bookbashuk Page 342
Page 342
There was so much explosive news tonight that they're already overwhelmed.
At the same time, they were also wondering about a question.
"Sect Leader Yue, how do you know so much? We know nothing about you."
"Mr. Mo asked."
Yue Buqun smiled calmly and said, "I was the first to contact the Emei Sect. With the Emei Sect's previous warning, and the fact that they had tried to test my Huashan Sect last year at Mount Hua, attempting to sow discord between me and Ning'er, I kept a close eye on things. It wasn't until Zuo Lengchan's dying words and what Abbess Qingzhu said that I realized Shaolin had done so much in secret."
what?
Did Shaolin secretly attack Huashan last year?
The three masters were startled once again.
"Sect Leader Yue, why didn't you tell us about this?"
Tianmen Daoist exclaimed in surprise.
Yue Buqun smiled and said, "Shaolin did things very discreetly, leaving no evidence. If it weren't for my heartfelt conversation with Ning'er, they probably would have succeeded."
The group looked at Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning's expression remained normal.
The expressions on their faces were somewhat complicated.
Judging from what Yue Buqun said, Jiang Ning's status in Mount Hua is extraordinary; even Jiang Ning knows about this.
"Sect Leader Yue, there is still one thing I do not understand."
Master Dingxian frowned repeatedly, but still managed to ask a question.
Yue Buqun nodded. "Please speak, Master."
"According to Headmaster Yue, the Songshan Sect was supported by Shaolin. Then why did Master Fangzheng oppose Zuo Lengchan's attempt to annex our four sects? If what you say is true, then it would be more beneficial for Shaolin if the Songshan Sect merged the Five Mountains Sword Sects."
Yue Buqun was about to answer Dingxian's question when Master Mo spoke first.
"Has the nun ever heard of raising a tiger to cause trouble?"
Master Mo let out a cold laugh, but this cold laugh was not directed at Abbess Dingxian, but at the dead Zuo Lengchan.
"Although Shaolin supported the Songshan Sect, it also fattened the Songshan Sect up, making it unwilling to obey Shaolin's orders anymore. Zuo Lengchan is even more ambitious. He wants to annex the Five Mountains Sword Sects to make himself stronger. He may even want to turn against Shaolin and then devour the Wudang, Kunlun, Emei and other sects, and then dominate the martial arts world."
Mr. Mo saw things very clearly. Although he didn't like to meddle in things, he had a very clear understanding of human nature, and he had come to believe what Yue Buqun said.
Whether it's Shaolin or Songshan, what they're all pursuing is power.
Chapter 457: Secret Meeting
Master Dingxian remained silent, and finally could only chant a Buddhist prayer.
"Amitabha."
The atmosphere in the room was somewhat somber at that moment.
Seeing the somber expressions on everyone's faces, Yue Buqun pursed his lips.
He hadn't yet revealed that Chongxu of the Wudang Sect had also been involved in sowing discord between them, and he estimated that if he did, the three sects would be even more desperate.
Silence reigned in the side hall tonight, broken only by the angry voice of the Heavenly Gate Taoist.
"Shaolin, as the leader of the righteous path, has committed such a despicable act of harming fellow righteous disciples!"
Tianmen Daoist glared angrily at Yue Buqun. "Sect Leader Yue, Shaolin has caused such deep harm to your Huashan and Emei sects, and now they're going to target you and your disciples. Why don't we expose Shaolin's conspiracy to the world and let everyone see their true colors? My Taishan Sect will definitely support you!"
Yue Buqun was both amused and exasperated.
Brother Tianmen is still quite innocent.
"I appreciate your kindness, but I do not intend to make these matters public."
Tianmen Daoist was taken aback. "Why?"
"Because it's useless."
It was Mr. Mo who spoke.
Master Mo glanced at him. “Whether what was said tonight is true or false, even if it is true, without evidence, the world will not believe it, and they will all support Shaolin.”
Mr. Mo was indeed a rare intelligent person. He saw through many things very clearly, which made Yue Buqun look at him with a sidelong glance.
Upon hearing Mr. Mo's words, Daoist Tianmen's expression grew even angrier, but he fell silent. After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said...
"Are we just going to let Shaolin continue like this?"
"At worst, we'll fight Shaolin."
Ning Zhongze stood up, her face full of anger. "If we, the five sects, were to join forces against Shaolin, we might not be without a chance of victory. Even if we lose, we'd have the face to meet our ancestors in the afterlife!"
Ever since learning that the Huashan Sect had declined because of Shaolin, Ning Zhongze had been on the verge of exploding. Now, hearing Tianmen Daoist's words, she couldn't help but speak up.
Tianmen Daoist was eager to respond when Yue Buqun stopped him.
"No!"
Yue Buqun immediately intervened and then comforted Ning Zhongze, saying, "Sit down first, don't be impulsive."
Ning Zhong then sat down angrily.
"Everyone."
Yue Buqun looked at everyone and said, “I am not saying this to incite you to war against Shaolin, but to remind you not to let Shaolin take advantage of your weaknesses and to avoid repeating the mistakes of my Huashan and Emei sects.”
"Master Yue!"
Tianmen Daoist angrily said, "If Shaolin is really as you say, then if we don't expose their true colors, who knows how many more righteous disciples will fall victim to their evil deeds? Shaolin claims to be righteous, but how are their actions any different from Zuo Lengchan's? Now that we know, if we don't stop them, wouldn't we be violating our chivalry? Are you also going to put aside your Huashan Sect's grudge against Shaolin?"
"Brother Dao, please sit down first, don't be impulsive."
Mr. Mo offered a word of advice, expressing his helplessness regarding Tianmen Daoist's volatile temper.
Yue Buqun also said, "Brother Dao, it's not that I want to abandon the grudge of my ancestors, but the current situation in the martial arts world is not suitable for breaking ties with Shaolin."
Yue Buqun patiently explained: "Now the Demonic Sect is eyeing us covetously, and Ren Woxing has great ambitions. Most people and sects in the martial arts world will inevitably be drawn into a catastrophe. If we start a war with Shaolin now, what will happen to the Demonic Sect? In that case, we and Shaolin will both be severely injured, and the Demonic Sect will reap the benefits. At that time, the righteous path will be defeated, and the Demonic Sect will run rampant in the world. Wouldn't that cause great suffering to all living beings?"
"Sect Leader Yue is right, fellow Daoist. Please consider the bigger picture."
Mr. Mo also said.
Upon hearing Yue Buqun and Master Mo's words, Tianmen Daoist opened his mouth repeatedly, but finally fell silent.
Yue Buqun looked at everyone and said, “Everyone, no matter what Shaolin is like, now is not the time to break ties with Shaolin. I hope you will not act rashly. The Demonic Sect is watching us closely. The Demonic Sect is our greatest enemy now. Only after eliminating the Demonic Sect can we confront Shaolin.”
Being in the martial world means being caught up in its ways. Knowing that Shaolin was the real culprit behind the decline of the Huashan Sect, Yue Buqun's hatred was stronger than anyone else's. However, he had more to consider, which is why he spoke up to persuade his wife and Tianmen Daoist.
After a while.
"anyway."
Tianmen Daoist spoke, staring intently at Yue Buqun. "The Huashan Sect has done my Taishan Sect a great favor by returning our lost sword techniques and saving my life. Furthermore, Junior Nephew Jiang helped my Taishan Sect quell internal strife. The Taishan Sect will forever remember the great kindness and virtue of the Huashan Sect. No matter what decision you make in the future, Sect Leader Yue, I will absolutely support you."
Upon hearing Tianmen Daoist's words, Yue Buqun solemnly rose and bowed to Tianmen Daoist with a respectful expression. "Brother Daoist trusts me so much, I will certainly not let you down."
The Taoist priest from Tianmen returned the greeting.
Master Mo and Abbess Dingxian exchanged a glance, and it was Master Mo who spoke first: "Sect Leader Yue, my thoughts are similar to yours, fellow Daoist. You have done a great favor for my Hengshan Sect. If the Huashan Sect ever needs anything in the future, the Hengshan Sect will never refuse."
"The same applies to the Hengshan Sect."
Master Dingxian also said.
Master Qingzhu glanced at everyone and said, "No matter what happens in the future, our Emei Sect will stand with all other sects."
"Thank you all for your trust. I am deeply grateful."
Yue Buqun thanked them one by one.
He had basically said everything he wanted to say and had nothing more to add. The next thing to discuss was the name of the new alliance and the rules for electing the alliance leader.
However, everyone had received a lot of exciting news and was distracted. Seeing this, Yue Buqun did not continue, but decided to discuss it another day. The leaders of each sect then left.
Jiang Ning, who had attended the entire meeting, also stood up.
It must be said that this meeting revealed a lot of surprising information, such as the matter concerning Emei.
"Ning'er, come back with your master and your master's wife. I have something to say to you."
Before leaving, Yue Buqun said to Jiang Ning.
"Yes, Master."
Jiangning Road.
After Yue Buqun and Ning Zhongze went to their room, Feng Buping also returned to his own room, but he still looked dazed when he left.
It seems that the content of this meeting had a great impact on him.
"sit down."
Yue Buqun sat down at the table and gestured for Jiang Ning to sit down as well.
After Jiang Ning took his seat, Yue Buqun spoke.
"When you left Dengfeng last time, your master and several factions were still busy seeking justice for those people."
Yue Buqun was referring to returning the gold, silver, and land to the people.
"After several months of efforts by all factions, a considerable amount of silver and land has indeed been returned to the persecuted people, but a considerable amount of silver is still in our hands."
The gold and silver totaled over 400,000 taels, and the land amounted to over 1 million taels. However, after distribution among the various factions, over 200,000 taels of gold and silver remained, and a considerable amount of land was left, worth over 400,000 taels of silver.
The main reason was that many people had died, and no one could inherit the returned family property, so it remained in their hands.
After discussions among the various factions, it was unanimously decided to distribute the land, worth over 400,000 taels, to the poor people, while the 200,000 taels of silver would be divided among the factions.
However, although there was a lot of silver, not much was distributed among the various sects. Except for Shaolin, which did not receive a single coin, each sect received a small amount. Even Wudang received tens of thousands of taels, while Huashan Sect received 20,000 taels.
Yue Buqun planned to use part of the money to help the poor and part to cover the sect's expenses after returning to Mount Hua.
Jiang Ning had no objection to Yue Buqun's decision, but he told Yue Buqun about the gold and silver he had buried when he was suppressing bandits in Shandong.
Yue Buqun was taken aback and asked, "How many?"
Jiang Ning did a rough calculation. "It should be over 800,000 taels."
Yue Buqun gasped.
Chapter 458: Past Events Fade Away with the Wind (17/26)
"so much?"
Yue Buqun was shocked.
They didn't have this many bandits in Shaanxi a couple of years ago; these mountain strongholds in Shaanxi were all incredibly poor.
Jiang Ning then recounted the bandits he had previously suppressed in Jiangnan and the hundreds of thousands of taels of silver he had hidden. Yue Buqun gasped in shock once more upon hearing this.
"Let's talk about the money later."
Yue Buqun had no idea how to allocate the money. The Huashan Sect's current funds were sufficient for expenses and relief for the people, so he planned to leave them untouched for the time being.
Anyway, the silver is buried underground, and we can get it whenever we want; there's no rush.
"Ning'er, you..."
Yue Buqun looked at Jiang Ning with a complicated expression.
The fact that Jiang Ning was able to find so much silver in those mountain strongholds clearly indicates that it wasn't just a simple sweep of one or two strongholds; it was obviously a systematic sweep of them one by one.
But he didn't say anything.
With Jiang Ning's martial arts skills, suppressing bandits would be a piece of cake. What we need to warn them about are their conspiracies, tricks, poisoning, ambush, and other extreme methods.
Yue Buqun discussed some more things with Jiang Ning, mostly about matters within the sect, until it was quite late before Jiang Ning left.
"call."
Yue Buqun breathed a sigh of relief.