Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 265 Xuanci, you haven't repented, you just know you're about to die.

Surrounded by heroes and hearing the flattery around him, Murong Fu felt a sense of elation.

In a daze, he felt that he was the leader of the martial arts world, and that he could command a hundred responses in the martial arts world. With a wave of his arm, heroes from all over the world would gather to assist him in restoring the Great Yan Dynasty.

This wasn't because Murong had relapsed into hysteria, but rather because, in nearly thirty years since his birth, this was the first time he had experienced such glory, and he was so excited that he didn't know how to speak.

Murong Fu had never had such an experience before.
Fortunately, during the battle at Xingzilin, Quan Guanqing exposed the trick of Xiao Feng's background, which Murong Bo saw clearly, and Murong Fu only needed to imitate it.

First, invite a group of highly respected elders to be witnesses. There are no requirements regarding martial arts skills, but they must have a good reputation and be old enough.

Then, he confronted the parties involved. Murong Bo was fully prepared and, with the help of the Qinglong Society's network of connections, he forcibly invited all the relevant people to Shaoshi Mountain.

Finally, there's the matter of concealing one's identity. Murong Fu stands on the stage, speaking eloquently, while Murong Bo hides in the shadows. Even if the heavens and earth collapse and the universe turns upside down, he cannot reveal himself.

If Murong Bo shows up, the situation will be completely reversed in this plan to boost Murong Fu's reputation.

Murong Bo was the culprit.

Murong Bo was the originator of the Yanmen Pass case.

No matter what schemes Xuan Ci had, none of this would have happened if Murong Bo hadn't spread false information.

Therefore, Murong Bo must die!

The dead cannot bear the responsibility for crimes.

Murong Bo is long dead.

The one who is alive is Yan Longyuan.

There is no Murong Bo, only Yan Longyuan.

Murong Fu, remembering Murong Bo's instructions and the speech written by the Qinglong Society expert, said loudly, "I have come to Shaolin today with two cases that I would like to ask Abbot Xuanci for advice on. Please ask the abbot to confront me face to face."

As he spoke, Murong Fu pointed to the people around him.

"To ensure fairness, I have invited more than a dozen senior martial arts practitioners to serve as witnesses. Abbot Xuanci, I am sure you know better than I what I have to say!"

Murong Fu stared intently at Xuan Ci, recalling Li Zhaoting's advice: the best way for a young martial artist to quickly become famous is to climb up by stepping on the shoulders of seniors, either by defeating them or exposing hypocrites, and the bigger the fuss, the better!

Are there any martial arts sects stronger than Shaolin?

Is there anyone more important than the abbot of Shaolin Temple?
If this scheme succeeds, I can rise through the ranks by stepping on the faces of Xuanci and Shaolin.

Murong Fu was a gambler who lost everything.

They disregarded all dangers.

Only a desperate, ferocious madness!

This is mainly Li Zhaoting's fault.

Murong Fu suffered a series of defeats after his debut, most of which were related to Li Zhaoting. Murong Bo's hard-earned wealth was taken away, entirely by Li Zhaoting.

The father and son's decades of hard work were inexplicably destroyed by Li Zhaoting, a complete stranger who had nothing to do with the matter, and all their family property was squandered.

If we don't give it our all, what else can we do?
How many more years can Murong Bo live?

How much mental pressure can Murong Fu withstand?

If I don't give it a shot, am I supposed to just retire in Suzhou?
Uh……

To be honest, it is indeed a good idea.

With the martial arts foundation of the Murong family of Gusu, if they were willing to live as wealthy men and become a martial arts family, they could become a powerful martial arts clan no less than the Divine Sword Manor in two or three generations.

Murong Bo was unwilling to do so.

Murong Fu was Murong Bo's puppet.

He did exactly what his father told him to do.

Even if you go crazy or become stupid, you won't find relief.

Having served as the abbot of Shaolin for thirty years, Xuanci had encountered all sorts of people in the martial arts world. How could he not see Murong Fu's intentions? He could also see that many forces were secretly trying to cause trouble for Shaolin, taking advantage of its misfortune, and kicking it when it was down.

Xuan Ci solemnly defended himself: "Amitabha, I don't know which matter Young Hero Murong is referring to? No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. This humble monk has indeed done something wrong."

Murong Fu sneered: "A guilty conscience? You casually mentioned a guilty conscience, yet tens of thousands of people died tragically, and hundreds of thousands of people on the border suffered disaster. Xuan Ci, should I call you Xuan Ci, or should I call you Big Brother!"

Upon hearing this, all the heroes turned their heads in surprise.

A full year has passed since the Xingzilin Gathering. Everyone in the martial arts world who has ears knows about Xiao Feng's background. They know that the leader of the gang killed Xiao Feng's entire family. The blood feud between his parents is irreconcilable. Xiao Feng was the former leader of the Beggars' Sect and had extremely high prestige within the sect. He also had a sworn brother whose swordsmanship was superb, striking fear into the hearts of evil spirits and heretics.

Murong Fu circulated his inner energy, moved his throat, and carried his voice far away, ensuring that all martial artists could hear it clearly before recounting his past.

This whole thing was orchestrated by Murong Bo.

No one knows the events of that time better than Murong Bo.

Thirty years ago, someone came to Shaolin Temple to warn us that Khitan warriors wanted to steal Shaolin's secret techniques to train their army, and asked Shaolin to ambush them on the way!
This news is truly laughable!

If practicing Shaolin martial arts can greatly increase the strength of the army, why doesn't the imperial court directly conscript Shaolin monks into the army, train soldiers, enhance combat power, and then march north to recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun in one fell swoop?

Practicing martial arts is not an easy thing.

Can military formations and the martial arts world be confused?

As far as I know, thirty years ago, when the eminent monks Kongwen, Dabei, Fangzheng, and Tianzheng heard this news, none of them believed it, except for Xuanci.

Why did he believe it?
Because this is a merit.

The credit for protecting Shaolin's unique skills.

His merits were enough to earn him the position of abbot.

Xuanci, ask yourself honestly, without this merit, could you have subdued Fangzheng, Tianzheng, and Dabe to become the abbot of Shaolin? Don't spout any nonsensical high-sounding nonsense; you're only doing this for your own selfish gain.

Do you admit to this or not?

Murong Fu rebuked him sternly.

Xuan Ci remained silent.

Due to the shift in time, the assassination of Xiao Yuanshan had a far greater impact than in the original story. Shortly after Xiao Yuanshan's assassination, the pro-war faction within the Liao Kingdom grew stronger.

These people accelerated the Liao Dynasty's southward advance, eventually triggering a war in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed in a bloodbath. Both the Song and Liao sides suffered heavy losses and eventually had to cease hostilities and negotiate peace.

The peace agreement is very famous.

The Treaty of Chanyuan

Its influence continues to this day.

In recent years, the Liao Dynasty has been declining, and the border raids have decreased. The border people have regained some stability, and trade between the Song and Liao dynasties has even started.

It's difficult to explain right and wrong in just a few words.

Xiao Yuanshan alone could not stop the war.

But Xiao Yuanshan's assassination was indeed the trigger.

This is something no one can deny.

Before Murong Fu could finish speaking, Xiao Feng and Li Zhaoting arrived in a flash. Li Zhaoting roared, "Xuan Ci, when you close your eyes, do you see the innocent people you killed? Have you felt even a shred of remorse all these years?"

Xuan Ci looked bitter and said in a deep voice, "I have spent every day of these years in guilt. Hero Xiao was a living bodhisattva who maintained peace between Song and Liao. I should have atone for my sins by assassinating him after listening to slander."

"Heh! You're still alive!"

"This humble monk is willing to die at the hands of Benefactor Xiao!" Xuan Ci bares his chest, letting Xiao Feng do as he pleases.

Xiao Feng raised his hand, but couldn't bring himself to strike.

Xiao Feng's martial arts foundation comes from Shaolin. Over the years, he has received a lot of care and support. However, he is entangled in a web of grudges and doesn't know whether he should take revenge. He looks to Li Zhaoting for help.

Li Zhaoting sneered: "Guilt? What a joke! What a huge joke! Do you really feel guilty?"

If you feel guilty, why don't you explain this matter in detail to the Disciplinary Hall, resign from your abbot's seat, and go to the back mountain of Shaolin to reflect on your mistakes and cleanse your sins?

If you feel guilty, why don't you take the initiative to admit your identity a year after the Xingzilin battle?
If you felt guilty, you would never act like this; this is not what a guilty person should do!

A gentleman can be deceived.

You're bullying my brother because he's a gentleman.

Unfortunately, I am not a gentleman!

Your tricks won't fool me!
Xuanci, for the past thirty years, you have been the high and mighty abbot of Shaolin, a great figure who has shaken the martial arts world, enjoying all the glory and wealth. Is this what you call guilt?
Would someone who feels ashamed do this?
Of those who launched the assassination attempt, only Master Zhiguang felt remorse and spent the rest of his life atoning for his sins.

He healed the sick and saved lives, and donated medicinal herbs. In order to treat people suffering from the plague, he traveled overseas to collect medicinal herbs. He was poisoned and lost all his martial arts skills, but he saved countless lives!
This is what a person who is atoning for their sins should do!

Xuan Ci, what have you done?
Tell me, what exactly are you feeling guilty about, this guilt you've felt for over thirty years?
I feel guilty that my dishonesty was discovered!
You don't feel guilty or regretful; you just know that your shameful deeds have been discovered, your enemies have come knocking on your door, you know you will be ruined, and you know you will die!
You know you were wrong!
You know you deserve to die!
You should have died thirty years ago!

Li Zhaoting's words were like knives, tearing off Xuan Ci's hypocritical and shameless mask. Xuan Ci took several steps back, his face turning from blue to purple, clutching his chest, his face deathly pale.

Li Zhaoting stepped forward and angrily rebuked: "I have two cases to discuss with you today. One is the Yanmen Pass case, and the other is the Ye Erniang case. Do you remember these names?"

Twenty-four years ago, you had an affair with Ye Erniang, a young and beautiful woman from the foot of Shaoshi Mountain, and had a son. You met at Ziyun Cave and asked Granny Qiao to deliver the baby.

I killed Ye Erniang, so there's no way she can testify against me.

Do you think nobody knows about this?

Have you forgotten Grandma Qiao who delivered the baby?
At least you weren't completely wicked and didn't kill Grandma Qiao to cover it up. Also, I want to repeat what we were talking about earlier: do you have any remorse at all?

The answer is still no.

You've been the abbot of Shaolin Temple for thirty years, and someone had a son for you. You say you feel guilty about it?

I find it fucking ridiculous!
This joke is not funny at all!

Xuan Ci lowered his head, lost in thought and remained silent.

Feng Suzhen plucked the strings of her zither, suppressing her inner demons.

"Amitabha!"

A series of Buddhist chants rose from Shaoshi Mountain.

The matter of Xiao Yuanshan is still considered to be a case of being deceived. As long as Xuanci dies, it will have little impact on Shaolin.

Ye Erniang's influence was enormous.

Ye Erniang committed countless evils and atrocities, taking the lives of thousands of children. How can she possibly atone for this?
Kongwen, Tianzheng, and Dabei stepped forward.

"Abbot, you really... This matter must be explained, it absolutely cannot be taken lightly!"

Kong Wen's expression was sharp, and his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Tianzheng chimed in: "Back when you were the abbot, none of us were convinced, but as it turns out, you are better at managing the sect than we are. We are now completely convinced of your abilities. The most important thing in managing a sect is to be fair in rewards and punishments."

The abbot exclaimed in great sorrow, "Abbot, the precepts!"

The great sorrow was expressed in only four words.

These four words were more damaging to Xuan Ci than a hundred words from Kong Wen and Tian Zheng, more insults from the martial arts practitioners present, or more sarcastic remarks.

Xuan Ci's character is not very good, but there are two things that cannot be denied.

Firstly, management skills: Xuanci possesses exceptional management abilities, managing the sect in an orderly manner. Shaolin's current prosperity owes much to Xuanci.

Secondly, loyalty. He was devoted to Shaolin and willing to give everything for it. In the original story, Xuanci took the initiative to die in order to uphold the Shaolin precepts.

Xuan Ci never felt that assassinating Xiao Yuanshan was wrong, as evidenced by the punishment in the original story.

“Xuanci has violated the precept against lust. As the abbot, his punishment is doubled. The law-enforcing monks shall severely punish Xuanci with two hundred strokes of the rod. This is of great importance to the reputation of Shaolin. No favoritism or corruption is allowed.”

Throughout, Xuanci only recognized the "precepts".

When Da Bei uttered the word "precepts," all of Xuan Ci's imagined rebuttals became meaningless. Xuan Ci gave Da Bei a deep look, his mind already clear as a mirror.

There is only one abbot's throne.

If Xuanci sits down, no one else can sit down.

Did Da Bei and the others really have no complaints?

Since it concerns the reputation of Shaolin, Da Bei and the others will not use Xuan Ci's scandalous affairs to make a fuss. As the saying goes, you can doubt their character, but you cannot doubt their loyalty.

If Dabei, Kongwen, Tianzheng, and others were in Xuanci's position, they would make the same choice.

Now that things have come to this, the shameful secret has been exposed.

Since it cannot be concealed, we should uphold the law impartially.

Read as upholding justice, written as kicking someone when they're down.

Xuan Ci had no choice but to admit it.

If Xuanci stubbornly refuses to admit it, there's no need for Li Zhaoting to produce evidence; Dabei, Tianzheng, and others will definitely come up with relevant clues and ask the Discipline Hall to deal with him severely.

Precepts are the foundation for maintaining a sect.

No sect, gang, clan, or temple can be immune to having unruly disciples. Maintaining a good reputation does not depend on ensuring that no one ever breaks the rules, but on punishing everyone according to the law.

No rules, no standards.

"As the abbot, I have repeatedly violated the precepts and should be severely punished. If Benefactor Xiao is willing to take action, I am willing to die. If you do not wish to get your hands dirty, please have the enforcing monk execute the law and give me two hundred lashes!"

The wooden sticks used in the Shaolin Disciplinary Hall are no less powerful than the merciless sticks used by the yamen (government offices). When raised upwards, they are like a dragon wagging its tail; when lowered downwards, they are like a python turning over. If subjected to severe torture, three blows can break bones, and twenty blows can take a person's life.

To be beaten two hundred times is clearly a sign that he doesn't want to live anymore.

Li Zhaoting suddenly asked, "Xuanci, there's one last thing. You said someone was spreading false information. Who is this person? Is he still alive?"

Xuan Ci said in a deep voice, "He has long since passed away. He was probably deceived by someone. Why ruin his reputation? If Benefactor Xiao has any grievances, blame them on this humble monk."

"He's still alive!"

"impossible!"

“Not only is he alive, but he’s right here. I’ve dealt with him twice, once at the Jiangling Water Village and once at the Jinan Mountain Village. He changed his name to Yan Longyuan and is the October leader of the Azure Dragon Society. Would you like to meet him?”

Before he could finish speaking, a sword rang out.

Murong Bo, dressed in black robes, was forced to reveal himself by Li Zhaoting's sword energy. Xiao Feng then struck with a palm, and the two combined their palms and swords, shattering Murong Bo's mask.

"Clap!"

Murong Bo stared coldly at Li Zhaoting.

"You little brat, you're ruthless!"

"You shouldn't be around me. No matter how well you hide, you can't escape my senses."

(End of this chapter)