The next day, the Tianyang Daily went on sale again in all five cities of Yu Province. This time, fifty thousand copies flooded the streets and alleys of each city.
In short, you were allowed not to read it, but you were not allowed not to know about it.
The headline:
[East Sea Sect hires an assassin, but the killer proves no match for the Sword Immortal. Is this the twisting of human nature, or the collapse of morality?]
The headline stood prominently atop the newspaper in large, bold print, followed by more than a thousand words of coverage.
[Our report: just yesterday morning, Tianyang Sword Immortal Zheng Jianxin met with Zhao Wuji, a sword master from Song Province, for a duel, drawing a crowd of spectators. Our reporters Ma Xiaowu and Zhou Keren observed the event in person.
Both men are experts in swordsmanship. One is the Sword Immortal of the Tianyang Sect in our own Phoenix Cry City, Yu Province, and the other a sword master from Nine Bends Mountain in Song Province. Both are renowned swordsmen in the Eastern Realm, and both are in the Fourth-Rank Realm. This duel could truly be called a match between worthy opponents, a meeting of generals of equal talent.
For a time, sword shadows flashed, and neither could gain the upper hand. In the end, the Tianyang Sword Immortal proved a cut above and defeated Zhao Wuji of Song Province. Yet the Sword Immortal did not strike to kill. Instead, he spared his opponent's life and invited him to explore the great Dao of swordsmanship together.
Both men are in the Fourth-Rank Realm. Perhaps before long, they may break through to the third rank and attain the Dao of domains.
The Tianyang Sword Immortal personally acknowledged that this was a case of one hero cherishing another. Zhao Wuji, too, was won over by the Sword Immortal's generosity of spirit and agreed to explore the Sword Dao with him.]
Below was an illustration of the two men gazing sideways at each other in mutual appreciation.
[Just as everyone watched, spellbound, and everything seemed so beautiful, a dark figure suddenly attacked. It was an assassin. With a clear target in mind, the assassin lunged straight at Zheng Jianxin and launched two poisoned darts. The assassin's appearance in full view of the crowd caused an uproar.
Sword Immortal Zheng Jianxin reacted swiftly, dodging the two deadly attacks. When the assassin's first strike failed, he fled far away. Before he escaped, Zheng Jianxin sliced off a piece of his sleeve with Sword Qi, only to discover, astonishingly, a slip of paper tucked inside. It read: "Zheng Jianxin, eight hundred taels, balance to be paid by the East Sea Sect."
The heroes from across the martial world who were watching all saw this note. Once the incident occurred, discussion erupted among them. Some believed someone might be deliberately framing the East Sea Sect to provoke conflict between sects. Others felt the East Sea Sect might indeed harbor sinister intentions, and hiring an assassin was not beyond possibility.
We interviewed Tianyang Sect Master Zhang Qingyuan overnight. Zhang Qingyuan stated that a month ago, the East Sea Sect had already sent a letter seeking to annex the Tianyang Sect. However, the sect had been occupied with the old sect master's funeral at the time. With so many affairs clamoring for attention, they had had no mind to respond.
At this point, whether the allegation is true speaks for itself.
Such conduct by the East Sea Sect compels us to ask: does our Yu Province in the Eastern Realm truly harbor people so filthy and foul?
What will heroes from elsewhere in the martial world think of Yu Province's martial community?
We also interviewed Ning Jixiang, sect master of the Bright Moon Sect, the largest sect in Yu Province, on this matter.
Sect Master Ning stated that martial artists everywhere were welcome to visit Yu Province and exchange martial knowledge. Yu Province nurtures outstanding people, boasts clear waters and beautiful mountains, and borders the sea. The East Sea Sect incident is an isolated case and does not represent Yu Province's martial community.
He stated that the Tianyang Sect is a long-established sect. Over the past several centuries, it has always been a source of pride for Yu Province's martial community, and even that of the entire Eastern Realm.
It has merely declined somewhat today, but its legacy remains.
Sect Master Ning called for the protection of Yu Province's own sects, opposing infighting and such despicable methods.
Tianyang Sect Master Zhang Qingyuan further stated that he was especially grateful to Sect Master Ning for offering a helping hand, but the Tianyang Sect must take responsibility for settling its own disputes.
He has already led the Tianyang Sect's other six elders to the East Sea Sect to demand an explanation...
The Tianyang Daily will continue providing real-time coverage of subsequent developments.]
"Who? Who did this!"
Inside the East Sea Sect, the six men were holding another meeting.
Last time, it had been about killing Zheng Jianxin. This time, they were trying to work out how to avoid being killed themselves.
The East Sea Sect's reputation already stank. Whenever anyone mentioned them now, they lumped them in with the demonic cults.
Only now did they understand just how terrifying the power of a newspaper could be!
Had Zhang Qingyuan been there, he would certainly have told them this was the power of public opinion.
The truth of a matter often lay in the hands of public opinion.
In Zhang Qingyuan's previous life, had there been any shortage of incidents that spun netizens in circles, with reversal after reversal after reversal?
One day, there would be a warrior of pure love climbing a wall into a campus for his girlfriend, with netizens crusading against scumbag women and men over it.
A few days later, the scumbag woman and the warrior of pure love would be selling products together on a livestream.
Today, you might burn with righteous indignation over something. Tomorrow, the truth might twist so sharply it threw your back out.
Later, some netizens caught on and learned to say they would offer no opinion without knowing the full picture, afraid of being slapped in the face.
But most still threw themselves, wave after wave, into the winds of public opinion, lining up to have their faces slapped.
It had been like that even in Zhang Qingyuan's previous life, never mind this "simple" age.
The flames were licking Gao Yulong's eyebrows. He was more anxious than anyone.
He stared fixedly at the elders. "Old Fifth, you were the one who went to the Listening to the Rain Pavilion to find an assassin last time. Explain!"
The fifth elder looked utterly wronged and protested with complete innocence, "Sect Master, this has nothing to do with me! I took ten thousand taels of silver to the Listening to the Rain Pavilion, but for some reason, they wouldn't accept our job. I've explained this several times already.
"I really went, and they really refused. What could I do?"
"Then who sent this assassin?"
"How would I know? Maybe some other sect dislikes the Tianyang Sect and framed us?"
Old Third said angrily, "Diverting the flood elsewhere—how did it just happen to land on us?"
Gao Yulong glanced at the newspaper beside him and sighed. "Alas, with both witnesses and physical evidence against us, this really is mud falling into our trousers. Even if it isn't shit, it's shit now.
"We can figure out who's framing us later. Right now, we need to survive the first hurdle. Zhang Qingyuan and the others have already set out to demand an explanation from us. Tell me, what should we do?"
With that, he looked at Gao Yukai, then at Ma Zhengyuan.
Of the six of them, those two had the most sly ideas. All they could do was treat a dead horse as though it were still alive.
Besides, those two had devised this idiotic plan in the first place. If they didn't fix it, who would?
Grand Elder Gao Yukai said, "Arguing is useless now. Five cities, five times fifty thousand-that's two hundred and fifty thousand newspapers. With the Tianyang Daily's current influence, even the other cities have probably heard about it.
"The newspaper laid it out so clearly. Plenty of martial artists were there when Zheng Jianxin was attacked. Everyone has already decided we did it."
"Brother, I didn't ask you to analyze it. I asked you for a solution! We know all that already," Gao Yulong said impatiently.
"Don't panic yet, Sect Master," said the fourth elder, Ma Zhengyuan. "Zhang Qingyuan and the others are heading our way. If it were just the seven brothers, we wouldn't fear them. Unfortunately, besides them, there are the Tianyang Daily's reporters and those martial artists looking for a spectacle. Even ordinary people with nothing to do will probably follow along to watch."
"Exactly right, Fourth Elder. So?" Gao Yulong asked.
"So, the first thing we can do now is steady our disciples. The East Sea Sect's disciples don't know the truth. Before repelling external threats, we must secure things within. We need to settle their hearts first." As he spoke, he glanced at the fifth elder. "Go tell the disciples there's been a misunderstanding. Tell them we aren't the sort to stoop to such acts, and they needn't worry. We'll explain everything clearly to the Tianyang Sect."
The fifth elder nodded. "Don't worry."
With that, he hurried out of the hall to gather the disciples.
Once he was gone, Ma Zhengyuan continued, "As things stand, even a hundred mouths couldn't clear our names. Our only option is to push someone out to appease the anger of those martial heroes."
Everyone else looked toward the door, watching the fifth elder foolishly walk away.
Old Third struggled to accept it. "He's our sworn brother! Are we really going to..."
"Then what do you suggest?" Ma Zhengyuan countered. "Should we die along with him?"
The question left Old Third speechless. Although he felt this was deeply dishonorable, it seemed less important when weighed against his life.
Gao Yukai spoke up as well. "Pushing Old Fifth out is our only option. He's the only one who went out, and he visited the Listening to the Rain Pavilion. Though it was done in secret, someone could still have seen him.
"Rather than wait for someone else to reveal it later and pile snow onto our frost, we should push him out now. At least we can gain a reputation for sincerely admitting our mistakes and investigating ourselves."
Gao Yulong nodded and gritted his teeth, his gaze vicious. "That's our only choice. I hope Old Fifth understands our painstaking intentions.
"One man's death to save our entire sect!"
"But... alas." Old Third wanted to say more, but ultimately gave in.
The second elder, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly stood. "Before, we only read the newspaper for entertainment. Who could have imagined it wielded such power? Once this is over, we need to put out a newspaper too!"
"Second Brother is absolutely right. We need control over the narrative too!"
On the road from Phoenix Cry City to Donglin City, Zhang Qingyuan and the other six carried themselves with imposing dignity, their clothing immaculate.
Zhang Qingyuan wore brand-new sect master's robes and a lotus-shaped hair crown, with the Tianyang Sword in his hand.
The other six brothers also wore handsome elders' robes.
Behind them were Zhao Wuji, who had already taken up his post, and the Tianyang Daily's reporters.
Farther back followed a large group of indignant martial artists who wanted to help Zhang Qingyuan and the others campaign against the East Sea Sect.
The procession was truly magnificent, as though failing to wipe out a sect would do such a spectacle an injustice.
There were rogue cultivators ranging from the ninth rank to the fourth rank.
There were also some small and midsized sects and factions.
With a scene like this, they could have claimed they were marching against a demonic cult.
During the previous trip to Mount Kunlun, Mount Emei and the Golden Mountain Temple had become famous, boosting their influence throughout the country. This was now their own version of the battle at Mount Kunlun.
After this round of publicity, who wouldn't praise the Tianyang Sword Immortal's peerless martial prowess and the Tianyang sect master's righteousness soaring to the clouds?
Though Zhang Qingyuan was only in the Sixth-Rank Realm, he had resolutely united his other senior brothers and gone to demand an explanation from the East Sea Sect for the sake of his senior brother Zheng Jianxin.
The East Sea Sect's sect master and elders were all in the Fourth-Rank Realm.
They also had over two hundred disciples, with dozens of experts in the middle three ranks.
Even that had not stopped Zhang Qingyuan's determination to avenge his senior brother!
The seven brothers walked at the front, while the others followed at a distance.
Some wanted to lend their fists, but Zhang Qingyuan had turned them all away, saying they would handle their own affairs and thanking everyone for their kindness.
They called it lending their fists, but those following behind, especially the small and midsized sects, actually just wanted to ride the wave of attention.
That night, the seven stayed at a roadside inn.
Inside the room, the eldest, an honest man in the Fifth-Grade Realm, was diligently practicing. Sharpening a spear before battle would at least give it a shine, if not an edge. What if he managed to break through in the next few days?
Old Second was already in the Fourth-Rank Realm. He stood coldly to one side, keeping watch with his sword in his arms.
Old Third, in the Fifth-Grade Realm, stretched lazily, an account book in his hand.
The fourth brother was in the Fourth-Rank Realm, having broken through only recently. His talent had never been poor, and he had taken pills besides.
The fifth brother was in the Fifth-Grade Realm, with a formidable body-protecting divine art. Ordinary Fourth-Rank Realm experts couldn't break through his defenses without some special move tailored against him.
Old Sixth was in the Sixth-Rank Realm, just like Zhang Qingyuan. He looked listless, his thoughts unknown.
Bai Shuyan held a newspaper. He had read it no fewer than three times.
But one question had remained on his mind. "Qingyuan, when did you interview Sect Master Ning?"
"Sect Master Ning?"
"Yeah. Doesn't it say so right here?"
"I never interviewed him."
"Then what the newspaper said was fake?" The fourth brother abruptly turned around.
"Yes." Zhang Qingyuan nodded.
Only his third senior brother and he knew about this. Everyone else had thought it was true.
Now that they heard Zhang Qingyuan say it was fake, they all looked at him. The eldest asked, "Then aren't you afraid Sect Master Ning will come after you? He's a second-rank expert, and the Bright Moon Sect is the largest sect in Yu Province!
"We're already up against the East Sea Sect. If we offend the Bright Moon Sect too, won't we be drawing fire onto ourselves?"
How could the eldest feel at ease? The Bright Moon Sect's publicly known strength included one second-rank expert, four third-rank experts, no fewer than forty or fifty Fourth-Rank Realm experts, and hundreds of Fifth-Grade Realm disciples. As for outer disciples below the fifth rank, there were far too many.
And that was only their strength on the surface. They also had supreme elders, former sect masters, and others who had not ventured out for a long time.
Once someone reached the fourth rank, they could generally live for eighty to a hundred years.
From the Third Rank Realm upward, they could extend their lifespans.
Thus, truly great sects and great lineages all had old monsters hidden away.
The eldest grew increasingly alarmed. The look he gave Zhang Qingyuan seemed to say, Child, how could you cause such enormous trouble!
Zhang Qingyuan reassured him, "Don't worry. Why would Sect Master Ning cause me trouble? He ought to thank us."
"How so?" The fifth brother couldn't work it out.
"I didn't write any nonsense about him in the newspaper. Everything I wrote painted him positively. Between every line, I made him the representative of Yu Province's martial community and established his image as Yu Province's foremost expert.
"I portrayed Sect Master Ning as so positive and sunny, and gave his good reputation a huge boost. What reason would he have to hit me?"
"But however you put it, you used his identity without his permission," the eldest said, still worried.
Zhang Qingyuan waved a hand. "Now everyone out there knows he's the head of Yu Province's largest sect, the embodiment of justice, and a towering authority in the martial world.
"Even if he's unhappy, with all those halos around him, he can't step forward to deny it.
"Would he really tell people, 'I never said any of that. The newspaper made it all up. Yu Province's martial community isn't as good as the paper claims. It's terrible, and I'm not someone who wants to uphold the righteous martial world.
"'Whether they live or die has nothing to do with me.' Could he say that?"
"Uh... that's true." The eldest thought it over. Their newspaper really had been praising the man.
Zhang Qingyuan nodded. "Exactly."
The eldest asked again, "Then the assassination attempt on Old Second?"
Zhang Qingyuan said, "Of course I arranged it."
"Huh?"
"Don't be so surprised." Zhang Qingyuan explained, "First, the East Sea Sect really did intend to hire an assassin to kill Old Second.
"So, since we knew about it, we had to act quickly and strangle that potential danger in its cradle.
"How could we spend a thousand days guarding against a thief?"
Though the eldest felt this was somewhat wrong, he couldn't put any objection into words.
He was an honest man, after all, and always wanted to do things openly and honorably.
But Zhang Qingyuan was different. He now understood Old Yue, Yue Buqun, very well.
If you wanted to develop a sect, being too righteous wouldn't work.
Not just a sect-even in business, you couldn't accomplish anything big without employing a few tricks.
No merchant was without guile. That held true everywhere.
"Besides, we haven't wronged the East Sea Sect. They really do want to swallow up our Tianyang Sect. If we don't cripple them in one go, how can we brothers ever be safe?"
Bian Zhenxuan nodded in agreement. "I agree with Old Seventh. This trip isn't just about taking down the East Sea Sect. It's also to intimidate the other sects so they won't dare trip us up whenever they please.
"Only by bringing everything into the open can we leave those schemes nowhere to hide."
"But can just the seven of us win?" the fifth brother asked.
Zhang Qingyuan and Bian Zhenxuan both looked toward Old Second. Zhang Qingyuan smiled. "We don't need to lift a finger. Second Senior Brother will handle everything."
Holding his sword in his arms, Zheng Jianxin gave a proud, aloof snort.
"Hmph!"