Chapter 19: Chengde Hall
Chapter 19: Chengde Hall (Part )
"You are clearly a spy sent by Zuo Lengchan!"
Yang Lianting spoke sternly, as if he had solid evidence.
Zhang Yu originally just wanted to be an invisible person and have a chance to establish a loyal character who avenges his master. However, he didn't expect Yang Lianting to skip Tong Baixiong and start with him. Now he can only jump onto Tong Baixiong's ship, which looks solid but will run aground sooner or later.
His mind raced as he recalled the teachings he had read last night. He immediately knelt down and said:
"My loyalty to the Divine Religion is clear to the sun and the moon, and can be witnessed by heaven and earth!"
"I was able to return to Blackwood Cliff safely this time, all thanks to the blessing of the Holy Master."
"We were chased by the Five Mountains Sword Sects along the way, but we always escaped danger. It was also because of the miracles of the Holy Lord that he guided the lost lambs back to their mother's arms."
Zhang Yu thought of his parents who were still farming in the countryside. His dream of having a son who could become a successful person would never come true. He was the eldest child in the family, and he had a younger brother who was in the third year of junior high school. His grades were very poor, and he was afraid that he would not even be able to get into high school...
Thinking of this, Zhang Yu was suddenly filled with grief. She burst into tears and was obviously moved.
Qi Queqiao glanced sideways and thought to himself, "He is a natural born servant who can apply the master's teachings to such an extent. Brother Zhang has a bright future. As long as he can get through this, he will definitely be a rising star in the sect."
"I remind myself day and night that if I can return to Blackwood Cliff, I must swear allegiance to the leader until death. Even if I die in misfortune, I will never forget the leader's kindness in my grave!"
"Please understand, Chief Steward Yang. I have a grudge against Zuo Lengchan, Yue Buqun, Liu Zhengfeng, and Yu Jizi of the Five Mountains Sword Sect for killing my master. I wish I could eat their flesh and sleep on their skin. How could I risk my life for my enemy and leave my loved ones in despair?"
Yang Lianting sneered, "What a sharp tongue you have. I just said one sentence, but you have so many things to say. You are obviously scheming."
Tong Baixiong nodded slightly. Zhang Yu performed exceptionally well, which was beyond his imagination. Not only did he block all of Yang Lianting's attacks, but he also gave him something to talk about.
"Zhang Yu, you just said that there were four other factions participating in the Battle of Hengshan?"
"That's right. When we reached Damao Ridge in Hengshan, there was a sudden shout of killing. Zuo Lengchan commanded the Five Mountains Sword Sect to charge out. They were numerous and powerful, and had many masters."
"The Yunshui Hall fought desperately for half a day, but was still outnumbered. While inflicting casualties on the enemy, the flag master, incense master, and deputy hall master were all killed by the swords of the masters from the five sects."
Tong Baixiong frowned and said, "That's strange."
Ren Yingying asked, "Elder Tong, what's so strange about this?"
"Saint Aunt, as far as I know, Hengshan is the weakest link among the Five Mountains Sword Sects. The Divine Sect sent out the Cloud Water Hall, and a surprise attack is enough to wipe out that group of nuns!"
Tong Baixiong took two steps forward and stared into Yang Lianting's eyes, his eyes as sharp as arrows.
"But why did Zuo Lengchan set up an ambush in Hengshan ahead of time, causing the entire Yunshuitang army to be annihilated? I can't help but ask, did the Five Mountains Sword Sect also send people to participate in the meeting in Chengde Hall?"
Ren Yingying asked, "Could it be that the news leaked during the operation?"
Tong Baixiong said, "Saint Auntie, you don't know. At that time, the palace decided that this battle would be a surprise attack. It was 300 miles from Pingding Prefecture, and Yunshui Hall only took two days and one night to travel."
"Even if the news leaks out during the march, the Hengshan Sect and Taishan Sect, which are thousands of miles away, cannot arrive before the Divine Sect, and they can also determine the ambush location based on the Yunshuitang's marching plan."
Yang Lianting sneered: "What's your opinion, Elder Tong? You can speak out in front of the leader in the Chengde Hall."
Tong Baixiong looked at Yang Lianting and smiled, "That day, when the matter was discussed in Chengde Hall, besides the leader, only I, Hall Master Wu, and Manager Yang were present."
Yang Lianting asked, "Is there a spy among the three people behind?"
Tong Baixiong said: "There is a spy!"
Yang Lianting asked: "Who is the spy?"
Tong Baixiong sneered and said, "Manager Yang knows it well."
Yang Lianting leaned back on the armchair and said with a smile, "Of course I understand! The spy is Wu Lianjiang, and there may be others. I am questioning them in detail."
Tong Baixiong raised his voice and said, "Manager Yang, you framed the head of the Wu Hall who died in battle, captured his family, and tortured the remaining disciples of the Yunshui Hall. Aren't these things too shameless?"
"This is already very merciful for me to treat the traitors."
"You said that Master Wu is a traitor. What evidence do you have?" Yang Lianting said coldly, "Someone confessed that Wu Lianjiang never recited the Master's Precepts at home, nor did he allow his family members and disciples to recite them. He even used the Master's Precepts to support the table legs. All of the above shows that Wu Lianjiang was not sincere and resentful. He believed that Master Dongfang was of low status and not qualified to take on the important task of the Divine Religion."
Tong Baixiong was speechless for a moment. As far as he knew, Wu Lianjiang did indeed act in this way.
Zhang Yu then cupped his hands and said, "I have something to say."
Yang Lianting angrily shouted, "What kind of place is Chengde Hall? Who are you? Do you have the right to speak here?"
Tong Baixiong looked at Zhang Yu and said, "In the Chengde Hall, in front of the Eastern Sect Leader, Zhang Yu, what do you have to say?"
Zhang Yu said, "Just now, Manager Yang said that Master does not recite the Master's Precepts, nor does he allow his family members and disciples to recite them. This is not true!"
"The master has said many times that if he doesn't read the Master's Treasures for a day, he will have no appetite, his teeth will get stuck when he drinks water, he will sleep restlessly, and he will fall when he walks."
"After reading the Master's Precious Instructions, I felt warm all over, just like taking a magic medicine, and all my illnesses were cured. So he required his disciples to recite the Master's Precious Instructions word for word like him."
Tong Baixiong asked curiously, "You said you can recite the Master's Treasure Instructions word for word?"
Zhang Yu said without hesitation: "Yes."
Ren Yingying continued, "Do you know how many articles and words are there in the 'Master's Treasure Instructions'?"
"Six hundred and sixty-six articles, more than fifty-four thousand words."
Ren Yingying asked in surprise, "Can you really recite it word for word?"
"Reporting to Saint Auntie, I can indeed recite it."
Ren Yingying asked, "What is the third rule of the Master's teachings?"
"The third rule of the Master's Precious Instructions is: Be ruthless to your enemies, and root them out completely, no matter how old or young, male or female, leave any alive."
"The leader's sermon, the 200th?"
"Cultural and Martial Virtues, Benevolent, Righteous and Wise. Article 200 of the Master's Precious Instructions: If you collude with the court's lackeys and covet wealth and glory, your entire family will be wiped out!"
"The 532nd article of the Master's Precious Instructions?"
"Cultural and martial virtues, benevolent, righteous and wise. Article 532 of the Master's Treasure Instructions: If you betray your fellow disciples, leak the sect's secrets, or bring disaster to the three clans, no one will be spared!"
Ren Yingying asked, "Manager Yang, you were in charge of compiling the Treasure Instructions of the Master. Are there any mistakes in the items he recited?"
Yang Lianting sneered but said nothing.
Tong Baixiong felt that bringing Zhang Yu to the Black Wood Cliff was absolutely the right decision. He took two steps into the hall and looked at Yang Lianting.
"Now it's clear!"
"The Sun Moon Divine Cult has treacherous officials!"
"It's not Master Wu Lianjiang of Yunshui Hall."
"It's Yang Lianting, the chief steward of our Sun Moon Sect!"
A voice came from behind the beaded curtain: "Elder Tong, do you have any evidence?"
Tong Baixiong was confident: "Master, the witness is outside the hall. I am afraid that someone will do something desperate, so I sent the masters in the hall to protect me. Please tell them to come in together."
The voice behind the beaded curtain came again: "Tell everyone outside the hall to come in together."
(End of this chapter)