Chapter 726

But even the Rejuvenation Pill had proven useless. What more could Shangguan Sheng possibly do?

Li Qingfeng gripped Shi Kaitian's arm, pressing a little tighter. “Master… Jiang Fan is back. Did… you know…?” At the mention of Jiang Fan, his voice seemed to gain a little strength.

Shi Kaitian’s chest ached with a twisting pain, and his aged body trembled uncontrollably. Tears streamed down his deeply furrowed, aged face. “Yes, we all know.”

Li Qingfeng painfully managed to utter an apology: “I’m sorry… Master… your disciple misjudged… by not allowing him… to join Sky Sword Peak…” Even at this final moment, Li Qingfeng still blamed himself for that decision.

Shi Kaitian’s face was awash with tears of deep regret. He had even punished Li Qingfeng for it back then. With tears in his eyes, he said in a trembling voice: “No, no, it was you who brought Jiang Fan to the Qingyun Sect. It was you who brought a true prodigy to the Qingyun Sect. Everyone in the Qingyun Sect is deeply grateful to you. Your Master is proud of you!”

A smile appeared on Li Qingfeng’s face. “That… That’s great…”

Liu Wenchen walked over, tears streaming down his face. “Elder Li, actually, I didn’t take Jiang Fan because I saw his potential back then. It was simply because I had promised my daughter. Like you, I didn't recognize his true potential either.”

So, Liu Wenchen had made the same mistake! He wasn't the only one who had misjudged. At that moment, Li Qingfeng finally let go of his burden.

“Even the Sect Master… misjudged him…” He laughed, releasing Shi Kaitian, and his hands fumbled aimlessly. “Sect Master…”

Liu Wenchen, tears in his eyes, grasped his hand. “I’m here,” he said.

Li Qingfeng clasped his hand, and with his very last breath, he spoke: “Please tell… Jiang Fan… Please… take good care… of Yining… Who… can… be without… fault…?”

His hand, limply, went slack, and gently fell. Thus, an elder of their generation fell in the pristine white snow.

“Elder Li!”

“Qingfeng!!!”

“Master!”

“Uncle Li!”

The disciples of the Qingyun Sect cried out in anguish. Tears welled up in every eye.

“Waaah! Master!” Nie Yunxi knelt on the ground, tears raining down her face. “Wake up, wake up! When the truce between humans and demons was announced, didn't you say you'd take us, the juniors of Sky Sword Peak, to celebrate our survival? You can’t go back on your word, Master! If you’re gone, who will look after our junior brothers and sisters? Waaah.”

Shi Kaitian’s aged body trembled uncontrollably. His once dull gray hair now seemed to have acquired even more white strands. He held Li Qingfeng tightly, crying silently as he looked up at the sky.

Then, a female disciple cried out: “Why is this happening? Elder Li didn't fall in the Realm Mountain War. Yet he perished after the truce! This is unfair!”

Indeed? Why? Because of the Giant Sect!

A monstrous murderous intent erupted in Shi Kaitian’s clouded old eyes. He swiftly handed Li Qingfeng’s body to Nie Yunxi. Without a word, he pushed off the ground and sped toward the Giant Sect’s direction!

Zhuang Yuanyin’s white hair bristled, her tearful eyes wide with rage. The former Qingyun Sect Master let out a furious roar: “Giant Sect! You’ve gone too far! All Supreme Elders of the Qingyun Sect, follow me!”

Boom—

The ground shook violently. The old man, with little time left, burned his life force as he sped toward the Giant Sect. Huang Zhantian, Zheng Qiushuang, and the other Supreme Elders also had tears in their eyes. They turned and angrily gave chase.

“These beasts!”

Liu Wenchen, eyes red, roared, “Elders of the Qingyun Sect, follow me!” All the elders, tears in their eyes, followed suit, including Feng Guzen. Even though he and Li Qingfeng had previously had disagreements, however, those were merely over resources for Reincarnation Peak and the welfare of their respective disciples. He had never harbored any ill will towards Li Qingfeng.

Gazing at Li Qingfeng’s body, his eyes also reddened, and his aged frame trembled. His eyes were filled with potent murderous intent. “Giant Sect! This is far from over between us!”

Nie Yunxi, tears streaming down her face, gently laid Li Qingfeng’s body down. Her eyes were filled with hatred. Her tightly clenched fists caused her fingernails to dig deep into her flesh. “Master! Your disciple will avenge you!” She drew her long sword, tears still falling, and charged towards the Giant Sect’s direction.

Every Qingyun Sect disciple’s eyes were red-rimmed. A dignified disciple wiped away tears and roared furiously: “Leave one person to guard Elder Li's body! The rest of you, follow me!”

Across the icy, snow-covered landscape, the Supreme Elders, Elders, and disciples of the Qingyun Sect, like blazing fires of vengeance, they surged into the distance.

***

The Great Wall.

The hidden space.

The little Qilin’s large eyes were filled with astonishment. “Master, what's wrong?”

Just now, his Master, who had been in deep cultivation, suddenly became restless. And now, he couldn’t re-enter his meditative state. Jiang Fan frowned. “Suddenly, I can’t cultivate peacefully. Never mind. I’ve cultivated enough, and forcing myself into meditation now would do more harm than good. Let’s go out and see. I wonder if Elder Li has managed to persuade Yining.” The thought of Xu Yining gave him a headache.

Leaving the hidden space, as soon as he stood on the city wall, he saw a large crowd gathered by the long river in the distance, at the edge of his vision.

“What happened?” Jiang Fan wondered, “Why aren’t the people from the various sects leaving? What are they all gathered there for?”

After thinking for a moment, he recalled the little Qilin and said, “Let’s go take a look.”

A cloud-like shadow flashed directly to the edge of the crowd. Some people noticed his arrival and, with strange expressions, instinctively made way for him. Jiang Fan was puzzled. He moved through the open path. Finally, he saw the scene at the center of the crowd.

Xu Youran knelt before a bloodied, mangled body, silently shedding tears. Jiang Fan felt an ominous dread, his throat constricting as he spoke: “Youran, this is…”

Xu Youran turned her head. Her face was already awash with tears. “Jiang Fan, my Master… is dead.”

Li Qingfeng? Li Qingfeng, the one who brought them from Solitary Boat City to the Qingyun Sect? The one who protected him time and again? He's dead? Don't be ridiculous!

Jiang Fan walked over. He saw the aged face, peaceful and smiling. His mind instantly went blank. He stood rooted to the spot, completely stunned. But tears welled up in his eyes, streaming uncontrollably down his cheeks.

“No, he has the Rejuvenation Pill. How could he be dead?” Jiang Fan gradually came back to his senses, but he couldn't accept the reality before him. The man who, not long ago, had drawn his sword against Kong Yuanba for his sake. How could he be dead? Impossible! This is impossible!

But the cold body before him cruelly dragged him back to reality. Jiang Fan's chest ached with pain, and he collapsed to his knees before Li Qingfeng’s body. Gazing at the gruesome body, at the peaceful, smiling face, the stark contrast caused a sharp, convulsive pain in his heart.

“Why? Why did this happen?”

Xu Youran collapsed onto his shoulder, weeping, “It’s the Giant Sect. They took Xu Yining. Master was killed by the Giant Sect while trying to protect Xu Yining.” She choked, “They crushed Master’s heart and his throat. He couldn't swallow the Rejuvenation Pill. We could only watch him breathe his last.”

Jiang Fan remained silent. His tears gradually stopped falling. His voice became unusually hoarse. “Did Elder Li leave any instructions before his death?”

Xu Youran’s delicate body trembled uncontrollably: “Master’s dying regret was that he had misjudged you back then and didn’t bring you into Sky Sword Peak. He blamed himself greatly.”

Even until his death, he still deeply regretted that particular decision.

Jiang Fan’s heart ached with pain. He clutched his chest and slowly rose to his feet. His tears had completely stopped. His face was also very calm. The members of the various sects around them watched Jiang Fan, but an inexplicable unease settled over them.

“Watch over Elder Li's body.” Jiang Fan raised his head, gazing calmly in the direction of the Giant Sect.

Xu Youran, her eyes still brimming with tears, asked, “Where are you going?”

Jiang Fan’s voice was indescribably calm, a calmness that was truly unnerving. “To find some burial offerings for Elder Li.”