Chapter 168: You shouldn't die? Or should I be the one to die?

Frost Bell Temple.

The incense here has continued for nearly two hundred years; since the day the temple was built, the incense has never been cut off.

Even though today is the day the Martial Arts Assembly begins, there is still a steady flow of people coming and going, and many locals come here to pray and offer incense.

Inside Frost Bell Temple.

Inside the dining hall, dozens of monks were enjoying their vegetarian meal.

One monk said: "I feel like there are far fewer people offering incense today."

Another monk: "Let's wait for the gatekeeper Jue Ming to come and ask."

"By the way, when are we setting off for the Martial Arts Assembly?"

Frost Bell Temple, being a local sect of Green Prefecture, and with its strength considered among the top-tier sects of Green Prefecture's martial world, naturally also made the invitation list for the Martial Arts Assembly.

Abbot Huikong's expression remained calm.

"We'll set off after finishing the vegetarian meal."

As they spoke, hurried footsteps sounded outside the dining hall, the sound unusually anxious.

"Abbot, it's terrible! Many Embroidered Uniform Guard have arrived outside!"

As soon as the words fell, the people inside the hall immediately fell into chaos.

"Why would the Embroidered Uniform Guard come to our Frost Bell Temple?"

"Why? Did any of you commit an offense?"

Abbot Huikong remained relatively calm, merely glancing at the monk quietly eating in the corner, Jueyou.

Huikong said in a flat tone: "How many people have come? And who is leading them?"

The monk who ran to report, panting, said: "I just took a glance and ran back; there may be two or three thousand Embroidered Uniform Guard, their leader riding a white flood dragon! He looks very young!"

"A white flood dragon... young..."

Huikong's face changed instantly.

A name immediately sprang to his mind: Shen Qing, the sole recent rising star of Green Prefecture.

"Why would he come?"

He wasn't afraid of the Embroidered Uniform Guard showing up; he feared Shen Qing, who was notorious for loving to exterminate entire sects.

Huikong sprang to his feet: "Quick, quick, quick! Go out to greet them!"

Before they could even step outside, Shen Qing's voice rang from beyond the door.

"No need for all that trouble; I'll come in myself."

Everyone froze in place, not daring to move.

After all, a person's reputation is like the shade of a tree.

The reputation of the Embroidered Uniform Guard in the martial world is no different from that of demons.

And Shen Qing's reputation is even worse; he is practically a demon king.

His methods are cruel, his strength is great, and he does not follow conventional tactics.

Only the sound of boots stepping on the floor could be heard, growing ever closer.

Creak-creak-creak.

Everyone felt as if the air before them had been sucked away; no one dared to take even a breath.

Only Shen Qing was seen walking into the dining hall, his nostrils twitching slightly as he caught a whiff of fragrance.

"Coming early is not as good as coming just in time; I happened to arrive just as you were eating."

"Who will give me a bowl of vegetarian rice?"

These monks were so frightened that not a single one dared to move.

Ma Qing snorted, strode forward, and gave Shen Qing a bowl of vegetarian rice.

Shen Qing walked to an empty seat, sat down, and began to taste.

Taking a mouthful, a faint, delicate aroma lingered in his mouth.

"The vegetarian fare of Frost Bell Temple truly lives up to its reputation."

Shen Qing spoke while eating.

"Why are you standing? Sit down and eat."

The monks around glanced at each other, then slowly sat down, though none dared to pick up their chopsticks.

"I came today not for any special reason; I'm just here to capture someone."

"This person is called Fengquan Yangsha, and he is currently hiding in your temple, called..."

Ma Qing interjected from the side: "Monk Jueyou."

Shen Qing nodded: "Oh, right, Monk Jueyou."

Everyone was stunned.

Shen Qing's next sentence made them break out in cold sweat.

"Don't think about sheltering him; if I discover you are protecting him, Frost Bell Temple might be wiped out today."

The dining hall instantly fell so silent that a pin drop could be heard; no one dared to breathe, and the only sound anyone could hear was Shen Qing chewing his vegetarian rice.

After a long while.

Finally, a monk could no longer contain himself, jumped up, pointed at Jueyou, and shouted: "I'll say it! I'll say it! He is Jueyou!"

The abbot closed his eyes, pressed his palms together, and uttered: "Amitabha."

Xu Changhai and Ma Qing, who followed behind Shen Qing, immediately acted, drawing their waist-worn sabers and placing them at Yangsha's throat, escorting him before Shen Qing and forcibly pressing him down to kneel on the ground.

After all, Yangsha was not weak, so Xu Changhai and Ma Qing did not relax in the slightest.

Shen Qing set down his chopsticks, waved his hand, and only then did Ma Qing and Xu Changhai put away their knives.

"You're Crazy Fist Yang Sha?"

Yang Sha clasped his hands together and performed a bow.

"That's all in the past; the little monk now calls himself Monk Jueyou."

As soon as the words fell, Shen Qing's slap came at his face.

Only heard a "pa" sound, Yang Sha was directly slapped and flew out, the wooden bucket holding the vegetarian meal was knocked over by him.

"You're still pretending?"

"Do you really think becoming a monk and shaving your head washes away your sins?"

Yang Sha got up, covered in vegetarian food, his voice could still remain calm.

"I have already laid down the butcher's knife, I have already realized my mistake, I am willing to spend the rest of my life making amends."

"Does making a mistake mean one must die? Can't you spare me just once?"

Shen Qing snorted: "Listen, does this sound like human speech?"

"You shouldn't die? Should I die then? Should those dozens of infants die?"

"You still put on the act of laying down the butcher's knife and instantly becoming a Buddha? Do you deserve it? Someone like you, even if dragged to mate with a dog, I'd find it disgusting."

"Oh right, you even killed your own newborn son—are you even human?"

Speaking of this, perhaps it touched Yang Sha's sore spot; his face flushed red, and his voice was no longer calm.

"You know nothing! That child is not mine at all! It was born from that cheap woman and an outside dog man!"

At this moment, Xu Changhai stepped forward.

"Sir Shen, we have also investigated this matter thoroughly."

"That child is Yang Sha's."

Saying that, Xu Changhai glanced at Yang Sha and gave a cold snort.

"As for this Yang Sha, he's always out looking for women; in my view, he's gone mad, thinking all women in the world are like the wild women he pursues."

"His wife, Lady Lin, is quite a good woman; after suffering such a heavy blow, she still went to compensate each family harmed by Yang Sha—these years she's surely endured countless scornful looks."

"Yang Sha! You scumbag, did you hear that?"

Yang Sha's eye sockets gradually turned red, and he growled lowly.

"How could that be! You're definitely lying!"

"Speak! You're lying!"

Shen Qing's eyes were icy cold.

"You still have the face to shout! Who are you shouting at?"