Chapter 457: Chapter 63: Silencing Witnesses

Everyone followed the sound and looked over, only to see a tall and upright figure gradually appear at the back of the hall.

When the newcomer reached the entrance of the hall, everyone simultaneously saw his appearance clearly.

About twenty years old, with handsome features, a well-defined jaw, eyes that resembled a tiger, and a gaze as sharp as a knife!

This person placed a foot on the threshold of the hall, leaned his shoulder against the door frame, holding a sheathed long sword in his arms. Despite his youth, he exuded an air of composure and calm.

Peng Shiquan slightly frowned.

This person arrived a bit late and called him by name, seemingly with ill intentions judging by his tone!

Peng Shiquan kept a calm expression, glanced at Master Xiaoyao not far away, and then raised his voice, saying, “This young hero is Shen Tang from the Book and Sword Hall, here from Langya Pavilion, known in the Jianghu as the ’Feiyu Streaming Light Sword.’ I wonder if any friends here in the Jianghu have heard of him.”

“I’ve heard of him, indeed.”

Some in the crowd, upon hearing that Chen Tang was from a prestigious lineage from Langya Pavilion, although they hadn’t heard of the ’Feiyu Streaming Light Sword,’ still offered polite remarks.

Master Xiaoyao slightly frowned, sizing up Chen Tang with a thoughtful gaze.

Peng Shiquan said, “Young Hero Shen’s congratulatory gift can wait for a moment, it’s not too late to present it after I complete the succession ceremony.”

Chen Tang said lightly, “Your claim to the sect leader position is neither legitimate nor justified; there’s no need for any ceremony.”

“What did you say!”

Peng Shiquan’s face darkened.

Many in the Jianghu present furrowed their brows upon hearing this.

Some who knew a bit of the inside story were not surprised.

“Amitabha.”

Master Qingfeng from Songtao Temple pressed his palms together, softly chanting a Buddhist mantra, said, “Donor Shen, you hail from Langya Pavilion; you must be careful with your words.”

“Sect Leader Peng, there might be some issues with this person’s identity.”

Master Xiaoyao closed his folding fan and said in a deep voice, “I have some dealings with Hall Master Shen from the Book and Sword Hall, and I’ve heard of the younger generation from the Book and Sword Hall, but I’ve never heard the name Shen Tang.”

“Indeed.”

He Huo, the Sect Leader of Bishui Pavilion, nodded and said, “I’ve never heard of any ’Feiyu Streaming Light Sword.’”

Shan Qian, the Protector of the Water Moon Blade Sect, coldly said, “This person is not very old, seemingly with cultivation at most at the sixth grade. Walking in the Jianghu, what kind of reputation could he have?”

With Master Xiaoyao leading the suspicion, those who were just exchanging pleasantries with courteous ’I’ve heard of you’ remarks now all showed different faces.

Chen Tang smiled.

This Master Xiaoyao indeed had skillful means.

With just one sentence, he diverted everyone’s attention present.

“Rebellious disciple, do you not know your crime yet!”

At this moment, a furious shout came from within the hall!

Subsequently, dozens of people emerged from the back of the hall, all appearing as if they had suffered torture and were covered with bruises.

The leader was over sixty, with a pale complexion, precisely Mei Qingyuan, the Sect Leader of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect!

Seeing this scene, everyone in the Jianghu present had varied expressions.

Some were shocked, some puzzled, some incredulous, and some appeared calm, seemingly unsurprised.

Peng Shiquan’s face instantly darkened upon seeing this.

Among the Plum Blossom Sword Sect disciples present, there was also a commotion.

“Patron Mei, what is this…”

Master Qingfeng, looking puzzled, hastily asked.

Shan Qian from the Water Moon Blade Sect frowned and said, “Master Mei, didn’t you lose to Brother Peng, forfeiting the sect leader position? Do you want to go back on that now?”

Mei Qingyuan looked around, cupped his hands, and said solemnly, “Today, with all our fellow Jianghu companions present, I’d like to invite you all to bear witness and uphold justice! This rebellious disciple, years ago because…”

Suddenly!

A flash of cold light appeared behind Mei Qingyuan’s head!

Someone had mingled among Mei Zhenyu and others, and no one had noticed!

Too fast!

By the time everyone realized it, the cold light was almost piercing the back of Mei Qingyuan’s head!

At this distance, even with the intent to save, no one present was in time to help.

Buzz!

The sound of sword singing rang out.

An incredibly brilliant sword light appeared before everyone’s eyes.

Originally leaning lazily against the door frame, Chen Tang suddenly became highly alert, eyes sharp as a torch. In the Divine Illumination State, using the Sword Skill of the Burning Wood Saber, he slashed out with this sword!

The cold light was indeed fast, sudden, and extremely hidden.

But Chen Tang’s sword was even faster!

Almost delivered second, it slashed diagonally through.

“What a fast sword!”

The eyes of several experts present, like Master Xiaoyao and Master Qingfeng, lit up in amazement.

This person isn’t at the sixth grade!

Drip!

The sword tip collided with the blade, the Autumn Water Sword emitting a crisp and melodious sound, like autumn water dripping onto the placid surface of a lake.

“Break!”

Chen Tang let out a light shout.

The cold light instantly shattered, cleaved apart by a single strike of the Autumn Water Sword!

The figure in the crowd instinctively glanced at Chen Tang, a hint of astonishment in his eyes.

He was a Third Grade Upper Concealment.

At this distance, assassinating a severely injured Mei Qingyuan would be a surefire thing.

No one around could thwart his lethal blow!

He never thought that the seemingly lazy young man could produce such a powerful sword strike with just a casual movement!

The swiftness of this person’s swordsmanship was the fastest he had ever seen!

How is that possible?

He didn’t understand.

“Protect Master!”

Pandemonium broke loose.

With a failed strike, he retreated swiftly.

He curled his form, mingled with the chaotic crowd, and planned to leave quickly.

But his mind kept recalling that young man’s gaze just now.

It was a gaze with a slight mockery and ridicule.

This young man seemed to have expected him to strike.

That gaze seemed to say, I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!

How could this be?

With his methods, even if he temporarily couldn’t kill Mei Qingyuan, retreating unscathed should’ve been a piece of cake.

This thought just flashed through his mind when someone lightly bumped him from the side amidst the chaotic crowd.

He didn’t give it much thought, continuing to dodge and weave out of the crowd, speeding toward the shadows of the hall.

But after just a few steps, a wave of dizziness hit him, and a sharp pain surged through his chest!

He instinctively looked down.

He saw his chest already stained with red.

A sense of powerlessness engulfed his mind, his eyes widened, filled with disbelief!

There was another expert here!

And it was a hermit of their Dongyi race!

He collapsed into a pool of blood, dying.

The one who acted was Ah Li.

When Chen Tang and Ah Li rescued Mei Qingyuan and others, they had earlier guessed that the hidden experts by Peng Shiquan would attempt to silence Mei Qingyuan!

Chen Tang faced the Upper Concealment head-on, drawing the opponent’s focus while Ah Li acted in the shadows.

For such an elusive Upper Concealment, neither Chen Tang nor Ah Li alone could kill him without considerable effort.

If the person didn’t show up, the two might not even find him.

But their seamless cooperation was able to send this Upper Concealment to his death in just one move!

This sudden change of events was both swift and concluded quickly.

Not until this Upper Concealment’s death did many present realize and cry out in astonishment.

Chen Tang looked at the grim-looking Peng Shiquan, chuckled lightly, and said, “Feigning in panic, do you want to kill to silence an informant?”

Peng Shiquan’s face shifted between dark and light, saying, “I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

Mei Qingyuan exhaled a breath of relief, with the protection of his disciples, recounting past grievances to how Peng Shiquan used despicable means, colluded with the Dongyi race’s hermits, and used poison to seize the position of sect leader.

Then about harming fellow disciples, imprisoning the members of the Plum Blossom Sword Sect, he detailed everything.

Many of those present in the Jianghu fell silent.

If Mei Qingyuan’s words were true, then the deeds Peng Shiquan committed were utterly heinous.

Such an unrighteous and immoral person who betrays his master should be executed by everyone in the Jianghu!

However, before Master Xiaoyao and others spoke, most of the Jianghu people present remained spectators, not daring to state their positions prematurely.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep