The Elixir is for You, The Poison is for Me

#660 - Deputy Sect Leader Miao, please stay

"How does the Abbot plan to ensure fairness?" Han Shi asked, seemingly intrigued.

"It's quite simple. Whoever wishes to vie for the position of leader of the martial world must first submit to my questioning."

"Just questioning?" Han Shi frowned. "What if someone lies?"

"Liars will be punished," Hui Tong said. "Therefore, I hope everyone will answer truthfully."

"Is the Abbot treating us like children?" Luo Cheng Song of the Chang Le Gang said, finding it somewhat laughable.

Even though Xuankong Temple and Yunshui Jingci Pavilion held extraordinary status, and Hui Tong was a renowned divine monk, he still wasn't qualified to punish the leaders of the various sects.

His words felt like a mere scare tactic, but how could those who came to this restaurant tonight be so easily intimidated?

Sure enough, Han Shi was about to agree on the spot when someone beat him to it.

Miao Qianchi, the vice head of the Heavenly Saber Sect, known as the 'Hundred-Victory Divine Saber,' stepped forward and cupped his fist in salute.

"I am well aware of my limitations. In terms of martial arts, many here are superior to me. In terms of reputation, although I have a slight name in the martial world, I am definitely not the most famous among the heroes gathered here tonight."

"But when it comes to acting with integrity and uprightness, this Hundred-Victory Divine Saber fears no one," Miao Qianchi declared, puffing out his chest.

Indeed, this vice head of the Heavenly Saber Sect had always been known for his chivalry in the martial world.

The thing he was most proud of was something that happened before he became famous.

Once, while traveling, he came across a small escort agency that had been wiped out.

The murderers had received information that the escort agency possessed a powerful martial art.

Under the cover of darkness, they infiltrated the agency and tied up the chief escort and his family.

To force him to reveal the martial art, they first killed the chief escort's two daughters, then his elderly mother and two concubines.

When that failed, they killed the chief escort in a fit of rage.

Only a widowed mother and her son were left. Fortunately, Miao Qianchi happened to pass by, drove away the murderers, and saved the mother and son.

He then escorted the mother and son hundreds of miles to their relatives.

During this time, Miao Qianchi never asked about the martial art.

Afterward, the mother and son offered him the martial art in return, but Miao Qianchi refused.

Because of this incident, anyone in the martial world who wanted to entrust their orphans to someone would think of Miao Qianchi, the great hero.

Hui Tong's expression softened slightly upon hearing this. "Then I will begin my questioning. Vice Head Miao, what is the proudest achievement of your life?"

"This isn't a secret," Miao Qianchi smiled. "Everyone in the martial world knows that I saved the orphans of the Lin Escort Agency, escorted them north, and defeated the experts who came to steal the martial arts manual."

Hui Tong waited for a moment, then continued, "Is there anything we don't know about this matter?"

"No… oh, wait, now that you mention it, there is one thing," Miao Qianchi said, seemingly embarrassed.

He hesitated for a long time before saying, "It concerns someone's reputation, and I originally intended to keep it to myself, but since the Abbot has instructed me to conceal nothing, I will tell the truth."

"After I sent Madam Lin and her son to Yu Province, Madam Lin offered to become my concubine to repay my kindness, but I refused."

"As righteous people in the martial world, it is impossible for us to take advantage of others in their time of need."

Miao Qianchi's words were met with cheers, and he smiled slightly.

But the next moment, his face suddenly turned pale, his smile froze, and then he spat out a large mouthful of blood!

Everyone was stunned by this scene. Many people had just been cheering for Miao Qianchi, and the cheers hadn't even completely died down.

But Miao Qianchi suddenly spat blood. Yet, in full view of everyone, no one had injured him.

Could he have suffered a sudden illness?

But Miao Qianchi was already a first-rate expert. Even if he couldn't be immune to all diseases, he shouldn't be susceptible to serious illnesses.

At this moment, everyone's guesses revolved around someone secretly attacking him or Miao Qianchi suddenly suffering from a terrible illness, until Abbot Hui Tong sighed and said, "Vice Head Miao, I warned you, you must tell the truth."

Only then did everyone remember that Abbot Hui Tong had said earlier that if anyone lied, they would be punished.

But no one present could see where this punishment came from. It couldn't be that Abbot Hui Tong's Buddhist Dharma was so profound that he had reached the point where his words became law.

After spitting blood, Miao Qianchi covered his chest with one hand, looking shocked and bewildered.

Before he could say anything, he heard Abbot Hui Tong ask again, "What is the hidden truth?"

Miao Qianchi opened his mouth, and after a long while, he gritted his teeth and said, "There's nothing."

As soon as he finished speaking, he began to cough, coughing seven times in a row, each time with blood spilling from his mouth, and the color of the blood was darker than the first time he spat it out.

"Vice Head Miao, I am not trying to scare you. Please take the questions I ask seriously," Abbot Hui Tong said solemnly. "Otherwise, the next time, it won't be as simple as coughing up blood."

"What… what kind of sorcery is this?!" Miao Qianchi looked at the blood flowing from his fingers, completely stunned, and even started talking incoherently. "You, all of you in this Xuankong Temple are demon monks! I, I won't answer anymore, I want to leave here."

After speaking, Miao Qianchi turned around and walked towards the outside of the restaurant.

"Vice Head Miao, please stay," Abbot Hui Tong called out anxiously. "Don't go any further, come back and continue answering my questions."

Hearing this, Miao Qianchi not only didn't stop, but walked even faster.

He thought, 'Are you crazy? I've already coughed up blood because of your questions, and you still want me to continue answering them? Is this old monk trying to kill me with his questions?!'

However, just as Miao Qianchi was about to reach the door of the restaurant, his body suddenly swayed, and then he coughed even louder.

He coughed so violently this time that he involuntarily bent over, and that wasn't the end of it. Then, he knelt on both knees, clutching his chest tightly.

Miao Qianchi desperately tried to stop coughing, but was choked by the blood constantly pouring out of his mouth. He looked down at the blood on the ground and found that it had completely turned black.

At this moment, Miao Qianchi was completely swallowed by fear. He desperately tried to crawl towards the door.

But after only crawling two steps, not only his mouth, but also his nose, eyes, and ears began to ooze black blood. After about two more breaths, Miao Qianchi collapsed to the ground and stopped moving.