Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 518 The Second Test
In the pale flash of lightning, Xiao Feng saw the depths of fear on the faces of every person charging towards him. These people had no prior grudge against him. They were all people he had only met the day before, yet in this narrow valley, they were locked in a life-or-death struggle with him.

All of this was too strange. The old woman's deliberate departure in advance, the seemingly desperate actions of the thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands, and the deliberate attempt to guide his attack—Xiao Feng vaguely guessed that the old senior with his extraordinary martial arts skills and eccentric behavior had probably arranged all of this intentionally, deliberately guiding him to fight these people.

He had some doubts before, but after fighting these people, he was even more convinced of his thoughts - apart from being a bit brave, very few of them actually knew martial arts, they were just a group of ordinary people.

Xiao Feng took a deep breath and roared, "You people are no match for me, why are you all rushing up to your deaths?"

However, Xiao Feng's roar, like a dragon's cry and a tiger's howl, seemed to have no effect on these people, and the more than twenty corpses that fell down were no different from more than twenty pieces of tofu in their eyes.

Xiao Feng seized a swordsman, whose eyes were strangely red, clearly indicating that he had been controlled by a drug like the Soul-Capturing Grass.

Unwilling to kill any more, Xiao Feng abandoned the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms and instead used the Dragon-Capturing Skill to seize weapons. He then subdued his opponents with pressure point techniques, quickly felling more than twenty people. The heavy rain continued to fall, and the haphazardly laid corpses and Xiao Feng's defeated opponents lay scattered on the ground.

As the last person fell, with a deafening roar, the large rock in front collapsed and plunged into the ground. It turned out that the pile of rubble blocking their path was actually a large pit. The pit was covered with wooden planks and a layer of loose soil, supported by pillars. Someone had secretly set a fire near the pillars beforehand. Just as the pillars burned down, Xiao Feng finished his attack, and the pile of rubble fell, filling the pit and turning the obstacle into a clear path.

On a distant hill, a small red figure stood watching for a long time, then snorted coldly, revealed itself, and cursed, "Hmph, the Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms are incredibly powerful, yet you use them for such fussy things. It's truly absurd."

Xiao Feng's eyes lit up: "Senior Tong Lao, you're really alright." Seeing Tong Lao appear, the last trace of doubt in Xiao Feng's heart was completely dispelled.

The old woman scolded, "What can those demons and monsters from the thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands do to me? You stupid mule, these are all death row inmates taken from the Western Xia prison, each of them committed a crime deserving death. Yet you are so fussy and hesitant, worrying about this and that. What a waste of your powerful palm strike."

Xiao Feng was taken aback. After a moment of thought, he couldn't help but smile: "Senior, although these are all death row inmates, they should naturally be punished according to the corresponding laws for their crimes, even the most heinous criminals. Xiao Feng does not have the right to decide the life and death of others. If one commits murder in the name of upholding justice, one will ultimately drag oneself into endless evil karma."

Xiao Feng was a disciple of Master Xuanku. As one of the few truly virtuous monks in Shaolin Temple, Xuanku not only taught Xiao Feng martial arts but also constantly enlightened him with Buddhist principles. These principles were the teachings Xuanku had given him during his lifetime.

Thinking of Master Xuanku's tragic death, Xiao Feng felt an overwhelming sadness.

The old woman curled her lip in disdain: "You're so fussy, you sound like a bald monk from Shaolin Temple. Those who cultivate the Tao believe in following one's heart and acting spontaneously. Bald monks who eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist scriptures all day long are the most hypocritical. They talk about how saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda, but aren't the famous mountains and temples everywhere still building pagodas that are taller than the sky? Monks who lend money at exorbitant interest rates, keep mistresses, and seize other people's land are all making a fortune, chanting 'Amitabha' all day long, but I haven't seen many who are truly compassionate."

Xiao Feng instinctively wanted to defend his master's sect, but then he remembered that his parents had died at the hands of the Shaolin abbot, and he felt saddened and remained silent for a moment.

Seeing that Xiao Feng didn't reply, Tong Lao instantly lost interest. Although she was sharp-tongued, Tong Lao's nature was such that the more she approved of someone, the more she enjoyed lecturing them. It should be known that the Tao Te Ching says, "When everyone knows what is beautiful, ugliness exists." Many things in the world are often done under the guise of righteousness, but are actually despicable. If Xiao Feng had agreed with Tong Lao, she would have looked down on him.

"Alright, although I don't like this nagging, you've passed the first test. Come on, hmph!" After saying that, Granny Tong turned around and didn't say another word to Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng followed Tong Lao for less than two miles when a large group of people suddenly appeared from the woods. They were the cave masters and island lords who had feinted and run away earlier.

Upon seeing the Child Granny, all the people knelt down by the roadside, none daring to raise their heads, awaiting her judgment.

Granny Tong roared, "Useless dogs, all of you, go to the punishment hall and each of you receive thirty lashes of the Soul-Chasing Whip!"

Upon hearing this, the group felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they all praised him. In a short while, they all dispersed.

The old woman snorted coldly and said, "Boy, you're not bad. You've passed my first test. But whether you can pass the next test depends on your own luck and comprehension."

Xiao Feng followed Tong Lao onto the bluestone path, which was winding and not very steep. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they arrived at a cave.

The old woman reached out and patted the mountain wall three times, and a heavy stone wall slowly opened.

The old woman stepped aside and gestured with her chin toward Xiao Feng: "Whether you come out or not depends on your own fate."

Xiao Feng's heart skipped a beat. Judging from Tong Lao's expression, there must be some extremely powerful traps inside, similar to the Shaolin Eighteen Wooden Dummy Alley, making it incredibly dangerous.

Xiao Feng clasped his hands in thanks to Tong Lao: "Thank you, senior. No matter the outcome, I will always be grateful for your great kindness."

The old woman paused slightly, then turned her hands behind her back and said, "Hmph, what's the use of saying nice things? Let's talk about it after we get out."

Xiao Feng stopped talking, bent down, and walked straight into the cave. At first, the passage was extremely narrow, forcing a burly man like Xiao Feng to walk with his back bent. Gradually, the passage widened, eventually allowing two people to walk side by side. When Xiao Feng reached the end and pushed open the stone door at the end, a vast and spacious hall opened up before him, leaving him stunned by the sight.

The spacious hall was filled with all kinds of mirrors, including bronze and mercury mirrors, so many that it was impossible to count them all. Walking through it felt like being in a kingdom of mirrors.

However, the most eye-catching moment was when the stone door was opened. Jewels piled up in every corner of the room, along with countless mirrors, filled the room with dazzling jewels.