The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"Exactly, much better than some cowards..."

Although this added a layer of father-in-law and son-in-law relationship to the two, most people still believed that Shaolin... on the surface, also believed.

Otherwise, if Shaolin directly confronts the Dali Duan family, the problem will become serious.

Chu Luren fell into deep thought—what had Uncle Duan done to anger me this time? Why did he call me by my name so formally?

It's true that my elder brother married one of your daughters, but I also have so many other daughters of yours, and we're all good friends. I even learned the Six Meridian Divine Sword and the One-Finger Divine Skill!

How could you forget about your "nephew" now that you have a son-in-law?

Just as Chu Luren was about to ask about the specifics of Xuan Ku's death, Yuanshan interrupted him, saying, "Enough! It's just that a despicable and shameless bald thief died. Don't change the subject! You taught Feng'er martial arts just so he would never know his true identity and would help you kill us Manchus. How vicious your intentions are! That bald thief died young, otherwise I would have killed him with one palm!"

Qiao Feng was somewhat displeased to hear his father say this, but... since they had just recognized each other and he thought about his father's experiences, although he did not agree with it, he did not refute it in public.

Although Qiao Feng was very disappointed when he learned that Wang Jiantong's "tests" and "strictness" in Japan were actually for suppression rather than to temper him, he still believed that his mentor and adoptive parents were genuinely good to him.

Chu Luren didn't recognize Xuan Ku, but based on the original work, he felt that what the old man from Yuanshan said was a bit extreme. However... from his perspective, it would be strange if he didn't think so.

Xuan Ku's encounter with Qiao Feng was indeed "carefully arranged." From the beginning, Xuan Ku learned about the child's background from Xuan Ci, which is why he paid special attention to him.

However, Xuanku was definitely a more accomplished monk than Xuanci and Xuanji, who were the face of Shaolin Temple...

In the original work, Xiao Yuanshan used his powerful palm strike to severely injure Xuan Ku. On his deathbed, Xuan Ci came to visit him, but Xuan Ku refused to reveal the appearance and physique of the person who severely injured him until his death. At that time, Xiao Yuanshan was disguised as his son, but Xuan Ku did not recognize him because he had not seen his disciple for more than ten years.

The reason he didn't reveal the truth was simply because he didn't want Shaolin to commit further bloodshed in order to avenge him.

The saying "When will the cycle of revenge end?" is usually said to others, but Xuan Ku said it to himself. Although he didn't know who the other party was, Xuan Ku hoped that the killing would end there.

It's a pity that in the original story, before Xuanku died, he saw Qiao Feng coming to visit him. After recognizing him, he mistook him for his beloved and favored disciple who had injured him, and died in disappointment...

However, this also indirectly proves that Xuan Ku was proud of Qiao Feng's background.

Now that Yuanshan has interrupted him, Chu Luren has no way to inquire about Xuanku's matter.

"Xuanci! You say you've been deceived by a villain? Today, I'll expose that villain, and I might give you a quick death!" Qiao Feng threatened directly.

After all, it's the hatred of killing one's mother, what else is there to say?

On the other side, many Shaolin monks also raised their staffs, looking on guard.

Although Shaolin Temple had been thoroughly tormented by Xuanci, if there were no outsiders, they would definitely enforce the sect rules against Xuanci now. But since he was still the abbot, how could he just stand by and do nothing?

Fang Zheng stepped forward to take charge, saying, "Please wait, both of you! Junior Brother Xuanci has indeed made a grave mistake, not only harming your wife and mother but also implicating many others. However... the temple has its rules, and Shaolin will not tolerate this today. After the temple rules are followed, if you have any grudges, you can resolve them outside the temple!"

As he spoke, Fang Zheng looked in the direction of Xuanji in the Southern Shaolin Disciplinary Hall...

Xuanji hesitated repeatedly until Xuanci spoke up: "The person who deceived me back then has long since died young, and how can I tarnish his reputation? I... have broken the precepts against killing and lust, so I can no longer serve as abbot. Xuannan will succeed me as abbot from now on. As for punishment, Xuanji, tell me the truth, and I, as abbot, will bear it twice as severely!"

Xuanji then realized that the punishment of Xuanci could not be delayed in private; it had to be carried out in public to save face for Shaolin.

When Yuanshan heard that Xuanci was to be beaten with hundreds of blows, he was immediately unhappy—after that, how could Xuanci still be alive? Wouldn't that mean he couldn't take revenge himself?

Instead, out of consideration for his last remaining bond with Shaolin, Qiao Feng stopped his father, saying only that as long as Xuan Ci had a breath left, he would never forgive him!

The onlookers, seeing Xuanci about to be publicly tortured, felt their impression of Shaolin lessen, while the Shaolin monks... shifted their hatred towards the Yuanshan father and son.

Xuan Nan forced back his tears, took the cassock from Xuan Ci's hands, and then, controlling himself not to look at the scene of Xuan Ci being stripped of his upper garment and tortured, turned to Qiao Feng and his son and said, "Amitabha, benefactor Yuan, your enmity with Xuan Ci... is his own fate, but you stole the Shaolin secret manual, and we cannot allow you to leave like this!"

Chapter 784 Mr. Fang

"Hahaha, let's all attack together, you bald thieves! With my son and I joining forces, what is there to fear!" Yuanshan felt he had entered a state of high excitement.

Without Chu Luren giving any instructions, the righteous men present burst into laughter...

"Look, everyone! The Shaolin Temples of the North and South have joined forces to ambush and kill Prince Feng of the Manchu Qing Dynasty and his father!"

"Fang Zheng! You're a real man!"

"Hahaha, not only the Northern and Southern Shaolin Temples, I think Shangguan Haitang will also make a move in secret..."

"Yes, I saw him rubbing his fingers together!"

"Hidden weapons! Hidden weapons personally taught by Young Master Wuhen!"

Instead of mockery, the group of righteous men encouraged Shaolin to either detain or kill Prince Feng's father—after all, Fang Zheng of Northern Shaolin, so many masters, and even people from the Dragon Guard Manor were here…

Even if the relationship between the Song and Qing courts was bad, they hadn't gone to war yet!

The ongoing minor skirmishes on the border are one thing, but besieging and killing a prince within the country, with the involvement of court officials, is quite another.

Well, if Fang Zheng and the others weren't around, the Northern Shaolin could pretend not to know what the Southern Shaolin did. But now, even if Fang Zheng doesn't take action, it will be seen as a joint effort between the Northern and Southern Shaolin—the Northern Shaolin still has to operate under the Qing Dynasty's rule!

even……

Since Murong and Lord Shangguan from Gusu came here under their personal names, their backgrounds can be ignored.

While Nan Murong can be considered a latecomer to the profession and not a member of the imperial court, Shangguan Haitang holds the second-in-command position at the Dragon Guard Manor—and is the head of an important subordinate organization, the number one manor in the world!

Fang Zheng's face turned ugly. The Righteous Alliance was now not even offering a way out, but instead forcing Shaolin to take action.

Shangguan Haitang seemed to have ingested metabolic waste—she could throw things at me even though I hadn't said a word?

Suddenly, apart from the righteous warriors of the Righteous Alliance and the self-proclaimed righteous warriors who had been truly incited and were clamoring for Shaolin not to hesitate, the three parties—Northern and Southern Shaolin and the Dragon Guard Manor, which had been forcibly dragged into the fray—were all at a standstill...

Only then did Chu Luren leisurely step forward and say, "Ahem, Shaolin's words make no sense. Who was it that just now said that without cultivating Buddhism and Zen, it's difficult to achieve mastery? If having Shaolin's martial arts manuals really makes one invincible, then why didn't we see the Dragon Guard Manor raid you?"

Shangguan Haitang: ? ? ?

Chu Luren didn't care how the Northern and Southern Shaolin Temples or Shangguan Haitang reacted...

Chu Luren had already realized that a true leader like Shaolin was someone who wouldn't budge if you tried to lead them, and would only back down if you pushed them – rather than begging them to give him face, it would be better to create opportunities and force them to secretly hope that he could come out and say a few “fair words” and give them a way out.

"Besides, what's so rare about your Shaolin martial arts? On the contrary, as long as one understands Buddhism and practices Zen, even without Shaolin's secret manuals, one can still master profound Zen martial arts... What do you say, Grand Preceptor?"

"Not bad, not bad." Kumārajīva nodded with a knowing smile.

Then Chu Luren looked at the Zen masters Guanxin and asked, "What do you Zen masters think?"

“Amitabha, the actions of the new abbot of Shaolin… truly shocked this old monk!” Guanxin frowned as he looked at Xuannan.

Originally, these old Zen masters couldn't get a word in edgewise when people in the martial arts world were gossiping about their affairs, nor did they want to speak up—after all, the Xiangguo Temple in Kaifeng was now within the Qing Dynasty's territory, so it wasn't appropriate to speak.

But since Chu Luren took the initiative to speak, Guan Xin was about to launch into a long explanation...

Hasn't it always been said that without a Zen mind and Buddha-nature, one cannot master Zen martial arts? Does the Shaolin Temple still hold any weight in its words?

Fang Zheng didn't say much at this time, only chanting Buddhist prayers—otherwise, rumors would surely spread in the martial arts world that the Northern Shaolin Temple had submitted to the Qing Dynasty, which was why it stopped the Southern Shaolin Temple from besieging and killing Qiao Feng!

Xuan Nan had no choice but to say helplessly, "Alliance Leader Chu... is right."

On the other side, Xuan Ci was already being executed. The discipline sticks pounded on his body with a "bang, bang, bang," and Xuan Ci himself did not resist at all. After more than twenty blows, it became a "slap, slap, slap" sound—with each blow, blood splattered...

"Stop hitting him! Stop hitting him! I seduced him... Hit me instead..."

Ye Erniang cried and tried to step forward to stop her, but Yue Laosan pulled her back: "Second Sister, isn't it enough that I call you Second Sister? Stop making a scene!"

Xu Zhu wanted to take the punishment in place of his father, but Yue Laosan sealed his pressure points.

Yue Laosan was simple-minded but not stupid. At this point, it was impossible for Shaolin to stop Xuanci from enforcing the temple rules, and he couldn't even ask his cheap master for help.

While being tortured, Xuan Ci closed his eyes and clasped his hands, chanting scriptures. Hearing Ye Erniang's incessant cries, Xuan Ci opened his eyes, his face filled with sorrow and remorse, and said, "Erniang, all the things you've done over the years have been terribly wrong, and it's all because of me. Today I... cough cough... I'll pay with my life. I also hope that in the future... you'll do more good deeds, and if you can find the child, you should do your utmost to find him, to make amends for any unforeseen circumstances..."

"I don't want it, I don't want it! I just want you to live..." Ye Erniang wouldn't listen to a word.

However, someone nearby overheard this and, seeing Xuan Ci willingly accept his death, felt deeply saddened and empathetic.

Meanwhile, trouble was brewing again for the Beggars' Sect...

"Hahaha, Shaolin is timid and hesitant, not daring to lay a finger on our enemy, but the men of the Beggars' Sect are fearless! Old man, today I will challenge you again and let you know that you should not underestimate the martial arts world of the Central Plains!"

At this moment, Mr. Fang stepped forward, gestured to Yuanshan, and looked as if he wanted to rid the world of this scourge.

Seeing this, Chu Luren couldn't help but look over, and then, looking at Mr. Fang, he seemed to realize something...

Chu Luren hadn't realized his identity yet and was wondering where this reclusive master might have come from. But now, hearing him say "we've sparred again," it meant that... he and Old Man Yuanshan must have fought before, or even fought frequently!

Could it be...

Chu Luren's thoughts suddenly became clear!

At this moment, the Beggars' Sect stepped forward, and the timing was quite good. The heroes cheered and encouraged them, and the previous doubts about the new leader were swept away. However, the Beggars' Sect's higher-ups looked embarrassed.

After all, the new gang leader facing off against the old gang leader put them in a difficult position.

At this moment, Chen Youliang shouted, "Brothers of the Beggars' Clan! We are all Song people. If any brother or elder brother is unwilling to fight Qiao Feng, you are welcome to step forward now. We will not force you. After we set up the Dog-Beating Formation, anyone who intentionally causes trouble will be guilty of betraying the clan!"

For a moment, many Beggar Clan disciples and elders who had been hesitant had no choice but to move. The four elders, Song, Xi, Wu, and Chen, could no longer stand idly by.

However, Chu Luren suddenly shouted, "Hahaha, not bad! You stinking beggars of the Beggars' Sect, if you commit the crime of betraying the sect again this time, there will be no sect leader to shed blood for you to atone for your sins!"

Song, Xi, and Wu looked at each other, all feeling rather awkward...

Chen Guyan had always disliked Qiao Feng, but now he was caught in a dilemma.

Quan Guanqing then added, "Have you all forgotten the grudge against Deputy Chief Ma? I think even if it wasn't Qiao Feng, it must have been his father who murdered Deputy Chief Ma to cover up the truth that he was a Qing dog!"

Bai Shijing and Lü Zhang, who had long been sidelined, were standing still when Quan Guanqing brought up the matter. Bai Shijing's heart skipped a beat, and at that moment, Chen Youliang gave him a subtle glance...

As an elder in charge of law enforcement, Bai Shijing originally held a position of prestige second only to Qiao Feng within the gang. Moreover, Bai Shijing was always a member of Qiao Feng's faction and harbored much dissatisfaction with Chen Youliang and others.

After Xingzilin, Kang Min wanted to protect Bai Shijing to counter Chen Youliang and control the Beggars' Sect, but unfortunately... how could she outmaneuver Chen Youliang? Chen Youliang already knew about Bai Shijing's weaknesses!

However, because he couldn't control his lower body and was controlled by others, he not only killed Ma Dayuan, but also pretended to be invisible in the matter of Qiao Feng and the many changes in the Beggars' Sect after Qiao Feng left. Although he was unwilling to collude with Chen Youliang and Quan Guanqing, he allowed Chen Youliang to take over his power!

Chapter 785 Bai Shijing

Bai Shijing sensed Chen Youliang's silent threat and understood that he wanted him to take the lead. He immediately felt a pang of anxiety and broke out in a cold sweat...

One wrong step can lead to eternal regret!

Bai Shijing, trembling, was about to step forward...

Seeing this, Chu Luren immediately tried to mock, "Elder Bai, back then my sister-in-law..."

Back then, A'Zhu disguised herself as Bai Shijing, but only got false information from Kang Min. Later, at Xiaojing Lake, when Qiao Feng and Chu Luren were analyzing the situation, Chu Luren had already pointed out that Bai Shijing was very likely having an affair with Kang Min!

However, Qiao Feng interrupted him at this moment, saying, "Second Brother! That's enough..." He first stopped Chu Luren from speaking, then looked at Bai Shijing and said, "Brother Bai... no, Elder Bai! When I was the leader of the gang, I relied on you a lot. But we have already drunk the farewell wine, so you don't need to show mercy. As long as you... are worthy of the brothers in the gang!"

Qiao Feng held Bai Shijing in utter contempt—he knew Bai Shijing was on his side. In other matters, even if Bai Shijing misunderstood him, Qiao Feng wouldn't have taken it to heart, but…

If the second brother's deduction is correct, he is very likely the real culprit who killed Brother Ma, or at least an accomplice. There's no doubt that he had an affair with Kang Min.

This made it impossible for Qiao Feng to forgive him!