328: Chapter 108 Then why didn't he return to secular life?

Watching the Shaolin monks fall one after another, until they formed patches on the ground, Meng Li was somewhat stunned.

Abbot Xuan Ci passing away on the spot was something he could understand.

After all, he was first severely injured by a palm strike, and then he heard Meng Li's heart-piercing words laced with personal attacks; it wasn't entirely impossible for him to die.

But the others didn't need to react like that.

Soon, people outside the Shaolin perimeter also began to fall, tears streaming from their eyes.

Meng Li's eyes narrowed, realizing something was wrong. He quickly walked toward Wang Yuyan and the other women, only to see that they showed no abnormalities, just looking a bit bewildered by the sudden turn of events.

This made his heart relax slightly.

Just then, Mu Wanqing let out a soft cry: "Ling'er, what's wrong with you?"

It turned out that Zhong Ling had also shown abnormal signs, her body losing strength as she slumped down, tears pouring down her face.

Immediately following, Gan Baobao, Duan Yu, and the others were affected in the same way.

Looking across the scene, apart from Meng Li's group, only Qiao Feng, Xiao Yuanshan, Xuan Ji, and Xuan Sheng were in slightly better condition. These individuals possessed profound cultivation; sensing the danger, they immediately sat cross-legged and circulated their internal energy to suppress the affliction.

At the same time, Qiao Feng shouted a warning: "Someone poisoned us!"

Hearing this, Meng Li swayed slightly and stumbled into the embrace of Wang Yuyan, who was closest to him.

"Husband!" Wang Yuyan exclaimed, but before she could say anything more, she saw Meng Li blink his eyes.

She instantly understood, followed suit, and collapsed against A Zhu, meeting her gaze before blinking back.

A Zhu immediately grasped the situation and, following the example, fell toward A Bi.

A Zi, noticing the problem nearby, rolled her eyes and leaned forward, falling into Meng Li's arms.

A Bi, having received the hint from A Zhu, passed the signal successively to Zhu Jian, Mei Jian, and Mu Wanqing.

Before long, Meng Li and the bevy of beauties were all collapsed in a heap.

This scene left Qiao Feng, Xiao Yuanshan, Xuan Ji, and Xuan Sheng momentarily stunned.

What was going on?

Meng Li had severely injured Abbot Xuan Ci with a single palm strike earlier; his power was clearly superior to theirs. Now, facing this strange poison of unknown origin, they could all hold on for a short while, yet Meng Li had collapsed... Something was wrong, extremely wrong!

Soon, the four reacted, realizing that Meng Li was very likely faking it.

Having realized this, they exchanged glances and then simultaneously pretended they could no longer suppress the poison, falling to the ground.

Not long after the four collapsed, several people dressed as ordinary wandering knights dashed out from the woods near the windward side of the area.

When they saw everyone on the field had fallen, they immediately fired a signal flare.

A moment later, the sound of footsteps, clearly disciplined and trained, approached from a distance.

Soon after, Helian Tieshu, clad in armor and leading hundreds of heavily armed Western Xia soldiers, charged down from the mountain.

Seeing that the plan had succeeded, Helian Tieshu laughed heartily and waved his hand, ordering: "Surround these people and keep watch. Assign a squad to go to the Shaolin Scripture Pavilion to retrieve the Martial Arts Secret Manuals."

"Yes."

Helian Tieshu's deputy acknowledged and proceeded as ordered.

The Shaolin monks, witnessing this, were all furious, but being poisoned and unable to move, they could only rage in helplessness.

The only two who could still move, Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng, ignored suppressing the poison and their pretense. They immediately sprang up and landed at the Shaolin entrance to block the intruders.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

As the two struck out, the nearest few Western Xia soldiers were sent flying consecutively.

"This is a sacred Buddhist site; you must not trespass!"

Xuan Ji shouted sternly, adopting a fierce, Vajra-like glare.

Xuan Sheng placed his palms together and said to Helian Tieshu: "Benefactor, please retreat quickly."

Helian Tieshu showed surprise: "So there are still stragglers."

He then looked toward Jiumozhi, who had already recovered from the poison: "Great Master, please lend a hand."

"Amitabha.", Jiumozhi recited a Buddhist chant softly and leaped forward, attacking Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng.

Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng were suddenly startled and hurriedly joined forces to defend, though they inwardly lamented their situation. Under normal circumstances, two against one, they would not fear Jiumozhi and would even be confident of winning, but they were currently poisoned and could not exert their full strength.

Not to mention the surrounding Western Xia soldiers were watching menacingly.

After only a few exchanges, Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng fell to a disadvantage, barely managing to fend off Jiumozhi.

Seeing this, Helian Tieshu waved his hand.

His deputy understood and immediately led the troops into the Shaolin compound.

Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng saw this and wanted to intervene, but Jiumozhi seized the opportunity, striking each with a palm, rendering them incapable of fighting.

Qiao Feng, watching from not far away, instinctively wanted to step in to help, but was secretly stopped by Xiao Yuanshan.

Afterward, Xiao Yuanshan whispered an admonition: "Don't be rash. The situation is not yet clear; let's observe."

Qiao Feng thought about it and felt it made sense, so he suppressed his impulse.

After Jiumozhi eliminated the two obstructers, Xuan Ji and Xuan Sheng, he did not stop to wait but instead followed directly, even overtaking the Western Xia soldiers, rushing toward the direction of the Shaolin Scripture Pavilion.

Seeing this, Helian Tieshu frowned but said nothing.

Meng Li, however, curled his lips slightly.

Jiumozhi was probably about to be taught a lesson by the Sweeping Monk.

At this time, Duan Yanqing, Ye Erniang, and Third Elder Yue also recovered after the poison left their systems.

Ye Erniang rushed over to check on Abbot Xuan Ci's condition. Confirming that he had truly passed away, her heart instantly turned to ash. Without another word, she prepared to smash her head against a nearby stone wall.

But just as she made a move, an iron rod struck toward her, knocking her to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Duan Yanqing asked through ventriloquism.

Ye Erniang looked at Abbot Xuan Ci's corpse: "He's dead, I don't want to live either."

"Is it worth it for a man who didn't love you?" Duan Yanqing expressed his lack of understanding.

Ye Erniang said: "No, he loved me, very much."

"Then why didn't he renounce his monastic vows back then?"

Ye Erniang: "..."