Chapter 46 : Chapter 46
Chapter 46: The Jinyiwei Who Butchered the Sects with Monstrous Cruelty is Named Cheng Yu!
Almost instinctively, Cheng Zhenjiang made a decision in his heart. At least for the time being, he could not admit that the Jinyiwei who had disrespected his elder sister and struck a heavy hand against the Sword-Forging Manor was his son!
"So that is how it is. There must have been some misunderstanding involved."
As the Sect Master of the Sword-Forging Manor, He Qin was by no means ignorant of social etiquette. Although he harbored doubts regarding the description provided by his disciples, he nodded with a face devoid of suspicion.
"Great Hero Cheng is a man of integrity, and his entire family is composed of renowned heroes. How could such a brutal thug possibly emerge from among you?"
When a powerhouse of the Heaven Ranking called it a misunderstanding, then a misunderstanding it must be, regardless of the truth! In the Jianghu, those who insisted on being pedantic rarely met a good end.
"Since that is the case, I shall not disturb you further, Great Hero Cheng."
He Qin had originally come only to have Great Hero Cheng provide a justification so that he, as the Sect Master, would not appear incompetent. He had never intended to seek genuine justice for his disciples. Now that there was at least an explanation, and seeing the strange atmosphere within the Cheng family, he tactfully took his leave.
"Father, how can Second Brother not be yours and Mother’s son anymore?" Cheng Si cried out in disbelief, her tears falling. Up until this moment, her father still refused to acknowledge Cheng Yu as his son to others! She felt as if her heart were bleeding. Was her own flesh and blood truly worth less than his reputation?
"Cheng Zhenjiang, what do you mean?! Why won't you admit Yu'er is your son!" Zhao Xichun trembled with rage as she heard her husband speak such blatant lies.
"To admit that a heartless, unrighteous, and tyrannical person is my son is no different from throwing my reputation on the ground to be trampled! How would the Jianghu look at you then? How would the other children conduct themselves? Is that fair to Feng'er and the others?"
"What else can I do besides lie? My heart is bleeding too!" Cheng Zhenjiang’s expression was distorted with agony. Self-reproach and fury were mixed into a complex mess. "With that rebellious son acting as he does, can he not consider our difficulties? Is it that I am intentionally unwilling to acknowledge him?"
At the mention of the family—especially the reputation of the other children—Zhao Xichun’s body shook. She covered her tear-streaked face with her hands. She no longer knew what to say. She could only lower her head and mutter to herself, "My Yu'er, Mother has failed you..."
"Father, Mother..." Cheng Yue watched this scene, her heart filled with immense pain. The family’s transformation into this state was inseparable from that unfilial and disrespectful Cheng Yu. While her heart burned with anger, it was also tinged with doubt. Why did her father lie about only having one son, Cheng Feng? Had he not educated them to be people of integrity and transparency? Having stayed within the River-Severing Sect for years, away from the affairs of the outside world, she felt her mind was in a state of chaos.
"That fellow!" To the side, Cheng Feng watched his parents' utter grief. His face was contorted, his teeth gritted, and his fists clenched tightly. The Great Hero Cheng and his wife, who were envied like immortals in the Jianghu, had been pushed to this state all because of Cheng Yu! Even his father was forced to lie to preserve their reputation! Good people like them were always forced into such corners by the wicked!
The disdain and anger he felt for Cheng Yu gradually transformed into pure hatred. If given the chance, he would surely make that detestable fellow pay the price! He would never allow him to bring this sorrow and pain to his family again!
While the family was consumed by grief and the atmosphere seemed to freeze, a sudden commotion was heard outside. Numerous powerful martial artists of the Sword-Forging Manor appeared in the air, heading toward the main gates. It was as if something major had happened.
"What is happening outside?" As the leader of a sect and the head of the Cheng family, Cheng Zhenjiang knew very well that such a full mobilization of the sect was not a normal occurrence. He quickly summoned a servant to inquire about the situation.
"Reporting to the Master, it is heard that many great figures from various factions have come to visit the Sword-Forging Manor. Almost all the figures from the neighboring provinces of Jiangnan have arrived! The Dragon Whale Island Master, the Sect Master of the Shenyuan Iron Sect, and the Valley Master of the Hundred Flowers Valley—many Earth Ranking experts have come!"
Cheng Zhenjiang frowned. "Such a thing has happened?"
These people were all in the Upper Three Ranks. Though their strength did not equal He Qin’s Eighth Rank, they were considered prominent figures in the surrounding Jiangnan region and even throughout the Great Qian. For them to suddenly converge on the Sword-Forging Manor meant something significant had occurred!
"Wife, I will go see what the situation is."
"Mhm." Zhao Xichun knew this was no small matter and nodded while holding back her tears.
At the gates of the Sword-Forging Manor, the masters of various factions were greeting their host. "We greet Sect Master He. We truly apologize for the intrusion this time!"
"It is no intrusion at all! To have so many heroes and heroes grace my Sword-Forging Manor with their presence is truly my honor!" He Qin greeted the arriving experts with great enthusiasm, instructing his disciples not to slight a single person. Internally, however, he was roaring.
What is going on?! I have been digging into the mountain's heart for five years, cautious and anxious every single day. Just as I am about to succeed, the situation I most dreaded has occurred! Why have these fellows caught the scent and come over right at the most critical moment for my manor?
He was filled with immense doubt and fury, yet he could only welcome them with a smile. "Since you have all come, my Sword-Forging Manor will surely make you feel at home. Please, enter!"
"After you!" The various experts thanked He Qin, though their eyes held unreadable and strange expressions. Some showed a hint of mockery, while others were filled with fervor and excitement.
Right at that moment, a cry of surprise rang out. "Great Hero Cheng?! Why are you here?"
Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn to the voice. They were shocked to see Cheng Zhenjiang coming from within the manor. Why was this world-famous Heaven Ranking powerhouse here? Great Hero Cheng had come all the way from the north; could his information be so much more efficient than theirs?
The more cautious among them even began to suspect that Cheng Zhenjiang was conspiring with the Sword-Forging Manor. Their hearts immediately wavered. They could try to snatch a bit of profit from the Sword-Forging Manor, but they didn't dare touch the River-Severing Sect or the Cheng Family.
Surrounded by numerous experts like a moon among stars, Cheng Zhenjiang pushed his grief aside. He smiled and said, "Greetings, brothers! I have come here to request a saber for Feng'er. Why have you all come as well?"
Requesting a saber? Everyone looked at each other, instantly connecting it to a possibility. It was likely that Cheng Zhenjiang truly did not know the rumors circulating outside regarding a Grandmaster Inheritance beneath the Sword-Forging Mountain! After all, both the River-Severing Sect and the Cheng family already possessed Grandmaster Inheritances; why would he lose face by coveting another’s?
They quickly followed his lead. "We have also come to request weapons for the younger generation of our sects. The armaments of the Sword-Forging Manor are peak-tier; if we don't use them, we will be a rank behind others!"
Cheng Zhenjiang nodded. "Requesting weapons... then where are the juniors? Why didn't they come themselves?"
"They are coming soon, coming soon!" The various sect leaders hurried to signal their subordinates to call their eldest disciples over!
He Qin watched this scene from the side, gritting his teeth. The perfunctory attitude of these fellows made him understand everything. They were absolutely here for the contents of the mountain's heart! Requesting swords? he cursed internally. What swords? I’m not forging a single damn sword for you!
A while later, after everyone had been settled by the Sword-Forging Manor, the still-perplexed Cheng Zhenjiang finally received the news his servant had gathered.
"A brutally wicked Jinyiwei has appeared in Qingjiang Prefecture of the Dragon Abyss Path. He butchered the local sects, and it was he who uncovered a secret!"
"Preposterous! To think such an appalling thing could happen today!" Cheng Zhenjiang slapped the table, suppressing his anger to continue listening.
"The secret says that the Sword-Forging Manor is excavating a Grandmaster Inheritance! It is right here within the Sword-Forging Mountain! For this purpose, they have conscripted laborers from all over for five years!"
A Grandmaster Inheritance? Upon hearing this, Cheng Zhenjiang finally understood. He now knew why those sect leaders and experts were so excited to come; it was for this treasure. However, that had nothing to do with him. He would simply use his status to act as a mediator to prevent the fighting from becoming too intense and harming the Jianghu, while also displaying his own righteousness.
As Cheng Zhenjiang pondered this, he suddenly noticed his servant looking panicked and hesitant.
"Is there something else you haven't said?"
"Master... the news also says that... that... the Jinyiwei who butchered the sects in Qingjiang Prefecture with monstrous cruelty is named... is named..."
"Named what?"
"Cheng Yu..."