Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 38 No Regrets

Chapter 38: Chapter 38 No Regrets

Lord Governor Xu Bin of Chuzhou was thin and lanky, with pale skin, high cheekbones, a goatee, and dressed in a flowing white robe.

He rode his horse slowly, his gaze calm and restrained, making him seem unspectacular in appearance.

However, this Lord Governor of Chuzhou, who was in his forties, had already entered the Condensed Core Realm. Presiding over more than a hundred counties, he was akin to a regional lord. Such a man was far from ordinary despite his unassuming exterior.

Xu Bin heard the chatter of the surrounding common folk, but it seemed as though he hadn’t noticed, remaining composed as he rode to the forefront. He glanced up slightly to look at the Great Demon Yu Qing, who was also dressed in white robes and carried a scholarly air—strangely reminiscent of himself.

Yet, deep within Xu Bin’s eyes, there lay a trace of disdain.

This half-human, half-demon Jiao Long, a prisoner of Li Mountain—how could such a being be compared to him, a Lord Governor who had ascended to the heights of power?

Many in Chuzhou knew that the governor’s position wasn’t his limit. It was only a matter of time before he rose even higher.

After all, without backing from the Court’s inner circles, reaching his current seat of power wouldn’t have been possible.

"Great Demon Yu Qing," Xu Bin began. As his words fell, an eerie quiet enveloped the vast area; not a sound could be heard. All attention turned to the Lord Governor of Chuzhou.

Yu Qing also looked at the governor, noticing that the Lord Governor’s eyes were half-lidded as though staring at him intently. Xu Bin continued, "I have been ordered to come to Lin’an County to eliminate demons. You have stirred chaos in this region, incited demons to wreak havoc, and harmed innocent citizens, leaving countless families destroyed. Are you aware of your crimes?"

Yu Qing remained calm, his gaze fixed on the governor as he responded, "To impose guilt upon another, one need only fabricate justification. If Lin’an County is in turmoil due to monsters, perhaps you ought to investigate yourselves instead."

"Lin’an County is currently plagued by demonic destruction. Even if you refuse to admit guilt, it changes nothing. Thus ..." Xu Bin’s eyes betrayed his sharp intent as he glanced at the surrounding crowd. "Honored guests gathered here to aid the Court in slaying this demon—since the Great Demon Jiao Long refuses to confess, whoever slays Yu Qing shall receive heavy rewards from the Court. Furthermore, his monstrous body may be claimed by the one who fells him."

Upon hearing this, many cultivators seemed eager, their eyes glimmering with excitement.

The physical body of a Fourth-Realm Great Demon Jiao Long was a treasure trove in itself.

The demon’s core, bones, hide, and blood and flesh would all be priceless—some for vital nourishment, others for cultivation or forging magical tools.

The one who killed the Great Demon would gain his remains.

A woman, Liu Ji, glared indignantly at Xu Bin. However, Yu Qing remained particularly placid, the wind rippling his long robe. Raising his head ever so slightly, his thoughts turned to his parents.

*In his youth, he had once believed himself to be the protagonist of this world, living a life of boundless freedom, unrestrained by any conventions.*

*Later, he came to realize that such arrogance had merely been an illusion—one sustained by the silent support of his father and mother, who had carried him on their shoulders so that he might tower above others. Yet all along, he had been nothing more than another among the teeming masses.*

*That brief but unremarkable life had now reached its end.*

*At this moment, he felt neither joy nor sorrow, only faint regret.*

Yu Qing’s gaze shifted, seemingly searching for something.

Eventually, his eyes fell upon Li Fan—a young man with an impressive figure. For the first time, Yu Qing’s formerly impassive gaze softened into a smile.

*How fortunate to have met such a worthy youth.*

*Where once he had thought it a pity, now whatever unfulfilled regrets he carried would be entrusted to this boy to see them through.*

His focus returned ahead, and Yu Qing’s form began to change, revealing an armor-like visage. His skin transformed into scales resembling Jiao Long hide, and faint dragon roars emanated from his being.

Among the crowd, Li Fan noticed Yu Qing glance at him with an inexplicable expression.

*He could tell that Yu Qing had already resolved to accept his death, and he too sensed the inevitability of his own fate drawing near.*

*But why had Yu Qing looked his way?*

*In that fleeting moment, when their eyes met, he even felt a trace of reassured contentment hidden within Yu Qing’s gaze—a sense of release.*

*Recalling the time Yu Qing had come to see him in the tavern, his confusion only deepened. What connection could there be between Yu Qing and himself?*

With his thoughts swirling, Li Fan felt his Sword Intent ripple through his mind. He stepped forward while dragging the limp, corpse-like figure of the Chen Family Patriarch, Chen Yuan.

"Hmm?"

Many in the crowd were momentarily stunned, their faces showing astonishment as they directed their attention to the figure stepping forward.

Yu Qing had already prepared himself for battle but turned his gaze back to Li Fan once more.

The white-clad youth walked step by step until he stood between Yu Qing and the crowd. Facing Xu Bin, the Lord Governor, he spoke, "My lord governor, the demonic unrest in Lin’an County might have deeper causes others haven’t considered."

The crowd froze, their initial quiet now utterly silent.

The cultivators nearby gave mocking gazes while the townsfolk cast hostile looks at Li Fan.

The facts of the matter seemed indisputable. Demons had wreaked havoc when the order was given to assault Fulong Manor, rampaging through Lin’an. Who else besides Yu Qing could be blamed?

"Who are you?" Xu Bin’s gaze landed on Li Fan. He was well aware of the youth’s identity, but feigned ignorance.

This boy carried hidden connections; Lin’an’s citizens may have labeled him as merely a fugitive Li Mountain disciple, but the governor knew far more.

This youth had been brought to Li Mountain and raised by a certain distinguished figure.

The emotional ties there were surely extraordinary, weren’t they?

"My lord, this young man is none other than the wanted fugitive Li Fan," said County Magistrate Wang. Then, turning toward Li Fan, he bellowed, "Audacious criminal! You’ve conspired with demons, murdered innocent people, and yet you dare spout such outrageous claims here!"

Li Fan ignored him, fixing his gaze on Xu Bin and continuing, "This man, named Chen Yuan, is the Patriarch of the Chen Family of Lin’an County. Not long ago, a woman who was attending the Demon Slaying Summit was abducted by demons and later found in the City God Temple. The ghost cultivator seen that day was his concubine—the mother of Chen Li."

"Nonsense!" County Magistrate Wang interrupted. "My lord governor, this criminal’s words cannot be trusted!"

"Chen Yuan, tell the truth yourself," Li Fan said coldly, looking down at the man sprawled on the ground.

Chen Yuan lifted his head, his hair disheveled. He was but a broken body now—Li Fan’s nature ensured his death, and with thoughts of his family and everything he had left behind, Chen Yuan suddenly cried out, "Lord Governor, this criminal conspired with demons and murdered my son. I beg you to punish him without mercy!"

His cries were soaked in anguish, making blood-curdling pleas. The crowd murmured in unease while County Magistrate Wang sighed inwardly with relief. Fearing that Chen Yuan’s confession might implicate him earlier, the magistrate had been uneasy; now, he felt more assured.

Li Fan wasn’t surprised; Chen Yan’s accusations had forewarned him of Chen Yuan’s likely betrayal.

"You’ve heard him. Do you admit guilt?" Xu Bin asked Li Fan calmly, unaffected as the wind and clouds scattered.

*It seemed clear—this accusation against him would not be easily erased.*

*Was this unavoidable?* Li Fan looked down at Chen Yuan, a mocking glint flashing in his eyes. Then, crouching and summoning a blade fashioned from Sword Aura in his palm, he faced Chen Yuan with an icy smile.

"What are you doing?" Chen Yuan trembled, crawling backward in fear.

With a rasp, the blade slashed across Chen Yuan’s throat, and blood spilled forth, trickling to the ground. Chen Yuan clutched his neck tightly, his gaze searching the crowd as though trying to find something—or someone.

At last, Chen Yuan’s eyes landed on Chen Yan’s figure. They filled with serene clarity, as though imploring the young man to keep his promise.

"How dare you?" Xu Bin rebuked, his voice low and commanding.

The surrounding townsfolk were silent, their wide eyes fixed on the white-robed youth who had boldly executed the Chen Family Patriarch before the governor himself.

"Do you know what you’ve just done?" Xu Bin asked Li Fan.

"This man conspired with demons and robbed many of their lives. I have acted in the service of the people," Li Fan replied. "Lord Governor, you may send men to investigate the Chen Family; you’ll find everything I’ve claimed to be true. The evidence is indisputable, and countless witnesses have seen the Chen Family’s collusion with demons firsthand."

"Lord Governor."

At that moment, Chen Yan stepped forward, bowing to Xu Bin. "I am Chen Yan of the Chuzhou Chen Family. Not long ago, this criminal invaded our Lin’an branch of the Chen Family, slaughtering us to the last. He spared neither the elderly nor the infants. I plead with the Lord Governor to avenge my kin."

"You wiped out the entire household?" Li Hongyi stepped up beside Li Fan, anger flashing in her eyes as she confronted him.

"Li Hongyi ..." Many in Lin’an recognized her and began murmuring in hushed tones, questioning why Li Hongyi would appear associated with Fulong Manor.

When Li Fan heard Chen Yan’s accusation, he paused momentarily before laughing—a laugh dripping in sardonic bitterness. He looked down at Chen Yuan’s corpse sprawled across the ground, noting that the man still hadn’t completely expired. Chen Yuan clutched his bleeding throat, his wide eyes staring into the void.

He was dead!

Neither Chen Yuan nor Li Fan had anticipated this turn of events. That Chen Yan, in his vengeance, had chosen to exterminate the Chen Family entirely?

*How naïve he had been, underestimating the ruthlessness of these people.*

*Even in seeking revenge, he himself had avoided indiscriminate slaughter. Yet this member of the Chen Family’s clan had chosen to massacre them all.*

*What an unjust end for Chen Yuan.*

"The boy’s face may be handsome, but who’d have thought his heart would be so monstrous—such merciless bloodlust."

"If he associates with demons, he too deserves death." the murmurs began once more.

"Kill him!" Some of the townsfolk, stirred by the rumors, called for blood.

"Do you admit guilt?" Xu Bin asked again.

Li Fan didn’t respond but turned to look at Yu Qing, saying, "It seems I’ve become much like you, senior."

*In the end, another stain upon his reputation mattered little.*

*Still—it was lamentable that demon slayers were cursed and hunted, while demon collaborators were revered.*

*This world had truly turned upside down.*

Yu Qing’s gaze softened with amusement. Looking at Li Fan, he said, "Now, I truly have no regrets."

*The young man couldn’t understand the meaning of this statement!*