Chapter 1322: Hair for Head (Seeking Subscription)

Chapter 1322: Chapter 1322: Hair for Head (Seeking Subscription)

The one who speaks is Liu Xuanji, who has already changed into a new robe, breaking free of his brother Mo Baiqi’s grip, stepping forward to obstruct.

"Liu Xuanji, what do you mean? My brother has already taken a step back, is your Hongjun Sword Furnace not relenting?" Wan Qianli was already depressed because of his lack of strength and inability to secure opportunities for his sect. Seeing Liu Xuanji objecting to such conditions, he could no longer suppress his anger and shouted fiercely.

"Alas!" Chu Luochen raised a hand to stop Wan Qianli’s further aggression, looked at Liu Xuanji and sighed, "Then what does Brother Liu suggest as a solution?"

"This matter was done by our Hongjun Sword Furnace, and the facts have been clarified. We don’t want to shirk responsibility. If it is resolved simply today, I believe your manor won’t be satisfied with this outcome, and there will inevitably be resentment. Future collaboration would be fraught with intrigue, making sincere cooperation impossible." Liu Xuanji took a deep breath, speaking his mind entirely.

"Hmph! Then what do you intend to do?" Wan Qianli snorted disdainfully.

"Let’s do it this way!" Liu Xuanji said, holding the damaged White Jade Feather Duster Sword horizontally. Wan Qianli thought he was about to act violently, hurriedly placing his hand on the hilt at his waist, but found that Liu Xuanji did not strike at others but swept the sword across his own head.

Though a corner of the White Jade Feather Duster Sword was broken, it remained incredibly sharp. The icy blade grazed Liu Xuanji’s scalp, slicing off his hair tie along with the long hair atop his head.

"Cutting hair instead of a head!" Pei Yan blurted out, recalling the tale of Cao Cao upon seeing Liu Xuanji.

"Pei Xiaoyou is correct, cutting hair instead of a head!" Liu Xuanji said to the shocked Chu Luochen, "This is my explanation to your Celestial Sword Manor. After this battle, if both our sects can remain standing, if I, Liu Xuanji, still have life in this world, your Celestial Sword Manor can send people to seek revenge on me three times. Whether these three duels can kill me or not, all grievances will be written off. Before these three duels are completed, I will not restore my hair; if asked by others, I will honestly declare it."

After hearing these words, Pei Yan nodded repeatedly. Liu Xuanji was indeed giving Celestial Sword Manor an acceptable account. Now Liu Xuanji no longer had the demeanor of a master, two strands of long hair draped over his cheeks, while the top was bald, revealing the scalp. Combined with his serious demeanor, he appeared particularly comical and grotesque.

For Liu Xuanji, who valued face and honor, bearing such hair until this matter was fully resolved was his greatest humiliation and punishment. This was even harder for him to bear than death, yet to resolve sect hatred, he still resolutely did it. At this moment, Pei Yan genuinely admired him.

"I, Chu Luochen, respect you, Liu Xuanji, for being a person of character. Rest assured that after the battle, as long as we are both alive, I will promptly dispatch someone to fulfill these three challenges." For Celestial Sword Manor, the best way to retaliate against Liu Xuanji would be to never send anyone to meet these three appointments, leaving Liu Xuanji a laughingstock in the Daoist Plane until his end. However, Chu Luochen seemed touched by Liu Xuanji’s actions, bowed and returned the courtesy.

At this point, the enmity between the two sects seemed to have temporarily been relieved. As Pei Yan prepared to step forward to say a few words to ease the atmosphere, Wan Qianli rushed forward again, questioning Liu Xuanji, "Liu Xuanji, I admire you for daring to act today! My brother said he would let go of the slander against Celestial Sword Manor, and I, Wan Qianli, won’t mention it again! But there’s one thing that has been in my heart for many years, stuck like a bone in my throat. I must say it today with all the colleagues present; I want to question you, Liu Xuanji, clearly!"

Wan Qianli’s actions surprised everyone present, causing Pei Yan to frown. Wan Qianli seemed too unaware of the occasion; today, offering Celestial Sword Manor an explanation was already a magnanimous gesture. Yet he was incessantly bringing up old scores! Who has the time for the messy affairs of your two sects?

Thinking this, Pei Yan glanced at Chu Luochen, considering him capable of maintaining order. Yet, Chu Luochen, careful until now, seemed indifferent to junior Wan Qianli’s actions, making Pei Yan suspicious and turning to Lin Ruxue, who did not seem to disapprove either.

Oh! This was prearranged. Pei Yan instantly realized the situation, now curious to hear what Wan Qianli wanted to ask.

"Wan Qianli, whatever words you have, say them directly!" Liu Xuanji, deeply embarrassed today, naturally felt displeased and, hearing Wan Qianli’s words, raised an eyebrow, coldly snorting.

"Liu Xuanji! I admit I am not your match! On the Sword Dao ranking, I haven’t even entered the top ten, but at that time, there was someone above me, below my brother, famous alongside you. How did my junior brother Zhao Mengzhen die?"

"Oh! Haha!" Having heard Wan Qianli’s questioning, Pei Yan suddenly understood and laughed. So, it was about this! When he reviewed the archives of Celestial Secret Manor, he saw this past affair, and now Wan Qianli presented it with ulterior motive.

"Pei Xiaoyou, you laughed, indicating you know the reason for this matter?" Liu Xuanji, first stunned, hearing Pei Yan’s laughter, instantly comprehended the question’s meaning, his anger subsiding, turned to Pei Yan and asked, "Then why not tell everyone?"

"Oh!" Pei Yan quickly gestured refusal, "I only saw this recorded in documents. Now the parties involved are here; how could it be my place to explain? Elder Liu, you say instead."

"Alright!" Liu Xuanji agreed, nodding, turning to Wan Qianli and said, "You said your junior brother Zhao Mengzhen was famous alongside me! Although somewhat exaggerated, it wasn’t far off. He was indeed one of the rare Sword Dao talents I’ve seen, achieving commendable accomplishments at his age."

"But you killed him!" Wan Qianli questioned, pronouncing each word deliberately.

"Wan Qianli! You should be well aware of the cause of this affair! My grandson Liu Piaoxu was arrogant, but he hadn’t committed a crime deserving death and met his end at your junior brother Zhao Mengzhen’s hands! I, Liu Xuanji, might not value kinship heavily, but they were my flesh and blood, my grandson! My son died in despair because of this. Just for this, even if I truly killed your junior brother Zhao Mengzhen, it wouldn’t be unjust!"

"That was because your grandson was disdainful, provoking again and again!" Wan Qianli shouted in rebuttal.

Liu Xuanji heard, waved his hand nonchalantly, "Ultimately, who was right or wrong no longer matters; the people are dead! What I want to say is, if I did kill your junior brother Zhao Mengzhen, I wouldn’t deny it because I view this as justified. No matter when you question me, my answer remains the same; I didn’t kill him."