Chapter 407 - 224: Where Do You Think You’re Going?

Chapter 407: Chapter 224: Where Do You Think You’re Going?

The Daoist shook his head.

"Just from this short exchange, I know Brother Xie isn’t one to kill the innocent. Besides, when it comes to the officials of the Great Li, even if you killed two for every one you let go, you’d still feel you missed someone who deserved it. You did well to kill them!"

Xie Yuan’s expression flickered. ’Even as a wanted man for killing officials, I’m not this extreme,’ he thought. He couldn’t help but ask,

"Daoist, you seem to have an issue with the officials of the Great Li?"

The Daoist said coldly,

"My family was killed by a ruthless official. If my master hadn’t been passing by and slain that wicked man, I wouldn’t be alive today!"

Xie Yuan nodded in understanding. ’No wonder he despises the Great Li’s officials so much. But his master is in the same line of work as me... I wonder which name on the wanted list he is?’ He couldn’t help but ask curiously,

"Daoist, may I ask which senior your master is? Since he also kills officials, I imagine his circumstances are similar to my own."

"Pretty much. He spends all his days hiding on a mountain now, afraid to come down."

Xie Yuan sighed.

"When there is injustice, it’s up to people like us to right the wrongs. It’s just a shame it goes against the rules of a lawful society and leaves us in such an awkward position. For your master to dare to punish evil, he must be no ordinary man."

"My master is indeed quite something. He’s ranked second on the Celestial Dragon List, so even the emperor wouldn’t dare to touch him."

"...So it’s the Sect Leader of the Xuanzhen Sect? Never mind, then."

Xie Yuan had been wondering which expert would dare to defy the imperial court. After hearing who it was, he had no further questions.

’If the second-ranked expert on the Celestial Dragon List kills a corrupt official, the emperor would probably have to apologize to him. But when I do it, I become a wanted fugitive hunted by all...’

’It all comes down to not being powerful enough. If you truly have that kind of status, people will defend you no matter what you do.’

Xie Yuan let out a breath, his expression one of surprise as he looked at the Daoist.

’To think this guy is a direct disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect! No wonder that sword strike was so powerful, even the monk struggled against it.’

’Another disciple of a Grandmaster. What a strange day this is turning out to be...’

"So you’re a high disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect! My name is Xie Yuan. May I have the honor of knowing yours, Daoist?"

"Brother Xie, you’re too kind. I am Zhang Junyi of the Xuanzhen Sect. I’ve long heard of Brother Xie’s chivalrous deeds—fighting for justice and protecting the common folk. I’ve always wanted to meet you. To run into you today is truly fate."

Zhang Junyi performed a Daoist salute, his expression alight with excitement.

Just as the two were hitting it off, Huie Jue’s voice cut in from the side.

"Hold on a minute! Benefactor Zhang, the only reason you two could meet today is thanks to this humble monk pulling the strings. We’re both men of faith, so why were you so reckless? You aimed right for my head!"

Huie Jue said with an aggrieved expression.

Zhang Junyi scratched his head and chuckled.

"I figured that if you were truly an eminent monk from Prajna Temple, my sword wouldn’t have been able to harm you. And if you weren’t, I could have pulled back in time."

Huie Jue’s expression was noncommittal. He pointed at Xie Yuan resentfully.

"If you wanted to test someone, why not strike at him? Even if you thought we were con artists, he’s the one who tricked you into coming here! It has nothing to do with me!"

Xie Yuan’s eyes widened at the accusation. Zhang Junyi gathered his thoughts before speaking.

"My gut told me that Monk Huie Jue was probably the mastermind. The moment I heard ’a man of faith does not lie,’ I was reminded of a con artist I encountered before and drew my sword out of instinct..."

When Xie Yuan heard this, he gave Zhang Junyi a thumbs-up and chuckled.

’As expected of the top disciple of the Celestial Dragon List’s second-ranked master! His judgment is truly something else!’

Huie Jue was rendered speechless. He had to chant the Buddha’s name several times to calm himself.

"Now that Benefactor Zhang is here, we can discuss our next move."

Zhang Junyi raised an eyebrow.

"You two were waiting specifically for me? I still don’t actually know why you were looking for me."

Huie Jue didn’t answer, but asked instead,

"And why were you looking for Duke Ning, Benefactor Zhang?"

Zhang Junyi’s face fell.

"On my way down from the mountain, I came across many injustices and stepped in to help quite a few times. But some cases were troublesome even for me and seemed connected to the powerful families around here. When I arrived in Jinling, I tried to seek justice for the victims, but the government officials just gave me the runaround. Since all the local officials are in bed with the powerful families, I figured Duke Ning would be different. That’s why I sought him out. But it turns out that old fool is only focused on his Buddhist prayers and won’t lift a finger to help. He’s completely useless, just warming a seat. The court of the Great Li is filled with people like him. No wonder the dynasty is in decline!"

Xie Yuan shook his head as he listened.

"Monk Huie Jue and I just came from Duke Ning’s Mansion. We’ve found that he’s likely been in league with the powerful families all along."

Zhang Junyi was taken aback for a moment, then snorted.

"Even a Duke of their own making has turned his back on them. No wonder the Great Li is getting worse by the day!"

’What an angry young man...’

Finding this somewhat amusing, Xie Yuan exchanged a look with Huie Jue before turning back to Zhang Junyi.

"Daoist Zhang, Monk Huie Jue and I were looking for you, and it’s also about the powerful families. I once saw them abducting people in Yunzhou." Xie Yuan summarized the situation. "Monk Huie Jue claims they’re doing it to prolong their lives! To need so many people—if that’s not a demonic art, what is?"

Zhang Junyi’s face grew darker and darker as he listened. He suddenly slapped his thigh, whipped out his Peach Wood Sword, and looked ready to charge.

"Damn it, how can such things be happening? I’m going to the Yao family to demand an explanation right now! If this is true, then I will slay some monsters and banish this evil today!"

Xie Yuan quickly stopped the hot-headed young man.

"Hold on, hold on! The powerful families have been around for a thousand years, you can’t underestimate them. We need to think this through. We have a plan. Uh... Monk Huie Jue, what was that plan again?"

’To be honest, Huie Jue had been acting like he had a plan this whole time, but he’d never actually explained it. Xie Yuan had no idea what he had in mind.’

Huie Jue put his palms together, his face a mask of pure innocence.

"Benefactor Xie, what plan? Now that we’re all here, we obviously just go knock on their door!"