Successful Golden Basin Hand-Washing, Part Two

When Yue Buqun pretended to be a gentleman, his manners and interactions with others were truly impeccable.

In the original timeline, when Daoist Abbess Dingyi disliked Liu Zhengfeng's friends—among whom were indeed heroes of considerable renown and status, many more were unknown and of questionable character, and they avoided speaking out for fear of tarnishing the reputation of the Five Peaks Sword Sects—they remained silent.

Despite his higher status, Yue Buqun made no attempt to act superior or aloof as the leader of the Mount Hua Sect, chatting and laughing with them.

This time was no different. While waiting outside, Yue Buqun had already cleared out any potential troublemakers. He simply spoke a few words in a gentle tone and did not draw his sword, yet those people left on their own.

Those who were asked to leave didn't feel at all that the other party was looking down on them.

It is clear that their methods are extraordinary.

The reason why the original timeline failed and made a fool of itself so many times was because the targets were either madmen like the Six Immortals of Peach Valley, so-called heroes driven by Ren Yingying, or people from Mount Song who came for his life.

Even with Li Lin's senses, he could only spot three or four people in the crowd who showed signs of martial arts training. However, they had only practiced martial arts and their demeanor was more like that of Lin Pingzhi before—ordinary people who knew martial arts.

As for the rest, they were all ordinary people, believers who genuinely wanted to benefit from the Sage Aura.

In fact, Li Lin was quite surprised that Yue Buqun did not become arrogant because of this.

The presence or absence of those two ounces of meat had such a profound impact on a person.

What surprised him even more was...

"You are Tian Boguang?"

Li Lin smiled and looked at the tall man in the crowd.

The world really is on my side, delivering itself to my doorstep.

This is a good opportunity to test out my previous question.

"Immortal Li, how could I be Tian Boguang? I am just a name. My name is Tian Zhongming."

"Interesting. Instead of retreating, it's moving closer to me?"

Tian Boguang's decision to advance instead of retreat truly impressed Li Lin.

In particular, his initial anger, followed by grievance, hesitation, and finally cautiousness were extremely realistic.

Break down the physical symptoms caused by fear into appropriate amounts of other emotions.

"If your heart hadn't been pounding like a drum, I might have actually believed that this was the taste of fear."

Li Lin swayed slightly, and as soon as he finished speaking, his finger was already lightly pressed an inch on Tian Boguang's chest.

With just a slight exertion, its heart can split into nine pieces.

He had already mastered the Heart-Shattering Palm technique at a glance, and even created the Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart realm based on Li Renyong's foundation.

Seven acupoints were created out of thin air in the ventricle of the heart.

These seven major acupoints are not only acceleration devices that make the flow of true qi faster and more powerful, but also seven additional small dantians.

It can not only store excess essence and energy, but also allow the body to repair itself instantly unless it is seriously injured, such as losing an arm or a leg.

It can also temporarily boost combat power by consuming the essence within the acupoints in one breath, doubling the power for each acupoint.

Even though he wasn't using his full strength, his spirit had already arrived, and a hollow whistling sound still came from his palm, like the low moan of the dead.

Even with Tian Boguang's courage, he couldn't help but take a step back. He felt as if his heart was about to burst out of his chest.

"Don't worry." Li Lin withdrew his hand, and the strange phenomenon disappeared. "Killing you like this would be far too easy for you."

All of this happened too fast.

Just as Li Lin's followers were about to pick up their belongings and throw them at Tian Boguang, they found the deity blocking their way and reluctantly put them down.

Yue Lingshan forgot about her jealousy.

The Abbess Dingyi, who wanted to pretend to scold Yi Lin, looked at Tian Boguang with Killing Intent.

Yue Buqun pondered how to teach Linghu Chong a lesson.

Meanwhile, the guests in the hall offered suggestions one after another, hoping to cultivate a good relationship with Li Lin.

It was started by a person from Mount Song.

"Immortal Li, let me do it. My pipa playing will surely make him wish he were dead."

He stood up proudly, raising his two large, powerful hands.

He only showed respect when he saw Li Lin.

Yue Buqun frowned. He wanted to interject, but how could he torture someone like that? That didn't fit his persona. He was filled with mixed feelings: What should he do? Should he just watch Songshan steal the spotlight?

I could only console myself: It's okay, I have Lingshan.

But he quickly broke into a smile.

This is because these guests come from all walks of life.

The wisdom of those at the bottom of the martial arts world, which tormented others, triumphed over the Songshan Sect.

Songshan is, after all, a person of the righteous path.

"I'll do it. I'm good at skinning rabbits. The rabbits I skinned lived a long and healthy life."

"Then I'll dismantle the bones."

"I'll apply the salt!"

"I'll pour the honey water."

"I provide the ants, and I have a gourd!"

Finally, the story ends with a burly man carrying a butcher's knife at his waist and wearing silk clothes that don't suit his status. He has a very loud voice, and what he says makes a lot of sense.

"Quiet! You're either too childish or too disgusting to offend Immortal Li's eyes."

"Even if we don't consider Immortal Li, we should at least consider Mr. Liu's feelings."

After these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

After all, in the original timeline, these guests even dared to prepare to attack when they thought Liu Zhengfeng had committed a heinous crime punishable by death, confiscation of property, and extermination of nine generations of his family, thinking they would swarm him and chop the official into mincemeat.

If Liu Zhengfeng hadn't shown such favoritism towards Qu Yang later on, even severing ties with his guests for his sake, and if the Songshan Sect hadn't acted so swiftly and ruthlessly, it's possible that the people of Songshan would have been the ones turned into mincemeat.

The butcher continued, "I can tell the weight of a piece of pork just by lifting it in my hand. I can slice a hundred pieces from just one ounce of meat! My butchering technique is a family heirloom, which is more suitable for dealing with flower thieves."

The monk Monk Bujie and wanted to learn the knife technique.

Li Lin was also tempted, but he didn't want to do it himself.

Only the inherently wicked Tian Boguang dared not be tempted. Despite his trembling legs, he still put on a heroic air, saying, "If you want to mistake Zhongming for Tian Boguang, that's fine, but I only ask that it be done cleanly and efficiently!"

"Just chop me off!" he said, tearing open his collar. "It'll just be a small scar, and I'll be a hero again in eighteen years!"

It has to be said that Linghu Chong was simply born to love men.

In the original timeline, he was able to forget that Tian Boguang was a lecherous thief and that his junior sister might be in danger because Tian Boguang brought him wine on the mountain. He didn't care even if he knew that Huo's sister, who had close ties with Huashan, had been raped by him.

This time, he forgot about his junior sister again, focusing all his attention on his newly acquainted good brother, Tian Zhongming.

Even Yue Buqun's murderous gaze couldn't stop him.

"Wait! Even if you want to kill Brother Tian, treating a hero like this is far too inhumane."

"Hero! Linghu Chong! He is Tian Boguang! A scoundrel who ravishes other men's wives and daughters!"

Yue Buqun was about to faint. He felt that everyone around him was secretly laughing at him for having such a great disciple. Those Songshan disciples in their yellowish-brown robes were probably laughing their heads off.

"Senior Brother! You've drunk too much again!"

Only at dusk can the faithful be truly seen.

Lu Dayou, nicknamed "Six Monkeys," jumped out, Lu Dayou of Linghu Chong.

"Tian Boguang, did you, you bastard, drug my senior brother?!"

Linghu Chong instinctively wanted to object, but he only felt a sharp pain in his speech acupoint, and his master's tall figure was already blocking his way.

"Chong'er, I misunderstood you."

From other people's perspectives, Yue Buqun's voice was very gentle, filled with regret and self-blame.

But in Linghu Chong's eyes, there was only his master's cold, sword-like gaze.

Tian Boguang was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter, "As expected of Mount Hua, the former leader of the Five Sacred Mountains, even a disciple can realize in an instant that I used a mind-altering drug."

"Yes! I am Tian Boguang!"

"I knew I was doomed to a terrible death the moment I raped my first woman!"

"The more wicked you are, the more you'll feel you've gotten your money's worth when you die!"

"I, Tian Boguang, this—"

He drew his sword halfway through his sentence, the Blade no longer aimed at someone else, but at himself.

His move was undeniably brilliant.

Not only were their moves Swift as Lightning, but they also seized the perfect opportunity.

Tian Boguang had already flashed a confident smile, waiting for the pain in his neck to hit his head on the ground.

However.

Clang--!

Two slender fingers blocked the Blade.

"Keep talking, you're quite the talker."

Aba aba—

Good news: The head and above can move.

The bad news: He can only move, not speak, and he can't even bite his tongue to commit suicide.

Tian Boguang watched in despair as Li Lin withdrew his finger, and a towering monk appeared in front of him, lifting him up with his large, fan-like hand.

"My dear son-in-law, let me do it."

The Monk Bujie snatched the knife from Tian Boguang's hand and looked at Butcher Zhang. "Hey, monk, I'm also a butcher by trade. I'll wield the knife later, and you can give me some pointers."

"Master has good taste!" Butcher Zhang looked at everyone smugly, haha, he had won the appreciation of his father-in-law, the Immortal Li.

Linghu Chong's eyes were bloodshot.

However, there's nothing he can do now.

It was clearly Tian Boguang who was being cut, but the knife seemed to be cutting into him.

Late at night.

"Master, Senior Brother still refuses to eat," Lu Dayou said anxiously.

"He won't eat? He'll starve to death!" Yue Buqun roared. "Go back and tell him that if he doesn't eat, I'll disown him as my disciple!"

"You, get out of here too!"

Everything that happened today has made him too ashamed to show his face in front of others.

In particular, his identity as a celestial father-in-law is no longer unique; even the eccentric monk Monk Bujie has been fortunate enough to be one of them.

I really don't know how such a rough man could have given birth to such a beautiful daughter as Yi Lin.

Lu Dayou has already left the room.

Yue Buqun's expression changed instantly, and he looked gently at the other person in the room, "Pingzhi, do you know why I've kept you here today?"

"I don't know," Lin Pingzhi shook his head.

"We are all part of the Five Sacred Mountains, and we are also half the owners of this Liu residence," Yue Buqun said. "Furthermore, the events of today, with Immortal Li staying here, will surely not happen again tomorrow."

As he spoke, he carefully took out a small booklet from his pocket.

"There are countless evil people in the martial arts world."

"Most people, like Tian Boguang, have impressive reputations, but are hard to recognize in person."

"But the evil cultists are different. They also like to do bad things in a unique and ostentatious way. They always leave survivors to spread their names and appearances, for fear that others will not be able to recognize them at a glance."

"This book contains records of demonic cult members."

"Master is..." Lin Pingzhi had already realized what Yue Buqun wanted him to do.

"Tonight I'll be in charge of the south side of the city. You'll be in charge of the north side. Take a quick look; there's not much to see. I'm off now." With that, Yue Buqun leaped out of the window like a nimble cat.

"Is that the Liu residence over there?"

Xiang Wentian looked into the distance.

Even late at night, the Liu residence was still brightly lit.

Each lantern bore the bright red characters "[Liu Mansion]".

Built against the mountain, its flying eaves and brackets stretch as far as the eye can see.

Both sides of the road leading to his residence.

The parking lot was filled with all sorts of carriages and horses.

There were Qingcong horses from the Songshan Sect, chestnut horses from the Hengshan School, and even a few Akhal-Teke horses from the Western Regions.

"Liu Zhengfeng has quite the grand entourage."

"Good at making friends."

"What a fine Third Master Liu."

By the end, Xiang Wentian's voice had turned cold.

"Elder Qu, are you really not going to reconsider my suggestion? I will sever Liu Zhengfeng's worldly ties for you, leaving only you."

"In this way, you can win the heart of the beauty and no longer need to pretend to be cultured."

Hearing Xiang Wentian him directly as 'Elder Qu'.

Qu Yang knew that Xiang Wentian was about to get serious, and he quickly said solemnly, "No!"

"If you mobilize a large force, how will Brother Liu maintain his standing in the martial arts world?"

"Also, I really love music."

"If you dare to cause trouble, you should never mention the matter of Sect Leader Ren again."

"You, Qu Yang, are threatening me?" Xiang Wentian's voice softened, and his hand, hidden in his wide sleeves, rested on the hilt of his curved sword.

However, a figure made him stop in his tracks.

He was a young man in brocade robes, about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a Falcon perched on his left shoulder and a sword hanging at his waist, galloping on horseback.

Xiang Wentian's thoughts of killing and stealing horses resurfaced.

This was the thing he loved most in his life.

After using the horse, kill it, roast its strongest hind leg, and drink it with the wine you carry with you—that would be one of life's greatest pleasures.

"Brother Qu, I've found you an even better sworn brother. You'll be very satisfied. He's sixteen years old and as beautiful as a peach blossom. I'll be right back."

The old man in white robes disappeared into the night.

For some reason, Qu Yang felt that this was the last time he would see Xiang Wentian.

Sigh—

Lin Pingzhi stopped his horse.

The Falcon on my shoulder was extremely intelligent; with just a glance, it dropped off my shoulder and landed on the saddle.

Who is it?

Lin Pingzhi suddenly turned his head.

On the eaves, an old man in a white robe stood in the moonlight.

"What a pity. If you had mounted your horse, I might have spared your life."

"I'm sorry to Qu Xiandi."

"I was originally going to make an exception and leave you to Brother Qu."

"White robe, long beard, curved sword, wine, Xiang Wentian." Lin Pingzhi recognized the man.

"Very well, I'll grant you a complete corpse." Xiang Wentian landed gracefully, not even bothering to draw his sword, but instead unleashing a palm strike from above.

Lin Pingzhi was already in the shadows, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Knowing that this person was the Left Envoy of Light, the [Evil Warding True Qi] within his body circulated rapidly.

Sizzle—!

The longsword was drawn into his body, Lin Pingzhi dodged the palm by sidestepping.

Under the astonished gazes of both of them, Xiang Wentian breathed his last.

The next day.

Liu Zhengfeng stood nervously in the center of the crowd.

But he still spoke loudly, "Esteemed seniors and heroes, dear friends, and young friends, I am deeply grateful for Liu Zhengfeng presence. I am honored by your presence, and I am eternally thankful. Today, Golden Basin Hand-Washing and will no longer concern myself with its affairs."

He spoke while looking towards the gate.

Yue Buqun knew the reason for his unease.

Xiang Wentian's corpse.

The Left Envoy of Light of the Demonic Cult died here, and Liu Zhengfeng had not witnessed the true Kamui of Immortal Li, so his unease was understandable.

After Liu Zhengfeng finished speaking, he rolled up his sleeves, stretched out his hands, and was about to put the contents into the golden basin.

At that moment, his heart was in his throat.

However, no one stopped them.

As the hand was taken out of the golden basin, congratulations erupted throughout the hall.