Volume One: The Young Monk Returns to Secular Life Chapter Seventy-Seven: Negotiation

At the main entrance of the government camp.

Chen Bufan felt a sweetness in his throat, and a mouthful of fresh blood burst forth.

With a sickening squelch, a longsword pierced directly into his left shoulder, blood streaming down the blade.

“Haha... Chen Bufan! Didn’t you say you’d kill me with ease? Remember this sword—it’s a gift from me, Huang Long!” The middle-aged man laughed wildly, his teeth clenched as he glared at Chen Bufan. “Hero Chen! Today is your death day... I’ll send you to the next world.”

As his words faded, Huang Long’s entire body was kicked away.

With a heavy thud, he crashed to the ground, spitting blood.

Chen Bufan frowned deeply, his body covered in wounds. The most severe was that thrust from Huang Long—just a little deeper and it would have pierced his heart.

He was utterly exhausted, but with no word yet from Li Bai, he had to hold on.

Even if he died, he must delay these people before him...

“Everyone, together! He can’t last much longer!”

Huang Long clutched his chest and struggled to his feet, shouting.

“Damn it!” another clan head, already suffering internal injuries, cursed.

None of them could have imagined that Chen Bufan, alone, could withstand the combined assault of the ten great sect leaders.

No matter the outcome, Chen Bufan’s name would echo throughout the martial world after this battle.

Yet the tale would likely be told thus:

In a year of famine, the ten sect leaders battled the demon Chen Bufan, whose evil arts had corrupted him, making him wicked beyond compare. United, the ten sect leaders vanquished the demon!

Just as the Huang clan head, Huang Long, prepared to charge again, a servant in livery came running from afar.

Panting, he cried, “Bad news! Terrible news... something dreadful has happened!”

Huang Long frowned, approaching.

The servant whispered hurriedly in his ear, and Huang Long’s face changed dramatically. “This... impossible...”

Meanwhile, other servants arrived, reporting to the other clan heads, who all turned pale.

A heavy silence fell. No one spoke. The ten sect leaders exchanged glances, then looked at Chen Bufan, hesitant to speak.

……

Chen Bufan, too, had noticed this. He turned to look at Qin Shirong and Li Guo.

The three exchanged silent nods. So, had Li Bai truly succeeded in emptying the ten clans’ grain stores?

“Haha...” Qin Shirong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

If that was true, the common people were saved!

Just then, a wounded man in black staggered over, reached Qin Shirong, whispered something, and fainted.

Qin Shirong’s expression changed. He glanced blankly at Li Guo, then at Chen Bufan, and spoke.

Perhaps overcome with emotion, his voice was soft and hard to hear.

Chen Bufan didn’t catch it and asked, “Sir... what is it?”

“Li Bai... his right hand was severed by Yue the Broadsword! The plan failed!”

Qin Shirong spoke louder.

His trembling words pierced the two men’s hearts like a blade.

“This... how could it be? Impossible! Yue the Broadsword? That can’t be...” Chen Bufan staggered back a few steps, his voice tinged with despair. The sword in his hand slipped from his grasp and clattered to the ground.

He’d endured so long, hoping for good news from Li Bai, but this was the blow he received...

His vision darkened. With his body battered and bruised, he could no longer stand.

At that moment, a dark figure rushed to his side and caught him. “Father... are you alright?”

“You...” Hearing the familiar voice, Chen Bufan forced his eyes open and said anxiously, “Buqun! Why are you still here? I told you to take Shuwan and leave!”

“Father... don’t worry... It’s over now... everything’s finished...” Chen Buqun’s eyes reddened as he looked at the wounds on his father.

This man was the true hero who had held up the sky for the people—

And also his father, of whom he was so proud.

“What are you saying? Li Bai has failed! You... you must run! They’ll kill you...” Chen Bufan, using the last of his strength, shoved Chen Buqun and urged, “Run! Quickly!”

“Father, there’s really nothing to fear... Trust me... Master has already solved the problem...” Chen Buqun explained gently.

But Chen Bufan’s worry did not ease.

He knew Chen Buqun had become a disciple of a junior monk from Jinshan Temple and even taken vows as a monk.

But that monk was just a rogue who only knew underhanded tricks...

“Father... rest for a while, leave the rest to me.” Chen Buqun gently set his father down against a tree, then rose and walked toward the crowd.

“Buqun! Don’t... they’ll kill you...” Chen Bufan reached out, struggling to stand, but his wounds and the aftereffects of burning his life force left him unable to move.

Sensing his father’s worry, Chen Buqun turned and formed a hand gesture at his chest.

When Chen Buqun was small and fell while walking, his father would make this gesture to comfort him—seeing it, he’d feel safe and get up with a smile.

Now, it was the son’s turn to reassure his father.

Leave everything to your son.

Only then did Chen Bufan cease his struggles, his gaze softening as he looked ahead.

Chen Buqun turned and continued toward the crowd.

The people were in heated discussion.

“What are you saying? All the grain is spoiled? How?”

“There’s yellow stuff all over the rice...”

“What is that?”

“I think it might be... excrement...”

“What?”

“Excrement!”

At that moment, Chen Buqun stepped forward, channeled his inner strength, and his voice rang out among the people: “Everyone! There’s no need to wonder! The grain has turned yellow, hasn’t it? That’s right—it’s excrement!”

His words silenced the ten sect leaders, who glared at him in fury.

“You brat! Was it you?” Huang Long, the Huang clan head, fixed him with a murderous stare.

“Haha... Gentlemen, might I have a private word with you?” Chen Buqun cupped his hands politely and glanced inside the camp.

“What’s left to say? Kill him! The bastard!” Huang Long shouted, eyes blazing.

“My master says that always resorting to violence like this makes you all look like fools. Why not hear my solution first and then decide if you still want to be fools?” Chen Buqun replied unhurriedly.

“You—”

“Brother Huang, wait... We should listen...” someone interrupted.

The ten sect leaders exchanged glances, nodded, and strode angrily into the camp.

Chen Buqun turned to Qin Shirong and Li Guo. “Lord Qin, Lord Li—shall we go together?”

The two looked at each other, confusion in their eyes, but nodded and followed the leaders inside.

Just then, Chen Shuwan arrived, wanting to help Chen Bufan find a doctor, but he shook his head and insisted she help him into the camp instead.

He could not fathom what Chen Buqun intended, but worry still gnawed at him.

...