ATPnovel Chapter 23 Right and wrong, good and evil, the Quanzhen School is disgraced!
Chapter 23 Right and wrong, good and evil, the Quanzhen School is disgraced!
"Brother, Master Ma Yu and all the other Taoist masters from the Quanzhen Sect have arrived!"
Seeing Ke Zhen'e and the others approaching quickly, Zhu Cong immediately took the initiative to introduce them.
He was meticulous and knew that his elder brother was blind. Although his ability to locate people by sound was unparalleled, there were many people present, so it was more appropriate for him to take the initiative to explain.
Upon hearing this, Ke Zhen'e's ashen face immediately lit up with joy. He slammed his iron staff down and said loudly, "So it's Daoist Ma Yu, Daoist Qiu, and the others who have arrived at Niujia Village! We siblings have always been grateful for your help since we parted ways in Dadu. It is truly a joyous occasion to reunite with you today!"
He spoke sincerely, his tone filled with the joy of a long-awaited reunion.
Ma Yu quickly stepped forward, bowed in return, and said gently, "Hero Ke, you flatter me. Back then, you all had such chivalrous hearts, traveling to the desert for eighteen years. We, the humble Taoist priest and others, have always admired you. It is truly gratifying to see the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan still as dashing as ever today."
His voice was gentle and his attitude humble, displaying the demeanor of a leader.
However, Ke Zhen'e's ears twitched slightly, and the joy on his face gradually froze.
He had been blind for many years, but his ears had become more acute than most people's eyes. Now, as he listened intently, he sensed something was amiss—
Ma Yu and the other four people were breathing deeply and slowly, almost imperceptibly, clearly indicating that they possessed profound internal strength.
However, nearby, two people were breathing erratically, one heavy and one shallow, clearly suffering from internal injuries. Another person's breathing was fluctuating, as if they were enduring pain.
Among the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, the siblings only had a past relationship with Ma Yu, Qiu Chuji, and Wang Chuyi.
Seven people gathered today, but only Ma Yu stepped forward to speak. Could it be...?
Ke Zhen'e's heart skipped a beat, and he slammed his iron staff down, saying in a deep voice, "Master Ma, did you all just fight a powerful enemy? Or were Master Qiu and Master Wang injured?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Yu and the others secretly admired him.
Although this "flying bat" is blind, it can perceive such subtle changes in the blink of an eye. Its ability to locate by sound is truly well-deserved.
Zhu Cong had already seen the situation clearly: Qiu Chuji's clothes were torn on the shoulder, with five bloody marks that were shocking to see; Wang Chuyi's face was flushed and his breathing was rapid, clearly indicating that he was seriously injured.
His gaze swept over Ouyang Ke, who was standing not far away with a cane. He saw a faint smile on the man's lips and a calm expression, and he immediately understood.
He quietly reached out and tugged at the hem of Lako Town's clothes.
Although Ke Zhen'e did not understand his intention, he knew that his second brother was quick-witted and that there must be a deeper meaning behind his actions, so he did not speak for the time being.
However, this scene evoked a different feeling in Qiu Chuji's eyes. Seeing Zhu Cong's hesitant expression, he assumed it was because the other party was concerned about his reputation, and he felt even more ashamed. He sighed deeply and said with a bitter smile:
"You're too kind, Master Ke! But my injuries... won't take my life for now."
That being said, the five claw marks on his right shoulder were so deep that the bone was visible, and he could no longer lift his entire arm. The severity of his injuries was self-evident.
Although his injury was a laceration, it was still an external injury.
Wang Chuyi, standing to the side, was the real danger.
At this moment, Wang Chuyi's face was flushed red, as if on fire, and his breath was steaming hot. He felt his blood surging in his chest, and a surge of pure yang energy was rushing through the meridians of his right palm, causing excruciating pain wherever it passed, like being pricked by needles and burned by fire.
He instinctively tried to suppress it by circulating his Quanzhen True Heart Technique, but the true energy was like a living thing, rushing left and right, and he couldn't do anything about it.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead, his jaw clenched, yet he still couldn't stop his body from trembling slightly.
Upon seeing this, Sun Bu'er and Hao Datong exchanged a glance and immediately stepped forward, each placing a palm on Wang Chuyi's shoulder to help him heal with their internal strength.
The three of them came from the same Quanzhen School and shared the same source of internal energy. Logically speaking, if the two of them worked together, they would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort.
However, just as the two of them channeled their inner energy into Wang Chuyi's meridians—
"Bang!"
With a muffled thud, Sun Bu'er and Hao Datong felt an overwhelming force rebounding back, their hands being violently shaken away.
"this……!"
The two looked at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief.
Wang Chuyi's body trembled violently, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His face turned ashen, and he swayed precariously.
"Senior Brother Wang!"
Liu Chuxuan and Tan Chuduan rushed forward and supported him from both sides.
Sun Bu'er was both shocked and furious. He turned sharply to look at Ouyang Ke, whose figure, draped in a skull-patterned Taoist robe, trembled slightly with rage. He shouted, "What kind of evil technique is this?!"
"Evil martial arts?"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but laugh out loud.
The laughter was full of mockery, but there was not a trace of anger in it.
Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji exchanged a glance and nodded simultaneously. They both stepped forward and placed their palms on Wang Chuyi's back, slowly channeling their pure and mellow internal energy into him.
However, the pure Yang energy hidden deep within Wang Chuyi's meridians seemed to possess sentience. Sensing the intrusion of external forces, it suddenly launched a counterattack.
Although Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji were prepared, they were still shaken by the immense force!
The two were horrified, but dared not stop. They gritted their teeth, channeling all their inner strength to struggle against the pure Yang energy. Wang Chuyi also held his breath, activating his sect's internal energy technique to coordinate with the attack from within.
It took the combined efforts of the three of them a full incense stick's time to finally force that extremely yang energy out of their bodies.
The moment that true energy left the body, the air seemed to radiate a scorching heat.
Wang Chuyi let out a long breath, his complexion gradually returning to normal, but he seemed completely exhausted and leaned against Liu Chuxuan.
Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji were covered in sweat and looked exhausted.
The three exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with seriousness.
Among the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, these three possessed the highest martial arts skills. Today, even with the combined strength of the three of them, they barely managed to break through the residual true energy of the opponent's palm strike!
If this matter were to spread, I'm afraid no one in the martial arts world would believe it!
What alarmed Ma Yu and Qiu Chuji even more was the nature of that true energy.
Extremely masculine and powerful, domineering and unparalleled, yet it also subtly reveals a sense of moderation and peace...
This surge of energy reminded them of their revered teacher.
Back when our late master, the True Man Chongyang, was still alive, the two of them were among the first to enter the sect and had the good fortune to witness his "Innate Skill." The true energy of that divine skill was so extremely yang, so powerful, and so domineering.
But the Innate Skill is a secret that our master did not pass on, and even we, his direct disciples, had no chance to learn it. So where did this person learn it from?
A thousand thoughts raced through Ma Yu's mind, but his expression remained calm. He looked directly at Ouyang Ke, his tone even yet carrying an undeniable seriousness:
"May I ask, Young Master Ouyang, where did you learn the internal energy technique you just used?"
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke's lips curled slightly, a half-smile playing on his lips: "Oh? What's your opinion, Sect Leader Ma?"
Qiu Chuji, already hot-tempered, was now unexpectedly injured by Ouyang Ke's Nine Yin White Bone Claw. He was convinced this man had stolen their sect's secret techniques. He roared, "Ouyang Ke, are you afraid to admit your actions? The internal energy you just used was clearly the Innate Skill of my late master, Master Chongyang! Your uncle, Ouyang Feng, must have stolen our sect's secret manual when he broke into my Chongyang Palace!"
He grew angrier as he spoke, his beard and eyebrows bristling. If it weren't for the injury on his shoulder, he probably would have charged forward again.
Ma Yu reached out to stop him, his tone still calm but with a touch more solemnity: "Young Master Ouyang, your uncle did indeed break into my Chongyang Palace at night back then. And the internal energy you are using now is extremely similar to my late master's Innate Skill. This matter concerns the very foundation of my Quanzhen Sect, and I hope you can give me an explanation."
His words were neither humble nor arrogant; he was neither aggressive nor easily let go, but simply earnestly requested an answer.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke laughed instead of getting angry: "Oh? So Master Ma is convinced that I stole your Quanzhen martial arts?"
Ma Yu was slightly taken aback, then shook his head, his tone sincere: "I have no conclusive evidence, but... but that true energy is indeed too similar to my late master's Innate Skill. If you are willing to explain, I will listen attentively."
His attitude surprised Ouyang Ke.
Qiu Chuji couldn't help but say, "Senior brother, why are you wasting your breath talking to him! Now that this person has already secretly learned the Nine Yin White Bone Claw, what else is he incapable of doing?"
"Nine Yin White Bone Claw?"
Upon hearing this, Ke Zhen'e and the others' expressions all changed.
Huang Rong stood aside, watching with great interest.
Her bright eyes darted between the faces of the crowd, glancing at the Seven Masters of Quanzhen, then at Ouyang Ke, and then at her own Jing-gege, as if she couldn't wait for the two sides to start fighting.
Guo Jing, however, became anxious.
Seeing the tense atmosphere between the two sides, and fearing that this would lead to an irreconcilable feud, he quickly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Master Ma, Senior Uncle Qiu, Brother Ouyang's Nine Yin White Bone Claw was not stolen, but was taught to him by me!"
These words shocked everyone present.
Ma Yu frowned slightly, but before he could speak, Qiu Chuji interrupted, "Jing'er, what did you say? Where did you learn the Nine Yin Manual?"
Guo Jing respectfully replied, "Reporting to Uncle-Master Qiu, some time ago on Peach Blossom Island, I had the honor of becoming sworn brothers with Brother Zhou Botong. The martial arts in the Nine Yin Manual were taught to me by Brother Zhou."
"Brother Zhou?" Ma Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked, "Jing'er, is this Brother Zhou you're talking about Zhou Botong?"
Guo Jing nodded and said, "That's right."
Upon hearing this, Ma Yu and the others all showed expressions of surprise and delight!
Zhou Botong was the junior brother of the late Master Chongyang, and in terms of martial arts, he was second only to their master. Since their master's passing, Uncle Zhou had disappeared without a trace. The seven of them, his brothers and sisters, had searched for him for many years without success. They never expected to learn of his whereabouts here!
Sun Bu'er couldn't help but blurt out, "Is Uncle-Master Zhou still alive?"
Guo Jing nodded, then looked at Huang Rong beside him with some distress. After hesitating for a moment, he still told the truth: "Brother Zhou was trapped on Peach Blossom Island a while ago, but he left the island not long ago with me, Rong'er, and Uncle Qi. However, we got separated from Uncle Qi and Brother Zhou near Lin'an."
"Is Chief Hong also in Lin'an?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Yu and the others were filled with even greater respect.
Guo Jing continued, "A few days ago, I was seriously injured and on the verge of death. Fortunately, Brother Ouyang came to my rescue and saved me. To express my gratitude, I will pass on the martial arts from the Nine Yin Manual to Brother Ouyang."
"Jing'er, you're so foolish!"
After hearing this, Qiu Chuji couldn't help but sigh deeply, his tone full of regret.
Huang Rong already harbored prejudices against Qiu Chuji and the others, and seeing him instead criticize Guo Jing, she was immediately displeased.
Just as she was about to retort, she heard Ouyang Ke suddenly burst into laughter.
"Foolish?" Ouyang Ke's laughter ceased, his gaze coldly sweeping over the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. "If we're talking about foolishness, who in the world can compare to your Quanzhen Sect?"
Qiu Chuji glared angrily: "Ouyang Ke, what do you mean by that?"
Ouyang Ke coldly said, "I say your Quanzhen Sect is the most muddle-headed! First, without even asking what happened, you made baseless accusations that I stole martial arts; now, instead of asking how Brother Guo was injured, you're blaming him first!"
He paused, his tone growing increasingly sharp: "No wonder you've failed in your teaching, turning the Yang family's descendant into a despicable scoundrel who has no loyalty to his father and family, and sells out his ancestors for personal gain!"
"you……!"
Qiu Chuji was so angry that he trembled all over, but he was speechless.
Ma Yu frowned slightly, about to speak, but Ke Zhen'e spoke first.
Ke Zhen'e slammed his iron staff down and said in a deep voice, "Master Qiu, please hear what this old blind man has to say!"
Qiu Chuji took a deep breath, suppressed his anger, and forced himself to say, "Please speak, Master Ke."
Ke Zhen'e said, "I have only known this Young Master Ouyang for a few days, but I know clearly that he has completely changed his ways and is no longer the same Ouyang Ke he used to be!"
He paused, his tone growing increasingly solemn: "Our six siblings and I are of meager martial arts skills, and we cannot discern whether Young Master Ouyang has secretly learned your sect's techniques. However, we have been navigating the martial world for decades, and we certainly have the discernment to tell a person from evil!"
Zhu Cong lightly shook his folding fan and chimed in, "Master Qiu, although my siblings and I are of humble origin, we value the word 'chivalry' above all else. We have witnessed Young Master Ouyang's actions these past few days with our own eyes. If he were truly such a despicable person, why would he have spared Jing'er's life?"
Han Baoju, Nan Xiren, Quan Jinfa, and Han Xiaoying nodded in unison, their expressions solemn.
Qiu Chuji was stunned.
He looked at Ke Zhen'e's ashen face, then at the serious expressions of Zhu Cong and the others, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
Ma Yu and the others looked at each other in disbelief.
The Six Heroes of Jiangnan knew more or less about the old grudges between Ouyang Ke and the others. Especially Ke Zhen'e, a man who hated evil and wicked people the most. Now even he had stood up to speak for Ouyang Ke; what was going on...?
Ke Zhen'e then said, "There is one more thing that I need to tell Daoist Qiu."
Qiu Chuji took a deep breath: "Please speak, Master Ke."
Ke Zhen'e said in a deep voice, "Yang Kang, the Daoist's disciple, recently aided and abetted evil, colluding with Wanyan Honglie to steal the Wumu Manual from the Lin'an Imperial Palace. After being stopped by Jing'er, he even joined forces with Qiu Qianren's younger sister to severely injure Jing'er! If it weren't for Young Master Ouyang's intervention, my disciple would have already perished!"
"What?!"
Qiu Chuji's face flushed red instantly, then turned deathly pale.
Ke Zhen'e continued, "Although I, the old blind man, am blind in heart. It is true that Young Master Ouyang had a past grudge against your Quanzhen Sect, but based on my observations these past few days, he has long since reformed and is no longer the same as before!"
He slammed his iron staff down, his tone solemn: "I hope you Taoist priests can see this clearly and not let the misunderstanding deepen, lest it lead to a grave mistake!"
The Six Eccentrics of Jiangnan all clasped their hands in a respectful gesture, their expressions sincere.
Ma Yu glanced at the six people, then at Ouyang Ke, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes.
He knew that the Six Heroes of Jiangnan had roamed the martial world for decades, always considering themselves chivalrous and never easily vouching for others. Now that all six of them were speaking up for Ouyang Ke, the weight of their guarantee was undeniable.
However, doubts still lingered in his mind. That pure yang energy was far too similar to his master's innate skill...
Ouyang Ke turned to look at Ke Zhen'e and the others, his gaze softening slightly. He smiled gently and said, "Hero Ke, I appreciate your kindness."
After saying that, he turned his gaze to Ma Yu and the others, his expression turning cold again.
"Today I have witnessed the tyranny of the Quanzhen Sect. No wonder Yang Kang was taught to be like that."
His tone was calm, yet every word was like a knife:
"In terms of martial arts, the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan are far inferior to you. Yet, these seven siblings traveled to the desert for eighteen years without complaint, not only teaching Guo Jing martial arts but also teaching him to distinguish between loyalty and treachery, good and evil, what is permissible and what is not!"
"And what about your faction?"
He stared directly at Qiu Chuji and said, word by word, "Since you and Brother Ke made the vow back then, and since you found Bao Xiruo and Yang Kang so early, why didn't you take them away from the palace? Yang Kang is a Han Chinese, yet he grew up in the Jurchen palace, enjoying a life of luxury and having no sense of belonging to the Han people. Isn't that something you created?"
"If you truly wanted to teach him, why didn't you tell him about his background sooner? Why didn't you lead him out of that quagmire? You do nothing and expect him to suddenly realize the truth on his own? There's no such thing as a free lunch."
Qiu Chuji's face turned pale and then red, his lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a single word.
Ouyang Ke continued, "You act on impulse without considering the consequences. In my opinion, if you hadn't acted rashly in Niujia Village back then and failed to clean up the mess in time, would the Guo and Yang families have ended up ruined?"
Qiu Chuji swayed as if he had been struck heavily in the chest.
Ouyang Ke's gaze swept over Ke Zhen'e and the others, his words revealing admiration: "On the contrary, the seven siblings of the Ke family have been loyal to their cause, without complaint or regret, and have wholeheartedly fulfilled their bet. Such righteous deeds truly deserve the title of 'hero.'"
He withdrew his gaze and gently shook his head: "As for your Quanzhen Sect... you truly live up to your name."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Chuji felt his blood surging in his chest, his face turning bright red, and then with a "poof," he spat out a mouthful of blood and fell backward!
"Junior brother!"
Ma Yu reacted quickly and caught him.
Qiu Chuji leaned against him, his expression sorrowful, and murmured, "Sect Leader... I have failed our late master, I have failed our sect..."
Ouyang Ke snorted coldly, lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits, and prepared to leave.
"Wait a minute!"
Sun Bu'er drew her sword and blocked his path, shouting sternly, "You haven't explained yourself yet!"
"Junior sister, move aside."
Ma Yu's voice came from behind, gentle yet firm.
Sun Bu'er turned around, his eyes full of confusion: "Senior Brother!"
Ma Yu shook his head and said gently, "Let's leave it at that."
He looked at Ouyang Ke, his gaze calm yet earnest: "Young Master Ouyang, I dare not let the matter of my late master's Innate Skill rest. I will find Uncle Zhou later and ask him to carefully examine the matter. If it is truly a misunderstanding, I will personally apologize; if..."
He paused, not finishing his sentence.
But the meaning at present is already clear.
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Ke said calmly, "Very well, then I will await your arrival."
After saying that, he turned his gaze to Ke Zhen'e and the others, and bowed with his hands clasped: "Hero Ke, Brother Guo, everyone, until we meet again."
With a quick tap under his armpits, he mounted his horse.
With a clear whistle, a firebird flew in from afar and landed steadily on his shoulder.
The man and his horse disappeared from sight in a short time.
Sun Bu'er watched the departing figure, snorted coldly, and ultimately did not chase after it.
Ma Yu, supporting Qiu Chuji, watched the dust and smoke gradually recede into the distance and sighed softly.
As for who is right and who is wrong in today's events, it's probably difficult to say for the time being.
Huang Rong leaned against Guo Jing, her eyes darting around, and couldn't help but mutter softly, "What a pity!"
Guo Jing glanced at her helplessly, took her hand, and said nothing.
Outside Niujia Village, the sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance.