In the courtyard, Liu Zhengfeng's expression was dark and unreadable.
Shi Denda's hardline attitude had somewhat exceeded his expectations.
A mere second-generation Mount Song disciple actually dared to treat him, the Hengshan Sect's second-in-command, with such an attitude.
This only made him increasingly doubt whether Su Chen's words back then had been true.
"Martial nephew Shi, are you truly determined to stop my Golden Basin Hand-washing?" Liu Zhengfeng demanded, his tone filled with displeasure.
"Please forgive me, martial uncle Liu. It is not this disciple who wishes to stop you, but my master's order." Shi Denda showed no fear and met him tit for tat.
"Golden Basin Hand-washing is Liu's private affair. What does it have to do with Alliance Leader Zuo?" Liu Zhengfeng said unhappily. He then looked at the others present. "Today, Alliance Leader Zuo can interfere in Liu's private affairs. Tomorrow, will he interfere in the affairs of each of the Five Great Sword Sects as well?"
That was a huge accusation, placed directly upon Zuo Lengchan's head.
The Five Great Sword Sects were united in spirit and had formed an alliance.
But when all was said and done, each sect still governed its own affairs.
Now that Liu Zhengfeng had spoken such heart-piercing words, Shi Denda's expression immediately changed. He did not dare accept that accusation.
The other members of the Five Great Sword Sects present, such as Yue Buqun, Abbess Dingyi, and Daoist Tianmen, all changed expression as well.
Liu Zhengfeng's words had struck right at their hearts.
Indeed, today Zuo Lengchan could interfere with Liu Zhengfeng's Golden Basin Hand-washing.
Tomorrow, why could he not interfere with the affairs of their respective sects?
If they had to obey Zuo Lengchan's arrangements in everything, what need was there for the other four sects of the Five Great Sword Sects to exist?
They might as well all merge into the Mount Song Sect.
For a moment, everyone's gaze fell upon Shi Denda.
Shi Denda immediately felt immense pressure and did not know how to respond.
Just then, another voice suddenly rang out. "Senior brother Liu, that is truly an enormous accusation. My Mount Song Sect cannot bear it."
As the voice fell, a thin middle-aged man with two wisps of rat-like mustache above his upper lip stepped into the courtyard.
The moment he entered, he struck out with a palm through the air, overturning the golden basin before Liu Zhengfeng.
The sudden turn of events startled everyone present, and they could not help looking toward the newcomer.
"Great Songyang Hand Fei Bin..." The gathered heroes were no strangers to him and recognized his identity.
"Junior brother Fei, what is the meaning of this?" Liu Zhengfeng demanded, suppressing his anger.
He had overturned Liu Zhengfeng's golden basin right in front of him. Did he truly think Liu Zhengfeng was a soft persimmon that could be kneaded at will?
Fei Bin looked utterly unconcerned. "It means nothing. I am merely following Alliance Leader Zuo's orders to stop senior brother Liu from performing Golden Basin Hand-washing."
As he spoke, he gave a cold laugh. "However, seeing that senior brother Liu is unwilling to obey the order, I had no choice but to resort to this..."
Fei Bin did not finish his words, but their meaning was already obvious.
With the golden basin overturned, how could he wash his hands now?
Anger flashed in Liu Zhengfeng's eyes, while the unease in his heart grew ever stronger.
Fei Bin was one of the Thirteen Taibao of Songshan, an absolute high-ranking figure within the Mount Song Sect.
It would not have been strange if he had come for an ordinary visit.
But he had appeared abruptly on such an occasion, and the moment he arrived, he had overturned the golden basin.
Such abnormal behavior could not help but invite speculation.
"So, junior brother Fei, no matter what happens today, you intend to stop Liu from performing Golden Basin Hand-washing?" Liu Zhengfeng asked, holding back his fury.
But Fei Bin suddenly changed tack. "Not necessarily. Alliance Leader Zuo has given his word: as long as senior brother Liu accomplishes one thing, no one will stop your Golden Basin Hand-washing."
"What matter?"
"Kill the Demonic Cult Cultist Qu Yang." Fei Bin finally bared his fangs.
Liu Zhengfeng's expression changed drastically.
Because of their shared love of music, he had met and become acquainted with Qu Yang, an elder of the Demonic Cult. By now, they had become close friends.
One important reason he wished to perform Golden Basin Hand-washing and withdraw from the martial world was that he did not want the divide between righteousness and evil to restrict his friendship with Qu Yang.
Now that Fei Bin had directly demanded that he kill Qu Yang, there was no way he could agree.
"Please forgive Liu, but I cannot agree." Liu Zhengfeng refused without a moment's thought.
"Senior brother Liu, are you truly determined to persist in your own course, associating with Demonic Cult Cultists and disregarding the righteousness of the orthodox path?"
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"Brother Qu and I both love music, and that is why we became acquainted. It has nothing to do with anything else."
Only then did the others present finally understand.
So this second-in-command of the Hengshan Sect had secretly been associated with the Demonic Cult Cultist Qu Yang.
For a moment, the way everyone looked at Liu Zhengfeng changed.
They had originally thought the Mount Song Sect was being overly aggressive, but now they somewhat understood its actions.
After all, righteousness and evil had never stood together since ancient times.
Thus, some began to offer words of persuasion.
"Senior brother Liu, Demonic Cult Cultists have always been cruel and savage. You truly should not associate with them."
"That's right, senior brother Liu. Demonic Cult Cultists have always been full of schemes. Who knows? Perhaps Qu Yang used music as a pretext to deceive you, hoping to use you as an opening to harm our righteous martial world."
"Senior brother Liu, you should obey Alliance Leader Zuo's order and kill the demon Qu Yang."
Listening to the gathered heroes, the corners of Fei Bin's mouth could not help curving upward.
Liu Zhengfeng's expression grew increasingly ugly.
Without realizing it, he had become a target of public criticism.
However, asking him to deal with Qu Yang was absolutely impossible.
Thus, he explained once more. "My fellow martial artists, I guarantee with my life and family that brother Qu is different from ordinary Demonic Cult Cultists. He will not threaten the righteous martial world."
"We have already discussed it. We will withdraw from the martial world together and no longer concern ourselves with its affairs, so..."
Before he could finish, Fei Bin cut him off.
"Liu Zhengfeng, it seems you are determined to consort with Demonic Cult Cultists."
"I would like to see whether Demonic Cult Cultists are more important in your heart, or the lives of your entire family."
As he spoke, Fei Bin raised his arm and shouted, "Mount Song disciples, heed my order! Move!"
As his voice fell, more than a dozen Mount Song disciples in yellow robes suddenly emerged from the crowd and surrounded Liu Zhengfeng.
Immediately afterward, cries and wails came from the direction of Liu Manor's rear courtyard.
The next moment, another dozen or so Mount Song disciples escorted Liu Zhengfeng's family into the front courtyard.
With blades pressed against them, Liu Zhengfeng's wife, children, and elders all wore terrified expressions.
"Father, save me..." Liu Zhengfeng's daughter pleaded to him in a trembling voice.
At that sight, Liu Zhengfeng felt as though he had been struck by lightning.
"It's true. Everything Lord Su said was true. Zuo Lengchan truly intends to wipe out my entire family..."
At this moment, Liu Zhengfeng finally believed Su Chen's words from back then.
A wave of regret rose in his heart.
He regretted not believing Su Chen then, which had led to him suffering such a disaster now.
However, he also knew that now was not the time for regret.
The most urgent matter was saving his family.
"Fei Bin, if you dare harm a single hair on my family's heads, I will surely kill you!" Liu Zhengfeng roared.
"Hmph, threatening me?" Fei Bin did not care in the slightest. "I will kill one for you to see today."
As he spoke, he ordered the Mount Song disciples, "Kill his son first."
As his voice fell, a Mount Song disciple fiercely swung his sword, intending to kill Liu Zhengfeng's son.
Liu Zhengfeng's eyes nearly split apart. He wanted to rush forward and save him, but Fei Bin blocked his path.
Watching his son about to die on the spot, Liu Zhengfeng clenched his teeth until they nearly bled, yet he could do nothing.
Fei Bin's martial arts were roughly equal to his own. In a short time, he truly could not defeat Fei Bin.
Just then, Abbess Dingyi, who had been watching all along, could no longer restrain herself and made her move.
Although she disliked Liu Zhengfeng's collusion with Demonic Cult Cultists, she disliked the Mount Song Sect's actions of implicating wives and children and slaughtering innocents even more.
"Stop!" Abbess Dingyi shouted. She raised her hand and sent a palm strike toward that Mount Song disciple.
But just then, another figure appeared. It was none other than Pagoda Hand Ding Mian.
Ding Mian casually brushed the Mount Song disciple aside, raised his palm to meet hers, and exchanged a palm strike with Abbess Dingyi.
Caught off guard, Abbess Dingyi was sent stumbling back several steps and spat out blood.
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