Singing with a Sword

The following is the main text of the novel "{?$article_title?}" ({?$jieqi_title?}) provided by {?$jieqi_sitename?}. Please enjoy! Upon hearing this, everyone froze once again!

A sect... a sect? My God! It's a sect!

“Although my sect is not as benevolent as the academies of Tianyu Kingdom, nor as compassionate as the monks of the temples of the Great Song Kingdom, we never kill the innocent indiscriminately,” Shen Fanba’s eyes turned cold. “But today you not only insulted me, but also tried to kill me, so it is entirely reasonable for me to kill more than a hundred of you!”

"Yes, yes, yes! It's all our fault, we were blind and didn't recognize your greatness! Please forgive us, Elder!" These people all abandoned their haughty airs. They knew that before the sect, they had no choice but to submit! They also knew that they would never be able to avenge the fallen cultivators in their lifetime! In fact, they didn't even dare to have such thoughts!

This is like an emperor traveling incognito, only to find that a group of hooligans not only insult him but also try to kill him. When the emperor reveals his identity and kills them all, the people of the world dare not criticize him and all believe that these people deserve to die.

The status of sects in the cultivation world is roughly the same as that of royalty in the mortal world!

"Since that's the case, all of you get out of here!" Shen Fanba shouted, and the cultivators actually rolled away. But there was only one person who didn't leave!

"Hmm?" Shen Fanba looked at the man. This man was Luo Rong. Luo Rong hesitated and said, "Senior, my... my son was killed by that Indian. Please, senior, grant me justice and let me kill that... that Indian!"

Luo Rong was going all out. If Yi Ranxiao escaped again this time, would he ever have a chance to find him again? So, he had no choice but to beg boldly.

Shen Fanba glanced at the man and then said, "I've seen you before." Luo Rong was startled. This important figure had seen him before? Had he unintentionally made a good impression on him someday? Haha, that makes things much easier!

However, Shen Fanba's next words completely shattered his hopes: "When I was chasing my nephew that day, I passed by the Hehuan Gate! I saw you on Xue Qinghua's bed! Hehe, and later I learned that you seemed to have tried to kill my nephew."

The gaze was directed at Zhong Bugui. The cultivators behind Luo Rong all looked at him in astonishment. The Hehuan Sect? Could it be that what that brat Yi Ranxiao said was true? Our revered Sect Leader Luo had actually become Xue Qinghua's lover?! In an instant, everyone glared angrily at Luo Rong.

Luo Rong, however, had no time to care about them. His mind was filled with only one word: "Junior nephew"! This Gui Buzhong was also from a sect? It felt as if he'd been punched hard in the chest!

"Although my nephew committed an unforgivable crime, it's not your place to kill him, you outsider!" A cold glint appeared in Shen Fanba's eyes. "Later, I heard about your crimes from my nephew, so..."

Luo Rong fell to his knees with a thud, but the instant he knelt, a spiked club took his life, and he lost consciousness... Just like that, Luo Rong, Yi Ran Xiao's enemy, died under Shen Fan Ba's spiked club!

……

……

Upon learning of the involvement of sect members in the tragedy in Su Shui City, the city officials dared not intervene. After all, it was a matter for the cultivation world, and they had no say in it. This was a pity for the restaurant owner, as Shen Fanba was still in his restaurant.

"Alright, the matter outside has been settled." Shen Fanba walked back into the restaurant, then looked coldly at Zhong Bugui. "Zhong Bugui, now that you have privately taught the sect's sword techniques to outsiders, in addition to the previous theft of sword techniques, what should your punishment be?"

Zhong Bugui looked conflicted. He knew Shen Fanba was targeting him, but now that Shen Fanba had leverage over him, he had a legitimate reason to do so. What should he do?

Xu Jingyi was also helpless. His disciple was indeed guilty, and how could he stand up for him? He could only try his best to prevent Shen Fanba from executing Zhong Bugui without authorization, and then escort Zhong Bugui back to the sect. At that time, he could plead with his senior brother, the sect leader, and perhaps there would still be a glimmer of hope. But now the situation had changed again. Zhong Bugui had actually secretly taught the sect's sword techniques to outsiders.

Adding insult to injury!

No matter what, the only thing they could do was try their best to ensure Zhong Bugui's return to the sect, and then they would have to plead with their senior brother, the sect leader. So Xu Jingyi said, "Senior brother, why don't we return to the sect first, and then try my traitorous disciple?"

Shen Fanba snorted coldly and said, "Junior brother, you also bear a considerable responsibility for Zhong Bugui's theft of swordsmanship, so you are also guilty and have no right to decide my next plan." He then turned to look at Yi Ranxiao and said in a cold voice, "Moreover, this brat stole our swordsmanship, so we must execute him on the spot immediately!"

Yi Ranxiao was stunned. Execute me on the spot? Does that mean you're going to cripple my magic? Or...?

Upon hearing the words "execute on the spot," Zhong Bugui's expression changed drastically. He almost jumped to his feet, staring at Shen Fanba with a distorted face, and said, "Uncle-Master, you...you want to kill my brother?"

"That's right, anyone who steals two techniques from my sect, and has even reached the mastery level in one of them, shall be executed!" Shen Fanba's voice was filled with murderous intent!

Execution? Yi Ranxiao was stunned! He had learned a sword technique and a Yuan energy cultivation method from his elder brother, and the sword technique had reached the realm of oneness with heaven and man, which was the so-called great success realm, which perfectly met the sect's conditions for execution!

Shen Fanba looked at Yi Ranxiao without any emotion and said, "Boy, will you commit suicide yourself, or will I, the sect's enforcement elder, personally carry out the execution?"

"It's over!" That was the first thought that popped into Yi Ranxiao's mind! It really was over. This law enforcement elder was probably hundreds of times stronger than him. No matter how desperately he tried to escape, it would be useless! Was he really going to die here today?

Yi Ranxiao's face showed a bitter expression, but then he gave a few bitter laughs. Zhong Bugui looked at the bitter smile on his sworn brother's face, struggled internally for a moment, and then heard him say loudly:

"Senior Uncle! I forced him to learn this boy's magic! He didn't want to learn at all at the time, but I forced him to learn it under my heavy threats and inducements! So none of this has anything to do with him! If anyone should be punished, it should be me, Zhong Bugui! I, Zhong Bugui, will take full responsibility! Stealing sword techniques and forcing Fei Fei's sect disciples to practice the sect's magic are all my responsibility! It has absolutely nothing to do with anyone else!"

"Uncle-Master, if you want to kill someone, kill me alone!" Zhong Bugui said righteously!

"Big Brother!" Yi Ranxiao called out. His brother was taking all the blame to avoid implicating him! "Big Brother, you..."

"Brother!" Zhong Bugui roared, "Damn it, even though we're brothers, you just didn't want to practice the sword technique and mental cultivation method I taught you. I went through so much trouble to make you practice the mental cultivation method first, and then the sword technique. Haha, I've always been a man of my word, and I never lie."

"Big……"

"Are you trying to say that I didn't force you, but that you voluntarily studied with me? Hmph, I know you want to save me and lessen my guilt! But—" Zhong Bugui said calmly, "I won't let my brother lose his life trying to save me! So, I have to tell the truth!"

He then looked at Shen Fanba and said, "Senior Uncle, I forcibly taught my brother's swordsmanship to him! All the responsibility lies with me! In addition, I stole the sect leader's swordsmanship. With these two crimes combined, I, Zhong Bugui, can only atone with my death!"

Just as he uttered the word "death," a low, muffled thud came from his body, followed by blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his body fell backward. He committed suicide!

"I will not return!"

"Brother!"

"Big brother!"

Xu Jingyi, Xu Zhongwen, and Yi Ranxiao rushed over immediately. Xu Jingyi was the fastest and caught Zhong Bugui. Zhong Bugui leaned against him, a bitter smile on his face. Xu Zhongwen and Yi Ranxiao immediately surrounded them.

"No return, why...why did you try to commit suicide?!" Xu Jingyi was about to cry! "Big brother, how could you be so foolish?" Yi Ranxiao's eyes glistened with tears, while Xu Zhongwen was already sobbing and unable to speak.

Zhong Bugui smiled bitterly, looked at the three of them, and then said loudly, "All the blame for this is mine, Zhong Bugui. Senior Uncle Shen, I have already committed suicide. Please be merciful and do not make things difficult for my master and brothers!"

Shen Fanba, after all, was still a human being, and any human being would have a soft heart. Seeing him commit suicide, he couldn't help but sigh, "Now that you have been executed, this matter is over." After saying that, he turned around and stopped asking about it.

Zhong Bugui was on his last breath, but upon hearing Shen Fanba's words, he couldn't help but smile and say, "Master, junior brother, brother, my death was worthwhile! I can go to the underworld in peace now!" Yi Ranxiao, however, thought of the Great Rejuvenation Pill. Could this excellent medicine revive her brother? She immediately took out the Great Rejuvenation Pill.

Zhong Bugui stopped him, saying, "Brother, it's no use. The Great Rejuvenation Pill can only heal non-fatal wounds. When I committed suicide, I severed my meridians and destroyed my Qi Sea. I can't live anymore! You should save your Great Rejuvenation Pill for later! Now, while I'm still alive, I... I'll say a few more words to you."

Yi Ranxiao could only sigh inwardly and nod silently as she listened to his final monologue before his death, along with Xu Jingyi and his son.

“Master, Zhong Bugui may be known for his unrestrained and free-spirited nature, but after joining our sect’s Divine Wind Hall, I have a dream!” Zhong Bugui said slowly with a smile.

“I dreamed of leading Shenfeng Hall to become the number one branch of the sect! So I kept working hard to cultivate and constantly challenged the senior brothers of the branches ranked ahead of us, but I was defeated time and time again! So I thought that my cultivation techniques were too poor, so I went to steal the sect leader's swordsmanship, which is why I have committed so many sins! Master, please forgive your disciple!”

Xu Jingyi sighed, held his hand and said, "Master forgives you. Master knows that everything you did was for the good of Shenfeng Hall. It is Master's incompetence that prevents Shenfeng Hall from taking further progress."

Zhong Bugui said weakly, "Master, you flatter me! Cough...cough..." He coughed up three mouthfuls of blood, his face growing increasingly pale. The hearts of the three people felt as if they were being gripped tightly, filled with tension, sorrow, pain, and helplessness...

"Before I die, I have one last request... I beg Master for your help!" Zhong Bugui looked earnestly at Xu Jingyi. Xu Jingyi nodded directly and said, "Bugui, just say it. Whatever it is, I will help you accomplish it!"

Zhong Bugui smiled, looked at Yi Ranxiao, and said, "I would like to ask Master to accept my younger brother as a disciple!" Xu Jingyi nodded immediately without hesitation. Zhong Bugui continued, "Master, my... my younger brother is exceptionally talented, much more capable than me! As long as you train him well, he will definitely lead our Shenfeng Hall to become the number one branch of the sect!"

The sect has nine branch halls, ranked in order of strength. Zhong Bugui's branch hall, the Divine Wind Hall, is the weakest, a world apart from the strongest!

So, Yi Ranxiao hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can...can I do it?"

Zhong Bugui gave him a confident smile, a smile that embodied all the confidence he had accumulated throughout his life! Then, he said something that Yi Ranxiao would remember for the rest of his life:

"You can do it, because I believe in you!"

Yiran Xiao's eyes were still blurry with tears, and she could no longer speak.

"Brother, you have to keep going! You are me. After I die, you will take my place, inherit my dreams, and fight hard! Cough cough cough... cough cough cough cough..."

"Master, junior brother, little brother, I...I'm off! Haha!" Zhong Bugui forced a laugh, and then he left this world forever. The green sword in Yi Ranxiao's hand hummed softly, as if sensing its master's death.

"I will not return!"

"Brother!"

"Big brother!"