Chapter 414: Father and Son (Part 1)
Watching the sword lights soaring up from the peaks of Lishan, Komatsumiya’s expression shifted dramatically. The two elders of the Discipline Hall wore grim faces, while the old elder from the Eternal Life Sect, surnamed Jiang, looked even more appalling. Only the head of the Akiyama family remained silent, his gaze fixed on Akiyama Jun.
Akiyama Jun, however, did not spare his father even a single glance. He said to Komatsumiya and the others, “Why don’t you surrender? Do you truly wish to suffer the punishment of a thousand swords piercing your hearts?”
Then he turned his cold, stern gaze to the Lishan disciples who had followed Komatsumiya and the others onto the main peak. “As for you,” he said, “I won’t say there will be no consequences… that is absolutely impossible. But considering that today has only seen bloodshed, not death, if you lay down your swords now, I will punish you according to the lowest standard of the sect rules. You will not be expelled from the mountain.”
Those Lishan disciples had already felt uneasy following their masters onto the main peak. When Akiyama Jun appeared and took an extremely firm stance on the side of the Sect Leader, hesitation had already appeared on their faces. Now, hearing these words, they fell into a fierce internal struggle.
Komatsumiya laughed in fury, gripping his long sword as he stared at Akiyama Jun. “This is utterly absurd! Even if the whole world knows that you will one day lead the Lishan Sword Sect, you are not yet twenty years old! As a third-generation disciple, you dare to show disrespect to us elders? You dare to raise your hand against me! In recent years, this Lishan Sword Sect has truly been led astray by Su Li!”
Akiyama Jun looked at him seriously and said, “Evil men do not walk the righteous path. How could there be a crooked path before a righteous man?”
Komatsumiya grew even angrier, shouting harshly, “Earlier, your master used the sword formation to seal the passages between the peaks and the main peak precisely because he did not want the disciples of the various peaks to die by our swords! If you dare to unleash the Ten Thousand Swords Formation against us, how many people on Lishan’s peaks will die today! Do you want the Lishan Sword Sect to be destroyed in an instant because of internal strife!”
Hearing these words, the sword lights among the peaks flickered and hesitated. Bai Cai and the other Lishan disciples looked at Akiyama Jun, their gazes filled with unease. They knew Komatsumiya was right. The most powerful sword hall elites of the Lishan Sword Sect were now trapped within the sword formation in the mountain’s belly. While the disciples supporting the Sect Leader and Akiyama Jun were greater in number, in terms of combat strength, they were far inferior to the three profound second-generation elders like Komatsumiya. Not to mention that accompanying them up Lishan today was also an elder from the Eternal Life Sect, as well as the head of the Akiyama family and that unfathomably powerful Akiyama family retainer!
It must be remembered that the vast majority of the Ten Thousand Swords Formation’s power was being used to maintain the teleportation sword array. Even if Akiyama Jun and the third-generation disciples were determined to live or die with Lishan, it was uncertain whether they could repel such a powerful enemy! If both sides truly engaged in a desperate battle, even if Akiyama Jun could unleash the remaining power of the Ten Thousand Swords Formation, blood would surely flow like a river on Lishan. How many of those disciples loyal to Lishan would fall on the spot? And would it truly be worth it?
Akiyama Jun looked at the clouds and sword lights among the peaks, his sword-like brows slightly raised. Everyone knew he was ready to draw his sword. In the next moment, he would strike. He had already expelled the two Discipline Hall elders from Lishan, so now the Lishan Dharma Sword resided in his heart. Before the Lishan Dharma Sword, there was no question of worth; only whether it was right.
Bai Cai understood. She said no more, picked up her sword, and walked behind the senior brother, calmly and resolutely facing those powerful enemies. Dozens of Lishan disciples also understood. They walked before the stone steps, preparing for this final battle to begin. They paid no heed to any previous injuries, did not care that blood still flowed from their shoulders. The hands gripping their swords were incredibly steady. Komatsumiya and the others understood as well. The disciples behind them also understood. Some disciples lowered their heads. Some disciples cursed aloud. Some disciples silently walked to the side of the field. Some disciples slowly lowered their swords in their hands.
It was at this moment that a voice slowly rang out from the peak.
“When you were four years old, you encountered a flood dragon in the Southern Spirit Mountains. All the attendants died. Only you survived. You did not attack the unicorn; instead, you let it take you back to its cave, intending to use you as future food. Until today, including your father, no one knows how you survived, nor how you killed that flood dragon. But I believe that what you relied on then was not willpower or courage, but wisdom.”
The speaker was the head of the Akiyama family. He looked at Akiyama Jun with a blank expression and said, “I never expected that you, now, have been taught by your master and Su Li to become someone who believes in reckless courage. This truly disappoints me. I even somewhat regret sending you to Lishan back then.”
Akiyama Jun did not speak. He only looked at him quietly.
The head of the Akiyama family shook his head and said, “Your awakening was a great blessing, both for yourself and for the entire Lishan Sword Sect. Because now, only you can prevent Lishan from being destroyed. And what have you done? If you are thinking of the bond between master and disciple, I can tell you clearly: neither the Eternal Life Sect nor the Akiyama family, nor even Her Holiness the Saint Empress, intends for your master to die. We only believe that, because of Su Li and Qi Jian, he is no longer fit to hold the position of Sect Leader of the Lishan Sword Sect. But there will surely be a place for him in the Council of Elders of the Eternal Life Sect. Lishan only needs to recognize Su Li’s crimes, and it can welcome a brand new and beautiful future. Why not do it?”
The head of the Akiyama family’s voice gradually grew hard and cold. “I am your father. The entire continent knows this well. Everything I do is for you. Don’t you understand? No matter how much of a genius you are, having succeeded in gathering stars before the age of twenty, the implications of today’s events are far too profound. How can you possibly resolve them!”
Akiyama Jun looked at him quietly and suddenly said, “Father, what exactly do you want to do for me?”
The head of the Akiyama family said, “We want to completely eradicate Su Li and his shadow from Lishan.”
Akiyama Jun asked, “Why must you do this?”
The head of the Akiyama family said expressionlessly, “Only then can we ensure that Lishan is clean when it is passed into your hands.”
Akiyama Jun was silent for a moment, then said, “Father, you know I am not that kind of person.”
The head of the Akiyama family said, “Yes. If you were unwilling, you wouldn’t want Lishan, nor even the world. But you must understand one thing: Su Li… will surely die in the city of Xunyang. If you want Lishan to remain as powerful as before, you should show some real understanding and face this reality!”
Akiyama Jun said calmly, “So, I should hand over the little junior brother, ask the Sect Leader to abdicate, and take the throne myself. Only then can I avoid internal strife in Lishan, preserve its strength, and scheme for the future, even for eternity?”
The head of the Akiyama family said in a deep voice, “Is that not the right thing to do?”
“If one must ignore the facts to be considered facing reality, then such a reality is better ignored. Because in the days that follow, no one can ignore every decision they make without feeling regret.” Akiyama Jun looked at his father and the four elders and said, “You are already old. You can afford to live more pragmatically. But we are still young. If we survive, there will surely be long years ahead of us. I do not want to spend those future years remembering today with regret and pain. So I will not act according to your methods.”
You are already old. We are still young.
If hearts cannot connect, actions will naturally differ.
Hearing the senior brother’s calm and resolute voice, many Lishan disciples suddenly felt as if a clear spring had descended from the heavens. Their eyes grew slightly moist, and their sword hearts were washed clean and bright.
The head of the Akiyama family looked at his son, his emotions incredibly complex, complex to an unimaginable degree. He was proud, yet also sad. He was triumphant, yet also furious. For this Lishan rebellion today, the Akiyama family, the Eternal Life Sect, and many powerful figures from the Southern Sky had planned for so long. How could they allow it to fail because of a single young man! Yes, Akiyama Jun was his proudest son, the future of the Akiyama family. But one must understand that this was not just Akiyama Jun’s affair. This was the thousand-year affair of the Akiyama family!
In the end, he made his decision.
He looked at Akiyama Jun and said expressionlessly, “Heaven and Earth.”
These were two very common words. Yet, with the appearance of these two words, the peaks fell silent. Even the sword lights dimmed somewhat.
Because everyone had already guessed which classic text the “Heaven and Earth” spoken by the head of the Akiyama family came from.
It was the opening of a very famous passage in the State Religion’s Dao Canon.
Heaven and Earth, then father and son.
This was the supreme principle of nature. This was the human order of ethics.
No one could defy it.
…
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(I’m very tired, feeling all sorts of discomfort. It’s good that I could write at all. The quality is also acceptable.)