Face to Face

As soon as Lin Qishuang finished speaking, her aura suddenly turned cold.

The once gentle and kind senior sister now had only a chilling coldness and determination in her eyes.

The brothers Li Qingshan and Li Yunhai turned pale upon sensing this powerful aura.

But driven by duty, the two men gritted their teeth, gripped their swords tightly, and shouted in unison, "Traitor! Stop your nonsense! Even if it costs us our lives, we will never let you take a single step up the mountain!"

Almost simultaneously, the two leaped forward, their swords flashing as they aimed for Lin Qishuang's vital points.

That sword technique was taught to me personally, move by move, by Lin Qishuang back then.

Seeing the two sword lights coming towards her, the last bit of warmth in Lin Qishuang's heart was completely frozen.

"Since you choose to remain obstinate, then don't blame me for not showing any mercy."

She didn't move her feet, and the Qingping Sword was only slightly raised.

hum...

A clear, resonant sword cry echoed at the foot of the mountain.

With a single sword strike, he broke the combined attack of the two.

"Pfft—! Pfft—!"

With two muffled thuds, Li Qingshan and Li Yunhai were sent flying backwards at the same time.

As the longsword slipped from their hands, each of them sustained a shallow sword wound on their chest.

Lying on the ground, the two stared at Lin Qishuang in horror and disbelief.

Has this person's strength become so great that they don't even have the right to resist?!

Or perhaps, I've never truly understood my senior sister's real strength before?

Lin Qishuang didn't even glance at the two of them again. With a single step, her figure transformed into a streak of light and rushed straight up the mountain.

"Those who block my way, die!"

The wind howled as we climbed the mountain.

Disciples of the mountain gate, elders of the outer sect...

Anyone who blocks his path, no matter who they are, is no match for him.

If someone draws a sword, she breaks it.

When someone makes a move, she counters it.

She didn't kill him, but she didn't show him any mercy either.

One man, one sword, and he moved as if he were in an empty field.

Blood splattered on the stone steps, and screams echoed throughout the Lingtian Sword Sect.

The sect she once regarded as her family is now nothing but fighting and conflict.

It was only a short moment.

Lin Qishuang was all alone, standing with her sword in hand on the main peak square of the Lingtian Sword Sect.

The wind whipped up her robes, and the tip of her Qingping sword drooped slightly, dripping a few drops of blood.

Lin Qishuang looked up.

Xuanling Zhenren stood on the high platform, his face ashen.

The elders stood on both sides, their auras chilling.

The girl in pink stood behind Xuanling Zhenren, her eyes filled with tears.

However, there was a hint of resentment and smugness hidden in his eyes when he looked at Lin Qishuang.

She was surrounded by a dense crowd of Lingtian Sword Sect disciples, all of whom she had once valued most highly.

But at this moment, everyone drew their swords and pointed them at her, their angry shouts echoing through the sky.

"Traitor, how dare you come back?!"

"You demon! That damned demon, how dare you possess Senior Sister!"

"Kill her! Avenge our senior brother! Seek justice for our junior sister!"

Lin Qishuang's gaze slowly swept across the entire scene, finally landing on Xuanling Zhenren and the woman in pink, a chilling smile curling at the corner of her lips.

"I, Lin Qishuang, have not returned today to beg for your forgiveness."

"I'm here to..."

"Slay the inner demons, settle grudges, and seek justice!"

After speaking, Lin Qishuang raised her hand, and the Qingping Sword pointed directly at the high platform.

"That old thief Xuanling..."

The Qingping Sword flipped, slicing across everyone's bodies once more. Lin Qishuang said in a deep voice, "What you owe me over the years, I will collect today, with interest, in full!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire square fell into a moment of deathly silence, before erupting into even greater fury.

Xuanling Zhenren appeared in the center of the square with a swift movement, his eyes like knives, staring intently at Lin Qishuang.

"You wretched creature! It seems that today, I cannot rectify this situation without grinding you to dust!"

Lin Qishuang gripped her sword tightly, her eyes showing no fear, only a cold determination.

"Then... let's get started."

One man, one sword, facing the entire Lingtian Sword Sect.

In this battle, it's either you or me who dies.

……

As soon as Lin Qishuang finished speaking, the Qingping Sword hummed and trembled, and the aura of the peak Foundation Establishment stage burst forth from her body without reservation.

A sharp sword aura swept across the entire area, causing the robes of the disciples on the square to flutter wildly.

Xuanling Zhenren stood in the center of the square, his Golden Core stage aura descending like a mountain.

As it collided with Lin Qishuang's aura, invisible ripples spread through the air, and the surrounding spiritual energy became chaotic.

His face was ashen as he stared intently at Lin Qishuang, his voice filled with fury as he said, "You wicked child! You don't know your place! Back then, I took you into the sect because I thought you had some talent and that you were an orphan, and I taught you with all my heart."

Who would have thought that I treated you like my own son, yet you not only stole from your fellow disciples but also murdered them! And today you dare to venture into the mountains alone, spouting arrogant words? Do you really think my Lingtian Sword Sect has no one to rely on?

"Teach me with care? Treat me like your own son?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qishuang suddenly burst into laughter, her laughter filled with sorrow and mockery, yet tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

"You old thief Xuanling, how dare you say such a thing? Over the years, I have risked my life for the Lingtian Sword Sect. If it weren't for me, where would the Lingtian Sword Sect be today?"

What did I get in return? Your favoritism and biased trust, your sneak attack that severely injured me without my knowledge, and your attempt to kill me! For all this, you are unworthy of being a teacher!

Lin Qishuang's words came from the bottom of her heart, and every word was true.

Upon hearing this, some of the people in the room recalled Lin Qishuang's past contributions to the Lingtian Sword Sect.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became subtle.

Seeing this, the woman in pink who had been standing beside Master Xuanling immediately stepped forward, her eyes brimming with tears, and said:

"Senior Sister, how can you say that about Master? It was clearly you who stole my mother's keepsake, the Concentration Jade Pendant, and then tried to kill me to silence me."

"My master, out of consideration for our fellow disciples, only punished you slightly; he never intended to kill you... How could you slander him like this, distorting the truth so blatantly?"

Seeing the woman who had already walked up to her, Lin Qishuang suddenly shouted, "How dare you! Who gives you the right to speak here?!"

However, faced with Lin Qishuang's rebuke, the woman in pink was not afraid at all, but instead became even more self-righteous.

She raised her hand to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes, her voice growing increasingly choked with emotion. Looking at the disciples around her, she said with a wronged expression:

"Dear fellow disciples and elders, as you all know, my mother passed away early, and the Mind-Concentrating Jade Pendant is the only memento she left me."

But my senior sister... she not only stole my jade pendant, but also injured me. Now, she has even killed my senior brother Changfeng.

I...I never intended to be enemies with my senior sister, so why did she treat me this way, and treat the sect this way?

These words were spoken with heartfelt sincerity, and were deeply moving.

Many disciples who were unaware of the truth had their subtle feelings vanish instantly.

His gaze toward Lin Qishuang was once again filled with resentment and contempt.

"So that's how it is! She stole Junior Sister's belongings!"

"This is outrageous! How could she be so cruel to her junior sister, who is so delicate, and even kill Senior Brother Changfeng!"

"You demon! Today we must slay this demon to uphold justice for our sect!"

The angry shouts echoed across the square once more, and Master Xuanling's face grew even more gloomy.

At this moment, his gaze towards Lin Qishuang was devoid of any hesitation, filled only with killing intent:

"You wicked creature! The evidence is irrefutable, yet you still dare to deny it? Today, I will act on behalf of Heaven to punish you, you traitor who betrayed your master and ancestors, and has committed countless evils!"