Chapter 131 - 130: Old Matters

Chapter 131: Chapter 130: Old Matters

The watery moonlight ebbed, its brilliance fading away.

A slender, graceful figure in white emerged silently from the shadows.

The newcomer was dressed in robes as white as pure snow, utterly unstained. Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, held in place by a single, simple jade hairpin.

Her face was exquisitely beautiful, yet it seemed veiled in frost. Her eyes were like a pair of cold stars—deep, icy, and utterly devoid of worldly emotion.

She held a Longsword in an unadorned, archaic scabbard. Though the blade remained sheathed, it exuded a heart-stopping sharpness.

Her gaze swept dispassionately over the seven figures in black robes on the ground, who were bound by White Silk and struggling furiously. Not a ripple of emotion disturbed her icy eyes.

Then, her cool gaze passed over the group and finally settled on Chen Li, who stood motionless. A look of vigilance entered her eyes.

’Inner Qi Release, Transforming Qi into Gang... a profound ability that manifests after reaching the Profound Acupoint Pass.’

’That last strike had been a casual one, yet an ordinary cultivator at the Profound Acupoint Pass would have struggled to block it.’

’But he neutralized it with such ease. His strength... is no weaker than my own!’

"Who are you?"

Her voice was like jade beads striking a platter—crisp, yet cold. "Why have you captured Outer Disciples of my Celestial Sword Sect?"

Though it was a question, the indifference and condescension in her tone suggested she had already decided he was in the wrong.

Beside them, Bai San sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes round as saucers. He instinctively lowered his voice. "It’s... it’s the Moon Fairy! From the Celestial Sword Sect! One of the Four Jade Maidens of Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon!"

The Moon Fairy either didn’t hear Bai San’s exclamation, or she simply didn’t care.

Her gaze remained locked on Chen Li, her tone as placid as ever. "These seven are Outer Disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect. Though I am unaware of what conflict you may have, I ask that you do me the favor of releasing them."

Chen Li sized her up with a piercing gaze, remaining silent.

Though their exchange had lasted but a moment, he had already discerned her level of Cultivation.

’Spirit Realm Third Level, the Inner Mansion Pass.’

’This is the first time I’ve ever crossed blades with an expert of this Realm.’

’To be able to condense qi into a blade of light from dozens of zhang away and strike from a distance... that kind of power is startling,’ he pondered. ’Is this some kind of Combat Secret Technique?’

’It’s not hard to use Inner Qi Release to form an aura around a fist or a staff, but as for a ranged attack Skill... neither my Qiankun Qi Wandering Dragon Staff nor the Five Directions Twenty-Four Solar Terms Wuxiang Fist has anything like it.’

Li Weikun glanced behind him. Seeing Linglong standing silently behind Chen Li, he stepped forward. "Moon Fairy," he said, "I have a few questions I’d like to confirm with these seven gentlemen."

"Fine."

The Moon Fairy’s gaze remained fixed on Chen Li, never wavering.

Li Weikun cupped his fists in a salute toward the seven bound figures on the ground, his voice filled with immense confusion. "Everyone, I just overheard you mention the Kao Mountain Sect... Forgive me, but I am certain we have never met before.

"So why did you attack me on sight, with lethal intent, and call me a traitor? My master and my fellow disciples all perished in the Kao Mountain Sect’s tragedy. I am grieved beyond words by their loss. The memory of that hatred is a dagger in my heart that I can never forget, day or night. How could I possibly be a traitor?"

His words were sincere and impassioned, and with a faint, almost imperceptible tremor in his voice, it was clear his heart was in turmoil.

Hearing this, the seven on the ground reacted even more fiercely, their faces filled mostly with resentment and scorn.

The lone female Swordsman struggled to raise her head. The rage in her eyes was practically bursting forth as she shrieked, "Pah! Li Weikun, spare us your crocodile tears! Back then, you coveted wealth and status, betrayed our Sect, and defected to the Su Family! You caused the deaths of the Sect Leader and so many of our martial brothers, and you destroyed the Kao Mountain Sect’s foundation in a single stroke! I, Sun Yuniang, may not be able to kill you today, but I will haunt you as a ghost and never let you go, you traitor!"

Her tirade only deepened Li Weikun’s confusion. "I merely married a woman from a branch family of the Su clan. How can you say I defected to the Su Family? The Kao Mountain Sect was destroyed by the Seven Kills Ancestor. What does that have to do with the Su Family?"

The man in the lead let out a choked, bitter laugh, his voice raspy. "Li Weikun, at a time like this, are you still playing dumb? The Seven Kills Ancestor was hired by the Su Family! No matter how silver your tongue is, you can’t wash away the blood on your hands."

"Is that really true?"

Li Weikun was stunned, his expression changing drastically. "The Su Family... Why would the Su Family attack the Kao Mountain Sect? How is that possible?"

"Enough!"

Another man roared, his voice like rolling thunder, "Li Weikun, the proof is irrefutable, and you’re still putting on a show! It’s sickening! It makes me want to vomit! I, Zhao Shanying, was not skilled enough and was captured here today, but I will never forget the feud of our Sect. One day, I will kill you, you traitor, with my own hands and avenge our Sect!"

Li Weikun’s face turned ashen, and his body swayed uncontrollably. "My dear martial brothers, there must be a misunderstanding! May I ask where you heard this from? Why didn’t you come and confront me all these years? This has to be a lie! You mustn’t believe it!"

His voice was filled with immense pain and confusion. The sudden turn of events and the damning accusations had left him utterly stunned.

The overwhelming hatred from his former sect-mates was like a knife twisting in his heart, yet he was unable to mount any defense.

One of the men sneered. "Li Weikun, did you really think you could pull the wool over everyone’s eyes and keep this secret forever? Hah! If news hadn’t spread from the Su Family a while back, we might have been fooled by your hypocritical act forever!"

"The Su Family?!"

Li Weikun looked as if he’d been struck by lightning. He stood frozen on the spot, utterly speechless.

The Moon Fairy stood silently to one side. Her cool gaze drifted from Li Weikun to the seven disciples, and her shapely brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

She had no interest in the specific grievances of the Kao Mountain Sect. Her objective was crystal clear: to take her people back.

"Sir."

The Moon Fairy turned her attention back to the ever-silent Chen Li. Her voice was as cold as ever, but now carried the weight of an ultimatum. "These seven joined the Celestial Sword Sect with their skills already honed. As for the grudges of their former sect, that is not our concern. You can settle this amongst yourselves another day. But today, I am taking them with me."

A frigid aura began to radiate from her body as she stopped deliberately suppressing her immense power. The very air around them seemed to grow cold and thick.

Chen Shouye and the others felt their breath catch in their throats. It was as if a great stone had been placed on their chests, making it difficult to even circulate their Inner Breath. Fine beads of cold sweat broke out on their temples.

The Moon Fairy’s ice-cold gaze was locked firmly on Chen Li, awaiting his answer.

Though the archaic Longsword hung quietly at her side, still sheathed, an invisible Sword Intent seemed to gather around it, poised to strike. The atmosphere was taut, ready to snap.

Chen Li’s expression was as calm as still water. His gaze swept impassively over the seven resentful Celestial Sword Sect disciples on the ground, flickered across the pale-faced Li Weikun who stood unable to defend himself, and finally settled back on the frigid Moon Fairy.

After a moment of contemplation, as if weighing his options, he gave a crisp nod. "Fine. Please, Fairy."

At his words, a flicker of unconcealable surprise flashed through the Moon Fairy’s cold eyes. Even the seven on the ground and Shouye and the others behind Chen Li wore expressions of sheer astonishment.