Chapter 69
“Is lynching and abusing people a rule taught by the Rongshan Sect?” Han Changsheng asked, his tone cold .
“The sect, the sect,” Han Changsheng said, “You ask the sect every time, but this matter has nothing to do with martial arts? Or do you only look at people according to their social status? You dare not offend the big sects, but you can do whatever you want with small sects or the sectless . ”
“You!” The eldest disciple of the Rongshan sect shouted, “What’s wrong with us catching and punishing the thief? So many people saw that he’s a horse thief! Which sect are you from? Are you with him?”
“You talk nonsense!” The eldest disciple of the Rongshan sect was red faced with anger .
“He wasn’t a horse thief,” Han Changsheng said, “You don’t believe him . Why? Do you have the final say in every mistake and punishment? Even if he really is a horse thief, he’s not a Rongshan disciple . Why do you make the rules? If you caught a Shaolin disciple today, according to the Buddhist commandment, the crime of thievery demands a punishment of facing the wall and examining one’s conscience while reciting sutras for a hundred days . Thieves would at most only be expelled from the Shaolin . Would you still insist on breaking his hand?”
The Rongshan Sect’s disciples were dumbstruck and speechless . If the alleged horse thief was someone of Shaolin, they certainly couldn’t break his hand .
Another disciple came forward and said, “What would he be if not a horse thief? I think you’re with him!”
Han Changsheng looked at the middle-aged man . The man said nothing, only untied his zither . One of the Rongshan disciples was about to stop him, fearing something mysterious in his instrument . Han Changsheng’s sword turned . The hilt of the sword knocked against the man’s hand and he cried out in pain, drawing his hand back .
When they saw Han Changsheng start to act out, their anger was immediately ignited . Several disciples raised their sleeves, and Han Changsheng rushed over to guard the man . All the while, his sword never left its sheath . He swiveled to block the fists waving at him .
The faces of the onlookers grew more and more surprised . Seven or eight people besieged Han Changsheng, but not even one could reach him . Although his body dodged left or right, he didn’t move a step . He was always in front of the middle-aged man, refusing to let the others touch him . A moment later, everyone was shocked . Anyone who knew martial arts could see that Han Changsheng was a skilled fighter, and that the Rongshan disciples were not his rivals .
Just then, the middle-aged man finally set up his zither and began to play .
A smooth tune spilled from his fingertips, and Han Changsheng looked back at him in surprise . He was unable to tell, but it seemed the man played very well . But, it wasn’t the appropriate time for him to play, was it? If it wasn’t for fear that An Yuan would jump out and offend the Rongshan disciples, Han Changsheng wouldn’t have willingly protected him .
At first, the animals tied at the teahouse’s gate were frightened . Although they were tied by a rope, they all had a potential to break away and run . But, as soon as the zither rang out, all the horses quieted and knelt to the ground, their heads down as they listened to the sound .
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The horse led by the Rongshan disciple suddenly walked towards the middle-aged man . Surprised, the disciple released the reins . As the horse approached the middle-aged man, it knelt low . He rubbed against the man’s face with his head, tears flowing from his big eyes .
If it was just a normal horse, no one would care . But from the sound of the zither, all the horses acted abnormally, surprising everyone .
People all around began to talk . “This guy is controlling the horses with the zither?” “Quite a skill he had, is what he said true? That the horse was at the brink of death?”
The Rongshan disciples were so tired they couldn’t find any advantage from Han Changsheng . Seeing the abnormal scene, they hesitated and retreated .
Coldly, Han Changsheng said, “See? Since this man can use the zither to subdue the horse, what’s so impossible for him being sensitive to its condition? You insist he is a thief and a charlatan . What else can you say?”
The crowd turned around and accused the Rongshan disciples of being domineering .
The Rongshan disciples couldn’t hold up their faces . If there was no one else there, it was okay . But the teahouse was at a meeting point on the road, and many martial artists and citizens rested there . If there was no one watching, they wouldn’t be so overbearing in their work .
However, with the Wulin conference approaching, everyone would leap forward to try to get ahead of the crowd . At that time, they were allowed to catch up with the arrogant horse thief . They wanted to take the opportunity to build up their prestige and let the family know the rigid style of the Rongshan Sect .
Unexpectedly, the uppity brat who didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth came out of nowhere and ruined everything . At his side stood the horse thief that turned all the horses abnormal with his music . Somehow, it turned out to be their fault .
The eldest disciple of the Rongshan blushed and said, “What’s so great about playing a tune? Even if something’s wrong with the horse, it’s his fault that he let the horse go without the owner’s permission . ”
“Is that worth breaking his hand?” Han Changsheng asked coldly, “He said he was willing to spend money to free the horse, but he didn’t bring enough money in such a hurry . How do you know that he can’t get it? Is that the way you Rongshan do things?”
Many people around began to show solidarity .
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“That’s right . The man just explained clearly and they refused to listen . They insisted on breaking the man’s arm . They were too domineering!”
“Yes, yes . Even if the man made a mistake first, he would have broken his hand . It turns out that the Rongshan disciples are aggressive and unreasonable?” When the Rongshan Sect came to the limelight, the Wulin disciples could see the aggression in their eyes, but were scared to admit it . Now that Han Changsheng had jumped out and turned the situation around, they began to fall into place .
“You!” Although the eldest disciple of the Rongshan Sect had his hand in a hard fist, his tongue was tied . Han Changsheng’s words stunned him . He was so worried that he couldn’t form a complete sentence for a long time .
Finding a piece of silver in his pocket, Han Changsheng threw it to the eldest disciple . “I bought his horse . Do you have any other comments?”
Was the eldest disciple willing to take his money? He forcefully threw the silver back . Han Changsheng expertly caught the broken silver and weighed it in the palm of his hand .
“Let’s go!” The eldest disciple couldn’t stay any longer . He turned around and left . Embarrassed, the other disciples were quick to follow . Each of them turned and mounted their horses . Because he didn’t have a horse to ride, the eldest disciple and his younger brother rode together . Scolding Han Changsheng, they rode away .
When the disciples of the Rongshan Sect left, all the people left with them . The middle-aged man cupped his hand to Han Changsheng and said, “Thank you for your help . If it wasn’t for you, I would’ve had my hand broken . ”
Han Changsheng looked at him with lack of interest . “Ah, be careful later . ” He walked to his own horse, ready to leave .
The middle-aged man stopped him and spoke with a smile, “Little brother, you have been faithful and helped me with your justice . I haven’t thanked you yet . I don’t even know your name?”
Han Changsheng didn’t want to get tangled up with him at all, saying, “We met by chance . Don’t worry about it . ”
The middle-aged man’s eyes brightened . He praised, “Okay! Amazing! I don’t know which master could teach such a disciple . It’s admirable!”
Patting his body, he took out a wooden card and pressed it into Han Changsheng’s hand, saying, “You don’t want to give your name, and I won’t force you . If you have a chance in the future, if there is anything I can help you with, this is a certificate for anything you need . As long as I can do it, I will not refuse you!”
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Han Changsheng shoved the wooden card into his sleeve, but he didn’t think much of it at all . The middle-aged man had poor martial arts . He didn’t even have the money to buy a horse . He was either a horse thief or a horse trainer without much ability . He didn’t have any value that would serve the Tianning Cult .
Han Changsheng returned to An Yuan, then turned and mounted the horse . An Yuan asked, “Why didn’t you let me resolve the situation?”
“In the future,” Han Changsheng said, “Let me handle this troublesome and offensive work . You don’t have to do it yourself . ”
“Why?” An Yuan asked .
Han Changsheng said, “You will have a great development in the future . Offending people from the righteous sects will only hinder it . ”
An Yuan was stunned . “You… Are you serious?”
Han Changsheng looked at him inexplicably . “What do you think I’m preparing you to do?”
An Yuan’s face was strange . After a while, he said, “Here… How can that be?”
“What’s impossible?” Han Changsheng asked, “You’re destined by heaven to be the leader of the Wulin!”
Those words came to An Yuan’s ear, but he became an upstanding man in Han Changsheng’s eyes . An Yuan’s face was a little hot when he said, “Here… you can’t say that…”
Han Changsheng said, “You are destined to eradicate the demonic cult and help the righteous way . ”
After hearing this, An Yuan was shocked . He swallowed all his words . Eradicate the demonic cult?
Han Changsheng had ridden out, so An Yuan couldn’t see the lonely expression on his face . If he tried to ask anything else, Han Changsheng just rode faster, and he couldn’t catch up with him .
Han Changsheng once said that he would help An Yuan be the leader of the Wulin Alliance . An Yuan thought Han Changsheng had been joking from the Mingyue Sect up to just then, but Han Changsheng was serious?! The man still refused to tell him his real identity . Could it be that he had a hidden trouble; something that was too hard for him to mention?
They galloped along the road, bridle to bridle, neither knowing where the other’s thoughts had gone .
The closer they got to Kunlun Mountain, the more people they met from the Wulin . They asked about the Tianyuan Villa as they went, but the villa had been gone for fifteen years . Many of the younger generations hadn’t heard of it at all . The older generations had, but most didn’t know much about it, or they had forgotten it entirely .
Han Changsheng was also secretly asking about the Xiu Daomen . Like the Tianyuan Mountain Villa, this sect had been all but gone for a long time, and he couldn’t find any useful information .
At the foot of Kunlun Mountain, many sects had already arrived . It was crowded and vivacious . Fortunately, the leader of the Wulin, Honghua, had already prepared many residences for the people of the Wulin, so they already had somewhere to stay .
Han Changsheng and An Yuan left their rooms early in the morning to ask around for information .
There were gossips in every inn and post house, which were specially for people to inquire about information . They were the focus of gossip . Every day, they announced new sects arriving, which sects had conflicts with the disciples of which sects, which sects intended to put forward a proposal at this year’s conference, etc . The gossips were the most proficient at spreading credible information . The day before, they heard from some of the most effective gossips . Now, they were going to ask them for help .
Han Changsheng and An Yuan walked into the courtyard where the gossip was located and saw disciples all talking around them . Han Changsheng raised his foot and stood up, only to hear the gossip say, “This morning the Yuehua Sect arrived! The leader arranged for them to stay in the east inn!”
Translator(s): Empress
TL Check: Teo
Editor(s): Empress, Nadialuxxor
Proofer(s): Dark