The Trash Sect's Ascension - chapter 14

Xie Changgeng suddenly sprang to his feet, the Flowing Wind Sword drawn and pressed against his neck. A trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes. “My life was given by Senior Sister, my swordsmanship taught by her. If Senior Sister wishes me dead, then I shall die. I only hope Senior Sister will not trouble Master or the Sword Sect any further!”

“Changgeng, don’t!”

A broken sword shot out, knocking the Flowing Wind Sword from his hand with a clang.

Xie Changgeng was not pretending. Although Xian Shuang struck the Flowing Wind Sword away in time, a deep gash still appeared on his neck.

Scarlet blood gushed forth, soaking the Sword Sect’s purple robes he wore.

The people in the pavilion were thrown into chaos, hastily producing pills and spiritual herbs to staunch the bleeding.

Qiwu Peak Master was both anxious and furious. “Fu Yao, have you lost your mind?! You’ve only known that Zhao Qingsong for a few decades, and yet you would have Changgeng’s life for him! Do you even know why he was plagued by his Inner Demon? Wasn’t it because of you?!”

“What kind of spell did Zhao Qingsong cast on you, that you would turn against your own father who raised you, the Junior Brother who admires you, your former friends in the sect, and all the fellow sects of the Nine Provinces, all for him!”

Her gaze was as sharp as a blade. “Fortunately Zhao Qingsong is already dead, otherwise, anyone who so disturbs your mind and incites strife within our Sword Sect-I would travel a thousand miles to kill him myself!”

The Bilan Peak Master fanned himself, looking perplexed. “I truly don’t understand. On the path of cultivation, who does not die? He was but a minor Sect Leader of the Sunset Glow Sect-why make such a fuss? Fu Yao, we have already yielded this much for your sake. If you continue to press us, don’t blame us for turning ruthless.”

Xie Changgeng stood rooted to the spot, deaf to everything around him, stubbornly staring at me. “Didn’t Senior Sister want me dead? Why stop me? Or do you want to do it yourself?”

I swept my gaze across the faces before me.

Some were angry, some puzzled, some disappointed, some sneering.

Father, Junior Brother, aunt, former elders of the sect-even Master Wuliang of Wanfo Temple was frowning and shaking his head.

Everyone thought I was being unreasonable, making trouble for no reason.

I was fuming, a ball of rage burning in my chest, scorching my organs, making every part of me ache.

Everyone worships the ruthless Dao, everyone weighs profit and loss, everyone tacitly agrees that the weak should sacrifice for the strong. But I want to ask: why?!

“Xie Changgeng, listen to me! I don’t care for your life. What I want is justice.”

“You deserve to die, but not because I want you dead. What you owe is not to me, but to Zhao Qingsong, who lost his life because of you!”

“You knew full well the Two Paths Flower was ill-gotten, yet you took it without hesitation. Simply because the other party was a mediocre, short-lived Old Man, and you, the Flowing Wind Sword Master, were deemed more important.”

“Yes, in terms of talent, a hundred Zhao Qingsongs could not compare to you, Xie Changgeng. But that is no reason for you to consume another’s flesh and blood without guilt. Why should others be doomed to sacrifice for you? Just because you’re a genius Sword Master, just because you’re more useful to the Nine Provinces? Let me tell you, the lives of the strong are not the only ones that matter in this world.”

“Master Wuliang was right. If Master had known your situation, he might have willingly given you the Two Paths Flower. But his giving it up is one thing-your taking it by force is another!”

“No one is fated to die for another. You, all of you, the entire Nine Provinces Continent-at the very least, you shouldn’t be so self-righteous and unashamed!”

“You ask what I want? I want the culprit punished. I want you all to admit your wrongs. I want the world to remember the name Zhao Qingsong!”

Inside Dingjian Pavilion, everyone stared at me in shock, as if looking at a madwoman.

Lu Mingzhao shouted angrily, “Nonsense! Utterly absurd! The strong prey on the weak-so it has always been for millennia. Do you intend to challenge the Heavenly Dao itself?”

I did not flinch. “If the Heavenly Dao displeases me, what harm is there in overturning it with a single sword?”

The Bilan Peak Master muttered, “Madness… utter madness…”

Lu Mingzhao’s face turned livid with rage. “Wretch, you’ve fallen into demonic ways! Today I shall cleanse the sect on behalf of the Sword Sect, lest you bring disaster upon the world!”

As the Imperial White Sword began to hum, a strange, cackling laughter suddenly echoed from the sky.

“If she hadn’t fallen into demonic ways, how could the once-righteous Xian Shuang Sword Master now consort with fiends?”

“Sect Leader Lu, do you know who stands at her side?”

Outside Dingjian Pavilion, the sunlight rapidly faded.

Blood-red clouds churned across the sky, black Soul Summoning Banners billowed in the wind, and countless Wraiths howled and struggled to break free.

Master Wuliang’s expression changed. “Such heavy evil energy!”

“Why is the old ghost of the Blood Fiend Sect here, instead of staying in the Great Desolate Marsh?”