Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 93 Zhong Kui Picture (Conclusion)
Daxiangguo Temple.

When Zhan Zhao returned to the temple gate, he indeed saw Jie Wen and his group waiting there.

The people from Yunqi Manor were also there, including not only Madam Gu and her son Gu Lin, but also Caiyun, Shen Lan, Lin Yuxian, Chu Zhirou, and even Li Kong, who had been released and were excitedly surrounding their senior brother.

When he passed by the headquarters of the Six Doors, he saw that there was no one there, so he guessed that everyone had come here.

At this moment, Zhan Zhao stepped forward, nodded to Lian Caiyun who was crying tears of joy, and then thanked Madam Gu: "Thank you for passing on your skills, Madam. The culprit has been arrested, and the truth has come to light!"

Previously, when Madam Gu unleashed that mental storm-like sword strike, Zhan Zhao thought she didn't believe him and was really going to fight him.

As a result, during the stalemate, the other's power was continuously flowing into their bodies, which surprised them both.

This person's actions were indeed unexpected.

The combined power of Madam Gu's skills, along with the imposing swordsmanship of the Heart Sword Divine Technique, and his own martial arts prowess, created an effect far greater than the sum of its parts.

Han Zhaoye's defeat was both unjust and justified.

Thinking about it this way, if the Four Swordsmen of Heavenly Heart Flying Immortals could have cooperated so seamlessly back then, and the four sword masters joined forces to encounter Venerable Wan Jue, who was already injured in the Song-Liao War, they would not have returned victorious, but would have simply disappeared together...

The strength of Venerable Wan Jue is indeed terrifying!
"Oh."

When Zhan Zhao expressed his gratitude, Madam Gu accepted it readily and then thanked him in return, saying, "Thanks to you, we were not wronged."

As she spoke, she pushed her son forward and said in the most indifferent tone, with the most worldly wisdom, "From now on, my son will be under your care."

"what?"

Zhan Zhao was stunned.

Gu Lin's face flushed red.

He used to long for a real mother, but now that he actually has one, he feels very awkward about the arrangements.

But my heart was filled with an unprecedented warmth, as if the three-year nightmare had finally ended and I had returned to the time before I knew my origins.

Do not!
Now he was more at ease, and he put his hands together in prayer: "I wish to become a monk at the Great Xiangguo Temple and repent my sins before the Buddha..."

Zhan Zhao felt a little numb and suddenly looked at Jie Wen.

Damn it.

Daxiangguo Temple really accepts all sorts of people!
In reality, once Madam Gu advances to the level of a martial arts grandmaster, the imperial court will no longer do anything to Gu Lin.

After all, there is a fundamental difference between Gu Lin and the one from the Golden Saber Sect who slaughtered a village to practice his saber skills.

Zhong Kui's true purpose was to avenge the evildoers of the past, and the innocent people he harmed were mostly the work of the imposter Zhao Wujiu.

The only one who died tragically was Tang Lei, nicknamed "Angry Cloud," from Yunqi Manor. He was unlucky; he was determined to inherit the manor's legacy, but his senior brother was actually alive!
After discovering that Gu Lin was still alive, Tang Lei became enraged and wanted to report to the Six Doors instead of just saying so, intending to negotiate a better price. In the end, he was killed.

This murder case can be categorized as a case of martial arts practitioners cleaning up their own ranks, a matter that the government has never interfered with.

At this moment, both sides tacitly refrained from inquiring about the whereabouts of Jiang Heming, Yu Xuzi, Helian Jue, and Ye Canglang.

The four beasts were also dealt with internally by Yunqi Manor.

Therefore, if Gu Lin were to directly restore his status as the eldest disciple of Yunqi Manor and become the leader of the Six Clouds, there would actually be no problem.

With his ability to manage the manor, and with the presence of Madam Gu, a master swordsman, Yunqi Manor is probably no longer comparable to local forces and could challenge the top sects of the Central Plains martial arts world.

However, Gu Lin himself couldn't get over this hurdle in his heart.

He didn't want to return to the manor as if nothing had happened, under his mother's protection.

Moreover, Yu Xuzi, Helian Jue, and Ye Canglang each belong to their own sects, and it's hard to guarantee that they won't seek revenge later. He didn't want to bring trouble to the manor.

Upon seeing this, Jie Wen, through sheer eloquence, managed to persuade Madam Gu to allow Gu Lin to become a disciple of the Great Xiangguo Temple.

Daxiangguo Temple is not afraid to take on this responsibility.

Gu Lin agreed to this arrangement.

So just now, Madam Gu said that Zhan Zhao should take care of her son.

Lian Caiyun hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped.

My eldest brother was like a father and a brother to me; he was the closest person to me before.

Brother Zhan is good in every way, and he's the person I'm most willing to get close to right now.

result.

Two monks?

She was very sad.

But then his eyes darted around. Could he now legitimately go to the Great Xiangguo Temple to visit his senior brother, and maybe even visit Brother Zhan at the same time?

Thinking about it that way...

Well, it doesn't seem like such a bad thing that the eldest disciple has become a monk.

Anyway, you can always return to secular life!
Jie Wen laughed.

Even the internal injuries from the previous forceful use of the "Buddha's Palm" technique felt almost completely healed.

When Zhan Zhao was no longer wearing that crimson official robe, he knew that his junior brother had returned and had not been abducted by the Six Doors.

Now they've also brought back a "Zhong Kui" (a legendary Chinese demon figure).

No matter how much trouble this person has caused, the fact that they've caused so much trouble at least proves their incompetence.

Where can you find someone who is capable, not vicious, and has a repentant heart?
Daxiangguo Temple made a fortune.

Putting all that aside, since Gu Lin had made this choice, Zhan Zhao didn't say much more. Instead, he told him the truth of the case, including Pei Handeng's voluntary involvement, and concluded by saying, "Let's go see Old Master Pei off when he's buried!"

After hearing this, Gu Lin's face turned pale again. He remained stunned for a long time, but no tears welled up in his eyes. He simply nodded slowly and said, "Okay."

……

The Four Great Constables have been replaced.

The prison was nearly broken into.

This incident shocked the highest levels of government in the capital overnight.

However, leaks of information are strictly prohibited.

It must not be allowed to spread in the streets and alleys.

Unless the alliance is torn up, the Song and Liao dynasties will not go to war again.

Otherwise, such matters would remain secret, known only to the upper echelons of both countries.

Ever since.

The Six Doors could only silently swallow their pain.

The missing head of the Wind Falcon Hall, Zhao Wujiu, and the old constable who used to be stationed at the General Headquarters every day, whom they would never see again.

Pei Handeng's funeral was very grand.

The coffin was personally escorted out of the city by Zheng Guowei, the "Divine Marquis" who had returned from Western Xia, and almost all the constables of the General Headquarters wore mourning clothes to see it off.

Zhan Zhao and Gu Lin were not involved.

Instead, he waited until the Six Doors had finished the funeral and Pei Handeng's coffin had been buried in the cemetery outside the city before coming to the grave.

There was no one else in the distance, only a figure in a wheelchair staring blankly at the tombstone, then suddenly burst into violent coughing: "Cough cough cough cough cough cough—"

The pained voice also faintly carried a sob. "It's him!"

A sharp glint flashed in Gu Lin's eyes, and he couldn't help but ask, "Does he really feel grief?"

Gu Lin deeply resented Su Wuqing's actions.

It's not just about being a pawn to be manipulated, but also about not being able to accept that the other party, knowing the truth, still chooses to sacrifice the lives of those around them.

Gu Lin could never do that; he only wanted to bear everything alone.

Therefore, he didn't believe that someone with truly deep feelings for those around them could go to such lengths.

But upon hearing the violent coughing, filled with pain and sorrow, Gu Lin, while rebuking him, couldn't help but feel a trace of confusion between his brows, and slowly asked, "Just what kind of person is Su Wuqing?"

"There is a kind of ruthlessness that is ruthless to everyone, including oneself."

Zhan Zhao sighed softly: "What is the price for turning my once passionate self into a cold-blooded and rational one?"

As he said this, he couldn't help but recall the evaluation given by the goddess doctor who had been diagnosing Su Wuqing for over a month.

Su Wuqing is truly heartless.

What emotions were in her voice when she uttered those words while treating Su Wuqing's illness?
After a moment of silence.

The two stepped forward.

Then they discovered that next to the newly erected grave, there was an old grave.

Zhan Zhao asked, "What is this?"

Without turning her head, Su Wuqing spoke directly, her voice returning to its normal tone: "That is the grave of Elder Pei's only son."

Zhan Zhao asked, "How did he die?"

"Died of illness."

Su Wuqing said softly, "Old Pei was unable to return in time to see his son one last time because he was busy capturing the thief..."

"After the child was buried, his wife divorced him and went back to her parents' home."

“Apart from going out to handle cases, Old Master Pei almost never leaves the Six Doors headquarters. Only on the anniversary of his death each year would he come here and sit for three days. He would not drink alcohol, but just sit quietly without saying a word.”

Silence fell over the grave once more, and the three of them suddenly fell silent.

Until Su Wuqing took out a letter from his bosom: "Gu Lin, this is a letter that Elder Pei wrote to you a long time ago. After you have read it, then kowtow to him."

Gu Lin's body trembled, and he quickly took it and slowly opened it—

"My child, when you read this letter, you will be at my grave."

"There is no need to be sad. In my life, I have lived a life where I have no shame before Heaven or man. I have never done anything against morality and have even caught countless thieves. I am content."

"Your life has only just begun, and you already want to end it. What a pity!"

"Your death at Yunqi Manor was not a fake death."

"Are you really prepared to give up your identity as Gu Lin and appear as 'Zhong Kui' from now on?"

“I know the pain in your heart, and I know that without experiencing the same background, no one can persuade you otherwise, so I support you in becoming ‘Zhong Kui’.”

"But what ghosts are there in this world? Demons and monsters all arise from the heart!"

"Once the desires in one's heart swell to a certain extent and completely cross that line, one will degenerate into a ghost, or even 'Zhong Kui'!"

"Don't go to that world of demons and monsters!"

"Don't become like those villains you once hated the most!"

“Child, I know you feel that you shouldn’t have been born into this world…”

"But I believe that since your mother chose to give birth to you, and your maternal grandfather did not force her to give you up because he felt he had lost face as a sword master, and they even named you Gu Lin, this already says everything."

"And as you grew up, you were indeed upright, honest, and kind-hearted."

"Your generosity and kindness prove that you are worthy of the name of the Gu family."

So come back alive!

"Return alive to this world filled with joy and sorrow, don't dwell on the past, live out the life that belongs to you!"

"—Pei Handeng's last words."

Pei Handeng was not a scholar, so his writing was obviously not as eloquent as his suicide note; it was mostly plain language.

But Gu Lin was already in tears halfway through reading, sobbing so hard he couldn't speak.

He had just vaguely felt that Su Wuqing's weeping at the grave was hypocritical and pretentious.

Now I understand why the other person acted that way.

Pei Handeng volunteered to die, and on a grander scale, it was for the Song Dynasty and for the Six Doors.

But it comes down to the individual.

Half of it was for Su Wuqing, to plot a counterattack against the Liao people;
Half of it was for Gu Lin, the grandson of his former friend Gu Menglai.

Without Pei Handeng holding him back, Gu Lin's initial action might have been a righteous act of revenge, to bring those evildoers to justice.

But if Han Zhaoye maliciously guides them, will they stray from their original intentions and truly embark on a path of no return?

Very likely!

Therefore, Pei Handeng took the initiative to enter the game.

In a sense, he is the real "Zhong Kui".

To rid the world of evil spirits!

And so that justice may prevail in the world!

"Life is full of flavors to be tasted...the past can be cast aside...the rest of life is still worth looking forward to..."

"Elder Pei... I understand what you mean! I... will definitely not let you down!"

Gu Lin wept uncontrollably and took out the last scroll of Zhong Kui paintings from his bosom.

The painting depicts Zhong Kui with a red face and angry eyes, his beard as hard as iron, and his feet treading on five ghosts, exuding a majestic and awe-inspiring aura.

He slowly placed the scroll into the brazier.

As flames roared, the five ghosts were reduced to ashes and their bones shattered, while the red-faced deity became even more vivid in the firelight, his life force connected to the heroic souls in the tomb.

Zhan Zhao, Su Wuqing, Gu Lin.

The three men's clothes fluttered in the wind as they bowed together before the tombstone.

Suddenly, the distant strains of Nuo opera singing drifted over—

Crimson robes flutter in the desolate north, iron faces chill the hearts of all ghosts.

A three-foot-long frost-covered blade dispels evil spirits, a bright lamp protects peace.

……

The "Zhong Kui Picture" series has ended. Please look forward to the next volume, "The Precept Against Killing."

(End of this chapter)