The Melon-eating Swordsman In The Ancient Dragon World Chapter 522: Shaolin Temple's Request - Novel Cool

Chapter 522: Shaolin Temple's Request

Chapter 522: Shaolin Temple's Request

Tie Kaicheng patted Sun Xingyu's soft hand and asked, "Do you know why there aren't any major sects in the Qinling Mountains?"

"Why?" Sun Xingyu asked.

"Because the Qinling Mountains are located at the junction of Guanzhong, Bashu, and Yunhan. With Mount Hua to the north, Emei to the south, and Wudang to the east, there's also the Bashan Daoist Temple nearby." Tie Kaicheng laughed, "So while there are many reclusive martial artists in the Qinling Mountains, there isn't a single dominant force."

Sun Xingyu smiled slightly, "That's just perfect, isn't it?"

Tie Kaicheng pondered for a moment, and indeed, it seemed ideal. Facing these three major sword sects was surely easier than dealing with the Demon Sect rallying to 'purify' the world, which would unite the seven major sword sects and three prominent sects into a force of nine against them.

Li Zhenzhen, annoyed, asked, "Why don't you just place the Demon Sect's headquarters in the Central Plains?"

Sun Xingyu smiled, "I don't want to face the Shaolin Sect, the Wudang Sect, and the Beggar's Sect all at once."

Li Zhenzhen rolled her eyes, "But you're not afraid of the Emei Sect."

Sun Xingyu smiled serenely, "That's because you're in the Emei Sect, so I have one less enemy to worry about."

Li Zhenzhen let out a cold laugh, "That's not necessarily true."

...

After their journey back to Chenzhou from Jiangnan, Li Zhenzhen looked radiant, Sun Xingyu exuded a captivating charm, and Tie Kaicheng stretched his limbs to relieve the stiffness from the travel. They were greeted by Rong Zhengjie and Li Cheng upon their return to the Hongqi Escort Agency.

"Xue Keran and Jin Lanhua have left."

"Old Miao and his family have moved into the escort agency. The old grandmother cleans the courtyard and cooks meals, while Old Miao handles the labor, and their child helps with sewing and laundry."

"The young men in the courtyard fawn over the child all day."

"They are all very satisfied with their current lives."

Upon Tie Kaicheng's return to the Hongqi Escort Agency, the grateful Old Miao and his family, including the grandmother and their child, paid him a visit, bearing homemade osmanthus cake as a token of their appreciation. They expressed their heartfelt thanks before taking their leave.

Three days later, the chief monk of the Damo Court of Shaolin Temple, Master Tianming, paid a visit.

"Greetings, Master Tianming."

"Amituofo!" Master Tianming greeted with palms pressed together, "Greetings, Chief Iron."

Shaolin Temple, located in Dengfeng, held sway over the Central Plains. Its influence stretched from northern Jin and Ji to eastern Qi and Lu, and down to Huainan. Most of the martial arts world had some connection, however slight, to Shaolin Temple.

The Hongqi Escort Agency was no exception.

Tie Zhongqi had once received guidance from a high monk of Shaolin, and there were even escorts within the agency who were secular disciples of Shaolin. While they weren't considered part of Shaolin's peripheral forces, they maintained regular dealings with the temple.

However, this was the first time a Shaolin elder had visited them in person.

Li Zhenzhen and Sun Xingyu had not yet risen, so Tie Kaicheng received Master Tianming alone in the front hall. "I'm honored by your visit, Master Tianming. May I ask what brings you here? If there's anything I can assist with, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Amituofo!" Master Tianming nodded and began with praise, "Chief Iron, your move in Jiangnan, slaying Mo Feiyan with a single strike, was a display of martial arts surpassing that of your master. Your late master must be proud in heaven."

"You're too kind, Master," Tie Kaicheng replied. "My aspirations are simple. As long as I can sustain the escort agency and provide for the over two thousand people who depend on it, I will be content."

Master Tianming smiled, "Not only have you inherited your late master's martial arts, but you've also learned Yan Shi's Thirteen Deadly Swords, establishing your own unique sword style. Achieving your modest goal will surely be effortless, and the Hongqi Escort Agency will thrive for another thirty years under your leadership."

"Thank you for your kind words, Master Tianming," Tie Kaicheng said, his eyes narrowing as he guessed the purpose of the monk's visit. "May I ask if your visit is related to Yan Shi?"

"But Xie Xiaofeng isn't truly dead," Master Tianming stated.

"So their duel can't be avoided," Tie Kaicheng added.

Master Tianming sighed, "I know their duel is inevitable. For swordsmen of their caliber, once a decision is made, it cannot be changed."

Tie Kaicheng raised an eyebrow, "I thought the Master wanted to stop their duel and have them join forces to battle the Demon Sect's leader instead."

Master Tianming laughed, "Could we even do that?"

Tie Kaicheng shook his head, "Of course not."

"My martial arts skills may not match theirs, but I understand people like them, and I know they can't be persuaded." Master Tianming shook his head in resignation, "How could people like them ever join forces?"

Sheep and cattle gather in herds, but tigers and leopards never travel in packs.

Tie Kaicheng blinked, truly unsure what Master Tianming meant.

"However, the Demon Leader's martial arts are indeed awe-inspiring, shining through the ages and stunning the present. He is no less skilled than Xie Xiaofeng and Yan Shi," Master Tianming said solemnly, "Tian Fei, my senior martial brother, had already cultivated the 'Muscle Changing and Marrow Cleansing Classic' to perfection, yet he still couldn't block the Demon Leader's strike."

Fear flashed in Master Tianming's eyes as he recalled the event, "His demonic blade was inscribed with the phrase 'A night of spring rain on a small tower'. It looked gentle and elegant, but when it left its sheath, it carried an overwhelming dominance that blotted out the sun!"

"With one strike of his blade, a man was cleaved in two." Master Tianming turned to Tie Kaicheng, his voice heavy, "And the Demon Sect's battle cry was 'Divine Rule Over the World, Purification of the World'. If we let the Demon Sect enter the Central Plains, the landscape of the martial world will change drastically, and the Hongqi Escort Agency won't be spared."

The Demon Sect, originating from Tianzhu, had not yet integrated into the Central Plains and still carried a strong sense of exclusivity and expansionism. To them, the entire Central Plains martial world was their enemy.

Tie Kaicheng began to understand, "So, Master, you mean..."

"Iron Chief Escorter, you are the heir to Yan the Hero's sword techniques, and I've heard your relationship with him is quite good." Master Tianming spoke sincerely, "So, I hope that after Yan the Hero emerges victorious from his battle on Mount Tai, you can invite him to Shaolin for a chat and persuade him to aid the Central Plains martial world, pitting his divine sword against the demonic blade."

Tie Kaicheng finally grasped the monk's intention.

Although he didn't know if the rumor of "Dual Swords Against the Demonic Blade" was spread by the three major sects and the seven great sword sects to provoke Yan Shi and Xie Xiaofeng's competitive spirits, they had indeed pinned their hopes on these two men.

But they also knew that such peerless swordsmen would never join forces, so they placed their hopes on the winner among them.

Yan Shi had reached out to Tie Kaicheng, and for Xie Xiaofeng, it was simple—the Xie family, renowned for their swordsmanship, held great influence in Jiangnan, so they just needed to ask Xie Wangsun to give up some of his interests.

Tie Kaicheng smiled, "My master was just a freelance escort, and he might not care about the clash of blades and swords."

Master Tianming certainly wasn't expecting Tie Kaicheng to exert himself for free, "Does Iron Chief Escorter have any conditions?"

Tie Kaicheng nodded, "I heard that the Quanzhen Ancestral Court on Mount Zhongnan has been abandoned for a long time..."

(End of Chapter)

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