Chapter 1449 - 1124: We Are Your Retribution!

"What do you mean?"

At this moment, someone suddenly spoke. That deep voice carried a slightly sharp, sarcastic tone, and upon hearing it, Xiao Yuansui immediately furrowed his brow and looked towards the speaker.

It was a monk standing at the forefront of the group.

Yu Wenye’s gaze was also drawn over—after the fight just now, besides Shantong’er, he was most concerned about this person.

The man had a robust physique, a wasp waist, and an ape chest, with the thin monk robe unable to hide the knotted muscles beneath, clearly a practitioner and a master at that. Earlier, as they swept through, he saw this person hacking, sweeping, spinning, and evading with endless strength and agility like a monkey. Now speaking, he didn’t even show a hint of breathlessness.

He sneered, "Have you forgotten what you’ve done?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yuansui’s expression darkened slightly.

Shantong’er immediately said, "Brother Jue Yun."

The monk named Jue Yun continued, "You burned our temple, toppled our Buddha statue, and took all the grain from our temple. Are these things something you can forget just like that?"

"..."

"You may forget, but we cannot!"

"..."

"I tell you, my Buddha will also roar like a lion. The things you’ve done cannot go without retribution. Today, we are your retribution!"

The more he spoke, the more Xiao Yuansui’s gaze flickered intensely. The soldiers beside him, especially Hua Ziyang, seemed visibly guilty; their eyes began to avoid looking directly.

Of course, they hadn’t forgotten.

Leading an army of fifty thousand north to sweep through Hebei, Xiao Yuansui naturally needed provisions along the way. Most of the time, he would capture rebel forces and seize their supplies to replenish his army. But then, as he marched south again with over a hundred thousand troops, the enormous army consumed even more resources. So, on this journey south, he plundered many wealthy families and temples.

Previously, not far from Li Wanggang Village, Yanyue City was almost completely emptied and flattened by him.

He hadn’t acted without considering the consequences, but these people were unarmed civilians. Even if they resented him, they could do nothing about it—at most, they’d harbor resentment. Once the battle in Luoyang was settled and the Central Plains unified, these people would still bow at his feet as his subjects.

Therefore, he never believed there would be adverse consequences.

But he never expected that these monks, who usually only recited Amitabha Buddha and were as meek as sheep, would actually resist.

And moreover, at such a critical time!

Under normal circumstances, he wouldn’t have even blinked before waving his hand, commanding those behind him to charge and slaughter, whether these dozen monks, Shantong’er, or Yu Wenye, they would be trampled into pulp. But at this moment, a sense of inexplicable unease arose in his heart—precisely at this time, these monks came rushing to save Yu Wenye.

It was as if even the heavens were protecting him.

With this thought, Xiao Yuansui’s heartbeat and breath grew chaotic. He was not a man who feared deities; compared to people bowing to gods for safety in turbulent times, he believed that he was the source of all success. Besides, having followed Zuo Heng in rebellion back then, with countless lives already claimed under his command, real fear of gods would mean accomplishing nothing. Because of this, he dared to burn down temples and plunder those monks.

But now, unprecedented fear and bewilderment pressed on his heart like a huge stone appearing out of nowhere, weighing heavily.

Could he really not contend with Yu Wenye?

Just the thought ignited a surge of anger, burning away the unfamiliar emotions like a fiery flame—how could he entertain such thoughts? Even if gods existed, their will should condescend to the strong!

With this realization, he slowly raised his head, all his unease and vagueness crystallizing into sharp, cold blades in his eyes, staring coldly at those ahead, particularly the monk named Jue Yun: "Retribution? Even if you are my retribution, my retribution ends here."

"..."

"Now, it’s time for you to see the outcome of opposing me!"

With that, he slowly raised his hand.

The soldiers, their rage long-restrained, prepared for this moment, instantly held their breath, gripped their swords and knives tightly. In the pitch-black night, faint specks of firelight reflected off their blades, glinting with a chilling light.

They were ready to charge and kill!

At this moment, Shantong’er’s back was also covered in cold sweat, but he held his copper hammer tightly and gritted his teeth, saying, "Once there’s a chance, you must rush out immediately."

Yu Wenye looked at the child who refused to turn back, his expression heavy with thought: "Shantong’er..."

"Sister Ruyi is still with him; you must go rescue her!"

"And you?"

"I..."

Shantong’er took a deep breath, then said, "You don’t need to worry about me."

After saying that, he truly didn’t want Yu Wenye to concern himself anymore. He urged his horse forward two steps, tightly gripped his copper hammer and swung it twice—his preparatory move before action; and Xiao Yuansui, watching him, the raised hand was taut like a bowstring pulled to its limits, about to break. Facing his last bit of softness, he said in a low voice, "You’re really not leaving?"

Shantong’er said, "I won’t leave. If you want to kill me, then come on!"

"Good!"

Xiao Yuansui’s eyes had completely lost any warmth, with his cold voice booming as he swung his big hand, roaring, "Kill them for me!"

Instantly, his soldiers let out earth-shattering roars like beasts, charging fiercely forward. Jue Yun and the monks widened their eyes, showing no fear, instead swinging their staffs in counterattack.

Just as the two sides were about to clash, suddenly, a rustling sound came from the sky!

This familiar sound startled Xiao Yuansui and his men. What shocked them even more was that the sound came from behind them!

Hua Ziyang was the first to react, shouting, "Be careful!"

But it was too late.

Hundreds and thousands of arrows rained down like a torrential downpour, albeit less swift and agile than those in Hua Ziyang’s hands, but like countless shooting stars, they cut through the sky, dense and unavoidable. In the next moment, screams echoed as numerous soldiers fell to the ground.

Shantong’er and the others were shocked, stopping abruptly, staring blankly ahead.

Xiao Yuansui’s eyes turned red, and he immediately turned his head back.

Just where Shantong’er and the others had charged through, the heavy night veil was sliced open once more, revealing a tall, graceful figure emerging from the darkness.

Shen Wuzheng, bringing his men, arrived swiftly!