Chapter 53

Yue Fangxing descended from Zhongnan Mountain and headed towards Huashan. Along the way, he encountered many martial artists, most of whom were discussing the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual*.

More than a month had passed, and the competition for the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual* was nearing its end. This event was the most sensational recent news, overshadowing even the news of Liu Zhengfeng's retirement and subsequent murder. Who doesn't love martial arts secrets? Everyone was talking about who had obtained the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual*.

Yue Fangxing heard about the Shaoshan Sect, the Qingcheng Sect, and familiar names like Mu Gaofeng, You Xun, and the Twin Wonders of Tongbai. After obtaining fragments of the sword manual, these people had all hidden themselves, and no one knew their whereabouts. People speculated that they were likely still in Fujian, trying to improve their martial arts and gather more fragments from others. Yue Fangxing also heard news of many skilled martial artists dying, including some top-notch experts like the Two Vipers, the Wicked Beggar, and Lady Zhang, which was quite regrettable.

Yue Fangxing felt a bit sentimental but not guilty. Although he had released the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual*, those who competed for it had to be prepared to die. If he felt any guilt, it would be towards the innocent civilians in Fuzhou, not towards these martial artists who had taken lives.

On his journey, Yue Fangxing occasionally heard people mention him, pairing him with Linghu Chong as the "Huashan Duo Heroes." It seemed that his actions in Hengshan City had made people aware that Huashan Sect had another disciple with considerable martial arts skills, possibly even surpassing Linghu Chong, thus spreading his name. Moreover, in the Huashan region, his rising fame was not surprising.

Ignoring all the commotion, Yue Fangxing returned directly to Huashan.

Upon returning to the mountain, the first thing he did was to pay respects to his parents. Ning Zhongze, who hadn't seen Yue Fangxing for nearly two years, missed him dearly and chattered on, pulling him aside to talk for a long time, asking about his experiences over the past year.

Yue Fangxing could only answer that he had been diligently practicing martial arts, sharing some interesting stories but omitting the more dangerous and difficult ones. They talked for a while before stopping.

Yue Fangxing then went to freshen up, as he had been traveling for a long time and needed to tidy himself up. After eating, he followed Yue Buqun into the study to recount his recent experiences.

Yue Buqun was quite displeased with his son's prolonged absence. The brief conversation in Hengshan City about the Sword Sect had greatly worried him, and he had even canceled his planned trip to the border to stay and guard Huashan. However, there was no one in Huashan who could share his burdens. His wife, Ning Zhongze, had improved her martial arts after practicing the *Yijin Duan Gu Zhang* for two years, but she was always strong-willed and lacked strategic thinking. His eldest disciple, Linghu Chong, was intelligent but lacked focus and knowledge, making him unsuitable for discussing important matters. Yue Buqun had hoped that his son, who had achieved martial arts skills and possessed strategic thinking, could return to Huashan to discuss detailed plans, but Yue Fangxing had sent a message through Linghu Chong and disappeared for nearly two months.

Yue Buqun was worried that hostile forces might try to eliminate his young and skilled son, but he was relieved to see him return safely. However, his dissatisfaction with his son's unannounced departure resurfaced. Despite this, he could not severely reprimand his son, who always knew his limits, and only gave him a stern lecture.

Yue Fangxing naturally bowed and accepted the reprimand. He knew his actions were somewhat excessive and did not argue. After the lecture, he recounted his recent experiences and handed over the *Quanzhen Sect* and *Gumu Sect* martial arts he had copied from the ancient tomb chamber to Yue Buqun.

Yue Buqun's expression turned joyful upon seeing the martial arts. Huashan Sect and Quanzhen Sect shared a lineage, and obtaining Quanzhen Sect martial arts, even without the most important cultivation methods, would still provide many benefits and could be directly practiced after being adapted to Huashan's foundational techniques. The Gumu Sect martial arts, which complemented and counteracted Quanzhen Sect martial arts, were also highly beneficial. Its light and agile characteristics were even more similar to Huashan's current martial arts, making it more suitable than Quanzhen Sect martial arts.

The most crucial point was that these two sets of martial arts were complete systems, allowing one to progress from the basics to becoming a top-tier expert. Unlike the incomplete *Nine Yin Manual* that Yue Fangxing had previously brought back, which, although not inferior, could only serve as an auxiliary practice for a limited number of people. So far, only he, Yue Fangxing, and Linghu Chong, along with his wife Ning Zhongze, had been taught it, and not even his daughter, to prevent any accidental leaks that could bring disaster to Huashan Sect.

Yue Fangxing then recounted his experience in cultivating the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual*. Yue Buqun frowned slightly, as the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual* was indeed a sinister technique with significant drawbacks. Although Yue Fangxing and Qu Feixian had successfully cultivated it, any slight deviation during the process could lead to a disastrous outcome, making it extremely dangerous. It seemed that only a limited number of people could practice it to see if any benefits could be gained.

After finishing his account, Yue Fangxing saw that Yue Buqun had started examining the Quanzhen Sect and Gumu Sect martial arts, so he began transcribing the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual* and the internal cultivation methods he had obtained from Qu Feixian. The *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual* naturally omitted the initial eight characters and the alchemy and medication methods to prevent his father from going astray. The internal cultivation methods he had obtained from Qu Feixian were given with her consent.

Qu Feixian had expressed her intentions and was now fully devoted to Yue Fangxing, so she had no objections. She now had a better cultivation method, and if her grandfather's method was not passed down, it would be lost. By offering it to Huashan Sect, it could be preserved and promoted. Therefore, she not only did not stop him but also explained the key points of cultivation her grandfather had taught her, completely dedicating it to Huashan Sect. In her mind, she also wanted to leave a good impression on her future in-laws, knowing that her origin in a demonic sect might not be accepted by Yue Fangxing's parents!

Yue Fangxing vaguely guessed her intentions, but the martial arts were needed by Huashan Sect, so he did not mind her small thoughts.

Yue Buqun was slightly surprised to see Yue Fangxing hand over two more cultivation methods. He knew one was the *Evil-Dispelling Sword Manual*, but he was curious about the other. He then asked Yue Fangxing about it.

Yue Fangxing was a bit embarrassed and briefly mentioned his entanglement with Qu Feixian. After all, he felt that having such an entanglement with a girl under fifteen was not a glorious matter.

Yue Buqun was also at a loss. He did not want his son to have any ties to a demonic sect, but from Qu Feixian's behavior, it was clear that she was genuinely devoted to his son, even offering her family's martial arts, making it hard for him to refuse. As for the age difference, Yue Buqun did not even consider it. After all, he was more than ten years older than his wife, Ning Zhongze, and had watched her grow from a little girl into a young woman before they married and had children. The age difference between Yue Fangxing and Qu Feixian, only three or four years, was not significant to him. Although martial artists often married later, it was not uncommon for people to marry at fifteen or sixteen. If Yue Fangxing had not been away for over a year, Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze might have already started planning his marriage, with Liu Zhengfeng's daughter, Liu Jing, being one of their choices. Fortunately, they had not proposed, or Huashan Sect might have been accused of colluding with a demonic sect.

Yue Buqun's main concern was the accusation of colluding with a demonic sect. Although Qu Feixian did not hold any position in the demonic sect and was not a true member, her grandfather was a demonic sect elder, and she was still seen as a member of the demonic sect by outsiders. With the external pressure from the Shaoshan Sect and the internal issues with the Sword Sect, Huashan Sect was in a precarious situation and could not afford to create more trouble.

Fortunately, Yue Fangxing was young, and Qu Feixian was even younger, so this matter could be postponed. By then, the scandal involving Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng would have died down, and even if the two were still in love, the crisis would have passed, and Huashan Sect could handle it.

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