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Chapter 100: Zhang the Butcher's Past
Chapter 100: Zhang the Butcher's Past
In a tranquil courtyard, Shen Yi drew water from the well, wrung out a cloth, and approached the burly man who hung his head low.
Seeing the man's anxious and confused expression, as well as the comical smear of ink on his face, Shen Yi's lips curled slightly, and a mischievous glint flashed in his clear eyes. Teasingly, he reached out and pulled off the pig snout and ears from Zhang the Butcher's face, handing him the cloth, his voice calm and reassuring, "Wipe yourself first."
"I..." Zhang the Butcher, now without the pig-like decorations, clutched the cloth, his rough face trembling uncontrollably.
Then, in a fit of frustration, he vigorously rubbed the ink off his face, as if trying to scrub off a layer of skin.
Seeing this, Shen Yi turned and walked into the house, "Now, from beginning to end, tell me everything clearly, word by word."
He glanced slightly to the side, his gaze regaining its calmness, "Don't be sentimental, and you don't need to worry about me. Just explain everything clearly, and leave the rest to me."
Upon hearing these words, Zhang the Butcher, who had been trying to hold himself up, finally slumped down powerlessly. His robust and mountainous body trembled like a child, and he buried his head, sobbing, "I didn't break the rules! I didn't break the rules! I never took her body, they did it on purpose, forcing her to crash her head into the door."
Although his words were jumbled and his emotions were in disarray, Shen Yi remained quiet and listened. He took off his outer robe, "Does the Vajra Sect have rules and regulations?"
"There weren't any before, and there aren't any now. There are only rules for direct disciples, and I'm a direct disciple... but I didn't break the rules! The child isn't mine!"
Zhang the Butcher raised his head with resentment, his cloudy eyes filled with despair.
Shen Yi draped a new Yin-Yang Fish Ink Robe over himself, suddenly remembering that the man had once mentioned that he was also a genius when he entered the sect, and was taken in as a direct disciple. However, after offending someone, he had been deliberately held back and couldn't obtain the Jade Dew Realm martial arts for all these years. He had to research and develop the Golden Sun Eight Treasures Mystic Body on his own.
"Yuan Gang and his brother joined the Vajra Sect together. His brother died in the outskirts of Qingzhou City, and he suspected me because I was nearby at the time. But he had no evidence, and Yuan Zhi and I had no grudges or conflicts over benefits... It was only him constantly poisoning his master's mind and secretly targeting me."
Zhang the Butcher seemed lost in his memories, unsteadily standing up from the ground.
"So they framed you?"
Shen Yi straightened his Yin-Yang Fish robe and took out the Wolf Moon Devouring Cloak.
"No, I killed Yuan Zhi."
Zhang the Butcher's expression was numb, and his two large hands clenched into fists in an instant, "I didn't want to listen to any Buddhist sutras, but I was drunk and bored. I heard that Yuan Zhi was taking a group of virtuous men to cultivate and refine their character, so I went out to make fun of him."
"I saw... he had imprisoned over a dozen people, just like pigs, all of them dirty and soulless. He was taking the essence from men and filthy blood from women, bathing in it... He was secretly cultivating the Body Tempering Evil Art behind the Vajra Sect's back!"
"When I discovered this, he chased after me... I was panicking, never expecting that someone I had lived with day and night could show such a cold and sinister expression. I was furious, and in a fit of rage, I killed his dog-like life. I almost died there myself."
"Most of those imprisoned had already lost their minds due to the drugs, except for one woman who was pregnant and couldn't have her blood taken. So she was just locked up for Yuan Zhi's pleasure, and she was still conscious. I secretly brought her out and settled her in a remote village some distance away from Qingzhou City."
As he finished speaking, two large tears rolled down Zhang the Butcher's cheeks, and his entire body had lost its vitality.
He had inadvertently exposed this matter while trying to find a teacher for the child to learn to read and write.
"Yuan Gang had just achieved minor proficiency in his martial arts and was about to leave seclusion. They knew I was back and secretly followed me when I went to inquire about tuition. They traced me to the village and planned to kill me for breaking the rules."
"She refused to betray me and wouldn't let them tarnish my reputation, so she crashed her head and died..."
"When I arrived, she was already gone."
"The child is still in their hands."
The faintly shrill and hopeless voice lingered in the air, subtle yet persistent.
"Have you cleaned up? Follow me."
Shen Yi stepped out of the house and headed towards the courtyard gate.
Compared to Zhang the Butcher, who had been relegated to Baiyun County, Shen Yi might know a little more.
After their decline and mysterious resurgence, this Wulin sect had abruptly erected a Buddha statue and built a pagoda, which, to outsiders, seemed like an attempt to curry favor with the newly appointed governor. But now, it seemed there might be something more sinister going on.
Zhang the Butcher stared blankly.
The young man's side profile was tall and straight, his Yin-Yang Fish headdress with inlaid wolf patterns and golden wolf patterns on his black cloak stood out, his waist cinched with a jade belt, and a golden-patterned scabbard hanging at his side. The cloak's wolf pattern seemed to rage in the wind.
Shen Yi tugged at his collar, his handsome face carrying an unshakable coldness.
"Where are we going?"
"To help those who deserve to be knocked dead by a horse's head finish what they should have done."
The young man casually rested his palm on the hilt of his sword, his steps steady, his figure gradually blending into the endless night.
...
Vajra Sect.
Facing thousands of stern-faced Demon Subjugation Bureau Commanders, the area was almost completely blocked off. Many disciples subconsciously dropped their weapons to the ground.
"We have not colluded with demons!"
"Your Excellency, please investigate!"
In the crowd, Hong Lei frowned slightly as he looked at these differently dressed martial artists of the Wulin. This didn't seem like they were looking for trouble. Instead, the fake monks inside the pagoda hadn't shown themselves up till now.
What were they nervous about?
"Your Excellency, please investigate!"
Many disciples looked terrified, and some of the weaker ones had already collapsed to the ground, their faces covered in tears and snot.
Among them, only a few had reached the Initial Stage, most were ordinary Wulin practitioners in the Mortal Phase. They had joined the Vajra Sect to learn martial arts, hoping to be noticed by the monks, ordained, and taught advanced Body Tempering Techniques. They had never encountered such a grand scene.
Just then, a figure was suddenly kicked and flew towards them.
With a bang, the figure collided with the large, red-painted, studded gate, the wide white cloth stained with blood, and the body lay limp on the ground, its bones shattered.
As they recognized the face, the Vajra Sect disciples choked back their tears and held their breath.
Master Yuan Gang?!
Before they could react, a figure slowly walked out from among the commanders.
The night wind was desolate, and the cloak fluttered.
The golden wolf devouring the moon caught the eyes of the commanders, capturing everyone's attention.
They tightened their grip on the Demon Suppressing Chains, memorizing the young man's face, standing even straighter.
Some news spread incredibly fast, like the Golden Eagle Commanders' lingering fear after drinking, talking about how he had flipped his hand to slay the Crocodile Dragon and shocked Elder Fury Sword to death.
Adding to this was the honor of being promoted three levels while riding a horse in Qingzhou City, which made the drunken words even more believable.
Zhang the Butcher walked cautiously among these big shots, not daring to raise his head. After a moment, he realized that this group seemed as nervous as he was.
"If one day, I too..."
Li Xinhan stared intently at that slightly slender back, feeling inexplicably sentimental.
He turned to look at his sister, seeking encouragement, but found the charming girl staring blankly ahead, her red lips slightly parted, her breathing slightly rapid.
"..."
Shen Yi walked calmly to the gate, reached out, and grabbed Master Yuan Gang's clothes, dragging him step by step towards the long staircase.
The dark red bloodstains followed his footsteps, staining the bluestone steps.
After about twenty steps.
He threw Master Yuan Gang aside, took a step, and sat on the steps, his arm casually resting on his knee, his sleeves fluttering.
Shen Yi's back was to the tightly closed pagoda, and he stretched out his other hand, raising his long index finger.
There was no threat in his fair face, and his voice was as calm as his expression.
"One stick of incense."
"If I don't see the person I'm looking for, there will be no more Vajra Sect in Qingzhou."
(End of Chapter)
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