Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 161 The Rong Prince's Mansion and the Heavenly Demon Sect

At the foot of Mount Hanyue, at a crossroads.

Several old locust trees by the roadside drooped their branches and leaves, and even the birdsong fell silent.

The mountain wind blew in from the valley entrance, making Zhao Lengyuan's robes flutter. She sat on her horse, her eyes fixed on the official road that wound down the mountain.

The old man behind her rode half a step closer and whispered, "Young Master, an hour has passed."

"I know," Zhao Lingyuan said.

The old man said, "Alliance Leader Gu is probably in grave danger!"

Zhao Lingyuan shook her head slightly and said, "There are always some people in this world who keep creating miracles, and I think he is one of them."

The old man did not speak again.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea later, a sound of hooves suddenly came from the mountain hollow at the end of the official road.

The sound of hooves was initially very soft, carried by the mountain wind, almost imperceptible. But in just a few breaths, the sound became clear, one hoofbeat after another, neither hurried nor slow.

Zhao Lingyuan suddenly sat up straight and looked in the direction of the sound.

A figure emerged from behind the ravine.

Dressed in white, riding a black horse, with a long sword at his waist and a heavy cloth bundle hanging from the horse's back.

It was Gu Guanqi.

The weight that had been hanging over Zhao Lengyuan's heart for so long finally lifted. She spurred her horse forward, followed by the old man and the guards.

The two horses met, and Zhao Lengyuan reined in her horse, giving Gu Guanqi a once-over. His white clothes were clean, without a trace of blood, and even his hair was neatly combed.

She immediately breathed a sigh of relief and was about to ask a question when her nose suddenly twitched slightly as she smelled a very faint scent of blood.

Zhao Lingyuan's expression changed slightly, and she asked anxiously, "Brother Gu, are you injured?"

"No." Gu Guanqi replied calmly, glancing at the package beside the saddle, and added, "The smell of blood is seeping from inside."

Zhao Lengyuan's gaze immediately fell on the cloth bundle next to Gu Guanqi's saddle. The bundle was wrapped in a gray cloth, and the bottom was soaked with something, leaving several dark wet stains.

Zhao Lingyuan recalled Gu Guanqi's earlier statement about sending several heads to the martial arts tournament and asked doubtfully, "Did the Hanyue Sect really hand them over to you?"

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "It's not the heads of those disciples who bullied Cunxin. Those heads aren't significant enough, so I didn't bother bringing them. There are six elders in the Hanyue Sect today, and this contains the heads of those six elders."

Upon hearing this, the intersection fell silent.

Even the wind seemed to pause for a moment.

Zhao Lengyuan's fingers tightened around the reins, and she said incredulously, "You killed six elders of the Hanyue Sect inside the sect?"

"Yes." Gu Guanqi nodded and said in a calm tone, "Originally, I just wanted them to hand over those disciples who bullied Cunxin, but they were unwilling to do so, so I had no choice but to go on a killing spree. It just so happens that I said I was going to send a few heads to Qi Tianyang, so these heads are just the right amount to keep up appearances."

Zhao Lingyuan stared at him blankly.

She had considered all sorts of possibilities and believed that Gu Guanqi would be able to come down the mountain alive, but she never dared to imagine that Gu Guanqi would return in this manner.

Zhao Lingyuan took a deep breath and slowly said, "Of the six elders of the Hanyue Sect today, three are Grandmasters in Hongzhou, and the other three are all top-tier experts. They also have many disciples and the advantage of the terrain—"

Although she was saying those words, Zhao Lengyuan felt like she was dreaming.

Five of the ten elders of the Hanyue Sect are renowned grandmasters in Hongzhou, and the other five are top-tier experts below the grandmaster level. These ten, along with the sect leader Qi Tianyang, form the foundation for the Hanyue Sect to be ranked among the eight major sects of the Qian Kingdom.

And now, in a short period of time, half of its foundation has been destroyed by Gu Guanqi.

She took another deep breath and asked, "To be able to kill all six of them, how many people have you killed?"

"I don't know," Gu Guanqi said. "There should be two or three hundred people, and I also shattered the Heavenly Sound Bell of the Hanyue Sect."

Zhao Lengyuan remained silent for a long while before calming her inner turmoil and said, "Brother Gu, you wouldn't have—already possessed the strength to ascend to the God Ranking, would you?"

"What is the God Ranking?" Gu Guanqi asked, puzzled.

Zhao Lingyuan explained, "The God Ranking is a ranking of grandmasters compiled by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. However, because its influence is too great, unlike the previous Qilin Ranking or Weapon Ranking, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has never fully disclosed it, and only a small number of people know about it."

It is divided into three lists: Earth List, Heaven List, and God List. The Earth List includes the seventy-two strongest grandmasters in the world, the Heaven List includes the thirty-six supreme grandmasters who have entered the Dao, and the God List includes the ten martial arts saints.

However, I don't know how the criteria for "Entering the Dao" and "Martial Arts Saint" are calculated, but judging from the comments on the rankings by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the differences between the three rankings are quite significant.

Gu Guanqi asked in surprise, "What exactly does this Tianji Pavilion do? How dare they even create a list like this?"

"I don't know," Zhao Lingyuan said. "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is very mysterious. Even the royal family has never figured out what this force is all about. Even people inside the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion don't know what it is."

Gu Guanqi asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Zhao Lengyuan said, "The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion does have members in the mortal world, but they are very scattered and are all outer disciples. They don't communicate with each other and usually do their own thing, just collecting information and then someone else comes to collect it."

For example, Jin Baiyin, the manager of Datong Money Shop in Hongzhou, is an outer member of Tianji Pavilion. He usually collects information about the martial arts world, but he doesn't collect any sect secrets, just some public events in the martial arts world.

There are many similar people to him, and everyone knows they are from the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. However, they do not participate in the struggles of the martial arts world, nor do they investigate the secrets of other sects, so no one bothers them.

However, the Pavilion Master and inner disciples of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion are extremely mysterious; even the outer disciples don't know who they are.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly.

Zhao Lingyuan continued, "However, if the Grandmaster Three Rankings were to appear in the world now, the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion would definitely become the target of everyone's criticism. Therefore, although the rankings have been released, they have not been made public."

The reason I know this is because my father has a very close relationship with Jin Baiyin, and he obtained a complete list from Jin Baiyin.

Gu Guanqi asked, "Is my name on it?"

"have,"

Zhao Lengyuan said, "This list was released around the time you became the leader of the Yunzhou martial arts alliance. Your achievements in killing the Four Extremes Hall Grandmaster and single-handedly destroying the Tingchao Sword Sect in Yunzhou have already been revealed. Based on your achievements, the Tianji Pavilion ranked you seventh on the Earthly Ranking."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly.

This ranking is reasonable.

After all, if the Heavenly Ranking is full of Dao-entering masters, then with his cultivation level back in Yunzhou, he could only be ranked on the Earthly Ranking.

Gu Guanqi suddenly remembered that Xu He, the governor of Qingzhou, had told him that Tianji Pavilion had ranked Zhang Jiexi among the top ten in the world, which must be why he knew about the Grandmaster Ranking.

"Then, what about Zhang Jiexi?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Zhao Lingyuan said, "Tenth on the God Ranking."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "Indeed, they are among the top ten in the world."

Zhao Lingyuan shook her head and said, "I probably wouldn't be among the top ten in the world. My father said there's a group of reclusive masters whose strength is difficult to estimate. For example, the head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, the old leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, the Blood Bone Elder, and also, there's a very mysterious nameless Taoist in Qingzhou!"

Gu Guanqi asked suspiciously, "Qingzhou has them too?"

“Yes,” Zhao Lingyuan said, “There is a slovenly Taoist in Qingzhou who has appeared several times, but he has not left his name, so he is called the Nameless Taoist. However, he has had the experience of playing tricks on the masters of the time on several occasions.”

The Four Extremes Palace assassin, Zhuque, was tricked and routed in Qingzhou earlier this year, escaping to Yunzhou wounded. However, the nameless Taoist has never directly engaged in combat, making it impossible to determine his cultivation level; therefore, he is not on the list.

Gu Guanqi raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "Could it be Jiang Baili's master?"

At this moment, he suddenly realized that Jiang Baili's master's title was Tianji Zhenren.

"Could it be that Tianji from the Tianji Pavilion?"

"Brother Gu, Brother Gu?"

Seeing that Gu Guanqi was distracted, Zhao Lingyuan called out to him softly twice.

Gu Guanqi immediately composed himself and stopped thinking about it, saying, "Therefore, it cannot be determined whether the top ten on the God Ranking are the top ten in the world."

Zhao Lengyuan nodded slightly, then shook her head, and said, "But if those three lists are made public, then the world will recognize them as the top ten in the world."

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly: "That's true."

After all, people only care about what they can see, not what they don't know. Even if there are guesses, without clear rankings and records, they are not convincing.

"Brother Gu," Zhao Lingyuan said again, "are you ready to ascend to the top of the God Ranking?"

"I don't know," Gu Guanqi said. "My realm has reached what the Heavenly Ranking calls the 'Entering the Dao' realm. This 'Entering the Dao' realm is not a specific cultivation level, but rather a deeper understanding of martial arts than that of ordinary grandmasters."

However, only a fight will reveal who is stronger; it's not that someone who has reached the Dao Entry Realm is necessarily stronger than an ordinary Grandmaster.

"That makes sense," Zhao Lingyuan nodded.

"By the way," Gu Guanqi asked, "what list did Qi Tianyang create?"

"Nineteenth on the Heavenly Ranking," Zhao Lingyuan said.

Just as Gu Guanqi had predicted, he had definitely reached the Dao Realm.

"Brother Gu, what are your plans next?" Zhao Lengyuan asked.

Gu Guanqi said, "Of course, it's to deliver a gift to Qi Tianyang at the martial arts tournament."

Zhao Lingyuan said, "The martial arts tournament is a gathering of heroes, and the martial arts world of Hongzhou all look to the Han Yue Sect for leadership. With the government's assistance, Brother Gu, this is too dangerous."

Now that you've reduced the Hanyue Sect to such a state, it will undoubtedly be a fight to the death. News of this will surely spread quickly, and Qi Tianyang will undoubtedly gather martial arts masters and mobilize troops to surround and kill you. Brother Gu, although your martial arts are unparalleled, even a tiger cannot withstand a pack of wolves.

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "I can come and go freely on my own, so I'm not afraid."

Zhao Lingyuan hesitated for a moment, then said, "Brother Gu, do you really have to go?"

"Mm." Gu Guanqi nodded.

Zhao Lingyuan hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Brother Gu, my Prince Rong's Mansion wants to work with you. Are you willing to accept?"

"What do you mean?"

Gu Guanqi was momentarily stunned. What did it mean for a prince's mansion to be involved with him?

Zhao Lingyuan sighed and said, "Alas, to say something outrageous, the royal family is now practically defunct. Locally, the eight major sects and five great families are vying for power."

In the imperial court, Left Chancellor Zhang Jiexi wielded immense power, with only the Eastern Depot faction, supported by the Empress Dowager, able to contend with him. The Eastern Depot's reputation was well-known; the eunuch faction's corruption and chaos were common knowledge. However, from the perspective of the imperial family, it was difficult to say who was loyal and who was treacherous. Without the Eastern Depot's restraint, what kind of behavior would Zhang Jiexi have adopted?

Now, another major upheaval is about to occur in the imperial court. The general who has guarded the frontier for several years is about to return to the capital, plunging the already turbulent court into even greater chaos. Whether the imperial family's control over the court will strengthen or weaken further remains uncertain.

Our Rong Prince's Mansion, being a member of the imperial family, can only rely on its own efforts. However, the Rong Prince's Mansion is located in Hongzhou, and is being suppressed and gradually encroached upon by the Hanyue Sect. If the Rong Prince's Mansion cannot come up with a countermeasure, it will not be long before it is completely at the mercy of the enemy.

Brother Gu, you've witnessed the style of the Hanyue Sect along the way—arrogant, domineering, and rampant. I'm very worried that the Rong Prince's Mansion will follow in the footsteps of the previous governor; in fact, given its status as a member of the imperial family, it might suffer an even more tragic fate.

Gu Guanqi asked疑惑地, "I heard that the previous governor of Hongzhou was killed by bandits? Is there something else going on?"

Zhao Lingyuan said, "The previous governor was dissatisfied with the Hanyue Sect and intended to support other forces to oppose it. In the end, a group of so-called bandits actually broke into the governor's mansion. The dignified governor was reduced to having his wife and daughters raped and die tragically in his home."

"This—" Gu Guanqi exclaimed in shock, "Has the state of the nation really deteriorated to this point? Although I felt things were somewhat chaotic in Qingzhou and Yunzhou, it wasn't this outrageous. How could a dignified governor have fallen to such a state?"

Zhao Lengyuan said, "Because Qingzhou and Yunzhou do not have a dominant force like the Hanyue Sect, the government can still maintain control through various means, even if it is relatively weak."

But Hongzhou was different; the power of the Hanyue Sect was too great. However, they were wary of the Rong Prince's Mansion's status as a member of the imperial family, because attacking the Rong Prince's Mansion would give other forces a reason to invade. Otherwise, they would have already carried out a violent massacre, just as they had with the previous governor.

Gu Guanqi frowned and said, "A dignified governor has been murdered? And the imperial court isn't sending troops to suppress him?"

Zhao Lingyuan shook her head slightly and said, "Theoretically, if a high-ranking official is killed, the court can mobilize troops to quell the rebellion without investigation. However, the Hanyue Sect truly has the strength to rebel."

If the imperial court comes to quell the rebellion, the Hanyue Sect might actually rebel, and then things will become very complicated. The current imperial court cannot afford such a upheaval.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "So, Brother Zhao, what do you mean?"

Zhao Lingyuan cupped her hands and said, "Before, we had no choice but to struggle. But now, Brother Gu is a master of martial arts and has a blood feud with the Hanyue Sect. I want to take a gamble with the Rong Prince's Mansion."

If Brother Gu loses, the Rong Prince's Mansion will be destroyed sooner; if Brother Gu wins, the Rong Prince's Mansion will have a chance to survive. Therefore, I want to lead the Rong Prince's Mansion to fight you, Brother Gu.

Over the years, my father has secretly trained five hundred armored soldiers who can fight alongside Brother Gu. In addition, the Rong Prince's Mansion has also trained a group of martial arts masters, all of whom can be handed over to you, along with my father and me. My father is also a martial arts grandmaster in Hongzhou!

Gu Guanqi asked, "Brother Zhao, are you capable of making decisions for Prince Rong?"

Zhao Lingyuan nodded and said, "My father hasn't been involved in affairs for many years. Over the years, I've been making all the decisions for Prince Rong, and my father listens to me."

Gu Guanqi pondered for a moment, then said, "Okay!"

Zhao Lengyuan was overjoyed and quickly said, "Brother Gu, let's go directly to Prince Rong's mansion now. Your massacre at Hanyue Gate today will spread throughout Hongzhou in a few days."

I'll use the power of Prince Rong's Mansion and your status as the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingyun and Erzhou to stir up public opinion and prevent the Hanyue Sect from gaining the upper hand. Then we'll take a gamble. If we win, we can seize the greater good and change the fate of Hongzhou. If we lose, we'll have company on the road to the underworld. No—I've never lost a gamble before, we will definitely win!

Gu Guanqi chuckled and said, "Don't worry, we won't lose!"

Zhao Lingyuan laughed heartily and said, "Then let's not delay, let's go now." Immediately, Zhao Lingyuan turned her horse around and rode alongside Gu Guanqi. She turned her head slightly to look at Gu Guanqi's profile and said, "Brother Gu, once your deeds today are publicized, I'm afraid they will drive all the heroines of the martial world crazy for you!"

People used to say you were the most handsome man in the world, and now you've acted rashly for your love, risking everything to fight the entire Han Yue Sect alone. Tell me, will the martial world now say you're a romantic or a devoted lover?

Gu Guanqi sighed and said, "I didn't think that much about it."

Zhao Lengyuan was silent for a while, then said, "Miss Fang, it's quite possible that you're still alive. Otherwise, there's no way to explain your hair ribbon."

Gu Guanqi said in a deep voice, "I'll have to trouble Brother Zhao to help me investigate the Heavenly Demon Sect. I also need to find out the truth about this matter, but I don't believe that Cunxin would want to harm me."

"Alright, I will track down the Heavenly Demon Sect's whereabouts," Zhao Lingyuan said. "However, judging from the Heavenly Demon Sect's style, they will definitely cause trouble at the Martial Arts Tournament, and we should be able to find them then."

Hongzhou is an inconspicuous little mountain village.

The old locust tree at the village entrance leaned its neck crookedly, with a few withered branches sticking out at an angle, and a few withered leaves hanging from the branches, swaying gently in the afternoon mountain breeze.

The mud road extends from the village entrance, with low houses and earthen walls scattered on both sides. Several strings of dried chili peppers and corn cobs are drying under the eaves, and a few chickens are dozing in the corner, occasionally flapping their wings before lazily retreating back.

A rapid sound of horses' hooves came from the path outside the village, growing louder as it approached, shattering the tranquility.

An old man squatting at the village entrance looked up, then lowered his head again and continued picking his teeth with a blade of grass.

A jet-black steed galloped in, carrying a woman dressed in black, her figure lithe and her back ramrod straight. Her face was covered by a ghost mask, its contours sharply defined by the sunlight, revealing only a pair of clear eyes.

It was Ye Zhao, the young master of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

The horse's hooves trod across the bluestone slabs at the village entrance, kicking up a few specks of fine dust. Ye Zhao reined in the horse, which snorted, took two steps, and came to a steady stop.

Several figures from the village came to greet them from all directions.

Leading the way was a tall, thin middle-aged man dressed in a faded gray cloth outfit, his steps steady. Behind him followed two young men, one carrying a machete and the other a basket on his back, both dressed in short clothes and looking no different from ordinary mountain dwellers.

The three approached the woman in black's horse, clasped their hands in unison, bowed deeply, and said respectfully, "Young Master!"

Ye Zhao dismounted swiftly. She tossed the reins to a young man who came up to her, and with her other hand, she removed the ghost mask from her face.

Sunlight fell on her face, revealing a delicate and pretty face. Her brows and eyes held a touch of heroism, her nose was straight, and every move she made exuded a dashing and efficient air.

If Gu Guanqi were here, he would recognize him at a glance.

This is precisely the heart within a small space.

"Where's the sect leader?" Fang Cunxin asked as she hung her mask beside the saddle and walked towards the village. "Is he at home or out?"

The tall, thin man followed closely beside her, replying, "Young Master, the Master is in the ancestral hall right now."

Fang Cunxin paused slightly, turning her head to glance at him: "What are you doing in the ancestral hall?"

The tall, thin man lowered his voice and looked around, as if afraid of being overheard: "Something has happened to the deputy sect leader, and it's gotten quite serious. The sect leader and several elders opened the ancestral hall this morning to discuss how to handle it."

Fang Cunxin raised an eyebrow: "What's so serious? Even the ancestral hall is open?"

The tall, thin man hesitated for a moment before whispering, "The golden eagle is dead."

Fang Cunxin suddenly stopped in her tracks.

She turned around, her gaze falling on the tall, thin man's face, her brows furrowing: "The golden eagle is dead?"

"Yes." The tall, thin man nodded. "It's said that he's also offended the Gu God Sect and the martial arts alliance leaders of Qingyun and Duanzhou. This time, the deputy sect leader—I'm afraid he's gotten himself into big trouble."

Fang Cunxin raised an eyebrow, surprised, "They've offended the leader of the Qingyun Martial Arts Alliance?"

She stood there, the afternoon sun shining obliquely behind her, casting a long, slender shadow on the ground. She said coldly, "What did he do?"

The tall, thin man shook his head and said, "I don't know the specifics either."

"I'll go ask."

With that, she picked up her spear and strode toward the depths of the village.

Fang Cunxin followed the path past several houses, turned over a low wall, and came to a courtyard with blue bricks and gray tiles. The gate was open, and there was no plaque above the gate. Instead, there was a faded yellow talisman pasted on each side of the door frame. The cinnabar characters on the talismans were already blurred.

Two young men stood at the entrance of the courtyard. Upon seeing Fang Cunxin, they clasped their hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Young Master!"

Fang Cunxin nodded slightly, did not stop, and stepped straight across the threshold.

The courtyard was small, and directly opposite it was a small ancestral hall made of blue bricks. The door was ajar, and dim candlelight shone from inside. Low voices could be heard speaking, but the exact words were unclear, though the tone sounded quite serious.

Fang Cunxin walked to the front of the ancestral hall and gently knocked twice.

The talking inside immediately stopped.

A moment later, a slightly aged voice came from inside: "Come in."

Fang Cunxin pushed open the door and stepped over the threshold.

The ancestral hall was dimly lit, with only two oil lamps burning on the central offering table. The flickering light cast the shadows of the memorial tablets on the table onto the mottled wall, creating an inconspicuous glow.

There were seven or eight people sitting in the hall. In the center, on a grand chair, sat an elderly man with gray hair and beard. He was thin and had a gaunt face. He wore a faded blue robe and held a string of black prayer beads in his hand. His gaze was calm.

This person was none other than Liu Changgeng, the leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect, and also Fang Cunxin's master.

The other elders sat on either side, each with a different expression; some frowned, some lowered their eyes, and some stroked their beards, creating a somber atmosphere.

In the open space of the hall, a middle-aged man stood. He wore a brown robe, his shoulders still covered in dust, his face ashen, his head bowed, his expression unreadable. It was Yang Shu, the vice sect leader of the Heavenly Demon Sect.

Fang Cunxin's gaze lingered on Yang Shu for a moment before shifting to Liu Changgeng. She gripped her gun, clasped her hands in a fist salute, and said, "Master, I heard something happened?"

Liu Changgeng nodded slightly, his hand that had been turning the prayer beads stopped, and he said slowly, "You've come back just in time. Sit down and let's talk."

Fang Cunxin did not refuse and sat down in the empty chair at the end of the table. She leaned her spear against the wall, her gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall before finally settling on Liu Changgeng's face, waiting for him to speak.

The hall was quiet for a moment, with only the occasional soft "pop" of the oil lamp wick.

Liu Changgeng said, "Your Uncle Yang privately interfered in the internal affairs of Miao territory without consulting anyone in the sect. He formed an alliance with others and used any means necessary to wreak havoc on the martial world. As a result, the Left Protector Fang Shiming died, and he even concealed it, secretly lending out the golden eagle that the sect kept as a last resort for escape. He was also killed!"

Fang Cunxin frowned. She knew Fang Shiming; he was one of the elders in the Heavenly God Sect who was closest to Yang Shu. The Golden Eagle was a strange beast that the Heavenly God Sect had cultivated with great resources. It was very large, highly intelligent, and could carry people in flight. It was cultivated by the Heavenly God Sect as a precaution to preserve their lineage.

"I heard that he also offended the martial arts alliance leaders of Qingyun and Erzhou?" Fang Cunxin asked.

Liu Changgeng nodded slightly and said, "Yes, Fang Shiming was sent by him to Qingzhou to join forces with the Miao rebels in an attempt to seize the treasure of the Gu God Sect. He happened to be encountered by Gu Guanqi, the leader of the Qingyun Martial Arts Alliance in Qingzhou, and Fang Shiming was killed on the spot by Gu Guanqi."

Afterwards, the Miao rebels attempted to launch a coup in Miao territory. Gu Guanqi was also in Miao territory at the time, so he and the Miao rebels planned to control Gu Guanqi as a puppet while simultaneously launching the coup. They specifically targeted Gu Guanqi, even borrowing the golden eagle, but ultimately their plan failed.

The Miao rebel was killed by Gu Guanqi, and the Golden Eagle was killed by the leader of the Gu God Sect. He was hunted down by the Gu God Sect and fled back, only revealing the truth under pressure. Not only had he cooperated with the Miao rebel, but he had also secretly colluded with the Demonic Heavenly Principle Sect.

Now, the Heavenly Principle Sect has also entered Hongzhou, and who knows what heinous crimes they will commit. Yet, even in this state, they remain unrepentant and unaware of their wrongdoing!

Yang Shu said coldly, "I did nothing wrong!"

He glanced around at everyone present and said, "You are the ones who are wrong. You have stayed in this village for too long and have been corrupted by this stable environment. You have long forgotten your ancestral teachings and the responsibility we bear to restore the Heavenly God Sect."

"I did all this not for myself, but for the Heavenly God Sect, to reclaim everything that the Shaking Mountain Sect stole from us. You are so complacent now, how will you face your ancestors in the future? You—"

"shut up!"

Liu Changgeng angrily rebuked, "You still don't know where you went wrong. Yang Shu, I know that from childhood to adulthood you have been single-mindedly trying to lead the Heavenly God Sect back into the martial world and restore the glory of your ancestors."

I have never said that your idea is wrong, nor have I ever stopped you. However, I have always told you that we must have a bottom line in our conduct and actions. We have a responsibility to restore the Heavenly God Gate, but we must do so with integrity.

The world is deceived by the Han Yue Sect and condemns us as the demonic path. However, we cannot allow ourselves to fall into depravity and truly regard ourselves as the demonic path.

You can still argue your case by cooperating with that group of rebels from Miao territory, because they can't distinguish between good and evil.

However, what kind of behavior does the Heavenly Principle Sect have? Wherever they go, they slaughter villages and exterminate clans, harming the innocent. Their blood sacrifice ritual has claimed countless innocent lives, and yet you actually cooperate with them!

Gu Guanqi, the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingyun and Erzhou, is renowned for his chivalry and is a truly righteous hero. Yet you even tried to harm him. Don't you realize you were wrong in both of these matters?

Yang Shu roared, "So what if I stop at nothing to restore the Heavenly God Sect? It's all for the Heavenly God Sect! You ungrateful people have no right to criticize me!"

"Uncle Yang————"

Fang Cunxin suddenly spoke up: "Gu Guanqi is my benefactor and also the person I love, as you know."

"Hmph," Yang Shu said, "Ye Zhao—no, Fang Cunxin, you need to understand one thing: your life was saved by our Heavenly God Sect. You are the young sect leader of our Heavenly God Sect, and you bear the responsibility of restoring the Heavenly God Sect. You should put aside your personal feelings."

Gu Guanqi is the leader of the martial arts alliance in Qingyun and Liangzhou. If we control him as a puppet and use the martial arts world of Qingyun and Liangzhou to deal with Hanyue Sect, it can help us overthrow Hanyue Sect. Can't you tell which is more important, personal feelings or restoring our sect?

Fang Cunxin said, "I don't need to distinguish. Brother Gu is chivalrous and righteous, a true hero of the righteous path. He and I are on the same side. As for the Heavenly God Sect, although it has been demoted to the demonic path, it acts with integrity and adheres to its bottom line. It does not conflict with my Brother Gu!"

I am willing to shoulder the responsibility of restoring my sect, but only if the Heavenly God Sect is righteous. Even if my master had saved me back then, if I had known then that the Heavenly God Sect was truly a demonic path, I would rather have committed suicide on the spot than live a life of compromise. My heart will never walk with those who follow the demonic path!

"Heh—" Yang Shu sneered, "The Hanyue Sect is the righteous path, isn't it? Weren't you driven to a dead end by the Hanyue Sect? What is the righteous path anyway?"

Fang Cunxin said, "The filth of the Hanyue Sect is the Hanyue Sect's business. I cannot deny the entire righteous path because of one Hanyue Sect, nor will I think the entire demonic path is good just because a few individuals in the demonic path are righteous!"

I will uphold justice for the rest of my life and will not waver in my convictions or question my own understanding just because there are scoundrels on the righteous path and good people on the evil path!

Uncle Yang, you have your principles, and you'll stop at nothing to achieve them. I have mine. I love Brother Gu, but that doesn't mean I can't take responsibility. Don't try to confuse the issue and mislead me. You're wrong to stop at nothing to uphold your principles!

Yang Shu chuckled and said, "You're quite the smooth talker. Let me ask you this: I've already offended your Brother Gu. If your Brother Gu finds this place and wants to destroy the Heavenly God Sect, what will you do?"

"I will explain it to him," Fang Cunxin said.

Yang Shu said, "I forgot to tell you, the way I set him up and lured him into it was with that hairband you always carry with you. Wasn't that your token of love?"

Fang Cunxin's pupils contracted, she picked up her gun and pointed it at Yang Shu, angrily saying, "Did you steal my hairband?"

Yang Shu sneered, "Now you are the infamous young master of the Demonic Heavenly Demon Sect, and he was still drawn into this by your hair ribbon. Do you think he will believe you now?"

Does he believe that the Heavenly Demon Sect, known for its demonic influence, is a righteous sect that adheres to ethical principles, and that the crimes they have committed over the years are merely fabrications by others? Would he believe that?

Fang Cunxin's face darkened.

Yang Shu said, "Is justice useful? Is a bottom line useful? If it were, would the Heavenly God Sect have fallen to the Heavenly Demon Sect, which everyone hates?"

Fang Cunxin said in a deep voice, "Brother Gu will believe me, and Brother Gu will also believe that the Heavenly God Sect is righteous."

Yang Shu sighed and said, "If Gu Guanqi is truly so righteous, why did he never seek justice for you when you were humiliated to death by the Hanyue Sect?"

Fang Cunxin calmly said, "First of all, from beginning to end, it is I who owe Brother Gu a debt of gratitude. He does not owe me anything. Does saving someone mean I have to protect her for life? That doesn't make sense."

Secondly, it's me who admires him, not the other way around. It's normal to be fearless for the one you love, but it makes no sense to risk your life and invite powerful enemies for someone you don't love.

Third, even Brother Gu might not know that I was forced to jump off a cliff by the Hanyue Sect.

Yang Shu paused for a moment, shook his head slightly, and said, "Forget it, you have your reasons, and I have my principles. Neither of us can convince the other." He looked at Liu Changgeng and said, "Sect Leader, I don't think I'm wrong. I came back today to confess everything, and I have only one purpose. I'll ask you one question now: will you join me or not?"

"The Miao region failed, but it doesn't matter. I've already reached an agreement with the Heavenly Principle Sect. We'll join them, and they'll help us overthrow the Shaking Mountain Sect, avenge our grievances, and restore our sect."

Liu Changgeng shook his head and said, "I will not collude with the Heavenly Principle Sect, nor will I allow you to do such a thing. You have already committed a grave error. Today, I will cleanse the sect in the ancestral hall, before the memorial tablets of all the past masters!"

Yang Shu chuckled and said, "Senior brother, you can't kill me, nor can you keep me alive. Time will prove me right. I did nothing wrong in colluding with the Miao rebels, colluding with the Heavenly Principle Sect, and framing Gu Guanqi."

You are all too naive, clinging to your so-called bottom line of justice. But the bottom line of justice cannot avenge you, restore the Heavenly God Sect, or overthrow the Shaking Mountain Sect!

For a moment, the atmosphere in the ancestral hall became oppressive.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and someone shouted, "Sect Leader, there's big news, earth-shattering news!"

Fang Cunxin opened the door and saw a middle-aged man excitedly exclaiming, "Sect Leader, Vice Sect Leader, Young Sect Leader, Elders, earth-shattering news! The martial arts alliance leader of Qingyun and Liangzhou, a woman named Fang Cunxin, single-handedly stormed the Hanyue Sect with only a sword, killing six elders and hundreds of disciples. She then carried the heads of the six elders and declared she would go to the martial arts tournament to demand justice from Qi Tianyang!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the ancestral hall involuntarily turned to look at Fang Cunxin.

Fang Cunxin's eyes widened in disbelief, and she stammered, "Brother Gu—Brother Gu—how could he—do this for me—I—"

Yang Shu exclaimed in shock, "This is impossible!"

The man held a letter in his hand and said, "Vice Sect Leader, this is a secret message that just arrived!"

"Impossible! It's fake, it's all fake!"

"Don't try to fool me—this is fake—"

"How could I possibly do this for a woman? You're such a piece of trash, how could you be such a piece of trash!"

Yang Shu roared hysterically, stomped his foot, and instantly soared into the sky, crashing through the roof, sending tiles flying everywhere. His figure was like a streak of light, quickly flying away.

"Stop him!"

Liu Changgeng shouted and immediately chased after him, and all the elders followed suit.

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