Chapter 34: The Truth?

Ren Yi cast a casual glance and said indifferently, "I am speaking with Daoist Chongxu; what right do you have to interrupt with your prattling?"

Zuo Lengchan was furious: "You..."

Daoist Chongxu interrupted: "According to the disciples of Mount Heng, Abbess Dingjing was ambushed by the Demonic Cult on her way to Shaolin and died of her injuries. Furthermore, Abbesses Dingyi and Dingxian both perished yesterday within the Shaolin Temple."

Ren Yi smiled: "Dongfang Bubai had no time for such things. The Demonic Cult disciples encountered by Mount Heng were impostors from the Mount Song Sect. However, Abbesses Dingyi and Dingxian did not die at the hands of the Mount Song Sect."

Zuo Lengchan shouted: "Cease your babbling!"

With that, he drew his sword rapidly, unleashing the most lethal killing move of the Mount Song sword style, leaping into the air to strike downward...

Ren Yi raised his hand and drew his sword in a backhanded motion. A flash of light appeared as his iron sword met the incoming strike.

The two swords did not clash.

Though Zuo Lengchan's broadsword was fast, Ren Yi's iron sword was faster.

Ren Yi's strike appeared ordinary, yet in that single flash, the essence of every change in swordsmanship burst forth in the brief moment between drawing the sword from behind his right shoulder, striking, and returning it to its scabbard.

This was the first time Zuo Lengchan had seen such sword light—it was a technique without peer, flawless and untainted.

The tip of his blade reached Ren Yi's throat, missing by barely an inch... before he suddenly lost all control.

A miserable shriek echoed out, blood splattered through the air, and an arm tumbled down from above, its hand still tightly gripping an elegantly fashioned blue-steel sword!

Zuo Lengchan landed and retreated repeatedly... until his two junior brothers helped him stabilize his stance and staunched the gushing blood.

Ren Yi said calmly, "If anyone else prattles on, I shall not grant anyone face again."

With just one strike, the Sect Leader of Mount Song had been relieved of an arm. Many onlookers shivered and clamped their mouths shut; who dared utter another word?

Ren Woxing stared at Ren Yi, a look of wariness seeping into his eyes. Perhaps at this moment, Ren Woxing understood why the people of the Jianghu feared him so much.

Having witnessed such a strike, how many hearts were roiled with immense waves, and how many had the courage to face such a blade?

Daoist Chongxu walked toward Zuo Lengchan, offering healing medicine from his sleeve, then turned back to ask: "You said that Abbesses Dingyi and Dingxian did not die at the hands of the Mount Song Sect, so tell me, who caused their deaths?"

Ren Yi replied, "Yue Buqun of Mount Hua!"

The members of the Mount Hua Sect were naturally indignant, but with Zuo Lengchan as a warning, and having all witnessed the horrifying scene at the Wang residence, none dared to make a sound.

Abbot Fangzheng said, "Sect Leader Yue governs the Mount Hua Sect and is known for his upright and incorruptible character, his reputation spread throughout the Jianghu..."

Before he could finish, Ren Yi interrupted: "Abbot, there is no need to dwell on my words. The Daoist asked me, so I answered him. Whether it is believed or not, true or false, I do not care, and you need not care either."

Abbot Fangzheng pressed urgently, "How can this not be a matter of concern?"

Ren Yi shook his head, refusing to respond further, and instead asked, "Daoist, do you have any other confusion?"

Daoist Chongxu said in a low voice, "Can you tell me why Sect Leader Yue would do such a thing?"

Ren Yi laughed: "Zuo Lengchan wishes to unify the Five Mountain Sword Sects; why would Yue Buqun not desire the same? In the past, he would certainly have stopped the Mount Song Sect, but now that he is acting in the shadows to facilitate this, he must believe he is capable of contending with Zuo Lengchan."

Daoist Chongxu asked, "Is that your reason for killing the disciples of Mount Song?"

Ren Yi nodded, then shook his head: "Be it Zuo Lengchan or Yue Buqun, both are duplicitous, constantly engaging in such schemes. That is indeed something I cannot overlook..."

Daoist Chongxu sighed again: "It is rumored in the Jianghu that the Bixie Sword Manual is in your possession. Do you have anything to say to me about that?"

Ren Yi smiled slightly: "A technique created by a palace eunuch—though I was curious enough to observe it, why would I ever practice it?"

A technique created by a palace eunuch? Once these words were out, murmurs erupted immediately!

Hearing this, Ren Woxing laughed loudly: "Hahaha... Good, good, good, well said! A technique created by a palace eunuch; who would practice it, and wouldn't anyone who did also become a eunuch?"

Fangzheng and Chongxu exchanged glances, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes.

The two of them naturally knew the origin of the Bixie Sword Manual, but these were old affairs, and very few people knew the truth. How did Ren Yi know all this?

"What are you saying? The Bixie Sword Manual is an heirloom of my Lin family; this is known to everyone in the Jianghu. How could it be as you babble... created by... by a eunuch!"

Ren Woxing looked at Lin Pingzhi's words with disdain.

Ren Yi looked at him and chuckled: "Since I have said so much, I might as well tell you everything, so that you may die with peace of mind."

Hearing that he was to be killed, Lin Pingzhi's face turned pale, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Ren Yi said softly, "In the previous dynasty, there was a eunuch of extraordinary martial prowess, unmatched by anyone in his time. However, because he lived deep within the palace, few in the Jianghu knew of him. His life's learning was compiled into a book titled the 'Sunflower Manual'."

The crowd looked at one another, all with expressions of doubt, not knowing what the Sunflower Manual was. Only the elders of the various sects showed signs of being moved.

"Years later, the 'Sunflower Manual' ended up in the Putian Shaolin Temple. At that time, Yue Su and Cai Zifeng of Mount Hua happened to learn of it. They went to Putian Shaolin to visit Zen Master Hongye, who was guarding the book. The two were allowed to borrow it, but time was short, and to avoid detection, they devised a plan: each would memorize one half."

"Upon returning to Mount Hua, they immediately transcribed what they had memorized... but when they compared notes, the two halves were completely incompatible. They blamed each other, both convinced the other had made a mistake. They refused to concede, which eventually led to their disciples fighting, and that is the origin of the Sword Sect and the Qi Sect of Mount Hua."

The Mount Hua members were astonished; they had not expected this. Seeing the logic and evidence in his words, the crowd began to believe him.

Ren Yi continued: "The infighting at Mount Hua finally led Zen Master Hongye to discover that the two had stolen the contents of the 'Sunflower Manual.' He sent his disciple, Duyuan, to Mount Hua to mediate. When the two saw Duyuan arrive, they admitted to the theft and even asked the monk for guidance on the parts they did not understand. Little did they know, while Duyuan clarified their doubts, he was secretly memorizing the text himself."

The crowd was shocked again.

"Duyuan stayed at Mount Hua for over ten days before leaving, but he never returned to Putian Shaolin to report back. Instead, he sent a letter to his master, renouncing his vows to become a layman."

Lin Pingzhi asked loudly: "What does this have to do with my Lin family's Bixie Sword Manual?"

Ren Yi smiled slightly and said indifferently: "Lin Yuantu was the name Duyuan took after returning to secular life. Your Lin family's so-called 'Bixie Sword Manual' is nothing more than the 'Sunflower Manual' with a different name."

Lin Pingzhi was suddenly speechless.

Ren Yi added: "Do you know why, after Lin Yuantu, the Bixie Sword Style was never again as invincible as it once was?"

Lin Pingzhi stared at him...

Ren Yi said: "The Sunflower Manual was created by a eunuch, so it is naturally quite unique. To master it, one must first mutilate oneself. The book begins with the words, 'To master this technique, one must first castrate oneself.' Your family's ancestral teaching, 'Do not rashly examine the ancestral relics in the old house on Xiangyang Lane'—do you understand the meaning now?"

The crowd gasped; they clearly had not expected such a thing.

But upon reflection, a eunuch's martial arts, only a eunuch could practice... what was impossible about that?

Lin Pingzhi's eyes turned bloodshot, his expression resembling that of a madman.

"Shut your mouth!"

Ren Yi flicked a finger through the air; a stream of energy shot out like a blade of sword qi.