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

Chapter 526 Reunion of Flesh and Blood
Xuan Ci briefly explained the situation to the group of people, who all had different expressions and were hesitant.

“Brother Xuanci, Shaolin Temple summoned all the masters here to ambush and kill the Khitan warriors who tried to seize Shaolin’s secret techniques. How can you change the plan because of a few words from an old man? This might ruin everything,” Zhiguang said, frowning.

Xuan Ci said, "How could I not understand this principle? It's just that this senior has come from afar to tell us that this matter is strange, so there must be more to it than meets the eye. Besides, I promised the senior earlier that we should wait here for now and make a decision after we have figured things out tomorrow."

Xiao Feng said, "I dare to guarantee with my life that what I said is absolutely true and there is not a single falsehood in it."

Everyone had witnessed the brief exchange between Wang Jiantong and Xiao Feng, and knew that the old man's martial arts were exceptionally high. If they were to truly fight, it was likely that more than half of the people here would be dead or injured before even seeing the main opponent. Given the old man's earnest words and the sheer force of his martial prowess, for a moment everyone was somewhat in agreement with Xuan Ci's assessment.

Zhiguang pondered for a moment, then frowned and said, "Senior Brother Xuanci, you previously said you had definite information that Khitan experts would launch a large-scale invasion from Yanmen Pass to seize the Shaolin Sect's martial arts manuals. At the time, everyone considered that the Shaolin Sect always kept its word and didn't delve into the source of the information. Now it seems that there are quite a few doubts about this matter, and many points are worth discussing. I would like to ask Senior Brother Xuanci, where exactly did you get this information?"

Xuan Ci received the information from Murong Bo, who endorsed the Murong family's reputation and his long-standing friendship with Xuan Ci. As a result, Xuan Ci believed Murong Bo almost without thinking.

On that day, Murong Bo claimed that he had been working under an assumed name in the Liao army, participating in secret operations. He said he learned of the Liao masters' plan to march south and seize the Shaolin Temple's secret manuals. He then rushed back to the Song Dynasty to inform Xuanci of this news. After that, Murong Bo did not participate in any further planning, saying he needed to return to Liao to avoid exposing his identity and affecting his subsequent infiltration. At the time, Xuanci only thought Murong Bo was selfless and righteous, and was quite moved. Now, however, it cannot be ruled out that Murong Bo may have lied about military intelligence.

But why?

Xuan Ci couldn't understand it for a moment.

His long-standing friendship with Murong Bo made him instinctively resist believing that Murong Bo had lied to him.

Of course, there is another reason, which Xuan Ci will never say, and he himself does not even dare to face it.

A dramatic event over a decade ago has left the older generation of Shaolin monks nearly extinct, plagued by old age and illness. It's clear to everyone that the question of who will succeed them is only a matter of time. Therefore, the younger generation of disciples, especially those with the surname Xuan, are fiercely competing. Senior Brother Xuancheng, with his exceptional martial arts talent, has mastered thirteen of the seventy-two Shaolin arts, earning him the nickname "Thirteen-Skill Divine Monk," making him Xuanci's strongest contender.

If Xuanci himself leads the charge and accomplishes the great task of intercepting and killing the Liao masters at Yanmen Pass, thus making a great contribution to Shaolin, then the next abbot of Shaolin will surely be Xuanci, and no one will be able to compete with him.

This was Xuanci's darkest, most selfish desire, something he could not reveal to the world, nor could he confess to Buddha.

Xuan Ci gritted his teeth, his face looking rather grim. After weighing the options in his mind, he decided not to tell anyone about the matter.

Seeing that Xuanci remained silent, Zhiguang became anxious. In an instant, he felt that his group was like a makeshift troupe, constantly making a fool of themselves.

“Xuanci, now that things have come to this, our operation has been leaked. We either join forces to kill this man, or we simply retreat to Shaolin and wait for the Khitan experts to come knocking. If this is false information, then the culprit is the person who spread the false information; this person has ulterior motives. We must all hold him accountable. This is not something you, Xuanci, can simply dismiss with a few words of 'Amitabha'!”

Now that things had come to this, Zhiguang was truly furious. They had traveled from all corners of the country, enduring the cold winds of the night to reach this place, filled with the ideal of protecting the Song Dynasty and sacrificing their lives for righteousness. In the end, they had made such a blunder, and no one could accept such an outcome.

Xuan Ci, drenched in cold sweat, finally conceded, "In that case, if it's confirmed that this is indeed false information, Shaolin will naturally not let it go and will settle accounts with the person who spread the false information." A spark of malice flashed in Xiao Feng's heart—the person who spread the message had ulterior motives and was probably deliberately spreading false information to kill his family. Why not take this opportunity to find out the real culprit?

However, seeing that Xuan Ci was absolutely unwilling to talk about it, he figured that it would be pointless to ask, so he had no choice but to put the idea aside for the time being.

Zhiguang said, "Now that things have come to this, we have been exposed. Xuanci, say something about whether to advance or retreat."

Xiao Feng said, "I have a suggestion that all the heroes of Han lands may consider."

"How about Master Xuanci, Chief Wang, and Master Zhiguang wait here with me? When Lord Yuanshan arrives tomorrow, we will go and inquire about the situation. The rest of you heroes, please leave Luanshi Valley and wait. What do you say?"

Now, after this ordeal, the initial fervor of the heroes from the Central Plains had cooled considerably. If it weren't for concerns about saving face, they would have already scattered, and no one dared to object to Xiao Feng's words.

Knowing that the situation was hopeless after this incident, Xuan Ci said nothing more, only sighing, "Then let's do as the old man says."

So the others silently withdrew from the canyon, leaving only Xiao Feng and his three companions waiting in place.

Xiao Feng lay prone behind a large rock, the wind whistling in his ears, his heart trembling slightly—he had never met his birth parents before, and was this chance encounter about to lead him to them? Even with his hardened heart, he was filled with turmoil at this moment.

The wind howled all night, and soon it was noon the next day.

Under the bright sunshine, a group of people approached from afar amidst a melodious song.

Xiao Feng leaped out of his hiding place and landed in the middle of the road. The guards on both sides raised their spears and pointed them at Xiao Feng, shouting in Khitan and Chinese, "Who goes there?"

Xiao Feng said twice, in both Khitan and Chinese: "I have something to discuss with Instructor Xiao Yuanshan, and I have been waiting for him here. Please come out, Instructor Xiao Yuanshan, I have something to tell you."

The leading officer shouted, "Damn it, do you think you can just see the head instructor whenever you want? Get out of the way right now!"

Xiao Feng said, "Please tell Lord Yuanshan that I have an urgent matter to discuss with him."

In the midst of the argument, a burly man in tight-fitting clothes jumped out of the car behind them: "What's the matter?"

(End of this chapter)