Chapter 269: Right and Wrong, Let the World Judge
Chapter 269: Right and Wrong, Let the World Judge
Lin Wujing bowed slightly and said, "Venerable Master, he's incredibly stubborn. Even under the scorching flames of the Ten Directions Inferno, his flesh has been burned to a pulp, but he still refuses to reveal anything. He spent a long time at Heavenly Gate Pass and has a close relationship with the Li Family's Fist Sage. I suspect he might have handed the item over to the Li Family."
"Li Family..."
The Venerable Master's eyes seemed to reflect a golden wheel and a bright moon, as brilliant and deep as a starry river:
"If the Li Family obtained this Sacred Artifact, they would attack Qingzhou first, but they wouldn't perform the Soul-Burning Ancestor Worship."
Lin Wujing's eyes flickered, and he said, "It's possible they regard this item as a supreme treasure, surpassing even those Ancestral Heroic Souls. After all, it's something left behind by a Sage. If they could gain a glimpse of its secrets, they might also attain enlightenment..."
"Without that young man, Li Qianfeng could have cultivated under me for a decade, descended the mountain, and seized the True Dragon Position. The Li Family could have defended the Great Province, spreading the incense of our Buddhist Sect to enlighten the world."
The Venerable Master sighed lightly, saying, "But everything was shattered by the Demon Star. When Li Junye fell, a General Star also descended, and the Demon Star rose. This is a calamity for our Great Yu Divine Dynasty..."
Lin Wujing narrowed his eyes and, after a moment of silence, said, "If the Sacred Artifact isn't with the Li Family, it's likely at Heavenly Gate Pass. However, after the Demon Star's incarnation dissipated, I investigated Heavenly Gate Pass and found no trace of the Sacred Artifact. It must be with the Demon Star."
"Thieves colluding with the Demon Star, the Divine General Manor's glory fading, and demons lurking around. Before the Catastrophe arrives, we must recover the Sacred Artifact. Only then can our Buddhist Sect emerge to save the world."
The Venerable Master said.
Lin Wujing nodded slightly, "I'll go and enlighten him again."
After bidding farewell to the Venerable Master, Lin Wujing left the Venerable Master's Spirit Realm and headed to a secret location in the mountains.
This place was behind Wuliang Mountain, a winding path leading to a Cave Mansion. Inside the Cave Mansion, the light was dim, and the damp stone slabs led straight ahead, accompanied by the sound of dripping water.
Upon reaching the deepest part, it was a Dungeon, where the sound of iron chains echoed and the temperature was scorching.
In a pool of lava-like fire, a figure with tattered clothes was chained, hands and feet bound by heavy iron chains, with a massive iron ball weighing down the chains. The muscles on his legs and arms were torn and bleeding, and his hair was disheveled.
In the lava pool below, red, snake-like figures writhed, occasionally splashing lava onto his body, burning his flesh and creating white smoke and holes.
Seeing Lin Wujing approach, enveloped in a golden glow, the largest Red Dragon in the lava pool climbed out, its scales fine and detailed, and it spoke in a woman's voice:
"May I bow to the Bodhisattva."
The dragon prostrated itself before Lin Wujing, its voice soft and melodious.
Lin Wujing's expression was indifferent as he looked at the figure being scorched by the chains and said:
"Still unwilling to confess? Even the Ten Directions Inferno couldn't enlighten you. Do you know the gravity of your sins?"
The chains jingled slightly, and the figure with disheveled hair raised his head, revealing a pair of bright, mocking eyes:
"Don't waste your effort. You'll never get that thing from me!"
"The Venerable Master has promised that if you return it, you can join us at Wuliang Mountain, take refuge in the Buddhist Sect, and we will help you remove your calamities!"
Lin Wujing said coldly, "You wander alone, committing all sorts of foolish mistakes. It's not too late to return to the right path. With the Venerable Master's intervention, even the Emperor would show some leniency, erasing your past sins and allowing you to enter monastic life, thus transcending mortality!"
"Haha..."
"If I had been an official, would I have waited until now? If I had become a general, I would have already been a First-Rank Marquis!"
The chained figure laughed loudly, "Have you heard the saying, 'fame and fortune are but dust, and glory and wealth are mere clouds'? You bald monks, pretending to be righteous, all you care about is incense. You say your Buddhist Sect doesn't compete, but you fight over incense the most."
"You claim the Buddhist Sect enlightens the world, but without incense money, who would pity the common people?"
"Building golden statues for the Buddha, while bodies lie exposed on the streets, I spit on it!"
Hearing his insults, Lin Wujing smiled coldly. "The Buddhist Sect's enlightenment is the great path! The suffering you see is often due to their own karmic fire, a self-inflicted hardship. It is their destined tribulation. You, with your mortal eyes, cannot see through the illusions. I do not blame you, but now you have the chance to transcend the sea of suffering, and yet you do not cherish it. How are you any different from those mortals?"
"I am a mortal, why should I be different?"
The chained figure sneered. "Your teachings might fool those young men with weak resolve, but don't try to manipulate me. At my age, I know what this world is like. If I could still be swayed by you, I would have lived in vain!"
Lin Wujing's face turned cold. "A mere thief, yet you claim to see through the world. How laughable! If you do not wish to be an official or a general, and do not desire fame and fortune, why do you steal?"
"Taking others' treasures, harming them for your own gain—there are countless paths in this world, and you choose the most despicable one. You act with a haughty demeanor, looking down on the world. What else could this be but demonic possession?!"
The chained figure laughed loudly. "I enjoy stealing, I enjoy robbing—so what? This world is like this. Some succeed and become emperors, while others fail and become bandits and thieves."
"I will live my life in the way I love. You see me as a thief, I see you as a prostitute!"
"Right and wrong, let the world judge. What do I fear?!"
Lin Wujing took a deep breath. "I already knew you are deeply ensnared by your demonic nature and cannot be enlightened without reincarnation! You colluded with the Divine General Manor, trying to find a safe haven for your future troubles, but you are wrong. The Divine General Manor is in no position to help you, a notorious thief, at the cost of their ancestors' thousand-year glory!"
The chained figure's laughter abruptly stopped, and he stared intently. "The Li Family is in trouble?"
Lin Wujing sneered. "You are in no position to worry about them. Don't pretend to be sentimental in front of me. There are no Li Family members here. Li Qianfeng is my Buddhist Master's personal disciple. If he knew of your existence, he would see it as a disgrace to the Divine General Manor and would be the first to eliminate you!"
The chained figure's eyes flickered, but he did not ask further.
He knew the other would not answer.
"Though you are a thief, you have good eyes. You stole only the best. The Demonic Child you targeted at the Divine General Manor has great talent. But what does it matter? Since the battle in Liangzhou, he has been honored as a Third-Rank Duke and promoted to Grand General, holding a first-rank office!"
Lin Wujing sneered. "At a young age, he has reached the pinnacle of his career. When the emperor passes on his throne, he might even consider his opinions. Such a person, with eternal glory, do you think he would forsake his honor and power to plead for you?"
The chained figure was stunned, then laughed softly.
"Truly remarkable, reaching the pinnacle of his career. He truly lives up to his name..."
"Hand over the Sacred Artifact, and you will be freed immediately. Don't be delusional. No one will come to save you!"
Lin Wujing shouted angrily.
The chained figure glanced at him and laughed lowly. "I don't need them to save me. Death is nothing. I have experienced the world's allure, tasted its finest wine and met its most beautiful people. What does death matter?"
"You call him a Demonic Child. Ha! You had better not let me escape, or I will let the world know who the true master of the Ancient Demon Hall is!"
Lin Wujing's face paled, his eyes cold and harsh. "Burn, burn him!"
In the lava, flames roared, scorching the chained figure's flesh. His body burned, but no cries of pain were heard, only laughter.
Lin Wujing's eyes turned icy, knowing the old man was stubborn and would not give in unless the pain became unbearable.
...
...
In Qingzhou City.
After leaving the Divine General Manor, Li Hao wandered the streets, buying some crispy pastries for Xiyian, Candlelight Deity, and himself. He then climbed a mountain to visit old friends.
In the main hall of the Tan Palace, he enjoyed a pot of tea with Song Yufeng.
By the green pond, he cooked a barbecue for Song Qiumo.
He also played a few chess games with Shen Yunqing and others.
Many Tan Palace disciples came to seek his advice, and Li Hao answered casually. To the White Hall disciples, Li Hao still seemed like a teacher from the Tan Palace.
Li Hao was quite satisfied with his trip to Qingzhou. He ate well, drank well, and visited old friends. When he left, he did not let anyone see him off, only bidding farewell to Song Qiumo before quietly departing.
Passing by the bustling brothel, Li Hao saw the sign at the entrance still bearing the two lines of poetry he had recited whimsically when he was drowning his sorrows.
The youthful vigor in those lines brought a faint smile to his lips, but he didn't linger and flew away.
Once he left the city, he didn't fly far before his gaze suddenly fell on the Official Road. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he descended.
Landing not far from the Official Road, he then walked over with the Candlelight Deity.
Ahead, there was a tea stall. At the stall, an old man was busy tidying up, cleaning the used bowls and wiping the table of the leftover food.
Next to the tea stall, under a tent, three fast horses were tied up. Two young men and a middle-aged man were drinking tea.
"Sir, would you like some tea? The tea here is cheap, and the small buns are very tasty."
The old tea vendor saw Li Hao approaching and immediately called out.
The other three also looked at Li Hao. When they saw the young man with a concealed aura but a cold and intimidating presence behind him, they quickly looked away.
They knew that in the Jianghu, it was best not to provoke someone who looked troublesome.
Li Hao's eyes slightly narrowed as he looked at the tea stall owner. "I know the way to Qingzhou well. Why have I never seen a tea stall here before?"
"Sir, that's an interesting question. Just because you haven't seen it before doesn't mean it won't be here in the future", the old tea vendor laughed.
"When did you arrive here?"
Li Hao sat down at a table.
"Just a few days ago."
The old tea vendor smiled. "I used to be in Liangzhou, but these days, my granddaughter wanted to help me. Since the journey is long, I decided to come back here."
As he spoke, a girl stood up behind the steamer, dressed in a blue-green outfit, like a blue butterfly in the summer. She had been bending down, searching for something.
"Grandpa, I can't find the paper."
"Check under the basket."
The old tea vendor turned and said, then smiled at Li Hao. "Sir, what would you like? Two steamed buns?"
"Sure."
Li Hao looked at him, then at the girl, who bent down again and found the oiled paper, her face breaking into a smile.
Noticing his gaze, she looked at Li Hao, her eyes bright like the moonlight on a stream, her skin as white and smooth as snow, her nose small and delicate, exuding a lively and intelligent air.
She stood there, radiating a noble aura that seemed out of place in the dilapidated tea stall, like a young miss from a noble family, yet her smile was warm and friendly, giving her a casual charm like a neighbor's daughter.
"Alright."
When their eyes met, Li Hao felt as if she could see through him, a strange sensation that made him withdraw his gaze and nod.
He had met this old tea vendor in Liangzhou before, where the vendor said business was good. Li Hao hadn't detected anything unusual then and let it go.
Now, encountering him again in Qingzhou, even Li Hao, with his usual detachment, sensed something was off. What surprised him was that, despite not thoroughly investigating, his subtle perception revealed no aura from either the old man or the girl.
Compared to the old tea vendor, the girl's attire was more casual. Though not particularly luxurious, it was far from shabby. Her clothing, with its color and style, made her stand out like a snow lotus, fresh and elegant, drawing attention even in rough clothing.
This was certainly not the daughter of a rural tenant farmer, as her skin was too pale and delicate to have been exposed to the elements.
"Old sir, this tea is quite refreshing."
Li Hao sipped his tea and said.
The old tea vendor chuckled. "It's all clean spring water, naturally fragrant."
The word "clean" seemed slightly emphasized.
Li Hao's eyes flickered. The old man had no demonic aura or murderous intent, and while he was peculiar, he didn't seem malicious.
Forget it... He didn't want to delve too deeply. Life in the world wasn't about investigating every detail.
That would be too exhausting.
As the old tea vendor returned to the stall to knead dough and make small buns, the girl in the blue-green dress walked over to Li Hao's table with graceful, slightly lively steps and sat down.
Her face was naturally and comfortably smiling. "Sir, with all the demons gathering in Qingzhou City, aren't you afraid?"
"If you're not afraid, why should I be?" Li Hao glanced at her and continued sipping his tea.
"We are afraid, but the demons were eliminated, so we dared to set up our stall", the girl laughed.
"The demons were just eliminated, and you dare to set up your stall. That's quite brave."
"Grandpa always says, wealth comes with risk. In business, you have to compete with heaven, earth, and people. Being timid won't get you anywhere."
"Is it that serious?"
"Of course."
The girl lifted her delicate fingers and pointed up. "You have to read the weather. If it's windy or rainy, you'll lose money. You also have to read the people. Even with a small business, if there's profit, someone will try to take it, right?"
"That makes sense."
Li Hao finished his cup of tea and nodded in agreement.
But what she meant by heaven, people, and profit was open to interpretation.
After a few casual exchanges, the awkwardness at the tea table seemed to dissipate. The girl smiled and said, "My name is Ying Xiaoxiao. Ying means 'destiny,' and Xiaoxiao means 'graceful.' What's your name?"
“You can call me Hao Tian.”
Li Hao gazed at her.
This glance was to gauge her reaction.
If it were any other ordinary person, he would have casually used a fake name to brush them off.
The girl, however, showed little reaction to Li Hao’s name and continued, “What’s your surname, then?”
“I don’t have a surname.”
“Who doesn’t have a surname?” Ying Xiaoxiao smiled.
Seeing her natural and calm expression, Li Hao also smiled and said, “Even without a surname, I can still live a good life.”
If he had to have a surname, he could use Li, but that was his surname from his previous life. Since he had died and been reborn here, he had already bid farewell to his past life.
Living in this world, he would use the name of this world.
Hearing Li Hao’s words, Ying Xiaoxiao was slightly stunned, and her smile gradually faded.
“Here are your steamed buns, be careful, they’re hot.”
At that moment, the Tea Stall owner brought over the steamed buns, which were still steaming.
“Try them, my grandfather’s skills are excellent.”
Ying Xiaoxiao immediately said, her bright eyes filled with anticipation, as if waiting for Li Hao’s reaction after tasting them.
Li Hao smiled, “I’ve already had the pleasure.”
He picked up a pair of chopsticks from the chopstick holder, tapped them on the table to align them, and then started eating. “The taste is still the same, it’s great.”
“Good, I’m glad you like them.”
The old tea vendor smiled.
Li Hao nodded and continued eating the buns while sipping tea.
He also ordered a portion for the Candlelight Deity and asked the old man to pack another portion for Xiyian to try later.
After finishing his meal, he looked at the girl who had been sitting across from him, watching him, and got up, leaving a couple of silver coins on the table. “If we meet again, I hope to eat such delicious buns once more.”
The old tea vendor took the silver coins, wiped the table, and smiled, “You’re always welcome, sir.”
Li Hao smiled, waved goodbye, and walked down the Official Road.
The other few people in the tea stall had also finished eating and left on horseback, heading toward Qingzhou City.
The tea stall was now left with just the grandfather and granddaughter. The old tea vendor looked in the direction Li Hao had gone and sighed lightly, “This young man is a hero. I didn’t expect such a place with thin divine power to produce such a monster…”
“Otherwise, how could he have gained the favor of the Sage Realm? He bears the Sage Mark.”
Ying Xiaoxiao gazed intently, speaking softly.
The old tea vendor was taken aback and couldn’t help but look again. He then shook his head and sighed, “I don’t know what’s going on, but this young man reminds me of a child from the past. That child was also a monster, but not as powerful as him. Their names are the same, but strangely, their aura and appearance have completely changed.”
“Oh?”
Ying Xiaoxiao was intrigued. “You mean the one at Heavenly Gate Pass?”
“Yes.”
“We’ve been there, but he wasn’t there. Only an incarnation remained, and it seemed to have dissipated.”
Ying Xiaoxiao’s eyes sparkled. “Since their names are the same and their ages are similar, what if it’s some kind of transformation, like a complete rebirth, which is even more thorough than a rebirth, leading to a complete change in aura?”
The old tea vendor thought for a moment. “That’s possible, but such a technique is extremely difficult to achieve. Unless the Sage Realm intervenes, I can’t think of any cultivation techniques that could do it. Even if he soul-snatched, his divine soul would still carry the original aura.”
Hearing this, Ying Xiaoxiao decided, “Then let’s go and see what’s going on.”
The old tea vendor was taken aback and hurriedly said, “Young Miss, we shouldn’t. He already noticed something was off when you were here.”
“But he didn’t act, which means he’s not the type to meddle in others’ affairs.”
Ying Xiaoxiao smiled. “Besides, even if he does act, we have nothing to fear. We’re just curious. We’ve already gathered the killing and resentment auras in Qingzhou City, and it’s time to leave.”
The old tea vendor smiled bitterly, knowing that the young miss had a carefree and spontaneous nature. Seeing that he couldn’t dissuade her, he said, “Even though he noticed we were unusual, we should still maintain a facade to avoid causing trouble.”
“Fine, anyway, earlier, there were rumors that someone was impersonating us and slaughtering the prodigies of the Ancient Holy Clan in the Great Wasteland Sky. So, let’s impersonate the Ancient Holy Clan for a bit.”
Ying Xiaoxiao smiled. “Doesn’t that make sense?”
Reasonable… The old tea vendor smiled bitterly, looking at her. Which Ancient Holy Clan prodigy could compare to you, Young Miss?
Immediately, when no one was around, the old tea vendor waved his hand, and the tea stall vanished into his sleeve. The old man and the young girl then disappeared from the Official Road.
(End of Chapter)
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