From the beginning of Swordsman, he created a legend in the martial arts world.

"You're awake!"

A voice, tinged with concern and nonchalance, reached my ears.

Meng Fei opened his heavy eyelids, his vision gradually clearing from blurry to bright. What came into view were dilapidated beams and cobwebs, and the air was filled with dust and a musty smell.

"Where...where is this?"

Meng Fei's voice was hoarse and dry as he struggled to sit up, but he felt as if his limbs were filled with lead, heavy and powerless.

"Hengyang City. All the city gates are guarded right now, so we can't leave for the time being. I can only bring you here for now."

Linghu Chong closed the booklet in his hand and turned to look at Meng Fei.

Upon hearing this, Meng Fei understood that he had been poisoned and that if Linghu Chong hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Many...many thanks to Brother Linghu for saving my life, I, Meng..."

"No need for such formalities..."

Linghu Chong waved his hand, interrupting him, his face showing a slightly unruly yet sincere expression.

He then changed the subject, his brows furrowing slightly, and said, "However... the 'Bone-Eating Heart-Piercing Needle' poison you were afflicted with is extremely vicious and domineering. I can only give you the Hengshan Sect's White Cloud Bear Gallbladder Pill for now, but that can only temporarily suppress the poison. To completely detoxify you, we will have to find another way."

As he spoke, Linghu Chong took out a small celadon bottle from his bosom, which was the "Hundred Flowers Pill" that Meng Fei had dropped earlier.

"I found this bottle next to you, but I didn't give it to you because I didn't know what kind of medicine it was."

Meng Fei took the porcelain bottle, glanced at Linghu Chong, poured out a pill, and swallowed it.

"This is the Hundred Flower Pill, which can cure all poisons. There is one left here."

After putting the cork back in, Meng Fei threw it back.

"This is……?"

Linghu Chong subconsciously took the porcelain bottle, paused for a moment, and looked at Meng Fei with a puzzled expression.

"I have no way to repay your life-saving grace, but I cannot leave without returning the Hengshan Sect's miraculous healing medicine."

Meng Fei closed his eyes and slowly circulated his inner energy, guiding the medicinal power of the "Hundred Flowers Pill" to dissipate. Although his voice was still weak, it was clear and steady.

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong was taken aback for a moment, but then he understood the insistence in Meng Fei's words that he was unwilling to easily owe anyone a favor.

Without saying anything more, he put the porcelain bottle back into his bosom.

"How long have I been unconscious?"

After taking the Hundred Flowers Pill, Meng Fei guided its medicinal power to heal his injuries and remove the poison while asking questions.

"A whole day and night!"

Linghu Chong's gaze fell on Meng Fei's pale yet resolute face, a complex and unfathomable look flashing in his eyes.

Recalling what happened at the Liu residence yesterday, as well as Meng Fei's sharp and decisive swordsmanship, and also thinking about the rumors about the "Evil-Repelling Sword Manual".

After a brief silence, Meng Fei seemed to remember something and asked in a low voice, "Master Liu..."

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong's expression immediately darkened, and he sighed softly, his tone filled with a sense of melancholy and helplessness.

"Uncle Liu... went with Elder Qu Yang."

"When I arrived, I only saw them from afar... They played the 'Laughing at the World' melody together for the last time. Before he passed away, Elder Qu entrusted this score to me."

As he spoke, Linghu Chong subconsciously touched the booklet in his pocket—the sheet music for "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer".

"Uncle Liu ultimately couldn't retire from the martial world, but... being able to go to the afterlife with his confidant might be considered a kind of liberation for them!"

Linghu Chong's voice carried a sense of loss and sadness that was completely different from his usual carefree and unrestrained manner.

Looking at the sheet music in my hand, I seemed to see those two predecessors who knew each other through music, but were trapped by good and evil, and ultimately used their lives to compose their final masterpiece.

After a long while, Meng Fei fully dissolved the medicinal power of the Hundred Flowers Pill. Although he was unable to completely eliminate the toxicity of the "Bone-Eating Heart-Piercing Needle", he temporarily suppressed the spread of the poison, and his life was no longer in danger.

At this moment, the deathly paleness on his face finally faded a bit. Although he was still haggard, he finally had a bit of life in him.

When he opened his eyes, he found that Linghu Chong had not continued to look through the "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" score, but was sitting on the threshold, looking him over thoughtfully with a hint of inquiry and a subtle doubt in his eyes.

Meng Fei's heart stirred slightly, and after a moment's thought, he roughly guessed the source of the other party's doubts.

"Brother Linghu, are you looking me over like this... because you want to inquire about the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual?"

Upon hearing this, Linghu Chong seemed somewhat surprised that Meng Fei would bring it up. He then looked away with a slightly embarrassed expression and frankly said, "This... to be honest, Brother Meng, regarding the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual, Junior Brother Lin... oh, I mean Junior Brother Pingzhi, has already informed our master and clarified the matter."

"Moreover, my master has already agreed to accept him as a disciple. Junior Brother Lin has made it clear that the sword technique he uses is not the Lin family's Evil-Repelling Sword Technique, but... he has encountered something else. This matter is known to everyone in the Huashan Sect."

Meng Fei nodded slightly, not surprised at all. It was within his expectations that Lin Pingzhi would be able to successfully join the Huashan Sect, especially since he had demonstrated his impressive swordsmanship in public, which was related to the rumors of the "Evil-Repelling Sword Manual". How could Yue Buqun let this opportunity pass?

"That's excellent. Pingzhi is fortunate to have been taken in by Sect Leader Yue. He has hope of getting revenge in the future, and this will put his mind at ease."

Meng Fei spoke in a calm tone, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him. Then, he changed the subject and his gaze sharpened.

"However... judging from Brother Linghu's expression, it seems... your doubts haven't been completely dispelled? Perhaps you're somewhat curious about my swordsmanship, which is passable?"

Linghu Chong's face darkened with embarrassment when his thoughts were exposed. Although he had never said it aloud, he believed that his swordsmanship talent was unmatched among the younger generation.

Now, with two outstanding swordsmen appearing one after another, and more importantly, one of them being younger than him, his originally carefree nature couldn't help but become a little nervous.

Although he was neither a pedantic nor a greedy person, Meng Fei was so young yet his swordsmanship was so exquisite, and his progress was so rapid that it was hard not to think of "some" shortcuts.

Adding to this the dubious identification made at the Liu residence... he couldn't help but feel a sense of investigation.

"Brother Meng, you flatter me, but..."

Linghu Chong carefully considered his words, trying not to make them seem too offensive.

"Brother Meng's swordsmanship is superb, and his progress is so rapid that Linghu Chong has never seen anything like it in his life. Although there are many unfounded rumors in the martial arts world, they inevitably... inevitably lead people to speculate. I have no other intention, it's just..."

"It's just that one can't help but wonder if I, Meng Fei, truly obtained the 'Evil-Repelling Sword Manual' and even used it to quickly master it, thus achieving my current level of cultivation. Is that right or wrong?"

Meng Fei picked up where he left off, his tone still calm, with even a faint, slightly amused smile playing at the corners of his lips.

Looking at Linghu Chong's complex expression, which was a mixture of concern, doubt, and embarrassment, he felt no anger. Instead, he was somewhat moved. Linghu Chong's willingness to ask directly was a rare act of integrity.

"Brother Linghu, the world is vast and full of opportunities. It is not only the 'Evil-Repelling Sword Manual' that can create a master. I have indeed had some good fortune and have inherited a decent sword technique. With my diligent practice day and night, I have achieved my meager cultivation level today."

At this point, Meng Fei looked at Linghu Chong with a meaningful gaze: "As for opportunities... everyone has their own destiny. Brother Linghu, you are exceptionally talented. If your opportunity comes in the future, your achievements may even surpass mine."

Linghu Chong was taken aback after hearing this. He was not a dull person and could sense the sincerity in Meng Fei's words and the reluctance to discuss them in depth.

Although Meng Fei's actions may seem somewhat cold-blooded, he was upright in principle and even helped those in distress. He was by no means the kind of wicked person who would stop at nothing to achieve quick success.

Perhaps I'm just overthinking things!

"Brother Meng is right. Linghu Chong has misunderstood. Opportunities and fate cannot be forced. We martial artists only strive to have a clear conscience!"

After saying that, Linghu Chong finally showed that carefree smile again.

He then glanced at Meng Fei, who was sitting cross-legged and meditating, his complexion still not good, and noticed the footsteps coming from outside that seemed more frequent than usual. He lowered his voice and said.

"Brother Meng, although no one is paying attention here for the time being, Hengyang City is not that big. Those who are searching for you, as well as those who covet... cough, those with ulterior motives, will find this place sooner or later. This place is probably not a place to stay for long."

Upon hearing this, Meng Fei's expression darkened slightly, his eyes dimmed, yet a trace of weakness could still be seen.

At this moment, the poison from the bone-corroding needle in his body has not been cured, and he cannot use his internal energy recklessly for the time being. If those people find him, he will probably be in a difficult situation.

Seeing that Meng Fei hadn't responded for a long time, Linghu Chong knew that his injuries were serious and that he was having a difficult time making a decision. After hesitating for a moment, he finally spoke up and said, "Brother Meng, if we're going somewhere else for now... my master will be returning to Mount Hua in the next few days. If you don't mind, why don't we travel together? Those petty scoundrels wouldn't dare to act recklessly on Mount Hua!"