Chapter 214: The Contrast of the Big Man

Yue Commandery, Qin Wang's mansion.

In the vast hall, bamboo music swirled as over a dozen beautiful maids danced gracefully.

Qin Tuo, corpulent, lay on his side, placing a white stone onto the go board.

With a soft pah, the stone landed on the tengyuan point, surrounded by black stones.

Logically, this white stone had no 'breath' left, yet the monk in his cassock dared not remove it.

"Heh, I played the wrong spot," Qin Wang smiled at the monk across from him. "Master, why not take the white stone?"

"The white stone was not played wrongly," the monk recited a Buddhist mantra. "This is precisely where Qin Wang stands now."

Qin Tuo paused, then burst into loud laughter. He rose, sharply flicking his long sleeve, and looked down. "The whole world is my enemy—how do I break this deadlock?"

"No need to break it," the monk murmured. "At the right moment, black stones become white."

Qin Tuo asked with interest: "How?"

"Win the people's hearts."

"Impossible."

"Our Buddhist sect will spare no effort to aid you. The holy child sent from heaven—must be Qin Wang!"

Hahahaha!

Qin Tuo laughed wildly, his fat rippling like waves.

His voice rang loud, audible throughout the entire hall.

"The Daoist sect sits atop the imperial court, aiding the false emperor's ascension to immortality, dazzling and glorious. Your Buddhist sect, envious, turns your schemes toward me…" Qin Tuo eyed the monk, smiling with narrowed eyes. "Do you truly think I'm a fool?"

"We dare not. Our Buddhist sect offers full-hearted aid to Qin Wang, seeking to win the people's hearts for you."

Qin Tuo smiled and asked: "How? Also, lately many martial artists have appeared in my city, and strange rumors circulate—were these your doing?"

"Excellent… yes, this was our Buddhist sect's doing. A small trial, to demonstrate our capabilities to Qin Wang."

"What use is it?"

"First, turn the martial artists into Qin Wang's allies."

"Martial artists are indeed useful. Once subdued, they serve well for reconnaissance and assassination—a proper path." Qin Wang nodded slightly, then added: "But this has no real strategic value."

"The martial artists are merely a token of allegiance. If Qin Wang accepts us, then local chieftains, powerful clans, and high officials will all feel the weight of Qin Wang's prestige—and at the right moment, they can open the gates from within."

Qin Wang's expression finally showed interest: "Oh? Then let me see what kind of result your token of allegiance produces!"

"Thank you, Qin Wang, for humoring us with your attention. In no more than two days, results will come."

Hahahaha.

Qin Wang laughed again, loudly.

…

On the roadside outside Yue Commandery, Shaolin Temple now faced off against Zhenwu Sect.

Master Kurong raised his hand in the lotus mudra and said: "Daoist Xuanfeng, you owe us an explanation."

Xuanfeng lowered his hand from his face and spoke slowly: "No explanation needed. Do you truly think we don't know what you bald monks intend here?"

"So, you Daoists saw us as prey from the start."

"So what if we did!" Xuanfeng snorted.

Then Xuanfeng whispered: "Taiji Sword Array—kill these bald monks first."

Instantly, over twenty Daoists formed an odd sword formation and swiftly advanced toward Shaolin.

"You think I fear your treacherous, nose-pierced Daoists!" Kurong snorted, barking: "Twelve Bronze Men, hold the front! The rest, form the Extermination Demon Array—follow me and charge!"

Instantly, dozens from both sects clashed violently.

All were martial experts, all fought in formations—this level of combat power was beyond the reach of ordinary martial sects.

Ji Feng watched the scene and asked: "Young Master An, which side should we aid?"

"Watch," An Xin smiled. "The Daoists and Buddhists are tearing each other apart—we…"

At that moment, screams erupted from the forest behind them.

The cries rose and fell, filled with horrific wails—clearly brutal.

What's going on!?

Ji Feng and An Xin glanced at the fierce battle between Shaolin and Zhenwu, ignored it, and entered the forest—only to find several martial sects, having slipped away from the earlier "stimulating battlefield," now clashed with paper soldiers.

And among the paper soldiers stood a figure entirely wrapped in black cloth.

Around it, a crowd of martial artists had surrounded it from all sides.

And every one of them had greed in their eyes.

The martial artists watching the paper soldiers guarding the black figure found them difficult to handle.

They had already launched one assault—but the paper soldiers had blocked them.

Though over a dozen paper soldiers had been destroyed, over a dozen of them were seriously wounded, and two were dead.

A bearded giant cursed: "Damn it! This paper sorcery—if I find out whose lineage this is, I'll wipe out his whole family."

Many stared at him.

The bearded giant looked rather proud of himself.

At that moment, An Xin and Ji Feng walked in, just catching his words.

Their expressions differed.

An Xin had a serious expression; Ji Feng nodded in agreement.

If possible, he too wanted to kill this bastard who used paper sorcery so well.

As for… killing the family—depends on the situation.

If he's willing to surrender and become a household servant, his wife and daughters could still be taken in.

After all, many techniques require bloodline inheritance.

And as the Tianyi Gate and Qingcheng Sect both entered the fray, many turned to look.

An Xin gazed at the black 'object' amidst the soldiers and sighed helplessly.

A glance revealed two figures there: an adult holding a child, discernible from the silhouette beneath the black cloth.

This matched the 'rumors'.

Moreover, that layer of black cloth... An Xin recognized it as a Veil-of-Phantoms Robe, a very large one.

Such a Veil-of-Phantoms Robe is generally possessed only by Spirit Hunters or certain noble families; martial artists have no right to lay hands on it.

But this did not prevent them from 'picking it up'.

They simply had to do so secretly.

Someone spoke up: "Young Hero An of the Tianyi Gate, we discovered this place first. According to martial arts conventions, you must yield. Apologies for the trouble."

An Xin frowned.

At that moment, Ji Feng spoke: "Those who see it get a share!"

As the voice sounded, the black object within the paper figure seemed to begin trembling.

At this time, the paper archers began another round of drawing their bows.

After a series of clattering sounds, several more martial artists were injured.

Someone then spoke up to mock: "Can't even block paper arrows. What a disgrace."

Yet at this moment, the paper archers ceased moving.

For the paper arrows on their backs had been exhausted.

The middle-aged man with the large mustache hoisted his Nine-Ringed Blade: "I want nothing else. I don't want that so-called Jade Box of Exquisite Craftsmanship. I want that Veil-of-Phantoms Robe!"

"You take everything; what do we want!"

"You may have the Jade Box of Exquisite Craftsmanship," the large-mustached man smiled.

Naturally, the others scoffed at this.

But regardless, they all shared one thought: that was... to eliminate the paper figures first.

An Xin pondered for a moment, then spoke: "I do not want the Veil-of-Phantoms Robe, nor do I want the Jade Box of Exquisite Craftsmanship, but the person inside... how about you leave them to me?"

He thought, at least he could save the person for Li Lin first.

Ji Feng looked at him: "Young Hero An, lust is a grave taboo."

"Sect Master Ji, you are misunderstanding."

Ji Feng breathed a sigh of relief within; he had intended to marry his daughter to An Xin, which would have improved relations between their two sects.

"Why speak such nonsense..." the large-mustached man roared: "I'm going up. First come, first served."

He immediately charged forward.

This action prompted many to follow, fearing they would be too late.

But just as these people rushed upward, the middle-aged man with the large mustache suddenly halted his body and even retreated backward.

Then, looking at those who had charged up, he revealed a triumphant smile.

(End of this chapter)