Chapter 171: Do You Think I’m Beautiful?
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Sect Leader Chong Yang’s face darkened.
If Ji Han Zhou weren’t the son of the Sword Sovereign Jiu Hua, he would surely teach him a lesson. The tournament hadn’t even started, yet he was boosting others’ morale while diminishing their own—an attitude unbefitting a Sword Cultivator.
The other elders exchanged puzzled glances. However, Sword Sovereign Jiu Hua appeared intrigued. “Why do you say that?”
“Disciple encountered a senior sister from the Five Elements Dao Sect during my recent training trip. She’s at the early stage of Golden Core cultivation but can dominate opponents of the same level. She’s unbeatable.”
Ji Han Zhou’s words piqued everyone’s curiosity. Those who had watched him grow knew his personality well. For someone to earn such high praise from him was unusual.
“A female disciple from the Five Elements Dao Sect? Could she be Zhou Jin Yue, the chief disciple of their sect master?”
The Five Elements Dao Sect was brimming with talent, with Zhou Jin Yue and Fang Cheng Lang being the most renowned among their disciples. Naturally, these were the first names the Heavenly Sword Sect elders thought of.
Ji Han Zhou shook his head. “No, this senior sister’s surname is Yu, and her name is Yu Zhao.”
“Yu Zhao?”
The elders frowned slightly, unfamiliar with the name.
Sect Leader Chong Yang pondered for a moment. “Master Qing Yan once had a discarded disciple by that name.”
Ji Han Zhou was startled. “I only know that Senior Sister Yu is an inner disciple of the Five Elements Dao Sect and the most gifted cultivator I’ve ever met. With her presence, the Five Elements Dao Sect will not lose.”
Sect Leader Chong Yang and the other elders dismissed his claim. If Yu Zhao were truly as exceptional as Ji Han Zhou described, why would Master Qing Yan have abandoned her, leaving her as an inner disciple? Ji Han Zhou was likely exaggerating, as this was his first venture far from home.
No one knows a child better than their parent.
However, Sword Sovereign Jiu Hua took his son’s words seriously. If Yu Zhao had impressed Ji Han Zhou so much, she must have extraordinary qualities. Lately, Ji Han Zhou had been exceptionally diligent in his cultivation, likely inspired by her. Sword Sovereign Jiu Hua’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. He couldn’t wait to meet this Senior Sister Yu, whose talent had left such a deep impression on Ji Han Zhou.
…
In Flame Blazing City, Yu Zhao and Silence strolled down the bustling streets. Their unusual pairing—a young woman and a monk in white robes—drew many curious glances. The two remained unbothered by the attention.
“Haha! Look at that—a monk walking openly with a woman in broad daylight. How shameless!”
While most cultivators’ gazes carried curiosity or surprise, this loud comment was filled with malice.
Silence paused, pulled out a Wooden Fish, and lightly tapped it with the Wooden Fish Mallet.
“Thunk.”
He let out a slow breath, a faint smile curving his lips, while silently reciting, Do not get angry. Do not get angry. Anger harms the body, and no one else will bear the consequences.
Yu Zhao followed the sound of the voice and spotted three cultivators on the second floor of a tea house. They were leering at her and Silence with ill intent. Coincidentally, Yu Zhao recognized them.
The only woman among the three, self-proclaimed Yao Ji, was renowned for her beauty and arrogance. She was at the late Golden Core stage and had placed second in the individual competition during the last grand tournament.
The round-faced man seated to her right was Tang Rui, a cultivator of similar strength. Despite his youthful appearance, he was ruthless and responsible for the deaths of half the competitors in the last tournament.
The final figure, Ten Thousand Slayer, was a thin middle-aged man. Though he hadn’t ranked in the top ten of the individual competition, his enigmatic curses had earned him widespread notoriety.
Yu Zhao had expected to see these three during the tournament, not to run into them so soon.
The same mocking voice continued, “Little monk, why aren’t you chanting scriptures in a temple? What are you doing out here with a woman? Aren’t you breaking your vow of celibacy? Buddha will be displeased!”
Tang Rui’s teasing did not provoke a response, so he joked again.
Hearing this, the people around couldn’t help but chuckle, and some even burst out laughing.
“You don’t get it. Monks are people too, and people have needs. Little monk, you’re pretty lucky,” said Ten Thousand Slayer, winking lewdly, which caused another round of laughter.
The veins on Silence’s smooth, shiny forehead twitched furiously.
Thump!
The crisp sound of a wooden fish striking silenced the laughter in the room.
Silence closed his eyes.
Restraint.
He had to exercise restraint.
He had already committed one verbal offense today.
He was a man of the monastic path and would not lower himself to argue with fools.
“Little monk, you’re a man of the cloth. Monks shouldn’t speak recklessly. I’ll ask you a question. If you answer it, I’ll let you all go,” said Yao Ji, gently waving her feather fan. Her voice was as sweet and alluring as honey.
Many cultivators blushed, their faces enraptured by her charm.
Silence opened his clear, desireless eyes and looked at Yao Ji.
She smiled faintly. “My question is…”
Yu Zhao sighed inwardly. The monk’s nickname would soon be impossible to hide.
“…Do you think I’m beautiful?” Yao Ji asked.
As soon as her words fell, many people shouted eagerly:
“Beautiful!”
“The beauty of Yao Ji is unparalleled!”
“Yao Ji, you’re peerless!”
Amid the cacophony of praises, the sound of the wooden fish rang out once again, stark and jarring.
Three beats of the wooden fish announced the return of the “foul-mouthed monk.”
“Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! Always swinging that silly feather fan to show off! Shake it enough to straighten your brain before you talk to this poor monk! Instead of flaunting, why not read more books and work on your inner beauty!”
“And you, sharp-nosed mantis! Don’t think I won’t scold you just because you’re ugly! Those frog-green eyes of yours make you think everyone’s as filthy as you are!”
“And you, little fatty! Stop looking around; I’m talking about you! You look human, but you can’t even talk like one! Forgot to rinse your mouth after eating garbage yesterday, huh? Your breath stinks! Come here and let this monk exorcise you!”
Silence’s verbal barrage was relentless, his fighting prowess unmatched in the art of scolding.
The crowd was left speechless.
This…was a monk?
No, clearly, he was a vulgar ruffian.
“You bald donkey! How dare you insult me? You must be tired of living!” Tang Rui slammed the table and stood up, his plump, round face filled with rage.
Although Yao Ji and Ten Thousand Slayer did not rise, their expressions darkened as they glared at Silence, as though wishing to flay him alive with their stares.
Having vented his anger, Silence felt completely at ease. Remembering his identity, he sighed, clasped his hands together, and bowed to everyone.
“This poor monk has sinned again with words. I feel remorse. My apologies, my apologies.”
Everyone’s eyelids twitched wildly.
If only he could put down the wooden fish mallet, as thick as an arm, in his hands, those words might sound marginally more believable.
Yu Zhao, having only heard tales of Silence’s legendary exploits, was now witnessing his verbal sparring for the first time. She was in awe.
No wonder Silence’s nickname was so widely known in the cultivation world.
The contrast was truly astounding.
She wondered how the masters at Harmony Sound Temple—who had allowed Silence to act independently—would feel when they received word of his antics.
Meanwhile, far away at Harmony Sound Temple, the kind-faced Master Jie Chen felt his left eyelid twitch heavily. His hand, which had been turning a string of prayer beads, froze mid-motion.
“Junior Brother?” Jie Chen’s senior brother, Master Jie Tan, looked at him with puzzlement.
Hesitating, Jie Chen said, “Senior Brother, I just had an ominous feeling.”
The prayer beads in Jie Tan’s hand came to a halt.
I like this crazy monk ?