Gang Leader Wang’s words caught everyone off guard—not only the others present, who could do nothing but passively take in this revelation, but even Pei Liang.
Yet when they thought about it carefully, it actually seemed perfectly reasonable. The various inconsistencies in the clues she had pieced together were explained as well.
Han Weiliu, however, had not thought that far. After hearing Gang Leader Wang’s words, he stared at him as though he were looking at a corpse.
“Gang Leader Wang, you’re already powerless to turn the tide. You should be making an early departure for the paradise of your Burning Heaven Sect. Why continue struggling pointlessly here?”
Gang Leader Wang’s face held the calm of someone who had thrown everything away. Beneath that calm, the only thing remaining was the madness of dragging down whoever he could and having them die alongside him.
The first change in circumstances had come from Han Weiliu.
Unlike Pei Liang, Han Weiliu was someone with weaknesses everywhere one looked. Pei Liang might not possess the most formidable martial arts in the jianghu, but she was as cunning as a demon and virtually flawless.
Moreover, based on past experience, those who rashly dared to reach for her usually ended up dying miserable deaths themselves.
Gang Leader Wang was a major figure in his own right, but at this moment, no matter how hard he thought, he could not come up with any way to pull Pei Liang down or deal her a devastating blow immediately.
Of course, it was not that he had made no effort. He had tried just moments ago, only to leave the Wangqiu Sect stripped of both its dignity and its reputation.
It had once been the foremost sect under heaven, yet now it had met such a farcical end—and at his hands, no less.
Even without the sect master’s bloodline, Gang Leader Wang had long regarded the sect as his personal possession. Naturally, he was now utterly disheartened.
But Han Weiliu was different. In Gang Leader Wang’s eyes, every part of him could be used to make an issue.
Malice churned in his eyes. Wasn’t Han Weiliu involved in an illicit affair with Pei Liang? Destroying him would amount to the same thing.
At that thought, he threw back his head and laughed. “Hahahaha! Foolish child, both your grandmother and your mother belonged to the sect master’s bloodline.”
“Back then, only two descendants of the sect master escaped alive. Both were women.”
“The elder one concealed her identity and married your grandfather. The other was still young, and after living under an assumed name for many years, she had a daughter with someone. That baby girl grew up and married your father.”
“In this world, if we’re speaking of the sect master’s bloodline, Young Master Han, you are the only one left.”
“Otherwise, why do you think your grandfather and father were willing to take such risks, hiding the supreme treasure of my Burning Heaven Sect and helping our sect rise again?”
“It was because, when the Burning Heaven Sect returned to its former glory, the one who would shake the martial world as its foremost figure would be you, Han Weiliu.”
Gang Leader Wang revealed the shocking secret piece by piece. Everyone around them was stunned.
They began whispering and murmuring among themselves, and the way they looked at Han Weiliu had clearly taken on an element of suspicion.
Even though this man surnamed Wang had yet to produce a shred of evidence.
Han Weiliu watched Gang Leader Wang with a dark expression but said nothing.
Gang Leader Wang did not need his cooperation, however, and continued, “The information Sect Leader Pei released back then was correct. Yunsha was indeed sent by my sect to deliberately approach Young Master Han.”
“Young Master Han is the natural heir as a descendant of the sect master. With the Saintess assisting him, my Burning Heaven Sect had been lying dormant for fifty years, secretly building up its strength. The time was ripe for us to step out of the shadows and restore our former might.”
“Only, Young Master Han’s experience was shallow at the time, and his cultivation was not yet deep enough for him to shoulder such a responsibility. But he was, after all, of the sect master’s bloodline. With a little pressure, he was bound to astonish the world. Young Master Han now is the best proof of that.”
Though it was very likely all nonsense, Han Weiliu’s cultivation had indeed advanced at an abnormal pace.
It was an unparalleled talent rarely seen in a century. If anyone could truly rival him in innate ability, the only person that came to mind was the former sect master of the Burning Heaven Sect.
Gang Leader Wang continued, “Back then, this old man placed great hopes in Young Master Han. I was counting on him to become a towering figure, return to the Wangqiu Sect, rally the followers with a single call, take command of the congregation, and lead my Burning Heaven Sect out of the mire.”
As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the members of the Sacred Flame Cult. When he looked at Situ Zhuo, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Pei Liang understood that, with the old man’s cultivation and eyesight, he had probably noticed something unusual. But the circumstances did not allow him time to investigate it carefully.
She simply ignored the anomaly and continued her indiscriminate barrage. “Speaking of which, the Sacred Flame Cult is also a branch of my Burning Heaven Sect.”
“The purpose behind founding the Sacred Flame Cult back then was merely to establish another enemy for the jianghu, giving most of the true forces hidden in the shadows room to develop.”
Everyone erupted in uproar. The Sacred Flame Cult was actually a branch of the Burning Heaven Sect?
As for Gang Leader Wang’s accusation against Han Weiliu, without evidence, the martial artists present might have been shaken however much they liked, but none would rashly voice their doubts openly.
The demon cult was another matter entirely. The various sects of the jianghu had always been more than willing to imagine the worst of them.
Thus, the moment they heard Gang Leader Wang’s words, the gazes directed at the Sacred Flame Cult grew even more wary, and the atmosphere instantly tightened.
At that moment, Sect Leader Pei let out a soft laugh. “Gang Leader Wang, you really have the nerve to say that with a straight face.”
The smile on Gang Leader Wang’s face froze. Sure enough, Pei Liang continued to mock him.
“The founder of the Sacred Flame Cult rebuilt a sect with limited resources and had to endure the vigilance and suppression of every sect in the jianghu.”
“And yet they managed to turn the Sacred Flame Cult into a force of extraordinary strength. Even after being driven back to the Western Regions for twenty years, they returned with their might undiminished.”
“By that reckoning, they have already succeeded twice in the harshest of circumstances.”
“Whereas you, Gang Leader Wang, had such favorable conditions and countless decoys to draw people’s attention away. All you had to do was focus on developing your strength. Yet after fifty years, you are still every bit as helpless as before.”
Pei Liang sighed. “Gang Leader Wang, the one who ought to be reflecting is you.”
Gang Leader Wang’s face turned the dark purple of liver. Surrounded by disdainful looks dawning with realization, he felt as though every achievement of his life had been denied. How could he not be furious?
He shouted, “Ridiculous! If not for your treachery and collusion with the imperial court—”
Pei Liang impatiently waved a hand. “Enough, we know. No matter how loudly you shout, it won’t change the fact that after all your painstaking efforts over fifty years, you’ve been sent straight back to the age before farming.”
She then turned to the others. “Everyone, don’t let this old scoundrel divert your attention.”
“So what if the Sacred Flame Cult was founded by the Burning Heaven Sect? After all these years, it has long since become an independent sect. The current leader, Cult Leader Situ, has already purged the Burning Heaven Sect remnants from within it.”
“Cult Leader Situ has returned this time with no intention of settling the dispute from twenty years ago. Having grown up in the Central Plains, Cult Leader Situ naturally looks upon the Central Plains jianghu with goodwill.”
“That old scoundrel merely wants to provoke a conflict between the two sides. Even if he cannot profit as the fisherman, needless strife will only cause pain to those close to us and delight our enemies.”
Her words sounded perfectly righteous, but everyone knew better than to take them entirely at face value. Still, Sect Leader Pei had provided them with a convenient way down from the ladder, and they were naturally sensible enough to accept it.
The dispute with the Sacred Flame Cult could be dealt with later. There was indeed no need to start a war now, and everyone was happy to accept the reason Pei Liang had offered.
Gang Leader Wang glared at Pei Liang in fury. With just a few words, she had dispelled the tense atmosphere.
But he also understood that, with the spineless cowards of the jianghu as it stood now, they were unlikely to engage in a direct clash with the Sacred Flame Cult anyway.
He could only lament the missed opportunity.
Meanwhile, several of the questions troubling Pei Liang had finally been answered.
The first question was why the Old Cult Leader had chosen this particular moment to force his way back.
They had failed to get an answer from Xia Yunsha earlier—or rather, even if they had, it would have been a lie.
Xia Yunsha had merely been carrying out Gang Leader Wang’s orders. She said whatever she had been told to say. Though she was the Saintess, when it came to the sect’s most vital secrets, she knew no more than an outsider. From beginning to end, she had simply been used.
In a way, she was rather pitiful.
From this, it seemed certain that the reason the Old Cult Leader had returned to the Central Plains was that the old bastard Gang Leader Wang had revealed the Saintess’s existence to him.
The Old Cult Leader still clung to the Burning Heaven Sect, and he knew all too well just how powerful it was. He had also believed that the Sect Master’s bloodline had been severed. Thus, whoever obtained the Saintess would obtain the entire Burning Heaven Sect.
Once the Burning Heaven Sect and the Sacred Flame Cult merged, he would naturally be able to dominate the martial world and wash away the humiliation he had suffered all those years ago.
Gang Leader Wang had been willing to stake everything—and take the risk—to lure him back and have him draw the Burning Heaven Sect’s fire once more.
The Sacred Flame Cult had served this purpose ever since its founding. Even when the Old Cult Leader had wanted to break free of it, he had ultimately been used all the same. It was truly a lamentable fate.
The second mystery was how Han Weiliu had been able to receive the Old Cult Leader’s transmitted cultivation.
As the last surviving descendant of the Sect Master, Han Weiliu’s grandfather and father had naturally intended for him to rise to the pinnacle of the martial world. So the cultivation method he practiced could not possibly have been the Han family’s hereditary technique. Instead, he had practiced a disguised version of the Burning Heaven Divine Art.
The Sacred Flame Cult’s inner cultivation method had originally come from the Burning Heaven Sect, so the two were naturally compatible.
Earlier, they had even suspected that Han Weiliu’s technique might have been a modified version of the Sacred Flame Cult’s art, refined by his grandfather and father after they had become intrigued by it. Yet in the end, the technique he practiced was the most orthodox form of all.
Finally, there was the truth behind the Han family’s destruction.
Pei Liang’s initial line of thought had indeed been correct. The so-called treasure map in the Han family’s possession had merely been left unexplained because Han Weiliu had been suffering from the devastation of his family’s annihilation.
The possibility that they had hidden something so deadly simply out of loyalty to another person was not especially high.
Especially for a martial sect like theirs. If only the person who made the promise would bear the consequences, that would be one thing. But if the promise could implicate one’s entire family, then it would certainly require much more careful consideration.
At the time, Pei Liang had thought that if this was not merely a promise, then perhaps it had been a transaction.
The Han family had made a deal with a tiger. They had secretly reached an agreement with the Sect Master of the Burning Heaven Sect: the Han family would preserve the Burning Heaven Sect’s bloodline and safeguard part of its wealth. Several decades later, descendants born from the union of the two bloodlines would rise to the top of the martial world.
Perhaps the Burning Heaven Sect’s master had genuinely intended this from the start. For the sake of his bloodline, he had not laid a trap for the Han family.
But even someone as cunning as a demon had underestimated human nature.
Several decades were more than enough time for a person’s heart to change. Someone he had once trusted absolutely could become unrecognizable.
As for Gang Leader Wang, after acting as sect master for so many years, he had grown accustomed to the taste of absolute authority. Naturally, he was unwilling to prepare the throne for some mere child.
Thus, when he launched his coup, he had used the Han family as the first blade.
The leverage in the Han family’s hands had instead become the warrant for their deaths. By exploiting the greed of the Pei, Jiang, and Cao families, he had orchestrated the opening of the gates, and the Han family had been wiped out just like that.
The reason Han Weiliu had been left alive—the most dangerous surviving heir of the Sect Master—was simply that the Burning Heaven Sect had never reached a consensus on whom it truly served.
Han Weiliu was a ready-made puppet. Moreover, whoever acted against him would later give their rivals a weapon to use against them in the struggle for power.
No one wanted to pave the way for someone else.
And so Han Weiliu had survived. He had then been conveniently used to stir up turmoil throughout the martial world under the banner of revenge.
Pei Liang looked toward Han Weiliu. Sure enough, he had reached the same conclusions she had.
For one fleeting moment, Pei Liang even thought Han Weiliu might collapse entirely. Yet perhaps that had only been an illusion.
When she blinked and looked again, he was still standing there, steady as a rock.
But Pei Liang knew that he could not possibly be unaffected.
How could he be?
Although the fragments of the original novel she had received were scattered and incomplete, Han Weiliu’s collapse throughout the entire process had been obvious.
The deeper he dug into the truth behind his family’s destruction, the more people became entangled in it, and the more despair he felt.
In the end, he discovered that the true cause of his entire clan’s annihilation had begun with the greed of his father and grandfather—and perhaps even with him.
If he had not carried the bloodline of the Burning Heaven Sect, his father and grandfather would never have had the opportunity to realize their ambitions.
How could he possibly accept that?
And yet, at that moment, Han Weiliu displayed a strange calm.
He even let out a derisive laugh and addressed Gang Leader Wang with indifference. “Dozens of members of my Han family were slaughtered in a single night. Among them were thirteen women and six children.”
“I swore long ago that my enemies would pay for their blood with blood.”
“Gang Leader Wang, let us set aside the matter of my maternal relatives. If what you say is true, then even if the person standing before me now were my own father or grandfather, I would still cut him down without mercy.”
As for Gang Leader Wang—the mastermind behind everything—and the faction whose interests revolved around him, they could begin preparing for their journey to the afterlife ahead of time.
The force of Han Weiliu’s resolve left the people around them, who had suspected his true origins, speechless.
Even if Han Weiliu really was a descendant of the Burning Heaven Sect’s master, he was now utterly alone, and the remnants of the Burning Heaven Sect had been uprooted. It seemed there was indeed no need to pursue the matter any further.
After all, the innocent should not be punished for the guilty. How old had Han Weiliu been when his family was annihilated?
But would Gang Leader Wang really let him go?
He gave a cold laugh, as though mocking Han Weiliu’s naivety.
Because he possessed a treasure, the Han family had already suffered annihilation once. How could he still not understand that human greed could not be dispelled with a few words?
If the people around them thought Han Weiliu had no value, then Gang Leader Wang would simply create value for him.
He smiled and asked Han Weiliu, “Young Master Han, Sect Leader Pei just said that despite all my years of preparation, I still cannot compare to the Sacred Flame Cult. I admit as much.”
“However, when I openly took away most of the wealth, sixty percent was entrusted to your father and grandfather to hide. Now that the Burning Heaven Sect’s destruction can no longer be prevented, Young Master Han, you should not cling to worldly possessions.”
“Why not show everyone the treasure map—and the final piece, the one tattooed on your body?”
The moment he said this, the people around them began breathing more heavily. The eyes of many grew feverish as they stared at Han Weiliu, as though they wanted to burn straight through him.
The treasure map of the Burning Heaven Sect?
How extravagantly wealthy had the Burning Heaven Sect once been? How unimaginable must the fortune it had accumulated over a century be?
So that was why the Han family had been annihilated. It really had all been because of this.
The Jiang and Cao families began breathing even harder, their faces revealing pain that was difficult to describe. Now that the truth had come to light, it seemed there would be no chance for them to keep the treasure to themselves.
When they had obtained the treasure map, the three families had each made a copy. Yet for three years, none of them had been able to decipher it. The missing piece was the crucial part.
And it had actually been tattooed onto Han Weiliu’s body.
How had they failed to think of that?
The entire space seemed to plunge into a frenzy. Gang Leader Wang watched it all, nearly bursting into triumphant laughter.
Even if he died, he would still leave the martial world in utter chaos.
But someone was destined to slap him in the face.
Pei Liang’s voice rang out, casual and unconcerned. “Oh, that thing? I went looking for it.”
“What?”
Everyone was startled and turned toward Pei Liang.
Had she already obtained the treasure?
Then they looked at Han Weiliu again.
Could this be the reason the two of them had been so entangled?
Had Han Weiliu borrowed Pei Liang’s people and influence for the sole purpose of retrieving the treasure?
Some even fancied they had discovered the reason for the Pei family’s prosperity over the past several years. Could it be that they had obtained the Burning Heaven Sect’s legacy?
But before they had time to grow envious and jealous, Pei Liang continued, “As Sect Leader Wang said, there was indeed a considerable amount of gold, silver, and treasure hidden there.”
“It was different from my initial guess that it was merely a smokescreen. It seems the Burning Heaven Sect Master of that time was willing to spend quite lavishly.”
“Then what exactly was there? And where is it now?” someone asked, struggling to suppress his greed.
Pei Liang answered frankly, “There were plenty of valuable items. However, decades have passed, and most of them had not been properly maintained, so they’ve lost much of their original value.”
“The gold and silver can still be melted down and reused. The jade articles can be restored and repurposed, but little else survived intact. Especially the priceless works of craftsmanship—tsk, tsk! What a waste.”
“Would Sect Leader Pei be willing to let us have a look?”
“Unfortunately, that won’t be possible,” Pei Liang replied.
Everyone assumed she was openly keeping the treasure for herself. Discontent and jealousy appeared on their faces. Some found the matter suspicious. The Mooncleaving Sect was enjoying such glory now, yet Pei Liang was actually so fearless.
Then they heard her next words.
“It’s because those things have already gone into the imperial treasury.”
“The gold and silver will naturally be melted down again at the official mint. As for the famous paintings and renowned artifacts, we’ll see whether the finest craftsmen in the imperial court can restore them. In any case, my Pei family doesn’t possess that ability.”
Everyone felt as if they had stepped into thin air once again.
“The imperial… imperial treasury?” someone exclaimed. “You gave the treasure to the imperial court?”
Pei Liang looked at him in bafflement. “What else could I have done? It doesn’t belong to me, nor does it belong to anyone here. If I didn’t hand it over to the imperial court, then whom should I give it to?”
“There were floods in the south this year. I donated the money and valuables to the imperial court in the name of all the great sects of the martial world, to help the people of the south through their immediate crisis. It can also be considered a good deed.”
“Once countless people have survived the disaster, rebuilt their homes, and regained their livelihoods, only then will that treasure have truly been put to good use.”
Everyone was speechless.
Pei Liang was the sort of person who could infuriate others half to death, yet no one could find fault with what she did.
No matter how dissatisfied they were with her, or how angry she made them, who could deny her magnanimity and courage?
That enormous fortune was enough to sustain a sect for a hundred years, yet she had given it away without hesitation—and had even included the names of every sect present in the credit.
Who could refuse to owe her a favor?
Those who had been jealous and greedy moments before now felt embarrassed. They hurriedly smiled and said to Pei Liang, “Sect Leader Pei, your righteousness is truly admirable. How could we claim any credit? We’re deeply ashamed, deeply ashamed!”
Captain Zhuhua of the Six Fan Gate spoke at just the right moment. “His Majesty was overjoyed upon receiving the donation. In a little while, every sect will receive a commendation from the imperial court. The people of the south will also learn that the relief funds came from the good intentions of the martial heroes. They will surely remember your kindness forever.”
“Captain Zhuhua, you’re too kind. We hardly deserve such praise. Hahaha!”
They claimed to be humble, but every one of them was grinning from ear to ear.
Captain Zhuhua continued, “As for Sect Leader Pei, we have come today not only to apprehend the remnants of the Burning Heaven Sect, but also to deliver something bestowed by His Majesty.”
As he spoke, several people carried in a plaque. When the red silk was pulled away, four large characters were revealed:
The Great Hero Serves the Nation and Its People
A great hero served the nation and its people. At the very least, Pei Liang had truly lived up to those words through her actions.
It had to be said that Pei Liang’s current favor with the emperor was not without reason.
She was simply very good at reading the situation. Not only had she solved the emperor’s most pressing problem, but when he was worrying over what reward to give her, she had asked for nothing more than an honorary plaque.
It gave the Mooncleaving Sect prestige and official endorsement. With the imperial court’s backing, the Mooncleaving Sect’s position among the Four Gates and Eight Schools would become extraordinary.
It also allowed the court to use the Mooncleaving Sect as an example, encouraging the various martial sects to gradually draw closer to the imperial government.
To be honest, although Pei Liang found life in this world relatively comfortable, in the long run, it was not good for society as a whole for the martial sects to act entirely as they pleased.
Naturally, no one knew that she had thought so far ahead. They only looked at the imperial plaque with envy.
Though people of the martial world habitually spoke with disdain of the imperial court, having the court’s endorsement would make it much easier to build influence and manage businesses in the future.
But there was no point envying her. She had earned it through her own ability.
Pei Liang was quite satisfied, but Sect Leader Wang was completely stunned.
He looked at Pei Liang as though he could not decide whether she was a fool or a madwoman. Did this idiot really not understand the value of that treasure?
She had actually been willing to give it away?
Pei Liang seemed to read his thoughts. She smiled and said, “It was only a bit of treasure. It’s something I can earn back myself. Why should I covet what belongs to others?”
She was far too arrogant. For a moment, Sect Leader Wang did not know whether he should feel bitter or be furious that his scheme had failed.
But one failed scheme did not mean he had no others.
He spoke again. “As expected of Sect Leader Pei. You’re certainly generous with other people’s property. I wonder what Young Master Han thinks of this?”
Han Weiliu merely smiled. “Naturally, I applaud it.”
Not to mention that Han Weiliu had only just learned that he was a descendant of the Burning Heaven Sect. When Pei Liang had followed the clues and found the treasure back then, he had never once had any desire to claim it.
That fortune had caused his entire family’s destruction. Pei Liang’s decision to donate it for disaster relief could at least be considered a good deed.
Moreover, although she appeared to deserve the greatest credit, she had secretly arranged certain conveniences under Situ Zhuo’s name.
At least now, in the eyes of the imperial court, the Sacred Flame Cult was not another Burning Heaven Sect—a rebellious faction that might harbor ambitions of destabilizing the realm.
The martial world disliked the imperial court interfering in its affairs, but in Pei Liang’s view, the court’s attitude was extremely important.
Although the imperial court would not easily interfere in disputes within the martial world, whenever it did act, its suppression was swift and overwhelming.
The Burning Heaven Sect had once been so powerful, yet had it not ultimately met with destruction and been forced into hiding?
In this world, Pei Liang had never based her efforts to gain influence solely on the strength of a martial sect or the level of its martial arts.
Sure enough, Sect Leader Wang was rendered speechless by Han Weiliu’s words and stopped pursuing the subject.
But inside, his heart was bleeding.
He turned to Han Weiliu again. “This old man won’t be around much longer. Once I’m gone, there will probably be no one left who has truly mastered the Burning Heaven Divine Art.”
“Is there anything else you wish to ask, Young Master Han? For the sake of the former sect master’s kindness toward me, I will answer anything I can.”
The Burning Heaven Divine Art was an unparalleled supreme technique, and Han Weiliu actually practiced it?
Yet Han Weiliu merely sneered. “I appreciate your offer, Sect Leader Wang, but after decades of painstaking study, you still fell into my hands with ease.”
“Although Sect Leader Pei and Senior Pei assisted me, I believe that in another three years, I’ll be able to surpass the level you’ve reached today.”
“Are you certain I need the experience of a mediocre man whose cultivation advances so slowly?”
Sect Leader Wang was so enraged that he nearly vomited blood.
He had always believed that his cultivation was inferior to no one in the martial world. If not for the four of them joining forces to ambush him, how could they possibly have captured him?
Yet Han Weiliu’s words also reminded him of a fact: he could look down upon all other heroes only because this was an age filled with mediocre talents.
Compared with the former sect master, who had cultivated the Burning Heaven Divine Art to such heights, what did his own decades of painstaking training amount to?
Was this the former sect master’s bloodline?
Of all the provocative things he had said earlier, one statement had not been entirely false.
Perhaps this bloodline truly was born with dragons and phoenixes among men.
Sect Leader Wang felt a bitter ache in his heart.
But he still forced himself to rally his spirits and said, “Young Master Han is extraordinarily gifted, with excellent comprehension. That much would be understandable.”
“But as far as I know, it is not merely a matter of comprehending martial arts manuals. I can also offer some guidance regarding the difficulties Young Master Han has encountered during his cultivation.”
“For example—” His voice paused. He looked at Han Weiliu and smiled strangely. “For example, every heir of the Sect Master’s lineage is inevitably born with two souls in one body.”
“It may not be apparent when they are young, but the more deeply they cultivate the technique, or the more violently their emotions fluctuate, the more the two souls will separate.”
“The person who created the Burning Heaven Divine Skill exploited precisely this advantage. Thus, someone with two souls in one body can cultivate it twice as quickly as an ordinary person.”
After all, while an ordinary person cultivates alone, Young Master Han has two people doing it.
Sect Leader Wang watched Han Weiliu’s expression grow increasingly grim, and the smile on his face broadened. “However, without exception, one of those souls will have a penchant for slaughter.”
“I naturally believe that Young Master Han’s resolve is strong enough to suppress it with ease. Nevertheless, one must remain on guard.”
To anyone a little slow on the uptake, the meaning behind Gang Leader Wang’s words might not have been clear at first.
But in the end, everyone understood: the Burning Heaven Divine Skill encouraged a thirst for bloodshed.
The crowd turned their eyes toward Han Weiliu, but he merely smiled. “Although Sect Leader Wang’s earlier claims were unsupported by evidence, they were at least coherent. How is it that, after suffering one setback after another, you have begun spouting such nonsense?”
“Two souls in one body? Sect Leader Wang might as well say that I’m possessed by an evil spirit and need to be exorcised with dog’s blood. That would be no more absurd.”
That was true. From beginning to end, Han Weiliu had behaved perfectly normally. He was every inch the refined gentleman. Compared with the past, he had shed his youthful awkwardness and appeared even more composed.
When had he ever behaved abnormally?
Even Sect Leader Wang looked uncertain.
From what he had witnessed in the former Sect Master, the man had never displayed such calmness. That bloodthirsty personality would constantly undermine his reason and lure him into madness.
Even with the former Sect Master’s profound cultivation, it had caused his temperament to become volatile and unpredictable.
But how old was Han Weiliu? There was no reason he should be better at controlling it than the former Sect Master.
What Sect Leader Wang did not know was that Han Weiliu and the secondary personality within him, Situ Zhuo, were concerned about something entirely different.
They had long since learned to accept each other’s existence.
Perhaps the secondary personality had appeared just after Han Weiliu suffered the pain of his sect being destroyed. Unlike everyone else who shared that same bloodline, he had been different.
At the time, he had been too lonely and lost, unable to find anywhere to belong. The appearance of that secondary personality had made Han Weiliu feel as if he had found a surviving family member.
That fellow might be willful and arrogant, but Han Weiliu had still been ecstatic in his heart. He had accepted him without reservation.
And Han Weiliu’s trust and acceptance had washed away the extreme paranoia and madness that the secondary personality should have possessed. It could be said that the two of them had saved each other.
Naturally, they had not tormented each other or driven themselves toward destruction.
At present, rather than worry about the aftereffects mentioned by that bastard surnamed Wang, Han Weiliu was more concerned about whether Pei Liang had seen through them.
Han Weiliu felt Pei Liang’s thoughtful gaze settle on him. His body stiffened, and he was nearly breaking out in a cold sweat.
Situ Zhuo could not help asking him inwardly, “D-do you think she believed that old bastard?”
Han Weiliu replied, “How should I know? Don’t dump everything on me.”
Was he the only one who was afraid?
Pei Liang really was suspicious. She had always felt that Han Weiliu’s personality sometimes swung between two extremes, which she found particularly amusing and entertaining.
Now that she had heard Sect Leader Wang’s explanation, what if it was not merely a matter of personality, but an actual case of multiple personalities?
For a moment, every little detail from the time they had spent together came flooding back to her, including the occasional contradictions in the things he said.
For instance, he would suddenly start arguing with himself, or deny what he had said only a moment earlier.
Sometimes, he would even curse at his former self.
Back then, Pei Liang had thought it was amusing. But now that she thought about it, it was rather terrifying.
Had she been engaging in group activities with multiple people all along without realizing it?
Still, this was not the right time to investigate the matter. Otherwise, the subject would become rather risqué, and bringing it up would never get past the censors.
When Pei Liang’s gaze drifted away, Han Weiliu released a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.
He thought he had managed to get away with it for the time being.
But Sect Leader Wang was still unwilling to give up. His final words were, “Since Young Master Han is unharmed, I can depart in peace.”
“However, before I go, I do hope to see Young Master Han reclaim the three divine weapons of my Burning Heaven Sect.”
He glanced toward the Sacred Flame Cult. “The Sacred Flame Cult claims to be the master of these divine weapons. It is utterly laughable. The Nameless Sword, Nameless Saber, and Nameless Needle were all treasured possessions of the Sect Master.”
“Now that the Nameless Sword has returned to its rightful owner, if Young Master Han could find the other two and reunite all three divine weapons, then even in death, this old man could rest easy.”
Han Weiliu understood exactly what the old bastard meant. Since his scheme had failed, he was resorting to an open demand.
But Han Weiliu had intended to do precisely that himself. Since today presented such an excellent opportunity, it would be ideal to settle everything at once.
Sect Leader Wang was just about to offer a subtle hint when Han Weiliu spoke first. “I, Han, have known the whereabouts of the Nameless Sword and the Nameless Needle for some time.”
“However, when I decided to enter seclusion three years ago, I knew that bringing everything with me would be too burdensome. So I left them in someone else’s residence for safekeeping. Since Sect Leader Wang has brought them up today, it is indeed time for me to retrieve them.”
Sect Leader Wang was startled, while the people from the Jiang and Cao families knitted their brows tightly.
They could not tell whether Han Weiliu was bluffing or whether he truly had everything under control.
Then his gaze suddenly fell upon them, and he said, “Sect Master Jiang, Sect Leader Cao, please return the Nameless Saber and Nameless Needle that you borrowed from my Han family.”
“And several hundred thousand taels of silver from each family,” Pei Liang added. “Both of you uncles have had them prepared for quite some time, haven’t you?”
The people surrounding them were somewhat astonished, unable to grasp the undercurrents in those words.
Everyone knew that the two families owed the Han family money. Over the years, they had repeatedly brought up the matter themselves, always presenting an image of complete openness: debts should be repaid, of course.
But the Nameless Saber and Nameless Needle—when the Demon Cult had demanded them back then, hadn’t the two families denied borrowing those two treasures along with the money?
Why was Han Weiliu demanding them from the two families now?
At this point, the crowd had not yet fully connected the dots. Even those inclined to think the worst merely assumed that the Jiang and Cao families had taken advantage of Han Weiliu’s disappearance. Perhaps they had denied borrowing the treasures at the time in hopes of keeping them for themselves.
But how could the people from the Jiang and Cao families be so optimistic?
Cold sweat broke out across their bodies. They stared at Pei Liang with expressions of disbelief and utter bewilderment.
Could Jiang Xun’s judgment back then have been completely wrong? What exactly was this girl trying to do? Did she truly dare tell Han Weiliu that her own biological father had been responsible for destroying the Han family?
Han Weiliu had now mastered an unparalleled divine technique. Did she really not fear him in the slightest?
Was she truly so confident that the Pei family could escape unscathed?
Because it all seemed too preposterous, the Jiang and Cao families were unwilling, even now, to believe that Han Weiliu already knew they were the culprits behind the massacre of the Han family.
Sect Master Jiang forced a stiff smile and tried to brush it off. “Nephew Han, could you have listened to some malicious person spreading false rumors?”
“When Cult Leader Situ questioned us that day, I already explained that although our two families had indeed received assistance from the Han family, the borrowed funds had been prepared down to the last coin. We were merely waiting for you to return and collect them.”
“Today’s circumstances have been exceedingly complicated, and we did not have time to bring it up. But we absolutely had no intention of evading our debt.”
“Those are merely two weapons. We truly have never heard of them. Even if Nephew Han were to demand them, we have no way of producing them.”
Han Weiliu smiled. Although his smile was calm, everyone from the Jiang and Cao families felt a chill run through their bodies.
He heard Han Weiliu say, “Perhaps the two sect leaders have a poor memory, to have overlooked something so important.”
“Then allow me, Han, to remind you.”
As he spoke, his expression turned solemn. “I ask that the two sect leaders return the Nameless Saber and Nameless Needle you borrowed on the night my Han family was massacred.”
After he finished, he glanced at Pei Liang and added, “And, of course, the silver my Han family had accumulated over several generations, which you took along with them that night.”
By now, even the slowest among them had grasped the implication. Everyone drew a sharp breath.
“B-Borrowed on the night the family was massacred?”
The entire Han family had died that night in a conspiracy and surprise attack carried out by an undercover agent of the Burning Heaven Sect and the true culprit. Who else could have been present at the Han residence that night?
The perpetrators of the massacre!
Everyone stared at the Jiang and Cao families in disbelief, yet the explanation seemed to make perfect sense.
Since the Wangqiu Sect had sent an infiltrator, someone else must have carried out the attack. There were few forces in the martial world capable of wiping out the entire Han family. Unless there was another colossal power, one that had concealed its strength just as the Wangqiu Sect had, the culprit had to be one of the Four Sects and Eight Schools.
A single family would not have been able to act so smoothly. Most likely, two or more families had joined forces.
Now that the truth had been pointed out, everyone suddenly became a master of hindsight.
Someone rose to his feet. “Brother Jiang, Brother Cao, is Young Master Han’s accusation true?”
“That so-called loan of silver your two families obtained wasn’t negotiated with the Han family at all. You slaughtered the entire family and looted their possessions?”
“How dare you repeatedly acknowledge this debt in such a high-minded and self-righteous manner?”
It was precisely their attitude that had made everyone unable to believe it. How could they dare to admit so calmly that they had borrowed money after wiping out an entire family and robbing them?
How could the Jiang and Cao families admit to it now? If they denied it without sufficient conviction, they would immediately plunge into an abyss of eternal ruin.
Sect Leader Jiang and Sect Leader Cao were both old foxes, so they managed fairly well. But the younger members had to summon every ounce of their willpower just to maintain an appearance of composure.
Even so, their expressions were stiff, and cold sweat kept beading on their foreheads.
If they failed to resolve today’s matter properly, both families would be finished. The Six Fans Gate was still present, after all. The court’s investigation alone would be enough to bring them utter ruin.
The two sect leaders racked their brains. Countless plans flashed through their minds, only to be rejected one after another.
Then their gazes shifted, and they unexpectedly saw Pei Liang propping up her chin, leisurely watching the spectacle as though it had nothing to do with her.
Both men felt their scalps turn numb. Before Sect Leader Jiang could stop him, Sect Leader Cao blurted out, “Our two families borrowed the silver together with Brother Pei.”
“If Nephew Han is falsely accusing us, does that mean he suspects Brother Pei as well?”
The two men were just beginning to feel relieved. Given the relationship between Han Weiliu and Pei Liang, they could only drag her down with them.
Then Pei Liang replied, “That’s right! My father borrowed it from the Han family together with the two of you on the night you massacred them.”
The ancestral hall fell into absolute silence—
