Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Three Days Later

Sword Sect.

A talisman burned in the great hall, and Yan Zhong He’s face appeared in the air as he said with open arrogance: “I did not expect your Sword Sect to still have such nerve. Everyone knows the younger generation of my Tyrant Blade Sect has crushed you for a long time. This time, I will not bully you. I will bring only three of my disciples to challenge you. Also, my daughter once received care from your Lin Qing Ling, so Qing Yu will come as well, and I will properly thank you for looking after her.”

He added with a sneer: “Three days from now, I will arrive on time with my disciples. Your little brats in Sword Sect are not planning to run away early, are they? Hahaha.”

His wild laughter echoed through the hall.

Faces around the room darkened with anger.

So brazen. Yan Zhong He really went too far.

Meng Yi Fei remained unusually calm and glanced at Lin Qing Ling as he asked: “About Fang Qing Yu being Ye Zhao Zhao, how sure are you?”

Lin Qing Ling answered without a pause: “Completely sure! Sect Master, why do you think she did not dare step back onto the Heart-Inquiry Platform? Do you really believe, as Tyrant Blade Sect claims, that she thought the Heart-Inquiry Platform was an insult? She simply did not dare.”

Meng Yi Fei nodded in a steady way as he said: “I trust your judgment, and most people here trust it too. But Yan Zhong He has always treated Sword Sect like a sworn enemy. He will only think we are trying to ruin Fang Qing Yu’s name on purpose.”

Pang Zhi Xue spoke with cutting sarcasm: “If Fang Qing Yu is really Ye Zhao Zhao, then leaving a demon inside their sect means Tyrant Blade Sect will never know peace. We in Sword Sect were harmed by Ye Zhao Zhao for ten years. Our super genius Li Shuang almost fell because of her. Immortal Ling Xu still keeps to himself, and the disciples of Ling Xu Peak have become blind to right and wrong under that demon’s influence. What Ling Xu Peak suffers today will be Tyrant Blade Sect’s tomorrow.”

In a way, this could even end up being good for Sword Sect.

But to eliminate demons and uphold the Dao is the duty of the Righteous Path.

We never planned to let a demon throw Tyrant Blade Sect into chaos. If Yan Zhong He refuses to believe us, that is no longer on us.

Meng Yi Fei’s voice turned deep as he said: “We bring this up to be clear. Fang Qing Yu is Ye Zhao Zhao; we have already concluded that. Ye Zhao Zhao died under a combined strike from Sword Sect, so her hatred for us must be boundless. Now she wears the face of Fang Qing Yu, and her hatred has not changed. If she comes here, she will surely speed up the rift between our two sects.”

Someone frowned and asked: “Then what should we do? Should we try to clear up the misunderstanding with Tyrant Blade Sect?”

“No,” Meng Yi Fei said coolly. “Ye Zhao Zhao is only a catalyst. Yan Zhong He loves her in part, but even more, he uses her as a ready excuse to stand against Sword Sect in the open. I am telling everyone: do not hold any wishful thinking. This exchange will not be simple. Their goal is to cripple the younger generation of Sword Sect. Go back and tell your disciples to guard their hearts. If people from Tyrant Blade Sect try to provoke them, do not let them lead you by the nose.”

“A gentleman’s revenge is not too late in ten years. Today’s patience is for tomorrow’s counterattack,” Meng Yi Fei said, letting his words fall slowly.

When he finished, the hall fell briefly silent.

Eyes burned with unwilling fire; a few had clenched their fists in anger.

Yet they all knew Meng Yi Fei was right.

Even if Yan Zhong He was bringing only three disciples, the young ranks of Tyrant Blade Sect had leaped ahead after getting those two manuals.

Sword Sect disciples might not be their match.

If they fought inside agreed rules, that would be better.

At least they could set limits so disciples would not be truly hurt.

Even if they lost now, they could win it back later.

But if Tyrant Blade Sect’s disciples goaded them into fights outside the rules, the damage could be impossible to fix.

“Endure for now. That is not weakness; it is storing strength,” Meng Yi Fei said. “Go. Spread my words.”

Everyone answered and dispersed.

Meng Yi Fei stood alone in the hall for a long time, then let out a quiet sigh. [Time and fate.]

If they refused the exchange, Tyrant Blade Sect would spread the word that Sword Sect’s disciples lost without fighting, and our young disciples would not be able to lift their heads outside. They are proud by nature; if such rumors took hold, a Devil Demon might grow in their hearts.

Now that he had agreed, the fight would be hard to win.

But only by facing death could they find life again.

Failure is not scary. If they can draw strength from failure, feel shame, and rise with courage, then three years from now they may not lose again. Hope filled Meng Yi Fei’s eyes.

He did not fear them losing.

He only feared their Dao hearts shattering.

As long as their Dao hearts stand, this will push all Sword Sect disciples forward.

He murmured: “Yan Zhong He, then let us see if my Sword Sect disciples can pass through this Devil Demon.”

Yan Zhong He wanted to cripple Sword Sect’s younger generation.

Meng Yi Fei chose to treat it as a tempering trial.

Whose aim would be met in the end was still unknown.

Emotionless Peak.

Lin Qing Ling summoned her disciples.

Luo Ming Yue.

Liu Jun Cheng.

Sui Jin.

Jiang Yi.

All four arrived.

Lin Qing Ling asked, “Is Little Shuang still in seclusion?”

Luo Ming Yue nodded as she said, “Junior Sister went to the forging chamber. She insists on raising Black Abyss to Third Tier.”

“Good,” Lin Qing Ling said with a nod. “Three days from now, Yan Zhong He will come with his disciples. Little Shuang is in seclusion, so we do not need to tell her. By the time she comes out, Tyrant Blade Sect may already be gone.”

As for the strength of Yan Zhong He’s three top disciples:

Ren Gu: Divine Transformation Mid Stage.

Wu Ling Chuan: Nascent Soul Peak.

Cong Xin: Peak Golden Core.

It was clear they came to sweep away Sword Sect’s younger generation in one go.

Little Shuang seemed cold on the surface, but she was stubborn at heart. If she knew, she would surely take the field.

Yet she had only just entered the Golden Core Stage, while Cong Xin had an overbearing blade method backing him. She likely would not be his match.

Better to let her cultivate in peace.

“Understood,” Luo Ming Yue and the others said with firm nods.

None of them planned to tell Li Shuang. She had only just restarted her path; this was not a burden she should carry.

They would bear Tyrant Blade Sect’s provocation instead.

Looking at her disciples’ steady faces, Lin Qing Ling was silent for a long time, then said softly: “Do your best. The road ahead is under your feet.”

“Master, rest easy,” Luo Ming Yue said in a calm voice. “We know our limits.”

Only then did Lin Qing Ling nod as she said: “Ming Yue, your temper runs hot. Remember to hold back and do not fall for taunts. I trust the other three more on this. Treat this as a friendly exchange and do not take it too much to heart.”

Luo Ming Yue muttered, “Master…”

Lin Qing Ling smiled and said: “All right, all right. Three days from now the people of Tyrant Blade Sect will be here. Focus on your preparations.”

They answered with respect and left.

Night.

Through the crack in the window, moonlight and starlight poured in together.

Li Shuang kept hammering the Black Abyss Sword in her hands.