Chapter 42

Liu Zhengfeng smiled bitterly and said, "Venerable Master Dingyi, this matter is truly shameful to speak of. It was originally an internal affair of the Hengshan Sect, yet it has troubled so many good friends. I am now clear in my heart. I believe it must be my Senior Brother Mo who reported me to the Left Alliance Leader of the Songshan Sect, recounting my various faults, which led to the members of the Songshan Sect coming to question me severely. Very well, very well, very well, it is I, Liu Zhengfeng, who has been disrespectful to Senior Brother Mo. I will apologize and make amends to him."

Upon hearing this, Yue Fangxing thought to himself: Liu Zhengfeng is indeed very attached to the Hengshan Sect. Even at a time when he is in grave danger, he is still protecting the Hengshan Sect. His intention in saying this is to let outsiders know that he and Mo Da, the two senior brothers, do not get along. Thus, if anything happens, it will be Liu Zhengfeng's personal fault, and not related to Mo Da. This way, the Hengshan Sect can be exonerated. Whether they truly do not get along or are just putting on a show for outsiders, only they themselves know.

Fei Bin's gaze swept from east to west across the hall. His eyes narrowed into slits, but they shone with a sharp light, indicating his deep internal cultivation. He said, "This matter has nothing to do with the Hengshan Sect's leader, Mr. Mo Da. You don't need to involve him. The Left Alliance Leader has instructed us to ask you: What secret dealings and plots have you had with the leader of the Demon Sect, Dongfang Bubai, to harm the Five Mountains Sword Sect and the righteous heroes of the martial world?"

Upon hearing this, the crowd was immediately startled, and many people gasped. The Demon Sect and the righteous heroes of the white path were irreconcilable enemies, with a feud lasting over a hundred years. They had been in constant conflict, with no clear victor. Among the hundreds of people in the hall, at least half had suffered at the hands of the Demon Sect, with some losing fathers or brothers, and others losing teachers or elders. Mentioning the Demon Sect evoked deep hatred in everyone. The Five Mountains Sword Sect had formed an alliance primarily to deal with the Demon Sect. The Demon Sect was numerous and powerful, and the righteous sects, despite their unique skills, often could not match them. The leader of the Demon Sect, Dongfang Bubai, was known as the "Greatest Martial Artist of the World." His name "Bubai" (Unbeatable) was fitting, as he had never been defeated since he mastered his arts. The crowd, upon hearing Fei Bin accuse Liu Zhengfeng of colluding with the Demon Sect, realized that this matter was directly related to their lives and safety. Any sympathy they had for Liu Zhengfeng immediately vanished, and they understood why he, in the prime of his life, was now retiring from the martial world.

Liu Zhengfeng said, "In my entire life, I have never met the leader of the Demon Sect, Dongfang Bubai. What do you mean by 'collusion' and 'plots'?"

Fei Bin turned to look at his third senior brother, Lu Bai, waiting for him to speak. Lu Bai spoke in a soft voice, "Senior Brother Liu, this statement seems somewhat incomplete. There is a guardian elder in the Demon Sect named Qu Yang. Do you know him?"

Liu Zhengfeng, who had been very calm, suddenly changed expression when he heard the name "Qu Yang." He tightly closed his lips and did not respond. He realized that his secret had been revealed, and there was no way to avoid the situation. The last bit of hope in his heart vanished.

The fat man, Ding Mian, had not spoken a word since entering the hall. Suddenly, he asked in a loud voice, "Do you know Qu Yang?" His voice was so loud that the seven words echoed in everyone's ears. He stood there motionless, his already imposing figure seeming to grow another foot taller, making him appear incredibly formidable.

Liu Zhengfeng still did not answer, and thousands of eyes focused on his face. Everyone felt that whether Liu Zhengfeng answered or not, it would be the same. His silence was equivalent to an admission. After a long while, Liu Zhengfeng nodded and said, "That's right! Brother Qu Yang, not only do I know him, but he is also my only true friend and the best friend of my life."

Instantly, the hall was filled with noise as the crowd began to discuss. Liu Zhengfeng's words were completely unexpected. Everyone had guessed that he would either deny everything or admit to a brief encounter with Qu Yang, but no one had expected him to say that the Demon Sect elder was his close friend.

Yue Fangxing sighed inwardly: The situation has developed to this point, and whether Liu Zhengfeng admits it or not makes no difference. Moreover, although his friendship with Qu Yang was secret, if thoroughly investigated, there would be many pieces of evidence. Now that he has admitted it, it is only hoped that he will be smart enough not to endanger his family.

Fei Bin smiled and said, "Your admission is the best outcome. A true man takes responsibility for his actions. Liu Zhengfeng, the Left Alliance Leader has given you two choices."

Liu Zhengfeng seemed not to hear Fei Bin's words. His expression was wooden as he slowly sat down, picked up the wine pot with his right hand, poured a cup, and slowly drank it. The crowd saw that his silk sleeves hung straight down without any movement, showing his extraordinary composure. In such a critical moment, he could remain so calm, demonstrating both his courage and his martial skills. Everyone was secretly impressed.

Fei Bin said loudly, "The Left Alliance Leader said: Liu Zhengfeng is a rare talent in the Hengshan Sect. He made a mistake by associating with the wrong people and straying from the right path. If he can deeply repent, we, as righteous heroes, should give him a chance to reform. The Left Alliance Leader has instructed me to tell Senior Brother Liu: If you choose this path, you have one month to kill the Demon Sect elder, Qu Yang, and bring his head to us. Then, all past grievances will be forgiven, and we will still be good friends and brothers."

The crowd thought: Good and evil cannot coexist. The Demon Sect's practitioners and the righteous heroes are always at odds, fighting to the death upon meeting. The Left Alliance Leader's demand for Liu Zhengfeng to kill Qu Yang to prove his loyalty was not an unreasonable request.

A sad smile flashed across Liu Zhengfeng's face, and he said, "Brother Qu and I became friends at first sight. We have had many late-night conversations, and when we occasionally discussed the differences between sects, he always sighed deeply, believing that such conflicts were unnecessary. My friendship with Brother Qu is based on music. He is a master of the seven-stringed zither, and I enjoy playing the flute. When we meet, we often play music together, and we never discuss martial arts." He smiled slightly and continued, "Some of you may not believe me, but in this world, Liu Zhengfeng believes that no one can match Brother Qu in playing the zither, and I am unmatched in playing the flute. Although Brother Qu is a member of the Demon Sect, I know from his music that he has a noble character and a broad-minded spirit. I not only admire him but also look up to him. Although I am a humble person, I would never harm such a gentleman."

The crowd was increasingly surprised, never expecting that his friendship with Qu Yang was based on music. They wanted to disbelieve him, but his sincerity was evident, and there was no sign of deceit. They thought that there were many unique and extraordinary people in the martial world, and Liu Zhengfeng's passion for music was not unusual. Those who knew the Hengshan Sect's background also thought: The Hengshan Sect has a tradition of musical expertise. The current leader, Mo Da, known as 'Xiao Xiang Night Rain,' always carries a zither and is famous for 'hiding a sword in the zither and making the zither sound like a sword.' It is entirely possible that Liu Zhengfeng befriended Qu Yang through music.

Fei Bin said, "Your friendship with Qu Yang through music is something the Left Alliance Leader has already thoroughly investigated. The Left Alliance Leader said: The Demon Sect has ulterior motives. Knowing that the Five Mountains Sword Sect has been thriving in recent years, the Demon Sect has been trying to disrupt us and sow discord using every possible means. They may use wealth or beauty to tempt people. Senior Brother Liu, you have always been upright, so they tried to appeal to your interests by sending Qu Yang to you through music. You must wake up. The Demon Sect has harmed many of us in the past. How could you be deceived by their tricks and not realize it?"

Venerable Master Dingyi said, "Yes, Junior Brother Fei is right. The Demon Sect is not only dangerous because of their poisonous martial arts but also because of their cunning schemes. Senior Brother Liu, you are a righteous person who has been deceived by a despicable person. What does it matter? Quickly kill the Demon Sect's Qu Yang, and it will be a clean and swift resolution. The Five Mountains Sword Sect is a united family, and we must not let the Demon Sect's villains sow discord and harm our brotherhood." Tianmen Daoist nodded and said, "Senior Brother Liu, a gentleman's mistake is like an eclipse of the sun or moon, visible to all. If you can correct your mistake, it is the greatest virtue. If you kill the Demon Sect's Qu, everyone in the righteous path will praise you, saying, 'Liu Zhengfeng of the Hengshan Sect is indeed a man who clearly distinguishes right from wrong.' We, your friends, will also be proud of you."

Liu Zhengfeng did not respond but looked at Yue Buqun and said, "Senior Brother Yue, you are a fair and just person. Many high-ranking martial artists here are forcing me to betray my friend. What do you think?"

Yue Buqun said, "Junior Brother Liu, if it were a true friend, we in the martial world would be willing to die for a friend without hesitation. But the Qu from the Demon Sect is clearly a hypocrite, using honeyed words to hide his true intentions. Even if he has no intention of harming you, has he not considered how others would view your friendship if it were discovered? This would ruin your reputation. The Demon Sect's malice is indescribable. As the saying goes, 'It is better to forget each other in the river and lakes than to help each other in a dry stream.' If he truly understood you, would he not understand this? If such a person is considered a friend, it would be a disgrace to the word 'friend.'"

The crowd cheered at his eloquent speech, saying, "Mr. Yue's words are clear and true. This person is indeed a villain with hidden intentions, not a friend. Of course, we should be loyal to friends, but we must be ruthless to enemies. There is no such thing as loyalty to an enemy."

Liu Zhengfeng sighed and, when the noise subsided, said slowly, "When I first befriended Brother Qu, I anticipated this day. Recently, I have observed the situation and guessed that a major conflict between the Five Mountains Sword Sect and the Demon Sect is imminent. On one side are my fellow disciples and brothers, and on the other side is my close friend. I cannot help either side, so I have taken this desperate measure. Today, I am retiring from the martial world, announcing to all that I will no longer be involved in the conflicts and feuds of the martial world. I only wish to stay out of it and avoid being implicated. I took a minor official position to tarnish my reputation and avoid suspicion. But the Left Alliance Leader is too perceptive, and I could not hide this from him."

Liu Zhengfeng's explanation made Fei Bin's earlier hints effective. The crowd suddenly understood, thinking, "So, his retirement had such a deep meaning. I always thought that a Hengshan Sect expert would not be content with a minor official position." They all felt they had been insightful and were convinced that Liu Zhengfeng had indeed colluded with the Demon Sect.

Fei Bin, Ding Mian, and Lu Bai exchanged glances, feeling satisfied: "If it weren't for Senior Brother Left's insight, you would have succeeded in your scheme."

Liu Zhengfeng continued, "The Demon Sect and our righteous path have been in conflict for over a hundred years, with many rights and wrongs. I only wish to leave this bloody struggle and retire to the mountains, playing the flute and teaching my children, living a peaceful and law-abiding life. I believe this wish does not violate the rules of our sect or the alliance of the Five Mountains Sword Sect."

Fei Bin sneered, "If everyone acted like you, fleeing in times of danger, would we not allow the Demon Sect to run rampant and harm the world? You want to stay out of it, but why doesn't the Demon Sect's Qu stay out of it?"

Liu Zhengfeng smiled slightly and said, "Brother Qu has already sworn to his sect's ancestors in front of me that, regardless of the conflict between the Demon Sect and the righteous path, he will remain neutral and not interfere. He will not harm others unless they harm him."

Fei Bin sneered, "What a fine 'I will not harm others unless they harm me'! What if we, the righteous path, harm him?"

Liu Zhengfeng said, "Brother Qu said he will do his best to avoid conflict and resolve misunderstandings and disputes. This morning, he sent someone to tell me that a disciple of the Huashan Sect, Linghuchong, was severely injured and on the brink of death, but he saved him."

Upon hearing this, the crowd was again startled, especially the members of the Huashan Sect, Hengshan Sect, and Qingcheng Sect, who began to whisper among themselves. Yue Lingshan could not help but ask, "Uncle Liu, where is my senior brother? Was he really... really saved by that... that Senior Qu?"

Liu Zhengfeng said, "If Brother Qu said so, it must be true. When you see Junior Brother Linghu, you can ask him yourself."

Yue Fangxing was startled: Could Liu Zhengfeng, seeing the dire situation, be trying to drag the Huashan Sect into this? We must be careful today. A drowning person's actions are unpredictable, and many rescuers have been dragged down and drowned. Liu Zhengfeng is like a drowning person, and if he tries to grab the Huashan Sect as a lifeline, the Huashan Sect cannot bear it.