A Core Ship From The Start-Chapter 2232 - 1513: I’m Here (Rolling and Gaining Weight, Meow Meow)
Martial Arts Assembly.
Generally speaking, a martial arts assembly is a grand event.
Many renowned sects will come to participate, even the free-spirited Jianghu people will come to witness the grandeur of the martial arts assembly.
Even ordinary people who don’t understand martial arts will mix in to watch the excitement, or sell snacks outside to earn some extra money.
But this time is different.
Many people came to Shaolin to attend the martial arts assembly, but there wasn’t a single sound of commotion. They arrived either on horseback or by carriage at the gates of West Shaolin Temple, then disembarked silently, greeted the guest monks, and walked inside. No excessive pleasantries, no idle chatter.
Solemn, dignified, silent.
The vast Martial Arts Arena of West Shaolin Temple was filled with people, both men and women, young and old. They came from different places, different sects, different gangs, different families.
Their identities also varied—children, partners, parents.
However, their attire was remarkably consistent.
Everyone had a white cloth band tied around their heads, black gauze wrapped around their sleeves, everyone was like this. Whether it’s an elderly person over fifty or a toddler just learning to speak. Their eyes were red, silently standing in the Martial Arts Arena, looking as if they were attending a funeral instead of a martial arts assembly.
Li Xunhuan stood in the crowd, looking dejected.
Five days ago, he was just released from prison—after he sent Long Xiaoyun’s corpse back to the Long Family, he was locked up.
Until five days ago, Long Xiaoyun released him, only asking him one thing.
To avenge his deceased son.
Li Xunhuan didn’t know if he should do it, but he knew he had no choice, especially when he saw Lin Shiyin not far away.
At this moment, the woman who once haunted Li Xunhuan’s soul had become unbelievably haggard, yet she was incredibly strong. She stood silently there, a longsword hanging at her waist, a white cloth band tied to her forehead. She did not cry because her tears had long dried—no mother would not cry upon seeing her son in such a tragic state, but now she couldn’t cry anymore.
Perhaps if she continued to cry, what would flow out would be blood, not tears.
Li Xunhuan couldn’t bear to see her like this; he knew he had no choice.
But... he also wasn’t sure if he had the ability.
Indeed, Little Li’s Flying Knife, not one of them missed its target.
But, what if the opponent was a stubborn stone?
Li Xunhuan looked at the flying knife in his hand, this flying knife was not the usual one he used, not the common kind found everywhere, but the one handed to him by Long Xiaoyun, said to be forged by the foremost swordsmith in the West Martial World, made of Meteorite Iron from Outer Space, able to split hair and cut iron like mud. However, this Meteorite Iron itself is only as big as a finger. Initially, the opponent intended to melt the iron and mix it with other materials to forge a sword, but now, he had crafted it into a flying knife.
Li Xunhuan tested it; it indeed cut iron like mud, even the heaviest iron plate crumbled like tofu before it.
But, could this handle that man?
Li Xunhuan’s mind once again conjured up that immense figure, looking at him, uttering those words, with a mocking gaze.
More and more people arrived.
Those led in by the guest monks consciously joined the crowd, heads lowered, silent, without speaking. Li Xunhuan disliked this environment; he felt this was like a cemetery, everyone standing here mourning, filled with sorrow and death, but lacking what he liked.
He wanted to drink, but naturally, Shaolin Temple had no alcohol. Only those visitors filled with sadness and the monks on both sides of the Martial Arts Arena, hands clasped, eyes closed, silently reciting scriptures.
Was it for the souls of the departed or to encourage themselves?
Li Xunhuan suddenly wanted to laugh, to laugh loudly regardless of anything. But he couldn’t because Lin Shiyin was beside him, even though she held another man’s hand, he couldn’t, he didn’t want to hurt Lin Shiyin again. Perhaps... perhaps this was indeed what he could do.
"Amitabha Buddha......"
The bell rang, the crowd raised their heads, watching Shaolin Master Xinhu slowly step forward, beside him was a person.
A person wearing a yellow robe.
Money Gang Leader—Shangguan Jinhong.
He too had a white cloth band tied around his head—his son had died, he wanted to prove he could intercept and kill that dreadful man, and then what remained was a headless corpse.
No different from others.
Even if it’s Shangguan Jinhong, leader of the number one gang in the West Martial World, Money Gang, his son was just a corpse after death.
Even if it’s the Money Gang...
Li Xunhuan quietly watched them, watched them speak, they were sorrowful, angry, sad, just like everyone else present. They hated that demon because he took away their loved ones. So they wanted to kill him, fighting to the bitter end.
Fighting to the bitter end!
When Shangguan Jinhong shouted these words, everyone present roared in anger, words that shouldn’t be spoken in the Buddhist Sect, yet even the high monk of Shaolin remained silent. Li Xunhuan watched Master Xinhu, the latter with hands clasped, head down and silent. He felt it all was absurd; these people died because they went to kill him. And now, they acted as if they were the ones wronged and treated unfairly.
Why?
Because they couldn’t kill him, but were killed by him instead.
Then, shouldn’t they blame themselves?
If they weren’t so foolish, they wouldn’t have been killed.
Li Xunhuan watched all this, as if he was just a spectator, indifferent, detached, as if it had nothing to do with him.
Now he just wanted to drink.
Sadly, there’s no alcohol here.
"No need to go through all that trouble, I’ve already arrived."
Shangguan Jinhong’s words had not yet fallen when suddenly, a deep voice resounded. Upon hearing it, the once noisy Martial Arts Arena instantly became as deathly silent as a graveyard. Li Xunhuan’s heart skipped a beat, he opened his eyes and turned his head — everyone turned their heads, looking behind them.
It was already dusk.
The setting sun blazed like blood.
A tall figure slowly ascended the steps, his back facing the blood-red sunset. The sunlight shone upon him, enveloping his entire person in dark shadows. As he moved forward, the elongated shadow began to sway, as if a living demon, sinisterly watching everything before it with a smile.
He still wore that peculiar outfit, strange outerwear, bizarre attire. To be honest, Li Xunhuan suddenly realized that when he first met him, he seemed to have completely ignored this point. Back then, his mind could only remember that terrifying face, one that seemed to have the word "hideous" etched upon it. Just by staring at you, it made you feel as if you were going to die.
Or you actually might die.
Duanmu Huai lifted his head. He stood at the entrance of the Martial Arts Arena, alone, yet giving the impression that a thousand troops and horses blocked the entire entrance.
"What’s wrong?"
Looking at the silent crowd before him, Duanmu Huai sneered coldly.
"I’m right here. Come, let’s see how many of you want to kill me?"
"Everyone here wants to kill you!"
A sharp voice called out from the crowd, but Duanmu Huai remained utterly indifferent.
"Then come on, it doesn’t matter if you all attack at once."
He spread his hands, staring at the crowd before him.
"Hurry up, what are you waiting for? Weren’t you all shouting so energetically just now? Why have you become so cowardly now?"
"Amitabha Buddha........."
Master Xinhu recited a Buddha’s name, looking towards Duanmu Huai.
"Patron, cease committing further killings, lay down the butcher’s knife and attain Buddhahood instantly."
Duanmu Huai shrugged his shoulders.
"They want to kill me, so I killed them. I don’t think that counts as a sin. I don’t believe there’s any fool in the world who would just stand there and let others chop them to pieces."
"............."
Master Xinhu remained silent for a moment, then spoke again.
"If the patron is willing to lay down the sword and peacefully practice Buddhism in this temple, chanting sutras for the souls of the dead, then this old monk can assure you a life free of worries."
"I didn’t come here to listen to nonsense."
However, Duanmu Huai was evidently uninterested, coldly interrupting Master Xinhu’s speech.
"You all want to kill me, so I came."
"Then, why has the patron come here?"
"Hmm........"
Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment.
"Actually, I’m just here to seek an answer."
"An answer?"
"That’s right, they say grievances have no end, I’m just very curious now about how long that ’end’ actually is."
Saying this, Duanmu Huai grinned, revealing a sinister smile.
"That’s why I came."
As he spoke, Duanmu Huai looked towards the crowd, spreading his hands.
"So, are you going to make a move or not?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎
".................."
No one spoke.
The crowd looked at him, remaining silent. They clearly had been holding a rally full of imposing momentum, but when he appeared before them, they seemed to realize why everyone who faced this man had died. Because he didn’t resemble a human at all; he was more like a bloodthirsty devil, a terrifying monster. His eyes seemed to emit a killing intent so substantial that it rendered them unable to move. Just seeing his terrifying face, hearing his voice, made one shudder uncontrollably from soul to body.
"Damn it, a bunch of cowards."
After waiting for quite some time, seeing no one step forward, Duanmu Huai was obviously disappointed. He muttered helplessly, then turned around to leave.
At this moment, the crowd stirred.
Just as Duanmu Huai turned and lowered his head, looking at the steps ahead of him, the crowd that had been motionless finally moved!!
Hundreds of Jianghu people leaped up, dressed in black, wielding a myriad of weapons, they lunged toward Duanmu Huai!
Swords, spears, halberds, hidden weapons, poison, sword energy, palm force.
Not hundreds, but thousands!
Duanmu Huai did not turn around, he didn’t even lift his head.
Then, the wave formed by the crowd wholly engulfed him.
