novelraw Chapter 373: Reason or Strength? No, Strength!
Chapter 373: Reason or Strength? No, Strength!
This novel is translated and hosted only on Bcatranslation.
“Silence? Are you the Silence from Harmony Sound Temple?”
Zhu Qing’s brow twitched.
Her rise to fame involved deliberately challenging the Harmony Sound Temple, so she had thoroughly investigated the temple beforehand. Among the disciples bearing the “Silence” title, the ones she feared most were Unworried and Silence himself.
Especially Silence. It was said his sharp tongue rivaled those of worldly vagabonds, earning him the nickname The Foul-Mouthed Bald Monk.
But wasn’t he supposed to be away for training? Why had he chosen this moment to return?
Faced with her question, Silence gave a subtle nod, his composed demeanor completely at odds with the rumors about him.
Zhu Qing wanted to personally test Silence’s abilities, but the several Nascent Soul cultivators eyeing her warily kept her in check. Instead, she nodded to the white-robed woman at her side.
The white-robed woman immediately understood and stepped onto the arena.
“Lu Li from the Heavenly Fire Sect requests instruction from Senior Brother Silence.”Lu Li was as beautiful as a goddess, her voice like a clear mountain spring—so melodious it naturally evoked goodwill in those who saw her.
Long Fei Fei scoffed and whispered to Yu Zhao, “They’re trying to use the honey trap.”
Yu Zhao remained indifferent.
She had seen through Zhu Qing’s strategy in sending Lu Li, but Zhu Qing clearly didn’t understand Silence.
Years ago, during a major cultivation competition, a stunningly beautiful female cultivator named Yao Ji had provoked Silence. She was known for manipulating countless admirers with her beauty. But in the end, Silence’s sharp tongue left her utterly humiliated.
In Silence’s eyes, beauty held no sway.
Amidst the crowd’s gaze, Silence stepped onto the stage at an unhurried pace.
“Amitabha—”
His deep, sonorous voice was like the tolling of a temple bell, filled with inexplicable compassion and serenity, calming hearts without effort.
Lu Li, standing opposite him, felt its impact most acutely. She faltered for a brief moment.
In that fleeting second, a shadow loomed over her head.
Startled back to focus, Lu Li looked up to see a wooden pillar, as thick as an adult’s embrace, descending from the sky.
Her reaction was swift. Forming a hand seal, she shouted, “Heavenly Fire Sect Master, lend me your flames!”
“Heavenly Fire Shield!”
A surge of fire spiritual energy erupted from her body. Flames flared brightly, forming an armor of fire that seemed impenetrable.
Zhu Qing and the Heavenly Fire Sect disciples cheered, their faces filled with confidence. With the Heavenly Fire Shield, Lu Li was invincible.
However, the wooden pillar showed no sign of slowing. Instead, its speed increased, shattering the shield as it struck directly toward Lu Li’s head.
Her pupils shrank as she dodged to the side.
“Bang!”
The pillar struck her left shoulder.
Lu Li groaned, her legs buckling as she fell to her knees.
Before she could react, the pillar descended again, delivering blow after blow.
Despite her fiery shield still burning, it seemed utterly ineffective against the relentless attacks. Instead, it became a laughingstock, the situation almost comical.
The crowd fell silent.
Long Fei Fei swallowed hard, finally managing to say, “Is… is the bald monk always this ferocious?”
She had assumed Silence would rely on reason.
Who could have guessed? He relied on force.
Using a Wooden Fish Mallet as a weapon, he wielded it like a storm, fierce and unstoppable.
Yu Zhao’s expression remained calm. “This is him holding back.”
When she first met Silence, he would have been scolding his opponent while attacking, his mouth never ceasing. At least now, he fought in silence, which could be considered an improvement.
Long Fei Fei forced a dry laugh.
No wonder he earned his nickname.
Zhu Qing’s face turned livid.
She had already prepared for Silence to be formidable, but his strength exceeded her expectations. Even worse, the Heavenly Fire, which had rendered Pu Ran City’s cultivators helpless, seemed useless against him.
With him here, her plans were impossible to carry out!
Murderous intent flashed in her eyes.
“We admit defeat.”
She expected Silence to stop, allowing her to deliver a parting shot or two. Instead, the Wooden Fish Mallet continued to pound relentlessly. Enraged, Zhu Qing shouted, “Stop at once!”
She hurled three spiritual lights at him, each strike meant to injure.
Yu Zhao, Long Fei Fei, and Hua Tu intercepted them simultaneously.
“Boom! Boom! Boom!”
The lights dissipated.
Even Zhu Qing took an involuntary step back.
At last, Silence stopped, shrinking the mallet back to its normal size and slipping it into his sleeve.
“Oh dear, oh dear, what a sin,” he said, feigning shock at the battered Lu Li, her face swollen and bruised. “My apologies.”
Zhu Qing’s face twisted briefly but she restrained herself. Waving her hand, she had Lu Li carried off the stage.
Forcing a strained smile, she said, “As expected of the Harmony Sound Temple, the foremost in Buddhist cultivation. I humbly admit my inferiority. We’ll take our leave now.”
With Silence and his allies present, staying any longer would only invite humiliation. Zhu Qing decided to leave immediately.
But the cultivators of Pu Ran City weren’t having it.
“You think Pu Ran City is a place you can come and go as you please?”
“Yeah, injuring our people and walking away? Dream on!”
“Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!”
Zhu Qing, pragmatic as ever, chose to prioritize retreat over pride. Bowing humbly to apologize, she even offered a generous amount of spirit stones.
Her series of gestures placated the crowd’s anger.
Before leaving, she glanced at Silence on the stage, her gaze unreadable, then led her followers away in haste.
Si Tu Xuan watched them leave coldly. “Letting them go so easily? They got off light.”
“Not necessarily,” Long Fei Fei smirked, tossing a storage pouch embroidered with flame patterns into the air before catching it again.
Hua Tu’s eyes widened. “When did you grab that?”
Long Fei Fei, who had been beside him the entire time, grinned smugly. “If you noticed, how could I still call myself a professional?”
Hua Tu scowled and tightened his grip on his belongings.
He would protect his cherished storybooks with his life!
Silence descended from the stage, his brows furrowing at the flame-embroidered pouch.
The Heavenly Fire Sect’s origins were murky, and Long Fei Fei’s theft could lead to trouble.
She stuck out her tongue at him. “Hey, bald monk, don’t underestimate me! I’ve even dared to cross the Northern Dao Palace. Do you think I’d fear some shady cult? Let them come for me if they dare!”
Seeing her confidence, Silence let it go. In any case, the excited cultivators of Pu Ran City surrounded him, showering him with endless praise.
For the first time, Silence experienced what it was like to be the center of attention in Pu Ran City, and a faint smile graced his lips.
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