https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-641-Fanning-the-Flames-Off-to-the-Great-Desert/12624734/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-643-Witnessing-the-Restoration-of-the-Kingdom-of-Kucha/12625743/
Chapter 642: The First Major Incident Comes to a Perfect Close
Chapter 642: The First Major Incident Comes to a Perfect Close
They traveled along the official road, passing through Shandong and Henan, entering Guanzhong through Gansu and Long, and finally reaching the Great Desert.
The Desert King's influence was indeed far-reaching. Not only did he have ample men in the Great Desert, but he also had his own stations in Gansu, Guanzhong, and along their route, providing hospitality that spared them any hardship.
Along the way, the three girls quickly became close friends with Hei Zhenzhu, chatting endlessly. They traveled and roomed together.
Of course, Jin Banhua and Hei Zhenzhu hit it off instantly. As the saying goes, a friend of a friend is a friend, so he and Su Rongrong also became friends with her.
The three girls discovered that Jin Banhua had a pleasant personality. Although he had a bit of a playboy attitude, he was straightforward and forthright, speaking his mind.
One day, their conversation turned to Chu Liuxiang's journey to Fujian and Zhejiang.
"Can you guess who the person who adopted the other murderer is?" Hei Zhenzhu asked.
"Huh?" Jin Banhua looked at Hei Zhenzhu. "Don't you know? Didn't Chu Liuxiang tell you?"
Hei Zhenzhu looked bewildered. "He doesn't know either? He's going there to investigate, isn't he?"
"Investigate what?" Jin Banhua asked. "Isn't the answer obvious? Nan Gongling almost threw his brother's name in our faces, and you still haven't guessed it?"
Hei Zhenzhu asked in surprise, "You've guessed it?"
"You mean you haven't guessed it yet?" Jin Banhua asked.
"Can you stop being so mysterious?" Hei Zhenzhu said angrily. "Just tell me who it is!"
"Wu Hua!" Jin Banhua exclaimed. "He's appeared with Nan Gongling several times. He's also a disciple of Master Tianfeng from Putian Shaolin Temple and an orphan. His age fits, too. Who else could it be?"
"Wu Hua?"
Upon hearing this, not only Hei Zhenzhu but also Su Rongrong and the other two girls were shocked.
"Wu Hua is Nan Gongling's brother? The murderer who killed Elder Zhamuhe?" Li Hongxiu asked in surprise.
Song Tian'er blinked, "You mean the monk who plays the best zither, paints the most beautiful paintings, writes the most soul-stirring poems, and cooks the most exquisite dishes?"
Su Rongrong looked at Jin Banhua, "Miaoseng Wu Hua is a renowned Buddhist scholar, not only excelling in poetry, calligraphy, painting, and literature but also possessing high martial arts skills. If you have no evidence..."
Jin Banhua asked Li Hongxiu, "When you found Zuo Youzheng's body at sea, was Wu Hua there?"
Li Hongxiu replied, "Yes, Wu Hua was indeed there that day. Besides him, there was also Nan Gongling, along with elders and protectors from the Beggar's Sect."
Jin Banhua asked Hei Zhenzhu, "When Chu Liuxiang returned to Jinan with Nan Gongling, was Wu Hua there?"
"Yes!" Hei Zhenzhu immediately answered, "He used the pretext of needing to relieve himself to leave Nan Gongling and Wu Hua's banquet and rode my Pearl Colt to Ni Mountain."
"There you have it," Jin Banhua said. "At that time, Nan Gongling hadn't exposed himself yet. Rather than sneaking around and risking being discovered, it's better to meet as a monk seeking alms and the leader of beggars. Others would only think they were exchanging tips on how to beg for money."
Su Rongrong murmured, "I see. No wonder my aunt said no man could enter the Goddess Palace. Wu Hua is a monk, so they didn't consider him a man..."
On the other side, Song Tian'er was giggling from Jin Banhua's playful remarks, "Monk seeking alms, beggar's leader, you sure have a way with words."
Hei Zhenzhu calmly added, "He also referred to Chu Liuxiang as a middle-aged thief."
Song Tian'er immediately stopped laughing and rolled her eyes at Jin Banhua, "You're the playboy here!"
Jin Banhua puffed out his chest, "I'm the playboy heir of a wealthy family from the capital!"
Seeing the carefree Song Tian'er and the carefree Jin Banhua about to go off on a tangent again, Su Rongrong quickly steered the conversation back on track.
"Pearl Sister, are you saying that Chu Liuxiang doesn't know that Wu Hua is Nan Gongling's brother?"
"He only mentioned that he's going to the Fujian and Zhejiang martial arts world to find the first person who fought with Tianfeng Shiren," Hei Zhenzhu said. "This person has a famous name, exceptional martial arts skills, a generous and tolerant personality, and doesn't like to show off."
Su Rongrong thought about it and breathed a sigh of relief. "Now that I think about it, it does seem like it could only be Master Tianfeng."
"Exactly!" Jin Banhua proudly said, "Even I, who doesn't really walk the paths of the martial arts world, could figure out it was Master Tianfeng. Isn't Nan Gongling throwing Wu Hua's name in our faces?"
Upon hearing Jin Banhua's words, Li Hongxiu suddenly asked, "Then do you know Baiyun Xian from Wuyi Mountain?"
Jin Banhua shook her head. "No."
"In that case, you definitely don't know Xiao Yanke, the Nine-Fingered Strange Hero of Hangzhou, Ning Xiansheng, the Life and Death Judge of Jinhua, or Cao Daxia, the Falling Moon Blade of Fuzhou?" Li Hongxiu continued. "What about the Chen and Lin families of southern Fujian's martial arts world? Have you heard of them?"
Jin Banhua shook her head again. "No, never heard of them."
Su Rongrong asked Li Hongxiu, "Do all these people also fit the description?"
Li Hongxiu nodded, her face turning a little pale. "More or less."
Su Rongrong couldn't help but raise her hand to her forehead, finally understanding why Li Hongxiu looked so uncomfortable.
Jin Banhua was new to the martial arts world and didn't know much, perhaps only knowing about Master Tianfeng.
However, Chu Liuxiang was not a novice. Without any preconceived suspicions about Wu Hua, there were probably quite a few people who fit the description as far as he was concerned.
But unless there was conclusive evidence, Chu Liuxiang would never suspect or accuse anyone.
With that in mind, would he still be able to find Master Tianfeng, and would he still suspect Wu Hua?
More importantly, what was Wu Hua planning to do with the Heaven's First Holy Water that he had stolen from the Goddess Palace? It was colorless and odorless, impossible for humans to detect...
Fortunately, the day before they entered the Great Desert, a major piece of news from the southern Fujian martial arts world swept through the entire martial arts world like a hurricane, reaching this city in Gansu and Long.
"Chu Xiangshuai single-handedly invaded the Putian Shaolin Temple, and the entire temple of monks couldn't stop him!"
"Shaolin's Wu Hua repays kindness with ingratitude, attempting to poison Master Tianfeng. Chu Liuxiang saw through his scheme and stopped him, causing Wu Hua to commit suicide!"
"Wu Hua and Nan Gongling are actually the sons of the Japanese warrior Tianfeng Shiren. They took advantage of Master Tianfeng and Elder Ren's kindness to plot and seize power in Shaolin and the Beggar's Sect, intending to bring chaos to the Central Plains' martial arts world!"
"Elder Ren's wife from the Beggar's Sect has re-emerged in the martial arts world and is temporarily in charge of the sect's power."
"Shaolin Temple has expelled Wu Hua from the monastic rolls."
"The Fragrant Hero's whereabouts are unpredictable. After handling this major incident, he disappeared again."
"As expected of the Moon Night Hero, appearing like a dragon and then disappearing without a trace!"
Hearing this news, Su Rongrong and the others finally felt relieved, smiles of ease spreading across their faces.
Su Rongrong laughed, "He'll definitely return to the ship as fast as he can."
Song Tian'er smiled, "I've also prepared his favorite roasted chicken for him."
Li Hongxiu smiled, "And I've been keeping that bottle of wine chilled in the sea."
Hei Zhenzhu smiled, "And then he'll find that all of you are gone."
Jin Banhua smiled, "Finally, he'll come looking for you, furious."
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
