Chapter 39: Zhang Sanjian’s Doubt!
“What in the world happened?”
At that moment, everyone within the Empyrean Sword Sect was gathered at one place and they all had confusion written on their faces.
“When we arrived, we only saw Ji Ling’s corpse...”
“Yeah... I killed him...”
“But...”
Everyone present, including Zhang Sanjian, looked at Mo Qingchen. Within their eyes was a thick layer of doubt. What was going on? Ji Ling was someone who could severely injure an elder. This would mean that his strength was terrific. According to the elder, Ji Ling had already stepped into Late-stage Liberation. With a demon’s brutality, it could be said that even the few elders present were no match for Ji Ling!
Mo Qingchen had killed Ji Ling?
They had seen Ji Ling’s corpse. It was true that Mo Qingchen had killed him with his sword!
“I’m afraid that in the entire sect, only the Sect Lord can match up to Ji Ling,” a disciple said.
Zhang Sanjian nodded with eyes full of apathy.
Although only Zhang Sanjian himself knew how frail he currently was.
“Qingchen, describe it to me in detail. What happened exactly?”
Zhang Sanjian cast a solemn glance at Mo Qingchen’s face. Mo Qingchen curled his lips, and behind him, Lin Qingxian sat clenching her tiny fist. She seemed a little nervous.
“Master, it was a tiny skeleton that turned Senior Brother Ji Ling into a demon. That skeleton can morph into human form. It was extremely terrifying. However... when we rushed over, that skeleton had already been killed by a mysterious ace...”
Lin Qingxian gazed at her second senior brother from behind.
The way she saw it, someone as pure and na?ve as her second senior brother would definitely reveal everything about their eldest senior brother. But why had her second senior brother come up with this lie for her eldest senior brother?
Is Senior Brother Qingchen...?
If it had not been for Lin Qingxian knowing that her second senior brother wasn’t possessed by a demon, she would have definitely hit him in the head just then.
“A mysterious ace?”
“Was it the ace that killed the Sol Sword Sect’s Sect Lord and several of their elders at the Liberation stage? And the one who vanquished the demon tree that assaulted Qingchen and his party in one single strike?”
“Yes. Besides, after I returned to the sect, I heard that a Master and Slave Demon had infiltrated the sect some time ago. That was also the time when we took down the Small Scripture Repository. If I remember correctly, there was also a mysterious ace who had made a move to kill the demon’s main body and resolved the chaos at that time.”
A group of elders began thinking everything over, and the more they did, the more frightened they felt.
Was there really a mysterious ace who was secretly protecting the Empyrean Sword Sect?
“Qingchen, I know that you won’t lie. Hurry up and tell us in detail about what exactly happened. Did you see that ace’s face?”
“Precisely. His way with the sword, his looks, tell us everything in detail.”
“I didn’t see his face. I only saw the white robe the person was wearing. He was hidden by the dark mist. As for his sword technique... it’s... it’s the Empyrean Sword Manual...” Making up lies to this extent had already taken a toll on Mo Qingchen. Initially, he wanted to come up with a random sword art, but he ultimately failed and could only say that it was the Empyrean Sword Manual.
“Empyrean Sword Manual... at which phase?”
“Five Yin Elements.” When Mo Qingchen mentioned this, even he himself was still extremely shocked. That was the Five Yin Elements phase where force was converted into the five substantive elements!
Especially the Thunder Element, which was the most brutal in assault!
This would imply that if his senior brother got his hands on the Empyrean Sword Manual’s Assaulting Sword Section, he might very well revive the glory of the best Assaulting Sword Art in the Empyrean Sword Domain back in the days!
“Yin Five Elements!”
All of the elders that were present trembled. Their eyes were full of disbelief!
“How is that possible? The Empyrean Sword Manual’s Riding Sword Section that is in our sect’s possession right now would only allow one to cultivate to the Arising Phase in Riding Arts... After all, it is not complete enough. A Riding Sword Section that can be cultivated until the Five Yin Elements phase... that is definitely the complete orthodox version of the Empyrean Sword Manual’s Riding Sword Section!”
The elders could not hold back their shock.
“Is that person from the main sect?”
Only people from the main sect could possibly master the complete version of the Riding Sword Section!
“That is highly possible,” Zhang Sanjian said at that moment. His face was cold and stately, making him sound very convincing.
“Is that true?”
The elders were delighted.
“If that’s the case, with the main sect’s protection, I guess we’ll do just fine. I just wonder why that mysterious ace won’t show themselves?”
However, at that moment, Zhang Sanjian said, “Alright, let us settle with this. Our sect will become better and better.”
Then, Mo Qingchen quietly sighed in relief. Evidently, all the previous lying had drained him completely.
“Qingchen, stay.”
Mo Qingchen’s chest felt tight once again.
When everybody left, Zhang Sanjian suddenly came over, wiped the dignified look off of his face, and raised his feet.
Mo Qingchen’s eyes widened and he asked, “Master, what are you doing?!”
“You little b*stard! You’ve grown up, huh? You dare to tell lies now!? Who did you learn that from? Was it that sh*thead Shen Changge?”
“I didn’t!”
“You’ve been here since you were very little. I understand you too well. When you are lying, your eyes will drift around, and your speech will stutter. Do you think I can’t tell that you’re lying?!”
Mo Qingchen became silent. He could hide it no more. He just could not bear to see his master’s disappointed look.
“Master... I am wrong...” he said.
“So, you’re really lying, huh.” Zhang Sanjian squinted his eyes and smirked. The boy was still too young and na?ve. He was made to expose himself with a tickle.
Dang it!
...
I’ve been cheated!
Mo Qingchen almost vomited. This shameless old man was the same as Senior Brother Changge!
“Sigh. So it’s something that you’d rather lie to conceal. I bet you must have your own important reason for it. In that case, I will ask you only one question. From beginning to end, has your eldest senior brother had anything to do with this?!” Zhang Sanjian emphasized his question and stared into Mo Qingchen’s eyes, causing him tremendous stress.
Mo Qingchen took a deep breath.
“No,” he said.
“Mm. You may leave now.”
After Mo Qingchen left, Zhang Sanjian’s eyes flickered. After quite some time, a pleasant expression appeared on his face as he said, “My little disciple has learned how to lie as well...”
But unfortunately, Mo Qingchen could not fool him. In fact, after Zhang Sanjian had asked that question, Mo Qingchen’s answer was no longer relevant.
His eyes were deep and complicated.
“Changge, you are becoming more and more strange to me.”
After Mo Qingchen left, he finally exhaled deeply. Master almost got me there. Thank goodness I am clever.
...
Others all say that although Senior Brother Changge is very lazy, the way he can spin the truth makes him the best candidate to roam around the world. But I, Mo Qingchen, aren’t bad in this either.
It’s just that I’m kinder.
“Senior Brother Qingchen, why did you...?” Lin Qingxian asked as she walked over with doubt on her face.
“You want to ask why I didn’t reveal that the terrifying ace is Senior Brother Changge, right?” he said.
“Yes. Senior Brother Qingchen, you never lied before this. Didn’t you say that lying isn’t something that a good child should do?”
“It is true. Lying isn’t something good, and it’ll make me feel very uncomfortable on the inside. However, do you understand Senior Brother Changge?”
Lin Qingxian was stunned for a moment. When one day your second senior brother asks something along the same lines despite despising your eldest senior brother the most, that feeling would really give anyone goosebumps from head to toe.
“Do you know why Senior Brother Changge is so powerful? We drive our swords with our hands, but Senior Brother Changge does so with his heart. He has arrived at an extremely horrifying state of the mind. An entity so powerful with such great talent, and yet he was able to conceal himself for so many years. The state of his mind that desires nothing about fame and fortune is the most precious and also the most terrifying.
“I must not mess up the path Senior Brother Changge has chosen...” Mo Qingchen explained.
...
Early the next morning.
Shen Changge arrived at the top of the Empyrean Peak and looked down at the Empyrean Sword Sect. He seemingly wanted to feign indifference. However, the corner of his mouth curled up in spite of himself.
He stood with his hands behind his back and looked into the distance. Gentle winds blew on his robe as white as snow, invoking an image that very much made him seem like a braggart.
“I... I guess I can’t hide any longer...”
Tremble before me, Empyrean Sword Sect.
“Senior Brother Changge, the situation is pretty tense recently! You have to control yourself!”
The disciples on patrol below felt a little speechless. Their eldest senior brother was on it again.
Shen Changge, “???”
After quite some time, seemingly because things had not gone quite as he had expected, his eyes gradually became resentful.
At that moment.
Mo Qingchen, who was still asleep in the early morning, suddenly felt a puff of cold. He pulled his quilt up and began to talk in his sleep.
“Senior Brother Changge, please teach me your tricks...”