The Reversal of Heaven Begins with The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

Soon, a dozen or so Hengshan disciples carried in four heavy mahogany boxes. The boxes made a dull "thud" when they hit the ground, causing the floor to tremble slightly.

The box was opened, revealing piles of glittering gold ingots and gleaming silver coins, reflecting a dazzling light.

Liu Zhengfeng smiled earnestly: "My benefactor, this is a small token of my appreciation that I have saved up over the years. The world is a dangerous place, and this money may be of some help to you."

Lin Mu hadn't expected Liu Zhengfeng to be so generous. Seeing the other party's sincerity, he didn't refuse and nodded, saying, "Since that's the case, then I'll accept it without being impolite."

In the martial arts world, it is common to give gifts to express gratitude when one receives a favor. However, refusing such a gift too readily would seem distant and only cause resentment in the recipient.

After Liu Zhengfeng left with his disciples, Lin Mu had a thought, and several heavy boxes of gold and silver disappeared into thin air and were stored in the system space.

He came from an ordinary background in his previous life and was terrified of poverty. Although he made a lot of money after transmigrating and using his technological knowledge from the future, he never complained about having too much money.

……

On the other side, at the main altar of Mount Song.

Mount Heng is a thousand miles away from Mount Song. In ancient times, transportation was inconvenient, and even if messages were sent by carrier pigeon, they would be delayed for several days on the road.

By the time Zuo Lengchan received the secret letter that the three great protectors and elite disciples had been wiped out at Hengshan, it was already the fifth day since the incident.

Inside the Songshan council hall, the fragrance of sandalwood wafted through the air, yet it could not dispel the chilling murderous aura emanating from the hall.

Zuo Lengchan sat in the head seat, looking at the secret letter in his hand. His face was ashen, like the bottom of a pot. His knuckles turned white from the force he used. With a "crack", he crushed the thick letter into pieces!

"Trash! A bunch of trash!"

He slammed his hand on the table, and the hard mahogany wood instantly cracked with spiderweb-like patterns. His angry roar shook the beams of the hall, causing dust to fall: "Three Taibao! Hundreds of elite troops! Wiped out in one fell swoop! This is an utter disgrace to my Songshan Sect!"

He exuded a chilling aura, and all the disciples of Songshan in the hall stood in silence, heads bowed, not daring to even breathe loudly.

The loss of three of the Taibao and the annihilation of nearly a hundred elite troops marks the most devastating defeat for the Songshan Sect in the past decade!

Not only did they lose strength, but they also lost all face.

Investigate! Investigate thoroughly!

Zuo Lengchan's eyes were bloodshot, his killing intent surging like waves: "Who dares to ruin my grand plan?!"

"And that scoundrel Liu Zhengfeng dared to collude with outsiders to kill my Songshan disciples! He's utterly defying the Heavenly Gang!"

Soon after, another letter arrived.

Zuo Lengchan was even angrier after reading the letter.

"Send the order!"

He suddenly stood up, his killing intent palpable, and said, "Gather the remaining nine Great Protectors and select another three hundred elite disciples to accompany me to Hengshan immediately!"

"I will personally grind Liu Zhengfeng's entire family to dust, so that the world can see the consequences of opposing my Songshan Sect!"

Chapter 14: The Smiling, Proud Wanderer

Just as Zuo Lengchan was leading the elite troops of Songshan on their path of revenge...

In Hengshan City.

Lin Mu lived quite well in the Liu family mansion, with people taking care of his food, clothing, and lodging.

Besides meditating and cultivating to solidify his innate cultivation, he would have Liu Zhengfeng send people to search for medicinal herbs in nearby towns and villages, specifically requesting those that were highly poisonous.

Arsenic, arsenic trioxide, snake venom, scorpion venom, and even the deadly sap of the arrow poison tree were all brought in in large quantities.

Looking at the pile of bottles and jars his disciples had bought, filled with colorful venom and dried-up poisonous insects, Liu Zhengfeng muttered to himself.

They assumed Lin Mu wanted to refine highly poisonous hidden weapons or poison powder to deal with the approaching Songshan Sect army, so they diligently searched for them without asking any further questions.

Little did they know that every night, when all was quiet, faint swallowing sounds would be heard from the guest rooms of the Liu residence.

Those deadly poisons that ordinary people fear become "tonic" in Lin Mu's hands.

The Negative Reversal System was operating at full power. Instead of damaging his internal organs and meridians, the poison was transformed into pure life energy by the system, nourishing his body thread by thread.

Lin Mu could clearly feel that his bones were becoming harder and harder like iron under the impact of energy, his muscle fibers were filled with explosive power, and his five senses were becoming more and more acute.

In the darkness of night, you can see the fluttering wings of insects a hundred paces away; in the stillness, you can hear the rhythm of water dripping from the water tank in the backyard.

A month passed quietly, and Lin Mu's physique broke through the limit again, increasing to more than five times that of an ordinary person!

At this moment, he could easily lift a boulder weighing thousands of pounds with one hand. Combined with the increasingly refined pure yang energy in his body, if an ordinary innate master were hit by his punch at close range, he would probably be severely injured even if he didn't die.

"Judging by the time, Zuo Lengchan should already be on his way. We need to make more preparations."

Looking at the cherry blossom petals falling outside the window, Lin Mu said to Liu Zhengfeng, who had come to pay his respects, "Lieutenant General Liu, I would like to trouble you to use your connections in the government to ask the Hengshan County government to send some people over to assist us."

Rights not used will expire.

He wasn't foolish enough to fight the entire Songshan Sect head-on. Why take matters into his own hands when he could leverage the power of the imperial court?

……

The third day of June.

Zuo Lengchan arrived in Hengshan territory with his nine bodyguards and three hundred elite disciples.

During this period, Yue Buqun had already led the Huashan disciples away under the pretext that "Huashan affairs are busy and we need to rush back to deal with them immediately."

Before leaving, he made a special trip to say goodbye to Lin Mu and Liu Zhengfeng, his words full of polite phrases like "see you later," but his eyes revealed a shrewdness that suggested he was sitting on the sidelines watching the tigers fight.

Master Tianmen led his Taishan disciples back to Tai'an, leaving behind the words, "If Zuo Lengchan dares to commit further violence, the Taishan Sect will not stand idly by." He left in a hurry, clearly not intending to fight back.

The Hengshan Sect master and disciples, led by Abbess Dingyi, returned to Hengshan to worship Buddha. Although it was called "worshipping Buddha," they were actually going there to avoid disaster.

The martial arts world is inherently driven by self-interest and avoidance of harm. Most people keep their distance from the powerful Songshan Sect, and only those who were forced into this situation have taken action.

It's unrealistic to expect them to fight to the death with the Songshan Sect without any mutual benefit.

Apart from Lin Mu, the vast Liu mansion was eventually occupied only by Liu Zhengfeng's relatives, a few loyal Hengshan disciples, and the uninvited Qu Yang and his grandson.

In early June, the weather was gradually getting hot. The late-blooming cherry blossoms in the courtyard had all fallen, leaving only a ground covered with pink and white petals that swirled and drifted away in the hot wind.

Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang were playing "The Smiling, Proud Wanderer" in the courtyard.

As the music of the zither and flute faded, a clear, melodious child's voice suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Grandpa Liu! My grandpa said you've been hiding some new tea, come and have a taste!"

Before the words were finished, a little girl with her hair in two buns skipped in. She was about twelve or thirteen years old, with bright, lively eyes like a deer. She was wearing a light yellow short shirt and a green skirt, with a few mud stains on the hem of her skirt. She was Qu Yang's granddaughter, Qu Feiyan.

Behind her followed the slender Qu Yang, who carried an exquisite food box containing steaming osmanthus cakes he had just bought from the street.

"You silly girl, still so energetic. Can't you see your Grandpa Qu and I are busy?"

Liu Zhengfeng put down the long flute in his hand, smiled and scolded, but his eyes were filled with the warmth of an elder for a younger generation.

Qu Yang put away his seven-stringed zither, looked at Lin Mu who was sitting on the veranda wiping the Heaven-Slaying Sword, cupped his hands and smiled, "Young friend Lin, do you like this piece, 'The Smiling, Proud Wanderer'?"

He was originally an elder of the Demonic Sect. He and Liu Zhengfeng both loved music and were therefore kindred spirits. When he heard that the Songshan Sect was going to harm Liu Zhengfeng, he brought his granddaughter to help him.

They never expected to encounter such an extraordinary person as Lin Mu, and instead received his protection.

Lin Mu looked up and saw Qu Feiyan standing on tiptoe, staring curiously at the Dragon Slayer Saber he was leaning against the pillar. Her little face was full of inquiry, so he softened his tone for once and said with a faint smile on his lips, "A song that breaks the heart, where in the world can one find a kindred spirit?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang both nodded with smiles: "Since young friend Lin likes it, we will present him with the score of The Smiling, Proud Wanderer."

"Thank you very much."

Lin Mu took the sheet music, planning to study it when he had time. It could both cultivate his temperament and impress girls.

"Big brother, can I borrow your knife to take a look?"

Qu Feiyan blinked her big, dark eyes, showing no fear of strangers, and even secretly poked the dragon pattern on the scabbard with her finger.

Lin Mu knew that this girl was a famous little rascal in the original work, but her fate was quite bumpy, so he said gently, "This knife is too sharp and may hurt you. Let's talk about it when you are older and have learned some kung fu."

Qu Feiyan pouted, but she was quite obedient and didn't pester him anymore. She turned around and ran to Liu Zhengfeng's side, acting coquettishly and asking him to bring out some new tea.

At this moment, the disciple Liu Zhengfeng had sent out to scout the news rushed back and reported with a solemn expression: "Master, the troops from Songshan have passed Xiangtan and are less than thirty li from Hengshan. According to their pace, they will arrive at the city gates early tomorrow morning!"

Lin Mu paused in wiping the Heaven-Slaying Sword, looked up at the direction down the mountain, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes: "Notify the government."

"I'll make arrangements right away!"

Liu Zhengfeng nodded, got up, and quickly left the Liu residence to contact people from the imperial court.

The next day, as dawn broke and the morning light had not yet pierced through the clouds, dust billowed up on the official road outside Hengshan City. The sounds of horses' hooves and footsteps grew louder as they approached, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Liu Zhengfeng stood at the edge of the dense forest by the roadside, his eyes fixed on the smoke and dust in the distance, his breathing becoming somewhat rapid.

Five Hengshan disciples stood behind him, their hands gripping the swords turning slightly white.

Qu Yang was equally on high alert.

Lin Mu stood on a horizontal branch of an old locust tree by the roadside. His green robe fluttered in the morning breeze, and as his clothes danced, the scabbard of the Heaven-Slaying Sword at his waist gleamed with an ancient, dark light. The dragon pattern on the Dragon-Slaying Saber on his back was faintly visible in the hazy morning light, exuding a terrifying aura.

His gaze remained calm as he looked toward the official road ahead, like a lurking cheetah waiting for its prey to fall into its trap.

"coming."

Lin Mu's voice wasn't loud, but it seemed to have a penetrating quality, clearly reaching everyone's ears.

Before the words were even finished, a group of people dressed in striking red appeared on the horizon.

Chapter 15: Zuo Lengchan

The leader was tall and imposing, with a cold and stern face, radiating a chilling aura; he was none other than Zuo Lengchan, the leader of the Five Mountains Alliance!

He took the lead, his bright red cloak fluttering in the wind; a simple, ancient broadsword hung at his waist, its sheath still unopened, yet already exuding a chilling aura.

Behind Zuo Lengchan, the nine bodyguards rode their horses in three rows, each exuding a deep and unfathomable aura.

The Great Yin-Yang Hand - Le Hou, the Brocade-Haired Lion - Gao Kexin, the Bald Eagle - Sha Tianjiang, the Divine Whip - Deng Bagong...

After the Nine-Man Guard.

Three hundred elite disciples from Mount Song, dressed in red and wielding long swords, exuded a murderous aura. Their steps were perfectly synchronized, thumping heavily on the official road as they advanced towards Mount Heng like dark clouds pressing down.

Upon seeing someone blocking their way, Zuo Lengchan and his men stopped.

"Liu Zhengfeng, how dare you!"

Zuo Lengchan's voice, like an icicle piercing the morning mist, echoed across the empty official road, carrying undisguised killing intent.

"You killed my Songshan Taibao and caused the deaths of over a hundred of my elite soldiers. Today, I will make sure that not a single member of your Hengshan Sect is spared!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengfeng stepped forward, gripped his sword hilt tightly, straightened his back, and said loudly, "Zuo Lengchan, your perverse actions, breaking into private residences and slaughtering the families of imperial officials, are unforgivable crimes!"

"If you know what's good for you, surrender and let the authorities decide your fate. Maybe then you'll be allowed to die a whole death!"

"Otherwise, when the Heavenly Army is on the border, we will surely wipe out your entire Songshan Sect. Do not ruin Songshan's century-old foundation for your own selfish reasons!"

Having been influenced by Lin Mu during this period, he also learned to use his power to intimidate others, directly revealing his identity as an official of the imperial court to exert pressure.

"Hahaha!"

Zuo Lengchan threw his head back and laughed wildly, his laughter full of disdain; "Liu Zhengfeng, stop exaggerating! You just bought a minor official position as a third-rank military officer, and you dare to act like you have a mandate? I, Zuo, won't buy that!"

"I'm determined to destroy the Hengshan Sect today. Even if the emperor himself came, he couldn't stop you. I said it!"

His eyes flashed with a fierce light, revealing a murderous intent.

Just then, Lin Mu floated down from the tree like a falling leaf, lightly touching the ground with his toes, and landed steadily in front of Liu Zhengfeng and Qu Yang, his clothes fluttering lightly without any hesitation.

He casually swept his gaze over the three hundred men of the Songshan Sect, taking in their formation and strength, and then said loudly, "Zuo Lengchan, you have quite the airs. Do you really think that no one in this world can control you?"

Zuo Lengchan then took a proper look at Lin Mu. He saw that although Lin Mu was young, he had a calm demeanor. The sword at his waist and the long saber on his back were of extraordinary design and were not ordinary items. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes: "You are the Lin Mu who killed Lu Bai, Fei Bin and Ding Mian?"

"Exactly."

Lin Mu spoke calmly, his right hand slowly pressing on the hilt of the Heaven-Slaying Sword, while his left hand gripped the hilt of the Dragon-Slaying Saber on his back, his knuckles twitching slightly: "He is also the one who will soon take your dog's life."

"Insanity!"

Zuo Lengchan laughed in fury, a chilling aura suddenly rising from his body, his crimson cloak billowing and rustling even without wind: "You ignorant brat, you don't know the immensity of heaven and earth! Attack! Kill Lin Muzhe, and you will be rewarded with a hundred taels of gold, and you may become my disciple!"

Under the reward, there must be a brave man.

At Zuo Lengchan's command, the thirty-odd Songshan disciples in the front row, as if injected with chicken blood, roared and charged forward with their swords flashing, rushing towards Lin Mu, wanting to seize this enormous fortune.

"Hey, you guys actually went for it?"

Lin Mu's lips curled into a sinister smile, and he suddenly drew the Heaven-Slaying Sword with his right hand.

"Qiang——!"