Two days later, Li Chen returned to Yunshan Valley to attend Luo Changshan's funeral procession. Only then did he hear about what had happened.
Before he could say anything, Wu Ding, who had accompanied him, clapped his hands in delight.
"Good! Good riddance!"
"When their backer was still around, none of these Yunshan Gate disciples willingly gave up their cushy lives. Now that their backer is gone, they put on pitiful faces and play the widows and orphans. Do they really think Heaven's justice and the turning wheel of karma are a sham?"
"I've seen plenty of people like them. If this hadn't happened, wouldn't they have kept growing up safely under those sheltering wings? They're white lotuses rooted in a pool of sludge-the better they grow, the more nourishment they've drawn from the muck."
He Ran laughed and scolded him. "Honestly, Old Wu. Things have already come to this. Show a little charity with your tongue."
Wu Ding said, "What do I need charity with my tongue for? If Brother Li hadn't saved me, I'd probably be soaking in a jar too, waiting for people to come and divide me up."
"That's why I say there can't be anyone innocent in that lineage. Even babes barely old enough to speak, who haven't had time to do anything evil, have still enjoyed its bounty and inherited the seeds of its sins. The merchants and travelers who went that way and were attacked-they were the truly innocent ones."
Li Chen said, "Even so, guards are everywhere in Yunshan Valley now, preparing for attacks from Che Rong. Mind the ears beyond the walls. If someone hears you, it could stir up more trouble."
Wu Ding waved a hand. "All right, I know. All those years Old Wu spent roaming the world weren't