Wuxia 15

Zhang Wuji brought a disguised Zhao Min into Shaolin Temple, followed by Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, and the others.

After parting ways with Liu Zhong and the others outside Dadu that night, Zhang Wuji had snuck back into the city, fought a brief skirmish with Fan Yao who had come looking for him, and then reconciled with him.

Later, Zhang Wuji met with Zhao Min in a small tavern, where the two discovered the tracks of Golden Flower Granny and Zhuer.

Worried about Zhuer, Zhang Wuji gave chase.

Since Abbess Miejue was not dead, Golden Flower Granny naturally did not bully the weak by kidnapping Zhou Zhiruo.

However, because Zhuer was with her, Zhang Wuji took Zhao Min and Xiao Zhao to follow Golden Flower Granny out to sea, eventually arriving at Spirit Snake Island.

The subsequent events were much the same as the original story; Xiao Zhao became the Saintess of the Persian Ming Cult and returned to Persia with Dai Qisi.

Zhang Wuji, Zhao Min, Xie Xun, and Zhuer were left stranded on a deserted island.

This time, without Zhou Zhiruo present, they were successfully picked up by Zhao Min's subordinates and returned to the mainland.

But after landing, Zhuer parted ways with them.

The person Zhuer loved in her heart was the Zhang Wuji of her memories, not Brother A-Niu.

Zhuer left on her own, leaving behind a melancholy Zhang Wuji and a joyful Zhao Min.

With both romantic rivals having left of their own accord, she was the only one left by Zhang Wuji's side.

Zhang Wuji had originally intended to take Xie Xun back to Bright Peak, but on the way, he was ambushed by Chen Youliang; Xie Xun was captured and delivered into the hands of Cheng Kun.

Cheng Kun used Xie Xun's reputation to convene the Lion-Slaying Conference, gathering the heroes of the pugilistic world at Mount Shaoshi to wipe them out in one fell swoop alongside the Yuan soldiers.

Zhao Min received news of Xie Xun first and found Zhang Wuji, accompanying him to Shaolin Temple to rescue Xie Xun.

Zhang Wuji felt grateful toward Zhao Min, and since he already loved her, the two were very intimate with each other during this time.

Neither of them noticed the look in Yang Xiao's eyes behind them.

Compared to Fan Yao, who was very optimistic about Zhang Wuji and Zhao Min being together, Yang Xiao was opposed to it.

Their Ming Cult was the main force in the rebellion against the Yuan Dynasty; for Zhang Wuji, as the Cult Leader, to be with a princess of the Yuan Dynasty—what kind of situation was that? How would the brothers below feel?

It was no wonder even Zhang Wuji's elders didn't trust him, having him, Yang Xiao, keep the operational plans at Shaolin Temple hidden from Zhang Wuji.

Sigh, was he effectively sidelining the Cult Leader?

But if the Cult Leader did not break ties with the Yuan princess, his position as leader would not last long.

Liu Zhong took Song Qinghua to search for anything unusual inside and around Shaolin Temple.

Both possessed high-level lightness skills and would not have their movements discovered by the Shaolin monks.

Finally, the two found the place where the gunpowder was buried.

Cheng Kun was ruthless enough to hollow out the ground beneath Shaolin Temple and bury over a thousand catties of gunpowder, enough to blow the entire temple to the sky.

Not to mention the people inside.

The best way to render this gunpowder useless was with water.

Liu Zhong found Zhang Songxi and Yu Daiyan, who had just arrived at Shaolin Temple after hearing the news, and the four of them spent two nights continuously hauling water to douse the area, finally neutralizing all the black powder buried underground.

The Lion-Slaying Conference officially began.

Shaolin Temple was already packed to capacity.

Some of these people had come for the Dragon-Slaying Saber, which could command the world, while others had come for the blood feud they held against Xie Xun.

Master Kongzhi represented the monks of Shaolin Temple to preside over the Lion-Slaying Conference.

Many were puzzled as to why the Abbot, Master Kongwen, was not the one presiding, but only those in the know understood what was going on.

Master Kongwen had been ambushed by Yuanzhen and held captive.

Now that Yuanzhen's attention was entirely on the Lion-Slaying Conference, Zhang Songxi and Liu Zhong took the opportunity to go rescue Master Kongwen.

The two monks guarding Master Kongwen were quite skilled, ranking as first-class experts in the pugilistic world, but they were no match for Zhang Songxi, let alone Liu Zhong.

The two easily defeated the guards and made contact with Master Kongwen.

Master Kongwen had been struck by Ten Fragrance Soft Tendon Powder, leaving him unable to utilize his martial arts.

Fortunately, Zhang Songxi and Liu Zhong had anticipated this situation.

After escaping from Dadu, Liu Zhong had given the antidote for the Ten Fragrance Soft Tendon Powder to Zhang Songxi.

This time, Zhang Songxi had brought the antidote with him.

Master Kongwen took the antidote.

Practice makes perfect; after taking the medicine, Master Kongwen quickly purged the toxins from his body and recovered his internal energy.

However, Master Kongwen did not act rashly; after discussing a plan against Cheng Kun with Zhang Songxi and Liu Zhong, he pretended to remain under Cheng Kun's control.

Zhang Songxi and Liu Zhong returned to the plaza, where the duels were already more than halfway through.

Zhang Wuji finally stepped into the ring.

None of the people who stepped up afterward were any match for Zhang Wuji.

Seeing this scene, Song Qinghua could no longer hold back.

He leaped out and stood opposite Zhang Wuji.

"Senior Brother Song Qinghua." Zhang Wuji was stunned, unable to fathom why Song Qinghua had stepped onto the stage.

Song Qinghua said indifferently, "Zhang Wuji, do you know how many people Xie Xun has killed? How many families he has torn apart? How many people he has forced to live in constant hatred?"

"This..." Zhang Wuji could not answer.

He muttered, "But my godfather has already realized his mistakes; he will never kill again in the future."

Song Qinghua chuckled, "If a single apology could cancel out past wrongs, then what if I killed you and just said 'sorry,' promising never to kill again? How would that be?"

It would not be acceptable!

Upon hearing this, the members of the Ming Cult glared at Song Qinghua, wanting to rush onto the stage and finish him off.

Song Qinghua continued, "Look at your Ming Cult disciples, then look at the victims who have suffered at the hands of Xie Xun. Do you really think that just because Xie Xun stops killing, the matter is truly over?"

"But, but even the Buddha said, 'Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.' When will this cycle of vengeance ever end?"

Song Qinghua sneered, "What a fine 'cycle of vengeance.' Zhang Wuji, if I were to kill your little lover right now, or kill your Ming Cult brothers, could you still smile and let bygones be bygones with me?"

"I, I..." Zhang Wuji could not bring himself to speak of forgiveness.

If he said he didn't mind, Yang Xiao, Fan Yao, Zhou Dian, and the others would be disappointed in him as their leader.

"Heh." Song Qinghua gave a mocking smile. "Do not preach kindness to others when you have not suffered their pain."

Those martial artists whose friends and families had been killed by Xie Xun began to shout in support of Song Qinghua.

Zhang Wuji was shaken by these cries; he understood that Xie Xun had done wrong, but how could he just watch his own godfather die?

Seeing Zhang Wuji in this state, Song Qinghua lost the desire to spar with him.

Zhang Wuji's mind was in turmoil; even if he won, it would be an unearned victory.

Song Qinghua then retreated.

Yu Lianzhou, Yu Daiyan, and Mo Shenggu each patted Song Qinghua on the shoulder.

The three of them agreed with Song Qinghua in their hearts.

Although Xie Xun was Zhang Cuishan's sworn brother, none of them had any fondness for Xie Xun's indiscriminate slaughter of the innocent.

A person should be held responsible for the wrongs they have committed.

They also understood Zhang Wuji's feelings.

That was why they had not participated in the fighting.

The life or death of Xie Xun would be left to Zhang Wuji and the various heroes of the martial arts world.

Song Qinghua did not want to take advantage of someone in a vulnerable state, but others would!

Abbess Miejue stepped onto the stage.