In front of the Phoenix Martial Arts School,
Hongmao, the focus of everyone's attention, elevated to a saint-like status, remained stern and expressionless.
"Either hand over the person, or die."
"I'm not in the mood to waste words with you lackeys."
As his words fell, a deep, evil black demonic energy extended from behind Hongmao, forming a large hand that reached towards Gui Jiujiu.
To capture rebels, first capture their leader.
As long as he subdued this man who claimed to be the school master, they wouldn't be able to cause any trouble.
Seeing this, Shui Lingling's pupils contracted sharply.
She subtly turned her palm, pushing out an invisible, water-wave-like internal energy from her right hand.
It collided mid-air, dispersing the large black hand extended by Hongmao.
"Oh?"
The darkened Hongmao raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.
He had used thirty percent of his strength just now.
In a martial arts backwater like Phoenix Island, that was a level of power even first-rate masters would find difficult to withstand.
Yet it was still resolved and dissipated by that gentle internal energy.
'Heh.'
'It seems this Phoenix Martial Arts School isn't as simple as imagined.'
"Hero Hongmao, of course, we will hand over the person. It's just that there's a misunderstanding. We hope the Hero can suppress his anger for now and listen to this humble one's explanation."
On the other side, Gui Jiujiu, sensing the covert struggle between his wife and Hongmao, quickly put on a smiling face, speaking humbly to persuade.
Hongmao just glanced at him indifferently, saying nothing.
It was likely silent acquiescence.
Gui Jiujiu thought so and began to elaborate.
"The young lady is only sixteen, an age of youthful vigor and passion for chivalry."
"New to the martial world, eager for quick success, and having listened to the slander of that yellow-feathered black chicken, she acted hastily and mistakenly injured you, Hero Hongmao."
"Ultimately, it's all the fault of that yellow-feathered black chicken. He distorted right and wrong, spread fallacies to deceive the masses, misled an ignorant young girl, and trampled on martial world camaraderie."
"He is the world's most shameless, unrighteous, untrustworthy scoundrel! My daughter is also a victim!"
Gui Jiujiu spoke eloquently and persuasively, forcibly washing Shui Dingdang completely clean and shifting all the blame onto Little Black.
"Hero Hongmao, accomplished in both letters and martial arts, upright and magnanimous, has been the young lady's most admired idol since childhood. If she had known it was your true self, Hero Hongmao, even with ten thousand times the courage, she would never have dared to act recklessly."
"We beg Hero Hongmao to distinguish right from wrong. We are fully willing to hand Little Black over to you, for you to deal with as you see fit."
"As for my daughter, Shui Dingdang, if the Hero insists on killing her, this humble one is powerless. I can only blame myself for failing to teach my daughter properly, letting her provoke someone she shouldn't have."
As Gui Jiujiu's words fell, he couldn't help but shed two old tears, deeply moving.
Even the surrounding crowd couldn't help but nod, feeling sympathy for the Phoenix Martial Arts School.
But in reality, every word he spoke was subtly satirizing Hongmao.
That 'someone she shouldn't have provoked'…
Superficially, it referred to Little Black, but it actually hinted at Hongmao.
If Hongmao really took action, he would solidify his identity as a demonic fiend, with no turning back.
This was the second move in the negotiation: Advance by retreating.
Hongmao, who is already elevated to the divine altar, even if he disregarded his status, still had to consider public outrage, right?
He had spoken to this extent.
If Hongmao still showed no mercy and resorted to violence, how would people under heaven view the Seven Swords?
"Why say so much? It's all nonsense."
After listening to Gui Jiujiu's long speech, demonic energy already churned around Hongmao, his impatience reaching its peak.
"If you won't hand her over, I'll just do it myself."
With that, a shocking black baleful energy transformed into nearly tangible energy waves that rippled outwards.
In an instant, the surrounding Phoenix Island's onlookers were all blasted several meters away by the demonic energy.
Among the crowd, some vomited blood, others had broken bones and tendons, all suffering significant injuries.
Such indiscriminate attack was something the pre-darkened Hongmao would never have done.
But now, he would no longer restrain himself regarding these things.
"Madam, the facade is torn! We have no choice but to fight!" Gui Jiujiu's face finally changed as Hongmao acted. He hid behind Shui Lingling and whispered urgently.
"Mm." Shui Lingling nodded, a trace of gravity appearing on her face. She deployed her martial arts, her right hand flicking out a gentle wind-attribute internal energy as she shouted sharply,
"Hongmao! You are possessed by an evil spirit, harming the innocent! You are no longer the Seven Swords revered by all! Today, my Phoenix Martial Arts School will act on Heaven's behalf, capture you, you monster, and rescue the true Hero Hongmao!"
'Heh.'
'What a 'possessed by an evil spirit'! What an 'act on Heaven's behalf'!'
A sarcastic curve lifted the corner of Hongmao's mouth.
'I, Hongmao, had risked life and limb countless times to save the people of the world, giving who knows how much blood, sweat, and toil.'
'And how did the people of the world treat me in return?'
'As long as I didn't fit their idealized image of a 'great hero', I was 'possessed by an evil spirit'.'
'As long as I didn't care for the whole world and endlessly tolerate their mistakes, I had 'changed'.'
'A great hero does ten thousand good deeds, but with one bad deed, is condemned by thousands.'
'A demonic fiend does ten thousand bad deeds, but with one good deed is said to have 'laid down the butcher's knife and immediately became a Buddha'.'
"Ha, haha, hahahaha!"
Hongmao laughed.
He laughed wildly, laughed madly, laughed hysterically.
He was no longer a hero.
Now, he sang loudly as he pleased, followed his heart's desires, killed whoever he wanted to kill.
Unburdened by reputation, unpressured by identity.
"You say I'm possessed by an evil spirit? Fine, then I'm possessed."
"However, I, Hongmao, do not change my name whether standing or sitting. One man's deeds are one man's responsibility."
"The wish to destroy your Phoenix Martial Arts School today is my own true will. Stop spouting nonsense about possession or delusion."
'I, Hongmao, will destroy you!"
Rumble!
As Hongmao's overbearing words fell, the originally bright, sunny sky was suddenly covered by dark clouds, accompanied by several dull thunderclaps.
Not only that.
Clink, clank…
Shui Lingling frowned, feeling the Changhong Sword at her waist tremble violently.
The blue blade clashed, emitting intense screeches, as if responding to Hongmao's words.
The next moment!
Whoosh…
The Changhong Sword traced a straight arc, shooting explosively towards Hongmao.
"The divine sword recognizes its master, returning automatically?!"
Gui Jiujiu stared wide-eyed, watching in shock.
'No.'
'It seemed... it was more than that!'
Hongmao grasped the Changhong Sword, his eyes flashing.
He laughed heartily and unrestrained.
Now, his demonic arts had achieved minor mastery, and the Changhong was also in his hand...
Where in the world could he not conquer?!
"Changhong Sword, you once accompanied me to destroy the Demonic Sect, slaughter the Rat Tribe, battle the Black Dragon... fought a hundred battles, a thousand rounds for the sake of all living beings under heaven."
"Now, I, Hongmao, have turned demonic, wanting to kill all living beings under heaven..."
"You... are you willing to abandon all beings just once, to wield yourself for me alone?"
Ding ling ling!
The Changhong Sword resonated, emitting a high-pitched sound.
It was using its own spirituality to respond to its master:
"If you are a hero, I am a divine sword, slaying all evil under heaven, all demons filling the sky!"
"If you are a demon, I am a demonic sword, killing all muddled masses, all befuddled people!"
"Changhong is Hongmao's Changhong!"
"Once upon a time, you, Changhong, pierced the sun, dispelling endless darkness, bringing light and hope to the world."
"Now…"
"You have been wounded by the world, have seen clearly the fickleness of human hearts, the harshness of the world."
"I, Changhong, am willing to transform into a Demonic Rainbow, to devour the light."
Whoosh...
After Hongmao asked that question, demonic energy swirled around the Changhong Sword, coalescing into a massive black vortex.
Amidst the rolling thunder and storm, its spirituality surged wildly, actually completing self-evolution.
Countless intricate demonic patterns were engraved on the sword blade, transforming it into a genuine demonic sword!
"..."
Gui Jiujiu trembled all over, his heart filled with terror as he watched the scene in the sky.
Besides the Fountain of Youth, there was another ancient legend on Phoenix Island.
"The divine sword has a spirit, and it changes according to its master."
"If the master walks the righteous path, it manifests as Changhong, its light piercing the sun, bringing peace under heaven."
"If the master walks the demonic path, it manifests as Mohong, the heavenly dog devouring the sun, bringing great chaos under heaven!"
Gui Jiujiu muttered distractedly, not a shred of will to resist rising in his heart.
He, his daughter, his wife, and that damned Little Black...
Had truly, truly made a grave mistake!
They had forcibly pushed a great hero who cared for all living beings...
Into becoming a great demon who would throw the world into chaos!