Chapter 187: 187
Although the various Sect Masters are united, they still need the support of the two elderly seniors…"
Yue Buqun showed an awkward expression.
The reason he could become the Five Peaks Alliance Leader was because the original leader, Zuo Lengchan, had been killed by Chu Yang.
Having just taken office and lacking prestige, Yue Buqun desperately needed to do something to solidify his position as the Five Peaks Alliance Leader, so he shouted the loudest for the campaign against Chu Yang.
"Support?"
Zhang Sanfeng sneered as he looked around, seeing many people like Yue Buqun, wolves in sheep's clothing, who disregarded the safety of others for their own reputation in the martial arts world.
"This old Daoist has lived for over a hundred years, yet I am still fond of the human world, so I will not go to the Yellow Springs with all of you.
This time next year, I will certainly prepare more joss paper for all of you Sect Masters."
After Zhang Sanfeng finished speaking, he waved his Daoist robe, pushed Yue Buqun aside, and strode out of the Great Hero Hall.
And his words were like cold water poured over everyone's hearts.
Yue Buqun's face was ashen, and he was speechless.
For a moment, the various sects and factions began to feel uneasy and fearful again, losing their previous momentum.
Feng Qingyang felt the time was right, so he leaped forward, blocking Zhang Sanfeng, who was about to leave, and said loudly to comfort him: "Daoist Brother, don't be impatient.
Aren't we all still discussing this?
They haven't seen how formidable that young man is, so it's understandable for them to speak a few big words."
Zhang Sanfeng nodded and stood still, silently watching them, as if waiting for their answer.
If he wasn't satisfied, everyone would go their separate ways.
Feng Qingyang was the same.
At this moment, a novice monk frantically pushed through the crowd.
Abbot Xuanci's expression changed when he saw him.
The novice monk was sent by him to contact Chu Yang.
His return meant that Chu Yang had already arrived at the foot of Shaolin Temple.
"Abbot, Chu Benefactor… he's here!"
Inside and outside the hall, sounds of gasps echoed one after another.
Just hearing that name made everyone's scalps tingle.
The disciples from the scattered sects turned pale with fright and trembled at the mere mention of it.
Seeing how terrified they were, disciples from other sects who had never seen Chu Yang suddenly became a little curious.
Zhang Sanfeng said in a deep voice: "If you all wish to leave the Great Hero Hall alive today, then heed this old Daoist's advice: do not do anything foolish!"
All the Sect Masters, including Yue Buqun, looked solemn.
A moment later, a carriage ascended the steps smoothly, without any jolting, drawing the attention of the disciples from various sects standing in the square, who stopped to watch.
"The carriage road for Shaolin Temple already ends at the incense hall below.
How did this carriage get up here?"
"Look, the wheels of that carriage are floating!"
"Did you drink this morning?
How can a carriage's wheels float… By their mother, it's true!"
"This is a flying carriage!"
"That Xiao Hongma (Little Red Horse) doesn't look like an ordinary creature either!"
A simple and honest voice rang out from the crowd, "Master, isn't that my Xiao Hongma (Little Red Horse)?"
The blind man, whose eyes were covered with a black cloth, said in a deep voice, "Shut up!"
The blind man's palms and forehead were covered in cold sweat.
Last time, this foolish disciple mysteriously disappeared, and they searched half of Southern Song.
After finally reuniting, along the way, he kept mentioning a remarkable person named "Mr. Chu."
They never dreamed that the Mr. Chu their foolish disciple spoke of was actually the same young scholar in the carriage!
Everyone's gaze was focused on the carriage.
A man and a woman.
The man wore a sky-blue scholar's robe, as gentle as jade, while the woman wore a light yellow ruqun, delicate and lovely.
They looked like an immortal couple who had stepped out of a painting.
Many who had never seen Chu Yang's appearance had thought the legendary "Demon Lord" would have a fierce, menacing look with a face full of flesh.
With the main personage having arrived, this group of people, instead of being as confrontational as before, were as docile as rabbits.
The crowd naturally parted to create a path for the carriage.
The carriage stopped at the foot of the Great Hero Hall steps.
"What should I say?
'Searching high and low, only to find it effortlessly'?"
Chu Yang, sitting on the carriage shaft, looked left and right, spotting many familiar faces.
Yue Buqun and the other Sect Masters had stiff expressions.
"Amitabha… Today, this temple invited Chu Benefactor with the intention of turning hostility into friendship."
Abbot Xuanci stepped forward, descended the steps slowly, and walked to the front of the carriage, looking directly at Chu Yang.
"Monk, you are mistaken.
Whether hostility can be turned into friendship is not for me to decide, as I am not the victim."
Chu Yang looked at him with a half-smile.
"Alas, then may I ask Chu Benefactor, could you please ask that Ancient Tomb Sect disciple to come forward and talk, to give us a chance for reconciliation?"
Abbot Xuanci's eyes, as calm as an ancient well, stared at the carriage compartment.
Huang Rong raised an eyebrow, wrinkling her nose, "Hmph! Old monk, who wants to negotiate with you all?
If it weren't for the idea of solving everything once and for all, I wouldn't even come to this Shaolin Temple if you invited me!"
Whether it was Huang Rong or Chu Yang, their words were filled with the intent to wipe out everyone at Shaolin Temple in one fell swoop, making many people uneasy and causing them to whisper among themselves.
Abbot Xuanci also found it troublesome.
He had originally thought that no matter how arrogant Mr. Chu was, he would show some restraint upon seeing so many martial arts comrades.
Who knew that the other party's arrogance far exceeded his imagination.
"Has Chu Benefactor not caused enough destruction to sects?"
"Old monk, why don't you ask them why they weren't satisfied with just stealing the secret manual and insisted on making trouble for the women and children of Ancient Tomb Sect?"
Abbot Xuanci was speechless and could only look at Zhang Sanfeng and Feng Qingyang behind him with pleading eyes.
Zhang Sanfeng stepped forward first, laughing heartily: "Daoist friend, it's been many days since we last met, and your demeanor remains as splendid as ever."
Chu Yang smiled and nodded, "Zhang Zhenren seems to have made a breakthrough, which is truly commendable."
Zhang Sanfeng pulled up his Daoist robe, bowed in salute, "I must also thank Daoist Chu for our discussion that day, which allowed this old Daoist to advance further."
Chu Yang waved his hand, "Zhang Zhenren, please don't say polite words.
If you wish to stop me today, then show your true skill.
Let's not have any unpleasantries beforehand; this time, I will not hold back."
Zhang Sanfeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "This old Daoist admits I am no match for Daoist Chu, and even with Daoist Feng's assistance, the outcome would be similar.
However, as a monastic, this old Daoist still hopes that Daoist friend can reduce the amount of killing."
Feng Qingyang echoed, "Young friend Chu, Zhang Zhenren and I do not intend to be your enemies.
We merely hope you can find another way to resolve the hatred between the two sides."
"I am not the victim, so it's not up to me to say who to resolve hatred with.
However, out of respect for the two of you, I can ask Li Mochou to come out."
Chu Yang jumped off the carriage and walked in front of the two.
These two old men, one provided Tai Chi Fist to Chu Yang, and the other provided Invincible Sword to Chu Yang, which counted as no small favors.
Huang Rong ducked into the carriage compartment, and after a while, she reappeared with Li Mochou in tow.
Many people breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that as long as the person was willing to come forward, there was a possibility of negotiation.
"Amitabha~~~"
Abbot Xuanci looked at Li Mochou, his eyes filled with compassion, "This Benefactress, this old monk deeply regrets the misfortune that befell your sect.
However, most of the main culprits have already been punished, leaving only some minor sects.
Might this maiden show great compassion and spare their lives?"
"Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda…"
Li Mochou gritted her teeth, her gaze sweeping fiercely over the few Sect Masters behind Yue Buqun.
Just seeing their faces brought back nightmarish memories like a surging tide.
Grandma Sun's tragic death.
Little Dragon Girl being poisoned and rendered mute.
Thinking of these, Li Mochou couldn't stop trembling, her eyes bloodshot, and she said coldly: "Spare their lives?!
What about me?!
That day, I knelt on the ground, begging bitterly, but Grandma Sun still died, my face was still ruined, and Long'er was still mute…"
"Old monk, you tell me, who spared us?!"
Li Mochou's shrill voice echoed on Shaolin Temple, like a vengeful spirit from the depths of the nine netherworlds.
That bone-deep hatred sent shivers down the spines of those who heard it.
Abbot Xuanci wanted to speak but stopped, unable to meet Li Mochou's venomous gaze.
He could only close his eyes, displaying an expression of profound sorrow and compassion.
"Young lady! Don't be impulsive, anything you want can be discussed!"
"Heroine Li Mochou, please, you are a great person, don't hold a grudge against us humble folk, give us a way out!"
"Yes, yes, Miss Li, just tell us what you want, and we will definitely find a way to get it for you!"
Pleading voices rose and fell, some Sect Masters even knelt directly on the ground, kowtowing frantically.
They had just heard Zhang Sanfeng and Feng Qingyang's words and no longer held any hope.
Li Mochou sneered, "What I want has never changed from beginning to end: it's your heads."
Those pleading Sect Masters' faces turned ashen.
"It seems you couldn't persuade the victim, which is quite regrettable…"
Chu Yang shrugged helplessly, then turned to Li Mochou and asked, "Identify them.
See who they are, so it won't be awkward if we kill the wrong ones."
Li Mochou extended her finger, pointing remotely at a few people inside the Great Hero Hall.
As she pointed, the surrounding people quickly moved away, creating a vacuum.
"There really aren't many left."
Chu Yang smiled with satisfaction.
Once this matter was settled, he could go home and rest for a while.
Zhang Sanfeng and Feng Qingyang showed wry smiles.
"Alas, alas, every wrong has its perpetrator, and one who brings ruin upon himself cannot live."
Zhang Sanfeng flicked his whisk, shook his head helplessly, and led the Wudang disciples down the mountain.
Before leaving, he cupped his hands towards Chu Yang and said, "This matter has nothing to do with Shaolin.
I hope Daoist friend can show mercy."
Chu Yang smiled and said, "That depends on whether Abbot Xuanci is a sensible person."
Feng Qingyang also led the Huashan Sect down the mountain.
Yue Buqun, who had been the most aggressive at first, kept his head down and dared not look Chu Yang in the eye.
"That traitor Xian Yutong has already been executed by young friend, so the grievances between us are settled.
I hope young friend keeps his promise and doesn't come to trouble my Huashan Sect in the future."
Perhaps fearing embarrassment, Feng Qingyang used sound transmission and his tone was very cordial.
Chu Yang nodded.
But just as the two old men were leading their respective sect disciples away, a rampant laugh suddenly echoed from the roof of the Great Hero Hall.
"Heroes from all over the world gathered here, yet they are intimidated by a mere demonic scoundrel!
Zhang Sanfeng and Feng Qingyang are both hypocrites seeking fame!"
"If you all don't want to die, then join me in besieging this demon!"