Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 43: The Martial World

Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Martial World

Li Fan had been cultivating for a long time, and even after nightfall, he continued his cultivation.

However, a calm had settled within him; the soul of the Jiao Long and the Demon Core assisted him in refining his Martial Spirit, but Li Fan would still need time to digest all this.

Wen Ruyu had been sitting nearby guarding him. At this moment, he opened his eyes and withdrew the Sword Intent surrounding Fulong Manor, and everything seemed to return to normal.

Li Hongyi saw this and knew that all was settled. He said to Wen Ruyu, "Senior, I’m going out for a moment. If Li Fan wakes up and asks, just tell him I’m out looking for my father."

Wen Ruyu glanced at Li Hongyi and nodded, "Alright."

"Thank you, Senior." With that, Li Hongyi headed outside Fulong Manor, while Liu Ji still remained by Li Fan’s side, or perhaps she was guarding something other than Li Fan.

Li Hongyi left Fulong Manor, and the night in Lin’an County was as quiet as ever. The demons had disappeared as if retreating overnight, yet the people were still anxious, with no one daring to venture out.

She recalled Wen Ruyu’s words in her mind, full of talk about righteousness and morality, but behind it all were acts of devouring others.

The entire demonic chaos, it turned out, was just a pretext to deal with Li Mountain, costing countless innocent lives in Lin’an County.

Smiting demons, at this moment, sounded especially ironic.

Li Hongyi’s heart was conflicted. Returning home, she found her father absent, which filled her with unease.

After waiting at home for a while, Li Hongyi headed out again in search, already becoming somewhat panicked inside.

Under the moonlight, Li Hongyi sprinted all the way to where Li Daoqing had fought during the day.

No one was around; many demon corpses still lay uncleared on the ground. Li Hongyi called out, "Father."

"It should be fine." She comforted herself and continued to run forward.

"Father." Li Hongyi still couldn’t find him. She stood in place, looking around nervously.

Suddenly, her heart thumped violently, as if struck hard, her face turning instantly pale.

Her gaze locked onto a certain direction. In the night, moonlight glimmered as she walked step by step toward it, spotting a silver spear embedded in a demon corpse.

"Father..." Tears streamed down Li Hongyi’s face as she stared blankly at the silver spear, her father’s spear, still stained with blood.

She pulled out the silver spear and, like one who had lost all sense, began to run frantically, shouting nonstop.

In the silent night sky, echoes resounded again and again, yet there was no response.

After running for who knows how long, Li Hongyi crouched down, hugging her knees, weeping sorrowfully.

She had considered she might die, but she had never imagined her father would come to harm.

Though her father often said he wasn’t much capable and couldn’t teach her anything, in Li Hongyi’s mind, her father was the most formidable person in the world.

Her heart twisted in pain, full of guilt and self-blame.

Crying for who knows how long, dawn brought a hint of light in the East as the people of Lin’an County opened their doors cautiously, finally believing the demons were gone, and they slowly began to emerge.

With the arrival of dawn, Lin’an County gradually regained a thread of vitality, surviving the catastrophe.

"Miss, are you alright?" An old man who saw Li Hongyi leaning in a corner asked her.

Li Hongyi looked up, her eyes vacant and lifeless.

"Ah..." The old man sighed inwardly. During this disaster, who knew how many families in Lin’an County were torn apart, how many homes were destroyed; he hoped this pretty young lady could endure it.

"Miss, do you need help?" the old man asked.

Shaking her head, Li Hongyi stood up, dragging the silver spear like a soulless walking corpse.

She had caused her father’s death.

If it weren’t for her, her father wouldn’t have become involved in this demonic turmoil.

Li Hongyi walked aimlessly, without realizing how long she had walked, returning to her own home, feeling the familiarity around her as if her father’s shadow was everywhere. Li Hongyi walked to the steps of the courtyard, placing the silver spear on the ground, then curling up there as if dazed.

Finally, she burst into tears, her cries heart-wrenching.

Her father was gone!

Li Fan finally awakened from his cultivation.

Opening his eyes, his inner energy was even more vigorous; a dragon’s chant echoed, golden vertical lines appearing in his eyes, resembling the gaze of a Jiao Long.

With a thought, a golden Jiao Long’s phantom emerged behind him.

His physical strength unexpectedly broke through again, reaching the Peak of Grandmaster, just days after his recent breakthrough.

Liu Ji had been staring at Li Fan’s Jiao Long Martial Spirit, as if searching for something.

Li Fan retracted his Martial Spirit, turned around, and called out, "Senior Brother."

Wen Ruyu rose and walked toward Li Fan, speaking, "Junior Brother, on this trip down the mountain, did you gain anything?"

"I saw the nature of people," Li Fan replied. "I also learned a bit about the affairs of the outside world."

"But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As your cultivation grows stronger, you’ll see more. Never fully trust the human heart; the most reliable thing in this world is the sword in your hand," Wen Ruyu said.

"Yes." Li Fan nodded. "Senior Brother, will Li Mountain be in danger?"

The Court and the various sects in Da Li are moving against Li Mountain.

The people he saw this time were merely the front men, even a so-called ’big figure’ like the Governor of Chu State was just a pawn. Behind these people, there were multiple invisible controlling hands.

"If this Da Li world wants to shake Li Mountain, they’ll have to pay a price," Wen Ruyu’s voice was sharp and aggressive.

"Senior Brother, I’ll go back with you," Li Fan said.

"I still have matters to attend to; you can set off for Li Mountain. The master and senior sister are waiting for you," Wen Ruyu said.

"Alright." Li Fan didn’t ask further questions.

"I’ll bury the Jiao Long’s corpse at sea," Wen Ruyu told Liu Ji, who was taken aback but then nodded.

Yu Qing’s body would surely be contested, and she couldn’t take it with her.

Since Wen Ruyu was willing to help bury it at sea, she naturally had no objections, as Yu Qing was born in Beihai.

"By the way, that young lady asked me to tell you that she went to find her father." With those words, Wen Ruyu took the Jiao Long’s corpse and left using Sword Control. Watching the flying sword disappear into the distance, Li Fan thought to himself that his senior brother was still the same as ever.

Retracting his gaze, Li Fan noticed Liu Ji’s gaze upon him was extremely complicated. Li Fan said to her, "Although you promised Senior Yu, Senior Yu probably considered your safety as well. You can leave, and I’ll ensure my senior brother won’t pursue the matter."

"Isn’t your senior brother afraid I’ll eat you?" Liu Ji asked Li Fan.

"Why don’t you try?" Li Fan nonchalantly replied.

Liu Ji finally realized that Wen Ruyu left without warning her about anything, suggesting he had given Li Fan a life-saving trump card; otherwise, he wouldn’t have left so easily.

"There’s no need to look at me like that. As Senior Brother said, there’s no absolute right or wrong. If one day you can kill Senior Brother, you can try, but before that, I’ll kill you first," Li Fan said indifferently.

"Are all the people of Li Mountain so cold-hearted?" Liu Ji asked.

Li Fan didn’t answer Liu Ji’s question. His senior brother could draw his sword for him, and he would do the same.

Li Mountain is his home.

His senior brother and sister are his family.

"Let’s go out for a walk," Li Fan suggested.

"Where to?" Liu Ji asked.

"To find two horses," Li Fan said.

"Horses?" Liu Ji was puzzled.

"Unless you turn into your true form and let me ride you back to Li Mountain?" Li Fan said, unable to fly using Sword Control like his senior brother.

Liu Ji glared at him.

Human adaptability is strong; after the demon tide receded from Lin’an County, the town quickly returned to its former vitality. Although still anxious, the town appeared lively once again on the surface despite being riddled with issues beneath.

Throughout the streets and alleys, many townsfolk of Lin’an County discussed the events of the previous day.

"Yesterday, a flying sword descended from the heavens, slaying all the demons in the city. I wonder who it was, truly like a Sword Immortal, but unfortunately, I couldn’t see their face."

"It’s surely the Court taking action; supposedly, the Great Demon at Fulong Manor was executed yesterday. The demon leaders were slain, and the Court’s Great Sword Cultivators dispatched, executing all the city’s demons, after which Lord Governor left with the army."

"Nonsense. The Great Sword Cultivator who took action yesterday was from Li Mountain."

"Li Mountain? Isn’t Li Mountain involved in colluding with demons?"

"People spread rumors mindlessly; how ignorant the world is. A dozen years ago, it was Li Mountain Sword Cultivators who came forth to handle the demon chaos. How could Li Mountain possibly collude with demons?"

Li Fan walked down the street, overhearing various conversations.

Li Fan and Liu Ji led the horses along the street, hearing the people’s discussions. The Court controlled Da Li, and whatever they declared to be true, the people naturally believed to be the truth.

The matters of the cultivation world were beyond the common people’s reach.

But it didn’t matter. That’s just how life in this world is.

Passing by the inn where he had stayed, Li Fan glanced at it, thinking of Li Hongyi, a smile crossing his eyes.

Ahead, someone was riding a horse down the street, drawing attention and excitement. Looking over, Li Fan saw a figure in red moving with the wind, making him feel it was miraculously coincidental.

"Miss Li," Li Fan called out habitually. The words ’Miss Li’ seemed oddly affectionate.

Li Hongyi rode over to where Li Fan was and stopped in front of him.

"Why did it take you so long? Is the senior alright?" Li Fan asked.

Li Hongyi shook her head and, seeing Li Fan holding the reins of a horse, asked, "Where are you planning to go?"

"I’m heading back to Li Mountain for a while." Li Fan replied.

"Hmm." Li Hongyi nodded slightly.

"And you?" Li Fan asked.

"Going to find my mother," Li Hongyi said.

"Want me to accompany you after I finish my business?" Li Fan thought of the promise he had made to Li Hongyi.

"No need." Li Hongyi shook her head.

"Alright then." Li Fan didn’t say much more and simply said, "In that case, take care on the road."

"Farewell." Li Hongyi said, turning her horse.

After a pause, Li Hongyi did not leave but dismounted, turning back to walk toward Li Fan.

"Miss Li, what’s wrong?" Li Fan asked.

Li Hongyi approached Li Fan, their eyes meeting, rendering Li Fan momentarily speechless, staring into those strikingly beautiful eyes up close.

Li Hongyi stepped forward, gently hugging Li Fan for a moment, then turned away, leaping back onto the horse.

"Farewell."

"March." Li Hongyi spurred her horse, galloping down the street.

In the sunset, her red dress was like a stream of light, and the jewel on her forehead shone brilliantly, but her exquisite face was already streaming with tears.

Heading into the world, she was alone.