The Dramatic Crown Princess Wants to Poison Me!

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Charisma

”Thud!”

Kong Chan fell to the ground.

He ignored his own awkward position, performed a swift kip-up, but distanced himself by several steps from Ming Cheng, pointing at him and exclaiming, ”Blood Flame Dragon Emperor... are you the Blood Flame Dragon Emperor Sword who single-handedly destroyed the number one ranked Golden Lion Manor in Jianghu back in those days?”

Ming Cheng, reluctant to bring up old matters, replied, ”Heroes don’t boast about past glories, it’s all in the past now!”

Kong Chan, however, wasn’t willing to let him downplay it: ”Many said back then that you perished with the Golden Lion Manor. I didn’t think you were still alive. What made you decide to join the Buddhist Sect?”

Ming Cheng raised a single palm in salute: ”Amitabha Buddha, back then I was severely injured, met an old Taoist priest in a green robe with a white beard, who healed me. He advised me against further killing. Filled with resentment, I didn’t listen and fought him for three months until I felt peaceful. My great vengeance fulfilled, I thought, why kill more? So I sought a temple to become a monk. After my master’s death, I inherited the position of Abbott. I have lived aimlessly since then!”

Kong Chan stepped forward, grabbing his sleeve: ”That old Taoist priest in green, did he have only one hand, a scar on his face, and spoke incoherently?”

Ming Cheng patiently asked, ”Does the master know him too?”

Kong Chan laughed heartily, ”That was my master, the old geezer hoarded talents, why didn’t he tell me he found a treasure like you?”

Ming Cheng: ”...”

Ming Xuan cut in, ”Isn’t the master a High Monk of Bodhi Temple? How could he have a Taoist master?”

Kong Chan, forgetting himself in pride, turned his eyes and assumed a solemn posture, saying, ”Indeed, I’m from Bodhi Temple, but before joining the Buddhist Sect, I had a master. Is that so strange?”

While they stood there obliviously, Ming Qing watched with growing anger, sneering coldly, ”No need for your bluff and meaningless acts, today is your doom!”

Now in his thirties, Ming Cheng was over sixty. He hadn’t heard of any Blood Flame Dragon Emperor Sword, much less Golden Lion Manor. How strong could a manor destroyed by one person be? Perhaps just some country folks with no martial arts, a manor that could be brought down with a few punches and kicks.

Xia Wenjin saw Ming Xi summoning people, but Kong Chan didn’t stop him, feeling somewhat helpless at this guy’s unreliability. However, hearing the words Blood Flame Dragon Emperor Sword, she suddenly felt reassured.

Kong Chan completely ignored Ming Qing and asked Ming Xuan again, ”And you? What was your name in Jianghu before?”

Ming Xuan shook his head, ”I had no reputation in Jianghu. I was fond of fighting, met the Abbott, fought for several days, and then was subdued, so we went into monastic life together!”

Someone who could fight the Blood Flame Dragon Emperor Sword for days couldn’t be too weak.

The sound of footsteps was like an army approaching, heading towards the meditation room, the momentum was astonishing.

Ming Qing, eyes as venomous as a snake, didn’t care how formidable these people claimed to be; he was determined to eliminate them today. Including Kong Chan, there were only a dozen of them, could they really overturn the odds against his men?

Listening to the footsteps, Ming Qing spoke haughtily, ”Ming Cheng, Ming Xuan, don’t say we didn’t give you a chance, there’s still time to submit to me now!”

Ming Cheng retorted coldly, ”Over the years, to atone for past killings, I practiced Suffer Zen, keeping away from worldly affairs. Knowing your thirst for power, I left all authority to you, thinking there was no filth in the Buddhist Sect. Didn’t expect you to commit such heinous acts, now you even try to corrupt me, truly despicable!”

Outside, the voice of the eight head monks rang out: ”Chief Master, you summoned us, what’s your command?” followed by a resonant shout from the monks.

Their voices echoed forcefully through the mountain forest.

Ming Qing sneered, ”These are the monk soldiers I recruited and trained; each one can fight ten men. Shian Temple is no longer your domain. You’re seeking your doom, not my fault!”

Ming Cheng’s expression turned serious, ”Since you persist in evil and show no remorse, let’s clean the house, all who follow evil are equally guilty.”

”What grand words!” Ming Qing laughed angrily, raising his voice, ”You really don’t know death, still boasting at this point!”

Groups of monks were already rushing into the room.

Upon entering, seeing both Ming Qing and Ming Cheng there, they seemed a bit confused. Ming Qing pointed at Ming Cheng and Ming Xuan, ”Kill them!”

These people were unlike the previous eighteen monks, making an effort, starting with sticks. This time, they wielded sharp blades. Hearing Ming Qing’s order, without a moment’s hesitation, they rushed towards Ming Cheng and Ming Xuan.

Ming Xuan said, ”Senior Brother, even I must lift the killing ban now!”

Ming Cheng replied, ”Those who persist in evil deserve to die!”

Kong Chan had brought Ming Cheng over as a last resort, hoping any extra help was beneficial. Besides, he was still nominally the Abbott of Shian Temple, it was best for him to handle matters. The evil monks were somewhat intimidated.

However, it turned out the villain was led by Chief Ming Qing and three of the four major factions, making it not just dealing with a few rule-breaking renegades, but almost a significant upheaval in Shian Temple.

Upon realizing who Ming Cheng was, Kong Chan felt reassured.

Now, seeing so many encircle him, instead of advancing, he leaped to Xia Wenjin’s side.

Xia Wenjin looked at his sneaky behavior, amused and annoyed, kicking him on the behind: ”Slacking off, aren’t you helping?”

Kong Chan rolled his eyes, ”Are you out of your mind? Help now?”

As they spoke, monks, wielding various weapons, charged toward Ming Cheng, Ming Xuan, and the ascetic monks they brought.

These monks were all recruited by Ming Qing; even among the initial less than fifty in the temple, most had turned to Ming Qing. After all, one side was suffering through ascetics and fasting, ignoring worldly affairs, while the other enjoyed abundance and reverence from worshippers. Not many could resist such temptation.

Now it appeared to be a dozen versus hundreds.

Kong Chan shouted, ”Hey, you’re just a few, can you manage?”

Ming Cheng’s emaciated face showed a smile, chilling yet distinctly eager: ”Won’t know without trying!”

He looked like a skeleton, daunting at first glance, even usually with a solemn yet benevolent face, his thinness was unnerving, yet now, his smile was full of vitality.

Kong Chan raised his hands encouragingly, ”Go, go!”

He still appeared with white eyebrows and beard, somewhat jarring, but in the charged atmosphere, no one noticed.