Wen Yuxian's tone was calm, as if she were merely recounting an insignificant trifle.
However, her words sent tidal waves crashing through Qi Dongqiang's heart!
He wasn't an adopted child, but one she had kidnapped?
His master wasn't a devout Buddhist nun, but a wicked human trafficker?
The monkey-taming skills his master had taught him were actually methods to train children into monkeys?
This... this was impossible... impossible!!!
Qi Dongqiang was utterly unable to accept this reality, clutching his head in agony, uttering meaningless syllables.
Seeing Qi Dongqiang's reaction, Wen Yuxian's heart was filled with a myriad of emotions.
"I was aware of your existence all along, but after your master passed away, the disciples I sent out couldn't find any trace of you. Coincidentally, Emei Sect was experiencing some internal issues at that time... I left Emei and didn't pursue this matter further."
"But knowing my junior sister Guanyun, she would never abandon you. So I surmised that your supposed chance encounter with Caiyun might have been junior sister Guanyun deliberately sending Caiyun to find you and monitor your well-being. After all, Emei Sect does not permit males within its ranks. I just didn't expect so many years to pass, and for Caiyun to develop feelings for you."
"If I had known back then that this misunderstanding would take root in your heart and eventually lead to the tragedy of Emei Sect, I would never have left Emei... Amitabha, sin, sin!"
Tears streamed down Wen Yuxian's face as she spoke, her guilt immeasurable.
Qi Dongqiang ceased his struggles and stared blankly in the direction of the Wuliang Hall.
Caiyun... died with her eyes wide open, because of my stubbornness?
She was such a naive and lively girl...
We once picked wild fruits in the mountains together, studied characters together, and let the waves wash over our feet by the stream...
All those memories were frozen before the statue of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in the Wuliang Hall.
Dong—
A heavy bell seemed to ring in Qi Dongqiang's ears, making him dizzy, as if he were falling into an abyss.
I was wrong... It was all my fault.
I thought I was avenging myself, but in reality, I committed heinous acts and killed innocent people.
And... I failed the girl who truly loved me.
In that moment, Qi Dongqiang felt utter despair. He lost control of his facial muscles, which twitched uncontrollably.
He looked at Yan Shouyi, who also seemed to grasp something from his gaze.
Qi Dongqiang wished for death, hoping Yan Shouyi would quickly act and kill him, this wicked wretch, to bring him early release.
Yan Shouyi closed his eyes and exhaled heavily, forcing himself to step away from this tragic tale.
Then, gripping his Zanpakuto, he approached Qi Dongqiang.
"If you ever have the chance to see Caiyun again, apologize to her and atone."
Yan Shouyi said, slowly raising his Zanpakuto.
Qi Dongqiang proactively lowered his head, exposing his neck, and hoarsely said, "Thank you."
Yan Shouyi nodded and applied a little force.
"Caw!"
Just then, a monkey rushed forward, grabbing the blade of the Zanpakuto with its bare hands, preventing Yan Shouyi from killing Qi Dongqiang!
Yan Shouyi looked closely and realized it was the monkey king, Huanhuan.
Huanhuan's expression was no longer ferocious, but pleaded with Yan Shouyi with its eyes, as if begging him not to kill Qi Dongqiang.
Qi Dongqiang regained his senses, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Huanhuan... I deserve to die, let him do it!"
Huanhuan, however, shook its head repeatedly, its eyes filled with reluctance.
Qi Dongqiang seemed to recall something and couldn't help but turn to Yan Shouyi, saying, "When I first planned my revenge, Huanhuan tried to dissuade me. I was the one who was stubborn. It was merely following orders. As for the other monkeys, their intellect is undeveloped, and they understand nothing of this. I beg you, after I am dead, do not exterminate them."
Yan Shouyi remained silent.
In his heart, he had already sentenced these monkeys to death.
They had killed people and were stained with malevolence. Sooner or later, they would become demons and wreak havoc.
Qi Dongqiang gritted his teeth, "Then at least, spare Lele! Lele never participated from the beginning and knew nothing!"
Yan Shouyi remembered. Ever since they ascended Mount Emei, Lele had appeared infrequently. Later, whether it was facing Huang Qingcang or himself, Lele had not shown up.
He hadn't expected Qi Dongqiang and Huanhuan to deliberately protect Lele, keeping it away from these conflicts.
Thus, Yan Shouyi's heart softened. He nodded, "I will spare Lele. As for the others..."
"That's enough..."
Qi Dongqiang lowered his head again.
Huanhuan also realized it couldn't secure Qi Dongqiang's forgiveness.
So it knelt beside Qi Dongqiang and, mimicking his posture, stretched out its head!
"Amitabha..."
Wen Yuxian turned away, unable to watch any further.
"May you have a good rebirth in your next life."
With a swift, silent stroke of his blade, Yan Shouyi ended the lives of both.
Qi Dongqiang and Huanhuan died by the Xi'ang Pool.
After their deaths, wisps of True Dragon Purple Qi emanated from their bodies and drifted towards Yan Shouyi.
This indicated that both had committed grave sins, and Yan Shouyi killing them was acting on behalf of heaven.
The amount of True Dragon Purple Qi was substantial, but Yan Shouyi felt no joy.
The script of this story was never meant to unfold this way.
But... fate plays tricks on men!
Yan Shouyi was silent for a few seconds, then turned around and roared at the monkeys still fighting,
"Your Monkey King is dead!!!"
The monkeys were too engrossed in their fight to notice the deaths of Qi Dongqiang and Huanhuan. At Yan Shouyi's shout, they discovered this fact one after another. Losing their leader, the monkeys stood frozen in confusion.
After all, they were beasts with undeveloped intellect. Without their king, they knew not what to do.
"Brother Yan," Long Feicheng asked, holding the Caiwei Sword, "Are we still killing these monkeys?"
Yan Shouyi remained silent for a moment, then said to everyone, "Any who have been stained with malevolence will not be spared; those who have not shall be released back into the mountains."
Long Feicheng nodded.
Just as the group was about to act, a brown shadow suddenly fell heavily before Zhuge Ji.
Zhuge Ji looked closely and saw it was Lele, the balding brown monkey!
However, Lele's limbs were all broken, its body covered in countless wounds, and the blood trickling from its mouth indicated severe internal injuries!
From Qi Dongqiang's words before his death, everyone knew Lele had not participated in any actions harming Emei.
So, who had done this to it?!
Yan Shouyi turned abruptly and saw the figures of Huang Qingcang and his group slowly emerge from the forest.
"It's a shame Qi Dongqiang died so easily, but no matter what, you've at least taken the bait!"