Chapter 8: Secretly Conveying Affection, Appearing to Resolve the Siege

After finishing his appreciation of Shangguan Shangguan Haitang’s beauty, Gu Gu Hanyuan shifted his gaze toward the Emei Sect.

The leader, Abbess Miejue, was about forty years old, and her features were actually more beautiful than he had imagined. It was a pity that her face was as cold as frost, as if everyone owed her money, which forcibly dragged her 80-point beauty down to a 60. It was likely that everyone in the Wu Lin had forgotten that she, too, had been a beauty in her youth.

The disciples behind Abbess Miejue were more worth looking at. He did not know if practicing Wu Gong improved one’s appearance and temperament, or if the Emei Sect simply picked beauties when selecting disciples. At a glance, there was not a single one with a beauty score below 70. In particular, the two leading female disciples were both above 80.

Among them, the one with a tall figure and pretty features—though unfortunately with slightly high cheekbones and thin lower lips, making her appear sharp and mean—was most likely Ding Ding Minjun, who had quite a significant role.

As for the other, she should be Abbess Miejue’s other disciple, Bei Bei Jinyi. In terms of looks alone, she was inferior to Ding Ding Minjun, but that girl-next-door temperament was more admirable than Ding Ding Minjun’s.

Gu Gu Hanyuan was in the middle of evaluating the beauty of the many Emei disciples when his heart suddenly stirred, and he subconsciously looked toward the location where Yin Yin Susu was. Sure enough, he caught her looking over at him right in the act.

Yin Yin Susu lowered her head in slight panic, barely suppressing the embarrassment that made her face flush. In her heart, however, she was cursing herself, wondering what she had to be afraid of and why she was being so guilty.

It turned out that Yin Yin Susu had not been able to see Gu Gu Hanyuan for the past few days. Today, having finally seen him, she had inevitably shifted her attention to him subconsciously. As a result, she saw Gu Gu Hanyuan staring at the Emei female disciples, and just as she was pouting in dissatisfaction, she was caught red-handed by him.

Gu Gu Hanyuan guessed what Yin Yin Susu was thinking after a moment of reflection and looked at her with some amusement.

When Yin Yin Susu calmed her mood and looked up, she saw Gu Gu Hanyuan silently forming words with his lips toward her.

"They aren't as pretty as you."

After Yin Yin Susu read the words, she dared not look at Gu Gu Hanyuan again. She could only turn slightly away from him, listening to her own quickening heartbeat, while a smile curled at the corners of her lips, completely dispelling the nervous mood she had felt about the impending disaster.

She thought to herself, today's calamity will depend on you. If things do not go well... then so be it.

The various sects that had come to visit first expressed their congratulations for Zhang Zhang Sanfeng’s hundredth birthday in an extremely perfunctory manner.

The sects that wanted to save face brought congratulatory gifts, while the shameless ones merely spoke a few dry words of congratulation before staring covetously at Zhang Zhang Cuishan and Yin Yin Susu.

After finishing the superficial pleasantries, the various sects, led by Abbot Master Kongwen of Northern North Shaolin, began to make trouble.

Master Kongwen walked up to Zhang Zhang Sanfeng and performed a Buddhist salute.

"True Person Zhang, in terms of age, I am your junior. Today, besides offering birthday wishes, I should not have brought up other matters. But as the Abbot of Northern North Shaolin, I have a few questions for you, Senior. I hope you will not take offense."

Although this Master Kongwen had the proper etiquette, his words were filled with aggression. He first stated that he was a junior, yet then mentioned he was the Abbot of Northern North Shaolin, elevating his own status to be on par with Zhang Zhang Sanfeng. He used his words to block any opening for Zhang Zhang Sanfeng to refuse the questioning at the birthday celebration.

Zhang Zhang Sanfeng had lived for a hundred years; there was no person or event he had not seen. One could say he was incredibly shrewd, but he was accustomed to cultivating his character, so his temperament was peaceful.

Today, the various sects were ostensibly here to offer birthday wishes, but their true purpose was inevitably aimed at the fifth disciple and his wife, who knew the whereabouts of Brother Xie Xun and the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

At this moment, being pressured by Master Kongwen with the weight of the masses, he could not say words of refusal, so he went straight to the point:

"Is the Master here for my fifth disciple, Zhang Zhang Cuishan?"

Zhang Zhang Cuishan had been prepared in his heart. Although he knew today's calamity would not be easy to pass, he had no intention of being afraid and stepped out calmly.

Seeing that the main person had arrived, Master Kongwen went straight to the topic.

"Exactly. We have two matters to ask of the Fifth Hero Zhang. First, Fifth Hero Zhang killed all seventy-one members of my North Shaolin Sect’s Longmen Security Bureau. How should the lives of these seventy-one people be settled? Second, my senior brother, Master Master Kongjian, was compassionate his whole life and never contended with others, yet he was killed by the Golden-Haired Lion King Brother Xie Xun. I hear that Fifth Hero Zhang knows his whereabouts; I ask that you inform us."

Zhang Zhang Cuishan had just learned a few days ago that the one who killed the entire Longmen Security Bureau was his own wife, Yin Yin Susu, and his expression was somewhat hesitant. He had been upright and unyielding his whole life, but in the end, it was his own wife who had trapped him in a dilemma, so he had to compromise:

"The seventy-one lives of the Longmen Security Bureau were definitely not harmed by this junior."

Yin Yin Susu naturally noticed Zhang Zhang Cuishan’s slight hesitation. She did not blame him, but she could not help but feel a trace of disappointment.

"Master Master Kongjian’s passing is indeed heartbreaking, but the Golden-Haired Lion King and this junior have a bond of brotherhood. As for where Brother Xie Xun is, I will not hide it; this junior does indeed know. But we people of the Wu Lin value 'righteousness' above all else. Zhang Zhang Cuishan’s head may be severed and his blood may be spilled, but I absolutely cannot reveal the whereabouts of my sworn brother. This matter has nothing to do with my master or my fellow disciples; Zhang Zhang Cuishan will bear it alone. If you all wish to force me with death, to kill or to carve, please do so. Zhang has never done a single thing in his life to shame his sect, nor has he ever wantonly killed a good person. If you all insist on forcing me into unrighteousness today, the worst that can happen is death."

Zhang Zhang Cuishan had not been very worried about today’s events. After all, if it came to fighting, Wudang could wipe out all the Wu Lin figures present in the Zixiao Palace. However, when the matter arrived, his pride got the better of him, and he spoke words of offering his life. ===== CHAPTER 17 =====

Zhang Zhang Cuishan had not been particularly worried about today's events. After all, if it came to a fight, the Wu Dang Sect could wipe out all the Wu Lin figures present in the Purple Heaven Palace. However, when the moment arrived, his pride got the better of him, and he uttered the words about paying with his life.