"Are you from the Taiji Gate?"
Only after all movement and sound had ceased did Song Xiehu emerge, looking somewhat incredulous.
Curious, Lian Youming answered with a question of his own. "Is there something more to this?"
Song Xiehu shook his head, his face almost bloodless, and let out a long sigh. "If you aren't, you're in trouble. You've committed two of the martial world's greatest taboos in one go. First, making a mortal enemy of a sect. Second, stealing someone else's true teachings and using them to kill."
Seeing Lian Youming deep in thought, Song Xiehu explained further. "Never mind the first. Those people deserved to die anyway. But as for the second, you've made enemies in the martial world using Taiji Boxing, so the Taiji Gate will have to get involved. If your lineage is legitimate, you might be fine. But if you stole their teachings, that's another blood feud."
Lian Youming raised his thick eyebrows. "It's that serious?"
Song Xiehu rolled his eyes, slowed his speech, and explained patiently. "A leak of true teachings is no small matter. Do you know what true teachings are? They're passed down to only two or three people in each generation. Unlike the other disciples, those few bear the sect's banner and uphold its standing outside, while within the sect, they're meant to surpass their fellow disciples. Besides, if an enemy got hold of those teachings, it would spell disaster for a sect. At best, a few lives would be lost. At worst, the entire sect would be wiped out, with not a soul left alive."
On reflection, Lian Youming found that it did make sense. But the Mountain-Guarding Old Man should count as an authentic Taiji practitioner, surely? He even kept a memorial tablet to Yang Banhou.
Song Xiehu added,