Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 1718A – Acting Pretentious

Chapter 1718A – Acting Pretentious

“Gu White, you’ve already bought enough time for the Opening Heavens Sword Sect. You should leave.”

East Mountain Sect Master descended from the air.

A sudden commotion stirred within the swordsmen below him. After the Sword Prison was opened, it was already confirmed that all thirteen people from East Mountain Sect who had participated, including its guardian, had died in there.

Sect Master Gu frowned as he looked to the sky, “East Mountain Sect Master, you are a member of the Main Sword Masters. Are you going to do something unwarranted?”

East Mountain Sect Master’s face turned cold as he looked at Sect Master Gu from above, “Gu White, you should leave right now. This has nothing to do with you. Are you sure the Forging Sword Sect will be able to bear the consequences of your own decision?”

His tone was calm, but as heavy as a mountain!

However, Sect Master Gu did not waver.

Beside him, Elder Mei Shenglin’s legs had already gone soft. East Mountain Sect Master came to this place not only to represent his own sect.

It was obvious he represented the Main Sword Masters’ intentions.

The words said by East Mountain Sect Master made people certain that the Forging Sword Sect were really acting as the Opening Heavens Sword Sect’s guarantors.

“Sect Master! Do not be rash. Even East Mountain Sect Master has come forward in this matter. Our comrades from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect just need to cooperate with the investigation. There’s no danger in that. If you’re worried, we can help to pay attention to the procedures.

“Our the Forging Sword Sect are proud of your righteousness and your reputation for valuing friendship. However, as our Sect Master, you cannot just care about yourself. You have to think of the sect’s thousands of disciples.”

Seeing Sect Master Gu raise his eyebrows slightly, Mei Shenglin took a deep breath, clenched his jaw, and continued, “Regarding this matter, as an elder of the Forging Sword Sect, I am against what you are doing for the Opening Heavens Sword Sect. If Sect Master Gu insists on being a guarantor for them, don’t blame me for exercising my right to make you forgo your Sect Master position temporarily.”

Around them, some swordsmen looked on in admiration as they said, “Sect Master Gu is virtuous to do all this for the Opening Heavens Sword Sect. You have already gained our utmost respect; you don’t have to continue doing that for them anymore.”

“That’s right, Sect Master Gu. The Opening Heavens Sword Sect is indeed a suspect for causing the Sword Prison to lose control. Furthermore, the whereabouts of Sect Master Qin Yu and the Grand Elder are unknown. It is not wise to interfere in this.”

“Sect Master Gu, please leave. All of us just want an answer and an explanation. We do not wish to start any conflict with the Forging Sword Sect because of this matter.”

Their voices were firm and solemn.

Hu Zhiming took a deep breath and said, “Sect Master Gu, you have shown your benevolence. Our Opening Heavens Sword Sect will not take this for granted. Even if you leave now, our sect still owes you a huge favor.”

He waves his arm, “Fellow disciples of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect, offer your gratitude to Sect Master Gu with me and thank the Forging Sword Sect for stepping up to help today.”

After he finished speaking, he was the first one to make a grand bowing gesture.

Zhang Xiashan and the rest followed suit with sadness on their faces.

“Firstly, this kowtow is to thank Sect Master Gu for not arguing with me even though you knew I was trying to agitate you into helping us, and you even defended us until now.

“Secondly, this kowtow is to acknowledge how much you value friendship. Even though you only met my Sect Master Qin two times, you were willing to take on such a huge responsibility on his behalf.

“Thirdly, this kowtow is to thank Sect Master Gu for upholding justice for the Opening Heavens Sword Sect and for your willingness to continue helping us as we participate in investigations about what happened to the Sword Prison.

“Fourth, this kowtow is to thank Sect Master Gu for standing by your words even at this crucial juncture. Your magnanimity is worthy of my and my disciples’ admiration.

“Fifth…”

Mei Shenglin frowned as he realized how strange this all was. He stared at Hu Zhiming whose face was full of gratitude and was saying such sincere words. Internally, Mei Shenglin was quite impressed.

What a glib tongue and what thick skin he had. He was truly great at speaking!

However, he did not forget the heart of the matter. He stretched his arm to grab onto his Sect Master and gave him a determined look that was seemingly saying, ‘If you want to live, you cannot jump into something foolishly just because someone is saying the words that you like to hear.’

East Mountain Sect Master growled, “Shut up!”

Hu Zhiming instantly stopped speaking.

Sect Master Gu frowned and glared at East Mountain Sect Master, which made the corners of his lips twitch uncontrollably.

However, everyone knew that Gu White did not wish to be entangled with East Mountain Sect Master over this matter.

It was not that he was scared, but rather, it was not worth it.

Mei Shenglin grabbed tightly onto his Sect Master, afraid that his Sect Master would draw his sword out of frustration. If that happened, there would be no way to salvage the situation anymore.

That man surnamed Hu deserves to die!

“We can hand over the people from the Opening Heavens Sword Sect to East Mountain Sect Master, but I will continue to pay close attention to all the follow-up procedures. Regarding the Sword Prison losing control, I hope that the Main Sword Masters can investigate it thoroughly and bring out concrete evidence to back up their claims so that we do not end up convicting innocent people.”

Sect Master Gu looked at Hu Zhiming, “Protector Hu, take care.” These people were wonderful disciples. If they could successfully get past this obstacle, he wanted to take them into the Forging Sword Sect. It would be perfect if these disciples could serve by his side.

The corners of Hu Zhiming’s lips twitched. Without waiting for him to speak, he was interrupted by a cold snort. East Mountain Sect Master’s face was gloomy as he ordered, “Take them away!”

At this time, the sound of a sword slashing could be heard. Its speed was frightening. At the beginning, it seemed like it had come from somewhere far away, but in the blink of an eye, it inched closer and closer to them.

There was an invisible pressure that came along with the sound, and it pushed down on the hearts of the people.

How strong!

The swordsmen that were present here raised their heads and looked in all directions, but they could not find the source of this invisible pressure.

Huh?

Wait, the sword sound was coming from the Sword Prison!

Everyone turned their heads to see a sword shadow whistling out of the Sword Prison and into the air.

Whoosh –

The sword aura dissipated and a figure was revealed.

Hu Zhiming’s eyes widened and he looked so happy that he was about to burst into tears. “Sect Master!”

Zhang Xiashan and the other Opening Heavens Sword Sect disciples also looked slightly emotional.

Qin Yu looked at them and nodded his head, “I have returned.” Then, he looked at East Mountain Sect Master and asked, “Who are you?”

This question almost made everyone pull a muscle in their backs. The tense atmosphere was instantly broken and they all looked at Qin Yu like he was weird.

Hu Zhiming coughed lightly, “Sect Master, this is East Mountain Sect Master. He represents the East Mountain Sword Sect and is also one of the members of the Main Sword Masters.”

Qin Yu frowned, “The Main Sword Masters can detain disciples from other sects as and when they like? I did not know Swallow Mountain had such a rule.”

With just one sentence, the atmosphere became hostile once more. The swordsmen that had breathed a sigh of relief earlier could feel their hearts racing again as they realized what was going on now. The Opening Heavens Sword Sect’s Sect Master Qin Yu had suddenly returned from the Sword Prison and he was confronting East Mountain Sect Master directly. He was not going to give in!

Furthermore, East Mountain Sect Master’s temper was very well-known on Swallow Mountain. The East Mountain Sword Sect had suffered heavy casualties, so it was very possible that a conflict could break out any time now in front of everyone’s eyes.

Whether or not the Opening Heavens Sword Sect was involved in the Sword Prison’s loss of control did not matter. At this moment, all the swordsmen here wished that East Mountain Sect Master would strike out to teach the Opening Heavens Sword Sect a lesson.

Regardless of what they thought, the rise of the Opening Heavens Sword Sect had broken the status quo at Swallow Mountain and they were also related to the opening of the Sword Prison which had caused many swordsmen to die…after all, if the Opening Heavens Sword Sect did not exist and suddenly returned to Swallow Mountain, the Sword Sect Contest would not have taken place at all and naturally, no one would have died.

This sounded quite unreasonable…however, the human heart was like that sometimes. It did not operate logically under every circumstance.