The Prodigal Disciple of Mount Hua: Seizing All Opportunities

That evening, a strong wind and rainstorm broke out.

Large raindrops lashed against the cliff face of the Cliff of Contemplation, making a crisp "crackling" sound.

In the valley, the wind howled mournfully, like the wailing of countless wronged souls.

Inside the cave, Chen Qianyang sat cross-legged, using his internal energy to resist the increasingly active strange poison.

Strangely enough, ever since that day when using the Yin-Yang Mystic Pendant to cultivate internal energy aroused the poison in my body...

Whenever I practice internal energy cultivation, that strange poison will come out and cause trouble.

Over time, I developed some ways to deal with it.

However, the poison became increasingly ferocious.

I really don't know where Zuo Lengchan found such poison.

Just then, a whooshing sound came from outside the cave.

A black figure appeared silently at the cave entrance.

"You lucky lad, you're really blessed with good fortune."

A familiar voice rang out, tinged with a hint of mockery.

"During the day, my senior sister brings me food and sachets, and in the evening, my master's wife personally comes to inquire about my well-being. How pleasant it is! You haven't suffered a bit on the Cliff of Contemplation. You must be treating this as a paradise of gentle pleasures."

A man in black slowly stepped out of the shadows; he was none other than the nameless expert he had met at the Huayin City Inn that day.

His hawk-like eyes swept across the simple cave, a complex and incomprehensible recollection flashing in them.

"This Cliff of Repentance, it's been so long since I've seen it." The hoarse voice carried an inexplicable sadness: "When my Huashan Sect was at its peak, its swordsmanship and martial arts were unparalleled, and many masters emerged. How majestic it was! Now it has withered to this state, leaving only a group of hypocrites and a few delusional old madmen... If only my most brilliant and talented uncle from the Sword Sect were still here. His swordsmanship was divine, but because he disdained sectarian disputes, he eventually disappeared without a trace."

He shook his head, seemingly unwilling to think about it anymore, and his gaze returned to Chen Qianyang.

"Speaking of which, back then on Mount Hua, your master's wife was young, beautiful, and exceptionally graceful. She was unique in our Mount Hua Sect. That's why she earned the nickname 'Jade Maiden of Mount Hua.' Back then, she and your dead father, Chen Buwei, were truly a perfect couple, a match made in heaven. What a pity."

Seeing that Chen Qianyang still did not react.

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone filled with disdain: "Who would have thought that in the end, it would all benefit that hypocrite Yue Buqun, who is more than twenty years her senior! It's truly a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung, quite a pity, but then again..."

He chuckled, his gaze sweeping over Chen Qianyang, his tone full of mockery: "Kid, I think you're even more cunning than your father was back then. I quite like your personality. If you're so inclined, I wouldn't mind giving you a hand and letting you get what you want, to taste the flavor of that 'Jade Maiden of Mount Hua,' how about it?"

Chen Qianyang slowly opened his eyes, having forcibly suppressed the cold and warmth within his body.

This old guy never comes early or late, and his appearance at this crucial moment almost drove me to the brink of madness.

He looked calmly at the man in black before him: "Senior, you've braved this wind and rain to visit so late at night; surely you haven't come just to make these sarcastic remarks?"

At this moment, Chen Qianyang realized that the black-clad expert in front of him must be one of the remaining disciples of the Sword Sect from back then.

Everything before, from the massacre and pursuit of my entire family to the poisoning, and sending me, the last surviving member of the Sword Sect, to Mount Hua, was all aimed at using me as a pawn to disrupt the internal affairs of Mount Hua.

Whether it's this swordsman or Zuo Lengchan behind him, they're probably trying to exploit my identity.

But why does it have to be me? Logically speaking, there shouldn't be such a complicated process.

Seeing that he was not provoked, the man in black's eyes flashed with a hint of approval: "Your performance at Yixiantian that day was indeed quite good. Compared to your old man, your cunning and methods are completely unlike those of a young man."

"Senior, you flatter me," Chen Qianyang said calmly. "If it weren't for your perfect timing in appearing and your simultaneous attack, I wouldn't have had a chance. Now that the waters are already muddied, I imagine you and the Left Sect Leader behind you would be pleased."

"You're still far from it." The man in black chuckled. "I suppose you've already guessed it. Let's be frank. I am Feng Buping, a direct descendant of the Sword Sect from the Huashan School."

When he said his name, his chin was slightly raised, and his withered face was full of the pride of a Sword Sect member.

"You surely understand my purpose. Help me reclaim the rightful leadership of Mount Hua and oust Yue Buqun, that remnant of the Qi Sect who usurped the position of sect leader! After it's done, I will obtain the true antidote from Zuo Lengchan for you, and grant you a position second only to the sect leader of Mount Hua. What do you say?"

"Even you don't have the antidote?" Chen Qianyang asked tentatively.

Feng Buping snorted coldly: "Your poison is quite strange. I don't know where Zuo Lengchan got it from. But don't worry, as long as you behave, even if I don't have an antidote, I will help you suppress the poison."

Chen Qianyang understood.

Whether it's this letter of protest or Zuo Lengchan, they're all just ordinary.

They all wanted to use poison to control me, to make me the sharpest knife in their hands.

Pretending to ponder for a moment, Chen Qianyang slowly rose to meet Feng Buping's gaze: "I am afraid I cannot comply."

"Oh? Why?" Feng Buping wasn't surprised.

"Firstly, my father had long since left the Huashan Sword Sect and gone into seclusion, having no further connection with the Huashan Sect. I have never received any martial arts training from the Sword Sect, so naturally I have no connection to it."

"Secondly, I am now a direct disciple of Yue Buqun, the sect leader, and have been accepted into the Huashan Qi Sect! I, Chen Qianyang, may act unscrupulously, but I will never do anything that would betray my master or ancestors!"

"As for the third point," Chen Qianyang's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a chilling aura, "on the day my entire Chen family was slaughtered, you, Feng Buping, were right beside Zuo Lengchan of the Songshan Sect! You watched my father die tragically, watched my whole family be wiped out. Since you were my father's fellow disciple, why didn't you help? Although you didn't personally participate, you were still an accomplice! What I, Chen Qianyang, hate most in this life is a treacherous person like you. To expect me to associate with an enemy like you? That's utterly delusional!"

"Finally, I don't believe you can succeed on your own, not even with Zuo Lengchan's help. Neither the Sword Sect nor the Qi Sect of Mount Hua will accept a traitor who kneels and surrenders to Zuo Lengchan!"

Chen Qianyang was still gambling; he was betting on Feng Buping, betting that he was still a human being.

They're still betting on that person hiding on this cliff.

Feng Buping was silent for a moment, then sighed, and burst into wild laughter: "Well said, well said! What a fine example of 'not associating with enemies,' what a fine example of 'not associating with traitors.' Truly righteous and stern! Kid, aren't you afraid I'll kill you right here?"

"Zuo Lengchan's grand plan has nothing to do with me. To tell you the truth, I, Feng Buping, am capable of anything to regain the Huashan lineage! Killing you would just be taking away one more path."

Chen Qianyang remained silent, but his expression grew increasingly resolute.

"Very well!" Feng Buping's tone softened. "I quite like your personality, so I can give you another chance."

He took a booklet from his pocket and threw it in front of Chen Qianyang.

"This is the Gale Swift Sword, which I created based on the Three Deadly Immortal Swords of the Huashan Sword Sect. The sword technique consists of thirteen moves, each faster than the last. When mastered, the sword will be unseen. Although it is not even a fraction of that senior uncle's sword technique, it is enough to make you invincible among the younger generation."

"I'll give you half a month." Feng Buping's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "If you can master this sword technique in half a month and use it to block thirty of my moves, I will spare your life and never provoke you again. I can also help you delay the effects of the poison. If you can't block it, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Is this letter of injustice really so well-intentioned?

Even after I said all that, he still taught me the ultimate sword techniques of the Sword Sect.

Chen Qianyang was immediately filled with doubts.

What exactly is this guy up to?

Could it be that they want to use this swift, wind-swept sword to brand me with the mark of the Sword Sect?

It makes it impossible for me to clear my name of my connection with the Sword Sect.

If Yue Buqun finds out in the future, given his suspicious nature, he will definitely not tolerate me.

That's quite a calculated move.

But it's just a load of rubbish, an open conspiracy.

Whether it's Yue Buqun or Feng Buping.

These fools are obsessed with tradition and the so-called struggle over which path to take.

Little did they know that true martial arts skills are those that can kill and fight.

How is the martial arts of the Qi Sect? And how is the martial arts of the Sword Sect?

Aren't they all martial arts techniques for killing people?

It's about distinguishing between high and low, not right and wrong.

It's absolutely ridiculous.

Thinking of this, Chen Qianyang couldn't help but grin, and he looked up at Feng Buping.

"It's a deal!"