Huo Xiao Di declared, “True! This has nothing to do with me, but it has everything to do with Chang Hong Bi! Even if it were just the Shura Sect targeting you, I might have let it pass—it’s just one faction of the Jianghu underworld. But what about the ‘Great Compassion Palm’ under your left ribs? How do you explain that?
“The supreme martial skill of Shang Qing Temple wouldn’t have made its way onto you by itself, would it?”
Zhan Ri Fei was momentarily stunned.
Huo Xiao Di’s expression darkened further.
“The Shura Sect’s mortal enemy is none other than Shang Qing Temple. Even children know their name, though peculiar, belongs to a sect regarded as a paragon of righteousness in the martial world.”
He continued, “Shang Qing Temple is known for its strict monastic discipline, and their ‘Great Compassion Palm’ has never been taught to outsiders. For over two centuries, they haven’t even accepted secular disciples. The temple is renowned as a chivalrous sect, vanquishing evil and protecting the innocent. Over the years, countless villains have perished under their justice.”
Fixing his eyes on Zhan Ri Fei, Huo Xiao Di pressed on:
“Shang Qing Temple’s reputation is built on fairness and restraint—they never harm the innocent. They only act when the Chivalry Plaque calls upon them. And those targeted by the plaque? Every single one of them is a criminal beyond redemption!”
His voice trembled with anger. “If you hadn’t been marked by the Chivalry Plaque, how else could you have been struck by Shang Qing Temple’s Great Compassion Palm?”
Zhan Ri Fei let out a quiet sigh. “And how did Brother Huo determine that the injury under my left ribs is from the Great Compassion Palm?”
Huo Xiao Di let out a cold laugh. “If it were someone else, you might have fooled them. But you can’t deceive me!
“The Great Compassion Palm may bear the name ‘compassion,’ but its force is deadly, capable of shattering organs invisibly—a violation of Buddhist principles. Its name is meant as a warning to its wielder: to act only with mercy and never harm recklessly. Shang Qing Temple strictly abides by the Chivalry Plaque to avoid harming innocents in morally ambiguous cases.
“This domineering palm technique causes the victim’s blood vessels to boil. Even if they survive, their body is marked with fiery red blemishes. On your back, the closer the marks are to your left ribs, the darker they are. Isn’t this evidence enough that you’ve been struck by the Great Compassion Palm?”
As Huo Xiao Di spoke, his agitation grew, and he finally shouted, “The righteous and the wicked have always been at odds! Now both sides have injured you. Could it be that all your talk of virtue and justice is just a facade, and you’re actually a demon hunted by both light and dark factions? I’ve truly misjudged you!”
In that instant, a memory from his childhood surfaced—a voice once said to him: “In this world, there are smiling Buddhas and smiling tigers.” The memory was accompanied by a familiar sigh.
Without knowing why, Huo Xiao Di’s eyes grew red, and the veins in his hand gripping the Yin Yang An sword stood out prominently.
In his eyes were anger, disappointment, and pain. “You’ve deceived me so thoroughly. To think, in the end, you’re just another contender for Chang Hong Bi. Have I been wrong about you all along?!”
A sharp glint flashed through Zhan Ri Fei’s eyes—briefly tinged with what might have been anger—but it vanished just as quickly. He sighed softly and said, “The scholars of Ling Long Manor truly live up to their reputation. Even if I weren’t guilty, after hearing your argument, it seems impossible for me to prove otherwise.”
He cast a sidelong glance at Huo Xiao Di. “If you’ve already decided I’m a villain beyond redemption, why haven’t you struck yet?”
His deep eyes were as tranquil as a still lake, unfathomable and undisturbed. In their dark reflection, Huo Xiao Di could see his own flushed face—and the eager gleam in the eyes of the boy standing behind him.
—At that moment, Chang Hong Bi’s small eyes shone with uncontainable excitement.
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