Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 59: For the Sake of the World

Chapter 59: Chapter 59: For the Sake of the World

Outside of Li Mountain, the ground trembled, and a killing intent permeated the air.

On the earth, a grand army was marching in great momentum, thousands of horses galloping.

At the forefront were two individuals, one of whom was clearly Xu Bin, the Governor of Chu State, while the other wore a mask and rode a warhorse with fiery red eyes, breathing heated airflows. Not only his warhorse but all the other warhorses were also different, and they were much larger than ordinary horses.

The soldiers on the warhorses all exuded a strong aura of vitality. This corps was an elite force drawn from various regions, formed by the Demon Slayer Bureau and the Demon Suppression Army. Even members of the Demon Suppression Army had cultivation realms above that of a Grandmaster.

And they were merely an advance corps, such a powerful troupe was not even the main force this time.

As the warhorses galloped, demons and specters along the way would avoid them from afar, fleeing frantically.

Soon, they arrived outside Li Mountain Village.

Xu Bin reined in his horse, stopping the cavalry, raising his hand, and immediately the army behind followed suit, halting as well.

"Ahead is Li Mountain." Xu Bin spoke, his expression solemn.

As the Governor of Chu, he had long been renowned for Li Mountain. This time, with the task delegated by the court, through the Fulong Manor, he considered it fulfilled satisfactorily.

However, the upcoming task was not within his purview to steer.

Even as a Lord Governor, in the face of such a colossus as Li Mountain, he still fell short.

The order he received this time was to handle some cleanup tasks.

"Ahead is Li Mountain?" The masked person beside him looked forward, their gaze solemn.

Li Mountain, a legendary place for a thousand years, in front of which even the court had to retreat a bit back then.

But now Li Mountain was declining, and the court no longer wanted Li Mountain to catch its breath.

Of course, there were also various factions within Da Li.

Xu Bin nodded. To participate in the Li Mountain downfall was considered a matter of honor.

Riding on the warhorse, Xu Bin gazed at the village ahead.

His eyes glanced towards distant directions on either side, with people arriving continuously, all factions of Da Li moving at the news.

A behemoth like Li Mountain toppling down would be a tremendous opportunity, who wouldn’t want a share?

...

In Li Mountain Village, the people gathered together, all having heard the commotion outside the village.

The villagers walked within the village, talking among themselves.

"What’s happening?"

"The court is going to act against Li Mountain, it seems they are coming."

"Mr. Mu is here." At this time, the villagers looked toward a direction, only to see Mu Changqing walking over.

"Mr. Mu, were those people earlier, and this commotion outside, people sent by the court?" someone asked.

Mu Changqing held a scroll in his hand, stopped in front of the crowd.

Everyone paid respects to Mu Changqing, appearing extremely courteous, showing high esteem towards this teacher.

Every generation in Li Mountain Village has a teacher to enlighten the children in the village, those with aptitude are sent to train at Li Mountain.

As the teacher of this generation, the villagers highly respected Mu Changqing.

Mu Changqing also bowed in return to the villagers, then looked up at the crowd and said.

"To be honest, the court will act against Li Mountain, the court’s army has arrived outside, and more will come, not only from the court but quite a few sects within Da Li will seize the chance to strike."

"Therefore, Changqing would like to request that everyone evacuate the village."

After a moment of silence around, everyone realized what would happen. When Mu Changqing asked them to leave the village, they naturally understood what it implied.

Li Mountain, might be in danger this time.

"I wondered what it was, they may come as they like, I will surely treat them well." The butcher waved his hand, saying, "If there’s nothing else, I’ll go back to chopping meat, come over if you want some meat, take as much as you want."

With that, he turned and walked back.

"I’ll go back to smithing, if you don’t have handy tools, come to me, this time it’s free." The blacksmith said and left with the butcher.

"Let’s go, let’s go, I’m hungry, I need to cook."

"Mr. Mu, I’m old, how can I relocate now."

"What about the children?" Mu Changqing asked.

"Mr. Mu, arrange it as you see fit, they are your students, we leave them to you."

"That’s right, leave them to Mr. Mu, once a teacher, a father for life, remember to tell them this is their root, and when they grow up, they must come back to visit."

"Mr. Mu, my Xiao Qi is training on the mountain, I also entrust her to you." Aunt Wang spoke, "If Xiao Fan likes her, let her follow Xiao Fan, just say her mother said so."

In no time, the villagers were all gone, cleanly.

Mu Changqing was momentarily stunned at the scene before him, then shook his head with a wry smile.

Beside him, an elder spoke, "Li Mountain, does not grow cowards."

This elder was the village chief of Li Mountain Village, nearing seventy.

According to the old generations, a thousand years ago, Li Mountain Village was always here.

At that time, demons rampant, raising humans as livestock, eating them once grown, passing on generation after generation like this.

Until one day, a group of Great Practitioners came to Li Mountain and established sects here.

Since then, the village was no longer animal fodder.

After that, people in the village began to cultivate, they learned to hunt, and hunt demons.

When hungry, they’d go up the mountain to kill demons, slaughter, and eat them.

This tradition continued to this day.

From being demon livestock, to eating demons.

Li Mountain Village cannot forget its roots.

A thousand years ago, raised by demons here, and now, to let them leave?

The village can be gone, they have successors.

"Mr. Mu." The elder glanced at the Mu Changqing beside him.

"Chief." Mu Changqing responded.

"Remember to tell the children, Li Mountain is their home, if the court lets Li Mountain fall, then they must remember..." The village chief looked at the distant direction, exhaling a puff of smoke, spoke slowly, "Overturn this Da Li."

Saying that, the chief slowly walked away, muttering, "If one generation fails, then two, if two fails, then three, generations upon generations, there will be one that succeeds."

Li Mountain Village has never relied on court protection, they only know Li Mountain, not the court.

If the court wants to extinguish Li Mountain, then Da Li it is.

Mu Changqing bowed in respect to the chief’s departing back, saying, "Changqing will remember."

The village returned to peace, children played in the distance, cooking smoke curling up, tranquil and harmonious.

In the clear eyes of Mu Changqing, a trace of a smile appeared.

He had taught in Li Mountain Village for many years, but today, the villagers taught him a lesson.

The villagers don’t understand many philosophies, but they disregard life and death and value enmity.

Li Mountain, Li Mountain!

He turned back to look at distant mountains, even if the Da Li Dynasty no longer existed.

Yet, the green mountains remain!

With a step forward, Mu Changqing’s body lifted off the ground, moving towards the green mountains.

Children playing in the distance looked at Mu Changqing, someone exclaimed, "Teacher is flying."

"Teacher can indeed fly."

The children cheered and jumped, looking at their teacher. All along, Mu Changqing had never shown his cultivation to the children, thus many wondered if their teacher could be like those immortals on Li Mountain.

Now seeing Mu Changqing flying, they couldn’t help but be excited.

Li Mountain, on Divine Brilliance Peak, by the cliff, the Old Blind Man sat quietly, facing the sea of clouds.

Footsteps sounded from behind, someone shouted, "Master."

"Changqing." The Old Blind Man called, Mu Changqing walked forward, sat beside his master, "The court’s people are already near the village, and many are secretly watching. I suppose numerous forces have arrived at Li Mountain, yet the villagers are unwilling to leave."

"It’s human nature." The Old Blind Man softly said, "After a thousand years, Li Mountain is their root, how can they leave at a word."

"What about the children?" Mu Changqing asked.

"Take the children with you." The Old Blind Man said.

"Master, I too don’t want to leave." Mu Changqing replied, for he was also a disciple of Li Mountain.

"There’s something more important for you to do." The Old Blind Man responded, "Don’t forget your master’s instructions."

Mu Changqing recalled his master’s instructions silently, asking, "What about you, master?"

"I will survive too." The Old Blind Man looked into the distance, "Even blind, I still wish to see, wish to see that day come."

Mu Changqing, too, gazed towards the direction his master faced.

There, lay Sword Valley.

"Will Little Junior Brother succeed?" Mu Changqing asked.

"Changqing, what do you think of Xiao Fan?" the Old Blind Man asked.

"Little Junior Brother is naturally excellent." Mu Changqing replied, for he had watched Li Fan grow up, he understood.

The inheritance of Li Mountain prioritizes nature, he also knew his master’s choice of Xiao Fan was not just because of his talent in Sword Dao, but also his disposition. Several incidents had occurred back then, and his Little Junior Brother had deeply touched him.

"If that’s the case, then of course he will succeed." The Old Blind Man wore a faint smile, "Little Junior Brother has already met your Grandmaster, and I suppose, he too is fond of him."

"I have yet to meet the Grandmaster." Mu Changqing sighed.

"Your Little Junior Brother met him on your behalf, it is the same." The Old Blind Man said, "Changqing, do you resent me?"

"No." Mu Changqing replied firmly.

"Good." The Old Blind Man nodded, "Ruyu used to resent it, but after what happened, I suppose she no longer does, though it’s been hard on you guys."

"For Li Mountain." Mu Changqing said.

"For Li Mountain."

The Old Blind Man murmured, pausing for a while, then said.

"For the world!"