893 Answer (1/2)

Like a chained lion, Lianqing growled, showing two rows of huge teeth as his sharp claws rubbed gently against the ground as if he would break free at any time.

He had never liked the Dragon King. Upon hearing his accusation, he became even angrier. ”Take back what you just said,” he said as he clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking.

Gu Shenwei continued staring at Monk Fachong instead of responding to Lianqing's request or taking Shangguan Ru's hints. He believed that interests were the only mutually accepted principle in the world, and that even the monks couldn't remain aloof from it. The monks had 'helped' him several times by healing him and passing him the kung fu manual. However, there must be a purpose behind all their deeds.

Fachong, who seemed to feel the Dragon King's eyes boring into him, slowly opened his eyes and said to Lianqing beside him, ”The Dragon King has nothing to take back. Why is Martial Nephew is so irritable?”

”What? The Dragon King said… he slandered the Four Noble Truths Temple…”

”I heard it. It was merely a guess and it is not completely untrue.”

”Uncle Master…” Lianqing widened his eyes in surprise, not understanding what Fachong was saying.

Shangguan Ru also couldn't understand. ”Not completely untrue? Master… That's impossible. The death of the Central Plains envoy has nothing to do with the Four Noble Truths Temple.”

Fachong held out a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand and asked, ”What is this?”

His question had no specificity to it and it was too simple, so Lianqing honestly replied, ”Prayer beads.”

”What else?”

Lianqing paused, scratched his head, and smiled in embarrassment. ”Uncle Master knows that I'm not good at witty questions.”

”A bunch of wood,” Shangguan Ru answered.

”What else?” Fachong continued asking the same question.

”A string of cash,” answered Gu Shenwei. He wanted to see what the monk's purpose was.

Lianqing couldn't help but resort to his bandit's mindset again. Looking at the prayer beads wrapping around his Uncle Master's wrist, he thought that these beads were made of sandalwood, equal in size and uniform in color. They might not be worth too much money, but they were not cheap either. In short, they were not trash. Thinking of this, he anxiously corrected his mindset and blamed himself for his random thoughts. Meanwhile, he secretly complained about the Dragon King. Ever since the other side showed up, he had unconsciously broken the precepts several times.

”It's also a sharp weapon for killing,” said the disciple of the Essence Pavilion in a stiff and disdainful voice. ”The 108 beads are enough to kill 108 people with a flick of the finger. The monk has that power.”

”Master won't kill people,” Shangguan Ru refuted before Lianqing could open his mouth.

”To killing or to not kill is all in his hand. No one can stop him.” The disciple of the Essence Pavilion didn't believe in the sayings of Buddhism at all.

Gu Shenwei stopped the argument and turned to Fachong, ”What do you want to say?”

”The same thing is different in the eyes of different people, and so is what the Dragon King said. You said the Four Noble Truths Temple could benefit from the death of the Central Plains envoy, and it's true. But power and influence in the Dragon King's eyes is exactly the so-called compassion in the eyes of me and many other monks. Delivering all living creatures from torment cannot be achieved solely through the persuasions of several monks. Even Buddha had to rely on the power of emperors to influence the world, let alone us, the common monks.”

”Mystifying things again,” the disciple of the Essence Pavilion commented. It sounded quite ironic and self-mocking when he said the words 'mystifying things.' ”Did the monks hire someone to kill the envoy? Or did the monks know in advance? That's all. Why make things look unnecessarily mysterious?”

The disciple of the Essence Pavilion seemed to be unable to keep his composure in front of the monk, and spoke so bluntly that it wasn't in the Immortal Peng's style at all. Wild Horse, on the other hand, looked a bit dazed. Gu Shenwei admired the skinny old man even more now.

”There's only one statement, but the viewpoint depends on the Dragon King.” In comparison, Fachong appeared much calmer.

The monk still hadn't answered directly, so Gu Shenwei also refused to clarify his 'view.'

Shangguan Ru suddenly opened her mouth. ”Is the Dragon King sure that the assassin is a killer disciple?”

”It seems so.”

”Well, you should know that not all the killer disciples of Golden Roc Castle are in the Kun Society.”

”Where else?”

Shangguan Ru didn't answer.

Gu Shenwei suddenly understood. The information she provided was so simple that she could have said it in the very beginning, but hadn't until the last moment. There was only one person who could make her so hesitant.

Gu Shenwei nodded slightly to Fachong and then said to Shangguan Ru, ”Sorry to disturb you. Goodbye.”

”Walk yourself out.” The tension in the air was palpable. Shangguan Ru didn't even see the Dragon King off.

Lianqing was puzzled by the result. ”The Dragon King is leaving just like that? He hasn't even asked anything yet. What a strange fellow, Uncle Master…”

Lianqing became more confused as he saw that the eminent monk Fachong, who was always serious and calm, had actually become a bit disheartened.

Outside the Kun Society, over a hundred guards were waiting for the Dragon King in the streets and alleys. A little further away from them were crowds of enthusiastic residents. The appearance of the Dragon King immediately caused a big stir in the crowd.