Chapter 81: A Challenge Letter

When Lin Pingzhi awoke, he found himself lying inside a temple.

"You're awake?" Zheng Jian's voice reached him. Struggling to sit up, Lin Pingzhi saw Zheng Jian sitting nearby.

A fire burned in the temple, and judging by the sky outside, it was already deep into the night.

"Senior Brother, thank you for helping me avenge my family. I will never forget your kindness," Lin Pingzhi said, recalling what had happened and bowing respectfully in front of Zheng Jian.

Zheng Jian waved his hand dismissively. "We're brothers; there's no need for such formality. Besides, I didn't do much. You took your revenge yourself."

After Lin Pingzhi had avenged his family, his tension had finally released, and his injuries flared up, causing him to lose consciousness. Zheng Jian had not troubled the other Qingcheng disciples; instead, he let them take the bodies of Yu Canghai and his followers and leave. He then brought Lin Pingzhi here, gave him an Elixir of Impermanence, and used his own internal energy to catalyze the medicine and protect Lin's vital organs.

Yu Canghai's palm strike had been truly heavy—his Heart-Crushing Palm lived up to its reputation, though compared to the one used by Iron Corpse Chen Xuanfeng in the "Shooting Eagles" world, it still fell short...

"So, how do you feel now that you've had your revenge?" Zheng Jian asked with a smile.

At the question, Lin Pingzhi looked bewildered. After a moment's thought, he replied, "I feel much lighter, as if a huge stone has been lifted from my heart. But..."

"But it wasn't as joyful as you'd imagined, was it?"

"Yes, that's true," Lin Pingzhi answered honestly. "I feel a bit empty..."

Zheng Jian considered this—how Lin's current state was much like that of a sage after a moment of climax, finding everything suddenly tasteless.

"Never mind. Focus on recovering. Now that your great enmity is avenged, don't live every day shrouded in bitterness. Train diligently, become someone useful to the martial world, and look to the future with hope..."

...

While Zheng Jian and Lin Pingzhi journeyed slowly towards Mount Hua, a most unwelcome visitor arrived at the lively Huashan Sect.

Inside the Hall of Righteousness, Elder Yue watched the black-clad man before him with a guarded and solemn expression.

The man was tall and powerfully built, with a tangled beard and eyes like bronze bells. His temples bulged, marking him as a master of external martial arts.

Elder Yue recognized him. "Hall Master Tong, you are the esteemed head of the Thunder and Wind Hall of the Sun and Moon Cult. This is the Mount Hua Sect of the Five Mountain Sword Sects Alliance. Our paths do not cross—what brings you here today?"

This was Tong Bai Xiong, Head of the Thunder and Wind Hall of the Sun and Moon Cult.

Tong Bai Xiong let out a wild laugh, causing dust to rain down from the rafters. Only when Elder Yue's face darkened did he stop, snort coldly, and pull a red letter from his robe, tossing it over.

Elder Yue's eyes were quick; he caught it with his right hand, though he felt a faint numbness from the force—a testament to Tong Bai Xiong's skill.

Opening the letter, he read a single line:

To the Celestial Sword Hero Zheng,

On the fifteenth of June, under the full moon, atop Blackwood Cliff—let us test our swords and our martial arts. Do not fail to appear!

Signed, Invincible East.

Elder Yue was so shocked that his hands trembled, nearly dropping the letter. He caught it just in time.

He looked at Tong Bai Xiong. "Hall Master Tong, what is the meaning of this?"

Tong Bai Xiong sneered. "Sect Leader Yue—or rather, Alliance Leader Yue. Don't you know how to read?"

Elder Yue's face grew darker. "I ask you, what is the meaning of this?" As he spoke, a purple aura flickered across his face—clear evidence of his anger.

Seeing this, Tong Bai Xiong felt a touch of fear but forced a laugh. "Alliance Leader Yue, I'm only here to deliver the letter as ordered. It's written personally by the Cult Leader. I haven't read it myself, so how could I know what the Cult Leader intends..."

With that, he cupped his fists. "The letter has been delivered. I won't linger—farewell!"

Still shaken, Elder Yue let him leave without interference.

After Tong Bai Xiong departed, Ning Zhongze emerged from the rear hall and asked, "Senior brother, with the two of us working together, we had an eighty percent chance of keeping him here. Why let him go?"

Elder Yue forced a bitter smile. "Tong Bai Xiong is, at best, a slightly more important underling in the cult. What use would it be to keep him? It would only give the cult an excuse to attack Mount Hua. When a tree stands out in the forest, the wind will surely break it. This is trouble indeed..."

Ning Zhongze saw Elder Yue's trembling hands and sensed something was wrong. She took the letter, read it, and her face immediately drained of color.

She looked at Elder Yue in shock. "Senior brother, this... this..."

"Jian defeated Zuo Lengchan in front of everyone, but I never expected that would alarm the Leader atop Blackwood Cliff! Nor did I expect Invincible East would personally issue him a challenge. What are we to do?" Elder Yue's voice was full of helplessness.

The leader atop Blackwood Cliff had done nothing for nearly a decade, not even leaving the cliff. Yet, throughout the world, everyone knew Invincible East was the undisputed number one master.

Who could have foreseen that this number one in the world would issue a challenge to Zheng Jian?

"Where's Jian? Has he returned?" Ning Zhongze pressed, fully aware of Invincible East's fearsome reputation.

Elder Yue shook his head. "Pingzhi was eager for revenge. As soon as the gathering ended, Jian went with him to pursue Yu Canghai. They haven't returned yet."

"What should we do? Why don't we destroy the letter?" Ning Zhongze asked in a panic.

"Such foolishness!" Elder Yue scolded. "Even if you destroy it, will Invincible East stay put? If he dares issue this challenge, he must be confident he can force our compliance. By now, the news of his challenge to Jian must have already spread throughout the martial world. What good would destroying the letter do?"

"So what do we do? Jian is so young—how could he possibly stand against Invincible East? Isn't this sending him to his death? Aren't you the Alliance Leader? Think of something!" Ning Zhongze cried out, nearly breaking down.

Strong-willed as she was, never before had Ning Zhongze lost her composure like this.

Elder Yue tasted bitterness. "What can I do? Do you think I want to see Jian sent to Blackwood Cliff to die? I watched him grow up—he's like a son to me! Do you think I don't feel pain?"

Ning Zhongze collapsed weakly into a chair. She knew full well that Elder Yue was telling the truth. The letter from Invincible East was as light as a feather, yet at this moment, it was as heavy as Mount Tai, crushing both Elder Yue and herself beneath its weight...

Outside the door, Yue Lingshan, who had been eavesdropping, also slid weakly to the ground, tears streaming down her face. She did not know who Invincible East was, but she had never seen Elder Yue and Ning Zhongze in such despair.

"No, I must find Senior Brother and warn him to run—run as far as he can!" This thought suddenly burned in Yue Lingshan's mind, and her face grew resolute.

...