Demonic Calamity Across the Heavens: Starting with Little Li's Flying Dagger

Chapter 36 The Heavenly Secret Staff Breaks, Retirement from the Martial World

The sky was slightly overcast, with heavy clouds and dim sunlight casting a dark glow over the abandoned mountain temple.

The two still-burning fires in the temple were like a pair of burning eyes staring at the deep night sky.

Just as Sun Baifa had his eye on Wei Wu.

It would be a lie to say that no one was curious about Wei Wu's origins, not even Lin Xian'er. She had slept with Wei Wu for over a year, and apart from knowing his background, she seemed to know nothing more about him.

"Where is this fairyland...?"

Wei Wu also echoed this sentiment.

He raised his head, his gaze passing through the gap in the roof of the mountain god's temple towards the night sky. His eyes were filled with memories, his face was full of emotion, and his lips parted slightly as he clearly uttered:

"none of your business?"

Sun Baifa: "..."

Lin Xian'er: "..."

Sun Xiaohong: "..."

Everyone held their breath in silence.

Seeing how invested Wei Wu was in the moment, everyone thought he would boast about his past, follow Sun Baifa's lead, and talk about his lineage and teachers.

The martial arts world is not just about fighting and killing; it also involves human relationships and social interactions!

Who knows, they might be able to find a way to reconcile their differences with Cao Cao's background and lineage, and turn hostility into friendship?

I didn't expect Wei Wu to reply so directly.

This is a complete disregard for Sun Baifa's dignity!

No one in the martial arts world dares to disrespect Sun Baifa!

Sun Baifa put his mouth to the Heavenly Secret Staff again, his hand trembled, and he rolled up his pipe. His mouth opened and closed, the pipe burning red-hot, and he finally exhaled a puff of smoke. "Just out of curiosity."

Wei Wu smiled broadly, "The worst thing in the martial world is curiosity. Curiosity can kill the cat, and it can also kill a person."

Sun Baifa squinted, obscuring the overly youthful eyes. Suddenly, an air of age seemed to emanate from him. With a cigarette dangling from his lips, he took a step forward and approached Wei Wu, offering him his pipe.

This move was unexpected and swift.

Before anyone could react, Sun Baifa and Wei Wu had already switched places.

Sun Xiaohong, quick-witted, exclaimed "Grandpa!" and ran to Sun Baifa's side.

"I'm fine," Sun Baifa said, releasing the cigarette from his mouth with a bitter smile.

He is indeed fine.

The Heavenly Secret Staff is broken.

Without the Heavenly Secret Staff, which holds unfathomable secrets, he is no longer the "unfathomable" Sun Baifa, but just an ordinary old storyteller and the patriarch of the Sun family, a martial arts clan.

A breath of pent-up frustration rose in his chest, which he exhaled in one gulp.

Sun Baifa's aged face flushed slightly. He tucked the broken Heavenly Secret Staff into his waistband and, according to the rules of the martial world, clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wei Wu, saying:

"Sun Baifa of the Sun family thanks Brother Wei for his kindness."

When Wei Wu turned around, he was still smiling. Only after Sun Baifa finished his move did his smile fade, and his gaze became fixed on the other man. "Thank me?"

He realized he'd fallen into a trap, and his tone was a mix of anxiety and anger: "I broke your Heavenly Secret Staff, and you're thanking me instead?"

Sun Baifa understood that Wei Wu already knew the purpose of his deliberate encounter with him, but it was too late. He smiled, but his smile was tinged with bitterness. He gently patted his granddaughter's arm and sang:

"After singing the Song of Yinshan and Changle, heroes shed many tears in their old age."

He held the imperial tablet of Cao Cao in life, and was given the spear to Marquis Tiao in death.

The news spread throughout the six towns, both Chinese and foreign, and the winds and rains of the nine dragons gathered on the Zhang River.

Even now, the clear moon still shines, which once illuminated the passing of King Gao's ten thousand horses.

Though physically in Juzhang, his soul returns to Xiurongchuan.

The heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river; it is all a matter of time and fate. Even the most outstanding people struggle to move forward, let alone expect a smooth life.

So-called fame, fortune, and imperial power are nothing but fleeting clouds!

Today, my young brother enlightened me with his Heavenly Secrets Staff, which was like a sudden awakening, making me realize that I am nothing but withered bones in a tomb. Even if I had great abilities in the past, that is all in the past.

"When youth fades, it's time to retire!"

Sun Baifa looked old and withered, but his voice was deep and resonant. He sang a loud and mournful song, which extinguished the heroic spirit of several people in the temple.

The cries of sorrow rose and fell, and the sighs of lamentation were incessant.

Many people were moved to tears – thinking that they were middle-aged and had accomplished nothing, and had not yet made a name for themselves in the martial arts world, while a new generation of masters had already emerged one after another, leaving them with no chance to stand out.

Rather than risk your life, it's better to go home!

Clang——

Snapped!

"Master?!"

Xue Yingzi's eyes darted around and around. When he looked down, he was gloomy and embarrassed. When he looked up, tears streamed down his face. After a long sigh, he drew his long sword from his waist, pinched it between two fingers, and broke the sword that had been with him for many years in two!

Seeing the disciples who exclaimed in surprise and the incredulous crowd, Xue Yingzi smiled bitterly, pointed to the white hair at his temples, and said:

"All that is past, the fleeting glory of the martial world. I should have known better than to admit that I was the so-called 'Number One Swordsman Under Heaven' and didn't even make it onto the weapon rankings. I should have quietly retired."

He was simply resentful, feeling that the all-knowing scholar of Pinghu was blind and couldn't recognize a true hero.

"Now that I see the new generation surpassing the old, and the Heavenly Secret Staff retiring from the martial world, I have finally broken through the illusions in my heart. I will no longer compete or fight. Once I reach Xingyun Manor, I will return to Tianshan and live out the rest of my life in peace."

These words made everyone even more depressed.

Only You Longsheng exclaimed excitedly, "Then you don't need to break the sword! I am your disciple, don't you want me to inherit your precious sword and make a name for myself in the martial world?"

Xue Yingzi patted You Longsheng's shoulder affectionately, each pat extremely heavy, and with each slap, a bitter expression appeared on You Longsheng's face.

But Xue Yingzi looked even more distressed, and he sighed:

"You pose no threat to me in swordsmanship, but you might ruin my reputation in terms of lineage."

I don't ask much of you, but I hope that when you roam the world in the future, you will not reveal my name. That's all.

You Longsheng's face immediately turned red. Only then did he realize that the few slaps his master had given him on the shoulder were nothing compared to the real blows he had received.

He was so slapped that he was completely out of his mind, so ashamed and angry that he wanted to dig a hole and bury himself on the spot!

"Master, I, I..."

You Longsheng wanted to explain.

However, Xue Yingzi didn't listen at all. He waved his hand, sighed, and went to a corner. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw You Longsheng standing there without following him. His lips twitched, and he felt a little relieved.

I'm glad I said it harshly enough!

With a temperament like that, how can he possibly succeed in the martial arts world? I'm afraid that one day he'll completely disgrace his own father, the Hidden Dragon Elder, and himself!

This matter between the master and his apprentice is at most a minor episode.

It's nowhere near as significant as Sun Baifa taking the opportunity to announce his retirement from the martial arts world.

No matter how heavy it was, no one dared to easily break the circle.

Wei Wu glanced around, and everyone lowered their heads. After the shock subsided, he walked to the temple gate with his hands behind his back.

Sun Baifa followed him and walked to his side.

The two stood on either side, like two doors or two walls, blocking all the cold winds that rushed into the temple and obscuring all the light.

"Congratulations, Elder Sun. You deliberately handed the Heavenly Secret Staff to me and broke it. Although you lost your reputation, you saved your life."

Wei Wu gave a forced smile, glancing disdainfully at Sun Baifa out of the corner of his eye, his voice barely concealing his anger: "But you're using me as a raft, aren't you afraid I'll take this charade seriously and kill you?"