The deepest affection in Gu Long's world

Chapter 40 Master Tianfeng
"This is an arrangement from above, and also Elder Dai Duxing's request."

Ying Wanli's expression was calm. He really didn't know who the "he" the other party mentioned was, but because it involved higher authorities, the court would eventually come forward and announce the results of the case. So, knowing more might not necessarily be a good thing for him.

This is also the fundamental difference between him and other people in the martial arts world.

"I see."

Chu Liuxiang took a deep breath.

He then told the truth. If we only consider the Nangong Ling line, it would seem like a forced connection to Fang Yunhua, so he didn't voice his guesses.

Besides, it would be useless to talk about it. The fact that the other party could wait for him in Putian City, which is so close to the Southern Shaolin Temple, means that even if Ying Wanli really didn't know that there was another Wuhua behind the scenes, the one who drove him here must already know everything.

From this perspective, my role is that of a witness.

Leveraging his reputation in the underworld, he once again definitively concluded the truth of this case.

"So it is, and so it is."

"So, there's another mysterious person behind Nangong Ling?"

Chu Liuxiang looked at Ying Wanli without saying a word, then his gaze turned towards the direction of the Putian Shaolin Temple.

He seemed to say nothing, yet it was as if he had said a lot.

Ying Wanli pursed his lips, pondered for a moment, and then spoke.

"I will be waiting for Xiang Shuai at the Lin Family Garden in the city for the next few days. I'll trouble you to go through the trouble again."

"hehe."

Chu Liuxiang was a very polite person, but now he had nothing to say except for this "heh".

It's dusk again.

As dusk fell, Chu Liuxiang swept into the Shaolin Temple.

Although the Putian Shaolin Temple is not as grand and imposing as the Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, the ancient temple bathed in the twilight has its own mysterious beauty.

In the gentle breeze, the faint sounds of bells and chanting of Buddhist scriptures drifted out. The room was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood, creating a solemn and tranquil atmosphere. There was not a trace of murderous intent to be detected.

The autumn wind swept away the fallen leaves from the stone steps, and the gate at the end of the steps was open, revealing a quiet courtyard filled with ancient trees.

Beyond that lies the solemn and magnificent hall, shrouded in incense smoke.

This is a place that anyone can enter, but it is also a place that no one dares to enter lightly. The name of Shaolin is renowned throughout the world, and whoever comes here will inevitably feel a sense of awe and vigilance. Although the door here is open, who would dare to cross the line?

The setting sun cast a blood-red glow over the towering rooftops, which, when viewed against the backdrop of the sunset, resembled mountain peaks stained crimson with blood.

At which mountain peak is Master Tianfeng located? Chu Liuxiang, who moved with the agility of a swallow, hesitated.

He paused only briefly before a Buddhist chant suddenly rang out.

"Amitabha."

Before the short chant of the Buddha's name had even finished, four figures simultaneously appeared under the eaves at the four corners of the roof.

The four men were all dressed in gray robes and white shoes, and were in their forties. Each of their four dignified and solemn faces had a pair of gleaming eyes.

At this moment, all four pairs of bright eyes were staring at Chu Liuxiang like knives.

Chu Liuxiang was secretly taken aback, and just as he was about to explain, one of the monks pointed to a certain spot. Then, as if they hadn't seen Chu Liuxiang at all, the four of them dispersed the next second.

This made Chu Liuxiang's heart sink.

He did not use his lightness skill again, but silently walked in the direction the other party pointed out. With his strength, he could sense that although the Southern Shaolin Temple seemed quiet and relaxed, it was extremely heavily guarded.

Even with his unparalleled reputation as the master thief, he felt no confidence whatsoever that he could freely enter and exit this inescapable net.

Who are they defending against?

While pondering this, Chu Liuxiang had already passed through several meticulously laid out defenses by Shaolin monks. Some of them would suddenly show themselves, and upon seeing him, they would point the way and then retreat, just like the monk at the beginning.

Some didn't even show up.

At this moment, Chu Liuxiang roughly guessed who they were guarding against, and he was certain that someone was waiting for him. After crossing a short wall, Chu Liuxiang finally reached his destination.

It was a small courtyard, with dense bamboo leaves and secluded vegetation. There were three open rooms in the bamboo grove, with bamboo curtains hanging deep inside. Looking through the bamboo, you could vaguely see two figures sitting cross-legged on the ground.

The courtyard was quiet, the wind rustled the leaves, and the shadows of flowers moved on the bamboo curtain, making the two seem as if they were already in heaven.

The person on the right is Wuhua.

Before him sat a small cement stove, a copper kettle, a palm-leaf fan, and a set of exquisite tea utensils. At this moment, two of the three teacups, each about the size of a wine glass, were already filled with tea. Waves of tea fragrance wafted from the bamboo curtain, mingling with the scents of flowers and bamboo, truly intoxicating the senses.

Sitting opposite Wuhua was a gaunt monk with white hair and beard. He was taking a cup of tea from Wuhua's hand, closing his eyes, and slowly bringing it to his lips.

"This tea is undrinkable!"

Chu Liuxiang instinctively cried out in surprise, but the old monk was completely unaware. After drinking the tea, he beckoned to Chu Liuxiang, whose expression was still unsettled.

Chu Liuxiang walked up to the old monk and naturally recognized him as the abbot of the Southern Shaolin Temple, Wuhua's master, and the last key to connecting the clues in the puzzle: Master Tianfeng.

"You came."

It was Wuhua who spoke.

He maintained his otherworldly demeanor as always, but Chu Liuxiang could see that he was very nervous, his forehead covered in sweat.

Master Tianfeng then poured the tea he had already brewed into the third empty teacup.

"Have some tea and take a break."

"This tea..." Chu Liuxiang hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

“There is no Heavenly Divine Water,” Wuhua said expressionlessly.

Thinking of the heavy security outside, Chu Liuxiang looked at Master Tianfeng, who was calm but with a hint of dejection. He seemed to understand something, so he drank the cup of tea directly.

"Was this also his arrangement? But how could he have the power to command the entire Southern Shaolin Temple?"

He had barely uttered these words when he remembered the serious crime Wu Hua had committed, and fell silent.

Whether it was acting as a spy for Japan, stealing the Heavenly One Divine Water and getting a disciple of the Great Divine Water Palace pregnant, or conspiring with Nangong Ling to kill Ren Ci and the four unlucky guys recruited by Qiu Lingsu, he was involved in all of these.

If these things were exposed, the reputation of the entire Southern Shaolin Temple would plummet.

Moreover, there was Ying Wanli, whom he had just met. This made Chu Liuxiang realize that the other party had probably also secretly relied on the power of the imperial court. When he recalled the information that Yidianhong had reported to him, he mentioned more than once the full cooperation of the government.

"Amazing!" Chu Liuxiang could only express such admiration for Fang Yunhua, whom he had only met once. He didn't know what else to say.

Of course, he had another question.

Why wait for him?

Wu Hua seemed to be able to see right through Chu Liuxiang's thoughts, and he spoke again.

"My only chance of survival is with you, or rather, this is the only chance that my master can fight for me."

“Amitabha.” Master Tianfeng’s face was sorrowful.

Originally, Chu Liuxiang should have gotten some clues from Master Tianfeng, such as learning that Wuhua and Nangong Ling's birth mother was named Li Qi, who came from the Huangshan family and had a deep hatred for the Huashan Sect, and later almost wiped out the Huashan Sect.

After learning this clue, he understood why Fang Yunhua had gone to such lengths to torment the two brothers.

But now, he couldn't bear to mention the past to the disheartened old monk in front of him.

"Come with me."

Wu Hua then stood up, still looking as relaxed and carefree as ever. He respectfully bowed to Master Tianfeng and quietly withdrew.

He didn't speak.

After he had already stepped out of the curtain, Master Tianfeng suddenly opened his eyes and glanced at him, the meaning of which seemed quite complex.

But he didn't say anything.

(End of this chapter)