The Reversal of Heaven Begins with The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

"Brother!"

Fei Bin witnessed the horrific scene of Ding Mian being instantly dismembered, and his heart was shattered, letting out a shrill and desperate wail.

Overwhelmed by immense fear, he threw the last remaining half of his broken sword at Lin Mu's face with all his might without hesitation. At the same time, he kicked off the ground with both feet and flew backward like a stray dog, wanting nothing more than to escape the sight of this god of death!

Lin Mu merely raised his wrist slightly, and with a casual flick of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, the broken half of the sword was precisely knocked away with a soft "ding," embedding itself deeply into a distant beam with a whooshing sound, its tip still humming and vibrating.

"Want to run?"

A cold light flashed in Lin Mu's eyes, and he instantly pushed the "Phoenix Dance Six Illusions" movement technique to its limit.

His figure left a solid afterimage in place, but his real body appeared like a streak of light on Fei Bin's retreating path, so fast that it was almost like teleportation in the eyes of the crowd.

The Heaven-Slaying Sword was raised once more, its blade reflecting a deathly light like a judgment in the sunlight. Then, like a cascading Milky Way, it fell down with immense force.

"Do not--!!!"

Fei Bin only saw a dazzling, cold light rapidly enlarging before his eyes, and a desperate roar escaped his throat, but his voice abruptly stopped.

A straight line of blood instantly spread down from the top of his head, across his brow, bridge of his nose, lips, throat, chest, and lower abdomen...

Ultimately, he was split in two.

The two mangled bodies, accompanied by gushing blood, crashed to either side, leaving two gruesome trails of blood on the ground.

The three bodyguards from the Songshan Sect who came to carry out the order to exterminate the entire family all died in the backyard of the Liu residence!

The remaining disciples of the Songshan Sect, having lost their leader, were terrified by the hellish scene before them. Their weapons trembled uncontrollably, and they had lost all will to fight.

Seeing this, Master Tianmen of the Taishan Sect took the lead, wielding his whisk like an iron whip to strike the nearest Songshan disciple; Master Dingyi of the Hengshan Sect also gave a solemn order, and the disciples joined the battle with their long swords; many other masters from other sects and heroes of the martial world who wanted to "prove their innocence" or take the opportunity to beat the drowning dog rushed forward.

In an instant, the backyard was filled with the flashing of swords and the sounds of shouts, clashing weapons, and screams.

Those Songshan disciples who stubbornly resisted were already terrified, and under the attack of the crowd, they were quickly overwhelmed by the angry tide of people, and followed in the footsteps of the three Taibao.

After a while.

The commotion and shouts of killing in the backyard of the Liu residence gradually subsided, leaving only a heavy stench of blood in the late spring breeze, mixed with the lingering fragrance of late cherry blossoms drifting in from outside the courtyard wall, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

The scene of weapons strewn everywhere, severed limbs, and corpses lying in disarray, along with the lingering gasps of survivors, created a horrific post-war picture.

The gruesome deaths of the three members of the Thirteen Protectors of Songshan, and the annihilation of nearly a hundred Songshan disciples, were deeply imprinted in the eyes of every survivor like a red-hot branding iron.

All eyes, filled with complex and indescribable emotions such as awe, apprehension, and fear, were focused on the figure in the blue robe in the center of the arena.

Lin Mu's robes were stained with bloodstains, like red plum blossoms adorning the blue cloth, yet he did not appear disheveled at all.

The Heaven-Slaying Sword in his hand gleamed coldly, its blade shimmering with a chilling blue light in the sunlight. Blood droplets slid slowly down the smooth surface of the sharp blade, dripping onto the ground with a soft "thud," a sound that was particularly clear in the deathly silent courtyard.

Chapter 12: Eradicate Evil Completely

"Chong-"

The crisp sound of the Heaven-Slaying Sword returning to its sheath was like jade striking jade, rippling through the deathly silent courtyard. Yet, it caused the surrounding martial artists to inexplicably tremble and instinctively hold their breath.

The voice lacked the ferocity that comes with killing; instead, it exuded a calm and composed demeanor that commanded respect.

Lin Mu's gaze swept lightly across the crowd, landing on Linghu Chong and Yue Buqun.

The former's eyes sparkled with admiration and curiosity, while the latter maintained a gentle smile, though his eyes held a hint of inquiry.

As he pondered when the next part of the story would unfold, a familiar system notification sounded in his mind.

[Ding! You have encountered the destined characters Linghu Chong and Yue Buqun, triggering the side quest: Mount Hua Sword Tournament.]

[Mission Requirements: Within one year, travel to Mount Hua and defeat Linghu Chong, Yue Buqun, and Feng Qingyang.]

[Task Reward: Randomly selected.]

Lin Mu was secretly pleased, but remained outwardly calm.

It seems an unavoidable trip to Mount Hua is inevitable, but the opportunity to spar with a legendary master like Feng Qingyang is certainly something to look forward to.

On the other side, Liu Zhengfeng let out a long sigh of relief, his chest heaving violently, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders in an instant.

His face alternated between the relief of surviving the ordeal and the pallor of witnessing the brutal slaughter. Beneath the lace of his robe, torn by the sword, blood seeped slightly from the wound, staining his inner garment red from the fierce battle.

He forced his way past the disciple who was trying to help him, staggered to Lin Mu, and bowed deeply to the ground. His voice was choked with barely concealed sobs and utterly sincere: "It was I, Liu, who was short-sighted and blinded by Zuo Lengchan's hypocrisy. Just the other day, I turned a deaf ear to my benefactor's loyal advice..."

"If it weren't for my benefactor's generosity and righteous act, my entire family would have been reduced to ashes by now!"

"I will never forget this kindness that has saved my life!"

He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, but his tone was unwavering: "No matter where my benefactor is in the future, if there is anything I can do to help you, I will do it without hesitation, even if it means going through fire and water!"

Lin Mu turned slightly to the side, not accepting the full bow, his voice still calm and even: "General Liu, you flatter me."

He emphasized the words "military commander" and slowly swept his gaze over the martial arts figures present. He said loudly, "The Songshan Sect, without the permission of the imperial court, privately led troops to surround and kill the families of imperial officials. This is a crime tantamount to treason, and it is unforgivable."

"Lin's actions were both to stand up for justice and to uphold the laws of the court; it was simply his duty."

These words, though seemingly plain, are actually quite witty.

This not only elevated personal grudges to the level of imperial law, silencing any future criticisms of his "indiscriminate killing of disciples of prestigious families," but also blatantly granted Liu Zhengfeng the protective shield of being an "official of the imperial court."

Many people in the crowd nodded in agreement. Yue Buqun stroked his long beard, his face showing just the right amount of worry, but his tone was subtly provocative: "Young Master Lin is absolutely right. However, today is the auspicious day for Senior Brother Liu to retire from the martial arts world, yet we have lost three of the Taibao of Songshan and so many elite disciples. Zuo Lengchan is known for his vindictiveness and I'm afraid he won't let this go easily!"

His words seemed to express concern for Liu Zhengfeng's safety, but his eyes kept glancing at Lin Mu, clearly indicating that he wanted to pass this hot potato to the young man who had suddenly appeared.

Master Tianmen of the Taishan Sect, who was already hot-tempered, was now even more furious, his hair and beard standing on end, his eyes wide with rage: "What are we afraid of? What is Zuo Lengchan anyway!"

He slapped his chest and said in a booming voice, "We only call him Leader Zuo because we're giving him face. If we don't, he's nothing!"

"If he dares to come again, I will make him taste the power of the 'Seven Stars Falling from the Sky' technique of Mount Tai swordsmanship!"

As he spoke, his gaze unconsciously swept over the corpses lying haphazardly on the ground, especially the gruesome sight of Ding Mian and Fei Bin being cleaved in two. His voice weakened, and his confidence clearly waned.

Master Dingyi of the Hengshan Sect looked at Lin Mu with a slight frown, full of doubt: "This young hero's skills are so outstanding, and his swordsmanship is even more unpredictable. I wonder where he learned his skills? I have never heard of your name in the martial arts world before. It is really puzzling."

Yilin, standing beside her, blushed slightly and unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes. She spoke softly, "Master, he... he is Brother Lin, who saved me outside Hengyang City that day."

"Oh? So you're the young hero you mentioned who killed the lecherous thief Tian Boguang?"

Master Dingyi suddenly realized, and her gaze toward Lin Mu became more solemn.

Everyone was even more surprised upon hearing this, and discussions arose everywhere.

It was already a rare feat to rescue someone from the notorious flower thief Tian Boguang, and killing Tian Boguang was even more gratifying.

"Tian Boguang is dead, he really did a great thing!"

"here you go."

"That lecherous scoundrel is finally dead!"

"Judging from his unpredictable and fierce swordsmanship, coupled with his upright and righteous aura, could he be a disciple of some reclusive master?"

……

Amidst gasps of amazement and speculation, the crowd gradually dispersed only after Liu Zhengfeng waved his hand, instructing his disciples to clean up the bodies and tidy up the mess.

However, the way they looked at Lin Mu when they left was filled with more awe and curiosity.

The process of washing their hands of the trade continued, but everyone seemed somewhat distracted.

Most people said goodbye and left after the handwashing ceremony.

Lin Mu was persuaded by Liu Zhengfeng to stay at Liu's residence for a short while.

To express his gratitude, Liu Zhengfeng specially gave him the quietest and most elegant guest room in the mansion, and ordered the chef to prepare a table full of delicacies, his attitude was respectful to the point of humility.

Lin Mu accepted it calmly. During the day, he would either sit cross-legged in the courtyard to regulate his breathing and sort out his true energy after the fierce battle; or he would slowly dance with the Yitian Sword, incorporating yesterday's combat experience into his sword moves. The sword shadows rose and fell, sometimes like a gentle breeze brushing willows, sometimes like thunder roaring.

At night, he continued to circulate his internal energy, silently digesting the martial arts principles he had learned in battle.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight streamed through the carved window lattice into the guest room, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Lin Mu slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance appearing in them, as a familiar system notification sounded in his mind:

[Ding! Side quest: 'Saving the Liu Family Mansion' has been completed!]

[Reward: Ten years' worth of refined internal energy!]

【Do you want to receive it? 】

"receive!"

Lin Mu silently recited in his heart.

In an instant, a warm yet powerful internal force surged into his dantian and limbs like a river bursting its banks.

The internal energy was so pure that it had no impurities. It flowed smoothly without any stagnation, slowly traveling along the meridians. Wherever it passed, the originally narrow meridians seemed to be soaked in warm water, and they widened a bit without people realizing it, becoming more resilient and expansive.

He could clearly feel that the total amount of internal energy in his body had nearly doubled, perfectly merging with his original true energy. Its circulation became increasingly smooth and effortless, and every move he made carried immense power.

To his even greater surprise, as his internal energy increased, the bottleneck he encountered while practicing the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique" was instantly broken!

Chapter 13: Luring the Enemy into the Trap

The pure Yang energy surged within his dantian, instantly breaking through the third level of the "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique".

A sharp and fierce sword intent rose from within his body, and his aura suddenly surged, officially stepping into the Innate Realm!

Looking inward, one sees the true qi surging like a tide in the dantian and the meridians as strong as steel. Most importantly, it can draw upon the primordial energy of heaven and earth to a certain extent, thus enhancing its destructive power.

With his innate cultivation, the unpredictable and fierce "Evil-Repelling Sword Technique," and the unparalleled sharpness of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, Lin Mu is now a match for the top masters in the martial arts world.

However, Lin Mu was not complacent because of this.

Dongfang Bubai's "Sunflower Manual" had long been perfected, and he had broken through the innate level for many years. He was even crowned with the title of "Number One in the World" in the martial arts world, which was by no means an empty name.

He is not yet absolutely confident against such an opponent.

Let's play it safe for now and wait until we're stronger.

Lin Mu pondered to himself, since the system's main quests have no time limit, steady improvement is the key.

Just then, soft footsteps came from outside the door, followed by Liu Zhengfeng's slightly hurried voice: "My benefactor, are you awake?"

Lin Mu called out, "Come in."

The door opened, and Liu Zhengfeng hurried in, his face full of worry: "My benefactor, the disciple I just sent out reported that the Songshan Sect's spies scattered around Hengshan are gradually withdrawing, presumably to report back to Zuo Lengchan."

"Zuo Lengchan's conspiracy has been thwarted, and all three of his top bodyguards have been killed at our Liu residence. He must be furious, and there will probably be even more insane retaliations to come."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly anxious: "I have dismissed the servants and relatives in the mansion, and I am preparing to leave Hengshan immediately with my wife, children, and a few loyal disciples to avoid trouble."

"My benefactor, you should hurry and leave too!"

As Lin Mu was pondering his next plan, he heard Liu Zhengfeng's words, and the system notification sounded in his mind again:

[Ding! You have come into contact with the influential figure Liu Zhengfeng, triggering the side quest: Eliminate evil completely!]

[Mission Requirements: Within three months, kill Zuo Lengchan and eliminate the threat posed by the Songshan Sect.]

[Task Reward: Randomly selected.]

This task suited him perfectly.

For a ruthless figure like Zuo Lengchan, once a deadly feud has been formed, one must not give the other a chance to catch their breath and retaliate, otherwise the consequences will be endless.

He came up with a plan and said to Liu Zhengfeng, whose face was full of anxiety, "Running away won't solve the problem. Zuo Lengchan is powerful and has many experts under his command. Even if you escape to the ends of the earth, with the power of the Songshan Sect, you may not be able to escape his pursuit."

Liu Zhengfeng's face fell, and he said dejectedly, "Then what does my benefactor mean..."

“Respond to ever-changing situations with constancy.”

Lin Mu said calmly, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table: "If General Liu trusts me, he can write a letter and send it to Zuo Lengchan by fast horse. Tell him that you are waiting for him at Liu’s residence and that he can settle any grievances here."

Liu Zhengfeng was stunned, his face full of confusion: "This...isn't this just asking for trouble? If Zuo Lengchan really brings a large force to attack, how can we, with so few men, possibly defend against him?"

"That's exactly what we need to do to lure him here."

Lin Mu's voice was steady and powerful: "Hengshan is your home ground, and we have plenty of time to make arrangements; while Zuo Lengchan is far away in Songshan. He has traveled a long way to get here, and his men and horses must be exhausted, which will dampen their spirits."

"Besides, he suffered such a great loss, with the three Taibao lost and his face completely humiliated. He must be eager for revenge, and his mindset is already in chaos."

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Mu's eyes: "We can take this opportunity to set up a trap and eliminate this problem once and for all, so that things don't get complicated later."

Looking at the confidence and composure in Lin Mu's eyes, and recalling the thunderous might of his sword strike that killed the three great protectors yesterday, Liu Zhengfeng's hesitation melted away like ice and snow, and he nodded heavily: "Alright! We'll do as my benefactor suggests!"

"My life was saved by my benefactor. I'll risk it again, even if it means I die, I'll make that traitor Zuo Lengchan suffer!"

After saying that, Liu Zhengfeng seemed to have thought of something and clapped his hands.