Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 120 Wandering the Martial World: Being a Fighter is Truly Useful

As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of people climbing the steps rang out again.

Before long, two monks appeared outside the room.

His expression was very strange.

One of them is Brother Jiewen, who has a real understanding of the matter.

Another gaunt old monk, walking ahead of Jiewen, was none other than the abbot of Wenshu Monastery, Zen Master Chihui.

It's quite normal for him to personally intervene for the sake of a grandmaster.

In fact, they had been there for a while.

I thought that given the past relationship between Daxiangguo Temple and Laojun Temple, the other party wouldn't make things difficult for the juniors.

However, it's hard to guarantee that he hasn't become withdrawn from the world over the years and his personality has changed drastically. If he really wants to make things difficult for them, they will naturally have to step in and mediate.

result……

It seems like the younger generation is making things difficult for the other party...

This isn't going right!

Fortunately, the high monks were all shrewd and composed. The two stepped forward as if they hadn't seen the aftershocks of the confrontation at all, and walked straight into the house. Chi Hui put his palms together in a gesture of respect and said, "Brother Zhenxuan, it's been a long time!"

The Taoist titles and generational names at Laojun Temple are "Shoudao Mingrende, Quanzhen Futaihe..." The person in front of me belongs to the "Zhen" generation, which is even a generation higher than the current abbot of Laojun Temple.

Xuan Yinzi slowly sat down, still looking somewhat angry. What a show of force! The Great Xiangguo Temple has taken in a disciple that even a grandmaster couldn't handle. It's truly remarkable. He snorted and said, "This old Daoist has long been expelled from the sect. There's no need to mention my former Daoist title anymore."

Chi Hui didn't mince words: "Then you shouldn't have stayed in the capital."

"Ah!"

Xuan Yinzi laughed: "Chi Hui, Chi Hui, with your wisdom, it is really beneath your dignity to say such things. When you knew I was hiding here, you should have known that those people tacitly approved of it, right?"

Chi Hui's gaze remained calm: "Then Brother Dao should not have stayed in the capital."

"Ah!"

This time, Xuan Yinzi's laughter clearly contained a genuine anger: "This old Taoist is not like you monks, who can't tolerate such grievances, much less allow my Lao Jun Temple to suffer an injustice! Shouldn't we be kept? This old Taoist insists on keeping us!"

Chi Hui sighed softly, clasped his hands together, and said, "Amitabha!"

Xuan Yinzi waved his hand: "You don't need to chant Buddhist scriptures here. Back then, when Lao Jun Temple was besieged from all sides, your Xiangguo Temple did not take advantage of the situation, but you were under considerable pressure. I am grateful for your kindness, so I will take these juniors away and not disturb your peace."

A fight would start if they disagreed.

Is that interesting?

Chi Hui remained silent for a moment, then looked at Zhan Zhao and the other two: "Are you willing to come back with this old monk?"

Li Wuxing and Gu Lin looked at each other in bewilderment.

To be honest, if they could capture Luo Shijun and move everyone in Tianxiang Tower, wouldn't they at least have a direct conflict with this grandmaster...?

Uh, it seems there has already been a conflict.

But regardless, it's already a good result.

It's time to stop while you're ahead.

However, Zhan Zhao spoke up: "'Xuan Yinzi knows far too much—'"

"During the war between Song and Liao, many martial arts practitioners who participated in the battle were seriously injured but failed to return to their sects. How did they disappear?"

"During the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, the late emperor toured the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Book was lost and then recovered. What happened?"

"And what happened to the Empress Dowager's biological son six years ago? How did he suddenly die of illness?"

"All of the above were said by Luo Shijun before his arrest."

"After going to the Six Doors headquarters, he will definitely repeat these words many times. We can't keep this person speechless forever."

"Do these senior colleagues still think it's time to let it go easily?"

The three of them changed color.

Chi Hui and Jie Wen had arrived long ago, but they had been waiting outside Tianxiang Tower. Later, when they saw Zhan Zhao, Gu Lin, and Li Wuxing enter the tower, they followed them up as well. Therefore, they did not hear Luo Shijun's roar when he was arrested in the front hall.

Even Xuan Yinzi felt his heart pounding: "Luo Shijun... how dare he say these things in public?"

"Why not?"

Zhan Zhao sighed softly.

Grandmasters are used to being high above others and seem to think that those below them will not resist, and even when they are at their wits' end, they will just silently accept their fate.

However, the reality is not like that at all.

Luo Shijun is a ruthless and unscrupulous person who has no bottom line. He even betrayed his own sister. So what is Xuan Yinzi, even if he is a grandmaster?
They respectfully worship Xuan Yinzi on ordinary days because they regard him as a life-saving trump card, and they will repay him in critical moments.

As a result, Luo Shijun was tricked out of Tianxiang Tower and failed to get Xuan Yinzi's protection. So, just as he was about to be arrested, he made public the past entanglements of this grandmaster, directly breaking through the barrier between them.

By doing this, Luo Shijun himself will certainly not survive, but he will definitely make life uncomfortable for many others as well.

Xuan Yinzi was the first to be hit.

This master of Laozi Temple, the alchemist appointed by the late emperor, his double pupils flashing, his expression shifting between light and dark for a moment before he calmed down: "What's meant to happen will happen. This old Taoist will wait here. You may go!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an invisible burst of energy shot through the air.

Zhan Zhao originally intended to use his internal energy to resist, but seeing that Chi Hui and Jie Wen were holding their breath to receive the attack, he also retreated.

Without moving their feet, the group had already gracefully retreated.

Suddenly, the door slammed shut, trapping the figure inside.

"He still can't let go."

Chi Hui sighed softly and murmured, "Who can truly let go?"

After saying that, he walked down the road and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Only Jiewen was left to lead the three of them slowly downstairs.

Without his senior master present, the fat monk walked along cursing, "That Luo Shijun deserves to die! He dares to say anything! The Pang family will probably be implicated by him; it's an utter disaster!"

This senior brother sometimes speaks very bluntly, without using Zen riddles, but those who directly criticize like this are still in the minority.

It's clear they're really in a hurry.

Zhan Zhao prioritized the three matters in his mind, but he was actually most concerned about the first one.

During the Song-Liao War, those martial artists who were wounded on the front lines disappeared when they returned to their sects.

If someone is kidnapped by thieves, that would be an absolutely terrible thing!

But Zhan Zhao also knew that the last matter was the most likely to cause trouble: "How did the Empress Dowager's own child die six years ago?"

Jie Wen slowed his pace: "This has to do with an old story from the previous dynasty. Back then, both Imperial Concubines Liu and Li were pregnant at the same time. The late emperor said that whoever gave birth to the crown prince first would be made empress. Later, Imperial Concubine Liu gave birth to a son, and Concubine Li..."

At this point, Jie Wen paused, then changed the subject: "Anyway, Consort Liu gave birth to a child, and because of her son, she became Empress, and her son was also made Crown Prince."

"However, six years ago, the Crown Prince unfortunately fell ill and later passed away. At that time, the late Emperor was also seriously ill. The country could not be without a ruler for a day, so the third son of the Eighth Prince was brought into the palace and adopted by the Empress Dowager."

"That is the current emperor." As a detective of the Six Doors, Li Wuxing naturally knew about this, but remained silent.

Gu Lin genuinely didn't know about such royal secrets, and upon hearing this, he suddenly understood.

Zhan Zhao knew this perfectly well.

This is the story of the fox spirit replacing the crown prince.

When Consort Li gave birth, she was framed by Consort Liu and Guo Huai, and her son was replaced with a raccoon dog.

But the child did not die; instead, a palace maid took him out of the palace and sent him to the Eighth Prince's residence for adoption.

Later, Consort Liu's biological son died of illness, and Emperor Zhenzong then made the Eighth Prince's son the Crown Prince. Coincidentally, this was the very child who had been switched by the raccoon dog.

Therefore, although the current emperor is ostensibly the son of the Eighth Prince, he is actually a descendant of the late emperor.

It carries a sense of cause and effect, a cyclical nature; what is your throne will ultimately be yours.

Zhan Zhao had little interest in the case of the "Prince Replaced by a Civet Cat" because it was too easy; all he had to do was wait for the commoner Empress Dowager Li to appear.

But now, another mystery has been revealed—

How did Empress Dowager Liu's biological son die?

This piqued his interest: "How did the former crown prince die?"

Jie Wen frowned: "Died from a serious illness."

Gu Lin asked curiously, "What does that have to do with this senior?"

"Because the former crown prince also took Xuan Yinzi's medicine."

Jie Wen sighed softly and simply transmitted his voice secretly: "Actually, before taking the medicine, the former crown prince already had a high fever that wouldn't go down, and he was already in critical condition. It can't be blamed on the medicine..."

This is similar to how later generations, in order to attract attention, repeatedly emphasized that Li Shimin died from taking elixirs, while deliberately ignoring the fact that Li Shimin's old illness had already relapsed repeatedly when he took the elixirs, and he was already on the verge of death. Taking the elixirs was like trying to revive a dead horse.

As a result, he died immediately after taking the pill.

Emperor Taizong of Tang essentially chose a very undignified way to die, but elixirs were not the main factor.

This is quite different from the case of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang, Li Chen, who actually died from poisoning after taking elixirs.

Jiewen felt wronged: "But the Empress Dowager was furious and questioned Laojun Temple. Laojun Temple wanted to protect Xuan Yinzi, but faced with repeated questioning, it ultimately had no choice but to expel him from the sect."

"After the late emperor passed away, the Empress Dowager sealed the Heavenly Book enshrined in the Laozi Temple and ordered the abbot to personally send it to the late emperor's tomb for burial!"

"I'm afraid he's still not satisfied with his anger!"

Upon hearing this, Zhan Zhao's gaze flickered slightly, and he asked another question: "After the Heavenly Book descended to earth, did the Laozi Temple's reputation decline and its disciples become a mixed bag? Is this true?"

"Have."

Jie Wen nodded: "But at that time, this was the case from the imperial court to the common people. After the Song and Liao dynasties ceased hostilities, the people were able to recuperate and gradually become wealthy. The late emperor greatly promoted Taoism, and Laozi Temple naturally could not remain unaffected. If they did not follow suit, they would be replaced..."

Pang Lingyi had a very bad impression of Lao Jun Temple, saying that since the Heavenly Book was introduced, Lao Jun Temple had rapidly declined, and its disciples had become increasingly extravagant.

But at this point, Jiewen gave a completely different explanation.

What is good above will be replicated below.

What if it doesn't work?
Simple, just send a new batch.

Therefore, we have no choice but to follow suit.

As the leading temples of Buddhism and Taoism, Daxiangguo Temple and Laojun Temple received full support from the imperial court, and thus were inevitably dependent on imperial power to a great extent.

Therefore, in Jiewen's view, if Laojun Temple did point out a problem, it is indeed undeniable, but it was mostly the blame placed on them.

The descent of the Heavenly Book was an auspicious omen orchestrated by the late emperor, which Laozi Temple could not prevent at all; it could only rely on it.

After the Crown Prince died, it was originally because the child was sick and there was no cure, but Xuan Yinzi was implicated again.
When the late emperor passed away, the auspicious signs and celestial book caused such a disturbance that the Empress Dowager wanted to stop it. She even dragged out the Laozi Temple as a negative example, showing no mercy whatsoever.

As a result, this once leading faction in the Central Plains has declined to a point of no return in less than ten years.

Given that the Xiangguo Temple is also declining, it's no wonder that Jiewen sighed repeatedly, his tone conveying a sense of shared sorrow.

Individual perspectives differ. Pang Lingyi is young, and what she hears may not be correct. Similarly, Jie Wen's views may not be accurate.

Zhan Zhao listened to all sides and formed his own judgment. Then he asked the question that concerned him most: "After the war between Song and Liao, what happened to the martial arts practitioners who participated in the war who went missing?"

That remains an unsolved case.

Jie Wen's expression turned serious: "Indeed, as Luo Shijun said, during the Song-Liao War, many martial arts heroes who were seriously injured after fighting the Liao people disappeared on their way back to their mountain gates! Even our Great Xiangguo Temple has a few missing!"

Gu Lin asked in surprise, "How come I haven't heard anyone mention such a terrible thing?"

He had a lot to say about kidnapping martial arts practitioners, but the thought that they were wounded and retired from the battlefield still made him feel outrageous, and the nature of the crimes was completely different.

Jie Wen looked at his junior brother and said bluntly, "'Zhong Kui' took away a famous martial arts master and a well-known local figure. Moreover, Bai Yulou made a preview at the birthday banquet, which caused a sensation and had a huge impact."

"That incident mainly targeted ordinary disciples of the major sects. Moreover, in order to fight against Wanjue Palace, the various sects in the Central Plains had already suffered heavy losses. If news of such disappearances were to spread, it would be even worse for us. That's why we deliberately kept it a secret and only investigated it in secret."

Li Wuxing continued, saying in a deep voice, "I am aware of this matter. The Great Banner Sect is also one of the victims. The Hidden Sword Manor and the Immortal Cloud Sect also had seriously injured members who went missing on their way back. Over the years, people have been searching for them."

The missing disciples may not be famous masters, but they also have fellow disciples and relatives who care about them. Of course, they are unwilling to just disappear without a trace, whether alive or dead.

Zhan Zhao frowned: "What happened next?"

"After the national war ended, the Lao Jun Temple still had the most experts. The heroes of the Central Plains regarded it as the leader and had the dignity of an alliance leader, so of course they would not sit idly by."

"But the result was not ideal."

Jie Wen's face darkened: "Not only has Lao Jun Temple failed to find the murderer, but a rumor has also gradually spread that Lao Jun Temple secretly kidnapped people and used them to refine elixirs!"

“At that time, Xuan Yinzi was the leader of the ‘Seven True Martial Disciples’ and naturally would not tolerate such slanderous words against his sect. He traveled all over the place and searched constantly, but in the end he found nothing.”

"And after he became the late emperor's personal alchemist, this rumor never stopped, so much so that it was a mixed bag of praise and criticism. It was just that people were not widely aware of it because of the power of Laozi Temple."

Zhan Zhao noted it down and continued, "During the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, the late emperor toured the Heavenly Court, and the Heavenly Book was lost and then recovered..."

Jiewen interrupted helplessly, "Junior brother, stop asking, stop asking."

Jie Wen smiled wryly, while Gu Lin and Li Wuxing also frowned, finding the situation troublesome.

Luo Shijun really knows how to pick things; every piece of old news he mentions is extremely far-reaching and incredibly difficult to uncover.

Zhan Zhao didn't ask any more questions, but after a moment's thought, he still transmitted his voice to Jie Wen: "Senior brother, when you return to the temple later, if the Grand Eunuch Guo Huai comes looking for you, stay calm for the time being and don't agree to anything."

"Alright! Junior brother! Where are you going?"

At this moment, everyone had arrived at the lobby on the first floor. Jie Wen saw this person turn around and hurriedly asked.

Zhan Zhao said, "I would like to visit Xuan Yinzi again."

Jie Wen's expression changed slightly. He was about to say how could he go alone, but then he suddenly remembered that this person had already challenged that grandmaster before, and hadn't even shown much embarrassment.

Judging from the trend, even if we ultimately lose, we can at least retreat injured.

This is the source of Zhan Zhao's confidence to confront the other party again.

In the world of martial arts, being able to fight is truly useful!
'Our Great Xiangguo Temple has truly taken in an extraordinary disciple!'

While Jiewen was genuinely delighted, he had to advise, "Junior Brother, stop fighting! Our Great Xiangguo Temple and Laojun Temple have a really good relationship!"

(End of this chapter)