The Grandmaster 02

Moreover, Yue had not told them Sun Kui's whereabouts, so in their eyes, she was no different from a traitor.

The young Li Weiyang witnessed the tragic deaths of his parents, and the seed of hatred sprouted in his heart. His days at the Cangyue Sect were not much better. Having no parents, he was often bullied by others, while his grandmaster was solely preoccupied with his own affairs, completely unaware of his plight. Later, due to an accident, he left the Cangyue Sect and began wandering the Jianghu alone, until he met Sun Kui again.

Upon learning of his parents' death, Sun Kui was filled with indignation. He thus took out a secret manual to teach him martial arts and gave him a divine weapon. And so, Li Weiyang gradually grew stronger and began making a name for himself in the Jianghu.

But after all these years, Li Weiyang's heart no longer held onto thoughts of revenge. Instead, he became passionate about doing good deeds everywhere. Even when facing the very culprits responsible for his parents' deaths, he could let go of past grievances. Back and forth, his reputation gradually spread throughout the land, and he also gained quite a few beauties as confidantes. In the end, Li Weiyang forcefully became the leader of the entire Jianghu. A truly joyous and celebratory outcome.

"Hiss... this seems somewhat familiar." Fang Zhiyi pondered for a moment.

"Master, your disciple begs only one thing of you. I implore you to take care of this child."

A voice came from behind, followed by the sound of a head hitting the ground.

Not one more, not one less. Three times.

Li Xiuyu looked at his master's back, his eyes filled with guilt, unwillingness, and disappointment. He turned to face the martial artists before him, met Yue's gaze, and moved his lips.

Yue understood. What Li Xiuyu said was "see you in the next life."

She gave a tragic smile, then saw Li Xiuyu suddenly circulate his energy. Those standing slightly closer took a step back, wary of him.

Who could have guessed that Li Xiuyu raised his hand and struck towards the top of his own head!

"Not good! Stop him!" Abbess Rowei suddenly realized—if this kid died, the trail would go cold! She was still counting on prying information about Sun Kui from his mouth!

But it seemed too late. Li Xiuyu wore a smile on his lips.

Yet death was slow in coming. He opened his eyes to see his master's hand blocking his head, intercepting the palm strike meant for himself.

Fang Zhiyi shot him a cutting glare: "You want to die here? Aren't you afraid of ruining the feng shui!"

Li Xiuyu was stunned, then smiled bitterly: "This disciple failed to consider that. I'm sorry, Master." As he spoke, he started walking to another spot.

Fang Zhiyi nearly laughed in exasperation: "You're just going to switch places?" How incredibly literal-minded was this guy?

"Headmaster Fang, well done!" shouted Abbess Rowei. "Men, seize them! We must get information about Sun Kui from their mouths!"

"Hehe, our sect's interrogation methods are first-rate," someone said with a sinister tone, their gaze lingering on Yue.

Seeing people closing in, Li Xiuyu hurriedly shielded Yue: "Yue, it is your husband who has failed you. If I hadn't insisted on returning, you and our child wouldn't be in such a predicament."

Yue smiled: "Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog, my husband. Today, you and I shall face death together... and be husband and wife again in the next life."

As she pulled out a dagger, Fang Zhiyi, quick as lightning, merely waved his palm. The dagger in Yue's hand was sent flying to the ground with a clatter.

"Master!" Li Xiuyu's heart sank completely. "Will you not even grant your disciple a clean death?"

"Good! Let me capture this demon woman!" A bald figure swiftly approached, stretching out a large hand to grab Yue.

But before he could get close to Yue, he suddenly felt a tremendous force on his waist. Then his entire body flew sideways, crashing into the crowd and knocking over a swath of people.

"Headmaster Fang, what is the meaning of this?" someone asked.

Fang Zhiyi clasped his hands behind his back: "Meaning? You motherfuckers come to my turf to beat up my disciple, and you ask me what I mean?"

These words left everyone stunned. Li Xiuyu and Yue exchanged a glance, their eyes full of disbelief.

"That's right, I did say I wanted to cultivate my heart. But damn it, aren't you all just too damn overbearing? Huh? Have you all gotten too cocky, or do you think I can't lift my blade anymore?" The energy within Fang Zhiyi's body circulated continuously, unleashing a palpable pressure.

"Master..." His disciples not far away were all taken aback.

Fang Zhiyi glared at them: "So you still remember I'm your master? Damn it all! You see your own junior brother about to be driven to his death, and you just stand there like wooden posts. Are you dead or something?"

The eldest disciple, Yu Cangyun, flushed red and instantly drew the sword at his waist: "Protect junior brother!"

"Yes!"

Following the order, the other fellow disciples stepped forward, shielding Li Xiuyu and his family of three within their circle.

Li Xiuyu was utterly dumbfounded: "Master..."

Fang Zhiyi didn't even turn his head: "I should call you Master! Damn it! You get married and don't even invite me? Do you have any respect for me as your master? What nonsense! I'll settle accounts with you later!"

True to his nature, Li Xiuyu immediately knelt down upon hearing this and kowtowed three more times: "Your disciple acted on his own. I am sorry, Master!"

Fang Zhiyi nearly turned around to kick him, but managed to restrain himself.

"Fang Zhiyi! So the past few years were indeed an act! Your disciple shelters a vile fugitive. Do you not care for your reputation either?" Abbess Rowei angrily shouted.

Fang Zhiyi sneered: "What reputation? Can you eat it or drink it? Cut the act. Aren't you all just after that little trinket in Sun Kui's hands?"

"You!" Abbess Rowei was momentarily left speechless by his words.

"I understand. Headmaster Fang also wants a share of the pie, to get the treasure Sun Kui stole, right?" someone said.

Fang Zhiyi raised an eyebrow: "What if I am? Today, right here, him, and those two, I'm protecting them!"

"Arrogant!" A man holding a pestle-like vajra flew out from the crowd, shouting, "Take this move! Vajra Subdues Demons..."

But with a loud bang, he was sent flying back. A good while later, everyone heard a dull thud of impact.

Fang Zhiyi retracted his leg: "Are you insane? If you want to fight, just fight. If you want to ambush, just ambush. Why shout your move's name? And flying so high, showing off?"

His disciples behind him exchanged glances. Their master didn't used to talk this much.

But after a moment, the eldest disciple Yu Cangyun understood: "Master has stopped cultivating his heart."

Everyone suddenly grasped the situation. Only this explanation made sense.

"Fang Zhiyi! Let me test your skills!" Another person charged with a blade. But in just one exchange, Fang Zhiyi seized his sword and, with one hand pressing on his face, slammed him fiercely into the ground. Everyone present was shocked. The man was knocked unconscious, blood seeping from his wounds.

"Fang Zhiyi! How dare you attack our people!" someone exclaimed.

Fang Zhiyi looked at him as if he were an idiot: "Are your eyes marbles? Why do you only spout nonsense?" He clasped his hands behind his back again. "Besides, if you play the game, sooner or later you have to pay the price."

Li Xiuyu looked at his master's back. His master seemed to have become even more formidable, though his catchphrases were too much like a street ruffian's.

"So today, you are determined to oppose our twelve sects?" Abbess Rowei bellowed.