Chapter 36: Using Power to Suppress Others

Regarding Buddhism, the phrase Wu Chengyu found most annoying was: "Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot."

Commit sins, and just by joining the Buddhist order, one becomes a Buddha?

In ancient times, even in the Martial World, if one committed a crime and fled to a temple to become a monk, everything was wiped clean — regardless of whether they truly laid down the butcher's knife, regardless of whether their sins were monstrous, they were just fucking forgiven? No one could control it, no one dared to?

Crocodile Gang's Chief Feng once said: "Is there still the King's law? Is there still the law?"

Tianshi's meaning was very clear: he was taking this scourge, Tianyang, back to Shaolin Temple for punishment, and no one was allowed to interfere.

Wu Chengyu cursed inwardly: "I bought a watch last year."

Niu Dajie was far more upright than Wu Chengyu; she started cursing directly.

"So what if it's Shaolin Temple? Seducing a married woman into elopement, causing a couple to separate, a mother and daughter to turn against each other — a lecherous monk like this, if Old Lady sees a few, I'll smash a few to death. Be it Qian Yang or Tianyang, today they must die here no matter what, Old Lady's words."

Tianshi completely ignored Niu Dajie. Only Cao Mao and his daughter were the parties involved; no matter how much others clamored, there was no need to pay attention.

Cao Mao glared at Tianshi. The pretty-faced monk Qian Yang had already crawled behind Tianshi, sneakily watching Cao Mao, his eyes holding a few more points of mockery.

"Shaolin Temple is an Orthodox Sect. For a disciple to commit such evil deeds, how can they just be taken away? Cao, born of humble origins, also knows propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. This Qian Yang has the hatred of stealing my wife; this hatred is irreconcilable. Master Tianshi, please forgive me, Cao Mao, for not giving you face. Qian Yang must die today."

Tianshi pressed his palms together, chanting Amitabha, his attitude also extremely unyielding, not yielding an inch.

"Benefactor Cao, Shaolin Temple has Shaolin Temple's rules. No matter what sins a Shaolin disciple commits outside, they can only be dealt with by Shaolin. Please, Benefactor Cao, be magnanimous.

Benefactor Cao's spear technique is fierce and sharp; one must be from a military family. If Benefactor Cao were given a fine steed and let loose on the battlefield, he would surely be invincible.

But if it's vying for supremacy in the Martial World, Benefactor Cao's spear technique is ultimately an external school spear technique. Inner Force is mediocre; fierce but lacking variation. With Benefactor Cao's arm strength, how long can it be sustained?

This poor monk also speaks for Benefactor Cao's sake. The Cao Family has considerable assets in the Wushang area. As long as you take your wife back, you can resume marital bliss, and we shall also be at peace from now on."

Cao Mao drove his Dianqiang heavily into the ground, his face flushed crimson, fists clenched until they cracked, yet he did not respond for a long time.

Just now, that move "White Snake Spits Tongue" — he used all his body's strength plus the heavy iron spear in hand, yet it was actually knocked aside by a small wooden prayer bead. Just this point alone let him know he was absolutely no match for this Tianshi before him.

Observing from the side, Wu Chengyu's impression of Shaolin Temple worsened further. This Tianshi was clearly using power to suppress others; Shaolin Temple was actually this tyrannical.

In the Legend of the Condor Heroes story, Shaolin Temple basically doesn't exist. Until the late Return of the Condor Heroes, because the Nine Yang Divine Skill appeared, Shaolin Temple only then had a bit of a role.

During this time period, Shaolin Temple is sealing the mountain, ignoring worldly affairs. They say it nicely, but aren't there still monks sneaking down the mountain?

The most crucial reason for Shaolin Temple sealing the mountain is that the Fire-Worker Monk injured many Shaolin High Monks, even killing the First Seat of the Dharma Hall with the Vajra Palm before betraying Shaolin and leaving.

Later, Master Kuhui, due to disagreement, led some monks away from Shaolin to the distant Western Regions, establishing the later Western Regions Shaolin.

Shaolin used this as a reason, showing its foundation and strength were damaged, forcing it to seal the mountain and close the temple.

But in Wu Chengyu's view, the reasons for Shaolin Temple sealing the mountain are far from this simple.

Shaolin Temple is located in Henan, which at this time happens to be within Jin Kingdom territory. These monks are like this — encountering war chaos, they immediately renounce the world, even more adept at self-preservation than Confucianism.

In contrast, Quanquan Sect is in Shaanxi territory, also under Jin Kingdom jurisdiction. Wang Zhongyang raised troops in rebellion in his youth, and after founding Quanquan Sect, he also secretly resisted the Jin Kingdom.

Even Kuhui running to the Western Regions to establish a branch temple — who knows if this isn't Shaolin Temple's expediency?

In short, if Wu Chengyu previously had a slight yearning for Shaolin Temple, mainly for those divine skill secret manuals. Now seeing Tianshi so tyrannical, disregarding right and wrong, even faintly threatening Cao Mao, a sense of indignation immediately arose, and his impression of Shaolin Temple plummeted.

At this moment, those dissatisfied with Tianshi and Shaolin Temple are not just one person. Yu Xiaowu and the others all have very ugly expressions. Niu Dajie several times opened her mouth to curse, but was stopped by Lu Dage.

Shaolin Temple's deterrence over the entire Martial World is truly too great. Even sealed for several years, ordinary Martial World people still dare not casually offend it.

Cao Mao stared dead at Tianshi and Qian Yang, veins bulging, but was still intimidated by Tianshi's words. His assets in Wushang are not small; he simply cannot afford the losses of opposing Shaolin. Shaolin says it sealed the mountain, but privately dispatching some experts down the mountain is not a problem at all.

"Fine then. Shaolin Temple is a high and great sect; I, Cao, dare not offend. This Qian Yang will be handed over to Shaolin Temple for handling. Today's matter ends here."

In Cao Mao's mouth, Orthodox Sect turned into high and great sect — one can see how much anger is in his chest. But his behavior also lets everyone understand: this person's character is far from having his spear technique's unstoppable momentum.

Niu Dajie still couldn't hold back: "Surnamed Cao, I look down on you. Just now you said the hatred of stealing a wife is irreconcilable, and now you've turned into a turtle?"

She wanted to continue cursing, but was immediately covered by Lu Dage's hand. Lu Dage said in a low voice: "They are the parties involved; it's a family matter. We can't interfere."

Cao Mao now has a bit of the "letting saliva dry on his face" feel. His heart is truly stifled with nowhere to vent. He turns his head to look at He Zhiyu, who stands with Niu Dajie. From the moment he acted, she has been completely like an outsider. He says in a muffled voice:

"Zhiyu, take Lian'er and come home with me."

He Zhiyu looks at Cao Mao indifferently, eyes without sorrow or joy, as if looking at a stranger.

"I won't go back. From the day I left the Cao Family, I have nothing to do with you anymore. No need to meet again in this life."

Cao Mao was just intimidated by Tianshi, his heart suppressed. Now he no longer tolerates He Zhiyu as before.

"Today you walk if you walk, you walk if you don't walk. Since you are my wife, and have committed acts damaging chastity, even if I beat you to death on the spot, no one can say anything?"

As these words came out, everyone present also had nothing to say. In an era where Neo-Confucianism prevails, feudal ethics press on everyone's head like a great mountain. A wife committing adultery and eloping — no matter what the husband does to her, even the law cannot say anything.

Even Niu Dajie, who just now caught the person and cursed, at this moment smiles embarrassedly and dares not speak. The elopement is absolutely true; she also cannot find a reason to help.

Cao Mao no longer has the patience to stay here. He roars in anger again: "Cheap woman, still not coming with me? Don't force me to kill you."

He Zhiyu speaks no more. She retreats a few steps on her own, walking behind Wu Chengyu and the others. Only Lian'er still follows her, not leaving her side for a step.

Just at this moment, Qian Yang, who was nearly blown head off by a spear, perks up again. He climbs up and walks to Tianshi's side, whispering.

My editor has never paid attention to me, so I don't know if that wave of recommendations over the past few days was the so-called reaching 100 investments to get recommended, or the editor giving me a recommendation. But by yesterday afternoon, it felt like that wave of recommendations had passed.

Previously all data kept growing. By yesterday afternoon it suddenly stagnated. The key is this book of mine had already risen to the #12 spot on the New Book Rankings Myriad Realms Infinite list. Watching it rise a few more spots to hit the General Rankings, it started dropping instead. Now it's dropped to #19, and looks like it's running out of steam. But there's no way. Maybe this is this book's current ceiling. I'm already very satisfied.

Also, yesterday a wave of haters suddenly appeared. Especially one of them, good fellow, wrote dozens of comments in one breath. I estimate together they're nearly a thousand words. Either nitpicking or completely subjective speculation. What can I do? I can only choose to turn a blind eye. But I really want to know, do these haters need a sense of existence that badly?

In any case, thank you everyone for your support.

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(Chapter End)