Chapter 395 - 222: Beating Up the Riddler (2)

Chapter 395: Chapter 222: Beating Up the Riddler (2)

"Heh. Not exactly."

Huie Jue said with a placid smile,

"It’s all but a dream, so why be so attached?"

Xie Yuan had no idea what he was talking about. Then he heard him speak again.

"If you absolutely must know, it’s not out of the question."

A glint appeared in Xie Yuan’s eyes.

"What do you want, Monk Huie Jue?"

"Haven’t I already told you? I’m here to ask for your guidance."

Huie Jue pressed his palms together and said with a cheerful laugh.

Xie Yuan’s brow furrowed once more.

"What is it you wish to ask, Monk Huie Jue?"

"Hehehe, are you playing dumb?"

Huie Jue’s smile widened.

"Master Xie is a Martial Artist. And though I am a monk, I know a little something about fisticuffs, just enough to be considered a Martial Monk. So, you tell me. What sort of guidance could I be seeking from you?"

Seeing that Huie Jue was serious, Xie Yuan gently placed a hand on his sword hilt. He stared at the monk, who looked so pure on the surface but was, in reality, quite malicious.

"I see. But what I don’t understand is, we don’t know each other—at most, we crossed paths once in the West Desert. Why have you come looking for me, Monk Huie Jue? On what grounds are you asking for ’guidance’?"

Huie Jue offered a faint smile.

"That’s exactly why we must fight—because we don’t know each other. As the saying goes, you can’t know a man until you’ve fought him, no?"

’What kind of twisted logic is this?’

’There are so many people in the world you don’t know. Are you supposed to fight them all to get acquainted?’

But Xie Yuan now understood perfectly well that this monk was spouting nonsense. Hardly a word he said could be trusted. So, he simply watched him in silence.

When Xie Yuan didn’t respond, Huie Jue sighed.

"Alright, fine. The truth is, last time we met, I saw that you were practicing the Golden Bell Shield. As everyone knows, the Golden Bell Shield is a Divine Power of our Buddhist tradition. Yet you have a full head of hair. I don’t know where you obtained this Secret Technique. Our Buddha may be merciful and wish to bring salvation to all, but our temples are also Martial Dao Sects. What you’ve done is a transgression, and that is why I have come to request your ’guidance.’"

Upon hearing this, Xie Yuan’s brow twitched. ’So that’s what this is about?’

He asked in a low voice,

"So, Monk Huie Jue, you’re here to... apprehend me?"

"Guidance. I’m merely asking for your guidance. However, if you are unable to ’guide’ me, then I must invite you to return with me to the Precepts Hall to... have some Peng Mountain tea."

Huie Jue said it with an unconcerned smile, but his words were anything but courteous.

Xie Yuan gently caressed the hilt of his sword.

"And what if I defeat you?"

"Then, as for what you wish to know, I will naturally answer everything, holding nothing back."

Huie Jue replied with a faint smile.

At these words, Xie Yuan’s gaze fixed on Huie Jue, his eyes growing deep and profound.

’An heir to Prajna Temple, a disciple of a Grandmaster, a monk who is unpredictable and malicious, yet somehow mysterious...’

’Never mind that defeating him could break the stalemate in Jinling and give me a chance to thrash this man of riddles...’

’Even without those benefits, just meeting an expert of this caliber made my hands itch for a fight.’

The name Prajna Temple had been legendary to him ever since he first set foot on the path of the Martial Dao.

’Huie Jue must have one of the greatest lineages in the world.’

’We are both in the Second Transformation Realm. How does my strength compare to a Martial Artist like him?’

’Since the opportunity has arisen, why not have a battle?’

Xie Yuan’s eyes began to gleam as the will to fight surged within him.

He slowly cast aside all distracting thoughts, forgetting the political situation, his identity, and any potential conspiracies. His clear eyes reflected the image of the pale young monk as his hand slowly tightened its grip on his sword.

The doors of the small street-side temple were half-closed, the faint sound of a wooden fish echoing from within. The alleyway was empty,

with only Xie Yuan and Huie Jue.

A slightly cool breeze blew from the mouth of the alley, gently lifting Xie Yuan’s white robes and Huie Jue’s gray monk’s habit at the same time.

When the hems of their robes fell, Xie Yuan moved.

He suddenly drew his Profound Weapon and roared,

"Monk, take this!"

A low, mournful howl echoed, as if a great wolf were charging through the alley.

The Hundred-Change Profound Weapon instantly transformed into a long saber. For the first time in a long while, Xie Yuan unleashed his Rushing Wolf Saber Skill. The draw and slash were as fast as lightning, aimed straight for Huie Jue’s throat!

Across from him, Huie Jue seemed to not react at all. He paid the incoming saber no mind, slowly raising a fist.

A glint appeared in Xie Yuan’s eye. ’Huie Jue must have seen this Hundred-Change Profound Weapon inside the Slaughter Tower. He should know its power and miraculous nature. So why isn’t he dodging?’

’He isn’t just courting death.’

Sensing the immense weight behind the fist as it was raised, Xie Yuan snorted. Unafraid, he accelerated his saber, slashing directly at Huie Jue’s head!

’So what if you’re confident? Making me back down is impossible!’

Xie Yuan’s saber slashed down fiercely. In an instant, it was before Huie Jue’s neck.

"DONG—"

A heavy boom exploded, like a thousand bells ringing out in unison from a remote mountain temple. The thunderous clang nearly deafened Xie Yuan.

A brilliant golden light erupted before Huie Jue, enveloping his robed figure and solidly blocking Xie Yuan’s saber.

Xie Yuan felt his incredibly sharp Profound Weapon stop dead, unable to advance another inch. It was as if he had struck an ancient, unyielding monolith. He had the sinking feeling that he would never be able to cut through it.

He held his ground against the golden light for only a moment before instantly pivoting to dodge Huie Jue’s Iron Fist—a blow that seemed powerful enough to tame dragons and tigers.

BOOM! The force of the punch hit nothing but air, stirring up a gale in the alley behind Xie Yuan.

Xie Yuan’s expression flickered. He instantly unleashed the Cloud Dragon Step, appearing behind Huie Jue in a flash. His saber, already raised high, came down just as he landed, aimed squarely at the back of the monk’s gleaming head.

"DONG—"

Again, the heavy boom rang out. The golden light remained perfectly still, without so much as a ripple.

Without even turning his head, Huie Jue raised an arm, sending a seemingly ordinary elbow strike straight at Xie Yuan.