Five-Terrace Offshoot

Little Bug had not expected these people to be so vicious and stubborn. Luckily, he had achieved some skill in swordsmanship and had a foundation of true qi. In his haste, he grabbed a weapon from the Black Wind Bag and held it across his chest, sweeping aside all three fish forks at once.

Zhu Ying had intended to make a move, but when she saw Little Bug hurriedly seize a long halberd and use the Primordial Sword Art with such a large, unwieldy weapon, she found it amusing instead. She took a step back and let Wang Chong stand in front of her.

Little Bug was panicked and inexperienced, and he did not hold back. With a sweep of his long halberd, several sharp cracks rang out as all three fish forks broke in two.

The weapons Old Demon Luo had collected were all forged from refined steel. In the hands of martial artists, they could be called divine weapons. Wang Chong had also received Xiao Nan's Great Circuit Marrow-Purging Art to remold his sinews and channels, cleanse his marrow, and purge his bones. His body was as powerful as a monster's—how could these ordinary burly men be his match?

Little Bug was furious. Pointing the long halberd at them, he shouted, "I spared you once, and you still dared to launch a sneak attack! Then none of you will leave alive."

He was still a child, and those were words spoken in anger.

Even after such a clash between the two sides, he still could not bring himself to kill anyone.

After shouting those words, Little Bug hesitated slightly. Then he heard an aged voice chuckle. "When eliminating evil, one should uproot it completely."

A streak of green light flashed past, severing several burly men at the waist. An old man in green robes emerged from the trees behind them.

He held a black-skinned gourd in his hand. With a light flick against its bottom, a cloud of yellow mist flew out and shrouded the mangled remains of the burly men. In less than a quarter of an hour, they had all melted into bloody water.

The old man in green flicked the gourd again and recalled the yellow mist. Cradling the gourd in his palm, he said with a genial smile, "I investigated for several days. These men worked in their spare time and robbed people when idle. There were already seven or eight lives on their hands, so they could not be spared."

Hearing this, Little Bug felt slightly relieved. If the old man had not killed them, he would not have known what to do. After all, he was still young and a scholar, not some ruthless, bloodthirsty man who killed without hesitation.

The old man asked with a smile, "Which sect are you two disciples from? I am Huang Xuanyuan, disciple of Elder Zhi Guan of Compassion Cloud Temple."

Little Bug had just been about to announce his name when Zhu Ying tugged at him. He immediately fell silent.

Zhu Ying replied, "My younger brother and I are independent cultivators. The elders of our family instructed us not to flaunt ourselves or casually reveal our names."

Huang Xuanyuan chuckled. "This old man heard rumors in the martial world that a treasure had appeared at Little Cold Mountain. That is why I came from a thousand miles away, heedless of the hardship."

"Have you two heard of this matter?"

Zhu Ying replied, "We have heard a little. But this place is still far from Little Cold Mountain. Fellow Daoist, you must travel two or three hundred li east before you will see it."

Little Bug found this interesting. This old man called Huang Xuanyuan looks quite righteous and eager to help others, but Sister Zhu seems rather wary of him. The issue must lie with Compassion Cloud Temple. That temple is probably known for something.

He wants to go to Little Cold Mountain too. Who knows how many people have their eyes on that stone stele? I wonder how the villagers are doing.

Huang Xuanyuan actually wished to befriend the young man and woman. The Compassion Cloud Temple he came from was an offshoot of the Five-Terrace Sect, but the swordsmanship it passed down was not orthodox and was far inferior to the legitimate branch of Xiao Nan.

His master, Elder Zhi Guan, had also instructed him that their sect's swordsmanship was not especially profound, and that he must be humble whenever he encountered fellow cultivators.

After exchanging a few words with Zhu Ying, Huang Xuanyuan sensed that the young man and woman were quite guarded against him. Perhaps they have heard of Compassion Cloud Temple's reputation and are unwilling to associate deeply with me.

He could only feel helpless. Aside from Elder Zhi Guan, several of Compassion Cloud Temple's more famous monks relied on their swordsmanship to bully men and ravish women. They were notorious lecherous monks in the martial world. Seeing that the pair remained neither warm nor cold toward him, he could only take his leave.

A few li away from the pool, a youth caught up to Huang Xuanyuan and said indignantly, "Master clearly helped them, yet that young man and woman showed no gratitude. They acted as though they wanted to keep us a thousand miles away. How infuriating!"

This youth was Huang Xuanyuan's disciple, Sima Ping. Huang Xuanyuan had taken him in from childhood and treated him like his own son.

Huang Xuanyuan shook his head. "They must have heard of Compassion Cloud Temple's reputation, so they are somewhat wary."

Sima Ping was still indignant. "Compassion Cloud Temple is Compassion Cloud Temple. Grandmaster Elder Zhi Guan is a renowned divine monk throughout the region and has saved countless people. How can they lump everyone together?"

Huang Xuanyuan had originally been a renowned wandering hero in the martial world. He had only taken a master to learn swordsmanship in middle age, and he was well versed in the ways of the world. Hearing this, he smiled. "How could outsiders distinguish between them?"

Little Bug watched Huang Xuanyuan disappear into the distance, then asked, "Sister Zhu, is there something to be said about Compassion Cloud Temple?"

Zhu Ying's expression turned solemn. "Compassion Cloud Temple is also a branch of the Five-Terrace Sect. In a manner of speaking, it has some connection to us."

Little Bug said in surprise, "Then wouldn't that make us fellow disciples?"

Zhu Ying said, "What they study is unorthodox, and their reputation is poor. Relying on their swordsmanship, they have committed many evil deeds. Master Xiao specifically warned me before that there were several sects that had split away from Five-Terrace, and we must guard against them carefully and not associate with them."

Little Bug said, "So that is how it is. Old Mister Huang looked so full of righteous spirit. I never expected his origins to be so poor."

The two had originally come out for a leisurely outing, but after encountering such a matter, they had lost interest. Zhu Ying again used her magic, avoiding the pool water as she took Wang Chong back to Zhu Xiong's estate.

As soon as they returned, they saw Zhu Xiong and Lu Xuansheng preparing to leave.

Zhu Ying asked, "Second Brother, where are you going?"

Zhu Xiong replied, "We are going to Little Cold Mountain again."

"Last time, we heard that White Spider Elder had summoned a group of children to look at that stone stele. We are going to find those children and ask about the situation."

Little Bug cried out inwardly, This is going to cause trouble.

He could not think of an excuse to stop them. Besides, even if he stopped Zhu Xiong and Lu Xuansheng, could he stop everyone else?

Lu Xuansheng asked with a smile, "Will you two come along?"

Afraid that Zhu Ying would agree, Little Bug hurriedly said, "Master Xiao is still in secluded cultivation. As disciples, we should remain at his side. What kind of sense would it make for a master to be in seclusion while his disciples went out to play?"

Zhu Ying also declined politely. "Wang Chong and I are weak in cultivation. Going out would only burden you, so we should stay here."

Zhu Xiong did not force them. Together with Lu Xuansheng, he left the pool, each riding clouds and mist and black wind away.

The commotion of their flight was considerable. Huang Xuanyuan and his disciple had not gone very far when clouds, mist, and black wind suddenly rose from the pool, startling both master and disciple.

Sima Ping said, "There must be quite a few people hidden in that pool, not merely that young man and woman. They must also have their eyes on the treasure at Little Cold Mountain."

Huang Xuanyuan said solemnly, "Since ancient times, treasures have belonged to those with virtue. Master and disciple, we are only trying our luck. Whether we have the affinity or not, do not concern yourself with others."

Zhu Xiong and Lu Xuansheng also saw the fighting in the distance. They did not dare approach and detoured around it.