While the crowd was hurling vile curses at "Duan Yu," a voice suddenly cried out in sheer terror.
"Ah! Where has my internal energy gone?!"
Panic spread like wildfire. To their utter horror, Boss Wu and the others discovered that although the Life and Death Talismans in their bodies were indeed dissolved, the internal energy they had diligently cultivated over so many years had completely vanished as well!
"There's something wrong with the antidote!"
Looking as though he had been deeply insulted, Qin Zheng glared with bristling brows and argued back, "Nonsense! There couldn't possibly be anything wrong with my medicine! Just tell me: did your Life and Death Talismans dissolve or not?!"
Boss Wu broke down into hopeless weeping. "We've already pledged our loyalty to Tonglao! Why must you drive us to dead ends? Stripped of our martial arts and family fortunes, how are we supposed to survive?!"
In the past, these men had grown accustomed to throwing their weight around, relying entirely on their formidable martial arts. Now that their skills were gone, once their old enemies came knocking, their fates would be far worse than death!
Qin Zheng sneered disdainfully. "The one you pledged loyalty to was Tianshan Tonglao. What does that have to do with me, Qin Zheng? If she has a problem with it, tell her to come beat me up herself!"
The moment his words fell, the desolate valley plunged into dead silence. Terror broke out across the faces of Boss Wu and the others in unison.
"The Bandit King, Qin Zheng!"
"This Tonglao is a fake?!"
"It's that devil Qin Zheng! Run for your lives...!"
A chaotic swarm of people scrambled toward the exit of the valley, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye.
A'Zi hopped out of the imperial litter, feeling rather lost and crestfallen. "Where did all my subordinates go? How did they all vanish in a flash? You could have at least let me enjoy the feeling of being adored by ten thousand people for a little longer..."
Bao Butong asked with a puzzled look, "Hero Qin, the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands command no small power. Why didn't you take them under your own wing? Even for you, wouldn't they have been a considerable force?"
Qin Zheng drawled lazily, "Being rid of them is the greatest help to me. In the past, they relied on their martial prowess to oppress the common people and slaughter the innocent without remorse. I already summoned the people they wronged in advance, so they can repay their grievances and settle their blood feuds."
Bao Butong's heart skipped a beat. At last, he realized that from the very beginning, what Qin Zheng sought was never a band of obedient thugs—it was the hearts of the people!
At the thought of his young master competing with Qin Zheng for the realm in the future, cold sweat broke out all over his body.
Against such a terrifying adversary, could his young master truly stand any chance of victory?
***
Meanwhile, the master of Swordfish Island had not dared oppose "Tianshan Tongnü" and refrained from attending the gathering in the desolate valley. Instead, he had secretly slipped into Lingjiu Palace to deliver a warning.
Upon hearing his account, Tianshan Tonglao was utterly flabbergasted. "I have a disciple named Tianshan Tongnü, and she betrayed me to seize control of Lingjiu Palace? What kind of preposterous nonsense is this?!"
Just then, Fu Minyi hurried into the great hall, flustered. "Tonglao, disaster! The leaders of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands have all had their martial arts stripped by Qin Zheng, and then a mob of commoners rounded them up for a public reckoning!"
Tonglao's expression hardened, her brow furrowing deeply. "Where did Qin Zheng get his hands on so much poison capable of destroying a person's martial arts?"
What she did not know was that Qin Zheng's poison was refined from the poisonous tree bark that Zhiguang had mistakenly eaten back then. As for how much bark was left, Qin Zheng had no idea himself—after all, towering poisonous trees grew everywhere across that entire island...
Fu Minyi glanced at the master of Swordfish Island and asked, "Tonglao, what should we do with this man?"
Tianshan Tonglao sneered coldly. "Cripple his martial arts and throw him down the mountain. Since he dared to betray me, let him enjoy the same treatment as the rest of them."
"Tonglao, spare my life! Tonglao, spare me...!"
Amid desperate pleas for mercy, the man was dragged out of the hall.
Immediately after, Fu Minyi had Xuzhu brought forward and reported, "Tonglao, this young monk is Qin Zheng's friend. Qin Zheng's whole reason for coming to Mount Tianshan was to rescue him and Duan Zhengchun."
Tianshan Tonglao sized Xuzhu up for a moment, her brow knitting in confusion. "This little monk is ugly as sin and his martial arts are abysmal. What on earth does Qin Zheng want to save him for?"
Xuzhu pressed his palms together. "Amitabha. All mortal appearances are mere illusory combinations; only the original mind remains clear and serene. Benefactor, you are clinging to appearances."
Seeing that he showed no fear of her whatsoever, Tianshan Tonglao cast him a slightly surprised glance, then bantered, "You seem quite well-versed in the Dharma. Tell me, have you heard the story of the Buddha cutting his own flesh to feed the eagle?"
Xuzhu replied, "Naturally, this humble monk has heard it. It is one of the classic parables illustrating the Ten Forbearances of Mahayana, embodying the spirit of 'If I do not enter hell, who will?' in order to propagate the Buddhist path of compassion."
Tianshan Tonglao nodded, smiling faintly. "Well, right now this old woman is nearly starving to death. I need fresh blood and raw meat to survive, but I don't wish to take a life. Why don't you slice off a piece of your own flesh for me to eat?"
Xuzhu shook his head slightly. "That will not do. Benefactor Qin taught me that anyone who coerces you into making sacrifices to benefit themselves at your expense is preaching false doctrine. If one heeds them, one will fall into the demonic path."
The smile on Tianshan Tonglao's face stiffened. "Then will you simply watch me starve to death? Where is your compassion as a Buddhist disciple?"
Xuzhu wore a conflicted expression. "Naturally, I cannot bear to see it. Benefactor Qin said that when this happens, I should simply close my eyes so I don't have to look."
Tianshan Tonglao stared at him blankly. "??"
What kind of outrageous solution was that?!
Thoroughly exasperated, she snapped in indignation, "Benefactor Qin this, Benefactor Qin that! You listen to him for everything? Do you not even study your own Buddhist scriptures anymore?!"
Xuzhu spoke with deep reverence. "Scriptures and parables may well have been fabricated by later generations, but Benefactor Qin is a genuine, authentic reincarnation of the Buddha. Naturally, I must heed his words."
Tianshan Tonglao was stunned. "A reincarnation of the Buddha? What nonsense are you spouting now?"
A pious glow came over Xuzhu's face as he recalled, "Benefactor Qin once displayed his divine powers before my very eyes. His body erupted with brilliant golden light, and when he spat a mouthful of water onto a blank sheet of paper, the sacred dharma-body of the Buddha manifested upon it at once! Afterward, this humble monk studied the holy portrait carefully and realized that Benefactor Qin must be the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha!"
Isn't that just a common street swindler's trick?!
Staring at the little monk before her, Tianshan Tonglao was struck dumb. After a long pause, she waved her hand in utter exhaustion. "Take him away, quick. I'm afraid his sheer stupidity might rub off on me..."
Fu Minyi hastily ordered Xuzhu taken away, then asked, "Tonglao, once Qin Zheng finishes dealing with the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands, he will likely come up the mountain to demand his people right away. How should we respond?"
Tianshan Tonglao tapped her fingers against the armrest of her chair. Moments later, an eerie smile spread across her face. "Spread word that Xuzhu was abducted by Li Qiushui and taken to the Western Xia Imperial Palace to serve as her paramour."
Fu Minyi froze for an instant, blurting out, "Diverting disaster eastward?"
Tianshan Tonglao gave a soft hum. "I don't fear Qin Zheng, but if I can stir up trouble for that wretched slut Li Qiushui, I'll gladly do it. Take some people and escort Xuzhu to Western Xia. I will remain here personally to hold the fort, lest Qin Zheng's wild ambition drives him to seize the chance to attack Lingjiu Palace."
Fu Minyi accepted the order and left. A few days later, word reached Qin Zheng's ears.
Upon hearing it, Qin Zheng was left utterly baffled. "This can't be right. Would Li Qiushui really take a fancy to Xuzhu?"
Granny Chen, who was in charge of intelligence, had an expression brimming with gossip. "Chief, this news is guaranteed to be authentic! Someone spotted Xuzhu in Western Xia, surrounded by several beautiful women! Do you think Xuzhu possesses some extraordinary... hidden talent, just like Lao Ai and Xue Huaiyi?"
Qin Zheng fell silent.
It was definitely time to replace the head of intelligence. If this continued, he was genuinely terrified that every scrap of intelligence landing on his desk would turn into erotic jianghu gossip!
Chapter 49