Two Waves of Obstructionists

The Sect Leader of the Mount Tai Sect, Daoist Tianmen, was renowned for his uprightness. Since he had spoken, those who had been wavering and skeptical on the scene quieted down and stopped discussing.

Instead, they began to ponder whether their own families or sects had any exceptionally gifted individuals. Once this Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony concluded, they would dispatch people to the Five Great Sword Sects, or perhaps Wudang or Shaolin.

Yu Canghai stood in place with a grim expression, not daring to say much. Wang Jingyuan stared at him for a long time, licked his lips, tugged at Yue Buqun's sleeve, and gestured for Yue Buqun to hand him the sword manual he was holding.

Yue Buqun readily agreed and handed it over.

Wang Jingyuan walked up to Yu Canghai and presented the sword manual. Yu Canghai was somewhat astonished, but with the sword manual right before him, he couldn't afford to be so particular. He snatched the manual away without even a word of thanks.

Wang Jingyuan didn't seem to mind, merely saying, "I played a trick on your son, and now I give you a sword manual; my senior brother beat up your disciple, but when evildoers tried to harm them, he also spoke out to stop them.

My Mount Hua and the Qingcheng Sect are now even."

Yu Canghai cast a sinister glance at Wang Jingyuan. "Very good, all grievances are wiped clean!" Whether he believed this himself was known only to him.

After a farce, Liu Zhengfeng cleared his throat, and everyone remembered who the protagonist of the day was. Seeing everyone looking his way, Liu Zhengfeng waved his hand to signal his disciples.

Soon, Hengshan disciples carried a golden basin into the main hall and began pouring water into it from bottles, waiting for the appointed time to commence the ceremony.

When the auspicious hour arrived, Liu Zhengfeng turned outwards and said loudly, "As a disciple, I, Liu Zhengfeng, received the grace of my mentor, who took me under his wing and taught me martial arts. I have failed to strengthen the prestige of the Hengshan Sect, and for that, I am deeply ashamed. Fortunately, our sect has Senior Brother Mo to preside. I, Liu Zhengfeng, am insignificant; the sect can do without me as easily as it can do with me.

From this day forward, I, Liu, will perform the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony and focus on my official career. I will certainly not use the martial arts passed down by my mentor to seek promotion or higher office. As for the grievances and disputes of the Jianghu, and the conflicts between sects, Liu Zhengfeng will absolutely not interfere.

If I violate this oath, may my sword be like this!"

Liu Zhengfeng flipped his right hand, drew his long sword, and with a bend of both hands, snapped the blade in two. He dropped the broken sword, which fell with two soft chi chi sounds, piercing into the bluestone bricks.

Many people were unaware of Liu Zhengfeng's purchase of an official position. Hearing him mention promotion and higher office at this moment, they finally realized he had likely bought his way into an official post. Many frowned. A Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony was one thing, but what was the meaning of accepting an amnesty immediately afterward?

Just then, people from the Songshan Sect arrived. "Wait!"

Hearing this voice, Liu Zhengfeng's eyes narrowed slightly. They had finally come.

A group of people in yellow robes entered in single file. The leader held a five-colored brocade banner, presumably the banner of the Five Great Sword Sects Alliance Leader.

The person walked up to Liu Zhengfeng, raised the banner, and said, "Uncle-Master Liu, by the order of the Five Great Sword Sects Alliance Leader, your Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony is to be temporarily postponed."

Liu Zhengfeng feigned confusion but still nodded readily. "Very well. But may I ask the intention behind the Alliance Leader's order?"

The leader in yellow was about to reply when a furious roar came from outside: "Liu Zhengfeng, you dog thief! If you want to perform the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony, you'll have to ask me if I agree!"

Suddenly, an old man in black landed on the outer wall of the Liu mansion, glaring inside with fierce eyes. Liu Zhengfeng exclaimed in shock, "Qu Yang?!"

Qu Yang chuckled sinisterly. "After plotting against me, you still want to perform the Golden Basin Hand-Washing Ceremony? Dream on! I will surely kill you before you complete your ceremony!"

No one had expected Qu Yang to show up when so many righteous cultivators were gathered. Wasn't he afraid of death? Just then, a voice rang out from the crowd: "This is... love turned to hate?"

Qu Yang and Liu Zhengfeng felt a chill run down their spines, almost ruining their act. Everyone turned to look at the source of the voice, only to see Wang Jingyuan.

This brat was truly too reckless. While everyone present had their suspicions... or perhaps even guesses, one shouldn't say such things in public.

Especially the Hengshan disciples present, who were looking at Wang Jingyuan with increasing hostility. Wang Jingyuan slapped his forehead as if struck by sudden realization. "My mistake, my mistake. I tend to get too engrossed when reading novels and often can't separate fiction from reality."

Everyone who heard this looked somewhat awkward. Did you have to bring up the one thing that shouldn't be mentioned? Just shut up!

As if to atone for his mistake, Wang Jingyuan turned to Qu Yang outside and immediately began to curse, "Qu Yang, you old ass, you rotten chrysanthemum! You sneaked in to attack Uncle-Master Liu a few days ago, leaving him bedridden for a long time.

Today is Uncle-Master Liu's big day, and you dare to come?! With so many of us here today, do you think you can still handle... no, harm Third Master Liu right in front of everyone?

I heard you can play the zither, but looking at your cowardly, lewd, and wretched appearance, I wonder if your sheet music contains 'Rear Courtyard Flowers' or 'Phoenix Captures the Phoenix'. Wait, is the zither you play even proper? Why don't you just practice the flute?

Anyway, for someone like you, a 'rabbit boy,' you'll find other uses for it once you master it, hahahaha..."

As Wang Jingyuan laughed, he casually glanced at the dongxiao flute placed on the front hall's platform by Liu Zhengfeng. His laughter gradually subsided and finally stopped.

He then awkwardly scratched his head and apologized to a livid Liu Zhengfeng. "Uncle-Master Liu, I wasn't implying anything about you. Everyone knows you have both a son and a daughter, and you're certainly not the type to engage in 'breaking peaches and parting sleeves.'"

Hearing Wang Jingyuan's words, many of the more knowledgeable people present had strange expressions. In those days, people who were attracted to both men and women were far more numerous than those who were purely homosexual.

Wang Jingyuan seemed to realize his slip-up and closed his mouth again. Then, he began to frantically backtrack. "I... I didn't mean that. I meant that Uncle-Master Liu is a senior of the righteous path, and even if he were to engage in 'breaking peaches and parting sleeves,' he wouldn't associate with demonic cultists. He'd at least find someone from a reputable sect..."

At this point, Wang Jingyuan seemed to remember something else, covering his mouth in horror. The righteous cultivators present also closed their eyes in pain.

As disciples of the righteous path, it was natural to exchange verbal blows when encountering demonic cultists. However, it was uncertain whether his few words had angered the demonic cultist, but they had certainly dredged up a recent scandal that everyone had been avoiding. It was hard to say whether it was intentional or accidental.

Not only Liu Zhengfeng but Qu Yang's expression was also grim. However, emotions couldn't interfere with work; the act had to go on. Qu Yang completely ignored Wang Jingyuan's words, fearing that if he responded, who knew what else Wang Jingyuan might say.

Qu Yang simply looked at Liu Zhengfeng and said, "You probably knew I would come today, didn't you? But man proposes, and heaven disposes. When I arrived, I discovered your hidden men. They were struck by my Black Blood Divine Needle and are not doing very well right now."

Upon hearing this, the Songshan Sect disciples turned pale with shock.