Chapter 518: Great Compassion Temple Casts Away Disciple Lian Sheng
Han Zheng had never met Ren Tianying, only learning about Ren Tianying's character from Xiang Yuangong and others.
During his time in the Capital Demon Suppression Department, Ren Tianying actually performed quite well, being meticulous and serious in his work, consistently ranking among the top in completing Eagle Guard missions.
The only criticism was that Ren Tianying and the people of the Thirteen Guards were somewhat arrogant.
They were polite to their superiors but appeared somewhat cold and perfunctory to colleagues from other Thirteen Guards.
However, they had strength, so being arrogant but not insolent was not excessive, and thus no one said much.
But after coming to Southern Mountain, Ren Tianying's deep arrogance and imperious nature truly emerged.
In the Capital Demon Suppression Department, with a Grand Commander and numerous Elders and Garrison Commanders suppressing him, there were plenty of Yang God Realm martial artists stronger than him, so Ren Tianying naturally couldn't act arrogantly and simply did his job obediently.
But in Southern Mountain, where no one could control him, he freely indulged himself.
With the current situation in Southern Mountain, Han Zheng was confident he could thoroughly suppress the Smell Fragrance Sect and the Five Families and Seven Sects.
Yet he feared Ren Tianying would suddenly appear to contradict him, not wanting to deal with these internal messes first.
Zen Master Pu Du pondered for a moment and said, "I can't quite ascertain that Ancient Relic; I just feel it's strange, like it was left by an ancient Human Clan tribe, majestic and vast within, and we actually only explored a small part.
Because the relic is within a small world, with unstable space, during our contest, there were spatial tremors from the small world that pushed us out.
Ren Tianying was the first to discover the relic and ventured the deepest, so the place he was in didn't experience spatial tremors, leading to him being lost within.
After we left, the space in the small world stabilized, and the relic disappeared again.
Master Han, Ren Tianying's situation might already be dire, and I advise you not to waste effort seeking that relic.
Many ancient relics are like this, mysteriously appearing and disappearing due to unstable interior space.
Even if they appear again, it might not be at the original location."
"Don't worry, Zen Master Pu Du, the situation in Southern Mountain is crucial, I surely won't waste effort seeking Ren Tianying."
Han Zheng thought to himself, he'd only go save Ren Tianying if he were idle; they'd better be trapped to their doom there.
"Zen Master, next, I still have to visit the Xiao Family and Jianghai Alliance, as they haven't established their magic platforms, and I wish to make an effort to strive for that. Please be prepared, if Smell Fragrance Sect makes a move, kindly assist promptly."
Zen Master Pu Du nodded, "Don't worry, Master Han, I will immediately dispatch someone to monitor Ruyi Heavenly God Venerate's actions.
However, Master Han, even though you can kill Night Sky God Venerable, you should be careful with Ruyi Heavenly God Venerate.
Among the Nine Heavens Guardian Divine Venerable of the Smell Fragrance Sect, Night Sky God Venerable ranks sixth, and Ruyi Heavenly God Venerate ranks just above, fifth.
Yet this person is extremely senior within the Smell Fragrance Sect; the Nine Heavens Guardian Divine Venerable have changed generations two or three times, but Ruyi Heavenly God Venerate is from the oldest batch.
Though I didn't formally confront Ruyi Heavenly God Venerate in the relics, I sensed an extremely terrifying aura from him.
This person might have been hiding something all along."
"Don't worry, Zen Master, I'll be cautious."
"Oh, Master Han, take Lian Sheng with you this time."
Just as Han Zheng was about to leave, Zen Master Pu Du suddenly spoke.
Han Zheng asked curiously, "Isn't the Great Compassion Temple not planning to join the martial world disputes?"
"The Great Compassion Temple isn't, but Lian Sheng can participate now."
Zen Master Pu Du sighed, "I've decided to expel Lian Sheng from the Great Compassion Temple."
Han Zheng was slightly surprised, "Why is that? Is it because those head monks inside the Great Compassion Temple are ostracizing Lian Sheng?"
Previously, when facing the Black Mountain Demon, those head monks inside the Great Compassion Temple had strong objections to Lian Sheng, wanting Zen Master Pu Du to harshly punish Lian Sheng.
Later, they learned it was a scheme by the Black Mountain Demon, and the matter was dropped.
Yet less than a year had passed, and they couldn't hold back again?
Zen Master Pu Du gently shook his head, "Not exactly; after experiencing the Black Mountain Demon incident, although they were dissatisfied, they wouldn't bring it up again.
But not mentioning it openly doesn't mean it isn't mentioned secretly; Lian Sheng's actions are still incomprehensible and unsettling to them, so they'll distance themselves from him both openly and covertly."
"But Lian Sheng won't mind."
Although Han Zheng hadn't known Lian Sheng for long, he understood how strong Lian Sheng's mental state was.
Born with the Blood Slaughter Seven Killings Fate, he could forcibly suppress his killing intent to refrain from killing innocents. Such a person wouldn't care about idle gossip.
"Though Lian Sheng doesn't mind, I, as his master, can't bear to see him treated this way."
Zen Master Pu Du sighed, "When I took Lian Sheng as a disciple, I wanted to use Buddhist Law to channel his killing intent, not to use it as a cage to confine him.
But now the Great Compassion Temple has become a cage, and I don't want him suppressing his killing intent within a cage, nor do I want Lian Sheng to enter the martial world, being contaminated by the bloodshed and turmoil, leading to killing intent corroding his mental state.
I trust Master Han's character, and the majority of what the Demon Department does is for the world, for the people, so I want to expel Lian Sheng from the Great Compassion Temple, let him join the Demon Department under Master Han."
"As long as Master Lian Sheng is willing, I'd be more than happy."
Han Zheng touched his nose, feeling slightly shy, rare for him, not expecting to be praised for his character.
However, he sincerely meant the last sentence.
Lian Sheng's powerful abilities are certainly capable of surpassing ranks to defeat opponents, joining his command would be like adding wings to a tiger.
Seeing Han Zheng agree, Zen Master Pu Du quickly called for Lian Sheng.
"Master Han, it's been a long time!"
Lian Sheng stepped into the Zen chamber, hesitated slightly upon seeing Han Zheng, then clasped his hands together and bowed to Han Zheng with a smile.
Zen Master Pu Du sighed deeply, looking at Lian Sheng, "Lian Sheng, the Great Compassion Temple no longer suits you, I want to expel you from the Great Compassion Temple, have you join Master Han's forces to slay demons and accumulate merit, what do you think?"
Lian Sheng wasn't surprised, felt neither sorrow nor joy, his smile unchanged.
He merely nodded lightly, "Since Master said so, as a disciple, I'll naturally comply."
Zen Master Pu Du seemed to have anticipated this result, wanting to say something, but ultimately sighed deeply and waved his hand.
Han Zheng took Lian Sheng and left directly; once out of the Great Compassion Temple, Han Zheng curiously asked, "From the locked disciple of the Abbot of the Great Compassion Temple to an abandoned one, have you no feelings at all, Lian Sheng?"
"I expected this day to come, naturally there wouldn't be feelings."
Lian Sheng gently shook his head, "Master can accommodate me, the Buddha can accommodate me, but the Great Compassion Temple cannot.
At the Great Compassion Temple, Master is caught in a dilemma, no one is comfortable, so I considered leaving, but Master feared I couldn't suppress my killing intent and so held back until now.
Now that you, Master Han, have come, the opportunity arises, and it's time for me to leave.
I can still worship the Buddha and earn merit by killing outside the Great Compassion Temple, and Master remains my Master.
He merely expelled me from the Great Compassion Temple, but did not disown me as a disciple.
To those in the Great Compassion Temple, their Buddha resides within the temple, it's their Spiritual Mountain.
But my Buddha is within, my Spiritual Mountain is the world."
Lian Sheng clasped his hands together, recited a Buddhist name, and looked at Han Zheng with a smile, "Master Han, you will be my superior from now on, please take good care of me, and kindly delegate more killing tasks to me."
Han Zheng twitched slightly, "Don't worry, there'll be no shortage of killings, though for now I'm heading to Jianghai Alliance and Xiao Family, killing shouldn't be necessary there."
He worried Lian Sheng, after being expelled from the Great Compassion Temple, might have mental state issues, but clearly, his concern was unwarranted.