Chapter Forty-Four: No One Loves the Flying Sword Sect More Than I Do

“Hmph, the Seven-Three Sect took you in for no reason, sheltering you from the continued pursuit of the Demonic Sect—could it be you handed over the Flying Sword Technique to them?” Li Ju’s words were uttered almost carelessly, but when he saw the shifting expressions on Di Yuan’s face, he suddenly realized that what he had just spoken might very well be the truth.

“To secure a fleeting moment of safety, you offered up, with your own hands, the most powerful technique passed down in your sect for centuries, to another sect…”

“Di Yuan, you’ve done well.”

Li Ju’s expression instantly turned icy, his voice brimming with cold intent.

To divulge the supreme technique of one’s own sect to outsiders was a capital crime anywhere.

“At first, I thought, given how few of us remain in the Flying Sword Sect, I might spare your life today. But now, it seems I have no choice but to cleanse the sect on behalf of our honored ancestors!”

Gulp…

Watching Li Ju, who now seemed to emit black smoke from his body, Di Yuan instinctively took several steps back, swallowing hard.

It was only when he truly faced the overwhelming pressure emanating from Li Ju that Di Yuan understood why Yuan Hao had fared so poorly earlier.

It wasn’t that Yuan Hao was weak—Li Ju was simply too strong!

“Die!”

Boom!

The ground beneath their feet exploded as if struck by dynamite, shards of stone whistling outward in every direction. A violent gale swept through, striking terror into the hearts of men and gods alike.

Di Yuan barely had time to raise his sword defensively before a thick, powerful hand swung brutally toward him.

Bang!

Di Yuan was sent flying!

Blood spurted from his mouth as his body skidded for over a hundred meters, smashing through several walls before finally coming to a stop.

“Cough, cough…”

Half-kneeling on the ground, Di Yuan used his sword to support himself, struggling to rise. Yet just as he made it halfway, his legs gave out and he collapsed to the earth once more.

Blood poured from his mouth in a great crimson wave.

“That’s not the Flying Sword Sect’s technique!” he spat through bloodied teeth, staring at Li Ju as he strode toward him.

His own cultivation was only that of an ordinary inner disciple; he relied on the sheer power of the Flying Sword Technique to best most inner experts, but even so, he was no match for someone at the pinnacle like Yuan Hao.

Thus, the Seven-Three Sect hadn’t brought him along for his strength, but for his status.

First, as the senior disciple of the Flying Sword Sect before its destruction, and the named successor to the sect leadership, he was naturally recognized by the surviving members as their leader. This was the custom of the orthodox martial world—unless one wished to be shunned, these rules had to be followed.

According to the Seven-Three Sect’s calculations, even if Li Ju had defected to the demonic path and no longer recognized orthodox customs, he would still hesitate to harm Di Yuan, his former senior brother. Even in the demonic sect, fratricide was a grave taboo—anyone who committed such a crime would be despised by both orthodox and demonic factions alike.

Second, all the Flying Sword Sect’s techniques were derived from the Flying Sword Technique, which possessed a natural restraining power over the sect’s other skills. The Seven-Three Sect believed that even if Li Ju had advanced to his current state with demonic arts, his foundation would still be rooted in the Flying Sword Sect’s teachings.

Thus, as long as Di Yuan used the Flying Sword Technique, he could break through Li Ju’s power.

Unfortunately, though the Seven-Three Sect had planned meticulously, reality was cruel.

“You abandoned your foundation in pursuit of demonic arts—how can you call yourself a disciple of the Flying Sword Sect after such betrayal?” Di Yuan could scarcely believe that Li Ju, who only ever claimed to be of the Flying Sword Sect, now showed not the slightest hint of his former sect’s martial legacy.

If Li Ju had held even a trace of that power, Di Yuan’s Flying Sword Technique would not have left him so utterly powerless.

“The martial arts of this world have gone astray,” Li Ju said, coming to stand before Di Yuan. He crouched, meeting Di Yuan’s gaze.

“All the sects, all the martial artists, judge a person’s allegiance by the outward style they practice. If you use the Flying Sword Sect’s techniques, you must be a member; if you use the Seven-Three Sect’s, you must belong there…”

“If an orthodox martial artist so much as touches a demonic technique, he’s branded a demon by his peers. The same is true in reverse.”

“It seems in this world, form matters more than intention.”

Li Ju stood and seized Di Yuan by the head, lifting his entire body off the ground.

“But how can a person’s devotion to the martial path be measured only by technique?”

“From the moment the Flying Sword Sect was destroyed, I have never ceased to long for it in my heart—for my brothers and sisters, for every blade of grass and tree within its walls. Yet all of that has vanished, become fleeting memories, impossible to see or hear again…”

“Do you know how much pain I feel inside? Do you? Do you?!”

Li Ju’s voice broke with grief as he shouted at Di Yuan.

“Mmmph! Mmmph!” Di Yuan, clutched in Li Ju’s grip, thought his head would be crushed.

“Everything is gone—everything! Even if I was once just a humble servant, unworthy of even the lowest teachings, I still loved the sect, still cherished that home!”

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

“Afterward, I embraced the demonic path and can never return to the light. Why? So I could gain greater strength, so that one day I could take up the blade and avenge the sect against the Demonic Cult!”

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

“But while someone like me, from the lowest ranks, strives endlessly for vengeance, you—as the chosen successor—sought only shelter, and handed over the sect’s supreme technique to the Seven-Three Sect!”

“Why?!”

Tears welled in Li Ju’s eyes.

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

The whites of Di Yuan’s eyes grew wider.

“Why is it that someone like me is condemned as a demon, while you still bask in the same honors as before?!”

“You are not worthy!”

“Mmmph! Mmmph!”

“Ah…”

Looking at Di Yuan, who was already on the verge of unconsciousness from lack of air, Li Ju could not help but tear a piece of cloth from his clothes to wipe his own tears.

“No one loves the Flying Sword Sect more than I do!”

“No one… no one!”