Chapter Ninety-Five: A Favor Bestowed on Mount Tai Sect

The young disciple, this is Elder Yang Xin of our sect. You had already died just now, but thanks to my sect’s grand-uncle using immortal arts, you were brought back from the dead and returned to life.

Chi Baicheng was thoroughly stunned.

Chi Baicheng, do you remember what happened just now? Yang Xin suddenly asked.

Chi Baicheng had evidently not yet recovered from the shock of dying and coming back to life. He remained dazed for a moment before finally coming to his senses. “Many thanks to Grand-Uncle for saving me. This disciple only remembers being struck by that scoundrel Tian Boguang, then my vision went black and I lost consciousness. When I came to myself again, I was lying on the table.”

As he spoke, he suddenly seemed to recall something and hurriedly lifted his clothes to check the wound. To his astonishment, the knife injury on his body had vanished without a trace.

“This... this is unbelievable. Oh, right—Uncle Yue, Grand-Uncle, where is that villain Tian Boguang?”

Yue Buqun was startled, but seeing Yang Xin nod, and knowing full well that the matter could not be concealed anyway, he hastily said, “Nephew, do you think there is no cost to the immortal art that brought you back from death? Your grand-uncle exchanged Tian Boguang’s life for yours. As for Tian Boguang, after your grand-uncle used his immortal art to save you, he vanished to ash and dust. To put it in Taoist terms, his soul was utterly scattered.”

Chi Baicheng was greatly shocked. Though he was bold and not especially shrewd, he was not foolish. He hurriedly asked, “Why save me?”

“Hmm.” Yang Xin smiled faintly. “Setting aside the fact that all disciples of the Five Mountains are bound by the same breath and blood, just for the sake of your drawing your blade to rescue my Five Mountains junior brother, I had to save you. Men of valor and righteousness like you are not common among our disciples. Still, next time before you act, first judge your own strength, then weigh your opponent’s. Do not charge ahead with nothing but impulse. And you must also look carefully to see whether the person you save is even worth saving.”

“If they are honest, upright, and grateful for kindness, then of course save them. If they are coldhearted, ungrateful wretches, then do not intervene, lest you throw your own life away as well. This time I was here. What about next time?” Yang Xin said calmly.

“But... to help the strong repress the weak and rescue our fellow disciples—isn’t that the conduct expected of our righteous sects?” Chi Baicheng murmured.

“It is not that I forbid you from helping the weak and rescuing your fellow disciples. I am telling you to act within your means, Baicheng. Tell me, do you have some eye ailment?” Yang Xin sighed.

“Why would Grand-Uncle say that? I do not have any eye disease,” Chi Baicheng said, vexed.

“If you had no eye disease, how could you have done such a blind thing? Look into my eyes.” Suddenly, Yang Xin’s eyes turned into crimson pupils, and he transmitted the scene from earlier through an illusion technique. He deliberately omitted the struggle between Linghu Chong and Tian Boguang, while intensifying Yilin’s words.

“How was it? That is the junior sister you rushed to save with such righteous zeal. From beginning to end, she never gave you a second glance. In her eyes, there was only her Big Brother Linghu.”

Chi Baicheng’s face instantly flushed red. He had poured out such hot-blooded devotion only to be met with cold indifference; anyone would be angry.

And Baicheng, not only is your judgment poor, your martial skill is lacking as well, Yang Xin said. With that, he gave Yue Buqun a meaningful look.

Yue Buqun raised his brows and immediately took a manual from his robe and handed it to Chi Baicheng. “When you return, personally give this manual to your master, Taoist Master Tianmen, and tell him it is a reward from my Mount Hua sect’s grand-uncle for your act of justice.”

“Yes, Uncle.” Chi Baicheng did not even look at it, simply tucking the manual into his robes.

Originally, Yang Xin had wanted to ask Chi Baicheng whether this world contained the underworld, the Yellow Springs, and the Six Paths of Reincarnation, but it seemed he would gain no useful information from him. Thus, he simply withdrew the mirror realm.

Where is that lecher Tian Boguang?

At that moment, Taoist Master Tianmen of Mount Tai, Reverend Dingyi, and the others rushed in with a crowd in tow.

What happened? Yilin, tell me! Reverend Dingyi’s temper was as fiery as ever, and she asked impatiently.

Yilin quickly recounted the events in her sweet, clear voice, making the originally flashing blades and killing intent sound oddly amusing.

But on the second floor, Chi Baicheng’s face had gone ashen. From Yilin’s account, all that remained of him was one sentence: the Mount Tai senior brother had been cleaved to death by Tian Boguang’s blade. Everything else was about how Tian Boguang had treated her with perfect courtesy, and how her Big Brother Linghu’s martial arts were so formidable, how his heart overflowed with loyalty and righteousness, and so on...

Enough! Where is Tian Boguang, and where is the body of my disciple Chi Baicheng? Taoist Master Tianmen interrupted Yilin’s seemingly aggrieved but actually boastful account in a fury.

“Tian Boguang has been captured by disciples of Mount Hua...” Yilin had not finished speaking before she was interrupted.

“Master, your disciple is here.” On the second floor, Chi Baicheng sprang down and came before Taoist Master Tianmen to bow in salute.

Impossible! Wasn’t you slain by that lecher Tian Boguang with a single stroke? Taoist Tian Song behind Tianmen’s back cried out in panic, his face changing drastically.

Taoist Master Tianmen, however, looked at Tian Song with suspicion. After all, his own disciple Chi Baicheng was standing alive before him.

“My disciple was indeed killed by that lecher Tian Boguang with a single stroke, but was then brought back by Uncle Yue of Mount Hua and Grand-Uncle. As for Tian Boguang... in order to save this disciple’s life, the grand-uncle of Mount Hua used a life-for-life art and exchanged Tian Boguang’s life for mine,” Chi Baicheng said in a low voice, repeatedly bowing toward Yang Xin on the second floor.

Everyone’s gaze instantly converged on Yang Xin upstairs. The moment they saw him appear, they all rose together and bowed with near-pilgrim reverence.

Greetings, True Man Yang of Mount Hua!

Hiss...

Taoist Master Tianmen drew in a long breath. Though he could not yet be one hundred percent certain that his disciple’s words were true, in his heart he already believed it seven or eight tenths. As a sect leader, he had some discernment. The bearing of these martial world figures was even more respectful and sincere than when paying respects to a martial alliance chief.

Brother Yue, and... this uncle of Mount Hua, is what my unworthy disciple said truly so? Taoist Master Tianmen asked with a trembling voice. This was also the matter most on everyone’s mind, and all pricked up their ears to listen.

Yang Xin nodded. “Baicheng is a rare talent among our Five Mountains Sword Sect. Though his martial arts are nothing special, his character is among the very best in our sect. I could not allow such a heroic young man to fade away here, so I employed certain methods to return him to life. However...”

He paused, and everyone’s hearts were immediately raised.

“However, not everyone can be revived by such means.”

May I ask, True Man Yang, who cannot be brought back by such immortal arts? On the second floor, a quick-witted little girl asked in a bright voice.

Qu Feiyan? Then the one beside her must be Qu Yang. What audacity. Truly, the ignorant fear nothing.

Yang Xin glanced at Qu Feiyan and the Qu Yang beside her without changing expression, and said calmly, “Those who die of natural causes cannot. Those dead for more than a quarter of an hour cannot. Those whose head has been severed cannot.”

Even so, it still caused a stir among the crowd. In the martial world, where one lived licking blood from the edge of a blade, who knew when one might be hacked to death? If one could form a connection with Mount Hua and seek their aid, it would be akin to gaining an extra life. As for the matter of exchanging one life for another, the people of the martial world instinctively ignored it.

Oh yes, Master, this was given to me by Uncle Yue, and he said it was a reward for me. Chi Baicheng quietly handed the booklet Yue Buqun had given him to Taoist Master Tianmen.

Taoist Master Tianmen had barely turned two pages when his expression changed dramatically. This booklet clearly recorded the exquisite sword techniques lost by his own sect. He immediately tucked it into his robes and clasped his hands toward Yang Xin and Yue Buqun. “Uncle, Brother Yue, I have no words to thank you for such great kindness! My mind is in disorder right now; allow me to return and compose myself. I shall come later to pay my respects to Uncle and Brother Yue.”

With that, Taoist Master Tianmen took Chi Baicheng by the arm and left at once.

Linghu Chong, do you know your crime? Yue Buqun suddenly roared.