Author: 年终 / Nian Zhong

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 149: End of the Road

Qu Duanyun’s breath halted for a moment. If he could, he’d wish to take back the signal flare calling for the Taiheng Sect.

Now he had shot himself in the foot. No wonder Shi Jingzhi had informed the Yueshui Pavilion about the Hanging Tree matter. While commoners might be in the dark, the leaders of the major sects certainly knew their stuff. This misstep, this blunder, had completely thrown him off his game.

It would have been fine if it were just Sect Master Qi, but now it involved the “ordinary people”. When Taiheng arrived, they would surely side with Shi Zhongyu.

If the Hanging Tree matter were exposed to the martial world, it would be less of a matter of restraining the actions of the Immortal Assembly and more of causing harm for decades to come—people of the martial world were more loyal and righteous than ordinary folks and were closer to the common people than the imperial court. If news spread that the Hanging Tree was responsible for the shortened lives of the elderly, who knows what chaos it would cause?

One wrong move in this game of chess.

Why was it always just one wrong move?

All these distractions, like bandits and the Soft Fish Demon Eyes, were just tricks to blind him. Qu Duanyun initially couldn’t fathom Shi Jingzhi’s intentions, but now it was clear—

Those two scoundrels were displaying affection in broad daylight!

The last time they met the True Immortal, the two from the Kushan sect weren’t behaving like this. So, all their previous disagreements were just an act?

Perhaps Yin Ci used the special constitution of the Child of Desire, employed some tricks, and attracted Shi Jingzhi to his side with emotions and desires. The Child of Desire, being sweet-talked all night, could have been easily deceived.

A respected founding general, now, in his quest for revenge, abandoned his dignity and honor!

Coincidentally, Shi Jingzhi, with a loving expression, was embracing Yin Ci, showing no signs of malice or madness. Even Monk Juehui had to recite a few Buddha mantras, intentionally looking away.

“Arrest them all!” Qu Duanyun commanded the soldiers behind him, steeling himself to give the order.

The majority of those left were from the Immortal Assembly, fully understanding the stakes. The wilderness was suddenly lit up with the gleam of magical artifacts, surrounding that lone group.

Qu Duanyun needed to swiftly turn the tables. He felt a thin layer of sweat on his forehead. They shouldn’t be too harsh on most of the incoming righteous sect members. Yet, every “should” seemed to shatter in front of him.

His chest felt heavy, panic wouldn’t dissipate, and a foreboding sense grew.

“Attack! Leave no survivors!”

As Qu Duanyun’s words fell, a myriad of artifact lights poured towards the few individuals. Apart from the Child of Desire and the Root of Calamity, the rest would surely be obliterated. Qu Duanyun’s breath caught in his throat, eyes fixated on the figures—

Amidst the blinding light, a clear voice rang out, and the colorful light was instantly repelled by an invisible barrier.

Damn it.

On the wilderness, dust swirled. Horse hooves kicked up a storm while the swords gleamed coldly. The official soldiers, with their armor and spears, intimidating as they were, couldn’t suppress the prominent Taiheng Sect. Their protective spell was incredibly strong and timely, countering the Immortal Assembly barrage.

The Taiheng Sect arrived sooner than expected.

Lifting his eyes, Qu Duanyun saw a man in light-colored combat clothes leading them. Before the man arrived, his calm and composed aura did, standing strong like a rock amidst a storm.

Behind him was a heavy stone sword. It was Yan Qing, the Martial Alliance Leader.

In a daze, their positions seemed to reverse. Now, Yan Qing, on his steed, was looking down at him. The man’s brows were slightly furrowed, with a hint of pity in his eyes.

Qu Duanyun almost choked—Shi Jingzhi was one thing, Yin Zizhu another, but even this bastard offspring of a demon dared to look down and pity him?

A surge of murderous intent grew within him.

“Amitabha.” Sensing the atmosphere change, without waiting for Yan Qing to speak, Monk Juehui stepped forward. The old monk’s voice was deep and resonant. “I bear witness that everything said by the Kushan Sect is true. Qu Duanyun colluded with the Immortal Assembly and betrayed his master. It’s all true!”

The members of the Yueshui Pavilion nodded in agreement, shaking with fear.

As expected, the mood shifted dramatically. Qu Duanyun’s gaze, filled with darkness, finally moved away from Yan Qing.

Everyone from Taiheng was an elite, so now it was inevitable that a big commotion would stir. There were those who were puzzled and those who were cursing. More people find it hard to believe, with a hint of hesitation in their eyes. Qu Duanyun looked at these people one by one, as if he wanted to remember each of them.

Yan Qing ignored him, swung his stone sword, and said loudly, “The witness is here. According to the rules of the martial world, take this person back to Taiheng first!”

“A ghost eye little man bathing with the monkeys*.”

*A monkey crowned (沐猴而冠) Metaphor for appearance or status but has no real ability. 

Qu Duanyun’s voice trembled, not knowing how to stop. He instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword, feeling his mouth dry and his right hand cold.

Without instruction, the soldiers didn’t act rashly. They surrounded Qu Duanyun, and those who had been surrounding them now found themselves encircled, creating a rather comedic scene.

“You are all deceived by the Kushan Sect—just tools for their scheme.”

These people weren’t present just now, so they could still be deceived. At this crucial moment of the Hundred-Year Project, the initiative must be taken back.

“I have already taken the position of head of Taiheng, and I have a father-son relationship with Sect Master Qi. Why would I kill him for no reason?”

How could these shortsighted fools disrupt their plans time and time again? Isn’t he, Qu Duanyun, more capable than that?

There was still hope for this situation; there must be a turn of events.

Indeed, Sect Master Qu’s gentlemanly demeanor was well displayed, and with the past relationships considered, there was another commotion within Taiheng. Many showed agreement, and some seemed inclined to side with Qu Duanyun.

He just wanted to silence them moments ago, but now he presented himself as a true gentleman. Shi Zhongyu couldn’t help but be enraged. Just as she was about to retort, she saw Yan Qing ride forward and stop in front of her. “Sect Master Qu, when you return to Taiheng, there will be plenty of time to talk.”

His tone was calm, and his presence gentle, speaking with a softness that had no hint of oppression. The tragic momentum that Qu Duanyun had just built up scattered, and the people of Taiheng calmed down and continued to surround him.

“I didn’t expect that the Chigou Sect hasn’t been dealt with, and yet Taiheng has already rebelled. This is the army sent by the Emperor to suppress bandits. Do you intend to confront the imperial court because of personal grievances in the martial world?”

The flames of dispute that had been rising were easily dismissed by Yan Qing. Qu Duanyun felt as if he was hitting cotton and had to continue his act.

“Everyone from major sects are here. There’s no need to pull Taiheng down with you. Why not each take a step back, capture the rebels, and I’ll let you decide their fate!”

He almost shouted this out, with a hint of sincerity.

“The Immortal Assembly started by slinging mud, and then you came personally. With Sect Master Shi in your hands, what good can come of this?” Hua Jingchun said sarcastically. “Let’s all take a step back. Hand over Sect Master Shi to the honorable Taiheng, and everyone can join me in dealing with the real issue, which is a tangible contribution—”

Juehui, who was usually good-tempered, sarcastically chimed in, “There are bigger issues than personal grudges. The grievances of the royal family cannot compare to the lives of the common people. Sect Master Shi is harmless. It’s better for Patron Qu to clarify the issue of the demon tree first.”

In the end, it was truly a quagmire, impossible to move even an inch.

If they couldn’t be silenced, then he might as well kill as many as possible.

Qu Duanyun laughed loudly, took two steps forward, his face somewhat distorted. “Very well, I’ll make it clear!”

All they saw was his sword glowing brightly, filled with fury and hostility, showing no intention of surrendering. Seizing the moment of everyone’s relaxation, Qu Duanyun suddenly unleashed his full power. He seemed to have chosen his position deliberately earlier, and now he lunged straight at Shi Zhongyu with a powerful sword move. She couldn’t dodge in time and had to block with her sword.

Their qi clashed, and Shi Zhongyu was pushed back more than ten steps, her heels tearing up a patch of grass.

“Scoundrel!” She shouted angrily. “Have you given up even the face of righteousness?”

Qu Duanyun attacked her like a violent storm. Yan Qing and Juehui tried to intervene but were stopped by the soldiers. The people of Taiheng, caught between “rebels” and “avenging the sect leader”, also hesitated for a moment before they took action.

The soldiers, though not as skilled as those from Taiheng, were all battle-hardened and ruthless. Qu Duanyun was desperate, and these soldiers fought like bloodthirsty dogs. The two groups tangled up, with neither side gaining an upper hand.

But in the end, dogs couldn’t beat wolves.

Taking advantage of the soldiers being held back, Yin Ci, without blinking, countered Qu Duanyun’s moves. Shi Jingzhi also ignored any martial world code of honor and waved his Medicine Cures Illness flag to attack Qu Duanyun’s back. Both were ruthless and worked perfectly in tandem, using their most powerful moves.

Qu Duanyun quickly retracted his technique when he got hit, and his vital qi surged violently within his internal organs, causing him to spit out a mouthful of fresh blood. He wanted to move forward, but Yin Ci blocked his way entirely, preventing him from reaching anyone. When he tried to move back, Shi Jingzhi was right behind him, not hiding his murderous intent, with each move fiercer than the last.

Even with the protection of the power equivalent to a True Immortal, Qu Duanyun was no match for these two monster-like figures. He saw that Shi Jingzhi showed no mercy; the scourge turned his head and lit a golden flame on the pole, aiming it straight at Qu Duanyun’s heart—

Monk Juehui’s eyes narrowed, and Protector Hua paused in action. The battlefield seemed to freeze, waiting for the bloodshed that was about to occur.

“Sect Master Shi.”

At this critical moment, Yan Qing calmly spoke up.

“You’re still branded as a traitor; it’s best if you don’t make a move. Matters of Taiheng should be resolved by Taiheng. Leave him to me and Senior Shi.”

With this interruption, Qu Duanyun immediately got a chance to breathe. He jumped back, escaping from Shi Jingzhi’s grasp. Shi Jingzhi’s facial features tightened, clearly unhappy. Only when Yin Ci stepped in did he reluctantly retract his flag, looking like someone had just stolen food from him.

“What do you mean ‘matters of Taiheng should be resolved by Taiheng’? You probably want to spare him…”

“If he must die, he should first apologize at Qi Xundao’s grave.” Yan Qing interrupted Shi Jingzhi as he dismounted. “Do you want him to go and disturb the departed Sect Master Qi with his hatred?”

Qu Duanyun spat out bloody saliva, his face showing only disdain and anger. He adjusted his sleeves and stood with the remnants of his defeated troops with an expression hard to read.

He couldn’t outwit or overpower his opponents. They always seemed to be one step ahead of him. His beloved Taiheng now sought to capture him like a criminal.

The humiliation of defeat was unbearable, but…

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

Qu Duanyun’s face showed both resignation and madness, like a cornered wild animal. His eyes reddened slightly, and there was a hint of bloodthirstiness in his tone.

“Even if the Child of Desire was deceived by the Root of Calamity… losing to a Child of Desire—perhaps it’s fate. This is the will of heaven, which us mortals truly cannot resist.”

“I can’t protect everyone here on my own. Master, please lend me your strength.”

A piece of cloth fell from his sleeve, faint remnants of magical qi still lingering on it.

A long sigh echoed in the wind, and where the cloth fell, the figure of a man slowly appeared. Just like 24 years ago, in the maple forest of Juyi Valley.

“Knowing when to admit defeat is also a virtue.”

Jiang Youyue smiled slightly.

Around the Imperial Preceptor, a pair of massive hands slowly appeared, like bat wings, enclosing him. In an instant, the world was shrouded in darkness, and an overwhelming force emanated from him. Everyone froze in place, unable to move even an inch.

“To do something is to do it thoroughly. This is what General Yin taught us. After all this farce, it’s time to clean up.”

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