novelhk Chapter 60: What's stabbing us in the back might not be...
Chapter 60: What's stabbing us in the back might not be...
Emperor Taizu of Ming lifted the sea ban, Emperor Renzong stopped the voyages to the Western Ocean, Emperor Xuanzong opened it on a small scale, Emperor Baozong wanted to lift the sea ban, then there were successive rebellions in the south, and Esen from the north brought 30,000 people to "pay tribute". The people went to study in the border areas, so the matter of opening the sea naturally came to nothing.
However, Western gadgets were never uncommon in the Ming Dynasty.
However, no matter how good something is, it depends on who uses it. Since Lin Xian'er said such a thing, it's clear that she has her eye on something that can tempt her.
"We should take a good look at that."
After venting his anger on Xin Jian and Bai Xiaosheng, Wei Wu felt much better after shopping. He immediately put his arm around Lin Xian'er's waist, called Sun Xiaohong, and prepared to leave.
The Shaolin monk darted into the room, and immediately a short, urgent cry came from inside, followed by heavier footsteps and the monk's sorrowful lament:
"He killed my master! Stop him!"
Swish!
A dozen or so monks jumped out from the courtyards on both sides, forming a Luohan staff formation that completely blocked the way out for Wei Wu and the others.
Although Xin Jian had his own selfish motives, he was leaving the temple on official business. Naturally, he was accompanied by many monks, including several juniors who were favored by the Bodhidharma Academy. This time, he was going to gain experience in the martial arts world.
That's why Xin Jian wasn't the only one leading the way.
The other man, whose Buddhist name was Xinzhu, was middle-aged and not particularly handsome. His brows were furrowed with worry, and he had a perpetually bitter expression. Upon learning that Wei Wu had killed Xinjian, his face turned even more so. "Do you have a grudge against Xinjian, benefactor?"
"There is no enmity. If there were, he wouldn't be alive today."
"Then why kill him today?"
"What, do I need to pick a day to kill him?"
Wei Wu raised an eyebrow, his tone flippant, and the playful tone in his words made many Shaolin disciples' faces flush and they glared at him through gritted teeth.
Xinzhu was also taken aback, and sighed again before asking under the urging gaze of his disciple, "Why did you kill him, benefactor?"
"Killed them, so what? Why all the nonsense? If you want revenge, then make your move. If not, then get out of my way." Wei Wu looked up at the sky and said in an unfriendly tone, "I want to go back to Kun now. You better not make me lose my temper, or I'll give you a shortcut to meet your maker."
Hearing his murderous intent, Xinzhu's face twitched involuntarily. She quickly made way for him, but still said:
"Xin Jian was the head of our temple's lecture hall. He died at your hands for no reason. In the future, our temple's seniors will surely step forward to seek justice for him."
Perhaps realizing he had spoken too harshly, he added in a low voice, "Please be careful, benefactor."
Wei Wu was about to step out of the courtyard when he was stopped by these words and turned to ask, "Do you have a grudge against Xin Jian?"
"The head of the lecture hall doesn't care about martial arts skills, only the profoundness of Buddhist teachings. Years ago, he invited me for a cup of tea, and I didn't stay for three days, thus missing the selection of the head of the lecture hall."
With candles lowered and brows bowed, he respectfully saw Wei Wu off.
Seeing that Wei Wu was nowhere to be seen, Xin Jian's disciple threw down his Arhat staff and said angrily, "Uncle Xin Zhu, my master is the head of the lecture hall, how could you just let the murderer leave like that? You should at least have fought him, so you could have an explanation when you return to the temple!"
The disciple had intended to question Xinzhu about her submissive demeanor before Wei Wu, but halfway through his sentence, he was suddenly struck by the chilling gaze beneath Xinzhu's raised eyebrows. His tone abruptly shifted, sounding more like concern for Xinzhu than a threat.
Xin Zhu chuckled softly and shook his head, saying, "He helped me solve a problem without me having to lift a finger. Why should I stop him?"
The disciple's eyes widened suddenly, and he lowered his head tremblingly. When he saw the knife protruding from his chest, he was incredulous and filled with regret. He always worked from behind the scenes, but he never expected that his first time showing off would result in him being stabbed through the chest!
Upon seeing that Xin Jian's disciple had died, Xin Zhu's sorrow vanished. Although he did not smile, there was joy in his eyes. He chanted a Buddhist prayer and said, "Since such a big thing has happened, there is no need to do the rest. Let's cremate Xin Jian and his disciple and bring them back to the temple."
"yes!"
……
The deaths of Xin Jian and Bai Xiaosheng barely caused a ripple in the martial arts world. When the news spread, some people only lamented that the Weapon Manual would be lost forever, and then rewarded themselves with a drink for that reason.
Aside from some people observing the Shaolin Temple's movements, most people are discussing Wei Wu's "Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife," the one that made Guo Songyang exclaim with delight before his death.
Especially Shangguan Jin Hong, who was about to face Wei Wu in a decisive battle in five days, and whose life or death was in the balance, was listening to the descriptions of the martial arts practitioners who were watching Wei Wu demonstrate his skills in front of the hall.
Accompanying him on either side were his shadow, Jing Wuming, and his son, Shangguan Fei.
After the news spread that Wei Wu had killed Guo Songyang with a single strike, his son, who had "run away from home," returned. However, Shangguan Jin Hong had no time to care about him and was only thinking about how to break the "Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife."
Seeing that Shangguan Jin Hong had wasted the entire day on this, Shangguan Fei couldn't sit still any longer. He stood up and said, "No matter how skilled Wei Wu is, he's still just a human being. Even if his throwing knives are fast, if he can't catch them, can't he at least block them?"
Shangguan Jin Hong was mentally simulating Wei Wu's strike, and had already figured out most of it, so he wasn't annoyed that Shangguan Fei suddenly spoke up.
It's normal for young people to lack self-control. He was once passionate, otherwise he wouldn't have this son.
He asked in a gentle tone, "What are your thoughts?"
Shangguan Jin Hong rarely smiled, and her amiable attitude was also rare, but every time she did, it was in front of Shangguan Fei.
But because it happened so often, Shangguan Fei got used to his amiable demeanor and only noticed that he rarely gave him the opportunity to do things, so he felt that he was more biased towards Jing Wuming.
Now that he had the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities, Shangguan Fei immediately perked up and said:
"Treasure Armor!"
Shangguan Jin Hong's smile faded, her gaze conveying a sense of looking at a foolish creature while simultaneously reminding herself of the helplessness of being "her own child."
"I know that if you want, even the legendary golden silk armor that can restrain the Plum Blossom Bandits won't work on you. But there is a most outstanding 'treasure armor' in the world that can definitely block Wei Wu's flying knives."
"indivual?"
"That's right, this precious armor is none other than the Great Joyful Bodhisattva, the godmother of the Five Poison Child!"
This person cultivates the Demonic Sect's Iron-Chewing Technique, his form resembling a mountain of flesh, his body bulky yet firm, possessing extremely profound methods of dissipating energy; he can certainly deal with Wei Wu with ease.
Shangguan Jin Hong's expression was strange. "It sounds like you know her very well?"
Shangguan Fei nodded and said, "Because I fought with Wei Wu, I happened to meet the Five Poisons Child, who was scared away by him. He also wanted revenge and to prove himself. We had a very pleasant conversation..."
Seeing that he was about to launch into a long speech, Shangguan Jin Hong immediately interrupted him, saying, "Just get to the result."
Shangguan Fei was used to it and immediately said:
"Tomorrow, the Great Joyful Bodhisattva will arrive with the Five Poison Boys. As long as she can block Wei Wu's Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, Father, you can use the Dragon and Phoenix Rings to kill Wei Wu without restraint!"