Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Senior Brother, I Beg You

Lu Chengfeng stood amidst the wind and snow, not rushing home.

Half a year of arduous cultivation had yielded substantial benefits. His cultivation and strength had greatly improved. More importantly, fully absorbing the legacies of the three individuals had given him a clearer understanding of the situation within the sect.

Back then, the previous Sect Master was enraged by Xun Shuijing’s death and spared no effort in investigating. Elders Li Guan and Qin Feng of Black Crane Peak were both implicated.

Both of them were nearing the end of their lifespans. Tempted by the promise of life-extending pills from outsiders, they secretly leaked information about Xun Shuijing.

Naturally, there was no conclusive evidence for such a thing, but the previous Sect Master forcefully sent these two to the Boundless Dragon Abyss, and they never returned.

Lu Chengfeng recalled the memory fragments of Li Guan encountering that colossal creature in the Boundless Dragon Abyss, and he felt a shiver that originated from his soul, a suppression from his bloodline and very being.

Just seeing it in his memories filled him with fear and horror.

‘Fortunately, it has always been dormant. Otherwise, the entire Cloud Firmament Sword Sect would likely be destroyed.’

‘Those so-called demonic beasts are merely born from being infected by its aura, yet they already possess various inconceivable powers, putting immense pressure on the sect.’

‘How could such a terrifying existence exist in this world?!’

Lu Chengfeng shook his head. If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes in the memory fragments, he wouldn’t have dared to believe that creatures from myths and legends truly existed in the human world.

The entire Cloud Firmament Sword Sect was practically built on the mouth of a volcano. If one day the volcano erupted, everyone in the sect would be reduced to ashes.

‘Compared to the existence beneath the Boundless Dragon Abyss, the petty squabbles within the sect are truly insignificant.’

‘They’re nothing but the underhanded tactics of those chasing after scraps, struggling to survive!’

Li Guan, having personally experienced the turmoil within the sect twenty years ago, possessed information in his memory fragments that had long become taboo for the young disciples of today.

Who else would know about the power struggles and undercurrents among the sect’s higher-ups?

Lu Chengfeng integrated the memories of Li Guan, Zhao Changzhen, and Xiao Qi. Although there were some gaps, he now had a clear understanding of the current situation within the sect.

‘If I’m not mistaken, it’s no surprise that Zhu Yuxian met with Zhao Changzhen back then.’

‘And Zhao Changzhen’s death was only natural.’

He sighed softly and turned, walking along a quiet path. Only shallow footprints were left on the snowy ground, quickly covered by the falling snow.

Lu Chengfeng walked for about fifteen minutes and entered a canyon on Bixia Peak. The environment here was serene, with few signs of life, only scattered tombstones standing here and there.

He walked straight to a tombstone buried in snow, personally brushing away all the snowflakes. The inscription on it was revealed:

[Tomb of My Beloved Father, Zhao Changzhen — Erected by His Daughter, Zhao Ling’er]

There were no excessive words, not even the dates of birth and death. It was simple, even somewhat crude.

Lu Chengfeng swept away the snow and cleared the weeds around the tombstone before kneeling before it.

Zhao Changzhen had committed heinous crimes, assaulting beautiful women, forcing Luo Suyi to become his concubine, betraying the Cloud Firmament Sword Sect, and his hands were stained with the blood of countless innocent souls. His death was not undeserved.

But he had genuinely treated Lu Chengfeng well. Back then, he not only saved Lu Chengfeng’s life but also imparted all the martial arts of Bixia Peak to him without reservation.

Others could speak ill of Zhao Changzhen, but Lu Chengfeng couldn’t.

“Master, I will always remember that year when I was thirteen. My father, working in the magistrate’s office, showed mercy and released a six-year-old orphan girl.”

“That girl, however, somehow obtained a deadly poison and put it in our well, killing all seventeen members of my Lu family.”

“I slit my wrists and barely clung to life. It was only thanks to your rescue, Master, that I survived.”

Lu Chengfeng kowtowed respectfully. “Master, I can never repay your life-saving grace.”

“After saving me, Master, you took me to the magistrate’s office, held your sword to his neck, and forced him to send people to find that orphan girl. I personally killed her and avenged my family’s blood feud.”

“If it weren’t for you, Master, my enemy would have vanished into the vast sea of people, and I would never have been able to avenge my family.”

“You taught me martial arts and the principle of eradicating the roots, of being ruthless.”

“I know you weren’t a good person, Master, but I don’t care. Because you were good to me, that much is true.”

He looked at the three words “Zhao Changzhen” on the tombstone, his voice hoarse.

“Even when you forced Suyi to become your concubine, causing me grief and pain, I couldn’t do anything about it.”

“Because you were the one who saved my life, the one who avenged my parents, the one who passed on your legacy and treated me like a son.”

“But you died before you could even consummate your marriage, killed by someone who intruded on the mountain, slain with just three sword strikes.”

“Even with all your faults, I, Lu Chengfeng, owe you a debt in this life. I must avenge you, or how can I face you? How can I face my own conscience?!”

Lu Chengfeng recalled his childhood days following Zhao Changzhen.

A thirteen-year-old boy, his parents and relatives tragically killed, left alone and helpless.

It was Zhao Changzhen who taught him swordsmanship step-by-step, giving him the courage and strength to live on.

“But why was it him who killed you?”

Lu Chengfeng’s voice was dark and suppressed.

“I didn’t want him to die, but… why did he have to kill you?”

“Master, I owe you a great debt. This revenge must be taken.”

“I will find the right opportunity and kill him with a single sword strike. To avenge you.”

“Senior Brother.” At some point, a figure in red appeared behind Lu Chengfeng. Her fair face was stained with tears, her eyes red and swollen, her right hand tightly gripping her sword.

“Tell me, who killed father?”

Lu Chengfeng didn’t turn around. With his current martial arts prowess, he had sensed Zhao Ling’er’s presence the moment she appeared.

“Junior Sister, you don’t need to get involved in this. I will avenge Master’s death.”

“Senior Brother!” Zhao Ling’er knelt before the tombstone and kowtowed three times. Snow and mud stained her forehead, but she didn’t care.

She turned sideways, her red and swollen eyes fixed on Lu Chengfeng.

“Today is father’s birthday. In previous years, we would celebrate together, and he would prepare gifts for you and me.”

“None of the other Senior Brothers and Sisters received any, only the two of us were favored by father.”

“I woke up early this morning, but I couldn’t eat or drink anything. I unconsciously came here.”

“Senior Brother, I don’t have a father anymore. My father, he’s dead… he’s dead…”

Zhao Ling’er sobbed uncontrollably. She pushed away Lu Chengfeng’s hand as he tried to help her up and asked in a sharp voice, “Do you really want me to not even know who my father’s killer is?”

The wind howled, and snow fluttered in the air. Zhao Ling’er’s slender figure trembled slightly, tears blurring her vision.

“Senior Brother, I beg you.”

She said, kowtowing deeply once more.

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