With a sword drawn, he laughs proudly, his martial prowess dominating the heavens!

Chapter 11 Old Yue Returns to the Mountain

For three consecutive days, the Medicine King Temple was filled with the shadows of swords and the howling of sword winds.

The old man stood below the hall, sword in hand, watching the figure wielding the sword with unrestrained grace in the courtyard, and a sense of unease crept over him.

The Gale Swift Sword Technique comprises 108 moves and is his masterpiece, created during more than ten years of seclusion.

He happened to meet Linghu Chong at the tavern. Killing him would be beneath his dignity, but letting him go would be a pity. So he thought, "If the chief disciple of the Qi Sect were to practice the sword techniques of my Sword Sect... interesting, interesting."

"After more than twenty years apart, this generous gift will surely please the hypocrite, Senior Brother Yue."

Since evil intentions were already present, the sword was naturally passed on with some reservations.

I originally only intended to teach thirty-six moves.

but!

Feng Buping looked at the figure dancing with swordplay in the courtyard and thought to himself, "This boy has such talent; he should be the successor of my Sword Sect!"

He was overjoyed at the prospect of learning, and before he knew it, he had taught more than seventy moves. He repeatedly told himself that this was the end and he should never teach any more.

Linghu Chong was completely unaware of this.

He felt that this swift sword was truly powerful, with its wind surging and its energy chilling.

The swordplay was as swift as a sudden rainstorm, each strike faster and stronger than the last.

The surrounding sword shadows were as dense as needles, or as swift as lightning.

It is precisely because I wish to ride the wind and gracefully grasp the lightning that I am about to strike.

In an instant, his moves changed again. The sword wind stopped abruptly, and instead the sword moved with the wind, the long sword in his hand swaying erratically, as if splashing ink in mid-air.

A humanoid phantom appeared before his eyes, the longsword striking, parrying, and slashing with various techniques, all aimed at the phantom's vital points. He thought to himself, "This move, 'Borrowing Strength from the Wind,' has an unremarkable name, yet it is extremely ruthless!"

He thought to himself, "This senior's whirlwind sword technique is truly formidable, perhaps even surpassing the signature skills of the Five Mountains Sword Sect. My master's wife often says that fortune and misfortune are intertwined. This time, disobeying my master's orders to go down the mountain and get drunk is a misfortune, but being able to learn this sword technique is a blessing."

"It's just another beating, what's the big deal? In the end, it's better to be lucky than unlucky."

But he forgot that his teacher's wife had also said: There's no such thing as a free lunch!

Even if I remember, I'm afraid I won't be able to care.

Linghu Chong felt that this sword technique was too easy to use, and the sword moves taught by this senior were completely different from those of his master Yue Buqun.

The swordsmanship of the elders was characterized by its speed and force, emphasizing that the sword should move with the mind, allowing for flexible changes in moves and adaptability in combat.

After getting to know his master, Linghu Chong found him to be somewhat rigid.

After practicing for another half hour, he stopped his sword practice and realized that all the vegetation within a ten-foot radius around him had been cleared away, and the bluestone pavement looked as if it had been carefully cleaned.

"Excellent! You have mastered the true essence of the Seventy-Two Styles of the Gale Sword Technique. My wish has been fulfilled. Let us part ways here!"

Although Linghu Chong had expected this, he was still very reluctant to part with her. He stepped forward and kowtowed, saying, "It is truly an honor for this junior to receive your exquisite swordsmanship instruction. Senior, rest assured, this junior will certainly not allow your unparalleled skills to be tarnished!"

He still had a question in his mind: the old master's sword moves and the Huashan sword techniques were three-tenths similar. Could it be that he was related to Huashan?

Then I thought that the senior from three days ago had kept his mouth shut, not revealing his name or background. If I were to inquire about his origins, it would only make me seem presumptuous.

"There's no need for you to act like a demure little girl. But I forbid you from mentioning the sword-passing ceremony to anyone else, not even your master and mistress. Can you really keep that promise?!"

Linghu Chong was taken aback upon hearing this, and after hesitating for a few moments, he said, "Senior, rest assured, I will definitely not mention it to anyone else!"

"good!"

......

At Jade Maiden Peak of Mount Hua, the disciples of the Righteousness Hall gathered listlessly.

Lu Dayou kept rubbing his hands together, pacing back and forth in the hall, muttering over and over again, "What to do, what to do?"

Who is the old man who took away Senior Brother? Is he good or bad, kind or evil? Will Senior Brother be in danger?!

What if he is a member of a demonic cult?

"Ugh, I should have gone with my senior brother! We haven't heard a thing, it's driving me crazy!"

"Lu Hou'er, stop spinning! It's making my eyes dizzy and it's so annoying!"

"Oh dear, junior sister, I was just in a hurry. Sigh~ junior sister, if you hadn't gone to the Cliff of Repentance so many times, perhaps this wouldn't have happened."

Lu Dayou was outspoken, and as soon as he said it, he knew he was in trouble.

Sure enough, Yue Lingshan's face flushed red, and she immediately glared angrily, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about! When our parents passed away, they told us to practice our skills diligently. Who did I offend by asking Senior Brother Li for sparring tips?!"

My senior brother broke his promise. He promised me he wouldn't get drunk anymore, but he still sneaked off the mountain.

"You! If you dare to spout nonsense again, believe me, I'll sew your mouth shut!"

"Alright, alright, stop arguing!" Liang Fa rubbed his throbbing forehead, helplessly separating the two, and sighed, "This time is different from before. We have no idea whether the person who took our senior brother away is friend or foe. I'll set off for Chang'an this afternoon. Everything is up to Master to decide!"

"Third Brother, why don't we ask the Beggars' Sect for help? They have more people and know the area well."

"this......"

Liang Fa was in a dilemma. He knew that his master valued his reputation the most. If the various factions in the Beggars' Sect knew that the Huashan disciples had been captured after drinking, who knew what kind of rumors they would spread.

"Third Senior Brother, don't hesitate! Lives are at stake!"

"What do you mean by 'human life is of paramount importance'!"

The disciples were startled and immediately stood up, forming two rows on the left and right in perfect unison.

A few breaths later...

"Master and Mistress!"

Yue Buqun glanced around, his expression visibly darkening. Ning Zhongze, following behind him, looked worried and frowned first, asking, "Where is your senior brother? Is his injury still not healed?"

"Senior Brother... Senior Brother, he..."

"Bai Luo, you speak!" Yue Buqun said in a deep voice, and Lu Dayou, who was about to speak, immediately shut up.

Ying Bailuo was an honest man. He stammered for a quarter of an hour, explaining the whole story in great detail. When he finished, he was covered in sweat and trembling with fear.

Yue Buqun waved his sleeves and snorted angrily, "This rebellious disciple is incorrigible; ignore him!"

Although Ning Zhongze was also angry, she was ultimately more worried about her disciple's life, and gently advised:

"Senior brother, we can discipline Chong'er carefully if he makes a mistake. But now he is missing and the person who took him away is unknown. We can't just leave him alone."

Let's ask our friends in the underworld for help and find him first.

Yue Buqun's face remained ashen, his anger undiminished, yet he refrained from uttering any further harsh words.

Ning Zhongze treated Linghu Chong like her own son, and so did he.

After a moment of contemplation, Old Yue sighed and said helplessly, "You've had a long and tiring journey, Junior Sister, please rest. I'll go down the mountain."

"Master and Mistress!"

"Senior Brother?!"

Before the words were finished, Linghu Chong, his face beaming with joy, rushed into the Zhengqi Hall, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "Disciple Linghu Chong respectfully welcomes Master and Mistress back to the mountain!"

Yue Buqun glanced at him sideways, ignored him, and walked to the central chair. Once seated, he said coldly, "Do you even respect me as your master anymore?!"

"Master, please forgive me! This disciple...this disciple was bewitched and somehow wandered to the tavern at the foot of the mountain. This disciple deserves to die, please punish me, Master!"

Linghu Chong kept his head down, kneeling upright, but his eyes unconsciously glanced at his junior sister on the right.

"Bewitched? I think you're just being arrogant and fearless!"

Ning Zhongze stepped forward and stood between her disciple and senior brother, saying, "Chong'er, you have been far too reckless this time. Our Huashan Sect's martial arts belong to the Taoist school. Your master confined you to Huashan to temper your character."

You were wrong to disobey your master's orders, and then you got drunk and were taken away by someone else. The world is dangerous, how can you not be wary?

This time, if your master punishes you, you'll have to endure it; your master's wife can't plead for you either.

Even so, Yue Buqun could easily understand his junior sister's meaning: the first precept of Mount Hua—to betray one's master and ancestors, and to disrespect one's elders.

After hearing this, Yue Buqun found it difficult to refuse his junior sister's request.

Yue Lingshan stared at her mother for a while, and after her mother finished speaking, she immediately interjected, her bright eyes darting around three times, "Father, I have something very important to say! It's extremely urgent!"

Yue Buqun glared at her angrily, but before he could reprimand her, his daughter said, "It concerns Senior Brother Li! It's really urgent!"

......