Since it’s an entrance, it couldn’t be from within Sword Pavilion.
The crowd parted, revealing Guan Changying in white, walking slowly towards Sword Pavilion amid the crowd.
He bypassed the spectators and walked through the lines of Taiheng Sect disciples, ascending the platform under watchful eyes.
He came before He Jingming.
"Guan Changying."
He Jingming spoke deeply:
"Let me ask you, why bear the sword?"
"For justice and righteousness of the martial world!!"
Lan Shuyi nearly burst out laughing, but held it in, though Ye Wanqiu noticed.
She shot him a puzzled glance, what’s so amusing?
This is part of the sword ceremony called ’Three Questions with the Sword’.
There is only one question, ’why bear the sword’, asked three times, expecting an answer from the heart with no standard response.
It addresses the sword bearing, the honesty of one’s heart, and the Sword Heart.
Also, it shows the many Jianghu people and Taiheng Sect disciples the demeanor of their Young Sect Leader.
Ye Wanqiu couldn’t see what was funny.
Lan Shuyi waved his hand, indicating it inexpressible...
The main thing was that when he and Chu Qing took on investigating Zhao Qipeng’s death, he asked Chu Qing why he agreed.
Chu Qing answered similarly.
Back then, the answer was clearly unrelated to the heart. Guan Changying’s, now, probably isn’t either.
Three questions with the sword, asked thrice.
Guan Changying gave three answers.
First, it was for justice and righteousness, second, for the people and the common good.
The last answer aimed even higher... stating, for the heart of the heavens, for the order of the people, for the continuation of the sacred teachings, for everlasting peace.
Others saying this might be okay, but hearing Guan Changying say it gave Lan Shuyi goosebumps.
He knew Guan Changying was likely the one who killed Li Junmo and framed Chu Qing.
His words felt hypocritical and insincere.
Especially such grand words, coming from him, felt like an insult to those words.
But others didn’t know, so the entire square exploded with enthusiasm.
Initially, only Taiheng Sect disciples cheered, but soon others joined the raucous crescendo.
He Jingming seemed satisfied with the answers and proceeded to bestow the garment and then pass on the sword.
With that, the sword ceremony concluded.
As Guan Changying took the sword, turned, the entire square reverberated with the voices of all Taiheng Sect disciples:
"Young Sect Leader!
"Young Sect Leader!!!"
Their cries soared to the heavens!
Guan Changying raised his hand to quiet the crowd, ready to speak, when a mighty whooshing echoed through the air.
Everyone turned to see a blackish object shooting towards the Sword Pavilion.
It was so large that all recognized instantly, it was a black coffin!
At the Taiheng Sect Young Sect Leader’s sword ceremony, someone brought a coffin!
Many spectators were instantly thrilled, but some leapt into the air, shouting:
"Insolence!"
Intending to shatter the coffin.
But just as they approached, a powerful force flung them back, leaving them bloodied on the ground.
Someone cried out in alarm:
"Someone’s standing on the coffin!"
Hearing this, the crowd noticed someone indeed stood atop the black coffin.
The person dressed in red contrasted starkly with the coffin.
A sword hung at their waist, hair fluttered with the wind, riding the coffin which swiftly came to rest before the Sword Pavilion.
With a loud thud, the coffin settled upright unharmed.
The person atop the coffin chuckled:
"You want to be the Young Sect Leader, have you asked him?"