novelapdf Chapter 267 False Compassion
Chapter 267 False Compassion
"Of course I helped him get out of this predicament."
Looking at the enraged Shen Hufei, Duanmu Hanshan said calmly:
"What's the point of living a life that painful and miserable existence, looking like that?"
Besides, he has so much blood on his hands; isn't it perfectly reasonable for me to send him down to kowtow and apologize to my son?
"Duanmu Hanshan! I'll kill you!!"
Shen Hufei's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He roared and threw a punch.
The violent force of the punch condensed in mid-air into a lifelike, enormous black lion's head, its blood-red maw wide open.
With a roar that shattered the very soul, it went straight for Duanmu Hanshan.
Duanmu Hanshan pointed his fingers like a knife and casually slashed through the air at the black lion's head.
"Sizzle"
A dazzling blade of energy, several meters long, suddenly appeared out of thin air.
It forcefully split the black lion's aura in two, causing it to explode into a whirlwind in mid-air.
Shen Hufei was forced back half a step by the recoil, trembling with rage, and roared at Duanmu Hanshan:
"Duanmu Hanshan, I had no idea that he was your son back then, and I wasn't the one who actually did it!"
"If you have a grudge, you can take it out on me. Why did you kill a child? My son is innocent!"
"Is your son innocent?"
Duanmu Hanshan's eyes were bloodshot, and he laughed angrily, "Isn't my son innocent too?"
"Excellent, excellent war..."
Just then, a gentle Buddhist chant, as soft as a spring breeze caressing willows, suddenly echoed above the courtyard.
The voice seemed to possess some kind of strange magic.
The guests, whose blood had been churning from the battle between the two, felt a gentle warmth seeping in from the outside in.
The tightness in my chest and the tinnitus felt like they were being gently soothed by a hand.
My breathing became a little easier.
"Master!"
The woman in yellow, who had been defeated by Duanmu Hanshan in one move, was overjoyed.
Everyone looked over.
Suddenly, a nun appeared at the entrance of the courtyard.
The nun was about fifty years old, but her skin was very well-maintained, with a radiant glow.
She had a cinnabar dot between her eyebrows, held a string of Bodhi beads in her hand, and raised her right palm in front of her chest. There was no trace of aura or pressure emanating from her.
But when the moonlight shone on her, it was as if she was being supported by something, casting a faint, soft glow.
It was as if a compassionate and merciful bodhisattva had descended to earth.
"He is Master Miaofa of the Lapis Lazuli Zen School!"
Someone in the crowd gasped softly.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the martial arts practitioners present all changed.
This person is a protector of the Lapis Lazuli Zen Heart Sect, a great Buddhist master who has reached the Eight Realms of Perfection, and one of the most famous eminent monks.
"Master!"
The woman in yellow quickly stepped forward, bowed, and then pointed at Duanmu Hanshan, saying in a pitiful tone,
"This person not only used sorcery to prevent me from capturing Deng Tu Zi, but also spoke rudely, openly insulting the reputation of my Liuli Chanxin Sect. I hope Master will do justice for me."
Duanmu Hanshan's expression became more serious.
He could disregard Shen Hufei.
But the Master Miaofa in front of us is no ordinary cultivator. Her cultivation at the eighth level of perfection is one aspect, but more importantly, she has the support and popularity of the Liuli Chanxin Sect behind her.
This intangible weight is more intimidating than any level of spiritual attainment.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have shown mercy to the woman in yellow just now.
Master Miaofa did not immediately pay attention to his disciple's complaint, but lowered his eyes and asked softly:
"Jinghui, how is the matter I asked you to handle? Is that girl named Achun from Yeliu Lane willing to sever her ties with the mortal world and join my sect to cultivate?" The woman in yellow stiffened, somewhat embarrassed.
She leaned close to Master Miaofa's ear and whispered something.
After listening, Master Miaofa showed no emotion on his face. He simply flicked his prayer beads and said calmly, "This foolish child is dull-witted and obsessed with worldly affairs. That is because she has little fortune. I understand."
Having said that, she turned to face Duanmu Hanshan, clasped her hands together, and bowed slightly in greeting:
"Amitabha. Benefactor Duanmu, as the leader of a sect, even though your sect has been destroyed, your cultivation and conduct are still a model for future generations."
I heard you just confess that you took the life of Chief Shen's only son in Ye Liu Lane. The child's fate is truly lamentable; he huddled in a dark room for years, his body and mind no longer human.
However, it is still just one life.
"What crime have these children committed? How is Benefactor Duanmu's action any different from that of the demonic path?"
Upon hearing this, Duanmu Hanshan was so angry he laughed, and retorted sarcastically:
"Twelve years ago, this guy surnamed Shen ripped out the hearts and lungs of dozens of innocent children. Why didn't you jump out and say he was 'no different from the demons' then? Now that I've killed a monster to uphold justice, you come out and talk to me about compassion?"
Master Miaofa, his face still showing compassion, slowly turned his prayer beads and said:
"The saying goes, 'Put down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.' Back then, Chief Shen was indeed confused and committed an unforgivable sin in his eagerness to save his son. But as the Buddhists say, the sea of suffering is boundless, but turning back is the shore."
Later, Chief Shen repented and reformed himself.
For over a decade, he has repaired bridges and roads, provided disaster relief and porridge, saving countless lives. He has performed numerous acts of kindness, protecting the peace of this land. If Benefactor Duanmu does not believe me, he can ask any of the fellow martial artists present: who has not received a favor from Chief Shen?
The courtyard was silent; no one objected.
Indeed, Shen Hufei has done a lot of good deeds over the years, and most of the people present have benefited from his kindness.
Master Miaofa sighed:
Yesterday's wrongs should not be held onto, for holding onto them will only entangle the knot in one's heart. Today's rightness should not be clung to, for clinging to it will only taint one's ego.
The karmic consequences and evil deeds of Chief Shen in the past have long been offset by his good deeds over the past twelve years.
On the contrary, you, Benefactor Duanmu, have already tarnished your heart, yet you still cling to old grudges. For your own selfish revenge, you are willing to commit murder, thus adding endless karmic burdens to your life.
"My friend, you are attached to appearances."
In the end, a deep sense of compassion appeared in Master Miaofa's eyes:
"Benefactor Duanmu, if you don't mind, why don't you come back to the Liuli Chanxin Sect with me?"
"Under the Bodhi tree, listen to the sutras and cleanse your marrow. This humble nun is willing to personally chant sutras for you, helping you to dispel your inner demons, wash away your sins and resentment, so that you may attain supreme enlightenment."
"Hahaha"
Duanmu Hanshan burst into wild laughter, laughing so hard that tears almost streamed down his face.
He pointed at Master Miaofa, his eyes full of disdain:
"What do you mean by 'lay down the butcher's knife' and 'exorcise the inner demons'? You make it sound so noble, but aren't you just eyeing that legendary treasure of my Heavenly Blade Sect that's related to the great demon Jiang Chaoxi?"
"Making up so many high-sounding excuses is nothing more than trying to keep me under house arrest there. What a shameless act!"
Master Miaofa paused slightly as he fiddled with the prayer beads.
She gazed calmly at Duanmu Hanshan, her tone still one of compassion and tranquility:
"Benefactor Duanmu, I kindly advise you, but if you remain obstinate, I will have no choice but to use the methods of a Vajra but with the heart of a Bodhisattva to forcibly take you back to the monastery for quiet cultivation."
Duanmu Hanshan clenched his fists, his body writhing with aura of sword energy.
The appearance of the miraculous method was beyond his expectations.
At this point, the chances of killing Shen Hufei are almost zero.
Moreover, even if they managed to escape first, they would inevitably risk serious injury to escape while being attacked by the two of them.
It will be much harder to kill Shen Hufei again in the future.
Duanmu Hanshan was unwilling to accept this.
"Cough cough"
Just as tensions were about to rise, a clear cough suddenly rang out.
Jiang Mu, who had been a bystander for quite some time, finally stood up.
Actually, he still wanted to observe more.
But then a disgusting old nun suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and I just couldn't stand it anymore.
Amidst the stunned gazes of the entire audience, Jiang Mu looked at the tense Duanmu Hanshan and said with a smile:
"Senior Duanmu, it's better to meet by chance than to invite someone."
I think you're struggling to handle this situation alone. How about we divide the work?
I'll handle this Chief Shen; after all, I came all this way specifically to deal with him.
As for that disgusting old nun... I'll leave her to you.
Upon hearing Jiang Mu's words, everyone looked at him strangely, as if they were looking at a complete idiot.
Brother, are you alright?
Why are you, a cultivator at the third realm, trying to make your presence known?
Yang Zheng, standing to the side, turned pale with fright and quickly grabbed Jiang Mu's sleeve, lowering his voice to urgently say:
"Are you crazy, Brother Mu? Sit down, don't do anything reckless!"
Jiang Mu cupped his hands and smiled at Duanmu Hanshan:
"I have long admired the Heavenly Blade Sect, and it is a great pleasure in my life to be able to fight alongside Sect Master Duanmu today."
Duanmu Hanshan shook his head and said helplessly:
"Stop messing around, kid. Get out of here. I'll settle my own debts; I'm not going to risk your life for me."
"Arrogant and ignorant scoundrels!"
The woman in yellow was currently seething with anger and nowhere to vent it. Seeing that a mere ant of the third realm dared to jump out and spout such nonsense, her face immediately turned ferocious, and she said in a cold voice:
"Master, leave this brat to me. He's in cahoots with this beggar; he's clearly no good. Killing him would be doing justice and accumulating merit!"
With that, the woman in yellow flicked her wrist, drawing a soft sword from her waist and aiming straight for Jiang Mu's throat.
Master Miaofa ignored Jiang Mu from beginning to end.
He did not stop his apprentice.
Shen Hufei merely glanced coldly at Jiang Mu.
At this moment, his entire focus was on Duanmu Hanshan, and he had no time to pay attention to a clueless third-realm youth who had appeared out of nowhere.
"puff"
A dull thud as a sharp blade slices through flesh.
Blood splattered out.
A few drops of bright red blood splashed onto the hem of Master Miaofa's spotless monk's robe.
Master Miaofa frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
This girl is still so careless. Couldn't she have kept her distance when killing someone? She just needlessly dirtied her Buddhist robes.
But soon she realized something was wrong.
The martial arts practitioners around them stared wide-eyed, their faces showing expressions as if they had seen a ghost.
Master Miaofa suddenly turned around.
Then, his pupils shrank to two black dots.
But he saw Jiang Mujing standing there unharmed, while his own disciple was reduced to two mangled, bloody remains.
It was clearly cleaved in two with a single stroke.
Jiang Mu flicked his wrist, brushing away the blood droplets from the tip of the knife, and gave Master Miaofa an apologetic smile:
"I'm sorry, Master, your disciple has gone to see Buddha."
"court death!"
Miao Fa was about to attack in anger when he was surprised to find that Jiang Mu's aura had changed.
From the third realm, he directly rushed to the sixth realm of perfection!
The powerful stellar energy, as deep and heavy as a mountain, spread throughout the courtyard, forcing everyone around to retreat in horror.
For a moment, the room fell into a deathly silence.
Yang Zheng sat blankly on the ground, his eyes almost bulging out.
Master Miaofa's eyes were sinister:
"So you've been concealing your cultivation all along; I was truly blind. Just who are you?"
Jiang Mu ignored her and turned to Duanmu Hanshan, who was also looking astonished, and laughed loudly:
"Senior Duanmu, I am very interested in the star position on Chief Shen's body. I would be grateful if you would refrain from interfering."
Fighting for star positions?!
Duanmu Hanshan suddenly realized why this young man dared to step forward and take on Shen Hufei.
So they came for the star position.
He immediately burst into hearty laughter:
"Alright, since you have such an appetite, young brother, then this Tiger Shen is yours. As for this old nun, I'll deal with her myself. If you need any help, young brother, just let me know."
In truth, Duanmu Hanshan did not believe that Jiang Mu could take away Shen Hufei's star position.
After all, at this level, the difference in understanding is too great.
But at least now that someone is helping him restrain Shen Hufei, he can focus on dealing with Miaofa. Defeating the old nun first, and then coming back to rescue this kid, is not a bad option.
Shen Hufei, who was on the other side, also calmed down from his shock.
He stared at Jiang Mu, who was approaching with a knife, and laughed in fury, his killing intent chilling.
"So, you've come for me, Shen. While your cultivation at the Great Perfection of the Sixth Realm is certainly impressive, do you really think you can shake a Seventh Realm Venerable with such meager strength? You're overestimating yourself!"
"I'll skin you alive first, you ignorant brat, then I'll personally twist off that old thief Duanmu's head and use it as a sacrifice for my son's spirit!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Hufei clenched his right palm in front of his chest, and a black lion head phantom materialized out of thin air between his palms.
The lion's head is enormous, with ferocious fangs and a vertical crack in the center of its forehead.
There seemed to be something alive wriggling within the patterns.
"The Sky-Devouring Lion!"
Shen Hufei roared, and the black lion's head opened its huge mouth, big enough to swallow half a courtyard, and bit down on Jiang Mu's head.
A vortex burst forth from the lion's mouth.
The surrounding air hissed as it was pulled by the suction.
"go!"
Jiang Mu raised his hand and flicked out a talisman.
The talisman ignited a dazzling blue light in the night.
This talisman was given to him by the chief commander. It is called the "Abyss-Suppressing Talisman" and it has a restraining effect on Shen Hufei's devouring supernatural power.
"boom!"
The blue light exploded, and the black vortex in the lion's mouth suddenly solidified, as if a fishbone had been inserted into it.
The phantom lion head writhed in agony, its fangs beginning to crumble inch by inch.
It eventually exploded into a black afterglow.
"What?!"
Shen Hufei was stunned, not expecting that the opponent would break through the supernatural power so easily.
Before he could react, Jiang Mu suddenly appeared in front of him, and a powerful blade of light slashed down.
Shen Hufei quickly raised his arms.
The spirit shield barrier blocked the opponent's attack, but it also sent him flying several feet backward.
Without thinking twice, Shen Hufei pressed his hands down on the ground.
In an instant, a swamp appeared beneath Jiang Mu, from which dozens of black, ghostly hands emerged and grabbed his legs. At the same time, countless bone spikes rose from the swamp, attempting to strangle him.
Jiang Mu raised his left hand, and a large black light shone from his palm.
[Ghost King Seal]!
A massive, ink-black seal appeared out of thin air above Shen Hufei's head and crashed down with immense force!
Shen Hufei's expression changed drastically, and he was forced to interrupt his supernatural power and retreat.
As soon as he retreated, the mud beneath Jiang Mu's feet immediately crumbled.
"Damn it!"
Feeling somewhat aggrieved, Shen Hufei quickly formed hand seals.
The starlight around him converged towards the top of his head.
Immediately afterwards, his eyes turned into two pure black beads, without whites or pupils, like two abysses.
Crimson beams shot out from his eyes.
Jiang Mu's body leaned back, almost touching the ground, as two streaks of red light grazed the tip of his nose.
He melted a large hole in the stone wall behind him.
As Jiang Mu fell backward, he flipped his right wrist, and a silver light flew out.
It was the Flying Sword of the River of Oblivion.
With the blessing of [Tianjie Star], the flying sword burrowed into the ground and emerged from a dead corner like a swimming fish.
It accurately struck a major acupoint under Shen Hufei's right rib.
This is precisely the weakest point in the flow of Qi during his practice, as recorded in the case file.
"Pfft!"
The flying sword pierced through his body.
Shen Hufei's aura dissipated, and the crimson beams in his eyes vanished instantly.
He clutched his ribs and staggered back two steps, his face pale, staring at Jiang Mu in horror: "How did you know my Achilles' heel?!"
"I guessed!"
After Jiang Mu finished speaking, he swung his sword and slashed.
From then on, no matter what moves Shen Hufei made or how he used his supernatural powers, he could be suppressed by Jiang Mu.
His mentality became increasingly impatient, leading to chaotic moves.
As the protective astral energy around him crumbled little by little, Shen Hufei finally could not resist and could only watch helplessly as the dark red longsword rapidly enlarged in his pupils.
He wanted to hide.
But every last bit of star power in his body was exhausted.