Chapter 212: Buddha and Dao

Li Lin wandered through the forest using the Stealth Technique.

He also used the 'vision' of the small paper man to ambush lone martial artists in the woods from time to time.

Stir up the waters.

But even so, he saw several groups leave the 'battlefield', unwilling to expend their strength in such a place.

Li Lin thought for a moment, then followed behind one of those groups and walked out.

Compared to others, he was 'bolder'.

After all, he was truly stealthy; as long as he didn't get too close, those people could not discover him.

After following for a while, he discovered the group he was trailing was the Zhenwu Sect.

The group was walking out of the forest and blocking the rear of the Qingcheng Sect.

At this moment, the people of the Qingcheng Sect looked very grim.

Especially Ji Feng; now he deeply regretted why he had not listened to An Xin's words earlier.

He turned sideways, looked left and right, and asked: "Daoist Xuanfengzi, as a senior of the Wu Lin, blocking our path, what does this mean?"

"I am not even five years older than you, not a senior; you can call me brother," Xuanfengzi said with a smile.

Ji Feng frowned.

At this time, Liu Fang spoke up: "Master Xuanfengzi, our master and your sect's Elder Hao are old acquaintances; our two sects have no grievances or hatred in ordinary times, why must you join the Shaolin Temple to deal with us?"

"I have no intention of dealing with your sect."

"Then what does this mean!"

Daoist Xuanfengzi laughed: "I think your sect should join us to test the Shaolin Sect's mettle."

"What if we are unwilling?"

"Then that bald donkey Master Kurong, let us destroy them together first."

The people of the Shaolin Temple said nothing; Master Master Kurong took out prayer beads from somewhere and clicked them one by one.

They just seemed closer to the Qingcheng Sect.

At this moment, Ji Feng suddenly said: "Fine, Master Xuanfengzi, I am willing to ally with you, but you must tell me, what is the purpose of the Linglong Jade Box affair?"

Li Lin was now behind the Shaolin Temple; he had been about to stab someone in the back, but hearing this, he immediately stepped back a few paces.

He also wanted to figure out what was going on.

Why, even though he had already left the city, could he still attract so many martial artists.

Xuanfengzi looked toward the Shaolin Temple and smiled: "Master Master Kurong, do you think it can be said?"

The people of the Shaolin Temple said nothing, only advancing; the people of the Qingcheng Sect immediately formed a sword formation, the atmosphere extremely tense, swords drawn and bows bent.

And at this very moment, hurried footsteps suddenly came from ahead on the official road.

Then they saw An Xin returning with the people of the Tianyi Sect.

Ji Feng saw him and, overjoyed, said: "Young Hero An, please support my sect; there will surely be a generous reward in the future."

Xuanfengzi looked at An Xin and asked: "Young Hero An, why bother? If you want to leave, do it decisively; returning is not a good thing."

"I thought about it and felt I must stay here to watch the excitement," An Xin laughed: "I have a friend among them; until I see him escape danger, I always feel uneasy in my heart."

Ji Feng's face lit up with joy; he thought the other was speaking of himself, but completely ignored that An Xin had just said not long ago that 'someone' was the reason for his retreat!

At this time, the people of the Shaolin Temple stopped advancing on the Qingcheng Sect and even retreated a bit.

Ji Feng took this opportunity to bring his disciples to the side of the Tianyi Sect.

Neither the Zhenwu Sect nor the Shaolin Temple moved.

"Thank you," Ji Feng gratefully cupped his hands toward An Xin.

An Xin just chuckled lightly and said: "I have secretly investigated these past few days; the news of the Jade Linglong first came out of Yu Commandery, which is the Shaolin Temple's territory. This is also why so many people are willing to believe this rumor."

Master Master Kurong just smiled and said nothing.

Xuanfengzi sneered: "I must say, the Buddhist sect is quite good at maneuvering."

An Xin looked at Xuanfengzi and asked: "Master Xuanfengzi, what does your Zhenwu Sect know?"

"We only know that the Shaolin Temple... no, I should say the Buddhist sect, has already pledged allegiance to Qin Wang of Yue Commandery."

The people of the Tianyi Sect and the Qingcheng Sect both felt they had misheard.

"How is that possible? Isn't Qin Wang the reincarnation of an Outer Demon? The Buddhist sect doesn't think of subduing demons and eliminating evil, but why..." In the Qingcheng Sect, a young girl's voice asked in disbelief.

The Shaolin Temple said nothing.

Xuanfengzi continued to sneer disdainfully: "Put down the butcher's knife, and you become a Buddha instantly! It's just an Outer Demon; as long as you shave your head at the right time, you are a true Buddha. One thought makes you a Buddha, one thought makes you a demon; whether it is right or evil, the Buddhist sect decides."

Master Master Kurong chanted a Buddhist title softly, then said: "Master Xuanfengzi, your Daoist sect is no better. If it were not for your secret instigation in this matter, things would not have progressed so quickly and so smoothly."

Xuanfengzi was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, laughing very happily, very crazily.

At this time, the expressions of the people of the Tianyi Sect and the Qingcheng Sect were somewhat wrong.

An Xin's face darkened: "Master Xuanfengzi, what does this mean!"

Ji Feng of the Qingcheng Sect also had a gloomy face.

Xuanfengzi said nothing, only smiling without speaking; that smile, however one looked at it, was wrong.

At the same time, some of the people of the Zhenwu Sect, at some unknown time, had circled around to the rear of the Tianyi Sect and the Qingcheng Sect.

Forming a pincer attack with the Shaolin Temple.

An Xin looked toward the Shaolin Temple again: "I wonder if the Master can clarify, so that we may die knowing the truth."

Master Master Kurong still said nothing.

Instead, he waved his hand, and the people behind him moved forward.

And at this moment, Xuanfengzi suddenly said: "Let you be a ghost who knows the truth, because you small sects and minor schools should not touch things you cannot handle."

"What does that mean!" An Xin still did not understand.

Ji Feng suddenly seemed to understand something: "They won't allow us of the Nine Streams to surpass them."

Xuan Fengzi nodded slightly: "That's about the meaning."

An Xin's eyes widened suddenly; he understood too.

The Three Teachings and Nine Streams!

That is the definition in the Jianghu.

In an age of prosperity, naturally the Three Teachings would be at their peak, but now it is an age of chaos... the Nine Streams, rooted among the common people, possess even more vigorous vitality.

An Xin roared: "Is this necessary? At a time like this, with chaos in both the North and South, and the Central Plains rotting away, we of the Jianghu should be united in spirit. Why..."

A palm strike cut off An Xin's words.

He darted aside, watching Master Master Kurong slowly withdraw his palm from a distance, his face filled with anger.

Xuan Fengzi laughed: "Bald monk, deal with them first; we will settle the matter between our two sects another day."

"Well said!" Master Master Kurong laughed.

And just then, a wail of agony suddenly came from behind the Shaolin Temple.

These people were all experts.

The instant someone cried out in agony, they all looked over.

They saw a figure suddenly vanish into the night.

An Xin suddenly became overjoyed.

Master Master Kurong whipped his head around to look at Xuan Fengzi of the Zhenwu Sect: "Bull-nose... I wasn't sure before, but this is clearly your Daoist concealment technique. You actually dared to trick me! What do you have to say for yourself?"

"It really wasn't arranged by me." Xuan Fengzi wore an expression like one constipated, then his expression turned very... ferocious.

(End of this chapter)