Chapter 337
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At this moment, the Elder Changsheng at the side pressed his palms together and spoke in a low voice: “Sect Master Ou, things have come to this point—there’s no use in saying more. Earlier, Abbess Jingyi already spoke countless good words on behalf of the Piaomiao Sect. Both our Dalin Temple and the Heaven’s Way Alliance have also made considerable concessions. However, with the Piaomiao Sect fallen to such a state, do you truly believe it still has a reason to exist? In truth, neither I nor Abbess Jingyi wish to see too much bloodshed, nor do we want to see too many lives lost. What happened to your junior brothers was merely an accident—it was the deliberate doing of certain individuals. I can guarantee you, those people do not represent Dalin Temple or Incense Spreading Sect’s intentions.”
Ou Peng smiled and said: “Many thanks to Elder for your kindness.”
Elder Changsheng continued: “However, Sect Master Ou, for you, there is only one path left.”
“Please speak.”
“That is to cripple your martial arts, lead the remaining disciples of Piaomiao Sect, and join Incense Spreading Sect—becoming their son-in-law in peace and leisure.”
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire hall was shaken with shock—only Ou Peng remained motionless, not even a twitch of his eyelids. He merely smiled and said: “It seems Elder Changsheng holds me in high regard. But, I wonder, is there truly no other path I might take?”
“There is none. From the moment Elder Hu from your Piaomiao Sect fled through the back mountain with the disciples, all your other choices were sealed.”
Suddenly, realization struck Ou Peng. Indeed, the back mountain was guarded by both Dalin Temple and the Incense Spreading Sect. How could Eldest Senior Brother and the younger disciples possibly escape? So it turned out, this so-called path was nothing more than a compromise.
Of course, he still had one path left—relying on Piaomiao Sect’s supreme Qinggong, Piaomiao Steps, even if he were facing the number one expert of the martial world, he might still have a sliver of hope to escape.
But would he truly take that path?
Hearing this, Yang Ruping quietly pleaded with Abbess Jingyi, but the abbess only sighed softly and shook her head.
Ou Peng raised his head and let out a loud laugh toward the heavens, then turned to the disciples of Piaomiao Sect and said: “Brothers and sisters of the Piaomiao Sect, I, Ou Peng, am incompetent. I failed to lead the sect to glory and instead brought it to the brink of annihilation. I have truly wronged all of you.”
With that, he bowed deeply toward the gathered disciples of the Piaomiao Sect. Then he continued: “I hope that in this moment of great peril, you all can see the dangers that lurk within the martial world—see clearly who it is that has truly destroyed our Piaomiao Sect. I hope that one day, you may rebuild Piaomiao, and reclaim Piaomiao Mountain Manor.”
All the disciples of Piaomiao were brimming with tears. Zhang Chengyue took a half-step forward and said: “Master, as long as the green hills remain, we need not fear a lack of firewood. Weren’t you the one who just taught us that very lesson?”
Ou Peng patted his shoulder and smiled: “I understand, Chengyue. You’ve been put in a difficult spot.”
Then, he lifted his gaze toward Li Jian and Liu Qingyang standing nearby. He knew—his fate had already been sealed. With the outstanding martial prowess of these two junior brothers, how could they possibly escape their own ends?
After that, his eyes drifted into the distance, falling upon Ou Yan, who could no longer stand, her body slumped weakly against the mountain rocks. His gaze softened with affection, and he nodded to her with a gentle smile.
Finally, his eyes returned to Yang Ruping. He smiled and said: “Ruping, I never imagined they’d prepare such a blissful ending for us. Looks like, whether we wish it or not, we’re destined to grow old together in suffering.”
“Husband…” Yang Ruping’s voice trembled as tears welled up.
Ou Peng continued: “Ruping, from this moment forward, the Piaomiao Sect will depend on you. I hope you’ll agree to a few things.”
Yang Ruping nodded.
Ou Peng said: “I only have one younger sister—Yan’er. You know this. We’ve relied on each other since we were children. I hope from now on, you’ll treat her well. Huanxi Villa is her property—it doesn’t belong to Piaomiao Sect. I ask that the Incense Spreading Sect uphold fairness in this matter.”
Yang Ruping’s eyes were filled with tears as she gave a slight nod.
Ou Peng went on: “From today on, your husband will be a cripple, with no more strength to protect the disciples of Piaomiao. Even if I enter the Incense Spreading Sect, I’ll be nothing but someone to be bullied. I hope you can shelter them—create a space for them to survive.”
Yang Ruping’s tears began to fall, and she nodded desperately.
Then, Ou Peng said at last, “One last thing, Ruping… Ever since I learned of your identity, I feared this day would come. I feared that one day, because of the powers behind us, we would turn against each other as husband and wife. That’s why… I never dared to have children. And now… perhaps it’s for the best. Promise me—you must take care of yourself. If fate allows, seek your own happiness again.”
Yang Ruping sobbed uncontrollably, shaking her head in denial as she cried out: “Husband, don’t say such things!”
She rushed forward, not caring about anything else—but it was already too late. A thin trickle of blood had already appeared at the corner of Ou Peng’s lips. By the time Yang Ruping reached him, she only heard the final words he left behind in this world:
“I guessed the path… and I guessed the end… I just didn’t expect the end to come so soon… Ruping, I’m so glad… I met you.”
With those words, he closed his eyes.
Ou Peng—had shattered his own meridians and died!
A mountain breeze swept across the peak. Ou Peng’s face was peaceful, even bearing the faint trace of a smile. He stood tall upon the summit, his feet firmly planted—upright even in death!!
“Big Brother—!” Far away, when Ou Yan saw the scene, she could no longer bear it. Her vision went black, and she fainted on the spot.
“Master—!” Zhang Chengyue, who stood closest, let out a heart-wrenching cry. Then, with a sorrowful smile, he said, “I understand the pain in your heart, Master. Wait for me—I’ll follow you soon.”
With that, he drew his longsword across his own throat—taking his life on the spot.
Li Jian and Liu Qingyang were both stunned. “Fourth Brother!” they shouted.
Then, the two of them raised their longsword and battle axe, and charged together at Zhang San, shouting: “Old Zhang! Leave your head behind!”
Zhang San saw this and dodged in haste. What a joke— Old Fifth Liu alone was no match for him, but with Li Jian, who could unleash Sword Light, added into the mix, he had no choice but to evade. His own life was more important—talk of face or pride was all nonsense right now.
As he dodged, Zhang San cried out: “Elder Changsheng, help me! Abbess Jingyi, save me!”
Abbess Jingyi waved her hand, and the three enshrined elders at her side immediately stood up. With just a few light steps, they encircled the two attackers, and with a “crack crack crash,” a fierce battle broke out.
Li Jian’s Sword Light was certainly rare, and Liu Qingyang’s battle axe was undoubtedly fierce, but neither of them was invincible. Before long, the three once-renowned leaders of the jianghu had forced openings in their defense. Still, the two men had long cast aside their fear of death, striking with a ferocity that leaned toward mutual destruction. For a time, they barely managed to hold their ground.
Elder Changsheng furrowed his brow and murmured a few instructions. Nearby, the monks Changxing and Changgeng swept their long sleeves and also joined the fray.
With the addition of the two senior monks from Dalin Temple, the battle shifted dramatically. After all, each of these three former legends, and the two current powerhouses, could shake the jianghu with a single stomp of their foot. To have all five of them join hands against two men—such a thing had never been seen before. The two brothers of Piaomiao Sect, if nothing else, could take pride in being worthy of such an alliance.
Li Jian and Liu Qingyang had long since abandoned all thoughts of survival. Why would they fear two more great monks? After only a few exchanges, under the rotating assault of five top-tier experts, they were left with almost no chance to counterattack. The two exchanged a glance and saw the same resolve in each other’s eyes.
“Haha!” The two burst into laughter, then both gathered their internal energy into their palms and struck fiercely toward their own foreheads.
Alas, under the relentless assault of five peerless warriors, they didn’t even have the chance to die on their own terms. The elder in hemp robes suddenly darted forward, his finger tapping rapidly—sealing their meridians and vital acupoints in an instant. The two of them could no longer move at all.
But the matter did not end there. Just as the three turned and returned to Abbess Jingyi’s side, the two monks from Dalin Temple struck again like lightning. One of them landed a punch squarely on Li Jian’s dantian—he spat out a mouthful of dark blood as that core he had tempered over countless years shattered in an instant. The other monk’s ten fingers danced like dragonflies skimming the water. In no time at all, he had brushed across every joint on Liu Qingyang’s body. Liu Qingyang collapsed to the ground, utterly limp—his joints crushed one by one in merciless precision!
This—this was the jianghu. The pure, brutal martial arts world.
Seeing this scene, the many injured disciples standing nearby—those who had just lost their beloved Sect Leader, who now watched helplessly as two revered Elders screamed in agony—could no longer hold back. They surged forward as one, using their own bodies to shield the now utterly crippled… Elders. Elders who, in their hearts, would always be their Elders.
Gazing upon the eyes around him, each one burning with rage, Zhang San chuckled. If looks could kill, then surely he would be the first to die atop this Piaomiao Peak. But could a glare kill? Of course not. So, Zhang San opened his mouth once more.
“Both Sect Leaders—although Ou Peng has already taken his own life out of guilt, the sheepskin scroll still hasn’t been found. What should we do about that? I ask that the two Sect Leaders support me in apprehending all disciples of the Piaomiao Sect for interrogation—one by one. Especially her…”
His finger pointed far off, straight at Ou Yan, who had just awakened, a steely resolve glinting in her eyes!
Before his words had even fully landed, a clear clang of steel rang out. Yang Ruping had drawn the longsword from Ou *eng’s waist and placed it against her own neck. Her voice rang out loud and clear: “Master! Ou Yan is my husband’s own younger sister—delicate, without the strength to even truss a chicken. I already promised my husband to protect her for life. How could I now allow others to harm her? These many Piaomiao Sect disciples before us are all under my care now. I must carry out my husband’s final wish and shield them under my wings. If Master truly means to agree to this villain’s shameless demands—then I no longer have the face to meet my beloved, whose eyes only just now closed. I can only follow him—and only then will my heart be at peace!”
The blade rested against her pale neck. Yang Ruping’s left arm cradled Ou Peng’s gradually cooling body, while her right hand held the sword without the slightest tremble. The sharp edge had already drawn blood from her skin—there was no doubt at all. If she did not receive a clear and absolute answer, she would carry out her vow without hesitation!
Was this the vow: To be birds flying side by side in the sky, and branches entwined upon the earth?
Was this the vow: To hold your hand and grow old together?
Was this the vow: To share a bed in life and a tomb in death?
A simple sword stroke could fulfill it. But could a simple sword stroke resolve everything?
Abbess Jingyi, who seemed to truly care for this last disciple she had taken in, quickly said: “Ruping, don’t be reckless. I heard every word Ou Peng spoke just now. Don’t worry—I will stand up for you.”
Hearing this, Yang Ruping relaxed a little and lowered her sword—but did not return it to its sheath. She continued to hold it firmly in her hand.
Zhang San still refused to relent and asked: “Abbess Jingyi, then what should be done?”
Abbess Jingyi did not answer him directly. Instead, she turned to Ou Yan and asked gently: “Ou Yan, there is no need to be afraid. Let me ask you—do you know anything about the sheepskin scroll your elder brother had?”
