Lu Fenghuo and his group returned to the inn.
At this very moment, inside the inn’s dining hall, Lu Fenghuo and the others were having their evening meal. Occupied with preparations for the night’s events, they had not yet found time to eat earlier and were now ravenously hungry.
Four or five fine dishes sat upon the table.
Lu Fenghuo poured himself a cup of tea, then raised his gaze to look at Song Guyang.
Song Guyang sat directly across from him. Clad in white robes with ink-black hair, his pale tea-colored pupils were warm and clear, carrying brimming smiles.
Lu Fenghuo truly had not expected that Song Guyang at this point in time was already the Sect Master of the Sun-Abundant Sect, nor had he anticipated that Song Guyang had already ascended to the supreme seat of power. After all, Song Guyang was simply too young! Tracing it along the timeline, Song Guyang was at most twenty-two years old this year.
A twenty-two-year-old Exalted Lord, who would believe that if word got out? He had assumed it would take a few more years, closer to the start of the main plotline, before the protagonist would ascend to the position of Supreme Master. Who would have guessed he was completely wrong.
Judging by appearances, however, even the members of the Dark Hall were unaware of Song Guyang’s true identity. One could say he hid himself quite thoroughly.
The identities of Song Guyang and Song Jiu were marked by exceptionally distinct boundaries. Within the Sun-Abundant Sect, he was Song Guyang. In the rivers and lakes, as well as within the Dark Hall, he was Song Jiu. It was precisely this setup that had provided Xu Yuanhong with an opening to exploit.
“Sect Master Song,” Lu Fenghuo addressed him.
“You may simply call me Song Jiu,” Song Guyang replied with a light smile.
Blessed with breathtaking, heart-stopping features to begin with, a gentle smile from him at this moment seemed to freeze time, casting a dim shadow over the entire inn.
Holy shit.
Lu Fenghuo paused slightly.
This person’s appearance truly was impossible to forget at a single glance.
“Song Jiu,” Lu Fenghuo called out.
Song Guyang raised his gaze inquiringly, signaling for him to speak.
Lu Fenghuo proceeded to ask, “Although Xu Yuanhong is dead, there are still quite a few disciples remaining in the Profound Moon Sect. How do you plan to deal with them?”
Song Guyang’s voice was warm, clear, and bright. “The disciples of the Profound Moon Sect all cultivate the Profound Moon Sword Technique, yet that technique carries severe hidden dangers. To prevent them from suffering cultivation deviations in the future, the martial arts of the Profound Moon Sect disciples must undoubtedly be crippled. Everyone within the upper and lower ranks of the Profound Moon Sect was well aware of Xu Yuanhong’s actions toward me, yet not a single one of them reported it to the outside world. I am unwilling to dwell excessively on that matter. Once their martial arts are abolished, where they choose to go from there will be their own affair.”
Lu Fenghuo understood.
The steamed crucian carp on the table looked delicious, but it had far too many bones. After tasting a few bites, Lu Fenghuo decisively abandoned it.
A moment later, a small dish of deboned fish meat was pushed toward him. The hand pushing the dish was snow-white and slender, with fingernails clean and tidy like seashells, tinged with a faint pink at the tips.
“What is this?” Lu Fenghuo raised an eyebrow.
Song Guyang looked at him with a smile.
Without standing on ceremony, Lu Fenghuo pulled the fish meat over and ate it.
It was around nine o’clock in the evening, and the dining hall was still populated by quite a few people. Yet those patrons were extraordinarily restrained, looking as quiet as frightened chicks.
Lu Fenghuo tilted his head to look and noticed that everyone was paying attention to their table. To be precise, they were paying attention to Song Guyang.
Song Guyang naturally noticed this as well.
With the Famous Sword Tournament taking place recently, a large portion of the inn’s occupants were martial artists from the rivers and lakes, nearly all of whom had been present at the Old Street scene tonight. Now that they knew Song Jiu was actually Song Guyang, sharing the same room with him inevitably made them feel tense and constrained.
Song Guyang stood up, and the dining hall instantly grew even quieter.
“Everyone need not be constrained; simply treat Song as if he were not here.”
As soon as these words were spoken, a chorus of compliance echoed all around. Everyone smiled and played along, declaring that Sect Master Song was too polite and that nobody felt constrained at all.
Yet the moment Song Guyang sat back down, everyone grew just as quiet as before, appearing even more silent than they had moments earlier.
Lu Fenghuo:
Hahaha!
Lu Fenghuo could not help laughing out loud.
Song Guyang looked at him helplessly, his pale tea-colored pupils dotted with amusement.
After finishing dinner, Lu Fenghuo and the others returned to their respective rooms to rest.
Inside Song Guyang’s room, a middle-aged man in his thirties or forties walked into the bedroom. He wore a gray robe and appeared honest and dependable. It was none other than Proprietor Zhao Dequan!
Zhao Dequan’s heart was filled with intense anxiety at the moment. He had misjudged the Honored Master’s intentions and had nearly brought about a catastrophic disaster. If not for Lu Fenghuo and the others, the Honored Master might have been harmed by villains by now! Having committed such a grave mistake, how would the Honored Master punish him?!
Panicked and racked with guilt, Zhao Dequan felt he had failed the Honored Master’s trust and proved unworthy of his position as proprietor. Should he proactively request punishment and resign from his post as proprietor?
Zhao Dequan dropped to his knees to offer a formal salute.
Yet he was caught by Song Guyang’s raised hand and helped up.
The Honored Master’s voice was exceedingly light and clear, yet it struck Zhao Dequan’s heart like a heavy hammer. He heard the Honored Master say, “You were not at fault. Red Sand Town was merely a remote place, and though you and I had never met face-to-face, you managed to execute my orders with such steadfastness, which is commendable. You had no knowledge of my true circumstances and simply acted upon instructions, so this cannot be blamed on you.”
“On the contrary, when you and I encountered such difficulties and reached what was practically a desperate impasse, you did not abandon me. Instead, you trusted me and carried out my orders. I must say, Zhao Dequan, your loyalty is plain for all to see. That quality is exceedingly rare. If I were to punish a loyal subject who follows orders like you, there would be no point in me sitting in this position of Exalted Lord.”
Tears immediately streamed down Zhao Dequan’s weathered face.
Indeed.
This was the Honored Master.
An Honored Master who forever understood reason and distinguished right from wrong. Such an Exalted Lord naturally commanded total submission from anyone.
Looking back now, his previous thoughts had been utterly ridiculous. An Exalted Lord like him would never leave people with cause for regret.
Zhao Dequan knelt deeply once again. This kowtow offered up the entirety of his unwavering loyalty.
Song Guyang helped him back to his feet.
When the Fulai Inn was first established, its purpose was to assist the Sun-Abundant Sect in walking the martial world. Having held the seat of Sect Master for many years, Song Guyang now harbored thoughts of retirement. Unfortunately, with no one within the sect capable of shouldering such heavy responsibilities, Song Guyang had no choice but to continue sitting in this position.
Even so, Song Guyang was already preparing for his future abdication. The establishment of the Fulai Inn was meant to assist the next Sect Master in carrying out their duties.
Yet currently, the Fulai Inn branches across various regions had been uprooted and destroyed. Song Guyang needed someone to rebuild the Fulai Inn, or rather, to rebuild the Dark Hall.
Zhao Dequan possessed an honest, dependable character and absolute loyalty, making him the ideal candidate to rebuild the Dark Hall.
With this in mind, Song Guyang asked, “Zhao Dequan, are you willing to assist me in rebuilding the Dark Hall?”
Zhao Dequan was instantly thrilled.
How could he not be willing?
Being able to work for the Honored Master was already the greatest honor imaginable.
Zhao Dequan cupped his fists. “This subordinate is willing to offer every ounce of strength! I shall go through fire and water without a moment’s hesitation!”
The incident involving the Profound Moon Sect shocked the entire martial world. Across the rivers and lakes today, stories circulated everywhere about how Xu Yuanhong had frantically imprisoned the Sect Master, and how the Sect Master had made a miraculous comeback and slain him in reverse. More than a dozen versions of the tale were passed around, eagerly discussed by all.
There was a sequel to this matter as well. Word had it that the Sect Master had led people to the Profound Moon Sect and crippled the martial arts of all its disciples. When this news broke, everyone praised the Sect Master for his benevolence in merely abolishing their martial arts.
As for the abolition of the Profound Moon Sect’s martial arts, people of the martial world expressed absolute approval. After all, nobody knew whether another Xu Yuanhong might emerge from the Profound Moon Sect a few years down the line. One had to remember that Xu Yuanhong had secretly murdered numerous commoners and carried countless lives on his hands. Rather than waiting for such a situation to arise in the future, it was far better to nip the possibility in the bud.
Demonic arts such as the Profound Moon Sword Technique had no business existing in this world to begin with.
Within the Profound Moon Sect, Xu Ziwei wore a simple blue robe. He had shed his former innocence and simplicity, growing considerably more taciturn and reticent.
The Profound Moon Sect had been dissolved. A Profound Moon Sect disciple stepped forward and asked with concern, “Young Master, are you truly alright?”
Xu Ziwei shook his head. “The Profound Moon Sect has already been dissolved by my own hand; there is no need to call me Young Master any longer.”
That disciple shook his head with a wry smile. “Why must you go this far? Although many disciples had their martial arts crippled, they can still cultivate anew. There was no need to dissolve the Profound Moon Sect at all.”
“Let it be,” Xu Ziwei said.
The disciple wore a gloomy expression. “If not for Song Guyang, we would not have ended up like this. Young Master, why don’t you contact the medical expert of the rivers and lakes? If we kill Song Guyang, who gets to call the shots in this martial world will still be up to us.”
Xu Ziwei’s voice turned icy. “Never let me hear such words again. The fact that Song Guyang did not kill us is already a manifestation of his mercy. The Profound Moon Sect is dissolved, and all assets within the sect will be donated to the imperial government. I ask my fellow martial brothers to take care of yourselves from now on.”
The disciple was left speechless and muttered nothing more.
Xu Ziwei packed his belongings and departed from the place. He had no idea where he would go next, but he had already resolved to withdraw from the rivers and lakes. Perhaps he would go into business, perhaps he would live in seclusion as a farmer, or perhaps he would pursue something entirely different. Regardless of what lay ahead, one thing remained certain: he would spend the rest of his life in atonement.
His father had taken too many lives, and he had to atone for his father’s sins.
Viewed from Song Guyang’s perspective, his father truly deserved a thousand deaths. The principle of a life for a life was something Xu Ziwei had always understood. His father had stained his hands with so many lives and should have descended to the yellow springs of hell long ago.
Xu Ziwei did not hate Song Guyang; he simply could not find peace within himself.
Xu Ziwei walked across the farmland. A gentle breeze swept past, stirring a few strands of his long hair. The warm sunlight seemed capable of illuminating every corner of darkness.
May time heal all things.
On the other side, at the Southern Yin Inn.
Song Guyang stood at the entrance of the inn. Standing opposite him were three people: Lu Fenghuo, Fu Yunming, and Shen Yuansi.
Song Guyang looked at the three of them, offering a gentle smile of gratitude. “Thank you all for your care. If not for your assistance, Song might still be wandering in displacement. I do not know what you require, so I shall grant each of you a single promise. If you have any needs in the future, I will personally lend a hand.”
As these words left his lips, before Lu Fenghuo and the others could even react, the Sun-Abundant Sect disciples standing not far away were struck with extreme astonishment.
The Sun-Abundant Sect disciples began whispering among themselves. Although their voices were soft, Lu Fenghuo’s five senses were exceptionally sharp, allowing him to easily catch what they were saying.
“What background do these three have? To actually obtain a promise from the Sect Master?!”
“I heard they saved our Sect Master.”
“That is a promise from the Sect Master himself! The Sect Master is the top ranker on the Mystic Ledger, practically peerless under the heavens. Not to mention, the Sect Master holds an immensely lofty position. A promise from such a person, just imagine how precious it is!!”
“These people are so lucky!”
“So envious, I want the Sect Master’s promise too.”
“Keep dreaming.”
Hearing their discussion, Lu Fenghuo put on an earnest expression and said, “Sect Master Song, I thank you. I also thank the heavens and the earth; today’s sky is so azure, and the grass is so verdant. I am immensely fond of everything in this world.”
The Sun-Abundant Sect disciples:
Hearing that made them feel an inexplicable urge to beat someone up?
Song Guyang smiled lightly. “As long as you are happy.”
With the Profound Moon Sect matter settled, Song Guyang was set to lead the Sun-Abundant Sect disciples back to their sect. After exchanging a few parting words, Song Guyang boarded the carriage.
The carriage was entirely white, looking simple in style, yet every single detail of its body was precious and exquisite. The carriage gradually receded into the distance under the setting sun.
The Great Elder of the Sun-Abundant Sect stepped into the carriage.
Inside the carriage, the Sect Master sat clad in pristine white robes, ink-black hair cascading down his garments with a poetic air. Sunlight spilled in through the window, landing upon him.
The Great Elder was momentarily dazed.
The Sect Master truly is…
No matter how many times he looked at this face, he still found himself spacing out!
Who could have imagined that the Sect Master, who had been in seclusion for over half a year, was actually wandering outside and being hunted down. Upon his return, not only did he settle accounts with the Profound Moon Sect Master, but he also cast aside his mask entirely.
Perhaps nobody could have guessed that beneath that mask lay such a breathtaking face?!
The Great Elder felt somewhat in a trance.
In Song Guyang’s hand lay a few silver-white tokens.
They were the guest elder tokens of the Sun-Abundant Sect. No matter where one wandered in the rivers and lakes, possessing this token meant receiving the protection of the Sun-Abundant Sect.
The Sect Master had been staring at these tokens for a very long time.
Recalling the three people prior to their departure, the Great Elder vaguely guessed the Sect Master’s intention. He felt a mixture of amazement and reluctance in his heart.
How precious were the guest elder tokens of the Sun-Abundant Sect! Back then, the Three Swordsmen of the Peach Blossom Forest had desired one so badly it nearly sparked a conflict that turned the rivers and lakes upside down, yet the Sect Master had refused them. And who else? Various elders and managers of major sects… among people of the martial world, who didn’t want to get their hands on this token?
“Sect Master, promising each of them a favor is already enough! That is something countless people across the rivers and lakes beg for in vain, it is already their greatest fortune!”
The Great Elder offered this advice.
After a long silence, Song Guyang chuckled softly, sighing lightly. “So be it. Right and wrong have always stood opposed since ancient times. Possessing this token might simply invite unwarranted calamity upon you.”
“Until we meet again in the days to come, Palace Master of the Mirror Moon Palace, Lu Fenghuo.”