Ch. 76 - Everyone Has The Right To Choose Their Own Life

“If you don’t want me to kill Chu Yang or wipe out Sunshine Village,” Xu Zimo said calmly, “you’d better not move.”

Baili Xiao’s expression turned grim. She stared deeply at Xu Zimo but didn’t dare make a move.

“Such devotion,” Xu Zimo sneered, lifting her chin with one hand. “What a fine face.”

“What do you want?” Baili Xiao narrowed her eyes, lips trembling as she spoke.

Xu Zimo smirked coldly and suddenly clamped his hand around her throat, squeezing tightly.

He held her like that until her face turned pale and her breath grew faint.

Pulling her face close to his, he stared at her and said in a low, cold voice, “Everyone has the right to choose their own path in life. I don’t judge others’ choices easily. But once you’ve chosen, be ready to pay the price, even if it’s your life.”

With that, Xu Zimo flung her aside.

Baili Xiao’s body slammed into the ornamental rock in the courtyard. She staggered to her feet, gasping for air, her face pale and forehead beaded with sweat.

“I don’t know how I offended you, Senior Brother Xu. If it was unintentional, I hope you can forgive me,” Baili Xiao said sincerely, not angry but composed.

An adult knows how to control their emotions. Those who accomplish great things don’t fuss over the petty.

Xu Zimo looked at her and said, “Fuck off while I’m still in a good mood. But don’t think this is over between us. Have you ever experienced what it’s like to watch the one you love the most get carved apart, piece by piece, and be powerless to stop it? Now that… is satisfying.”

He laughed loudly as he spoke, his face twisted and maniacal.

“If you want something from me, then take it up with me,” Baili Xiao replied coldly. “Please don’t kill innocent people. I’m not feeling well today, so I’ll take my leave. I’ll come visit another time.”

As Baili Xiao’s figure disappeared into the distance, Xu Zimo leaned back on his lounge chair in the courtyard, gazing calmly at the sunset, eyes deep in thought.

…

Two days later, Little Gui returned from Imperial Gate City. Since Vastsky couldn’t come to the sect directly, Little Gui arranged for him to stay in a nearby town under the sect’s domain.

Meanwhile, in the outer court’s residential area, Yan Buhui finally woke up from his coma.

He had been unconscious for three days and nights. His first reaction upon waking was to look for his sword.

When he saw it lying quietly on the table, he let out a sigh of relief.

His wounds were wrapped in bandages. Though he was still very weak, his only serious injury was the stab to the abdomen.

Just then, the door opened and an old man walked in, holding a bowl of porridge.

“If you can move, eat,” the elder said plainly.

Yan Buhui recognized him, an outer court elder who had also served as the judge during his duel with Xu Ren.

“Thank you, Elder Pang,” Yan Buhui said gratefully, picking up the bowl to eat.

“You defeated Xu Ren, but this won’t be the end of it,” the elder said.

“I know. If trouble comes, I’ll deal with it,” Yan Buhui replied with a smile.

“Here’s a bit of advice, go visit South Goose Mountain. Someone there can help you,” the elder said before leaving.

Yan Buhui stared at the slowly closing door for a moment, then quietly resumed eating his porridge.

…

“Senior Brother, the Yu Bo matter has been handled,” Little Gui said a few days later, smiling as he arrived at South Goose Mountain.

“What happened?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I asked around in the outer court like you told me. Yu Bo acted all high and mighty because of his talent, and he didn’t respect anyone. He even seduced another disciple’s partner,” Little Gui chuckled. “So I gave that guy the Meridian Forging Pill. After breaking through to the Meridian Forging Realm, he immediately challenged Yu Bo.”

“And then?” Xu Zimo asked.

“I just came back from the arena,” Little Gui grinned. “That guy got so fired up he kept attacking even after Yu Bo surrendered. Now he’s been punished by the outer court elders, but Yu Bo got beaten half to death. He won’t recover for at least ten to fifteen days.”

Xu Zimo nodded. “You have to hit where it hurts. Be ruthless, or they won’t learn.”

“What do you mean, Senior Brother?” Little Gui asked.

“Find someone to destroy his talent... cripple him,” Xu Zimo said calmly.

Little Gui hesitated. “But his master is an inner court elder. If this gets found out, it’ll be serious.”

“You have to understand,” Xu Zimo said with a smile, “it’s because of his aptitude that the elder accepted him. If his talent’s ruined, he’s no longer worth investing in. Do you think that elder will cause a stir over a useless disciple?”

Little Gui nodded slowly. Xu Zimo’s reasoning made sense.

“Go do it. If anything goes wrong, I’ll take the heat,” Xu Zimo said, waving his hand.

…

Heavenly Sword Sect was located west of Fire Beacon City. The entire mountain stood tall like a giant sword piercing the sky.

Though the sect’s strongest were only at the Paragon Meridian Realm, a low-tier, third-rate sect,

At dawn, the first rays of sunlight shone down on Heavenly Sword Sect, reviving all things and signaling a new day.

At the heart of the sect stood a unique place, Heavenly Sword Mountain.

The sect took its name from this site. Legend had it that the sect’s first founder, known as the Heavenly Sword Ancestor, once fought a fierce battle here.

He clashed for three days and nights with a fellow Paragon Meridian Realm opponent.

In the end, his sword intent tore through the heavens, slaying his foe with a single strike.

Even after the kill, the sword intent didn’t dissipate. It split a nearby mountain clean in half, and sword intent wrapped around it for tens of meters.

From that day on, the mountain had a new name: Heavenly Sword Mountain.

The elder who delivered that blow? No one knew his true name. The world simply called him Heavenly Sword Ancestor.

…

Remnants of that sword intent still linger on Heavenly Sword Mountain.

Disciples of Heavenly Sword Sect often came here to comprehend the lingering will of the sword, hoping that one day they might awaken their own sword intent.

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