Chapter Eighty-Nine: Severed Arm

He was right; the four of them were indeed the ones. Xie Changfeng gave the speaker an approving glance and then asked, "But do you know who the most formidable among those four was? And who the Illusion of Mount Heaven refers to?"

The name of the Illusion of Mount Heaven shook the world; who had not heard of it? Who did not know it? It was said that this famed illusion even originated from your own Sword Sect of Mount Heaven. Bai Wanqian, the Phantom Sword of Mount Heaven, rose in fame on Mount Heaven over a hundred years ago. Like a brilliant meteor, he instantly illuminated the world. His swordsmanship was unfathomable, ghostly and miraculous, and it was said that he had already reached the realm of perfection.

What a pity that this master of the sword path, after offending people from the Holy Land, vanished without a trace. More than a hundred years have passed since then, and there has been no news of him. No one knows whether he still lives.

The man spoke with pride. All who practiced the sword took Bai Wanqian as their model; how could he not know such a name?

"Hmph. Bai Wanqian, you say? He is of course still alive. As recently as more than ten years ago, he even sent word to Mount Heaven. But let us set him aside for now. Do you know what connection Bai Hansong has to Bai Wanqian?" Xie Changfeng said with a cold smile, sweeping his gaze over the crowd.

"What? Bai Hansong is connected to Bai Wanqian? What relation do they have?" Everyone looked at Xie Changfeng in confusion, even Li Muqiu. Bai Wanqian's reputation was simply too great; anyone linked to him naturally drew everyone's attention.

"Bai Hansong is Bai Wanqian's direct nephew. I suppose none of you expected that."

"Ah, his own nephew? Bai Hansong is actually Bai Wanqian's nephew?"

"I am Bai Wanqian's nephew? Th-this... how is that possible? Why do I not know this?" Even Bai Hansong was left staring blankly.

"Xie Changfeng, is what you say true?" Li Muqiu also looked at Bai Hansong in astonishment. He had never imagined that such a heroic and extraordinary figure as Bai Wanqian would have such a nephew.

"Absolutely true. If he were not Bai Wanqian's nephew, how could he, with his temperament and intelligence, have broken through into the Dao Ruins Realm in just fifty short years? Not only did he succeed in entering the Dao Ruins Realm, but even his blood brother Bai Xuesong also easily broke through into that same realm. Think it over: without this inheritance of blood, have there ever been two brothers in the Southern Continent who both, at such a young age, entered the Dao Ruins Realm?"

"Ah, do you mean a bloodline mutation, Elder Xie? It is said that if someone in a family reaches the Immortal Inquiry Realm, or some legendary realm, then all those in that family who share blood relation with them will experience a change in their bloodline. From then on, cultivation becomes smooth and swift. Is that not so?" someone in the crowd exclaimed.

"Indeed. This brother speaks correctly. The bloodlines of the Bai brothers underwent such a mutation, which is why they could enter the Dao Ruins Realm so young and with such ease."

"Even if this Brother Bai Hansong has such an exceptional uncle, even if his bloodline has mutated, how did he manage to let a disciple at the Qi Refining stage safely take the Missing-Piece Pill? I still do not quite understand." The earlier speaker asked again in puzzlement.

"It is actually very simple. Listen, and I will explain it to you one by one. The reason is that Bai Hansong himself wanted that Missing-Piece Pill, so long ago he secretly opened the Silver Suppression Box and even switched out the pill inside. What was in the box was never the real Missing-Piece Pill at all... Let me ask you: what is Bai Wanqian's greatest skill?"

The Illusion Sword Art, of course. What else would it be?" someone immediately replied.

"Exactly, the Illusion Sword Art. But the word illusion is the hardest to comprehend. Even now, among our Sword Sect of Mount Heaven, there are only a handful who have grasped its true essence. Aside from the masters of the older generation, the younger generation is represented only by the Bai brothers, the so-called Twin Heroes of Mount Heaven. Back then, Bai Wanqian ruled the world with a single hand of Illusion Sword Art. Since Bai Hansong has undergone a bloodline mutation, it is only natural that he too has grasped the true meaning of illusion.

"Though his use of illusion may not be especially brilliant, what difficulty could there be for him in altering the aura of a Missing-Piece Pill? Since the pill in the Silver Suppression Box was merely a fake he prepared, what could possibly happen to the little beggar after swallowing it?" Xie Changfeng spoke at length to the crowd. Even he had begun to believe his own story, let alone anyone else.

"So that's how it was. No wonder Bai Hansong did not stop the little beggar from taking the Missing-Piece Pill. No wonder the Silver Suppression Box opened itself once it entered the beggar's stomach. No wonder we sensed the aura of the Missing-Piece Pill and then it suddenly vanished. No wonder that after taking the pill, the little beggar not only did not explode to death, but even seemed to break through from the Qi Refining stage to the Violet Mansion stage. So it was all arranged by Bai Hansong... This, this is truly marvelous, truly ingenious. Admirable, admirable indeed."

Everyone could not help but smile bitterly. They had all come for the Missing-Piece Pill, hoping to fish in troubled waters and seize it for themselves. Yet the pill had been a fake all along. While they felt some irritation, there was also relief: at least they had not acted. Had they done so, they would not only have brought disaster upon themselves, but upon their sects as well. They would have seized a false pill and, in the end, even taken the blame for Bai Hansong.

"What a marvelous illusion technique. Bai Hansong, what have you to say now? Where, exactly, have you hidden the real Missing-Piece Pill?" Li Muqiu's face had already turned extremely grim. In full view of all, he had been so toyed with by Bai Hansong. If Xie Changfeng had not exposed the truth, everyone would still have been kept in the dark.

"It was not me, it was not me! Xie Changfeng, you villain, how dare you slander me? Sect Leader Li, I truly did not switch the pill... You must believe me; everything I have said is true." Bai Hansong was also drenched in cold sweat by Xie Changfeng's words. It was too terrifying—everything supposedly had been arranged by him. Yet Xie Changfeng had woven the whole matter so seamlessly that Bai Hansong had no way to defend himself.

"Very well. Since you say you did not switch it, then I, Li Muqiu, will give you one chance to explain. If you can tell me why the Silver Suppression Box sealed itself open, and why the little beggar swallowed the Missing-Piece Pill without consequence... then I will believe you."

"Th-this... I really do not know!" Bai Hansong was frantic with sweat. Who knew how any of this had happened? How was he supposed to explain it?

"Good. Since you cannot explain it, do not blame me." A flash of killing intent crossed Li Muqiu's face. No one saw him make any clear movement, yet a streak of sword light seemed to descend from hell itself... "For Bai Wanqian's sake, I will spare your dog life today... Get lost."

"Ah! Ahh..."

Blood splattered through the air. Bai Hansong's arm flew away in an instant, trailing a mist of blood into the distance. Clutching his left arm, which was pouring blood, he let out a thunderous scream. He had never imagined that Li Muqiu would strike so decisively, leaving no room for retreat and no trace of mercy.

"Li Muqiu, you thief, how dare you injure my elder brother?" Seeing the killing intent in Li Muqiu's action, Bai Xuesong wanted to rush to the rescue, but Li Muqiu's sword was simply too fast—so fast that he could not react at all.

Supporting the pale-faced Bai Hansong, Bai Xuesong glared at Li Muqiu and said, "Li Muqiu, remember this. Today your side is stronger, and I cannot afford to provoke you. But one day, I, Bai Xuesong, swear to the heavens that I will repay today's blood debt."

As he helped Bai Hansong leave, Bai Xuesong cast a fleeting glance at Che Wuyou. Even he could not understand why this youth had taken the Missing-Piece Pill and suffered no consequences whatsoever. The others believed Xie Changfeng's explanation, but he would not. He knew his brother far too well, and he also believed his brother would never do something so foolish merely for a Missing-Piece Pill.

Che Wuyou could not help shivering as he watched the two depart. That had been far too close. He had only meant to shirk some responsibility and set a trap for the people of the Sword Sect of Mount Heaven, but Xie Changfeng had proved so helpful that he had directly framed Bai Hansong instead. The course of events had gone far beyond his expectations. Clearly it had been he who swallowed the Missing-Piece Pill, yet in the end it had turned into such a result.

With the Bai brothers' gloomy departure, the other experts present no longer lingered. One after another, they took their leave of the people from the Green Pool Sword Sect. In the end, even Xie Changfeng and the others departed in dejection.

"Amitabha. Esteemed benefactors of the Green Pool Sword Sect, please allow this old monk to speak... This poor monk sees that this little benefactor is blessed with great fortune and that he and I are deeply fated to meet. Therefore, I wish to take him with me to travel the world for a time. I wonder whether you benefactors have any objections?"

Only now, after the others had all gone, did Master Hui Chan, who had remained silent for so long, finally speak. He looked at Che Wuyou with an expression of compassion.

"Master, please forgive my ignorance. May I ask your honored name and where you cultivate? My apologies for the discourtesy." When Li Muqiu first arrived, he had noticed this white-browed, white-bearded monk. Since the man had said nothing and seemed to have no other intentions, he had paid him little mind. Now, however, that the monk had asked for a person, he could not help but inquire.

"Amitabha. This poor monk's monastic name is Hui Chan. I cultivate at the Sleeping Buddha Temple in the Central Plains."

"The Sleeping Buddha Temple?" Li Muqiu murmured to himself. Seeing that the other man's cultivation was no small matter, he had assumed him to be a high monk from some great monastery. To his surprise, the man had come from a little-known temple, and he could not help but pause.

"So it is Master Hui Chan. We are truly honored. It is only that this little beggar is too deeply entangled with our Green Pool Sword Sect, and I fear I cannot entrust him to you. Please forgive any offense." After some thought, Li Muqiu clasped his hands politely.

"Very well, then." Hui Chan, hearing the refusal, showed neither joy nor sorrow. Only the compassion in his gaze deepened. "Since Benefactor Li is unwilling to part with him, this old monk shall take his leave."

After speaking, the old monk Hui Chan nodded lightly to the people of the Green Pool Sword Sect and then walked unhurriedly into the distance...

"Sect Master Junior Brother, do you truly believe that Bai Hansong stole the Missing-Piece Pill?" Seeing that the others had all gone, Xue Cheng could not help but look toward Li Muqiu...