94. The Truth Behind the Massacre
"It doesn't really matter what choice you make, as long as you don't regret it," Yun Ling reminded her.
"Since your sect is called 'Supreme Freedom Sect,' your master must also hope that you can be carefree and not be bound by worldly ethics."
"Fight back against what you can't stand, avoid what makes you uncomfortable, pursue what you want, and do whatever makes you feel comfortable."
Li Sushang looked up at the plaque above that read "Supreme Freedom Gate".
"Supreme freedom..." Li Sushang seemed to have already found the answer in her heart.
"Uncle-Master, please tell Master for me that I'm going now!"
The next second, Li Sushang summoned the Xuanyuan Sword and flew away on it into the distance.
"She's a bit clumsy, but her comprehension is alright." Yun Ling stepped onto the stairs and walked step by step to the Supreme Freedom Sect.
"Ling!"
A figure rushed towards Yun Ling and affectionately hugged his arm.
"Have you finished talking?" Yun Ling asked with a touch of warmth.
"Yes, I've got the answer I wanted." Ahua nodded.
"Then let's go find the rest of the people." Yun Ling nodded.
"Why didn't Sushang come back with you?" Cheng Lingshuang looked at Yun Ling in confusion.
"The entire Yijian Manor was wiped out, so she wants to go back to find the real culprit and asked me to tell you about her decision," Yun Ling explained.
"Does she already know that she's about to be killed...?" A trace of worry flashed in Cheng Lingshuang's eyes.
"You already knew about it?" Yun Ling raised an eyebrow.
Cheng Lingshuang nodded.
"The reason I sent her down the mountain to test her sword skills was to also check whether she was capable of handling things on her own."
"After all, the circumstances surrounding Junior Sister Suying's death are very complicated, and it's definitely not something that Sushang, who hasn't yet been sharpened, can handle," Cheng Lingshuang explained.
"Wait... Qin Suying is there, too?" Ahua and Yun Ling were both caught off guard.
"Didn't Sushang tell you? She's Junior Sister Suying's daughter." Cheng Lingshuang's face showed a hint of confusion.
"..."
Yun Ling and Ahua exchanged a glance; she had never mentioned it before.
"So Qin Suying died, do you know why?" Yun Ling asked.
"I know the gist of it. Should I say she met the wrong person, or is it my own fault?" Cheng Lingshuang sighed.
"Is it related to her father?" Yun Ling seemed to understand.
"Hmm." Cheng Lingshuang began to recount the story of the massacre of the Yijian Manor.
After Qin Suying went down the mountain, she married a man named Li Shen a few years later.
Unfortunately, Li Shen was only with Qin Suying because he wanted the "Taixu Sword Qi".
He even used Qin Suying's reputation as a "disciple of an immortal" to enhance his own and Yijian Manor's reputation.
Li Shen has never been a good person; you can tell from his choice of friends.
He was once expelled from his family for taking in a rapist and a human trafficker, but later relied on Qin Suyi's reputation to return to his ancestral home.
Qin Suying's death is also closely related to Li Shen.
"When I started training Sushang, I discovered that the 'Sword Heart Technique' that Sushang was practicing was incomplete. It's possible that Suying herself may have forgotten some parts of it."
After Qin Suying was brought back to Mount Taixu by Jingwei, she would occasionally suffer from headaches whenever she touched upon her past, and even lose some of her memories. This matter was known only to a few people on Mount Taixu.
"Li Shen obtained the incomplete cultivation method of the 'Taixu Sword Qi,' but junior sister forgot that for an adult to cultivate the sword heart is like trying to control the wind with the palm—it's all in vain. Li Shen thought that Qin Suying was unwilling to tell him the complete version, so he has always been resentful of her about the Taixu Sword Qi."
"Then sending Sushang to me further confirmed his own conjecture, and at the same time, he harbored resentment towards Junior Sister Suying."
"Not long ago, Li Shen colluded with various sects and used the power of the 'Divine Pill' to attack Junior Sister Suying, attempting to force her to reveal the complete version of the 'Taixu Sword Qi'."
"Junior Sister Suying was killed, and the murder took place at Yijian Manor."
Cheng Lingshuang explained the whole story clearly.
"Who told you that?" Yun Ling asked.
Given Cheng Lingshuang's personality, it's impossible for her to know so many things.
"Senior Sister Chaoyu, after that incident, she stayed at Mount Taixu, but she still keeps a close eye on our movements. She told me all this," Cheng Lingshuang replied.
"That's very much like her personality. Oh, right, the divine pill you mentioned earlier…" Yun Ling suddenly remembered something.
"It's a pill made from the flesh and blood of demonic beasts. After taking it, one's strength can increase dramatically in a short period of time. Long-term use can also slowly improve one's strength, allowing one to climb to a new realm while remaining close to the threshold of demonic possession," Cheng Lingshuang explained.
"I don't really believe such a thing exists. It must have side effects, such as making one more susceptible to demonic possession after taking it," Yun Ling countered.
Cheng Lingshuang remained noncommittal.
If it truly has no side effects, why is there not a single renowned master in the martial arts world to this day? They are not even comparable to Yan Shiluo of the past.
If it truly has no side effects, why do the major sects still covet the "Taixu Sword Qi" technique?
"Junior Sister Suying knew about Li Shen's ill intentions long ago, but unfortunately, she still couldn't bring herself to part ways with him."
"Betrayed by the person closest to her..." Yun Ling murmured.
This fact must be quite cruel for Li Sushang; it's unknown whether she can get through it.
Although he had only known Li Sushang for a short time, he still quite liked this quirky and clever junior apprentice.
"Aren't you going to do anything?" Yun Ling asked Cheng Lingshuang.
"This is her own tribulation, but also an opportunity. I can't help her. If she can't overcome this hurdle, she will never be able to comprehend the Divine Essence." Cheng Lingshuang gently shook her head.
"This truth isn't a secret among the major sects. She will find out sooner or later. When that happens, she, who is burdened with the Taixu Sword Qi, may once again become the target of everyone's attacks."
Li Sushang is still too weak and doesn't possess the strength that rivaled the entire martial arts world like Cheng Lingshuang.
The Yijian Manor incident was like planting a landmine, waiting for Li Sushang to trigger it. Once it was triggered, everything would be affected, and no one could escape it.
This is a test for Li Sushang, and the best opportunity for her to complete the "sword test".
Li Sushang's talent is quite average. Even compared to Cheng Lingshuang and Yun Ling, she can only be described as mediocre. Given her current situation, it is almost impossible for her to comprehend the Divine Essence.
If one fails to comprehend the Divine Essence's power before the age of eighteen, then there will be no chance to do it in this lifetime.
Therefore, she needs to use this method to stimulate her growth.
"Ruoshui, go and lend her a hand," Yun Ling said softly as he took Ruoshui off his waist.
Ruoshui let out a sword cry, transformed into a stream of light, and disappeared into the night.
...