Master's Return

At noon, Wang Ming and the disciples remaining at Mount Hua saw Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze, along with a group of disciples, arriving at the mountain gate from afar.

Wang Ming had originally planned to stay on Siguo Cliff for a while longer, but not long ago, Yue Buqun had sent word that he would be returning today.

"Welcome back, Master! Mistress! Junior Sister! Senior Brothers! Junior Brothers!" The disciples behind Wang Ming echoed in unison.

Yue Buqun said with a cold expression, "Mm! Let's go up the mountain first."

On the way up the mountain, Wang Ming observed that Linghu Chong seemed unenthusiastic, and Yue Lingshan was constantly trying to talk to him.

There was also a young man in the group whom Wang Ming had never seen before. He was quite handsome, with a scholarly and refined demeanor, and a deep sense of melancholy between his brows.

Wang Ming thought to himself, "This must be Lin Pingzhi. To be able to steal the protagonist's spotlight, his looks are indeed impressive. It seems Old Yue is still after that Chicken Slicing Divine Skill! Old Yue's cold expression just now suggests he's very angry about what Linghu Chong has caused this time!"

Wang Ming found Lu Dayou and asked him about their experiences down the mountain. Lu Dayou's words were filled with the wonders of the jianghu. Linghu Chong had been incredibly powerful and impressive during his descent, striking down many opponents.

After learning about Linghu Chong's experiences, Wang Ming concluded that Linghu Chong had caused trouble.

He immediately understood why Old Yue and Linghu Chong didn't look too happy.

Linghu Chong was as troublesome as in the original story.

During one trip down the mountain, he successfully pushed the Mount Hua Sect into the spotlight.

Zhengqi Hall.

Mount Hua is known for its steepness, earning it the name "The Most Imposing and Dangerous Mountain Under Heaven."

However, with everyone present being martial artists, the mountain path was not an issue at all.

After returning to Mount Hua and resting for a while, they were summoned to Zhengqi Hall. Yue Buqun sat at the head seat.

First, there was a series of tedious disciple-acceptance procedures.

Lin Pingzhi served tea and paid respects to the ancestors, after which Yue Buqun had Linghu Chong teach Lin Pingzhi the sect rules.

"Article seven: Associating with evil-doers and colluding with demons. Junior Brother Lin, do you remember these seven precepts?"

"Junior Brother will certainly remember," Lin Pingzhi replied respectfully.

While Linghu Chong was still proudly acting like a senior disciple, Yue Buqun, seated above, spoke.

"Chong'er! You know the Mount Hua sect rules very well!"

Before Linghu Chong could realize he was in trouble, he maintained his usual flippant demeanor and tried to be clever.

"Master! Of course, I know the Mount Hua Sect rules."

Watching Linghu Chong's performance, Wang Ming showed no expression, thinking to himself, "Linghu Chong caused a lot of trouble during this trip down the mountain, creating many problems for Old Yue.

He will definitely be punished and sent to Siguo Cliff.

Going to Siguo Cliff means his life will take a turn. It's also the beginning of him losing everything he cared about and everyone he loved in the first half of his life.

It's also the start of him going from being the heir to the Mount Hua Sect leader to becoming a tool for Ren Woxing of Shaolin and Wudang."

Yue Buqun said with a cold face, "Calculate it yourself, how many sect rules did you violate during this trip down the mountain?"

Linghu Chong immediately understood that his master was going to settle accounts with him, so he quickly stepped forward and knelt to admit his mistake.

"This disciple knows he was wrong. This disciple did not heed the teachings of Master and Mistress. I violated the sixth article, arrogance and offending fellow practitioners. At the Huiyan Tower of the Hengshan Sect, I killed Luo Renjie of the Qingcheng Sect."

"Father! Yu Renjie deserved to die for taking advantage of the situation," Yue Lingshan interjected, trying to speak up for Linghu Chong.

"Silence!" Yue Buqun immediately reprimanded, cutting off Yue Lingshan's words.

"The rules are the rules, there's no need for so many extenuating circumstances!

It was right for Luo Renjie to take advantage of you and humiliate you, and for you to refuse to yield even if it meant death. That is what a true man would do.

But how could you speak disrespectfully to the Hengshan Sect?

Saying things like 'seeing a nun means losing every bet,' and that even I am afraid of nuns?"

Wang Ming also understood the reason for Yue Buqun's anger.

It wasn't about killing Luo Renjie. After all, Linghu Chong was raised like a son, and it was understandable to kill Luo Renjie for insulting him.

The main issue was Linghu Chong's disrespectful words towards the Hengshan Sect. He wanted him to stop speaking carelessly, as it could offend allies and affect harmony among them.

"This disciple was disrespectful! This disciple was disrespectful!" Linghu Chong lowered his head and knelt, repeatedly admitting his fault.

"You are too frivolous right now," Yue Buqun said.

"This disciple admits his guilt!" Linghu Chong kowtowed to Yue Buqun, hoping the matter would pass quickly.

However, Yue Buqun did not grant his wish and continued to reprimand him.

"You clearly knew that Qu Yang was an elder of the Demonic Cult, so why didn't you kill him with a single sword strike?

Hmm?

And why did you help him deliver his zither? His saving you was a conspiracy aimed at provoking discord among our Five Great Sword Sects. Don't you understand this?

You are utterly foolish. Who is Liu Zhengfeng now?"

"You've betrayed the Five Great Sects now. If you can't even tell right from wrong, good from evil, or loyalty from treachery, how can you possibly establish yourself in the martial world?"

Yue Buqun frowned and said with heartache, "Chong'er, your actions are too reckless and willful. You don't think before you act. When those demonic cult members treat you well, you share fortune and face adversity with them.

I fear not a single one of them is a decent person, they're all like Tian Boguang.

They commit rape, robbery, and plunder, and you want to share fortune with them?

When we righteous individuals set out to eliminate these villains, you want to share adversity with them?"

Linghu Chong knelt there, not daring to say a word.

After Yue Buqun likely berated Linghu Chong for a while, his anger subsided somewhat, and his expression improved slightly. He looked at Linghu Chong again, wanting to give him a way out.

"Now I ask you, when you see someone from the demonic cult, can you do it – not ask questions, but draw your sword and kill?"

After all, he was the eldest disciple, and his martial arts were the best among his peers in the Five Great Sects. Yue Buqun had high expectations for him.

Yue Buqun waited for a long time. Seeing that Linghu Chong remained silent and clearly hadn't taken his words to heart, he could only sigh in disappointment.

"Stubborn and unyielding! Stubborn and unyielding!! Linghu Chong, your descent from the mountain this time has severely damaged the reputation of the Mount Hua Sect. I now sentence you to a year of solitary confinement on Siguo Cliff to reflect thoroughly from beginning to end."

The surrounding disciples were shocked. The punishment was severe!

Afterward, Yue Buqun dismissed everyone.

Wang Ming looked at the indignant Linghu Chong and couldn't help but shake his head inwardly.

Yue Buqun was actually a tragic figure, dedicating his entire life to Mount Hua.

He was a good person at first. Regardless of whether he was a gentleman in his heart, his actions in the early stages were indeed those of a gentleman.

When Linghu Chong roamed the martial world, no matter who his opponent was or what the situation, he would first announce his name:

"I am Linghu Chong, the eldest disciple of the Mount Hua Sect!!!!!"

Then, he would use a few moves of Mount Hua's signature sword techniques to show respect.

Even when helping members of the demonic cult or dealing with allies of the righteous path, he would openly declare his identity as the eldest disciple of Mount Hua.

As the saying goes: "Arrogance requires a foundation, and my master just happens to have one!"

If Yue Buqun doesn't cultivate the "Chicken Slicing Divine Skill," then perhaps before Linghu Chong is released, Yue Buqun will be killed by Zuo Lengchan, and Mount Hua will be gone, or at least the Qi Sect will be.

He had successively provoked Tian Boguang, Mu Gaofeng, Yu Canghai, Fei Bin...

It was only Linghu Chong's good luck that Fei Bin was killed by Mo Da, and Tian Boguang was tricked into submission.

If Yue Buqun hadn't arrived in time, after fighting Mu Gaofeng and Yu Canghai, they would have had to compromise out of fear of Yue Buqun's strength.

Otherwise, Yu Canghai, who could annihilate the entire Lin family's escort agency, wouldn't have minded annihilating Mount Hua as well.

When he publicly called Tian Boguang, that lecherous villain, his brother, people seeing this scene wouldn't care about the inside story. They would only say that Mount Hua's young sect leader was in cahoots with a lecherous villain, and Mount Hua's reputation was naturally ruined.

The Mount Hua Sect was actually supported by the reputations of Yue Buqun and his wife. As long as the banner of the righteous path remained, Zuo Lengchan and the others couldn't openly annex Mount Hua.

In full view of everyone, he took out Qu Yang's zither and handed it to Liu Zhengfeng, loudly proclaiming he was helping him deliver it. How could his peers not suspect Mount Hua of colluding with the demonic cult?

No matter who it was, they hated traitors. Linghu Chong's actions were entirely unbecoming of a young sect leader.

Later, he offended Yu Canghai, Ding Yi, and Tianmen consecutively, creating rifts with his allies.

The most disastrous thing was taking Lin Pingzhi as a disciple.

Old Yue was interested in the Bixie Sword Manual but didn't want to draw trouble upon himself.

He just wanted to quietly obtain the "Bixie Sword Manual." He never even considered taking Lin Pingzhi as a disciple.

But Linghu Chong took it upon himself to accept Lin Pingzhi as a disciple, and Yue Lingshan openly took the blame for the sect's destruction. Coupled with Abbess Ding Yi's moral blackmail, he had no choice but to swallow this bitter fruit.

Wang Ming estimated that Zuo Lengchan's attention was now fully focused on Mount Hua, and there wouldn't be many peaceful days ahead.

When he was at the Hengshan Sect, Yue Buqun genuinely did not want Liu Zhengfeng to die. He even promised to kill Qu Yang on Liu Zhengfeng's behalf.

Although fighting someone of the same level was dangerous, he still made such a promise.

But Liu Zhengfeng didn't cooperate! What could he do?

Wang Ming was certain that Old Yue wasn't trying to save Liu Zhengfeng out of righteousness, but rather out of a sense of self-preservation. If Liu Zhengfeng died, Hengshan would cease to exist in name, and then it would be Mount Hua's turn.

Linghu Chong was causing trouble everywhere without any restraint. Could his master withstand this burden?

During the Songshan Sect's encirclement and assassination of Liu Zhengfeng this time, he jumped out in front of the Five Great Sects and loudly declared that he was helping Qu Yang deliver the zither and even attacked the Songshan Sect together. (CCTV version)

What would the heroes of the righteous path think? This caught Old Yue completely off guard!

In the original plot, Yue Buqun had also framed Linghu Chong several times, but it was mostly self-inflicted.

The words Lin Zhennan asked him to relay, Feng Qingyang...

Everything he did caused misunderstandings.

As long as Linghu Chong was willing to explain, the misunderstandings could be resolved.

But at that time, he allowed these misunderstandings to grow larger and larger until they turned into outright animosity.

Wang Ming, Lu Hou'er, and the other disciples were all tools cultivated by Old Yue, essentially enforcers trained for Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong, however, was not!

Yue Buqun should have been a master to Linghu Chong.

This master wasn't like the kind of teacher in Wang Ming's past life who charged tuition.

This was someone who raised him from childhood, provided food and drink, taught him a skill, and even planned to marry his only daughter to him, on top of handing over the Mount Hua Sect for him to inherit.

What kind of concept is that?

While Mount Hua might not seem like much, it's equivalent to a top-eight global industry!

Yue Buqun's daughter was also a beauty of considerable standing.

One could say only biological parents could go this far.

Linghu Chong was an orphan; without Old Yue, he might not have survived. Linghu Chong remembered his master's kindness but wouldn't repay it.

His repayment was to cause trouble when Yue Buqun was trying to get things done, and not killing him would be considered him having a conscience.

Inferring from the "Sword Stained with Royal Blood" where Mu Renqing mentioned the ancestor's surname was Feng, after Yue Buqun was killed by Linghu Chong, he simply packed up and left. For Mount Hua to continue its lineage, it was likely Feng Qingyang who stepped up to support it.

In summary, Linghu Chong wasn't a bad person, but he was an idiot.

Yue Buqun had also been tricked too many times, his room to maneuver becoming narrower and narrower. If he didn't do something, Mount Hua would become a branch of the Songshan Sect.

Of course, Yue Buqun wasn't a good person either, but he truly did his best for Mount Hua and for Linghu Chong.

Linghu Chong was also genuinely a troublemaker.

Wang Ming didn't have the energy or time to care about how things developed later; the outcome was still a year of confinement on Siguo Cliff.

Some readers asked why the protagonist didn't give the "Illusion Sword" or "Indestructible Vajra Body" to Yue Buqun to increase his strength.

I want to tell you that the protagonist's system is just for show.

The only advantage in this world is the martial arts brought by "The First Under Heaven," which is equivalent to a cheat.

Sharing a cheat with others is quite toxic.

Don't say that the protagonist just watched Yue Buqun turn evil and then went to kill him to show off; I don't have that kind of malicious taste.