Chapter 74

Ordinary people love to spread rumors.

The habit of jumping to conclusions is quite common, even in a different world.

What was originally a competition among the young, driven by a desire to outdo each other, was exaggerated to an extreme by those who enjoyed stirring up trouble due to a series of errors. By the time the event was about to happen, what should have been a minor fight had escalated into a major conflict between sects. By a twist of fate, it had even evolved into a significant event affecting the martial arts world of Yunzhou.

A few days earlier, all the martial artists in Qingyang Town had received a letter. The letter stated that Qingyun Temple was a heretical sect, and its disciples unjustly harmed other martial artists, disgracing the Daoist community. Today, several elite disciples of Changkong Sword Gate had jointly challenged Qingyun Temple, determined to make this Daoist place abandon heretical practices and return to the righteous path of the martial arts world.

The letter was signed by the names of Changkong Sword Gate disciples.

Although no one knew exactly how Qingyun Temple had deceived the world, since Changkong Sword Gate had publicly denounced it, no martial artist who had been in the martial arts world for some time dared to stay away.

Moreover, for the remote Yunxia County, where nothing significant had ever happened, this "martial grudge" involving a major sect like Changkong Sword Gate was a once-in-a-decade event in the entire county. Such excitement was sure to be more thrilling than the stories told by the fastest-talking storyteller in the county, Liu Kuai.

Thus, within a few days, every person in Qingyang Town who had a bit of martial skill rushed over, weapons in hand, and even people from Yunxia County who were well-informed came.

Some martial artists speculated that this incident might be the beginning of Changkong Sword Gate's new round of suppression of rivals. Changkong Sword Gate had always considered Yunzhou its base, neither allowing outside forces to infiltrate nor permitting new local sects to challenge its status. Therefore, over the years, Changkong Sword Gate would periodically launch a purge against local powerful families, destroying all sects that threatened its position.

Was Qingyun Temple the first sect to be targeted this time?

While these martial artists were speculating, Qingyun Temple, a minor sect, along with the name of Changkong Sword Gate, began to spread in this remote area.

**********

"Thank you all for your kind support, we are truly grateful! Next, let my son and daughter perform a flower spear against a single sword for everyone! After that, my wife will perform a flexibility act."

The venue was still bustling with excitement. The villagers' enthusiasm for watching the show was fully ignited.

Boom—Boom—

Just as the noise inside and outside the venue was at its peak, two cannon shots suddenly rang out, drawing everyone's attention. Confused, the crowd heard a series of firecrackers in the distance...

The people in the market were all drawn to the noise, craning their necks to see.

They saw a procession dressed in red and green coming from the foot of the mountain, with nearly a hundred people. At the front were several dozen thugs, bare-chested and wielding short sticks, driving the villagers to the sides of the road. Behind them, a large group of people, dressed neatly and marching with high spirits, slowly approached. Among them were several bands of musicians, large drums, and various instruments, creating a lively atmosphere with the sound of gongs, flutes, and suonas.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Everyone, look, someone is getting married..."

"Nonsense, why would they come to the temple instead of going home? Are the Daoists getting married?"

Ha ha ha—

The villagers' enthusiasm for watching the show was undiminished. Not only were they not annoyed, but they also made way for the procession to reach the square in front of the temple.

As for the martial artists who already knew the origin of the procession, they had taken their positions and found good vantage points long before the procession arrived, waiting for the rare martial arts spectacle to begin.

The most affected were the performers. Faced with the unexpected situation, they hurriedly packed up their equipment, but it was too slow. The family was scattered by the thugs, standing on both sides of the road, and their scattered performance props were thrown to the side by two thugs, littering the ground. The four- or five-year-old child was separated from his parents and cried out for his mother. The parents, anxious, were held back by the large men on both sides of the road and could not enter the venue. They could only signal to the two slightly older children to take care of their younger brother.

The square in front of the temple was in chaos for a while. Soon, the procession stopped in front of the temple, and more than ten people stepped forward, forming a line. In the middle, someone played gongs and drums, while on both sides, a long banner was unfurled, reading "Wu Hui Qingyun" (Martial Gathering at Qingyun).

After a series of performances to attract attention, the cheerleaders moved to the sides, revealing the main figures in the middle: six young swordsmen in white, with extraordinary demeanor.

The young man on the far left, with a proud look, waved his hand, and the band immediately stopped playing. The dozens of red-clad men behind him shouted in unison, "Qingyun Temple, a den of rats, overestimating themselves, challenging Changkong. Today, six heroes from Changkong are here to challenge you in martial arts and Daoist principles, to set the record straight."

After the words, the drums were beaten three times, followed by a cymbal crash, and the music stopped. The hundred men shouted again, "Qingyun villains, come forward and face your doom—"

This was shouted several times until almost everyone present could recite it, and then it gradually stopped.

After this display, the thousand or so people present were all stunned, staring at the group of people who seemed to be putting on a show.

**********

The commotion had already alarmed the second-generation disciples inside the temple. Qing Song, holding a long sword, hurriedly wanted to go out to check, but was stopped by Qing Yan and others. Qing Song was puzzled and asked, "Second Master Brother, if outsiders are attacking, why are you stopping me?"

Qing Yan chuckled and said, "I not only stopped you, but also the Fifth and Sixth Master Brothers, and I sent someone to inform the First Master Brother... This time, we will not show ourselves..."

"Not show ourselves?" Qing Song was confused, turning to look at the anxious Tie Qing Shi and the calm He Qing Zhu... "Why is that?"

Heh heh...

"Third Master Brother, since our Master established the sect, we have been teaching the disciples for some time, but they have only competed among themselves and never faced outsiders. This challenge from the young ones of Changkong is a good opportunity to test the disciples' skills..." Qing Yan said with a smile, pausing for a moment, and continued, "Moreover, the purpose of Changkong Sword Gate's visit is not yet clear. With our status and background, we cannot act rashly... Even if we show ourselves and face these young ones, if we intentionally lose, it's just a matter of losing face, and the plan to establish the sect can be delayed for a few years; if we win, the charge of bullying the young will stick, and we will offend Changkong. Our sect's great revenge has not been avenged, and we will have provoked a powerful enemy like Changkong. Isn't that a poor strategy..."

Qing Song suddenly understood and nodded frequently.

"Another point is, if our disciples face them, even if they lose, it won't be a big loss, and if they win, Changkong Sword Gate won't start a major conflict with Qingyun Temple over such a small matter."

"Second Master Brother is right... Then, should we just wait here for news?"

Qing Yan smiled without speaking, but the tall and strong Tie Qing Shi, who had been waiting impatiently, shouted, "Sitting here waiting is annoying, of course we should go see the show... They say Changkong's sword techniques are extraordinary, and we should see them. We'll also see if those little brats can bring some honor and embarrass Changkong Sword Gate... Let's go, let's go, we can't go through the main gate, we'll jump over the wall... Hurry up, we're about to leave..."

Tie Qing Shi, while shouting, quickly headed towards the side wall, impatiently urging the others to follow.

Jump over the wall?... Watch the show?...

This all seems like something we did when we were kids...

"Hurry up—"

"Alright—coming—" Fine, I'll be a bit undignified this once, I hope no disciples see.

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