Chapter 146: No Mistakes
After figuring out what had happened, Xuan Bei looked at the group of won and said, “Okay. When you arrive at Tan Han, arrange for those who want to stay in the west regions to go to the Fish Sea. If so want to go to Great Jin Dynasty, bring them with you to Quicksand Town. Uncle Master Kong Jian and the rest are still waiting there.”
He paused and explained more in case his disciple would have a bad impression of him. “Since we don’t know if you mistakenly entered the Heavenly Sea Source or are detouring here to return to Central Plains, we’d better act separately. One group will wait in Quicksand Town to avoid missing the others. The other group will go searching in Tan Han.”
“I’ll respectfully obey your orders,” ng Qi replied pleasantly.
With Master around, he can now calmly make proper arrangents for these ill-fated won.
…
After two days, five people appeared in Evil Ridge.
One of them was the farr-like You Huanduo. After running down the mountain to chase Zhen Guan in vain, he was planning to return to ask Kang Zhi when he overheard in Tan Han about the Thunder Blade Evil Monk rampaging in Evil Ridge.
The camping site was in ruins. Everything was totally burnt. Many corpses were mutilated by beasts. It seed like a scene out of the Asura Hell.
You Huanduo did not speak. He walked to Kang Zhi’s yard and entered the back wing room, only to see charred bodies.
“He didn’t even spare children. Is he a real monk… ” one of his subordinates said in shock.
You Huanduo frowned. “It might not be the monk. There’s that Gu family’s son too. But we know the monk must have allowed it.”
He took out a transparent stone that glowing dark green from his bosom and opened his palm. Black gas filled the room and heart-wrenching cries reverberated around them.
Though he had yet to achieve the Exterior breakthrough nor learned Haunter’s 18 Slaps, the Crying Elder favored him over An Guoxie because he was more tactful. Thus, he was taught so accessorial Dharma Accesses.
The black gas perated into the stone, turning it dark. From ti to ti, a contorted face would be reflected inside.
“Boss, what are you doing?” one of Seventy-two Villains of the Helian Mountain asked in confusion.
You Huanduo gave a rare smile. “Of course it’s to show the old monks how inhumane and cruel the Shaolin heirs are. They’re more like Asura than monks.”
“Right!” The man clapped his hands. “Shaolin parades themselves as the paradigm of Buddhism and does everything in accordance with Buddhism. They would definitely not allow such disciples. When that ti cos, Shaolin will de-martialize them and lock them in the back mountain or expel them!”
You Huanduo nodded gently. “Whether or not Zhen Ding did this, he’s at least involved. President of Shaolin Commandnt Yard, Wu Jing, hates evil like it’s his enemy. He’ll definitely handle this fairly. If Zhen Ding is de-martialized and expelled, that’ll be our opportunity. Heh, I thought we wouldn’t get any. I didn’t expect him to reveal such a gaping flaw.”
“Boss, you have to be careful. This Bald Ass can summon the Sky Thunder!” His subordinate reminded him.
You Huanduo spat like he was an old farr. “What’s there to be afraid of? It doesn’t matter how he’s able to use the power of the Exterior, we know one thing for sure. The skills of the Exterior is a great burden those in the enlightennt period. They consu a lot of energy. I really want to see if he’ll still be able to summon the Sky Thunder when he can’t use his martial arts anymore!”
“Boss, you’re so wise!” Another subordinate flattered him.
You Huanduo put away the stone and straightened his back. He coldly said, “Let’s go and kill so people!”
In that mont, he no longer looked like a farr but the leader of Seventy-two Villains who killed lots of people!
The five n got on their three horses and began chasing after Zhen Ding. A monk would not be able to travel far with a group of won!
…
Inside Jade Gate Pass, ng Qi and Zhen Hui watched Gu Changqing as he left. They stood there for a long ti without a word.
“Senior Brother, why isn’t Brother Gu first coming to Shaolin with us and then having you accompany him to Luo Yang?” Zhen Hui thought ng Qi was definitely capable of going through the Bronzen Lane.
ng Qi sighed. “He has completed his revenge and has no other ans of sustenance. It’s natural that he may be regretful. He implicated his family because of , so he may be unwilling to befriend us. I hope he’ll be able to heal the wound in his heart as ti passes.”
Besides his comrade and junior brother, ng Qi also regarded Gu Changqing as his first friend in the World of Samsara. He would feel dejected if they really went their separate ways without contact. But if he left the mountain in the future and had nothing planned, he could visit Gu Changqing in Luo Yang.
He was precisely that optimistic!
“Let’s go back and settle the won’s affairs. We can’t just leave everything to Master.” Having collected himself, ng Qi told Zhen Hui to return to the inn.
So of the rescued won had already gone their separate ways in Tan Han. They were citizens of the West Regions and were afraid of leaving their hotown. Thus, they traveled by trade caravans familiar with Shaolin and went to Fish Sea. So moved north to Oases blessed by Snow Mountain Sect and others sowhere else.
Those who remained were mostly from the Central Plains or had no relatives in the West Regions. Wanting a change in their environnt and to forget unhappy mories, they went east with Kong Jian and the rest. When they crossed Jade Gate Pass, many bad farewells due to their different destinations. When Shaolin saves a life, they will see it through until the end. Thus they found reliable business caravans or escort agencies to help the won reach their destinations.
Back at the inn, ng Qi and Zhen Hui saw that their Master was seeing an escort out. Several won followed behind the escort.
When the won saw ng Qi and Zhen Hui, they were so moved that their faces were wet with tears. “Masters, we’ll pray for you two every day.”
The escort who was receiving orders from the Elder of the Exterior of Shaolin beca light-headed when he saw them, almost forgetting where he was.
After exchanging greetings, ng Qi and Zhen Hui could no longer take the enthusiasm and hid upstairs.
“Those heading to the north and south had left. We only have won who want to head east left.” When Xuan Bei ca upstairs, he did not carry any trace of annoyance. He was happy to help others.
“Xuan Bei, Zhen Ding, Zhen Hui, co to my room.” The long-bearded Kong Jian and the angular-faced, bronze-skinned Wu Jing wore serious expressions. ng Qi suddenly felt a bad premonition.
Xuan Bei led his two disciples to Kong Jian’s room. After Kong Jian waved his tunic, the glass light flashed and completely enveloped the room.
“Did you hide anything about the incident of the Evil Ridge?” As President of Commandnt Yard, Wu Jing had always been straightforward.
In Quicksand Town, Xuan Bei played down the fact that his disciples had helped Gu Changqing take revenge and instead stressing that they had rescued a group of ill-fated won. Based on the rciful Impunity Commandnts, they should be exempted from punishnt. The commandnt stated that monks loyal to Bodhisattva should rescue everyone from misery. In that case, ng Qi and Zhen Hui did not violate any rule as they had killed the wicked and rescued the kind.
Though Xuan Bei understated matters, he naturally did ntion about the revenge. But he argued his disciples were just watching over Gu Changqing lest he was blinded by hatred. That was why Wu Jing did not punish them for killing out of self-defense.
“No.” ng Qi thought for a while and decided to give the sa answer. He actually did conceal nothing because he had clearly told them about Gu Changqing’s revenge. He had simply left out the details.
“Amitabha, my sin, my sin. Soone was requested to send this.” Kong Jian repeated Buddha’s na in a low voice and took out a stone with swirling black gas. Nurous rays of light emanated from his palm, perating the stone.
The black gas rose and the ghost appeared, replaying the scene that had happened.
ng Qi beca numb with fear. Blinded by his grudge, Gu Changqing had overdone his revenge. Kang Zhi’s ghost then transford into the scene when he dragged Zhen Hui out.
I should have asked Junior Brother to expiate the sins of the dead with Woe-surviving Buddhist Beads… Unlike a real monk, ng Qi hadn’t thought of it until this mont.
Xuan Bei looked at ng Qi and Zhen Hui in surprise. He did not expect sothing like this would happen.
“You allowed others to kill the innocent; that’s your first mistake. You denied your sins and concealed it; that’s your second. You two are cruel and rciless. You don’t have sympathy for others. Neither of you knows repentance!” Wu Jing solemnly said. He had just checked with Kong Jian that the ghost was not lying.
ng Qi did not know how to reply because the details were right. But he was not as evil as President had described him!
After collecting himself, Xuan Bei stepped out and solemnly made a bow.
“It’s my fault. I saw Zhen Ding was regretful, so I ask him to lie to conceal.”
ng Qi looked at his Master in confusion. He had helped him once again…
Xuan Bei signaled him to apologize imdiately. There might still be hope.
When ng Qi was about to confess his faults, Wu Jing sternly said, “They had made an irreparable mistake. Zhen Hui was kind in nature. He was too weak to resist Zhen Ding, so he was exonerated. But he helped Zhen Ding to conceal and disrespect the disciplines, so he shall be isolated for two years after he returns to the temple.”
As President of Commandnt Yard, he had the right to punish them along with an Elder before reporting to His Abbotship.
“Xuan Bei, you didn’t set an example for them as their master. Instead, you instruct them to escape their punishnt. I hereby sentence to one year of isolation.” Wu Jing stopped Xuan Bei from speaking and turned to ng Qi. “Zhen Ding, you have committed the worst kind of sin. You’re cruel and rciless. You must be de-martialized and expelled. You must also take the Soul-pledging Oath to prevent you from imparting supre arts to others!”
Xuan Bei was shocked and anxious begged. “Uncle Master, please be more lenient on Zhen Ding on account of him saving so many distraught lives.”
“rits can’t offset faults. Saving lives is his own blessings. It must be the Crying Elder’s sche to send this ghost stone. They’re probably waiting in ambush sowhere nearby. So it can be seen as an award to send ng Qi to another city,” Wu Jing impartially said.
ng Qi beca light-headed. How could this matter end up this way…
Xuan Bei’s expression was etched with grief. He kneeled down and kowtowed to Wu Jing. “I’m willing to give up my chance to cultivate my skills in the stupa in exchange for leniency for my disciple.”
After reaching the peak of the Exterior, he had the chance to enter the stupa and cultivate himself in Buddha’s relics of supre monks. By doing so, he could truly understand himself to lay a solid foundation for his Half-step to Dharmakaya in the future.
ng Qi was shocked and moved. He looked at Xuan Bei with teary eyes as he struggled internally. Will Master really give up such a good chance?
No, he could not allow Master to pay such a heavy price!
Even if he was expelled, he could return to World of Samsara. There was still hope to regain his kungfu. As long as he could make it to Zhen Wu Sect and Sword Washing Pavilion where he could ask Zhang Yuanshan or Jiang Zhiwei for help, he had no need to fear Ze Luoju’s n.
As for the difficulties he would face along the way, he would consider it as repaying his master’s kindness.
Gritting his teeth, he raised his head to look at Wu Jing with an obstinate expression.
“President, I didn’t make any mistake!”
Reviews
All reviews (0)