Chapter 871

Just as Hu Xiaotian was terrified, a gentle voice suddenly said: "Bu Wu, why are you making things difficult for a youth?"

Bu Wu was obviously the dharma name of that ugly old monk; Bu Wu the monk laughed eerily: "Yuan Kong, you and Yuan Mu trapped me for thirty years, ruined my life, constantly speaking of compassion yet doing something even more cruel than killing!" He carried Hu Xiaotian up to the mountaintop, landing steadily on the edge of a stone cliff.

Not far ahead on a stone platform sat an old monk cross‑legged, kind‑eyed, with white brows hanging to his shoulders—this was the Yuan Kong monk Bu Wu spoke of.

Yuan Kong calmly looked at Bu Wu and said: "Thirty years have passed, and you still do not repent?"

"I have never done wrong, so why should I repent?" Bu Wu seized Hu Xiaotian's throat, coldly saying: "I will kill this brat right before your eyes."

Hu Xiaotian groaned in misery, wondering how he had run into such bad luck; this Bu Wu was clearly an evil monk who intended to kill him in front of Yuan Kong, most likely to provoke Yuan Kong.

Yuan Kong said: "The sea of suffering is boundless; turning back is shore. Thirty years should be enough for you to awaken."

Bu Wu chuckled: "Awaken? You have made the same grave mistake as I; have you repented? I act only with a clear conscience and will not tolerate others pointing fingers. Who among you has not erred? Who punishes you when you do? If you cannot even manage yourself, what face do you have to manage others?"

Yuan Kong sighed and said: "Are you not afraid…?"

"What is there to fear? Yuan Kong! In the entire Heaven Dragon Temple, the only one I fear is Yuan Mu; with just you, do you think you can trap me?" Bu Wu stepped forward, and the rock beneath his feet split open, a fissure twisting toward Yuan Kong, shattering the stone platform where he sat into pieces that collapsed.

Yuan Kong remained seated cross‑legged in midair, the stone platform beneath him gone, his whole body floating in the void.

Bu Wu laughed loudly: "Void Zen! Excellent! I never expected you to have mastered Void Zen!"

Hu Xiaotian stared at the levitating Yuan Kong, his shock reaching its peak—where had gravity gone?

Yuan Kong said: "Bu Wu, release this youth; I will not make things difficult for you."

Bu Wu snorted coldly: "Just you?" He did not attack Yuan Kong, but seized Hu Xiaotian and flew toward the forest on the right, Hu Xiaotian opening his mouth to scream, yet unable to make a sound because his meridians were sealed; he had thought his martial arts had advanced by leaps and bounds to first‑rate level, but upon meeting a true master he realized his own shallowness—before Bu Wu he had no strength to resist.

Yuan Kong sighed, his body rising slowly in the air; at about ten zhang he suddenly dove downward, shooting like an arrow as he chased after Bu Wu with wind‑like speed.

A ferocious grin spread across Bu Wu's ugly face; he effortlessly gripped Hu Xiaotian's sturdy frame, leaping like a rabbit and a falcon to a stone stele on the summit about three zhang high, bearing the three large characters "Rebirth Stele".

Beside the stele was a dark well opening. Bu Wu stood at the edge, coldly staring at Yuan Kong and said: "Yuan Kong, if you truly wish to save him, come with me!" He seized Hu Xiaotian and threw him into the well, then jumped in after him.

Yuan Kong's body slowly settled to the ground, his gaze falling on the stele; his expression became extremely complex as he looked at the well without pursuing further.

Hu Xiaotian was flung from the well's mouth by Bu Wu; he felt the wind howling past his ears, unaware of the well's depth or whether it held water—if it was a dry pit he would be smashed to pieces, and even if it held water it would be no better, for though he was a good swimmer his sealed meridians left him only able to drown.

Hu Xiaotian thought this was the end, that he would die confused in a sunless well, his bones never to be found; regretting his decision to come to Rift Cloud Valley, he suddenly felt a kick on his body, sending him flying sideways, the kick painful yet it cushioned his fall; below lay a expanse of white bones—he realized that even in this Buddhist pure land lay a place brimming with killing intent, the well's bottom vast, conical, narrowing upward.

Bu Wu landed like a withered leaf; his eyes were blind, darkness and light the same to him. He walked past Hu Xiaotian, facing the well's mouth and roared: "Yuan Kong! You claim saving a life beats building a seven‑story pagoda, so why won't you come down to save him?"

His voice echoed in the well for a long time, yet no one answered.

Hu Xiaotian felt uneasy, not knowing how this evil monk would treat him—would he really be eaten?

Bu Wu grabbed Hu Xiaotian, lifted him, and continued forward; Hu Xiaotian then realized the well's interior was filled with passageways, many winding tunnels. After walking about a li along the twisting corridors, although he could see in darkness he grew dizzy in the rat‑like cavern; Bu Wu brought him to a cave, threw him to the ground, and said to the figure sitting with its back to them: "Sure enough, you were right—someone came to fetch the Rebirth Buddha cherished by Chu Fufeng, I have brought him here; now it is time for you to fulfill your promise."

Hu Xiaotian secretly wondered; from Bu Wu's words it seemed he had made some deal with someone.

The person sitting with their back turned spoke softly: "I will now transmit the second chapter of the Uninterrupted Secret to you!"

Hearing that voice, Hu Xiaotian felt as if struck by lightning; though he saw only a back view, he was certain it was Ji Feihua without doubt. His heart pounded—no wonder the retired emperor had sent him to find Chu Fufeng's Longevity Buddha; perhaps the emperor already knew of the relationship between Chu Fufeng and Ji Feihua. Ji Feihua must have anticipated that someone would come seeking that immortal Buddha, so he had Bu Wu lie in wait; anyone who came for the statue would be seized by Bu Wu and brought here.

Ji Feihua began to chant an obscure passage of scripture; Bu Wu listened intently, hearing it three times before silently leaving the cavern.

Hu Xiaotian lay on the ground, wishing he could shout Ji Feihua's name to let him know of his existence, but then he thought of an extremely serious problem: now everyone thinks he betrayed Ji Feihua, and if Ji Feihua discovers that the captive is him, would he not kill him outright?

Ji Feihua slowly rose to his feet, a Night Pearl appearing in his hand and lighting the dim cavern; he was clad in a black monk's robe, wore a black monk's cap, his skin was like jade; though his visage was worn, his bright eyes still gleamed, commanding presence without anger; by the pearl's light he gazed down at the one seized by Bu Wu, and when he made out that person's face his eyes widened involuntarily; despite Ji Feihua's wisdom, he never imagined that this unfortunate soul was Hu Xiaotian.

Hu Xiaotian gazed at Ji Feihua, still lofty above him, and for some reason felt little fear in his heart, instead calming down. If he were destined to die, dying at Ji Feihua's hands would be preferable to perishing at the hands of that ugly monk Bu Wu.

Ji Feihua quietly stared at Hu Xiaotian, his gaze holding no killing intent nor anger, placid as water, utterly calm without a ripple, and softly said, "It's really you!" He reached out and poked Hu Xiaotian's body; Hu Xiaotian felt his chest loosen, and his acupoints were instantly unsealed.

Ji Feihua then turned away and coughed twice in succession.

Hu Xiaotian moved his limbs, ascertaining he could move freely, then climbed up from the ground and respectfully said, "Commander!"

Ji Feihua's face flushed slightly from the cough, he shook his head and said, "There is no Commander here; how did you come here?" After speaking, he added, "I understand now; it must be the Retired Emperor who sent you to seek the Longevity Buddha."

Hu Xiaotian nodded: "I only learned of the Commander's affairs upon returning from Da Yong."

Ji Feihua calmly said, "You need not rush to explain yourself to me; I bear you no blame, such is the state of affairs—I too have fallen to this plight, what can you do?" After speaking, he returned to his former seat and sat cross-legged.

Hu Xiaotian cautiously stepped forward two paces and whispered, "Is the Commander wounded?"

Ji Feihua closed his eyes tightly and softly said, "Are you planning to seize this opportunity to capture me and curry favor with Long Xuan'en?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Commander's kindness to me is En ru shan; I would never do such a thing."

Ji Feihua said, "He who knows the times is a true talent; if you were to kill me, Long Xuan'en would surely employ you."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Commander, you need not worry; in fact I have always kept the Commander in my heart; after hearing of the Commander's misfortune, I was truly grieved for many days, and to this day I still cannot believe the Commander has come to harm; heaven has eyes, and indeed the virtuous are rewarded." Hu Xiaotian unconsciously trotted out his old skill of flattery and fawning.

Ji Feihua said, "You need not curry favor with me; victors become kings, losers become bandits; I have fallen to this state, and it is already rare that you do not add insult to injury."

Hu Xiaotian sighed, sat down opposite Ji Feihua, gazed at him silently, and for a moment did not know what to say.

Ji Feihua seemed to sense Hu Xiaotian's gaze, slowly opened his eyes, looked into Hu Xiaotian's eyes and asked, "What doubts do you harbor?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "The Emperor ordered me to help him find a statue of his friend for worship, which is why I came to Split Cloud Valley."

Ji Feihua smiled faintly and said, "I asked you what doubts you have, yet you tell me these things; I am not interested in them."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Who is Chu Fufeng? Is he truly a friend of the Emperor?"

Ji Feihua said, "Chu Fufeng is not only a friend of Long Xuan'en but also his sworn elder brother; Long Xuan'en's ascent to the throne relied entirely on his two sworn brothers, the elder being Chu Fufeng and the other called Xu Lingkong."

Hu Xiaotian said, "I have never heard of either of them!"

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