The Sword Sect returned to the Mount Hua Sect
Unlike the original history, Master Yue now has a better successor.
Shazo not only more Talent and stronger than Linghu Chong, but he also liked Xia Zuo's temperament better. So he didn't feel despair, but just anger.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and ordered, "Shazo, come with me."
Yue Buqun brought Shazo back to the Righteous Qi Hall, summoned all the disciples, and in front of everyone, had his wife bring out the Purple Haze Divine Skill.
Then, he solemnly handed over the Purple Haze Divine Skill to Shazo, instantly stunning everyone in the Mount Hua Sect, including Ning Zezhong.
Linghu Chong, in particular, was struck dumb, as if by lightning.
He suddenly remembered what his Seventh Junior Brother had said to him, deliberately avoiding Feng Qingyang, when he left the Siguo Cliff.
"Senior Brother, you discovered the inner cave of the Cliff of Contemplation a long time ago, but why didn't you tell Master when he tested your swordsmanship last time?"
"Hey, Seventh Junior Brother, I was sick that time, and my mind was all jumbled up. I didn't know how to tell Master."
"Senior brother, how could you not tell Master about something so important? Do you still consider the sect leader your master?"
"Seventh Junior Brother, of course, Master is my master. I was just too flustered to care about anything else when I saw the Mount Hua Sect's swordsmanship being broken."
"Eldest Senior Brother, this shows you don't trust Master. You were confused, didn't Master help you clear up your doubts? Why didn't you speak up afterwards?"
"I... I forgot. I'll tell Master next time I see him."
"I'll trust you one last time. Next time you see your master, no matter what happens, tell him as soon as possible."
"Alright, Seventh Junior Brother, don't worry Eldest Senior Brother is a man of his word; he will never go back on his promise."
"Eldest Senior Brother, I'll keep this a secret for you for a while, but if you forget Master when you see him, don't blame me."
Thinking of the Siguo Cliff a dozen days ago, Linghu Chong felt a chill run through his body and his hands and feet trembled.
What did he do? After defeating the Sword Sect senior, he became so arrogant and carried away with himself.
He was so busy showing off and bragging to his junior brothers and sisters that he completely forgot about his promise. His Seventh Junior Brother angrily reported this to their master.
Therefore, the master disliked him and bestowed the Purple Haze Divine Skill upon the Seventh Junior Brother.
Does this mean that Master has tacitly approved the position of sect leader for Seventh Junior Brother? Then, what about Junior Sister's marriage?
Linghu Chong's mind was filled with Yue Lingshan. The more he recalled the girl's every smile and frown, the further away his beloved girl seemed to drift from him.
He wallowed in self-pity, oblivious to everyone else's words, until Yue Buqun shouted, "Linghu Chong!"
Linghu Chong was startled awake and instinctively knelt down. "Master."
Yue Buqun was absolutely furious.
He told Feng Buping and the other two about how his Uncle-Master Feng Qingyang had gone into Siguo Cliff to protect the Mount Hua Sect. They were stunned and couldn't believe it, but they dared not disbelieve it.
Seeing his three junior brothers from the Sword Sect, who had been his adversaries for half their lives, looking so dejected, Old Yue felt incredibly pleased.
So he pressed on, asking Linghu Chong to talk about his interactions with Feng Qingyang, which convinced the three of them to accept their fate and return to the Mount Hua Sect.
Who knew that Linghu Chong was out of his mind, standing there as if he didn't hear anything no matter how much they called him, until Old Yue roared in exasperation.
Yue Buqun was so angry that he almost fainted. His anger made his chest heave rapidly, and he wished he could swing his sword sheath and give Linghu Chong a good beating.
But 40 years of cultivating his composure hadn't gone to waste; Yue Buqun ultimately suppressed his anger and gave the order again.
Linghu Chong then began to speak haltingly, but his mind was in a complete fog, and what he said was incoherent and disjointed, leaving the Mount Hua disciples bewildered and Yue Buqun's anger growing ever stronger.
But Feng Buping, Cheng Buyou, and Cong Buqi listened with trepidation, for they knew far more about Feng Qingyang than Yue Buqun did.
Linghu Chong's words were incoherent, but the three of them could automatically connect the dots based on their understanding, sketching in their minds an old man with a golden face and a green robe.
It really is my Uncle-Master Feng Qingyang.
When Uncle-Master Feng Qingyang was tricked into going to Jiangnan, and returned after realizing he had been deceived, he was met with the Mount Hua Sect littered with corpses and the Sword Sect expelled. How heartbroken and furious must he have been?
However, for the sake of the Mount Hua Sect, he not only did not kill Yue Buqun, but also quietly lived in seclusion here, guarding the safety of Mount Hua.
Compared to Master Feng, the three of them were incredibly narrow-minded, actually trying to seize the Mount Hua Sect by using outsiders' power.
Once his obsession subsided, Feng Buping realized how foolish his decision had been. If the three of them had truly won, Yue Buqun, Ning Zezhong, and the other Qi Sect disciples would have been forced to leave, leaving Mount Hua as a no-man's-land.
Yes, Feng Buping has been away from Mount Hua for more than 30 years. He is a complete outsider here, unfamiliar with the place and its people.
If the Mount Song Sect were to send just five or six of its Thirteen Protectors, they could easily drive away Feng Buping, Cong Buqi, and Cheng Buyou, and then take over the Mount Hua Sect.
On the contrary, Yue Buqun and Ning Zezhong were not much stronger than the three members of the Sword Sect, but the couple had cultivated deep roots in Mount Hua for more than 30 years and established intricate connections with the local area, making them veritable local bullies.
The Mount Song Sect was not 'Lone Wanderer' Tian Boguang, but a powerful and influential force with a large family and business. Given the many rules they had to follow, they were helpless against a local tyrant like Yue Buqun.
Fortunately, Linghu Chong and Shazo displayed extraordinary strength. Linghu Chong defeated Cheng Buyou in a sword fight, and Shazo blocked six strange men, saved Cheng Buyou's life, and drove away the people from the Mount Song Sect.
The foundation of the Mount Hua Sect was preserved, and Feng Buping did not become a sinner of the Mount Hua Sect.
Thinking of how Linghu Chong learned swordsmanship from Feng Qingyang, and of Shazo 'Cheng Buyou life-saving grace to Cheng Buyou, Feng Buping, this sallow-faced man, could no longer hold back. He knelt down with a thud and bowed deeply to Yue Buqun.
"Feng Buping, a former disciple of Mount Hua, has failed the ancestors of the Mount Hua Sect. He accepts the punishment from the Sect Leader and senior brother, but hopes that the Sect Leader will allow the three of us to return to the Mount Hua Sect."
Yue Buqun was overjoyed. He stepped forward and helped Feng Buping up, laughing loudly as he said, "We are brothers, we're family. What punishment? It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"
He looked at Ning Zezhong and instructed, "Madam, quickly prepare a banquet. Tonight, let's celebrate the return of my Mount Hua disciples."
He then looked at Feng Buping, Cong Buqi, and Cheng Buyou, and said earnestly, "My three junior brothers, after returning to the Mount Hua Sect, you must never mention the difference between the Sword Sect Qi Sect and the Qi Sect again. We are all disciples of the Mount Hua Sect."
"After all, whether it's the Sword Sect or the Qi Sect, it's just a focus when you first start. Once you and I reach that stage, we cultivate both Sword Qi, and it's hard to say which is more important."
Cheng Buyou had just been forced into a miserable state by Linghu Chong Chong's swordsmanship, and in his anger and embarrassment, he used his internal strength advantage to retaliate, losing all face. How could he still have the face to say that swordsmanship was the priority?
Feng Buping and the other two could only nod repeatedly and say kind words.