322: Chapter 102 Star Picking

The next day, Meng Li, Wang Yuyan, A Bi, and the others headed up to Shaolin Monastery together.

Mu Wanqing had gained a small follower by her side, Zhong Ling.

Yesterday, after Gan Baobao had cornered Duan Zhengchun until he was speechless, she took Zhong Ling and knocked on the door of the courtyard where Meng Li was staying, asking Mu Wanqing to look after her.

Gan Baobao was Mu Wanqing's Junior Martial Uncle, and Zhong Ling was on good terms with Mu Wanqing, so Mu Wanqing did not refuse to look after the latter.

With Mu Wanqing's current Martial Arts, looking after someone like Zhong Ling was a simple task, so Meng Li did not interfere.

In addition, Duan Yu's group followed behind Meng Li and the others.

Meng Li and his group had learned about their situation through Zhong Ling, but it was a bit difficult to understand.

Shouldn't one go to the Apricot Forest Convention to seek medical treatment?

What on earth were they doing running to the Heroes Assembly?

What kind of serious doctor would run to a place that clearly sounded complicated? If nothing else, even Xue Muhua, the most famous among the Jianghu doctors, hadn't come to join the fun.

Despite their confusion, Meng Li and the others didn't dwell on it.

As the group reached a fork in the path halfway up the mountain, they suddenly heard a series of slogans coming from the other path.

“The Great Immortal Zhai Xing, his magical power is boundless!”

“Invincible in every attack, victorious in every battle!”

“The Great Immortal Zhai Xing, his magical power is boundless!”

“His divine abilities are vast, his carriage arrives in the Central Plains!”

“The Great Immortal Zhai Xing, his magical power is boundless!”

“May he enjoy immortal blessings forever, with a lifespan equal to the Heavens!”

Hearing these familiar-sounding slogans, Meng Li was stunned for a moment.

What was going on?

Ding Chunqiu had been killed by him years ago, and now not even a scrap of bone remained.

This Xingxiu...

Great Immortal Zhai Xing?

Ding Chunqiu's eldest Disciple, Zhai Xingzi?

While Meng Li was thinking, the people shouting the slogans had already approached from afar.

He took a look and found that the spectacle was similar to what he remembered of Ding Chunqiu's appearances: a group of riffraff shouting slogans and holding banners that read "Xingxiu Sect." In the middle of the procession, four people carried a lounge chair with a canopy. Lying on the chair was a middle-aged foreign man wearing a cloth hat and a cloak; it was indeed Zhai Xingzi.

From this, it was evident that although Ding Chunqiu was gone, the Xingxiu Sect still existed.

Seeing the Xingxiu Sect's banner, A Zi was immediately struck by dead memories and frowned slightly.

Zhai Xingzi spotted Meng Li's group, and his eyes lingered on Wang Yuyan, Mu Wanqing, and the other women, his gaze lighting up.

Seeing this, A Zi immediately put her hands on her hips and snapped angrily, "What are you looking at? Look any more and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Hearing this, Zhai Xingzi wasn't angry but laughed instead. "You want to gouge out this Great Immortal's eyes? We'll have to see if you, little beauty, have the ability."

“As the saying goes, 'To die beneath a peony flower is to be a romantic ghost.' If you have the ability, little beauty, you're welcome to take this Great Immortal's eyes. But if you don't, then this Great Immortal will have to get a good taste of what a thorny flower like you is like.”

Hearing these words, A Zi was furious. She raised her hand and unleashed the Finger Flickering Technique, aiming directly for Zhai Xingzi's face.

Zhai Xingzi was startled and hastily leaped to avoid it.

As he dodged, the force of the finger flick struck the pole of the canopy, piercing through and snapping it.

The canopy collapsed, and the Xingxiu Sect Disciples responsible for carrying the chair, along with those nearby, hurriedly scattered to avoid it.

Seeing her casual strike miss, A Zi was so angry that she chased after Zhai Xingzi, her fingers flickering repeatedly—a Finger Flickering Gatling!

Zhai Xingzi's Martial Arts were not weak, but they were far inferior to Qiao Feng's. He was unable to withstand the dense barrage of finger force and could only dodge, but after a few moves, he was hit squarely.

Zhai Xingzi hissed in pain, his movements faltering.

In an instant, the piercing finger force fell like rain, opening blood holes all over his body like he was a sieve.

Zhai Xingzi let out a few screams and fell to the ground dead.

Seeing this, the Xingxiu Sect Disciples instantly lost their wits, abandoned their banners, and scattered in a panic.

Duan Yu's group had varying expressions.

Duan Zhengchun, Gan Baobao, Zhong Ling, and the three great guards were seeing A Zi use the Finger Flickering Technique for the first time and were greatly surprised.

Duan Yu had seen A Zi use the Finger Flickering Technique against Qiao Feng in front of Canhe Village, so he wasn't surprised to see her use it now, but...

Looking at Zhai Xingzi's corpse, a trace of pity flashed in Duan Yu's eyes, and he couldn't help but say to A Zi, "A Zi, although that man was offensive, his crime did not warrant death. You could have just given him a slight punishment. Taking his life is a bit excessive."

A Zi was slightly stunned, and once she reacted, she glared fiercely at Duan Yu. "If I did something wrong, my Young Master Master would have stopped and scolded me. I don't need you running your mouth."

“Since Young Master Master didn't stop me, it means I didn't do anything wrong.”

“Right, Young Master Master?”

Meng Li rolled his eyes at her and said crossly, "If you only eliminate evil without dealing with the corpse, what happens if it breeds disease?"

With that, he waved his hand and struck Zhai Xingzi's corpse with a Flame Blade.

A Zi stuck out her tongue and said coquettishly, "I don't know that technique of yours."

“If you can't burn it, dig a hole and bury it. Be careful next time.”

“Okay,” A Zi agreed obediently.

Duan Yu: “...”

He felt like he had been struck by a heavy blow, not only because of A Zi's double standards but also because of his lack of understanding: A Zi took lives at the drop of a hat, yet why did Meng Li maintain a supportive attitude? Even Wang Yuyan and the others, Zhong Ling, Gan Baobao, and even Zhu Danchen and Duan Zhengchun didn't seem to think there was a problem.

Zhu Danchen noticed Duan Yu's expression and explained in a low voice, "Young Master, this Xingxiu Sect is an evil sect from the Western Regions. They are notorious and have committed many atrocities."

“That Zhai Xingzi just now seemed only to be verbally offensive, but in reality, evil intent had already taken root.”

“If it were an ordinary woman or a female warrior with poor Martial Arts, she would likely have had her purity defiled or lost her life trying to protect her honor.”

“Miss A Zi taking his life is an act of eliminating evil.”

Duan Yu then had a sudden realization, but there was still a trace of pity in his heart.

Just then, more people arrived, and it was a large group.

It was the people of the Beggars Sect led by Quan Guanqing, and Jiumozhi.

They spotted Meng Li's group and Duan Yu's group.

Quan Guanqing and Jiumozhi were stunned for a moment.

Immediately, a flash of hatred and wariness appeared in Quan Guanqing's eyes.

Jiumozhi noticed the Xingxiu Sect banners on the ground and Zhai Xingzi's corpse. His eyes flickered with various thoughts before he put on a kind smile and came over to greet them.

“Young Master Murong, Young Master Duan, it has been a long time. I hope you have been well.”

Duan Yu had been captured, tortured, and hunted by Jiumozhi, so he had a bit of a psychological shadow regarding him.

Meeting him now, he involuntarily tensed up, his Six Veins Divine Sword ready to fire.

Seeing that Jiumozhi didn't attack but instead greeted him politely, his heart eased slightly, and for a moment, he didn't know how to respond.

The three great guards, however, were on high alert as if facing a formidable enemy.

Seeing this, Meng Li vaguely guessed the situation. He didn't mind and instead nodded slightly, asking curiously, "Why is the Great Master traveling with the Beggars Sect?"

Jiumozhi smiled and said, "To tell you the truth, this monk felt like an old friend upon meeting Sect Leader Quan. This time, I was invited by him to come and lend my support."

After finishing, he pointed to Zhai Xingzi's corpse. "This is?"

“An evil-doer from the Xingxiu Sect who had ill intentions toward the ladies by my side. He was dealt with casually,” Meng Li replied offhandedly.

Jiumozhi and Quan Guanqing immediately guessed it was Zhai Xingzi and were secretly shocked.

According to the plan, Zhai Xingzi was supposed to challenge Shaolin with them. The reason they traveled separately was to avoid suspicion, but they didn't expect the other party to perish at Meng Li's hands halfway there.

Meng Li didn't know the inside story, but he keenly caught the key point in Jiumozhi's words and couldn't help but ask with interest, "Lend support? Is it possible that the Great Master and the Beggars Sect intend to challenge Shaolin today in front of all the world's heroes?"

“And what if we do?”

...