Chapter 1272: The Truth

This reprimand was exceedingly stern,Like a ruler falling, a刑 whip lashing,Possessing the force to cleave space itself.

When it first resounded, its origin was unknown;As the sound settled, a monk clad in black robesHad already appeared behind Ku Jue.

Purely judging by appearance, among Ku Jue's generation of fellow disciples,It was Ku Ti, the Head Monk of Guanshiyuan, who seemed the most youthful.Ku Jue had a somewhat sallow, gaunt appearance; Ku Bing was even thinner, like skin and bones, bearing a sickly countenance.The Abbot, Ku Ming, was a stout monk, but his constant worried frownNaturally aged him by seven or eight years.Only Ku Ti could be considered well-featured. Though habitually stern,He could still be called the visage of the 'Ku' generation monks.

In a situation poised to erupt,The timely arrival of Ku Ti, Head Monk of Guanshiyuan,Naturally brought a sigh of relief to Yuan Ye.Yet, Ku Jue himself continued to press forward heedlessly,Without even glancing back.

He merely said to Yuan Ye:"Did you see that bald donkey behind me?He's accustomed to petty thievery, never learned goodness from a young age.If your Pegasus Wilds harbor any treasures, you must keep a close eye on him!"

As he spoke, he reached out and scooped Yuan Ye behind him,Treating him merely as a human missile to hurl towards Ku Ti.

Ku Ti lightly supported Yuan Ye with one hand,While forming the Fearless Mudra with the other,Pressing it down from afar.As the hand seal fell on this side,A giant golden hand appeared out of thin air before Ku Jue on that side.Its palm was held vertically, blocking him, standing like a towering mountain,Its five peaks rising together, its power immense, preventing any further advance.

Ku Jue turned back with a look of displeasure,And said somewhat insolutely:"Old bald donkey Ku Ti, are you playing for real with this Buddha?"

"Who is playing with you?" Ku Ti frowned in annoyance, saying:"Abbot Senior Brother strictly ordered you to return!Our Hanging Temple is a sacred place of Buddhism, possessing its own purity and wonder,Not meddling in these chaotic matters.Why do you still linger here and entangle yourself here?"

"Abbot, Abbot, Abbot!" Ku Jue's brow furrowed into a 'Chuan' character:"I don't need your help, nor have I ever interfered with you.Why must every single one of you meddle with me?"

Ku Ti was almost angered into laughter.Was it not you, Ku Jue, who flaunted the name of the Hanging Temple everywhere?Without the Hanging Temple, could you chase after the Heaven's Favored of Jingguo everywhere?Of course, he could not say these words in front of outsiders.His expression merely grew more serious, becoming as rigid as stone."This time, Ku Bing was originally supposed to come find you.Abbot Senior Brother did not allow him to come. Do you know why?"

"Too lazy to know, and don't want to know. You're rambling, it's annoying me to death!"Ku Jue glared at him, saying:"If you've conveyed your message, hurry and leave. Don't waste this Buddha's time!"

Ku Ti finally could not restrain himself and said angrily:"Not letting Ku Bing come is because he feared he would act against you!Can you, a Senior Brother, not act like a Senior Brother?"

Ku Jue roared back with a louder voice:"Then do you, who are Senior Uncles, act like Senior Uncles?"

Ku Ti's anger was immediately stifled.He paused before reacting:"Jiang Wang has not even entered the gate of our Hanging Temple,He has never called you Master, or called me Senior Uncle.Are we still to manage his birth, old age, sickness, and death?"

Ku Jue's old face fell, suddenly revealing a sorrowful expression:"You don't care about Jing E, nor do you care about Jing Shen.If something were to happen to Jing Li one day, would you also not care?Must you make me, your Senior Brother, solitary and alone, with no one to inherit my mantle,My life's work with no one to sing its praises?"

The Abbot had personally issued a decree, yet failed to recall Ku Jue.Jingguo had already exerted pressure multiple times.Ku Ti had come in a surge of anger, with the momentum of upholding monastic rules.But somehow, after a few twists by Ku Jue,He suddenly felt somewhat in the wrong.

"Jing Li is a direct disciple of our Hanging Temple, naturally not the same as others."Ku Ti said seriously:"Do not be unreasonable and argue with me here!Let me ask you, are you coming with me or not?"

Ku Jue pouted:"I'm not."

"Then don't blame me." Ku Ti began to roll up his sleeves.

"Heh!" Ku Jue's eyes widened:"Is this Buddha afraid of you?"

Ku Ti took out a string of prayer beads from his sleeve,Bearing intricate Buddhist carvings.Each bead was micro-carved with an image of an Arhat,With varying expressions, lifelike,Totaling one hundred and eight beads.

Ku Jue immediately loosened his fists, putting them behind his back,And said with his neck stiff:"Hit me then, just kill me!Let the world see how the Hanging Temple brethren kill each other!"

Veins pulsed on Ku Ti's bald forehead:"Zhao Xuanyang you want to chase, the Pegasus High Plains you want to trespass.How many troubles will you cause before you stop?The Hanging Temple is a pure land of Buddhism, not your Ku Jue's refuge!"

"What troubles, what troubles! That is the disciple I recognize!Can I not care about him?!"

Only then did Ku Ti discover,He knew not when, but this old yellow-faced fellowHad actually turned red around the eyes.

The Arhat prayer beads he held,Ultimately, he could not let them go.He sighed and said:"It's impossible for them to hide in the Pegasus Wilds.Both Jingguo and Jingguo are watching this place."

Ku Jue argued forcefully:"Precisely because those old Daoists from Jingguo are watching here,It is possible that that young Daoist has been let in!"

Ku Ti turned to look at the young priest of the Heavenly God,Who had been neglected for half a day:"This benefactor, this old monk perhaps should not ask this, but...Have Zhao Xuanyang and Jiang Wang entered the Pegasus Wilds?This answer is very important. Benefactor, please think carefully before answering."

Although being threatened, Yuan Ye inexplicably breathed a sigh of relief.This was the style of strong individuals speaking that he was familiar with!Even threats were very subtle!Unlike that old yellow-faced monk, whose train of thought was completely impossible to follow!

"I swear by my faith in the Heavenly God," Yuan Ye said earnestly:"I have been guarding here these past few days,And have not seen Zhao Xuanyang or Jiang Wang."

Ku Ti looked back at Ku Jue:"Are you satisfied?"

Ku Jue still grumbled unconvinced:"Why didn't you say so earlier!"

Yuan Ye was exasperated. Did you even ask me?!You old bald donkey who bullies the weak and is rude and unreasonable!Fortunately, Ku Ti, the Head Monk of Guanshiyuan, possessed the demeanor of a strong person.He proactively bowed with clasped palms towards him:"Today's matter... has truly disturbed the benefactor.The Hanging Temple expresses its deep apologies.Afterward, we will send a Buddhist gift to your door, as a small token of our sincerity."

"It's nothing. Master, you are too polite." Yuan Ye also replied with a proper attitude:"It's good that the misunderstanding has been cleared up."

Ku Ti then looked back at Ku Jue again:"You have also searched for many days.The pressures that should be borne and those that should not,The Hanging Temple has borne them all.Now there is no trace on the Pegasus Wilds.Can you return with me now?"

Ku Jue chuckled:"Let me look for a few more days."

"Senior Brother." Ku Ti lowered his brows and said:"If someone else were to come find you, it would not be like this."

How many years had passed since he last heard that address of Senior Brother?Whether it was Ku Bing or Ku Ti...It had been a long time since they had called him that.

Ku Jue was silent for a long while.He pointed his fingers and lightly sliced across his left sleeve.Half of the robe sleeve floated down,Revealing his thin, wrinkled old left arm—"From today onwards, Ku Jue leaves the Hanging Temple.All my actions are unrelated to the Hanging Temple.This vow, Heaven and Earth can bear witness!"

Rumble!

True man, true words, the thunderous sound of Heaven and Earth.