unite the Five Sacred Mountains is already like a fully drawn bowstring; how can it be ruined by an old fellow who has disappeared for thirty years?
As the spring rain gradually subsided, Zuo Lengchan suddenly let out a cold laugh. So what if he truly is a reborn Sword Saint?

The merger of the five sects is an inevitable trend, and Shaolin and Wudang have already tacitly agreed. Why should we be afraid of adding one more old and frail person?
"Sect Leader!" a disciple rushed in, flustered. "An invitation from the New Huashan Sword Sect dated March 15th!"

"I understand." Zuo Lengchan interrupted with a flick of his sleeve, causing the ice crystals on the window frame to fall in a flurry.

It will come eventually.

The 15th day of the third lunar month, the Fengchan Terrace on Mount Song!

As dawn broke, a thin mist swirled around the summit of Mount Song. Dewdrops clung to the branches of the pines and cypresses surrounding the Fengchan Terrace, reflecting a rainbow of colors in the morning sun. The banners of the Five Sacred Mountains Sword Sects fluttered in the morning breeze, their gold embroidery shimmering brilliantly.

Master Fangzheng of Shaolin Temple walked slowly, holding a nine-ringed staff, the copper rings on the staff making a crisp sound with each step. Master Chongxu of Wudang Temple, dressed in a blue Taoist robe, waved his whisk lightly, his otherworldly and dignified demeanor drawing attention.

Behind the two, disciples from various sects lined up in an orderly fashion to enter the arena, but the plain white banner that suddenly appeared was particularly eye-catching.

Beneath the banners, Feng Qingyang stood dressed in pristine white, his silver beard fluttering in the wind. Beside him, Linghu Chong, a wine gourd hanging from his waist, wore a nonchalant smile, yet his eyes betrayed a sharp glint.

Thirty white-clad swordsmen stood solemnly behind him, the small blue sword patterns on each of their sleeves faintly visible in the morning light.

"Look! Isn't that Linghu Chong, the outcast of the Huashan Sect?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down, that's Sword Saint Feng Qingyang!"

Whispers rose and fell among the disciples of various sects, and countless eyes darted back and forth between the Huashan Sect and the New Huashan Sect.

Yue Buqun sat upright at the head of the Huashan Sect, his purple brocade robe spotless.

His expression remained unchanged, even a gentle smile playing on his lips, but his hands beneath his wide sleeves were clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. The two characters "Huashan" on the plain white banner were particularly glaring in his eyes.

Even more jarring was the sight of Linghu Chong, that rebellious disciple, standing beside Feng Qingyang, a sword at his waist, his expression composed. His position, slightly forward and directly in front, clearly that of a sect leader—this rebellious disciple had actually become the leader of some new Huashan Sword Sect! The probing gazes of the other four sects were like sharp swords, making him feel like he was sitting on pins and needles. If he couldn't handle this properly, the prestige he had painstakingly built over the years would be destroyed in an instant.
"Uncle-Master Feng." Yue Buqun stood up and bowed, his voice gentle and refined, but he deliberately emphasized the words "Uncle-Master." "It has been many years since we last met, and I have missed you dearly. It is truly a blessing for Mount Hua to see you still as dashing as ever."

Feng Qingyang raised his white eyebrows slightly, his gaze sweeping over Yue Buqun like a sword: "Sect Leader Yue, you're too kind." He stepped aside, letting Linghu Chong stand in front of him. "Hearing that the Five Mountains Alliance is about to unite, this old man and the Sect Leader have come to join in the fun."

The sect leader he was referring to was naturally Linghu Chong, who was standing beside him.

The words "new sect leader" boomed like thunder, causing an uproar throughout the hall. The female disciples of the Hengshan Sect gasped in shock, while the Tianmen Daoist of the Taishan Sect knocked over his teacup.

Zuo Lengchan stepped forward at the opportune moment and said loudly, "Senior Feng is highly respected. If he could witness the unification of the Five Mountains Sects, it would be a great blessing for the martial arts world."

He turned his gaze to Linghu Chong, a half-smile playing on his lips, and said, "I just wonder, is this young hero Linghu now considered a disciple of Mount Hua, or... a new disciple of Mount Hua?"

Before Linghu Chong could answer, Yue Lingshan from the Huashan Sect couldn't help but shout, "Senior Brother! You...you really betrayed Huashan?"

Linghu Chong looked at his junior sister, a hint of pain flashing in his eyes, but he quickly said firmly, "Many years ago, after the Sword Sect and Qi Sect of Mount Hua, Grandmaster Feng was bound by an oath not to publicly acknowledge himself as a disciple of Mount Hua."

"And he..." He calmly addressed the assembled heroes of the martial world, saying, "I have already been expelled from the Huashan Sword Sect by Sect Leader Yue. Now, I am the new Sect Leader of the Huashan Sword Sect. Senior Feng is an elder of the new Huashan Sword Sect."

Yue Buqun couldn't help but say, "You are no longer disciples of Mount Hua, so how can you still use the name of Mount Hua?"

“We are the New Huashan Sword Sect, not the Huashan Sect!” Linghu Chong chuckled, saying with a touch of nonchalance, “Just like Jin Yong and the new Jin Yong, they are not the same person.”

"Insolence!" Yue Buqun finally lost his temper and shouted, "Linghu Chong, you have been expelled from the sect, yet you still dare to spout such nonsense here?"

"Watch your words. He is now the head of the New Huashan Sword Sect, not your disciple!" Feng Qingyang's gaze was like lightning as he coldly stared at Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun's expression changed slightly, but before he could speak, Zuo Lengchan interrupted, "The Five Mountains Assembly is not a place to settle old grudges." His gaze turned cold as he swept over Feng Qingyang and Linghu Chong. "If you two are here to observe the ceremony, I welcome you; if you're here to cause trouble..."

"If they've come to cause trouble, what will Alliance Leader Zuo do?" Linghu Chong suddenly laughed, his hand on his sword hilt. "Are you going to eliminate us all on charges of 'colluding with the Demonic Sect,' just like you did with Senior Liu Zhengfeng?"

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was shocked!

Linghu Chong looked at the assembled heroes and said loudly, "Fellow martial artists, today my new Huashan Sword Sect will, in front of all the heroes of the world, settle this bloody old score with the Five Mountains Sword Sect!"

His voice suddenly rose: "Back then, Senior Liu Zhengfeng had retired from the martial world, but the Left Master of the Songshan Sect still used the pretext of 'colluding with the evil cult' to slaughter the entire Liu family!"

“Even his unmarried daughter…” Linghu Chong’s throat bobbed slightly, and the tip of his sword trembled slightly, “was cleaved in two with a single sword strike!”

These bloody details were like a heavy hammer, slamming everyone present back to the horrific scene of the massacre.

"I ask you heroes, Liu Zhengfeng has clearly retired from the criminal world, so why does Master Zuo still refuse to let him go? And even his family?"

(End of this chapter)