Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils: The Successor of Bodhidharma

Page 38

Qiao Feng threw the bowl to the ground, letting out a long, mournful yet heroic laugh, as he prepared to bid his final farewell—

On the high platform, Abbot Xuanci of Shaolin Temple, his face, usually as calm as an ancient well, finally rippled with barely suppressed emotion. He gazed at the solitary figure in the arena, his white eyebrows trembling violently, his fingers, gripping the prayer beads, turning white at the knuckles from excessive force. The sound of shattering wine bowls seemed not to fall on the ground, but to strike his heart, upon that bloody past sealed away for thirty years. His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, to stop this tragedy destined to flow like a river of blood, to say something to the child whose fate he had personally altered… But all those words ultimately amounted to a barely audible sigh, and a deeper, heavier closing of his eyes. Behind him, Xuanku trembled with heartache!

Around the square, the crowd reacted in various ways. Some, like the Duan family of Dali, sighed inwardly at Qiao Feng's tragic end; others, stirred by Murong Fu's incitement, felt their blood boil and their killing intent intensify! The entire Shaoshi Mountain seemed to be tightly wrapped by an invisible net, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Just as this suffocating silence and the palpable tension reached their peak—

A clear and melodious cry, yet carrying an undeniable majesty, pierced through the crowd from the direction of the Shaolin Temple gate, reaching the ears of everyone in the square!

"How can one drink such a severing ties of friendship alone?"

The sound grew closer and closer at an astonishing speed!

"Chief Qiao, would you mind—having a bowl of wine with Qiao Tian as well?!"

The voice arrives, and the person arrives!

At the mountain gate, the crowd seemed to be separated by an invisible force. A figure in black, like a roc spreading its wings or a meteor streaking across the sky, swept over the heads of the crowd, carrying a powerful aura that could suppress the entire scene and turn the tide. He crashed down in the center of the square, landing right next to Qiao Feng!

The newcomer was dressed in a dark Taoist robe, with a tall and straight figure like a pine tree, a handsome face, and eyes as deep as the starry sky. Who else could it be but Qiao Tian?!

He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze calmly sweeping over the thousands of martial arts heroes in the arena, each wielding a knife and sword, exuding murderous intent. A slight, domineering smile slowly curved his lips.

Immediately, he turned slightly to face Shaolin, cupped his hands in greeting, and spoke in a clear and resonant voice, carrying a power that seemed to establish an absolute dynasty, echoing through the heavens:

"Wudang Sect, Qiao Tian—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, as if fixed on the silent and majestic force outside the mountain gate. His voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder:

"—Leading 508 disciples of Wudang, we pay homage to the mountain!!"

The words “paying homage to the mountain” echoed like rolling thunder on the summit of Shaoshi Mountain, instantly suppressing all the noise and killing intent!

Chapter 119 If anyone in the world wants to harm my brother, they'll first have to ask me, Qiao Tian, ​​if I agree.

Qiao Tian's words "paying homage to the mountain" were like a ladle of ice water poured into a boiling oil pan, instantly silencing the noisy square!

All eyes turned toward the Shaolin Temple gate with suspicion and uncertainty.

At the mountain gate, the crowd was like a tide parted by a sharp blade, and a dark torrent silently and swiftly surged into the square!

The three at the front, with their extraordinary bearing, instantly attracted everyone's attention:

Huang Shang wore a black Taoist robe symbolizing the Wudang Sect Leader, and a hibiscus crown. His face was thin and frail, but his eyes were calm and serene. His steps were unhurried, as if he were strolling in his own courtyard rather than stepping into a battlefield fraught with danger. He did not exude a fierce aura, but rather possessed a dignified and composed demeanor befitting the leader of a sect, which commanded respect.

Jinzha remained as arrogant as ever, a wild grass he'd plucked from who-knows-where dangling from his lips. He casually slung the Azure Frost Sword over his shoulder, his eyes sweeping over the assembled heroes with undisguised provocation and eager fighting spirit.

Yao Yao held the ancient zither "Nine Heavens Jade Pendant" in her arms. Her beautiful and otherworldly face was icy cold. She looked straight ahead, as if the thousands of heroes around her were nothing. Only when her gaze swept over her master Qiao Tian would a trace of absolute loyalty and protection flash across her eyes.

Behind these three, 508 inner disciples of Wudang, dressed in uniform black Daoist robes and carrying long swords, filed in! Their steps were steady, their auras refined, and their movements were completely silent, exuding only a chilling, silent yet sharp aura that spread with each step! They quickly formed a battle formation behind Qiao Tian and Qiao Feng, their black robes as dark as ink, their sword tassels fluttering, instantly occupying nearly a third of the plaza, forming a stark contrast to the surrounding martial arts heroes whose attire was disheveled and whose auras were restless!

The sudden intervention of this new force instantly changed the balance of power in the arena, and made the originally one-sided atmosphere of killing intent subtle and tense!

Qiao Tian stood at the front of the formation, his gaze slowly sweeping across the entire scene. He looked at those so-called "heroes" who had just been eager to try and devour Qiao Feng alive, now, under the imposing aura of the Wudang disciples, their faces showing either surprise, fear, or feigned composure. A cold, mocking smile involuntarily curled at the corner of his mouth.

This scene is so familiar.

More than a decade ago, at the founding ceremony of Wudang Mountain, this group of people, led by the Shaolin Beggars' Sect, tried to nip this nascent sect in the bud.

More than a decade has passed, and they still have the same face, still the same... disgusting attitude.

His hands, clasped behind his back, cracked from the suppressed rage, his knuckles turning white. Yet, the expression on his face remained calm, a calmness that chilled the heart.

Then, he slowly turned around, his gaze piercing through the barrier of space, locking firmly on the imposing figure beside him who had just experienced betrayal by his brothers and condemnation from everyone, yet still stood tall and straight.

He spoke again, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching Qiao Feng's ears, carrying an undeniable power:

"Chief Qiao, how can you drink this farewell wine alone?"

"May I—have a bowl with Qiao Tian?"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Feng trembled violently, as if struck by lightning!

He slowly turned his head to look at Qiao Tian. Those tiger-like eyes, which had remained unshaken even when facing a thousand troops, were now filled with unbelievable astonishment, and… a deep, bone-chilling pain, as if the last straw had broken the camel's back!

Even you... even you today, are you going to be like them, unable to tolerate me?

This thought, like the most poisonous ice pick, pierced his already riddled heart! An indescribable sense of despair and sorrow suddenly choked him, almost suffocating him! This iron-willed man felt as if his blood had instantly turned to ice, while an uncontrollable surge of heat rushed to the top of his head, blurring his vision and causing tears to uncontrollably cloud his resolute eyes.

Is there really no place for me, Qiao Feng, in this vast world, this boundless world of martial arts? Even this last bit of warmth, this brother who has protected me since childhood, is now severing ties with me?

He clenched his teeth, his jawline taut like iron, his Adam's apple bobbing violently as he struggled to hold back the tears welling up in his eyes. He stared at Qiao Tian's calm, expressionless face, as if trying to find a different answer within it.

After a long while, he suddenly lowered his head, took a deep breath, and when he raised his head again, all the vulnerability and pain in his eyes had been replaced by a kind of self-destructive, all-consuming determination!

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a sense of exhilarating relief, as if he were cutting off everything!

"Big brother wants a drink!"

"Today! We brothers... let's drink to our hearts' content!"

"Sect Leader Qiao!" Xie Xiaoyu stepped forward anxiously, wanting to say something.

Qiao Tian merely raised his hand to stop him from speaking further, his gaze still fixed on Qiao Feng, but he uttered a shocking statement to Xie Xiaoyu:

"Xiaoyu! Don't forget—Luohan's instructions!"

Xie Xiaoyu was struck dumb, frozen in place, his wide eyes filled with utter shock! He looked at Qiao Tian, ​​then at Qiao Feng, his mind instantly flooded with the "Arhat Transmission of Dharma" encounter from years ago that changed his life, and that sacred mission... So... it was him! It was actually Sect Leader Qiao! The immense shock of information left him speechless for a moment!

"Jinzha," Qiao Tian said calmly.

"Alright, Master!" Jinzha grinned, casually untied two leather wine pouches from his waist, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed them accurately to Qiao Tian and Qiao Feng.

Qiao Tian took the wine pouch and handed it to Qiao Feng.

The two exchanged a glance, said nothing more, and simultaneously uncorked the bag, tilted their heads back, and drank heartily from the opening like whales drinking water!

The clear, fiery liquor spilled from the corners of his mouth, soaking his clothes, but adding to his tragic and untamed spirit!

The crowd held their breath, watching the two brothers drinking in the center of the arena.

A man in a dark robe, his demeanor profound and unfathomable, was like an undercurrent beneath still water.

One man was as majestic as a mountain, his spirit soaring to the clouds, and his movements as powerful as a thunderbolt about to erupt.

They were truly a pair of unparalleled heroes, a rare sight indeed! This scene was deeply etched in the hearts of everyone present.

The wine flask was emptied in an instant!

Qiao Tian suddenly threw the empty wine bag to the ground. Before anyone could react, he stepped forward, stretched out his arms, and, to Qiao Feng's astonishment, tightly and forcefully embraced his younger brother, who was slightly taller than him and as strong as a mountain!

This hug came suddenly, yet it carried immense force!

Qiao Feng froze completely, his mind blank. The familiar scent, faintly sandalwood and sunshine, filled his nostrils, and those strong, powerful arms wrapped tightly around his shoulders, as if forcibly pulling him out of this boundless abyss of coldness and despair!

In an instant, countless complex emotions surged like a flood bursting its banks, shattering the mental defenses he had forcibly built!

The scene of his older brother silently stuffing the only meat bun into his mouth at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain when he was a child...

Every time he practiced his martial arts, his brother's eyes revealed undisguised pride and satisfaction...

And...and over the past decade or so, there has been a seemingly distant yet ever-present care and attention...

So it turns out... it turns out that not everyone in this world has abandoned him.

So... when he was condemned by the world and faced countless swords alone, there was still someone who would disregard everything to come to his side and tell him with such a tight embrace—

You are not alone.

This feeling of being unconditionally and firmly protected behind him... was a thousand times more precious to Qiao Feng at this moment than any elixir or any secret martial arts manual! An indescribable warm current suddenly dispelled the bone-chilling cold, making this iron-willed man's nose tingle and his eyes uncontrollably moisten again.

Just then, Qiao Tian released the embrace, his hands still resting on Qiao Feng's shoulders. His gaze fixed firmly into his younger brother's reddened eyes, he spoke clearly, word by word:

"Brother Feng, don't be afraid."

"today--"

"Brother will take you home!"

After saying that, he turned around abruptly, shielding Qiao Feng behind him, and faced the thousands of heroes from all over the world with different expressions! All the warmth on his face vanished instantly, and his eyes suddenly became sharp as ancient ice. A terrifying aura, vast and powerful enough to suppress the entire scene, erupted like a sleeping dragon awakening!

His gaze, sharp as lightning, swept over Xuan Ci, over Murong Fu, over Quan Guanqing and Kang Min, over every so-called "hero" wielding a weapon and exuding murderous intent. His voice, though not loud, carried the power of thunder from the heavens, resounding clearly and undeniably in everyone's ears and striking their hearts with overwhelming force.

"The whole world wants to harm my brother—"

"First, ask me, Qiao Tian, ​​if I agree!"

The words fell like a thunderclap, and the entire Shaoshishan Square fell into complete silence!

Only that figure in black Taoist robes stood firm like a mountain, unyielding, facing the world alone with his power!

Chapter 120 Bitch

"The whole world wants to harm my brother—"

"First, ask me, Qiao Tian, ​​if I agree!"

Qiao Tian's words were like throwing a piece of ice into a boiling pot of oil, instantly igniting the entire scene!

"Qiao Tian! How dare you!" Master Xuannan, the head of the Bodhidharma Academy, his hair and beard bristling with rage, stepped forward from the crowd, pointed at Qiao Tian, ​​and shouted fiercely, "Does Wudang intend to make an enemy of the entire martial arts world? Does it intend to make an enemy of my Great Song Dynasty? Does it intend to make an enemy of all living beings under heaven?"

"Yes! Does Wudang intend to protect the Khitan barbarians?"

"Qiao Tian! Don't make a mistake!"

The crowd was stirred up again, and countless shouts and curses surged toward the Wudang camp like a tidal wave.

Murong Fu, Quan Guanqing, Kang Min, and the others revealed sinister smiles as if their scheme had succeeded. This was exactly the effect they wanted: to completely isolate Qiao Feng!

"Amitabha!"

A Buddhist chant filled with boundless compassion and pain rang out. Master Xuanku staggered out from the ranks of the Shaolin monks, his face sorrowful, his eyes filled with complex emotions as he looked at Qiao Tian, ​​then at Qiao Feng with heartache.

"Tian'er! You...you are now the leader of a sect, representing all the Daoist sects in the world! You must not make a grave mistake because of a moment of anger! Feng'er...his background is already set in stone, why...why do you have to wade into this mess and put yourself and Wudang in a place of no return!"

He looked at Qiao Feng again, his voice choked with emotion: "Feng'er! Do you really want to see your brother fight against the world for you?!"

Qiao Tian shouted, his voice not only loud but also carrying a coldness and determination to sever the past, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, instantly cutting through the warmth and admonition contained in Xuan Ku's words!

His gaze, like cold stars, pierced Xuan Ku; there was no trace of his former submissiveness in his eyes, only a bone-chilling disappointment and a raging inferno.

"Stop mentioning Taoist leaders and Taoist sects all over the world!"

His voice suddenly rose, like a long-dormant volcano erupting:

"Today, I stand here for only one reason—Qiao Feng's elder brother!"

"What master-disciple relationship, what sect loyalty, can all be cast aside before the lives of brothers!"

He took a sudden step forward, his aura like a tangible gale, stirring up dust from the ground, his voice resolute and unwavering:

“Master Xuanku! I respect your kindness in teaching and guiding me in the past, but today, if anyone dares to harm my brother—”

"I, Qiao Tian, ​​will fight to the death!"

Don't say you weren't warned!

These words were like a thunderclap, or an ice pick piercing to the bone! They completely severed any possibility of Xuan Ku trying to persuade him based on the bond between master and disciple or the greater good of the sect, and also revealed Qiao Tian's ruthless stance to the extreme!

Xuan Ku was stunned by these words, his face turning deathly pale. He staggered back a step, pointing at Qiao Tian, ​​his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word, his eyes filled with disbelief, heartache, and despair. He understood that the disciple who had once silently and steadfastly endured in the back mountains of Shaolin had now, for the sake of family, completely severed ties with him and with Shaolin!

Just as the atmosphere was extremely tense, two figures rushed into the arena from different directions almost simultaneously and stood firmly behind Qiao Feng!

"Brother Qiao! This humble monk... though I am dull-witted, I know how to repay kindness! Just now, Brother Qiao saved my life, preventing me from being ambushed. This kindness is heavier than Mount Tai! This humble monk, Xu Zhu, though weak and frail, is willing to use my meager strength to protect Brother Qiao as he descends the mountain safely! Amitabha!" Xu Zhu clasped his hands together, his tone still carrying a hint of naivety, but his eyes were exceptionally firm. He didn't understand any grand principles; he only knew that Qiao Feng had saved him, and he had to repay the debt of gratitude.

"Chief Qiao! Duan Yu admires you as a great hero and a great man who stands tall between heaven and earth! What Khitan or Han? In my eyes, chivalry far surpasses the difference in bloodline! As a member of Wudang, I, Duan Yu, am willing to stand with Wudang through thick and thin!" Duan Yu also raised his head and puffed out his chest. He already detested such acts of bullying the weak and framing loyal people. Coupled with his admiration for Qiao Feng's spirit, he was even more passionate at this moment.

Qiao Tian looked at Xu Zhu and Duan Yu behind Qiao Feng, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes. He thought to himself, "They are indeed destined to be brothers. This bond cannot be broken even if the whole world is their enemy!"

He regained his composure, and the fierce glint in his eyes intensified once more!

"Hahaha! Good! Good! Good!" Qiao Tian said "good" three times in a row, took a step forward, and his laughter was full of pleasure and determination. "Since you all insist on arguing about right and wrong, then today, I, Qiao Tian, ​​will avenge my brother Feng! I will put your hypocritical faces under the clear sky and let you see them clearly!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly grabbed at the air with both hands!

Dragon-Capturing Technique – Unleashed with overwhelming force!

The target was Quan Guanqing and Kang Min, who were hiding behind the crowd with sinister smiles on their faces!

"Watch out!" Abbot Xuanci was the first to notice, his expression changed drastically, and he cried out in alarm. He moved swiftly, about to step forward and stop them!

"Old monk! I am your opponent!"

Jinzha, who had been poised to strike, let out a clear shout, and the "Azure Frost Sword" on his back was drawn with a clang, transforming into a streak of azure light, shooting towards Xuanci first! The speed of the sword was so fast that it arrived before the opponent!