Chapter 641: Heaven's justice is worthless

Who let you have a cheap mouth to speak? I, the official, didn't ask you to do this. Once provoked, it's provoked; without paying the price, no one today can plead for you or seek justice!" Qin Xuan said coldly, these words made Qiu Chuji's face turn cold.

Cut off one arm, and his life is ruined!

Now he regrets a bit; if he had known, he would have waited until his fellow disciples arrived to speak, and then he wouldn't have drawn Qin Xuan's attention, ending up in this situation—it's truly not worth it.

"Can we change the condition?" Ma Yu frowned, dissatisfied, saying: "The condition you, sir, propose is hard for our Quanzhen Sect to obey. You should know that a martial artist without an arm suffers more than being killed; how could he still wield swords?"

Who would have thought, Qin Xuan shook his head and said: "Isn't there still one arm? Moreover, he's still alive—that's the greatest hope, right?"

You can't just let me off like that; your junior disciple offended first, and as his senior brother you failed to discipline him—so you can't blame me!

His calm words were filled with deep chill.

Ma Yu frowned, deep in thought without speaking, letting him watch helplessly as Qiu Chuji's arm was cut off—how could he bear not to save him?

Finally, he had to say: "Since you, sir, are unwilling, we must ultimately resort to force to settle this."

I, a poor Daoist, am untalented; after decades of bitter cultivation I have attained this cultivation level, having wasted many years—I hope you, sir, will graciously concede a point or two.

Speaking, he drew the sword at his waist; from its sound he knew it was forged of fine steel, its chill piercing, gazing upon it gave a cold feeling—it is absolutely a precious sword.

It should have been like this long ago! Qin Xuan smiled, then added: "But before that, I, the official, still have one matter to settle."

Upon hearing this, Ma Yu was puzzled when he suddenly sensed something amiss, his brow lifting involuntarily. He saw Qin Xuan also draw his fine steel sword and suddenly attack Qiu Chuji.

Boom!

A visible sword qi shot forth, tearing through the void straight toward Qiu Chuji's shoulder. This strike was extremely swift, and as the sword qi became substance, turning into something visible to the naked eye, it startled everyone.

Startled, he looked over, and his face instantly darkened.

Pfft!

Qiu Chuji still wanted to shout a few times, but in the end he uttered nothing.

A familiar arm fell from his shoulder, blood pouring out continuously. He hurriedly pressed a few points on his body to staunch the bleeding.

I had thought we would wait until Ma Yu and Qin Xuan decided the victor before dealing with him, but Qin Xuan struck so quickly, giving him no chance to dodge. That sword qi was too fast, and having become substance, it was impossible to evade.

Junior brother, how are you?

Ma Yu and the others rushed over to support him, faces full of anger and resentment, glaring: "Wasn't it said we would settle this with martial prowess?"

How utterly untrustworthy!

Qin Xuan shook his head, indifferent: "I also said we would settle one matter first before fighting. A mistake is a mistake; his misfortune is entirely due to your lax discipline. Over these years, how many wrongs has your junior disciple committed under the banner of the Quanzhen Sect, and you know nothing about it?"

Let alone recent matters; just the Niujia Village incident years ago—do you think he did nothing wrong? A quarrel of hot tempers, causing others' families to be destroyed.

Patriarch Chongyang has long passed; as his senior brother and sect leader, you never properly disciplined this junior disciple—this is your fault. If you didn't meddle in others' affairs, such calamity could not have occurred!

However, Qin Xuan's words were hard for Ma Yu to accept. He glowered, furious, saying: "Clearly you refuse to forgive. My junior disciple, though a true Dao cultivator, suffered this calamity solely because he offended you, this demon."

He was so angry his fury blazed; had he not wanted to treat Qiu Chuji's wounds, he would have lunged forward with a sword thrust.

Qin Xuan shrugged, indifferent, saying: "Cause and effect, flowers bloom before the Buddha. You blame others as demons, yet you do not realize you yourselves are demons!"

I, the official, have said my piece for now. If you are dissatisfied, feel free to come settle accounts with me. But I may not show mercy. Moreover, Qiu Qianren, remember that move of yours.

Having spoken, he clapped his hands and left, leaving behind a grim-faced Quanzhen Sect crowd and the tear‑unable Qiu Qianren. He was the one most dissatisfied with this affair. Yet, looking at Qin Xuan's retreating back, he felt a twinge of envy.

Sudden enlightenment finally brings the Dao; overnight one can attain true cultivation!

Just now that was sword qi manifesting as substance—from now on, great accomplishment in the sword way is to be expected!

Inside Shaolin Temple on Mount Song, Monk Duzhen suddenly exclaimed: "Is what you said true? Did Qin Xuan really clash with the Quanzhen Sect and cut off Qiu Chuji's arm?"

Novice monk Mi pondered, then replied: "Abbot, this matter has long been noisily spread in the town at the mountain base; many martial artists have personally witnessed the whole process, so it cannot be false."

Shaolin on Mount Song is a major household; gathering news is still quite easy.

Duzhen nodded slightly, pondering: "Although Qin Xuan's reputation on Qin Lake is poor, he is after all an official. If we can win his aid, our Shaolin's reopening of the mountain gate will be secure; whoever dares to obstruct, we'll label him a rebel—see who still dares to act!"

He felt delighted; if this succeeds, the benefits would be manifold.

Thus he hurriedly instructed Novice Mi: "Quick, make arrangements—I want to meet Qin Xuan, no matter what, to bring him over to our side."

This time, Shaolin is bound to rise!

"Yes!" Novice Mi, though not fully understanding, could only obey since the Damo Academy's abbot had spoken. As for the later matters, they don't concern him much; he only hopes Shaolin's mountain gate reopening proceeds smoothly.

In the deep night, after Monk Duzhen disguised himself, he arrived at Qin Xuan's quarters. A knocking sounded, and Qin Xuan wondered aloud: "Who is it?"

"Either friend or foe!" a deep voice came from outside the door, then fell silent.

Qin Xuan startled, thinking: "Could someone be trying to toy with me?" Late at night, if he went out to look, there would surely be no shadow; upon returning to continue sleep, someone would surely knock again, annoying him to death.

But in the end, Qin Xuan still decided to open the door and see. "Huh? Who are you?" Several black‑clad shadows startled him—could they intend to kill and loot?

"Qin Sir, do not be alarmed; I am the poor monk Duzhen of the Shaolin Damo Academy. We met before in the Capital." As he spoke, the black‑clad figure removed his hat, revealing a shining bald head.

"Duzhen?" Qin Xuan frowned slightly, curiously asking: "What brings you here? Shaolin's mountain gate reopening is imminent; you should be on the mountain preparing to greet the great heroes of Qin Lake, yet you come to my place—could it be you just want to share a drink?"

Monk Duzhen calmly smiled: "Wine and meat pass through the intestines, the Buddha remains in the heart. If you, sir, have such refined taste, I shall gladly keep you company!" Drinking and eating meat meant nothing to him. His smiling expression made Qin Xuan secretly wary: "This monk is no ordinary fellow."

Even daring to jest about the Buddha—what else would he not dare?

"Monk, you are of the pure cultivation, sitting in meditation all day, gazing at the moon and worshipping the Buddha. I am not that sort of idle person; you must have mistaken the target." Qin Xuan could tell with his toes that Monk Duzhen's purpose was surely to drag him onto a pirate ship.

Although they had been somewhat unpleasant when they met at the Zhao Prince's mansion in the Capital, Monk Duzhen felt that for the sake of Shaolin's mountain gate reopening, even setting aside past grievances was acceptable. Now his amiable demeanor resembled that of an old friend not seen in years.

But Qin Xuan took little liking to him, coldly saying: "Shaolin engages in no production—this is a great sin. I, the official, have not pursued your offenses; consider it settled. Yet you still wish to reopen the mountain gate—pure daydreaming!"

After this tirade, Monk Duzhen's smile grew broader. He suddenly said: "You, sir, weigh too heavily. My Shaolin possesses the land within a hundred‑li radius of Mount Song; these years we have entrusted it to the farmers at the mountain base to cultivate, taking only two tenths of the grain as tribute. This is not idleness; it is indeed protecting the local populace, a great merit."

"'So saying, should I, the official, still reward you?' Qin Xuan laughed angrily: 'Although you make some sense, whether to acknowledge it is my prerogative.'"

Monk Duzhen gave an embarrassed smile, inwardly cursing: 'Were it not that I see you possess some influence, I would not have personally come to win you over!'

He dared not utter that, so he merely smiled apologetically: 'What you say is quite right. However, my Shaolin, holding compassion at heart, constantly relieves the world's people. Therefore reopening the mountain gate also greatly benefits the court. If you, sir, are willing to assist, our chances of succeeding in reopening the gate increase. Moreover, my Shaolin promises to reserve a Buddha seat for you.'

Finally, Monk Duzhen gritted his teeth and insisted on offering a Buddha seat as payment, hoping to induce Qin Xuan to act. He firmly believed the benefits were sufficient; Qin Xuan would certainly be moved. After all, under heaven there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests—so it is between states, and so it is among martial artists.

!

"A Buddha seat?" Qin Xuan startled, secretly thinking: "Can such a thing be casually promised?"

While he was still doubtful, Monk Duzhen beside him explained: "By sealing a living person as a deity and establishing a Buddha, one can also obtain incense and fortune qi. Then you, sir, could use this qi to cultivate, enabling a thousand miles in a day!"

Having said that, Qin Xuan understood. It turned out they were sealing the Buddha's position with a living person's body for the sake of incense and luck, but whether anyone would worship it remained uncertain.

This method is used by many, but it only treats the symptoms, not the root. Although Qin Xuan didn't fully understand its intricacies, he supposed this method had many drawbacks. He couldn't help but sneer coldly: "I'm afraid even obtaining this Buddha's position won't be easy. To help your Buddhist sect reopen the mountain gate, this official would have to offend all the Qin Lake people. Monk, you sure know how to calculate!"

Too bad, he won't be fooled.

To serve as a shield for Young Forest? Qin Xuan secretly shook his head: "Unless I'm crazy, the other Qin Lake sects are no good, and compared to them, Young Forest isn't much better either."

"One Buddha's position can help this official break through to the Innate Realm. Compared to that, what's offending all the Qin Lake people?" Monk Duzhen smiled faintly and continued, "Sealing the Buddha with a living body to enjoy incense and luck does indeed have some drawbacks, but as long as you maintain good relations with your incense followers, there will be no trouble. This official, your reputation in Qin Lake is already ruined; even if you don't help us, you've already made enemies with them. If you assist us a little, you can still gain benefits—truly a case of killing several birds with one stone."

In Monk Duzhen's view, Qin Xuan had already fallen out with those Qin Lake people; it was perfect to join them in contributing to Young Forest's reopening of the mountain gate. One Buddha's position is a tremendous asset.

"That's right, everything you said is true. But I won't help either side." Qin Xuan shook his head and finally explained, "Although Young Forest's Buddha's position is precious, I disdain to want it. If Young Forest has the confidence to reopen the mountain gate, this official doesn't mind making a deal with you. For now, you'd better honestly prepare for tomorrow's affairs. If you have no trump card, then consider this talk of a deal never happened."

Seeing Monk Duzhen's astonished expression, Qin Xuan secretly sneered, "You want me to be a shield? I'm not stupid!"

The Buddha's position looks noble, but it is actually also controlled by people!

"This official, could it be that you think our offered chips aren't tempting enough?" Monk Duzhen's brows were tightly furrowed; he had thought Qin Xuan would most likely agree, but he hadn't expected the result to be like this.

Qin Xuan shook his head and gave a cold snort: "No, this isn't about the chips."

Being a neutral party might still bring benefits from both sides, but once one shows favoritism to a side, the situation changes. The grudge between Shaolin and the Qin Lake people under heaven has nothing to do with him, Qin Xuan; he has no need to get involved, even if Shaolin offers a Buddhist position.

Ah, that Buddhist position that gathers incense and destiny—Shaolin is willing to give it up, but Qin Xuan isn't interested.

Finally, he said with a cold expression, "Alright, monk, go back. Your affairs, I won't interfere."

Before Duzhen monk could react, Qin Xuan shoved him out, closed the door, and pondered carefully, feeling no regret. "Shaolin sure made a good calculation, but that Buddhist position isn't what I want."

In the Innate Realm, he will break through on his own; he doesn't need Shaolin's help.

Duzhen intended to use him as a spear to fight the Qin Lake people of the town, thereby easing Shaolin's pressure and achieving the goal of reopening the mountain gate. Qin Xuan understood this clearly.

Just then, another knock sounded at the door. "You still won't leave? Too bad I won't change my mind."

Qin Xuan pulled open the door, about to say a few words, but saw the white-haired Hong Qigong standing before him. "Elder Hong, why have you come?"

At this time, by modern reckoning it's already past ten; coming to see him this late—could it be to impart a technique?

"Young Qin, don't you intend to invite us in for a seat?" Hong Qigong said with a slight smile, teasing Qin Xuan.

"Elder Hong, please!"

Qin Xuan gave a bitter laugh and hurriedly invited Hong Qigong inside. "It's so late already, Elder Hong—what business do you have?"

He glanced behind Elder Hong as well; several people dressed as Daoists appeared very low-key, the sort who wouldn't attract notice even in a crowd. If they hadn't followed Hong Qigong in, he wouldn't have noticed them.

"Come, let me introduce you to a few friends!" Hong Qigong said, pointing to the nearby Daoists. "They are all from the Celestial Master Sect of Longhu Mountain, the Zhengyi Sect, the Taiping Dao, and other Daoist schools. This time they came to get to know you, the famed Commissioner of the Imperial City Office."

Hearing this, Qin Xuan blinked. "That's interesting; I'm just a minor official—no need for such a grand show, right?"

Zhengyi and Longhu are indeed pillars of the Daoist world, not to mention the Taiping Dao, which has been passed down since the Eastern Han—great sects that teach the world. Such entities, even the government would have to regard them highly; why would they look up to him?

He secretly shook his head. "It seems their purpose isn't pure, dragging Elder Hong along—they must have a big scheme."

He understood in his heart that these people never took him to heart. (End of chapter)