Chapter Four: Mission Complete and Homecoming

Sun Meng, his head lowered, rose to his feet and stood slightly behind Zuo Lengchan, all the while contemplating whether he should cause some disturbance at this Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony to change certain outcomes. He did not know if he could trigger any further side quests, so he had to seize as much benefit as possible.

On this side, Yu Canghai had met his end, and the Qingcheng disciples who had followed were swiftly captured and bound by the Songshan disciples.

Zuo Lengchan smiled faintly. “Brother Liu, my apologies that blood was shed at your Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony. My personal presence here is not only for the matter concerning my disciple Pingzhi, but also for an issue related to you, Brother Liu. Thus, the ceremony can wait a moment.” As he spoke, he struck out with his palm, sending a gust that knocked the golden basin to the ground, making it impossible to continue the ritual for now.

Some among the assembly watched with amusement, others with confusion. Only Liu Zhengfeng’s expression changed subtly. “Alliance Leader Zuo, I wonder how I have offended you, that you would even obstruct my hand-washing ceremony. Does the Songshan Sect truly intend to unify the Five Mountain Sects into one?”

Liu Zhengfeng wore a look of utmost seriousness, betraying not a hint of guilt. Instead, his words turned the gaze of the other sects toward Zuo Lengchan with visible displeasure.

The Five Mountain Sects had long since realized that only when united did they count among the martial world’s elite. Each sect, to varying degrees, had harbored thoughts of unification. But none possessed the strength or means to achieve it.

Only Songshan was truly united, with Zuo Lengchan at its core and many experts to aid him. Hengshan came next, but as a sect of Buddhist nuns uninterested in power, they had joined the alliance mainly for self-preservation. The Taishan and Hengshan Sects each had their own internal issues, but the worst was Huashan. The rivalry between sword and energy techniques had nearly severed their lineage. Were it not for Yue Buqun and his wife’s heroic deeds preserving the sect’s name, the Five Mountain Sword Sects might already have been one fewer.

Thus, the other four sects all sensed Zuo Lengchan’s ambition and instinctively stood together on this issue.

Zuo Lengchan’s face hardened. “Liu Zhengfeng, it’s true I wish to unite the Five Mountains, but as Alliance Leader, my motives are not selfish! You have colluded with Elder Qu Yang of the Demon Cult—this is proven fact. I agree to your retirement, but only if you first give up Qu Yang’s whereabouts. Let us capture this demon, sever the arm of that fiend Dongfang Bubai, and then I will personally fetch water for your hand-washing if you still wish to retire!”

At that moment, Lin Pingzhi found Zuo Lengchan more admirable than Yue Buqun, more suited to be a sect leader, a true administrator.

The crowd turned to Liu Zhengfeng, their expressions shifting. Colluding with the Demon Cult was a grave taboo. And with Zuo Lengchan’s formidable stance, this did not seem fabricated. The change in Liu Zhengfeng’s expression only confirmed their suspicions.

Zuo Lengchan seized upon Liu Zhengfeng’s weakness—forcing his hand, giving the man no choice.

Liu Zhengfeng snorted coldly. “Zuo Lengchan, my friendship with Brother Qu stems from a shared love of music, nothing more! I sought retirement to avoid the strife between orthodox and demonic factions. If you want my life, take it. As for Brother Qu’s whereabouts, I do not know!”

“Senior Brother Liu, how can you be so foolish? Qu Yang is a member of the Demon Cult—how could he truly befriend you? He must have sought only to drive a wedge between us!” A Master from Hengshan tried to dissuade him.

Yue Buqun added, “Brother Liu, we all know of your love for music. But the Demon Cult is cunning and will exploit any weakness to cost us a hero of the righteous path!”

Others echoed these arguments, leaving Liu Zhengfeng at the center of a storm, his face growing ever more ashen. Over the decades, countless members of the Five Mountain Sects had fallen to the Demon Cult, many at Qu Yang’s own hand. Such deep-seated enmity could not be forgiven.

At this moment, Zuo Lengchan stepped forward. “Liu Zhengfeng, have you anything more to say?”

Liu Zhengfeng laughed bitterly. “I have always cherished loyalty and righteousness, never thought to stray from the path. It was for this reason I planned to retire. Yet, even so, things have come to this.”

Before he could act, a cry came from behind him.

“Father!”

Liu Zhengfeng turned to see his wife and disciples seized by Songshan’s men. He spun back to Zuo Lengchan. “You…”

Zuo Lengchan was about to reply when Lin Pingzhi tugged at him and whispered, “Master, calamity should not befall innocents. Only thus can you establish your authority. If we agree with the other sects to jointly oversee Liu Zhengfeng’s family, and use them as leverage to draw Qu Yang out, it will suffice.”

Zuo Lengchan considered, and found this approach better.

“Liu Zhengfeng, the conflict between good and evil is not yours to decide alone. If Qu Yang truly values your friendship, we will together safeguard your family. Call him out, we shall cripple his martial arts and resolve our enmity. Only then can you retire. Otherwise, your name will forever be stained with collusion with the Demon Cult!”

This move was far more righteous than the original plan of slaughtering Liu Zhengfeng’s entire family. Not only did Zuo Lengchan seize the moral high ground, but he also gave the others no cause for complaint.

Liu Zhengfeng, torn between choices, would have been universally denounced were it not for his sterling reputation and formidable strength.

Now, Yue Buqun urged him, “Brother Liu, will you truly let your lifelong reputation be ruined for a demon cultist?”

His sorrowful tone moved the onlookers.

Only Zuo Lengchan cast Yue Buqun a sidelong glance and snorted. He had long seen through Yue’s ambition, believing him to be the greatest obstacle to unifying the Five Mountains. Still, while he could employ intrigue, he dared not go too far. If the spy he’d planted in Huashan succeeded in bringing back the Violet Mist Divine Skill, perhaps then he could break through to the next realm, and all the schemes in the world would mean little.

Returning his attention to Liu Zhengfeng, he demanded, “Will you agree to this, or not?” His voice grew colder; things had reached a point where even if he wished to spare Liu Zhengfeng, it was no longer up to him.

At that moment, a sharp sound split the air and a figure leaped from a rooftop. “Brother Liu, I’ve come to save you!”

Zuo Lengchan struck with his palm, knocking aside a concealed weapon in midair. Those without sufficient inner strength could only dodge or deflect with their weapons. Several were struck and collapsed instantly.

“Black Blood Divine Needles—Qu Yang, the Demon!” someone shouted, but Qu Yang had already seized Liu Zhengfeng and was making for the main gate.

“Scoundrel!” Zuo Lengchan cursed, drawing his sword and giving chase with a single powerful stride.

Seeing this, Ding Mian, known as the Pagoda-Hand, shouted, “Everyone, we cannot let that demon escape, or the righteous path will lose all face!” He glanced at Sun Meng. “Nephew, wait here. I’ll leave two to protect you.” With a gesture to his fellow disciples, he too joined the pursuit.

Two Songshan disciples remained to guard Lin Pingzhi.

Yue Buqun instructed, “Junior Sister, watch over Chong’er. I will assist the Alliance Leader.” His departure inspired the other sects to follow suit—some eager for action, others too timid and choosing to stay behind.

In an instant, the courtyard grew quiet.

Only Sun Meng remained utterly calm. He knew it would not be long before the outcome was decided. Unfortunately, he had not received notification of a new side quest; thus, after this affair, he would have to return.

At this moment, Sun Meng began to observe the on-screen barrage of messages.

“Our streamer really pulled off a clever move! But it’s a pity—seems there’s no new mission, so he won’t be staying in this world.”

“True! Otherwise he might have learned Zuo Lengchan’s martial arts!”

“I don’t think Zuo Lengchan is a good man, but Yue Buqun seems decent.”

Sun Meng’s thoughts shifted, and he began to interact with the audience—a function that allowed communication even when speaking was inconvenient.

“I haven’t received notification of a new side quest either. I wonder how much of a reward I’ll get this time.”

He steered the conversation to what everyone cared about most. Instantly, the screen filled with messages, the most common words being “Evil Resisting Sword Manual.”

Only the national channel’s message stood out: “The contestant should best choose a universal internal skill foundation and inner power exchange, and if possible, redeem the prescriptions for Great and Minor Rejuvenation Pills. If we can produce them ourselves, the cost of future exchanges will be much reduced.”

Reading this, Sun Meng thought, “At last, a reliable suggestion.”

Just then, a system notification popped up on his screen.

“Contestant’s mission complete. Return countdown: three, two, one—returning.”