"Hero Ding, those bald donkeys from the Shaolin Temple have arrived!"
"Shaolin Temple?"
Ding Ling frowned.
"Indeed."
Deng Bafeng said respectfully:
"On Mount Songh, there are two major sects: the Shaolin Temple and the Mount Songh Sect. The Shaolin Temple is not far from our Mount Songh Sect. Such a significant event has happened here, and itâs already spread far and wide. The Shaolin Temple learning of it and taking action seems quite normal."
"Where are they?"
Ding Ling raised an eyebrow.
"Theyâre waiting outside the main gate of the Mount Songh Sect."
Deng Bafeng was a bit apprehensive:
"They are many and appear to be here to hold us accountable. Iâm worried, worried..."
"Is worrying useful?"
Ding Ling picked up the Drumming Golden Hammer beside him and lifted his leg to walk forward:
"Letâs go and see."
Qu Feiyan, Consort Yhu, and others tied up their belongings and followed closely behind with their things.
Their mounts were being taken care of by the disciples of the Mount Songh Sect at the foot of the mountain.
Although Deng Bafeng was cowardly, he handled these trivial matters methodically and orderly.
At this moment.
Qu Feiyan and her group, carrying their belongings, also had several elite disciples helping to carry their things.
These disciples had been gathered by Deng Bafeng and respected him as the Sect Leader of the Mount Songh Sect, whether they were players or natives.
The players, knowing Deng Bafeng had Ding Lingâs backing, joined in with joy and were quick to acknowledge Deng Bafeng as the Sect Leader.
The natives, having been intimidated by Ding Ling before, easily followed the trend.
Thus, when tasked with handling matters, they were efficient and effective.
Tap-tap!
Ding Ling was at the front, walking slowly, yet in a flash, he had moved ahead of everyone, leaving their shadows far behind.
Qu Feiyanâs group quickly accelerated their pace, using their Lightweight Skill to catch up.
Soon.
Ding Ling arrived at the main gate of the Mount Songh Sect.
He saw a group of monks.
The one at the front had kind eyes and a benevolent face, his palms together, resembling a high monk who had attained enlightenment!
He too seemed to have noticed Ding Ling, and his once cloudy eyes instantly became clear like a shimmering lake, seemingly able to reflect a personâs good and evil:
"Amitabha Buddha, is the one who comes Ding Ling, Hero Ding?"
The voice was loud, echoing in all directions.
"Hero Ding is a title Iâm unworthy of. I am Ding Ling."
Ding Lingâs voice was clear and bright.
Perfectly overshadowing the monkâs voice.
The monkâs face slightly changed, just about to speak again, when he saw that before his voice could fall, Ding Lingâs footsteps sounded like thunder, and swoosh!
The next moment.
Ding Ling seemed to have instantly teleported in front of them like a bolt of lightning.
The speed was so fast that it was indistinguishable to the naked eye, truly astonishing.
The monkâs brow twitched at this sight, his face changing again, this time tightening from a natural state to tension. He looked at Ding Ling with a serious expression, placing his palms together and saying:
"Hero Ding, under a great reputation, there are no empty individuals. Rumors in the Jianghu claim your skills are the best in the world, even Dongfang Bubai is not your match, and now seeing you, it seems there is some truth in that.
Indeed, there is some merit to it.
I am the Abbot of the Shaolin Temple, with the religious name of Fang Zheng. I have met Hero Ding!"
"So itâs Master Fang Zheng."
Ding Ling solemnly greeted, saying:
"I wonder, Master..."
He looked at the dense group of monks behind Fang Zheng: "Coming in such a grand manner, what business do you have with me?"
"The reason for coming here is to invite Hero Ding to visit the Shaolin Temple."
Master Fang Zhengâs face became increasingly tense, his entire body seemingly on high alert, as if facing a great enemy.
"Thereâs no need to go to the Shaolin Temple."
Ding Ling smiled slightly:
"We can just talk here. Once done, we go our separate ways, from then on, it would be best never to have contact again."
Ding Ling did not want to deal with this group from the Shaolin Temple.
Because, from his personal analysis.
This Jianghu world is full of disputes and killings, hard to say if this group from the Shaolin Temple is secretly stirring the pot.
If they are.
Then they are truly detestable.
If not, then why does the Shaolin Temple always benefit from the chaos in The Smiling, Proud Wanderer World?
The reasoning behind this is difficult to determine.
Ding Ling might have considered exploring it further before.
But now, he estimated he was about to break through to another realm.
And no longer had the interest.
"Hero Ding, your words are mistaken."
Master Fang Zheng said solemnly:
"I see from Hero Dingâs visage that you have a connection to our Buddha. If you donât mind, would you accompany me to stay at the Shaolin Temple, devote yourself wholeheartedly to Buddha, and from now on say goodbye to this Jianghu, no longer partake in the bloody, filthy matters? Wouldnât that be good?"
"What kind of nonsense is this bald donkey saying?"
Before Ding Ling could speak.
Qu Feiyan was angered.
She had just arrived here not long ago and heard Fang Zhengâs words, which made her anxious and angry, so she immediately retorted:
"Why donât you say the barbarian raiders and coastal Wokou invading your lands are also connected to your Buddha? My Brother Ding is the worldâs number one, a heroic figure, and at his prime, why should he say goodbye to Jianghu?!
I see you bald donkeys are up to no good.
Envious of my Brother Dingâs prowess, wanting to imprison him, just with a fancier phrasing to make yourselves look noble."
She looked disdainful:
"You are really hypocritical, despicable. Worshipping Buddha every day, calling yourselves Buddhaâs sons and grandsons, if Buddha knew Buddha had you as sons and grandsons, surely heâd be so angry heâd fly over from the West and kill you all!"
"...!!"
Master Fang Zheng was stunned, but quickly, his gentle and benevolent face, out of shame, or anger, or perhaps both, turned beet red, he pointed at Qu Feiyan:
"Good, good, sharp-tongued demoness of the Demon Sect. I recognize you, granddaughter of the Demon Sect Elder Qu Yang. Hero Ding, staying with this little demoness every day, how could you remain unchanged?"
He looked at Ding Ling seriously, saying:
"Hero Ding, black is black, and white is white. The Sun and Moon Divine Sect stands against our righteous sects, yet you mix with them, destroying the Mount Songh Sect.
Committing such heinous, heartless, bloodthirsty acts.
How could the Jianghu Martial Arts community accept you?
If today, you heed my advice, accompany me to reside in the Shaolin Temple, you may avoid this disaster, but if not, there will be no place for you in this Jianghu."
"Showing true colors now, huh?"
Qu Feiyanâs pretty face darkened at the mention of âQu Yangâ from Master Fang Zheng, but soon, thinking about Ding Ling, she suppressed her bitterness, made a face at Master Fang Zheng, then said:
"Should have said this earlier, why go through so much formality to make yourselves seem so righteous, so grand. After all, you are still a bunch of hypocritical, despicable people."
Without waiting for the beet-red-faced Master Fang Zheng to argue, Qu Feiyan said crisply:
"You claim the Mount Songh Sect is righteous, but this matter enrages me! You from the Shaolin Temple, âneighborsâ to the Mount Songh Sect! Donât you know the vile deeds committed by the Mount Songh Sect?!"