Chapter 78: Turning the Tide

In the grand hall, tension was at its peak, and a chaotic brawl had erupted. The disciples of the Wind Sect and the Thunder Sect were matched in numbers, each side boasting around a thousand swordsmen, all with blades drawn, murderous intent thick in the air.

At the front of the hall, only three leaders from the Thunder Sect—Master Wang, Master Wu, and Master Song—stood firm, crossing swords with Wen Lie, Xu Ye, and Zhao Dongqiang in fierce combat. The other Thunder Sect leaders refrained from joining the fray.

In the midst of the struggle, Liu Shenghua suddenly leapt forward. With three thunderous palm strikes, he sent Masters Wang, Wu, and Song crashing to the ground.

Blood spurted from their mouths as they tried to rise and fight again, but several swords were already pressed to their throats. Thus, the three Thunder Sect leaders were defeated and bound.

A murderous air veiled Liu Shenghua's face as he declared in a booming voice, “I do not claim to be a man of exceptional talent and virtue, but under these circumstances, I believe I am worthy of leading this martial academy! Those who wish to support me as the new headmaster—be they of Wind or Thunder—come stand at my right. Those who do not, remain where you are!”

At these words, many disciples hesitated momentarily before shuffling their feet. The thousand disciples of the Wind Sect were already at Liu Shenghua’s right, so those who moved now were all Thunder Sect leaders and disciples.

“Master Cui! The Thunder Sect Leader has always treated you well. When you were injured, he risked depleting his own internal energy to heal you. And now you betray him? You ungrateful wretch!” Master Wang roared, unable to contain his fury as he saw Master Cui leading his men to stand at Liu Shenghua’s side.

Master Cui hung his head, feigning deafness to the rebuke.

With Master Cui taking the lead, several other Thunder Sect leaders soon followed, bringing their disciples to Liu Shenghua’s right and acknowledging him as the new headmaster.

Before long, nine of the sixteen Thunder Sect leaders had switched sides! Aside from Masters Wang, Wu, and Song, only three other leaders and their disciples remained rooted to the spot—along, of course, with Han Mo, who was immobilized in his sedan chair.

Though Lei Yingfeng, Fan Shang, and Han Mo could not move from their sedan chairs, their eyes took in the scene before them. Their faces remained expressionless, but their eyes flickered with a tumult of emotions.

Anger.

Disappointment.

Melancholy.

Helplessness.

Wen Lie smiled and remarked, “Our Wind and Thunder Martial Academy has thirty-two divisions in total. With twenty-five leaders now supporting Senior Brother Liu as the new headmaster, it is clear that he carries the will of the majority!”

“Bah!” Master Wang spat viciously.

Liu Shenghua, unmoved and unashamed, said, “Masters Wang, Song, and Wu, we are all of the same sect. I am willing to offer you a chance to reform. Admit your mistakes, swear never to undermine the academy’s future, and I will overlook your past transgressions. You may remain as Thunder Sect leaders.”

“Hmph! Liu Shenghua, you treacherous scoundrel, dream on! With the academy in your hands, the Thunder Sect will be wiped from existence. All of you who betray us are sinners, disgracing our ancestors!” Master Wang shouted.

“That’s right! You fools are letting Liu Shenghua seize power—once he does, not only will the academy know no peace, but chaos will spread across the nine mountains and eighteen veins! You’re all his pawns; sooner or later, he’ll sell you out!” Master Wu cried angrily.

“Liu Shenghua, kill us if you will, but we will never bow to you! You stole this seat through trickery and force—it will not be yours for long!” Master Song spat, his voice full of venom.

The other three leaders, though not as vehement as Wang, Song, and Wu, still made their positions clear—they would not yield to Liu Shenghua.

Liu Shenghua’s face darkened as he turned to Zhao Dongqiang. “What is the punishment for subordinates who openly insult and rebel against their headmaster?”

“They deserve death a thousand times over!” Zhao Dongqiang replied.

“Very well!” Liu Shenghua looked to Masters Cui, Liu, and Meng at his side. “Masters Cui, Liu, and Meng, I ask you to rid me of these three traitors and restore discipline to the academy!”

These three had just defected from the Thunder Sect. By ordering them to execute Masters Wang, Wu, and Song, Liu Shenghua was forcing them to prove their loyalty in front of all.

If Cui, Liu, and Meng carried out the executions, they would have irrevocably committed themselves to Liu Shenghua. He would have no further doubts about their allegiance or fear future betrayal.

“Yes!” Master Cui said simply. He stepped forward, raised his sword, and with a sickening plunge, drove it into Master Song’s heart, then yanked it free. Blood gushed out as Master Song collapsed, dead on the spot.

“Cui Zhengkun, you venomous snake! Killing your own brothers—you will be struck down by heaven!”

“Liu Yue, Meng Daotong, you two are blind to right and wrong, abetting evil—you will meet a bitter end!”

Seeing Master Song’s gruesome death, Masters Wang and Wu were shaken with rage. Knowing they were next, they still cursed their betrayers furiously.

Just a few paces away, Lei Yingfeng, Fan Shang, and Han Mo sat immobilized in their sedan chairs, their eyes burning with unspeakable fury.

Meanwhile, Lei Jianqin, Fan Qianjun, and Tang Jiao gazed on with a mix of anger and despair.

At this point, the academy was fully under Liu Shenghua’s control; the Thunder Sect had fallen to the Wind Sect. The last six loyalists of the Thunder Sect were about to be executed, to die as Master Song had.

Who now could turn the tide and save Masters Wang and Wu from slaughter?

Though Lei Yingfeng, Fan Shang, Han Mo, Lei Jianqin, Fan Qianjun, and Tang Jiao were mute, their hearts cried out for a savior—a hero to reverse their fate.

Seeing how decisively Master Cui had killed, Liu Shenghua nodded in satisfaction and signaled to Masters Liu and Meng to do the same.

Without a word, Liu and Meng approached Masters Wang and Wu, swords in hand.

“Bah!” Master Wang spat in Liu’s face, turned away, and bared his neck.

“Master Wang, you pride yourself on your integrity, but you fail to see the times have changed. What should have been a joyful occasion you turned to a river of blood. Since you seek death so eagerly, my sword will grant your wish! Farewell!” said Master Liu, exchanging a look with Meng. Together, they raised their swords and thrust at Masters Wang and Wu’s hearts.

Suddenly, at the very instant when the cold tips pressed against their chests and death seemed inevitable, a strange, howling wind swept through the hall!

Clang! Clang!

With the eerie, whistling gust, the swords in Liu and Meng’s hands were snatched away and sent flying. Both men were instantly seized by a Thunder Sect disciple, who caught them under his arms.

All eyes widened in shock.

Two swords spiraled upward. Liu and Meng were clamped under the stranger’s arms like two apes, utterly immobilized.

“Who... who are you?” Zhao Dongqiang demanded, his voice ringing out.

The newcomer, though dressed as a Thunder Sect disciple, was unfamiliar, and carried an aura of menace and dominance far beyond any ordinary member.

“Release Masters Liu and Meng at once!” Wen Lie shouted.

The stranger said nothing. With a slight squeeze, two sharp cracks rang out as he dropped Liu and Meng. Their necks had been snapped; their bodies collapsed, limp as rags, blood gushing from their mouths as they convulsed on the ground.