466: Chapter 110 Master of Void Resolving

As soon as Meng Li finished speaking, he sensed someone approaching from a distance.

Zhang Chulan, Feng Baobao, and the others also noticed.

For a moment, everyone turned their gaze in that direction.

Before long, two figures appeared within everyone's line of sight.

However, it wasn't Ma Xianhong, but two monks—one tall and large, the other thin and small.

The large monk had a big body and a small head, appearing to be around thirty years old. He wore gray-blue monastic robes, his expression stern, with thick, prominent eyebrows.

The thin one was an elderly monk with long eyebrows and ears, dressed in bright yellow monastic robes, looking kind and benevolent.

Recognizing the two, Black Pipe exclaimed in surprise, "Why is he here?"

Immediately after, Xu Si walked over with a smile and greeted, "Great Master Jiekong, what brings you here, venerable sir?"

"Amitabha." The old monk in bright yellow robes, Great Master Jiekong, softly chanted the Buddha's name upon hearing this. Then, his gaze swept over the assembled crowd as he spoke slowly, "You are all from the Company, aren't you? Shouldn't you know why I've come?"

Xu Si scratched his head and smiled, "With your years of cultivation in the Dao, can't you see the trickery behind this?"

Great Master Jiekong clasped his hands together and said, "I am aware that there are peculiarities in this matter, which is why I contacted Director Zhao immediately. Although he didn't state it explicitly, I understood—this is a baseless affair. Nevertheless, this old monk remains uneasy, so I came personally to see for myself."

"After all, it concerns the lives and safety of some children."

"This old monk must always be cautious."

Hearing this, a flicker of embarrassment crossed Xu Si's face.

Although Great Master Jiekong's words were tactful, everyone present understood: he was afraid Zhao Fangxu was deceiving him.

This showed that the Company's image truly wasn't great in the eyes of most practitioners.

Seeing this, Zhang Chulan couldn't help but ask quietly, curious, "Who is this old monk?"

"You don't even know him?" Black Pipe sounded somewhat surprised, then replied in a low voice, "He is one of The Ten Elders, Great Master Jiekong. He hails from Shaolin Monastery and later became the abbot of Lingyin Temple. It's said he was once a formidable martial monk, but for some unknown reason, all his abilities were later nullified."

"The one following him is his Disciple, Monk Baowen."

After a short while, Xu Si began leading Great Master Jiekong inside, saying, "Well then, Great Master, if you're still uneasy, let me take you around inside for a look."

Great Master Jiekong chuckled, "Then I'll trouble you."

At that moment, Xu Si sensed that Monk Baowen behind Great Master Jiekong had suddenly become filled with Killing Intent. Puzzled, he turned to Great Master Jiekong and asked, "Great Master, if I'm not mistaken, you came here to mediate, right?"

Great Master Jiekong nodded.

"Then why is this Great Master Baowen so full of Killing Intent? Who is it directed at?" Xu Si asked, then added, "Or have we been disrespectful in some way?"

Hearing this, Monk Baowen snorted lightly, his gaze fixed intently on Xiao Zizai among the crowd.

"Baowen." Seeing this, Great Master Jiekong called out to Monk Baowen.

Monk Baowen withdrew his gaze, gritting his teeth as he said, "Master, I can't help it! Seeing this beast, I just can't control myself."

Hearing this, Xiao Zizai spoke up with a complicated expression, "Master, you're still as robust as ever."

His words seemed to ignite a powder keg.

"Xiao Zizai!" Monk Baowen roared angrily, leaping forward and throwing a punch at Xiao Zizai.

Xiao Zizai showed no fear, raising his hand and extending his palm to meet Monk Baowen's fist.

Instantly, a powerful force erupted. The ground beneath their feet cracked loudly, spiderweb-like fissures appearing before it caved in with a bang, forming a crater. Simultaneously, bursts of Qi energy scattered in all directions, stirring up a strong wind that forced Zhang Chulan, Wang Zhenqiu, and the others standing near Xiao Zizai to instinctively step back.

Seeing this, Monk Baowen roared again, "Xiao Zizai!"

In response, the corner of Xiao Zizai's mouth lifted slightly, forming a faint smile, "Senior Brother, it's been a while."

Just as the two were about to engage further, Great Master Jiekong suddenly plopped down on the ground and began wailing loudly.

Zhang Chulan, Meng Li, and the others were momentarily stunned. Following the sound, they noticed a bump had appeared on Great Master Jiekong's forehead, seemingly caused by a piece of debris flung during the earlier clash between Monk Baowen and Xiao Zizai.

Xiao Zizai and Monk Baowen were startled, both retracting their strength simultaneously and exclaiming in unison, "Master?"

Seeing this, Great Master Jiekong cried and wailed, "Where is justice in this world?!"

"A Disciple hitting his Master!"

"This old monk's life is so bitter!"

Monk Baowen immediately rushed over to help Great Master Jiekong up from the ground, bowing his head as he said, "Master, please be careful getting up. I wasn't paying attention."

Great Master Jiekong sighed mournfully, "Such a difference between accepting Disciples. Look at Zhang Zhiwei's Disciples—counting the late Taoist Priest Liang, he took in ten in total, and they all get along harmoniously. Now look at you bunch of troublemakers..."

Monk Baowen immediately lowered his head in apology, "Master, I was wrong. I won't fight anymore."

Xiao Zizai also turned away guiltily.

Great Master Jiekong said helplessly to Monk Baowen, "I told you to abstain from anger. The way you are now, what difference is there between you and Baojing?"

Monk Baowen hung his head even lower, "Master, I truly know I was wrong."

Xiao Zizai remained silent, motionless as a statue.

Seeing this, Great Master Jiekong said no more and instead suggested, "Let's go, let's go inside and have a look."

Xu Si hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way.

Not long after, the three of them emerged.

Xu Si smiled and said, "So, Great Master, as you can see, I wasn't lying. This is just an abandoned place."

Great Master Jiekong nodded, "That puts my mind at ease. My apologies. The Company surely has its reasons; this old monk was meddling unnecessarily."

Xu Si waved his hand, "It's nothing, nothing at all."

Great Master Jiekong clasped his hands together and said, "Then we shall take our leave. Baowen, let's go."

Monk Baowen performed a Buddhist salute with one hand to the group, "Everyone, pardon the disturbance."

With that, the two turned and left.

As they passed by Xiao Zizai, Great Master Jiekong suddenly asked, "Baojing, have you kept our agreement?"

Xiao Zizai replied respectfully, "Self-defense and vanquishing demons. Beyond that, I have not taken another life to this day."

Great Master Jiekong immediately showed a gratified expression, "Very good. You have kept your word."

But Xiao Zizai sighed, a trace of pain in his voice, "Yet the Heart Demon has never truly subsided."

"Master, I fear that one day, I might still be unable to resist harming the innocent."

Great Master Jiekong said, "As long as you haven't given up on yourself, that is enough."

Then he added as a reminder, "Remember the second-to-last step of our agreement. If one day you are truly defeated by the Heart Demon and intend to kill indiscriminately, then kill me first."

After speaking, Great Master Jiekong and Monk Baowen gradually walked away.

Xiao Zizai bowed his head, clasped his hands together, and replied respectfully, "This Disciple will remember."

Having said that, he turned to face the others.

The onlookers—Zhang Chulan, Wang Zhenqiu, and the others—simultaneously averted their gazes, putting on an expression of "I didn't hear or see anything."

Xiao Zizai paid no mind to their thinly veiled act. Instead, he said to Meng Li, "Dr. Meng, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you in the future."

Meng Li was taken aback, then cleared his throat twice and suggested, "Actually, I think you could also try seeking help from others, like the Old Celestial Master."

Xiao Zizai: "..."