System: I Can Open Martial Arts Chests

Chapter 444: Chapter 253: Zhao Qipeng’s Life (Part 2)

This place is behind the Taiheng Sect’s mountain. The path is not hard to find, but it is difficult to walk. The narrow path winds around, the isolated peak is steep, and when you reach the high point, it suddenly descends, going deep into a depression in the mountain.

Arriving nearby, you can see a stone tablet with the three large characters ’Myriad Sword Forest’ written on it.

Disciples of the Taiheng Sect stepped forward to stop them:

"Dear guests, please forgive us. The Myriad Sword Forest is an important place of our Taiheng Sect. If you wish to enter, you must first hand over your swords.

"Once you exit, we will return them to you."

Chu Qing nodded, removed the Single Saber from his waist, and tossed it to the other party.

Wu Qianhuan’s sword and Hua Jinnian’s fan were also handed over.

Seeing this, Guan Changying extended his arm in invitation:

"Please, everyone."

Chu Qing nodded, his gaze sweeping to another spot.

A master was hidden over there.

There were many posts, both open and secret, in the Myriad Sword Forest; the guards were strict.

As soon as everyone stepped inside, they heard the sound of swords humming.

As if the treasured swords in the forest were welcoming guests, yet also quietly repelling them.

Guan Changying explained:

"This is caused by the wind, blowing the swords. The terrain here is special. Even a slight breeze can cause all the swords to hum in unison."

Chu Qing found it interesting.

Truly entering the Myriad Sword Forest, he discovered it was indeed extraordinary.

Everywhere he looked, there were swords.

Numerous long swords were inserted in various places, some on boulders, some in the ground, and some even embedded in walls.

The sword blades trembled gently in the wind, producing a continuous buzzing sound.

Chu Qing casually glanced at one sword, noticing small characters engraved on it.

[Liao Changfeng, entered the sect at three years old, learned swordsmanship at seven, mastered it in ten years. At eighteen, went down the mountain to slay bandits, was nearly captured and made husband of the village. Returned to the mountain, practiced diligently for three years, descended again at twenty-one to seek revenge. Battled with the village chief for three days, ultimately was unable to win and was captured...]

Chu Qing wanted to see more, but Guan Changying was already walking ahead. Chu Qing felt a bit reluctant, finding it quite intriguing.

He wondered if Liao Changfeng and that female village chief ever ended up together?

The swords that accompanied swordsmen through deadly battles gathered here, even forming an indescribable Sword Intent.

It was as if any discord would immediately unleash a lethal edge.

In the center of the whole area was a huge furnace.

Three large incense sticks, as thick as an adult’s arm, stood inside, causing the incense smoke to swirl.

Guan Changying led everyone along the slate path between the sword blades, finally reaching the stone platform behind the incense burner.

Here, boxes were placed, each with a name on top.

Chu Qing saw the names Li Junmo and Guan Changying...

Finally, Guan Changying took down the box labeled Zhao Qipeng:

"The master uncle has not been buried yet, and his sword has not entered the forest; his life is all in this box.

"You can all take your time to read. This place is where our Taiheng Sect’s predecessors rest. Please refrain from making loud noises."

Using swords as memorial tablets, preserving life stories on swords.

This place indeed serves as the resting place for generations of Taiheng Sect disciples.

Chu Qing took the box, nodded, and inside were several booklets.

After distributing them to the others, everyone buried their heads to read.

These booklets recorded every detail of Zhao Qipeng’s life since joining the Taiheng Sect.

Based on the life stories engraved on the surrounding sword blades, before Zhao Qipeng’s sword enters the Sword Forest, someone might have already extracted significant elements from these booklets to engrave them on the swords for future generations to admire.

Everyone read quickly, mainly because the booklets contained straightforward and uneventful details.

On such day of such month of such year, he got up to practice swordplay, ate after two hours, took a nap after lunch, and continued sword practice...

Zhao Qipeng’s life was mostly spent practicing swordsmanship.

But as they continued reading, Lan Shuyi suddenly exclaimed:

"Isn’t something missing here?"

He showed it to Chu Qing.

Chu Qing took a glance and felt that two pages indeed seemed to be missing here.

There was an evident gap between the other pages.

Chu Qing looked at the preceding page, then flipped to the following content, frowning slightly:

"This should be about the internal chaos within the Taiheng Sect more than twenty years ago..."

The previous content described how Zhao Qipeng and many fellow disciples prepared for the Sect Leader’s succession ceremony.

And the one about to succeed as Sect Leader was named Qi Luo.

This person’s reputation was considerable; before Ling Beichen’s rise, Qi Luo had always been the first genius of the Taiheng Sect.

He was highly esteemed by the Taiheng Sect.

Many even hoped Qi Luo could become the new Sect Leader of Taiheng Sect.

But these hopes gradually shifted to Ling Beichen after his rise.

Ultimately, Qi Luo faded into obscurity.

No one expected Ling Beichen to encounter an accident, the old Sect Leader to die, and Qi Luo to be tasked with assuming the Sect Leader’s position amidst turmoil.

Following was Ling Beichen’s return to the sect, setting things right.

He presented Qi Luo’s eight major crimes publicly and executed him at the Sword Pavilion.

This matter was then settled...

The missing content from Zhao Qipeng’s life referred to this sequence of events before the Sword Pavilion when Ling Beichen came.

Later in the succession ceremony, the successor became Li Junmo.

Because Ling Beichen left the sect, seeking a life of leisure in the martial world, with Qi Luo killed by him, Li Junmo ended up assuming the Sect Leader position without effort.

"What exactly happened during this period?"

The few of them exchanged glances and then looked at Guan Changying.

Guan Changying blinked:

"Dear guests, I was only about five or six years old back then, how could I know what happened...

"These pages being torn from his life story is truly unexpected.

"Who would do something like this?"

Chu Qing remained silent and simply signaled for them to continue perusing Zhao Qipeng’s life.

But after going through all the booklets, no additional content surfaced; Zhao Qipeng’s life adhered strictly to rules without any transgressions.

Just as Li Junmo said, no feuds, no enmity, living among people yet standing isolated from the world.

After gathering all the booklets, he specifically kept the one missing two pages.

Chu Qing stood up:

"Brother Guan might not know what happened back then, but I reckon Sect Leader Li might.

"The life of Senior Zhao is too impeccable, and these two pages seem particularly special... it could very well be the reason that led to Zhao Qipeng’s murder."

"In other words, the person who tore these two pages is likely the one who killed Zhao Qipeng."

Lan Shuyi smiled:

"I said there would be clues in the Myriad Sword Forest."

"May I trouble Brother Guan to guide us to find Sect Leader Li?"

Chu Qing looked at Guan Changying.

But Guan Changying’s face showed a troubled expression:

"This... this might not be possible.

"My master suddenly announced seclusion last night; I’m afraid only by the sword-granting ceremony will he be able to exit."

...

...

Within a corridor of the Taiheng Sect, Chu Qing and his entourage remained silent.

Li Junmo’s timing for seclusion seemed a bit off... With Zhao Qipeng’s death here, why would he enter seclusion?

Moreover, with the sword-granting ceremony approaching.

Yet Guan Changying spoke clearly, and it was inappropriate for Chu Qing and the others to recklessly disturb.

"However, such a big event back then, surely more than just Sect Leader Li knew about it."

Lan Shuyi chuckled softly:

"At worst, we ask others about it."

Chu Qing glanced at him and gently shook his head:

"That’s not the issue. Zhao Qipeng’s life has two pages removed, and Li Junmo suddenly went into seclusion, too many coincidences.

"Now I’m a bit worried that Li Junmo may not be in seclusion..."

"Not in seclusion... could it be..."

Wu Qianhuan’s expression changed slightly.

Lan Shuyi looked at Chu Qing:

"What do you plan to do?"

"Whether or not in seclusion, we can find out tonight."

Chu Qing said lightly:

"During the day, let’s ask other Taiheng Sect members about the past, and at night we’ll explore the seclusion forbidden area in the back mountain."

"Okay."

Lan Shuyi nodded:

"What do we do now?"

"Now, of course, we go find..."

As Chu Qing began to speak, a notification from the system suddenly popped up.

[Commission completed!]

[Successfully assassinated Vajra Sect’s Enlightenment, obtained one ’Random Martial Arts Treasure Chest.’]