Wishing for cleverness in adulthood,Zhuyan put on a pitiful look and said in a mournful tone,"Over half a year ago,my elder brother followed the young master of the Shangguan family to roam in the southern part of Xiangnan.As a result,they encountered Su Xin,ranked twenty-third on the wanted list.This Su Xin is a bully who preys on the weak,and not daring to touch the young master of Shangguan,he killed my elder brother to vent his anger.My uncle,along with several lay disciples from the Shaolin Temple,wanted to seek justice,but Su Xin is powerful and ruthless.He actually slaughtered my uncle and others!
Our Zhujia Village has few people,and this grudge is probably something we can never avenge in this lifetime.The only solution now is to seek help from you,Master,to bring justice to our Zhujia family!"
"Bang!"
Jue Yan immediately smashed the wine bowl on the table,his hair standing on end,and a look of fury on his face.Jue Yan's anger was not only because Su Xin killed his once beloved disciple,but also because he felt that Su Xin was challenging the dignity of the Shaolin Temple!
Although the current abbot of the Shaolin Temple,'Duer Arhat'Xuan Ku,had ordered the expulsion of all lay disciples from the Shaolin Temple and strictly prohibited any further connection between the mainline disciples and them,many within the Shaolin Temple were dissatisfied with this decree.Jue Yan was one of them.
Those lay disciples of the Shaolin Temple had practiced at the temple for over a decade,and Jue Yan and other monks had taught them for just as long.How could the bond of teacher and disciple be easily severed?
Even though the Shaolin Temple strictly forbade mainline disciples from having any association with these lay disciples,in reality,there were still lingering connections between the two sides.Moreover,in Jue Yan's view,even if some lay disciples had behaved improperly or made mistakes,it would be sufficient to discipline those few individuals severely and warn the others.There was no need to expel all lay disciples from the Shaolin Temple.In his opinion,most lay disciples had good character,and the abbot's actions were akin to self-destruction.
However,as a martial arts instructor in the Arhat Hall,Jue Yan neither had the qualifications nor the courage to voice these thoughts to the abbot.Nevertheless,in his heart,these lay disciples of the Shaolin Temple were still considered his disciples and part of the Shaolin Temple.
According to Zhuyan Cheng's description,the conflict between Su Xin and Zhujia Village was not just a typical feud in the martial arts world;it was a case of Su Xin being arrogant,relying on his strength to bully the weak,and targeting the lay disciples of the Shaolin Temple.This was something that Jue Yan felt obligated to address!
Seeing Jue Yan's furious expression,a subtle smile appeared at the corner of Zhuyan Cheng's mouth.However,he quickly restrained it.Despite Jue Yan's rough appearance,as a martial artist in the Elemental Spirit Realm,his senses were sharp.If he noticed anything amiss,it could be troublesome.
"Where is Su Xin?Take me there,"Jue Yan demanded in a cold voice.
Zhuyan Cheng nodded quickly,as he had already obtained information on Su Xin's whereabouts through the intelligence network of the World Escort Agency.Although Zhou Changxin was dead,there were still a few lay disciples of the Shaolin Temple within the agency.While they might not involve themselves in the conflict between Zhujia Village and Su Xin,helping with such a small favor was not a problem.
One day later,Su Xin leisurely rode his horse on the official road.Since the Southern Alliance was still three months away,he was in no hurry.The journey from Hannan Road to Jiangnan Road would take about a month and a half.
Unlike the mountainous and dense forest paths of Xiangnan,the official road in the Central Plains was flat and broad.
At this moment,a monk with a giant horse-cutting knife on his back and a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young man stood in the center of the road,blocking the way.Some people tried to scold them to make way,but sensing the imposing aura emanating from the monk,they shrank back in fear.
Su Xin had no intention of causing trouble.Jianghu vendettas like this happened every day,and if he ran into one,it would only be troublesome.Therefore,he planned to bypass them.
However,the young man suddenly pointed at Su Xin and shouted,"Master!He is Su Xin!"
"Coming for himself?"Su Xin squinted his eyes,tightened the reins,and dismounted.
Other people in the vicinity,upon seeing the typical scenario of a martial arts vendetta,did not immediately rush to watch the excitement.Instead,they quickly distanced themselves.While martial artists in the Heavenly Venerate Realm were fine,those in the Earthly Venerate Realm possessed destructive power,and if they were accidentally harmed,it would be a true tragedy.
Jue Yan,who had kept his eyes closed all this time,suddenly opened them.A fierce killing intent burst forth,giving the impression that he was not a monk but a demonic king.
Jue Yan,the'Evil-Slaying Monk,'had killed countless evildoers,bandits,and villains.Those who died by his hands numbered in the tens of thousands.His killing aura was even more potent than some infamous figures in the unorthodox martial arts world.
"Su Xin,do you know the crime of killing disciples of my Shaolin Temple?"Jue Yan roared like thunder,shaking the ears of everyone on the official road,their faces showing shock.
The young man in black on the horse is called Su Xin?Why does this name sound so familiar?
After a moment of contemplation,some people in the martial arts world suddenly revealed expressions of astonishment.
Who else in Hannan Road could be named Su Xin?Of course,it must be the twenty-third on the wanted list,'Blood Sword Divine Finger'Su Xin!
Moreover,the monk just now mentioned something about"killing disciples of my Shaolin Temple,"and it turns out he is from the Shaolin Temple!
Many martial artists on the scene suddenly became excited;a top-ranked figure against a disciple of the Shaolin Temple was something worth watching.
Su Xin casually said,"Hasn't the Shaolin Temple expelled all lay disciples?How can you still be considered a disciple of the Shaolin Temple?"
Jue Yan recited a Buddhist mantra and said,"Learning the martial arts of my Shaolin Temple makes one a disciple of the Shaolin Temple.Su Xin,I only ask you,why did you attack Shangguan Yanqing?And why did you specifically kill Zhuyan Xin?"
Su Xin was puzzled by Jue Yan's questioning.Initially,the conflict with the Zhujia family was indeed initiated by Zhuyan Xin,but it was not well-known to the outside world.
Looking at Zhuyan Cheng beside Jue Yan,Su Xin couldn't help but notice the resemblance between him and Zhuyan Xin.Considering Jue Yan's sudden appearance,Su Xin immediately understood that the Zhujia family was not letting go and was trying to use the Shaolin Temple against him.
Seeing Su Xin remain silent,Zhuyan Cheng immediately spoke,"Su Xin!You killed my elder brother.Do you still dare to deny it?"
Su Xin coldly smiled and said,"What's there to deny?Zhuyan Xin is indeed killed by me.He stood with Shangguan Yanqing,making him my enemy.Should I have shown mercy to him?"
A trace of coldness flashed in Jue Yan's eyes.This Su Xin seemed to be as described by Zhuyan Cheng,bullying the weak and fearing the strong.He dared to attack the subordinates of Shangguan Yanqing but didn't touch Shangguan Yanqing himself,who was now living peacefully.
"I ask you again,did you kill Zhuzefang?"
"If I killed him,so what?"Su Xin said indifferently.
He didn't know what Zhuyan Cheng had told this monk or if he had distorted some facts,but he didn't want to explain.Besides,explanations were futile.Su Xin had indeed killed Zhuyan Xin and Zhuzefang,and no matter how innocent he made himself out to be,it wouldn't change the monk's preconceived notions.Since that was the case,what was the point of explaining?
Jue Yan took a deep breath and said,"Su Xin,your murderous aura is too heavy.Come back with me to the Shaolin Temple,relinquish your martial arts,spend fifty years under the Seal of Demon Tower to repent.When you've cleansed yourself of this murderous aura,I will let you go."
The Shaolin Temple claimed to be the leader of the martial arts world.Jue Yan,also known as the'Evil-Slaying Monk,'could proudly say that though his murderous aura was heavy,he only killed those who deserved it.His reason for dealing with Su Xin was because Su Xin had killed his once-favored disciple,and he believed Su Xin had challenged the dignity of the Shaolin Temple.
Public anger was one thing,personal grudges were another.Jue Yan was clear about the distinction.Although he wished to kill Su Xin,he still adhered to his own principles.Su Xin didn't deserve death,but he needed to be punished.
However,after hearing Jue Yan's proposal,Su Xin started laughing,from a sneer to outright laughter.
"Abandon my martial arts and spend fifty years suppressed?What a joke!It's simply ridiculous!"
Su Xin's eyes revealed a cold look."Even if my murderous aura is overwhelming,what's it to you?You want to intervene in everything.Do you really think your Shaolin Temple is the supreme authority in the martial arts world?"
Many martial artists around nodded,showing no great fondness for the Shaolin Temple,the so-called first sect of the orthodox martial arts world.The main reason was that the Shaolin Temple loved to interfere in other people's affairs.They wanted to showcase their status and strength,but it only made them more disliked.
A trace of chilling killing intent flashed in Jue Yan's eyes."Since you are unrepentant,then this poor monk will have to personally capture you,strip you of your martial arts,and seal you in the Demon Tower.You,at such a young age,are so ruthless and arrogant,unrepentant.Now ranked twenty-third on the wanted list,in the future,you may find yourself on the black list,bringing calamity to the martial arts world!"
Su Xin's mouth curled into a smile."Apologies,Master,I've been on the black list long ago.No need to wait for the future!"
Jue Yan snorted,drew out the giant horse-cutting knife behind him,exuding a fierce aura.However,a halo of Buddha's light surrounded him,blending killing intent with compassion.The surroundings echoed with Buddhist chants and ghostly wails,creating an awkward scene.
But at this moment,Su Xin and the martial artists on the official road were surprised.This monk turned out to be a martial artist in the Elemental Spirit Realm!
"It's'Evil-Slaying Monk'Jue Yan!He's an Elemental Spirit Realm master of the Shaolin Temple's Luohan Hall,'Evil-Slaying Monk'Jue Yan!"
Seeing Jue Yan reveal his Elemental Spirit Realm cultivation,the martial artists on the official road immediately guessed his identity.
