The Prodigal Disciple of Mount Hua: Seizing All Opportunities

The city of Fuzhou is bathed in the soft morning light.

An eerie atmosphere pervaded the Xiangyang Alley in the south of the city.

This dilapidated alley has been transformed into a battlefield filled with murderous intent.

At the alley entrance, a dense crowd of people thronged.

At a cursory glance, there were no fewer than several hundred people.

Among these people were members of the Wang family, dressed in brocade robes and carrying golden knives. They were the most numerous and occupied the most advantageous positions.

There were Shaolin monks from the Southern Shaolin Temple, dressed in monks' robes and holding monastic staffs, chanting Buddhist mantras, but the cold glint of the staffs was not concealed.

More often, however, are those from surrounding sects who are drawn by the smell of blood, wandering martial artists, escapees from the Qingcheng Sect, and various unknown underworld figures.

They crowded together, hurling insults, and in everyone's eyes burned greed.

The air was thick with the oppressive heat characteristic of an impending conflict.

"They're here! That Lin family brat is here!"

Someone shouted, and the previously noisy crowd fell silent for a moment, before erupting into an even louder shout.

At the end of the alley, Lin Pingzhi, his face pale, staggered towards them, supported by Yue Lingshan and Lao Denuo.

He gripped the longsword tightly in his hand, his eyes filled with terror and helplessness.

Yue Buqun, standing beside him, looked somewhat embarrassed.

Even with his exceptional composure, the renowned "Gentleman Swordsman" couldn't hide the gloom in his eyes when faced with the overwhelming gazes of greed.

He didn't know why last night's events had become the talk of the town.

Even if he tried his best to deny it, no one would believe him.

"stop!"

With a sharp shout, Wang Jiaju, along with more than a dozen burly men from the Golden Saber Sect, blocked their path.

"Cousin!" Wang Jiaju stared at Lin Pingzhi with a forced smile. "Where are you going? This Xiangyang Alley is a mixed bag these days, full of bad people. I brought people here to protect you for your safety. As for that sword manual... if it's really inside, it's best to leave it with me for safekeeping, lest it be stolen by outsiders."

"Amitabha."

On the other side, Monk Yuankong was not to be outdone. He slammed his staff down and led a group of martial monks to push forward, forcefully pushing the Wang family members aside by half.

"Benefactor Wang, you are mistaken. The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual originally belonged to the Southern Shaolin Temple. Obtaining it is considered inauspicious, and only Buddhism can suppress it. Benefactor Lin, for the sake of all living beings and for your own safety, it would be best to hand this item over to the Southern Shaolin Temple."

The two groups refused to give way, completely blocking the narrow alleyway.

As for the wandering martial artists around them, although they dared not openly challenge these two major forces, they still surrounded the area, watching with predatory eyes, waiting for the situation to become chaotic so they could swarm in and fish in troubled waters.

Looking at these so-called "relatives" and "high monks" in front of him, Lin Pingzhi felt waves of nausea and despair.

"That sword manual belongs to my family, so there's no need for you to bother..." he said with difficulty, but his voice was insignificant amidst the clamor of hundreds of people.

Yue Buqun took a deep breath, stepped forward, and tried to intimidate the scene with his authority as the leader of the Huashan Sect.

"Gentlemen!"

Yue Buqun activated his Zixia Divine Skill, his voice drowning out the commotion, "Pingzhi is the descendant of an old friend of mine. Today he is merely returning to his ancestral home to search for his deceased father's belongings. Your obstruction is utterly disrespectful to the code of chivalry!"

"Moral principles?"

Someone in the crowd said sarcastically, "Sect Leader Yue, let's not beat around the bush. Didn't you already come here last night? What, you didn't find anything, so you're trying to take this Lin family brat in and keep it all for yourself today?"

"Exactly! Everyone knows what you, Yue Buqun, are up to!"

"What gentlemanly sword? I think he's just a hypocrite!"

"What do you mean by 'descendant of an old friend'? I think you're up to no good."

The shouts and curses rose and fell, clearly indicating that someone was secretly stirring things up.

Yue Buqun's face instantly turned ashen.

Although he was highly skilled in martial arts, he would have difficulty resisting if hundreds of people attacked him all at once.

Moreover, gossip is a powerful force. Even if he could kill all these people in the martial arts world, he couldn't silence everyone's whispers.

Even if they get their hands on the sword manual, the Huashan Sect will still be the target of everyone's criticism.

More importantly, he is now in an extremely awkward position.

Lin Pingzhi was extremely grateful to him yesterday, and he had originally planned to take him as his disciple.

That's how you establish your status.

But after the news of what happened last night spread, Lin Pingzhi remained outwardly respectful.

However, Yue Buqun could sense that the child had become suspicious of him, and when the topic of taking on a disciple came up, he refused on the grounds that his parents had recently passed away.

He has not yet formally become an apprentice, and his title is still undetermined.

If the name is not correct, the words will not ring true.

If it was to stand up for his apprentice, he could have easily resorted to force.

But now, he is just an elder. If he were to fight with his fellow practitioners over the "relics of the deceased," the "gentleman" persona he has painstakingly cultivated over the past few decades would collapse in an instant.

He was neither able nor able to take action.

Not at least not now.

"You...you've gone too far!" Yue Lingshan was so angry that she drew her sword, but was held back by Lao Denuo.

"Cousin, don't be stubborn and ask for trouble!" Seeing Yue Buqun suppressed by public opinion, Wang Jiaju became even bolder and reached out to grab Lin Pingzhi's collar. "I'm your cousin, how could I harm you?"

Monk Yuankong also chanted a Buddhist prayer, and with a sweep of his staff, blocked the other side, clearly intending to forcibly seize it.

Lin Pingzhi trembled like a lamb to the slaughter, surrounded by wolves.

He glanced at Yue Buqun, who stood silently with his eyes closed, and felt a chill run through him.

At this critical moment.

"Get out of the way."

A calm voice suddenly rang out from behind the crowd.

Everyone instinctively turned around.

Four figures slowly approached from the alley entrance.

Chen Qianyang helped Guo Jing, whose face was pale but whose fierce power was still evident.

Huang Rong's pretty face was frosty.

Yang Guo carried a long sword on his back, his face full of arrogance.

The one speaking was naturally Chen Qianyang.

He was dressed in a smart outfit today, with his black hair tied up, making him look exceptionally capable.

Those deep eyes were calm and still, yet they made people afraid to look directly at them.

"Oh, isn't this Young Hero Chen?" Wang Jiaju chuckled. "What, is your Huashan Sect short-handed, so you have to bring out this crippled Hero Guo to fill the gap?"

"Hahahaha!" The surrounding Golden Saber Sect disciples burst into laughter.

Chen Qianyang ignored their mockery and simply helped Guo Jing forward step by step.

Despite the crowd being so dense, they involuntarily parted to make way for him under his calm and piercing gaze.

He walked until he reached the narrowest part of the alley before stopping.

Before them stood a stone lion, about half a person's height, which was originally the boundary marker of Xiangyang Lane. Now it stood across the middle of the road, blocking their way.

"Young Master Lin is going home."

Chen Qianyang slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the Biyue Sword.

His gaze swept over Wang Jiaju, over Yuan Kong, and over every greedy face.

"Going home to pay respects to one's ancestors is a matter of course."

"Who dares to stop us?"

"Hmph! What arrogance!" Wang Jiaju was enraged by his gaze: "We blocked this road! This Xiangyang Alley is now under our jurisdiction! Does your Huashan Sect intend to force your way in?!"

"Clang!"

A clear and resonant sword cry abruptly interrupted the clamor.

No one saw how Chen Qianyang drew his sword.

Everyone felt a flash of blue light before their eyes, as if a bolt of lightning had exploded out of thin air.

Followed by.

"boom!"

The solid granite lion had split open neatly from the middle.

The cut is as smooth as a mirror!

All the laughter and shouts stopped abruptly at that moment.