Chapter 409: Chaos Begins with Two Women (Part 2)
The Sect Leader gestured for Bai Cai not to support him, slowly taking two steps forward. Through the dozens of gleaming sword lights, he looked at the senior brothers who had once been familiar and close on the cliff plateau, the somewhat recognizable disciples, and the powerful experts from the Eternal Life Sect and the Qiu Mountain Clan. The corners of his lips slowly lifted, revealing a mocking smile.
"Eternal ages."
"North and South unite."
"For the human world."
"Against the demon race."
The four words spoken with a mocking smile were nonetheless so bright and solemn. In this way, no matter how bright and solemn the words or reasons might be, they were all meant to be mocked. Because these were merely excuses.
"Was it the Pope, or Her Holiness the Saint Empress... who promised you these benefits?" The Sect Leader's gaze slowly shifted across Xiao Song Gong and the two Law Enforcement Hall elders, finally landing on the head of the Qiu Mountain Clan.
The head of the Qiu Mountain Clan bowed his head slightly in greeting, smiling without speaking, as if he were completely unaware of the tense situation he was in.
"Yes, north and south unite, the human world unified, defeating the demon race... these are the benefits, these are the rewards for killing Su Li. No matter how much you mock them, they are still benefits."
Xiao Song Gong looked at the Sect Leader and said, "For the future of our Li Mountain Sword Sect, for the peace and happiness of the millions in the southern lands, no matter how much selfishness you claim we have, how could these benefits not stir one's heart?"
The Sect Leader was silent for a long time. Suddenly, he raised his right hand and, amidst the dozens of flowing lights, plucked down a sword.
This was the flowing light of the Ten Thousand Swords Formation, and only he could perform such a casual action.
"It seems you still haven't figured it out," the Sect Leader said.
"Because I haven't figured out where you got this charge of the Junior Grandmaster betraying the sect. Just as Liu'er Bai Cai said, you should at least fabricate a more plausible story."
People looked at Xiao Song Gong and the two Law Enforcement Hall elders. Even the Qiu Mountain Clan head and that unfathomably powerful guardian who had come up the mountain with them did the same. The peak was silent for a long time before a Law Enforcement Hall elder spoke: "Su Li... he went against the current, always preventing the north-south unification. We suspect he has colluded with the demon race."
The Sect Leader shook his head, speechless, and sighed with emotion, "Truly shameless."
The Qiu Mountain Clan head couldn't help but shake his head as well, probably finding the claim too absurd.
"The Grandmaster has contended with demon strongmen for many years. Countless demons have fallen to his sword. If not for him, how could the demons have been so docile on the snowy plains all these years? Now he is a dragon stranded in shallow waters, trapped in Xunyang City by those despicable scoundrels, precisely because he was surrounded by demons while trying to kill the demon strategist Black Robe, and thus suffered severe injuries..."
The Sect Leader looked at the Law Enforcement Hall elder and said, "Those people in Xunyang City are shameless enough, but for you to claim the Grandmaster colluded with the demons—that goes beyond shamelessness and reaches an inhuman level."
He spoke these words calmly and seriously, but his emotions were intense. The disciples on the various peaks reacted just as strongly, showering the main peak with all sorts of foul language. After all, Su Li was not only their Grandmaster's junior but also the very spirit and soul of the entire Li Mountain. He was the idol of all the young disciples. How could they allow these elders to slander him so?
"Merely an act," someone said.
The Sect Leader roared, "Senior Brother, if you have no evidence, based solely on these words, I can expel you from Li Mountain."
Xiao Song Gong stared into his eyes, a half-smile playing on his lips. "You really want evidence? You know that although no one mentions that incident from the past anymore, the verification paper from the blood oath back then should still be hidden in the Li Palace."
Hearing this, the Sect Leader's expression turned grave. "You... what are you referring to?"
"There has never been an absolute secret in this world. Does Su Li think that by killing everyone by the Cold Pool, he could keep this matter hidden?"
The Sect Leader's gaze became extremely sharp. "Shut up! If you dare act recklessly, don't blame me for shattering my sword heart and using the Ten Thousand Swords Formation to kill everyone who came up the mountain!"
Hearing this, the people among the various peaks of Li Mountain felt a chill run down their spines—such fierce killing intent, such ruthless methods. Was this internal strife in Li Mountain truly destined to end in such a tragic outcome? What exactly was this secret?
"Are these disciples not Li Mountain disciples? Just because you want to cover up that secret, do they all have to die?"
Xiao Song Gong stared at him, sneering, "If you truly use such venomous methods, I'd like to see how you face the ancestors of Li Mountain after you die. I didn't want to expose this secret, but forced to this point by you, I have no choice but to tell the entire continent: Qi Jian is not only Su Li's daughter, she is also..."
He looked toward the cave dwelling behind the Sect Leader and the dozens of disciples, through that heavy door, as if he could see the unconscious Qi Jian, and shouted coldly, "She is also the daughter of the Demon Princess!"
The Sect Leader roared in fury, "Shut up!"
Xiao Song Gong was unafraid and continued with contempt, "She is the daughter born of Su Li and the Demon Princess!"
The various peaks of Li Mountain erupted in an uproar, with shouts and curses flying everywhere. Who would believe such a thing? And yet... Xiao Song Gong's words still echoed among the peaks. As his voice rang out, the noise among the peaks gradually diminished.
"Why did the Eternal Life Sect imprison that woman in the Cold Pool back then? Why did the elders have the confidence to demand that Su Li accomplish that great deed to atone for his sins? Because Su Li had already committed a heinous crime."
Xiao Song Gong thought back to that earth-shattering event from over a decade ago and suddenly felt that even the wind among the peaks had turned several degrees colder. "But who could have imagined that Su Li would be so audacious as to kill over a dozen Eternal Life Sect elders for the sake of a demon woman! How many strongmen did the human world lose because of this! And you dare say he couldn't have colluded with the demons!"
The shouts abruptly ceased, and the various peaks of Li Mountain fell into a dead silence. Because people vaguely felt that this matter might be true, they were utterly shocked. Even the Qiu Mountain Clan head and that guardian couldn't help but raise their eyebrows. Only the Eternal Life Sect elder remained as calm as before, but a cruel, vengeful gleam of satisfaction flickered in his eyes, suggesting he had known this all along.
The Li Mountain disciples opened their mouths but were speechless. Earlier, when Xiao Song Gong revealed Qi Jian's background, they could still accept it, even feeling affection, pity, and reverence for her because of the Grandmaster. But now, it was a completely different feeling. She was the daughter of the Demon Princess? The Grandmaster had actually had such a past with the Demon Princess...
No one knew how long passed before an uneasy voice broke the silence. A Li Mountain disciple standing in front of the cave dwelling looked at the Sect Leader and asked with a trembling voice, "Sect Master Uncle, is this matter... true?"