Sword light filled the sky, Sword Qi crisscrossing in every direction.
Tiles were swept off the surrounding houses by the gusts from palm strikes, and bricks were shattered by internal power.
The doors and windows on both sides of the street had also been damaged by Sword Qi.
Everyone present belonged to the jianghu, and people of the jianghu were, by nature, the sort who rolled about on the edges of blades.
Either he killed you, or you killed him.
They proclaimed themselves righteous, yet set up courts of their own.
They stood in the light, yet could decide whether others lived or died at will through their superior martial arts.
The swords were fast,
and so were the people.
When had those roughnecks of the jianghu, standing up high or hiding off to the side, ever witnessed such dazzling swordsmanship? When had they ever seen anyone whose skill rivaled the craftsmanship of heaven itself?
On the ground, six corpses slept peacefully.
Zhang Qingyuan's fly whisk was soaked in blood. He looked down at it and felt it was something of a waste.
Next time he went out, he would bring his sword even if he was taking a shit. Fighting with a fly whisk was too wasteful.
Looking again at the six people lying on the ground, Zhang Qingyuan walked over to Ling Yanqiu. The sight of him dead with his eyes still open was rather awkward.
"Your brother-in-law couldn't kill me with thirty-odd men. What were you joining in for, dumbass?"
For people of the jianghu, the greatest taboo was failing to read the situation or recognize reality.
It was like a band of brigands trying to ambush and kill Li Xunhuan, someone brandishing the Heaven Sword before Zhang Sanfeng, or a beggar demanding an explanation from Qiao Feng.
All of those were cases of lighting a lamp in a latrine-looking for death.
He raised his head and looked around. His gaze gave the roughnecks and wandering swordsmen such a fright that they all stepped back.
They feared he might be blinded by bloodlust and kill them too for entertainment.
Their caution carried panic, their tension mingled with the urge to retreat.
Even the sect leader of the Seven Luminaries Sword Sect was dead. How could anyone else not be afraid?
Though each of them claimed to be the greatest martial artist under heaven when boasting during the day, that was only boasting, wasn't it? When something actually happened, they knew their limitations better than anyone.
Zhang Qingyuan tossed the fly whisk aside and cupped his hands. "Sorry for disturbing your rest, everyone."
"No disturbance at all, none at all..."
Everyone waved their hands repeatedly, forcing smiles onto their faces.
Zhang Qingyuan breathed a sigh of relief. "You all saw what happened just now. They attacked first. When you talk about this on your travels later, I hope you brothers will stick to the facts."
"Don't worry. We know what to say."
"Yes, yes, we understand, we understand."
You understand jack shit. Zhang Qingyuan felt rather helpless.
Seeing their flattering, ingratiating behavior, Zhang Qingyuan shook his head and thought, Is this really necessary? It's not like I eat people.
He did have his own maxim for traveling the jianghu: if others left him alone, he would leave them alone. If they crossed him, fuck them.
Perhaps these people thought he was threatening them not to tell anyone. Zhang Qingyuan felt they had all misunderstood, so he explained further:
"I'm not forbidding you from telling others. This humble Daoist is no follower of some evil, crooked path. To tell you the truth, I cultivate the Three Purities Dao Lineage and worship the Three Pure Ones as ancestral masters.
"It's just that Sect Leader Ling had a misunderstanding with me. A few days ago, while I was traveling with Bamboo Green Fairy, we encountered the master of Cloud Dust Manor.
"He wanted to steal her martial arts, and he was afraid I would tell others, so he wanted to kill me to silence me. With no other choice, I had to defend myself and help Bamboo Green Fairy kill them instead.
"Then Sect Leader Ling's investigation led him to me. You all heard it just now: I already explained that I acted in self-defense. But they were determined to avenge the master of Cloud Dust Manor. Once again, it was self-defense, and this humble Daoist could only strike to kill.
"So, fellow travelers of the jianghu, I hope you won't distort the facts.
"When you discuss this on your future travels through the jianghu, I hope you can stick to the truth."
Zhang Qingyuan's speech astonished everyone, and they exchanged looks.
Was he really this sincere?
A few people perched on top of the walls were nearly knocked over by Zhang Qingyuan's sincerity.
What kind of expert apologized and explained himself to the spectators after killing people?
They found it hard to believe. After all, how could such an innocent child exist in this world?
One of them gathered his courage and asked, "May I ask your name, young Daoist, and which school or sect you belong to?"
Having spoken, he hastily ducked his head.
Zhang Qingyuan smiled and cupped his hands. "Of course. This humble Daoist is named Zhang Qingyuan. I only entered the jianghu half a month ago, and I'm merely a wandering Daoist.
"Everyone, could someone help deal with these bodies? Thank you."
He even said thank you!
Wasn't he supposed to say, "You lot, bury these fucking bodies"?
They watched in astonishment as Zhang Qingyuan walked back into the inn.
What a sincere Daoist.
Back in his room, Zhang Qingyuan stretched.
As for the bodies, someone would help carry them away.
Either people from the authorities or those who had watched the show.
After all, Ling Yanqiu had been the sect leader of the Seven Luminaries Sword Sect. Delivering his body back to his sect was bound to earn a reward for the trouble.
Finally, as for why Zhang Qingyuan had said all that, the reason was very simple.
This incident couldn't be concealed, nor did it need to be.
After all, he couldn't possibly kill all the spectators to silence them.
If anyone else wanted to step forward to avenge them, they could come.
In his previous life, he had been manipulated by his boss and shackled by the moral blackmail of society. In this life, he would live freely.
Besides, even if someone wanted to avenge them and demand an explanation, he wasn't afraid. With the influence of Cloud Dust Manor and the Seven Luminaries Sword Sect, they couldn't bring in any particularly formidable experts.
What's more, he was in the right.
The Grandmasters knew exactly what Li Qiuran's situation was and whether she truly was a demoness.
Whatever else might be said of Li Qiuran, she was still a member of the Daoist community. She had killed countless people for revenge over the years, so why hadn't the big shots intervened?
The five Daoist sects weren't just sitting around eating for nothing. Who under heaven didn't know that Daoists were the fiercest protectors of their own?
Those who had destroyed the Heavenly Yin Profound Maiden Palace were hiding in the shadows; their identities were simply unknown. If there were enough evidence to establish who they were, Li Qiuran wouldn't need to act. Mount Longhu and Taiyi Temple had plenty of people who would descend the mountain to avenge their fellow Daoists.
So Zhang Qingyuan firmly believed he wouldn't face too much trouble. At most, a few stinkbugs would come along to offend his eyes.
Even if some meddlesome Grandmaster-level expert wanted to set up a private court and uphold justice for Ling Yanqiu and the others.
At worst, he would find some remote mountain and hide for eight or ten years. With Zhang Sanfeng's template bestowed upon him, he possessed the same martial talent as Old Zhang. When he returned to the jianghu eight or ten years later, he would call on those sects one by one.
As for people in the martial world trying to morally blackmail him...
As long as I have no morals, they can't blackmail me!
Zhang Qingyuan lay on the bed, pondering these matters while silently reciting the Calming Incantation.
Finally, as for why he wanted them to spread word of tonight's events, Zhang Qingyuan actually had another personal reason.
It was time he became famous.
He had been traveling the jianghu for so long, yet his name was still unknown in the martial world.
As everyone knew, A Fei's greatest dream in Little Li's Flying Dagger was to become famous and make it onto the Weapons Register.
And hadn't Yan Shisan in The Third Master's Sword spent his whole life wanting to escape the Third Master's shadow?
Since heaven had arranged for him to transmigrate, he couldn't let this trip be for nothing. At the very least, he had to make this world remember: I fucking came here!
After reciting the Calming Incantation once, his heart was much calmer.
Zhang Qingyuan opened his sword manual and recorded the insights he had gained during the fight.
The path of martial arts had no end.
He slept soundly until broad daylight. Early the next morning, Zhang Qingyuan got up, bought some dry provisions, replenished his wine and water, and continued his journey.
But setting out again proved much more difficult than before.
Within five days, Zhang Qingyuan suffered three assassination attempts. Each attacker raised the banner of slaying demons and defending the Dao the moment they met him, and he dealt with them one by one.
Then, when he reached the town at the foot of the mountain where the Taiyin Dao Palace stood, he suddenly heard someone mention a name-
Sincere Daoist, Zhang Qingyuan!
Upon hearing it, Zhang Qingyuan froze.
What the fuck? Who gave me such a lame nickname?
Tell the jianghu this humble Daoist wants to return it!