Chapter 242: You must kill fast

North Desert, Diamond Temple.

An elder walked hesitantly into the Hall of Chanting.

He whispered: "Abbot, I have good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"

The abbot slowly opened his eyes, his face full of worry, still distressed over Wu Nian's running away from home.

"Tell the good news first."

"The good news is, we have news of Master Wu Nian, and he's still heading north to the North Desert!"

The abbot's eyes lit up instantly as he grabbed the elder's arm: "What did you say? News of Wu Nian?"

"Where is he? Is he alright? Not hurt, I hope?"

The elder looked troubled: "Abbot, I think you'd better not get too excited, this bad news is also about Wu Nian."

The abbot waved it off: "Wu Nian's back—what bad news could there be?"

The elder forced a smile: "Then abbot, brace yourself—I'm about to tell you."

"Master Wu Nian has returned, but he's been killing his way back..."

The abbot stared, then rubbed his ears: "Old age—nothing gets through right anymore, I must have misheard."

"Say it again—I'm listening carefully this time."

The elder cleared his throat and raised his voice: "Master Wu Nian has been killing his way back! From Qingzhou, all the way, all the way to the North Desert!"

"He's killed hundreds! Even earned a title—'Merciful Asura'!"

"And in Youzhou, he killed the head of the Jiuyuan Lin family, and three of the Four Great Constables of the Six Gates."

Upon hearing this, the abbot felt dizzy and blurred—killing people was bad enough, but killing Six Gates officials? Those are imperial officers.

And what exactly is this 'Merciful Asura'?

Damn it all—totally screwed.

The elder hurriedly supported the abbot's arm: "Abbot, abbot, I haven't finished yet."

"Although Wu Nian killed Six Gates people, each time he leaves a note: 'Wu Nian, acting on Shen Qing's orders, marches north to eliminate evil.'"

"I also had someone inquire, and it seems the imperial court hasn't bothered with this at all."

Hearing this, the abbot finally caught his breath, then fiercely rubbed his chest.

"Then it's fine—there's still hope. Wu Nian is wise; returning to the temple to chant Buddha for months will surely awaken him."

Just then, a young monk entered, bowing to the abbot and the elder.

"Greetings, abbot, greetings, elder. Master Wu Nian sent someone with a few words."

"Speak."

The young monk nodded: "Master Wu Nian says, on this southern journey, he has gained much insight and now knows how to walk the path ahead."

"But there are still some things he cannot comprehend, so he wishes to return to find Patron Shen Qing, sending someone to tell the abbot..."

Before he could finish, a loud buzzing roar rang in the abbot's ears—he could no longer hear the young monk's words.

Only one thought remained in his mind.

This time, it's truly damned.

Immediately after, the abbot blacked out completely, collapsing flat on his back.

The elder and the young monk were horrified.

"Abbot!"

"Abbot!"

Wuyang Prefecture, Capital City.

Shen Qing stood quietly in the Shen family training ground.

In the distance, the wind blew up flying snow, tree branches constantly swaying.

But when the wind reached the training ground, it grew still, and the falling snow stilled as well.

Just then, Shen Qiu rushed into the training ground, feeling nothing unusual, until a falling maple leaf slowly vanished in midair.

This vanishing was not physical destruction, but true disappearance.

Shen Qiu then noticed the surroundings had long been shrouded in thick sword intent; his raised foot froze instantly, hovering in midair, afraid to move.

Until Shen Qing's voice came: "You may walk on—it's fine."

Shen Qiu then relaxed slightly, but still walked carefully, fearful of misstepping, until he stood before Shen Qing.

"Young Master Third, what are you practicing? It's terrifying."

"Return to the Abyss Guide—have you heard of it?"

Shen Qiu's mind stirred; he had just heard from the old man in the Sutra Pavilion that it was a half-sage blade art, said to relate to the Vanishing Realm, and that mastering it brings one close to that realm.

Isn't it said this blade art is extremely difficult to cultivate?

Yet he clearly remembers the old man saying Young Master Third just borrowed the Return to the Abyss Guide—this is less than three days ago, and he's already mastered it?

Could the rumors be wrong? Is this actually easy to practice?

Shen Qing said: "Why are you spacing out? Anything wrong?"

Shen Qiu snapped back: "There's a monk outside looking for you—he says his name is Wu Nian."

Shen Qing nodded, shoved the Return to the Abyss Guide into Shen Qiu's hands, then walked calmly toward the gate: "You run an errand for me—return this supreme art to the Sutra Pavilion."

After Shen Qing left, Shen Qiu opened the Return to the Abyss Guide and glanced at it carefully—he wanted to see what it was all about.

Better not to look, but once he did, his mouth twisted—that immense spiritual will nearly drove him into qi deviation.

Startled, he hastily closed the book.

His heart pounded thump-thump, frantic.

He now understood: it's not that this art is too simple, but that Shen Qing is a monstrous genius.

Arriving at the Shen family gate, Wu Nian was sitting with hands clasped, reciting sutras. Though his face was now peaceful and moist, unlike a month ago, a stern and killing aura had already appeared upon him.

Shen Qing stepped out of the Shen residence: "Wu Nian, you thick-browed, big-eyed fellow, you've killed quite a few on this trip."

Wu Nian opened his eyes and looked toward Shen Qing: "Shen benefactor, those I killed were all great villains and evildoers."

Shen Qing laughed: "Then you have attained sudden enlightenment?"

Wu Nian nodded, but his eyes still held a look of confusion: "I have understood much, yet I still do not comprehend. On my northern journey this time, I slew many evildoers in Youzhou, but when I return from the north again, new evildoers appear, committing the same evil deeds. What should I do about this?"

Shen Qing patted Wu Nian on the shoulder: "Do you want to know why?"

Wu Nian nodded.

"Because you are not killing fast enough! Not fierce enough!"

Saying this, Shen Qing pointed to the pine tree beside him, reached out, and pulled down a branch.

"Wu Nian, look at this pine branch. If this branch is a diseased limb, and you only break off its leaves and twigs, but the diseased trunk remains, then after a period of time, what will happen to this trunk?"

Wu Nian's eyes lit up: "Then this trunk will sprout new leaves and twigs, yet still carry the disease."

Shen Qing nodded: "Exactly."

"Eliminating evil is the same. If you do not eradicate evil completely, over time it will again give rise to the exact same evil."

"Therefore! You must kill swiftly! You must kill fiercely! You must kill utterly!"