White-Robed Chief
chapter-157

Chu Li smiled and said, "The longer you're in the Triad Underworld, the smaller your courage becomes. However, I think Senior Zhao Zilai is an exception. You still have guts."

"Compared to young Chu Li's courage, mine is still small!" Zhao Zilai laughed.

Chu Li shook his head and said, "Being in the Public House while planning to kill a rank three Scribe of the Public House—this kind of courage is extraordinary... could it be that Senior Zhao Zilai is certain that the Public House won't retaliate?"

Zhao Zilai's facial expression changed slightly for a moment but he resumed smiling immediately. "What you said was interesting."

He was surprised. He received the news last night. How did this surnamed Chu know?

The symbol on the letter was different from the symbol that he previously saw in the Public House. Only three people in this world knew about it: Lu Yurong's master, Lu Yurong, and Zhao Zilai himself. This was because the symbol belonged to Lu Yurong's master and not Lu Yurong.

Chu Li smiled and said no more.

The two had different thoughts in their minds. They walked slowly and eventually arrived at the Sky Inn.

"Let's go in and eat something. We should eat until we're full." Zhao Zilai chuckled. "What do you think, young Chu Li?"

Chu Li understood the hidden meaning within Zhao Zilai's words. Zhao Zilai was telling him in a roundabout way that he wanted to send him to heaven and he should enjoy his last meal.

He smiled. "That's true. No matter what, we should eat until we're satisfied."

"Great minds think alike! Come, let's go up!" Zhao Zilai chuckled.

The two went up to Sky Inn and ordered a few small dishes: white steamed buns, sugar steamed buns, and four porridges.

Zhao Zilai took a sugar steamed bun. He slowly took a bite and then drank a mouthful of tasty vegetable soup with a look full of enjoyment and satisfaction. He said with a smile on his face, "Young Chu Li, you're from Autumn Temple, right?"

Chu Li frowned and his heart sank for a moment, but he quickly revealed a smile. "Yes, I grew up in Autumn Temple. Senior Zhao Zilai's descendants are all talented, four of your sons are Innate Masters and your eldest son is a Grandmaster. You have successors—congratulations."

The sugar steamed bun in Zhao Zilai's hand was pinched flat. He laughed dryly. "Young Chu Li, you're so powerful at such a young age. Could it be that all the monks in Autumn Temple have such high cultivation levels too?"

Chu Li smiled and said, "Autumn Temple's disciples don't practice martial arts. They can't be compared to Senior Zhao Zilai's talented grandchildren. Two Innate Masters, that's really rare!"

Chu Li had got that information from Zhao Zilai's mind and was right to use it to threaten Zhao Zilai.

Zhao Zilai shook his head and sighed. "My descendants are incompetent and it's all my fault."

Chu Li said, "Senior Zhao Zilai entered the imperial house, so naturally you weren't able to teach them personally. However, since Senior Zhao Zilai is here, people in the martial arts world have little scruples. Therefore, Senior Zhao Zilai should be careful, if something were to happen to you, who would protect them?"

Zhao Zilai narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled. "They don't need my protection. My sons and grandchildren have their own lives to live. I shouldn't meddle too much."

Chu Li smiled and said, "That's also true. Who can protect somebody so successfully? As a member of the martial arts world, who wouldn't have enemies? With just the slightest bit of carelessness, one's whole family could be exterminated, leaving no successor at all."

The killing intent in Zhao Zilai's heart intensified and his smile brightened. "Yes, Autumn Temple is much better. Not practicing martial arts means there aren't that many things to worry about. However, why do people practice martial arts in this world if it increases their worries? That's because they fear being killed without being able to resist."

Chu Li laughed and shook his head. "How can a person who practices Buddhism not transcend life and death? The pain of life and death is far less than the pain in the Saha World [1]."

Zhao Zilai laughed. "If that was the case, wouldn't all Buddhist not want to live?"

"Born carrying the unfulfilled wish from your past life, fulfilling your wish while living in this world, passing away when your time is over and finally going beyond reincarnation—this is what you call a true Buddhist," Chu Li said while smiling. "It seems like Senior Zhao Zilai doesn't understand the main principle of Buddhism. If Senior Zhao Zilai has free time, you can stay in Autumn Temple to diminish your obsession. People change, you must let things go when you have to!"

Zhao Zilai's smile froze. He said coldly, "Let it go?"

Chu Li smiled and said, "Senior Fu Yuying isn't an ordinary woman. It's a pity that you missed the chance to be with her. But since you're not destined to be with her, why're you still holding on to it?"

Zhao Zilai said coldly, "Young Chu Li, you're still young. How could you understand what love is?"

Chu Li shook his head, "You'll be hurt the most when you're deeply in love. Senior Fu Yuying has no more feelings towards Senior Zhao Zilai. Forcing it'll only make you guys into enemies, so why bother?"

The sugar steamed bun in Zhao Zilai's hand had been pinched into the shape of a pellet and the blue veins in his hand showed faintly. He sneered. "You'd better shut up!"

Chu Li smiled. He lowered his head and drank a mouthful of porridge, displaying a satisfied and enjoyable expression.

Zhao Zilai took in a deep breath and suppressed his raging killing intent. This damned brat, I'll kill him later!

They ate their breakfast in silence. Zhao Zilai said, "There's nothing to do in town. I'd like to take a look at the scenery outside the town."

"Sure," Chu Li said while smiling. "The scenery outside the town is quite a sight to behold. There are lots of green mountains and blue water. It's a great place!"

They came to the top of a mountain outside the town.

Zhao Zilai stepped on a boulder and overlooked the lush mountains, like a green curtain that spread across the land. He said with untold feelings, "Green hills and blue water, this is a good resting place for the dead."

Chu Li stood on another boulder just two feet away from him. He smiled and said, "Indeed, a good resting place for one's remains."

Zhao Zilai turned around and looked down at him. "Young Chu Li, let's stop playing games. You know what I want to do."

Chu Li nodded.

Zhao Zilai smiled. "Very well, let's have a friendly challenge. I know that your levitation is excellent, but surely you won't sit by and watch me go to Autumn Temple, right?"

He had inquired about Chu Li's background and knew that his light-body technique was extraordinary. By using Autumn Temple to threaten him, he could make sure that Chu Li would not escape.

Chu Li sighed. "Senior Zhao Zilai, you don't have to get involved in this matter. Senior Fu Yuying has already abandoned you. You don't have to listen to her disciple's words, do you?"

"You asked for it!" Zhao Zilai roared in anger and threw a punch.

Chu Li did not avoid the punch. A violent gold light flashed. When Zhao Zilai had exerted his strength to the maximum he could not change the direction of his attack anymore. A cold glint shot from Chu Li's hand.

"Bang!" Zhao Zilai flew backward in a straight line.

Zhao Zilai's punch was extremely tough. It was like being hit by a boulder that rolled down from the mountaintop.

Chu Li faked a few steps in the air. By circulating the exceptional nullifying heart technique, he nullified most of the force from the attack, but he still slammed heavily against the cliff.

Zhao Zilai had just displayed his first attack and had not mustered up his strength for another. He could only watch as a knife shot towards him like it came from outer space, it could not be dodged. He tried to squirm away desperately, but the flying blade was too fast and he barely managed to avoid it from piercing his heart.

"Chi!" the flying blade pierced through his chest and shot out from his back into the cliff, exposing only half of the blade.

Zhao Zilai roared in anger and threw a punch again but found that he could no longer muster up his strength.

It was as if all of his strength spewed out from the wound and his remaining strength was not enough for another punch. He hurriedly used his finger to hit his acupuncture point to seal the flowing blood.

He took out a jade bottle and was going to take a pill.

Chu Li flung his hand and a ray of cold glint shot towards Zhao Zilai.

Zhao Zilai wanted to avoid it but he did not have the strength to do so, he could only watch as the blade pierced through his chest again and blood gushed out like spring water. Once again, his body's strength left him.

Chu Li found out that the power of his flying blade had increased tremendously. Although it was partly due to Zhao Zilai's carelessness as he was standing too close to him, letting the flying blade hurt him. Zhao Zilai would have been able to dodge Chu Li's attack if it was his flying blade in the past.

He flew down from the cliff and came before Zhao Zilai. "Senior Zhao Zilai, pardon me!"

He slowly extended his right index finger towards Zhao Zilai and activated the Tempest Temple's Spear Finger Strike heart technique that he learnt from Fa Yuan.

Zhao Zilai wanted to dodge it but his whole body had no strength. Seeing Chu Li's index finger coming closer and closer towards him, he sneered. "Young Chu Li, you dare to kill me?"

Chu Li smiled. "Why not?"

"If you kill me, the imperial house won't spare your life." Zhao Zilai stared at him fearlessly. "Even your Public House won't be spared!"

Chu Li shook his head. "Then we'll see!"

He pressed his finger against Zhao Zilai's heart and the force of the Spear Finger Strike instantly shot out, shattering Zhao Zi Lai's heart. His life ended instantly.

Chu Li pulled out the Modesty Sword from his waist and swept across, separating Zhao Zilai's head from his body.

Translator Notes

[1] Saha World is a world full of suffering in Buddhism. It is also known as the world of endurance. The Saha World indicates a world in which people must endure suffering. It is also defined as an impure land, a land defiled by earthly desires and illusion, in contrast with a pure land. (Taken from https://www.nichirenlibrary.org/en/dic/Content/S/9)