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Chapter 20: Gaining Master Xinmei's Goodwill
Chapter 20: Gaining Master Xinmei's Goodwill
"If my sword is not fast enough, I'm afraid my shoulder will be ruined." Afeng said nonchalantly. "The monk's prayer beads only hit me and not Zhao Zhengyi. Is this the Buddhist concept of equality for all beings?"
"Amituofo!" The old monk joined his hands together and replied, "Lay benefactor Zhao couldn't kill you, and I also do not wish for you to create more sins. You should know that although your sword is fast, it is still not faster than the Buddha's Dharma eyes."
Afeng let out a cold laugh. "Can the Master's prayer beads escape the Dharma eyes of the Buddha? If I die from my injuries at Zhao Zhengyi's hands, whose sin will it be? Yours, his, or the lofty Buddha's?"
Zhao Zhengyi's expression turned stern. "How bold! Even in front of Shaolin's Dharma Protector Master, you dare to be so rude?"
The old monk smiled faintly. "It's alright. The tongues of youths are often sharper than their swords."
Lin Xian'er's gaze shifted, and she immediately said, "Since Master Xinmei doesn't blame him, why don't you leave now?"
Zhao Zhengyi coldly replied, "He didn't leave earlier, and now he wants to, it's probably too late!"
Afeng looked at You Longsheng and saw him nod slightly. Then, he walked towards the door and said, "If I want to leave, can you stop me?"
"You..." Zhao Zhengyi glared, but noticed that Tian Qi wasn't stopping Afeng, and Master Xinmei showed no signs of intervening either.
"Master, you..." Tian Qi forced a laugh, "Master Xinmei is always merciful and compassionate. How could he make things difficult for such an ignorant youth? Let him go."
As Afeng was about to leave, Lin Xian'er's gaze lingered on You Longsheng for a moment before she quietly followed Afeng out.
Only then did Master Xinmei speak, "The abbot elder brother of our sect received a carrier pigeon messenger from Fatuo Temple and immediately ordered this old monk to rush over. He knew that our secular disciple Qin Zhong had suffered serious injuries."
"Qin Zihai is chivalrous and heroic, and Qin Zhong is a hero!" Zhao Zhengyi sighed, glaring at Li Xihuan, "It's just a pity that the Master came one step too late."
"Oh?" Master Xinmei's eyes flickered, and seeing Li Xihuan with his acupoints struck, lying on the chair, he asked in surprise, "Could it be that Li Xihuan is..."
"Bang..."
"Master Xinmei!" You Longsheng quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"You, my good nephew." Seeing You Longsheng, Master Xinmei revealed a smile, "Why are you here too?"
You Longsheng's father, Cang Long Lao Ren, had been friends with Xin Hu Master for decades, so You Longsheng naturally also knew the Shaolin Temple's 'Xin' generation high monks.
"I'm lazy when it comes to managing business matters, so I followed in the footsteps of my father and master to wander the Jianghu." You Longsheng said, "When I heard the news about the Plum Blossom Thief, I also came here."
"Regarding Qin Zhong's matter, I deeply regret it. I hate that I wasn't at the manor that night. If I had been, the Plum Blossom Thief wouldn't have been able to seriously injure Qin Zhong." You Longsheng said with a bitter voice.
Zhao Zhengyi curled his lips. He had also been present that night and really hadn't seen any signs of regret on You Longsheng's face.
"The Plum Blossom Thief is famous in the Jianghu and is not an ordinary person. Qin Zhong's death was his destiny." Master Xinmei sighed, then his expression turned solemn as he looked at Li Xihuan, "But our Shaolin's new generation's first secular disciple is not so easily killed."
Li Xihuan sighed and was about to speak when You Longsheng interrupted, "Whether it was actually the Plum Blossom Thief, and whether the Plum Blossom Thief is dead or alive, has not been determined yet."
"Oh? Then what about Li Xihuan..."
"Li Xihuan was merely present at Leng Xiang Xiaozhu that night." You Longsheng said, "Li Xihuan used to be wealthy and talented, with a graceful and elegant demeanor. He had enough wealth and beautiful women to last a lifetime.
Upon hearing this, Master Xinmei was taken aback, and Li Xihuan couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "I may be a good-for-nothing, but I'm certainly not psychologically disturbed."
He would rather bear the reputation of being a good-for-nothing or even be accused of being the Plum Blossom Thief than be labeled as psychologically disturbed.
Unlike Tian Qi, Gongsun Moyun, Zhao Zhengyi, and even Long Xiaoyun, who had personal grudges against Li Xihuan, Master Xinmei and the Shaolin Temple had no such enmity.
In the original novel, when Master Xinmei struck out at Afeng, it was to save Zhao Zhengyi, and Afeng happened to have his back turned towards the door.
Of course, it was true that he struck with full force, as he was filled with anger at the time and believed Afeng to be an enemy, so he showed no mercy.
Then, upon learning of Qin Zhong's death and suspecting Li Xihuan to be the Plum Blossom Thief, when he faced Afeng, who was a friend of Li Xihuan, he struck with even greater force and showed no mercy.
Monks are human too, and humans have jealousy. As the first secular disciple of Shaolin died, seeing a young genius who was also an enemy, it was understandable that he would strike with force, especially since he ultimately did not pursue Afeng, leaving him a chance to escape.
Those were his mistakes, but let's also acknowledge his positive qualities.
First, even though Tian Qi and Zhao Zhengyi were convinced that Li Xihuan was the Plum Blossom Thief, and even Master Xinmei believed so, he still insisted on not killing Li Xihuan due to a lack of evidence. Instead, he wanted to bring him back to Shaolin and leave the judgment to Masters Xin Hu and Bai Xiaosheng.
Second, on the way back to Shaolin, he did not verbally abuse or mistreat Li Xihuan. Furthermore, when he was poisoned, he saved Li Xihuan from Tian Qi's men, unsealed his acupoints, and even at the cost of his own life, he made sure Li Xihuan had a chance to escape.
Considering all these points, Master Xinmei was not an evil person and was worth rescuing. At the very least, his crimes did not warrant death.
Even Li Xihuan went to great lengths to save Master Xinmei's life, and You Longsheng naturally intended to do the same, provided that he changed his negative perception of Li Xihuan and Afeng.
Once again, You Longsheng "impartially" recounted their previous discussion.
Without Tian Qi and the others influencing Master Xinmei, and without any preconceived notions, it was clear to see who was speaking reasonably.
"Amituofo," Master Xinmei murmured, feeling a twinge of regret. "It seems that young man might have avenged Qin Zhong."
Zhao Zhengyi quickly interjected, "But it could also be that they colluded to deceive everyone!"
With Zhao Zhengyi's unwavering justice, Tian Qi's cunning, and Gongsun Moyun's reputation, it was difficult to refute the accusations made by the three of them. Even Master Xinmei could not easily dismiss their claims without concrete evidence of Li Xihuan's innocence.
"In that case, let's take Li Xihuan to Shaolin Temple and let Master Xin Hu decide," Master Xinmei said.
Tian Qi's eyes shifted, and he quickly added, "I will accompany Master there."
You Longsheng smiled faintly. "I believe the matter of the Plum Blossom Thief is coming to an end, and it has been a while since I last saw Master Xin Hu. I shall accompany you to Shaolin to pay my respects to him."
(End of Chapter)
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