Chapter Three: A Respectful Farewell to the Sword Mountain Sect Leader

“Bringing harm to Sword Mountain...?”

Xiao Lin was slightly taken aback.

Similar conversations were unfolding within the illusions of the other seven disciples as well.

Yet, the vast majority reacted just like Li Changhe—quietly observing the illusion, trying to find a way to break free.

Only after finding no solution did they begin to respond to Shen Wuya.

Li Changhe shook his head. “Master would never commit such an act.”

Shen Wuya smiled faintly. “There are myriad laws in this world, countless paths. Even within the Way of the Sword alone, there are endless branches and countless meanings to comprehend.”

“To have multiple outcomes from a single event is nothing extraordinary.”

Li Changhe remained resolute, his expression serious. “But Master would surely cut off all negative outcomes and futures. Hasn’t he always done so on this journey?”

Shen Wuya shook his head, chuckling softly. “Little one, I set this illusion not for you to flatter me.”

“Better to stay in character.”

With Shen Wuya’s words, the pure white realm before Li Changhe suddenly shifted.

He found himself once again standing before Baijian Peak.

It seemed as though he had stepped out of the illusion, but in truth, the space had transformed into Sword Mountain.

However, the majestic and towering Baijian Peak from his memories now presented a different sight.

The towering summit had been ruthlessly severed, the broken face becoming a vast platform littered with corpses, mountains of bodies and seas of blood nearly filling the area, the mist tainted with an indelible crimson hue.

Shen Wuya stood amidst the blood-tinged fog, his figure faint and indistinct, speaking calmly: “Now, Changhe, what will you do?”

His voice was soft, yet to Li Changhe it rang like a mighty bell, shaking his soul and making him momentarily forget this was but an illusion.

Li Changhe stared at the scene, his pupils trembling, unable to believe his eyes.

Gu Jinyao, Tang Qianxue, Xiao Lin...

His sect, his fellow disciples.

Each one was someone he knew intimately.

Yet these once vibrant lives had, at this moment, become cold corpses.

Some hadn’t even left behind a complete body.

“Master, why... why is this?”

Each word trembled as it escaped his lips, his teeth clenched tightly to utter them.

Shen Wuya’s tone remained steady. “If you ask why, first ask yourself what you ought to do.”

Under Shen Wuya’s persistent urging, Li Changhe finally made his choice.

He drew his sword, the tip pointing toward Shen Wuya.

Seeing this, Shen Wuya sighed silently.

Though Li Changhe held a deadly weapon, there was not a trace of murderous intent in his entire being.

As expected, when facing himself, this child could not bring himself to strike.

This moment was witnessed by the audience, and the comment section instantly exploded.

“Is this even allowed???”

“Isn’t blood supposed to be green?”

“Lol, the censors must be drunk.”

“Wait, can someone tell me what’s going on here?”

“A test of resolve.”

“Then what does it test? A useless one? Shen Wuya wiped out the whole main character’s family, and yet he can’t even lift a finger.”

“That’s his master; it’s normal he can’t bring himself to harm him.”

“God’s perspective is messed up. If you can put yourself in Changhe’s shoes and manage to draw your sword, I give up.”

“Why would I even want to? Reality’s bad enough—why watch anime just to see the protagonist dithering and hesitating?”

The comments clashed endlessly.

The scene shifted to Gu Jinyao’s illusion.

Though faced with the same situation, her response differed slightly from Li Changhe’s.

The Dustless Sword Heart was indeed a supreme sword body.

Often, it was a gift from the heavens.

Among prodigies, unmatched in their generation.

Among peers, invincible at the same level.

Yet in rare instances, this gift could become a “curse.”

Like now, Gu Jinyao lacked even the courage to draw her sword.

At the end of the sword path, even the Dustless Sword Heart dared not resonate, deathly silent.

Shen Wuya sensed this, his oppressive aura ebbing away like a receding tide, his own presence weakening to create a different atmosphere for Gu Jinyao—

He could be slain by her with ease.

Weakly, Shen Wuya spoke, “Jinyao...”

Gu Jinyao wavered briefly, then radiated a tangible sword intent once more.

Li Ge was drawn.

After a while,

She held Li Ge silently, biting her lip subconsciously, clearly at a loss.

Her master was both teacher and father to her.

Even now, she found it hard to deliver a fatal strike.

“Great, another useless one.”

“I can already imagine these love-struck fools dying and suffering later on.”

“Gross, I’m dropping this.”

“Hey, watch your tone. This is a romance series, not a fiery battle anime.”

“To be honest, I initially came for the female character designs, but the fight scenes turned out surprisingly good—a pleasant surprise. I can tolerate some melodrama in the plot.”

“Understand this: if the characters weren’t so loyal and emotional, how would the story continue?”

“Don’t insult my Jinyao!”

“Wife, don’t be sad, boohoo...”

The comment section experienced a dramatic reversal.

“Beauty is justice” was thoroughly upheld here.

Besides Li Changhe and Gu Jinyao, the other five disciples reacted similarly.

All were incredulous yet unable to strike.

Outside the Sword Inquiry Stone, Shen Wuya observed these scenes with mixed feelings—both comforted and helpless.

This group of foolish children.

But above all...

Deep worry.

“If even Changhe and the others find it hard to steel their resolve, am I to take on a few more disciples? But time is running out; the ‘Fallen Sword Immortal’ is about to break free...”

Suddenly, Shen Wuya’s thoughts faltered as he looked down at his youngest disciple.

Within the illusion, Xiao Lin remained silent for a long while before saying, “Master, since you say this, you must sense something, have glimpsed a fragment of the future?”

“Perhaps, or perhaps not...” Shen Wuya whispered. “Lin’er, tell me, what should you do?”

“Then Master would be hunted down by the righteous, wouldn’t he?”

“Certainly. Those old fellows who take it upon themselves to maintain peace would show no mercy, even if I were their old friend, when that day comes.”

“Disciple does not wish for Master to die.”

Shen Wuya was about to sigh when Xiao Lin’s voice rang out again:

“But disciple wishes even less for Master to fall into disgrace.”

“Master is the head of Sword Mountain, leader of the righteous path, protector of the world’s people for hundreds of years. Can a century of merit be stained forever by a single mistake?”

“If one day Master truly walks the road of no return, disciple will personally send him off, to preserve his honor!”

Xiao Lin spoke these words without hesitation.

Shen Wuya’s expression flickered with suspicion and doubt. “Do you believe you can defeat me?”

Xiao Lin suddenly smiled.

“To guard Sword Mountain, walk the righteous path, protect the people.”

“These are the rules of Sword Mountain, the way of many disciples.”

“But my path is different.”

Shen Wuya was deeply curious.

He did not know this youngest disciple well enough.

He asked, “What is this path?”

“To kill those no one else can kill, to save those no one else can save,” Xiao Lin chuckled softly. “Of course, I can’t do this yet. I hope Master will give me some time.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Wuya was lost in thought.

To accomplish what others cannot.

This was Xiao Lin’s sword path.

For this reason, even if the enemy were himself, he would fear no harm.

Yet he still needed time to grow.

In other words, Xiao Lin believed he would one day surpass his master.

What immense confidence, and what...

Arrogance.

Until now, Shen Wuya had never seen this side of Xiao Lin.

A thousand thoughts flashed by in an instant.

Snapping back to reality, he stood once more amid the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, his voice entering Xiao Lin’s ears: “Then let us try.”

No words matter more than a single encounter.

The illusion shifted abruptly.

The gruesome deaths of their comrades appeared before Xiao Lin’s eyes as well.

Seeing this, Xiao Lin’s steps faltered slightly, his body staggering forward briefly.

But the next moment, he struggled to steady himself, lifting his head to look Shen Wuya squarely in the eye, forcing out through clenched teeth: “Master, why... why is this?”

Shen Wuya replied calmly, “What if I don’t give you time? Lin’er, what would you do then...”

His words cut off suddenly.

Because Xiao Lin had already resolutely activated his cultivation technique, wielding the Immortal Annihilation Sword, his voice cold as a frozen abyss: “Shura Heaven-Sealing Art—”

Not a moment’s hesitation!

Seeing this, Shen Wuya was startled, his aura falling once more.

The scene changed again.

But Xiao Lin seemed unfazed, facing his gravely wounded and dying master, still holding the Immortal Annihilation Sword, his eyes deeply fixed on Shen Wuya, pushing his technique and sword intent to their peak, poised to strike.

Shen Wuya suddenly understood.

Even Xiao Lin’s earlier “why” was a tactic to buy time, to gather strength.

Seeing this, Shen Wuya exhaled deeply, finally revealing a trace of relief.

Half a breath later.

Xiao Lin moved—yet seemed not to move.

It was his momentum, and his will.

A thought sparked.

The sword flashed!

A pitch-black sword light swept toward Shen Wuya, nearly cleaving this entire realm!

Along with the sword light came a faint yet resolute voice:

“Unfilial disciple Xiao Lin respectfully sends off the head of Sword Mountain...”