SEC Chapter 1131: The Solution to Dealing with the 36 Thieves
Chapter 1131: The Solution to Dealing with the 36 Thieves
Deep in the Qinling Mountains, within the Twenty-Four Heavenly Valley.
The thirty-six thieves ate large chunks of meat and drank large bowls of wine, and in the midst of toasting and exchanging drinks, they had long forgotten the profound riddle of "what is a person, what is sincerity" that Wugensheng had previously posed.
For some reason, Wugensheng never brought up the matter again. After everyone had eaten, drunk, and played to their hearts' content, they reluctantly parted ways and embarked on their journeys home.
"I never expected that this trip would bring me more than thirty brothers and sisters who would risk their lives for me! This world of martial arts is truly getting more and more enjoyable!"
On the rugged mountain road back to Sichuan, Xu Xin hummed an unknown tune as he spoke with a smile.
“Indeed, happy times always pass too quickly. I really wish we could have another get-together sometime,” Dong Chang said.
“Didn’t you hear what Brother Dou said? The war is about to take a turn for the better. I think we’ll definitely get together again after the war ends, and we’ll drink to our hearts’ content for three days and three nights!” Xu Xin said.
But then, the magic circles in their hands flickered, and the two men frowned, exchanged a glance, and hurriedly returned to the Tang Clan.
They hurried along and finally arrived within the territory of Tangjiabao.
They had only been inside for a short while, and before they could even go back inside, they saw five people waiting for them ahead.
Leading the group was Elder Hong, the law enforcement elder of the Tang Clan, with Tang Miaoxin and Yang Lie standing beside him.
Seeing the elders greeting them, the two assumed something had happened at Tangjiabao. After all, Japanese planes had been bombing Chongqing for years.
"Elder Hong, the sect leader wants us to rush back immediately. What happened? Where are his family members?" Dong Chang hurriedly stepped forward and asked.
Elder Hong replied calmly, "The sect leader has gone out to meet with the leaders of other sects."
As they spoke, Yang Lie and Tang Miaoxin had already walked up to Xu Xin and Dong Chang.
Yang Lie familiarly put his arm around Xu Xin's shoulder.
Tang Miaoxin smiled and put her arm around Dong Chang's shoulder.
"We don't know the specifics either. The sect leader just ordered us to wait here for you to return," Yang Lie said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Xin and Dong Chang felt a sharp pain in their shoulders.
Then, Tang Miaoxin and Yang Lie reacted as if they had been electrocuted, simultaneously leaping backward and jumping several meters away.
It turned out that the moment the two men embraced Dong Chang and Xu Xin, they inserted a poisoned needle coated with the Tang Clan's secret muscle-softening powder into their shoulder acupoints!
In the blink of an eye, the poison took effect. Xu Xin and Dong Chang's legs went weak, and they collapsed onto the cold ground, unable to lift even a finger.
Seeing that the two had been subdued, Elder Hong slowly spoke: "It was the sect leader who ordered me to capture you two traitors of the Tang Clan."
Moments later, Dong Chang and Xu Xin's hands were bound by specially made ox sinew ropes, and Old Hong used silver needles to seal several major acupoints around their bodies, completely imprisoning the flow of Qi.
Unaware of what was going on, Dong Chang hurriedly asked, "Elder Hong, why are you arresting us? How are we traitors?"
Old Hong looked down at them and asked, "What have you two been doing for the past six months?"
Upon hearing this, Dong Chang and Xu Xin felt a chill run down their spines, realizing something was wrong.
But as the saying goes, "resistance is punished severely, while going home for the New Year is treated leniently; confession is met with leniency, while serving a lifetime in jail," Xu Xin said stubbornly.
"Master Hong, you're wronging an innocent person. My senior brother Dong and I have been in seclusion in the mountains for the past six months in order to challenge Dan Shi."
Xu Xin then immediately asked Dong Chang, "Right, Senior Brother?"
Dong Chang fell silent, his head bowed, and he did not speak.
Seeing that Xu Xin refused to admit it, Elder Hong remained noncommittal and slowly took out a slip of paper: "Did you also manage to cultivate a group of good brothers during your seclusion?"
Then, he slowly read aloud the contents of the note: "Xu Xin, Dong Chang, Zhang Gui, Ding Dali..."
As the names on the slips of paper were read out one by one, Xu Xin and Dong Chang's expressions grew increasingly grim.
When Elder Hong uttered Wugensheng's name, the two felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave.
"Do you want me to read out all the names on this slip of paper?" Old Hong asked again.
Upon hearing this, the two fell into a long silence.
Immediately, Xu Xin shouted, "Injustice! What kind of list is this? Why are my name and Senior Brother Dong's name on it? And what's with Qie Wugensheng? He's Brother Dong's target! Although we haven't succeeded yet, the customers' deposits haven't been withdrawn! How could we possibly be involved with him? This is definitely a frame-up!"
Xu Xin was still trying to argue when Dong Chang, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up: "Forget it, brother, take my advice. If we could hide it, we should, but now that we can't, why bother? Since we've already done it, what's there to be afraid of admitting?"
"So you've finally admitted it, haven't you?" Old Master Hong said calmly. "Take him back and await the sect leader's judgment."
…………
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Meanwhile, dozens of sect leaders were having a meeting.
Among them were the leaders of major sects such as the Tang Clan, Zhang Jingqing of the Celestial Master's Mansion, and Master Chu of the Fire Virtue Sect.
The meeting was held in a spacious council hall. Two rows of rosewood chairs were arranged inside, and dozens of sect leaders sat together, all with grim expressions.
Not long ago, the Japanese pirates launched a large-scale mopping-up operation, and the army suffered a major defeat on the main battlefield. The situation was turbulent, and everyone was burning with anger.
At this time, they heard that some of their disciples had gone to swear brotherhood with the leader of Quanxing Sect, becoming sworn brothers. Everyone was furious.
This is utterly ridiculous! It's a complete disgrace to all the prestigious and righteous sects!
The leaders of various sects held a meeting to discuss how to deal with these unorthodox and unfilial disciples.
Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing frowned and said, "These brats are too young and ignorant. We, as elders, should give them a chance to reform. In my opinion, taking them back and educating them is enough." But someone objected: "Colluding with the Quanxing heretics is no small matter, especially since they've colluded with the Quanxing leader and even absurdly become sworn brothers! This is a blatant betrayal of the righteous path. Isn't the Celestial Master's punishment of taking them back for education a bit too lenient?"
"If a child is not taught properly, it is the father's fault; if the teaching is not strict, it is the teacher's laziness! We, as elders, also bear responsibility for what they have done. If you feel this punishment is too lenient and will not satisfy the public, then whatever severe punishment is available, just hold us, the elders, accountable!"
On the surface, Zhang Jingqing appeared righteous and awe-inspiring, but in his heart he was cursing. Wasn't his own rat supposed to be fighting and training in northwestern Shanxi? How did it end up deep in the Qinling Mountains and even become sworn brothers with that group of demons?
“I think the Celestial Master is right,” said the Wang family head. “Those juniors have little experience in the martial world. They may have been bewitched by the Quanxing Sect leader. I suggest we take them back and interrogate them properly to see what really happened before making a decision.”
The head of the Lü family echoed, "I also think it's best to downplay the issue and let it go. Don't make a big deal out of it. Is it really worth all this trouble over a bunch of juniors? We'd be better off killing a few more Japanese devils."
The Wang and Lü families did not participate in this sworn brotherhood of thirty-six people. If it were according to their previous temperament, they would definitely have fueled the flames and severely punished these thirty-six people.
After all, these thirty-six people are the best of their respective sects. If they are crippled, it would be tantamount to weakening the strength of other sects, which would indirectly strengthen our own sect.
But since the Celestial Master has spoken, and they have a close relationship with the Junior Celestial Master, and their descendants have been guided by the Junior Celestial Master, it is only natural that they should blindly support the Celestial Master at this time.
"I also think there's no need to punish them too harshly!" said the head of the Lu family.
"Absurd! Colluding with demons and conspiring with the leader of the Quanxing Sect—how can you talk about such a serious matter like it's child's play? If everyone were allowed to do this, would there still be a distinction between good and evil in this world? Would there still be any rules and laws?!" Someone raised an objection.
"That's right!" said the head of the Quanzhen Baiyun Temple. "This list not only includes elites from various sects, but even the second-in-command of the Secret Painting Sect! Head of the Secret Painting Sect, don't you have anything to say to everyone? Your second-in-command has gone to be sworn brothers with the leader of the Quanxing Sect. What, is your Secret Painting Sect planning to merge entirely into the Quanxing Sect?!"
No one from the Quanzhen sect participated in this sworn brotherhood ceremony, so he was not biased. He also did not intend to kick someone when they were down; rather, as a cultivator who upholds the principles of righteousness and evil, he genuinely felt that this matter was very serious.
Faced with the questioning, the head of the Secret Painting Sect was so ashamed that he couldn't even lift his head to utter a single word in rebuttal. What could he say?
He never expected that his good brother, his second-in-command, would go and fool around with the leader of the Quanxing Sect. So many disciples of their Secret Painting Sect had been killed by the Quanxing demons, and he, as the sect leader, was sworn enemies with the Quanxing demons. How could his second-in-command...
Just then.
With a "bang," the door was pushed open.
Hu Tu, the leader of the Shuzi Sect, strode in, his young man bound hand and foot with a thick hemp rope.
That young man was none other than Hu Haiwang, one of the Thirty-Six Thieves.
"Kneel down," Hu Tu shouted.
Hu Haiwang immediately knelt before the sect leaders.
The other sect leaders looked at Hu Tu in confusion, wondering what he was up to.
Fellow practitioners!
Hu Tu took a deep breath, surveyed the entire room, and said in a deep voice, "I have failed in my duty to teach my disciples, resulting in this shameless and unfilial disciple who actually went to consort with the leader of the Quanxing Sect! This is a disgrace to my Shuzi Sect!"
"but!"
Hu Tu changed the subject abruptly: "I have made him write a letter of confession to the entire martial arts world, announcing that from now on, he will sever all ties with Wugensheng and have no further connection with him!"
"Next, I will take him back to the mountain gate and make him reflect on his mistakes in seclusion for ten years. During these ten years, he shall not step out of the sect. I ask my fellow practitioners to spare him any further attention for my sake. This matter has nothing to do with him anymore."
Zhang Jingqing was the first to respond, clapping her hands and laughing: "Good, Master Hu, it is commendable to admit one's mistakes and correct them. Your handling of this matter is very appropriate. It both punishes the rebellious disciple and gives him a chance to reform. I have no objection!"
“Master, you are mistaken,” someone said. “Master Hu, aren’t you the one who can’t tolerate any injustice? How come you become so indifferent when it comes to matters of principle like your own disciple? Writing a letter and putting him in solitary confinement is all you’re doing? Isn’t this being strict with others but lenient with yourself?!”
Hu Tu's expression remained unchanged as he calmly stated, "I am a person who can clearly distinguish right from wrong. If it were according to my old temper, let alone making him write a confession or putting him in solitary confinement, I would have killed this wicked disciple with a single blow in front of everyone today to cleanse the sect, and that wouldn't have been excessive!"
"But when I met the Little Celestial Master in the snowy mountains, I did something wrong. The Little Celestial Master did not punish me, but instead gave me some pointers. This made me realize that it is not easy to be a human being in this life, and it is difficult to obtain a human body and master magic."
“In some matters, we elders should give young people a chance to reform themselves, instead of condemning them outright, just like what the young master did back then.”
"Moreover, this wicked disciple has already deeply realized the seriousness of the problem and is willing to write a letter to sever ties with Quanxing. Since he is willing to repent and turn back from his wrong path, why should we be too ruthless?"
Upon hearing this, a highly respected monk said, “What you say is true, but it should also serve as a warning to those who come after. They must know that the price of betraying the righteous path is extremely high. Since Master Hu said that it is difficult to obtain a human body and difficult to cultivate magic, in my opinion, why not compromise and keep their human bodies but abolish their magic?”
"No!"
Zhang Jingqing resolutely refused: "Now is a time of national crisis and turmoil. We should cherish every bit of strength we have. These children are the fruits of the labor of their respective factions, having cultivated diligently for more than ten or even several decades. To destroy all their cultivation in one day would be a waste of their talents, causing pain to their relatives and joy to their enemies."
He paused, then continued, "In my opinion, it would be better to handle it this way: anyone who is willing to write a letter of repentance and publicly declare that they are severing ties with the leader of Quanxing Sect should be educated by everyone. Whether it is confining them to their rooms to reflect on their mistakes, or sending them to kill Japanese pirates to atone for their sins, it is all acceptable."
"But if some people are stubborn and unwilling to write a letter of repentance, determined to collude with Quanxing, then let's abandon their methods and let them live as ordinary people. In that case, they can become sworn brothers with whomever they want. What do you all think?"
"The Celestial Master's suggestion is very fair, and my Wang family agrees!" the Wang family head responded loudly.
“I also think the Celestial Master’s idea is good and reasonable,” said the head of the Lü family.
At this point, someone asked, "Hey you guys, no one from your family is involved in this, why are you so concerned?"
"It's precisely because no one from our family is involved that it appears fair, right?"
The head of the Wang family sneered, "I'm worried that someone might take advantage of this incident to make trouble. They want to escalate a small matter into something unmanageable, which would damage our side's power and allow those Japanese pirates to gain an unfair advantage."
“Patriarch Wang is right! Anyone who tries to escalate things at this critical juncture is up to no good and is trying to sabotage the overall anti-Japanese war effort,” Patriarch Lü echoed.
The overall situation of resisting Japanese pirates was a big deal, and the sect leaders who originally wanted to insist on severe punishment immediately froze, and could no longer insist on it.
"I also think the Celestial Master's suggestion is good."
Zuo Menzhang, who had been silent all along, finally spoke up: "With the nation in crisis, it is indeed not appropriate to escalate the matter. Let's all keep the big issues to ourselves, mind our own business, and focus our energy on dealing with the Japanese pirates."
Celestial Master Zhang Jingqing and the Great Ying Immortal Zuo Ruotong of the Sanyi Sect spoke out at the same time, which can be regarded as putting an end to this matter.
Furthermore, the Thirty-Six Thieves, not wanting to push things too far, all nodded in agreement to the proposed solution.
Afterwards, the sect leaders dispersed, each returning to their respective mountains to sweep the snow in front of their gates. (End of Chapter)