"I'm going to avenge our master and fulfill his last wish," said Li Mingtang's senior brother.
They had been taught by the old Taoist priest since childhood, so they clearly understood that the old Taoist believed that one should shoulder responsibilities commensurate with one's abilities. Since warlocks had powers beyond the reach of ordinary people, they should take on the responsibility of protecting the common folk.
The old Taoist priest's wish from start to finish could be summed up in just four words: national peace and people's well - being.
Influenced by the old Taoist's teachings, Li Mingtang's senior brothers shared the same view. They resolutely left the mountain and the Taoist temple with a willingness to sacrifice themselves. Before leaving, Li Mingtang's senior brother repeatedly warned him not to leave the mountain. He said that if one day the war ended and national peace and people's well - being were achieved, Li Mingtang must carry forward their Taoist temple. Li Mingtang was the last hope of their lineage, and the inheritance must not be broken.
The senior brothers left the mountain and never returned. Through divination, Li Mingtang knew that they had died a tragic death, almost all being dismembered. Most of the Chinese warlocks had gone out to fight against the invaders, and they either died or were seriously injured. Almost the entire force was wiped out.
Li Mingtang endured the grief and stayed on the mountain. He knew very well how important the inheritance of a warlock school was. He couldn't die yet, and the inheritance must not be cut off. At least his senior brother was still alive outside. Maybe one day his senior brother would return safely.
The last string in Li Mingtang's heart finally snapped when his senior brother died. That day, Li Mingtang was meditating in the Taoist temple. As usual, he divined his senior brother's fortune with a daily hexagram. The hexagram indicated that his senior brother was in great danger with only a slim chance of survival.
To help his senior brother get through this crisis, Li Mingtang prayed day and night for three whole days. He sent one of his souls into his senior brother's body. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his chest, and blood spurted out. The soul returned to his own body, which meant that the person he was trying to protect had died.
The grief in his heart far exceeded the physical pain. The flame of revenge burned brightly. He solemnly kowtowed three times in front of a row of memorial tablets and then set foot on the path down the mountain.
There were many warlocks like Li Mingtang. They were all the last inheritors of their families. Some were seeking revenge, while others were fulfilling their responsibilities. Although their motives were different, their goals were the same.
They were determined to drive the invaders out of China at all costs and kill their enemies with their own hands.
There was no doubt about Li Mingtang's talent. He was not just an outstanding young warlock but one of the top geniuses among all warlocks. Moreover, he was very smart and good at hiding himself, so he was more likely to survive than others.
One, two, three...
Almost all of Li Mingtang's assassinations were successful. The long sword in his hand was already stained with blood. Most of the commanders who had shed the blood of his fellow warlocks died under his sword. Only one high - ranking general managed to escape his scheme, and this person also knew some magic.
There was only this one left.
This very person was the chief culprit who had ordered the slow slicing of his master.
Li Mingtang would never swallow this humiliation. He went to great lengths to find this officer. All the preparations were in place, and he was just one step away from success.
China and the invaders reached a cease - fire.
The invaders' troops quickly withdrew from Chinese territory. Everyone was overjoyed. The common people had finally waited for this day. This was what Li Mingtang's master had wanted to see, but it was not what Li Mingtang wanted.
His enemy had fled overseas. Li Mingtang looked at the formation he had set up and suddenly felt lost. That officer was like a thorn in his heart, impossible to remove or forget.
"Brother Li, since the war has stopped, we're going back to our sects. What are your plans?"
"What about you?"
"I'll go back and take in a few more apprentices. We can't let the inheritance die out."
The warlocks who had fought against the invaders with Li Mingtang reminded him that the most important thing now was to leave a successor for his lineage. However, there were already few people suitable to become warlocks, and the war had further reduced their numbers. Li Mingtang searched for a long time but couldn't find a good apprentice. Finally, he randomly picked an ordinary one and taught him carefully, hoping that hard work could make up for his lack of talent.
Fortunately, this apprentice was not stupid and was grateful. He had no complaints about Li Mingtang's strict teachings. Instead, he studied and practiced hard and barely met Li Mingtang's requirements.
The inheritance was secured, and Li Mingtang felt relieved of one burden. With no more concerns about the inheritance, revenge was put on the agenda. Li Mingtang handed over the Taoist temple to his apprentice and set sail alone for overseas.
When the ship docked, Li Mingtang stepped onto the land where his enemy lived. After returning to his own country, the enemy lived a happier life than before. The people here sang praises of these invaders, built temples and shrines. For them, invading other countries was not a shame but an honor.
Li Mingtang concealed all his intentions and lived on this land like an ordinary immigrant, hoping that one day he would get a chance to get close to his enemy and kill him.
His wish finally came true at the last moment. The officer was riding a tall horse in a parade on the street. It was an important festival in this country. Li Mingtang was hiding in the crowd. When he saw that face he had remembered day and night, he finally lost his self - control.
A long sword flashed out, and in a split second, it pierced the enemy's heart before anyone could react. The horse was startled and ran wildly. The officer stared at Li Mingtang in disbelief with wide - open eyes. He had never expected that someone would attack him in his own hometown. His guard was down, and he died under Li Mingtang's sword.
The general's entourage captured Li Mingtang alive. They hung him in the air and let him be exposed to the sun, giving him neither water nor food. At the moment of his dying, Li Mingtang seemed to see a huge ball in a daze. The ball was getting closer and closer to him.
"Do you want to live?"
This was the last thing Li Mingtang heard. When he woke up again, he was on a beach. The sea breeze on the beach woke him up. The feeling of approaching death was still vivid in his mind. Li Mingtang checked his body and found no wounds. Even the arms that had been hung were as smooth and new as before.
"Hey, sir, what happened to you?"
A fisherman asked Li Mingtang with concern in a northern dialect. Li Mingtang was slightly dazed. Had he returned to his hometown?
Li Mingtang survived, which was both good and bad. At first, he had to go against his master's teachings and his own conscience to extract others' lifespans. As time passed, the moral torture gradually disappeared. He was like a walking corpse living in this world. Fortunately, he still had his hatred to support him.
In Li Mingtang's view, not only the invading commanders but also the entire invading country and its people should be destroyed. The thing that had saved him had completely brainwashed him. Li Mingtang harbored infinite malice towards this world.
He vented his anger and questioned, "Which of the Taoist gods and spirits we worship doesn't really exist? I can clearly sense their presence. I know they are not illusions. But when the people who worship them are suffering and the subjects they should protect are being tortured, where are they?"
"The one who saved me was right. The holy religion was right. In this world, neither the gods, nor the Buddhas, nor the people have a heart. It's high time for a great purge."