Flower Stealing Master

Chapter 494: Establishing Authority

As the crowd below was in shock, Xia Qingqing silently walked onto the platform, coming before Song Qingshu. She half-knelt on the ground, presenting the Golden Serpent Sword in her hands. “Please accept the token of the Golden Serpent King, my lord!”

Simultaneously, Situ Bolei, Shui Jian, and Cheng Qingshu from the Green Bamboo Gang, as if by prior agreement, also stepped onto the platform and half-knelt before Song Qingshu. “Please accept the token of the Golden Serpent King, my lord!”

Song Qingshu did not immediately take the Golden Serpent Sword but instead glanced faintly at the other leaders of the Golden Serpent Camp.

Feeling the oppressive gaze, several neutral leaders—Jiangsu’s Golden Dragon Gang’s Jiao Wan’er, Zhejiang’s Roaming Dragon Gang’s Rong Cai, Huainan’s Flying Tiger Ravine’s Lord Nie Tianfeng, and the overseas Seventy-two Islands Alliance Leader Zheng Qiyun—felt their scalps tingle.

At this moment, Song Qingshu had just defeated the Sword Immortal Ah Qing, reaching the peak of his fame, standing on the platform like a demon god. The leaders exchanged glances, cursing silently. Given their status, they didn’t need to kneel to the new Golden Serpent King. However, with Xia Qingqing, the highest-ranking individual, kneeling, along with several other leaders following suit, they had no choice but to kneel as well.

Reluctantly, these leaders also walked onto the platform, half-kneeling before Song Qingshu. “Please accept the token of the Golden Serpent King, my lord!”

This put the remaining leaders of the Golden Serpent Camp in an awkward position. Behind Qianliu Manor’s (Qianliu Village) Chu Hongliu was the Red Flower Society; behind Hugou Valley’s (Hugou Village) Sha Tongtian was the Sun Moon Holy Cult; behind Qingliang Temple’s Master Shi Li was Shaolin Temple; and behind Gai Mechang (蓋孟嘗) Meng Bofei and his son was Mount Song Sect’s Zuo Lengchan. 

None of these factions were on friendly terms with Song Qingshu, and some even harbored deep grudges. They were unwilling to kneel before Song Qingshu.

“Amithaba!” Master Shi Li from Qingliang Temple was the first to speak up. “As a monk, I have long been weary of the fighting and killing over the years. I have always intended to retire and devote myself to studying Buddhism. I could never find the right opportunity, but now I shall take this chance to announce my withdrawal from the Golden Serpent Camp and return to Shaolin Temple to pursue Buddhist studies.”

“This bald monk! He couldn’t have chosen a worse time to retire. He’s clearly trying to undermine Qingshu’s authority,” Zhou Zhiruo, who had never had a favorable view of Shaolin monks, spoke sharply.

Ah Jiu, who shared the same sentiment, sneered. “This monk is deeply worldly, yet pretends to be an enlightened sage. If he truly wished to retire, why did he strongly recommend Xu Zhu to contend for the position of Golden Serpent King?”

Huang Rong frowned slightly. It was clear that Master Shi Li’s actions were sanctioned by Shaolin Temple. She knew about the discord between Shaolin Temple and Song Qingshu. However, with the barbarian invasion, internal conflicts should be set aside to unite against the external threat. Who knew Shaolin Temple would pull this stunt at such a critical moment?

Given Shaolin Temple’s prestigious status in the martial world, Song Qingshu would face a significant challenge. If he handled this poorly, all his recent momentum would be for naught. Taking such a setback at the start would make it difficult for him to command respect as the Golden Serpent King.

Chu Hongliu, who was initially about to speak up, held back upon seeing Master Shi Li step forward first. He sat back comfortably, eager to see how Song Qingshu would handle this situation.

“Oh?” Song Qingshu’s sharp gaze fixed on Master Shi Li. “Master wishes to withdraw from the Golden Serpent Camp?”

“That’s correct!” Master Shi Li said proudly, standing tall. Despite Song Qingshu’s formidable martial prowess, he felt no fear, backed by Shaolin Temple and the presence of top experts Xu Zhu and Xuan Cheng nearby.

“Master, killing the previous Golden Serpent King, Hero Yuan, wasn’t enough. Are you planning to collude with the Qing again and kill me, the new Golden Serpent King?” Song Qingshu’s voice was calm, yet it landed like a bombshell, causing everyone to change their expressions.

“Nonsense!” Master Shi Li was flustered. He could hardly bear the weight of such an accusation.

“Stop your deceitful talk here!” Xuan Cheng, unable to sit still, stood up abruptly, slamming his staff onto the ground, causing a huge crack to appear, reflecting his anger.

People, by nature, are inclined to gossip. It was widely known that Yuan Chengzhi had died at the hands of Dongfang Bubai at the Mount Tai Conference. Few had given it much thought, but Song Qingshu’s remark prompted many to reconsider. Why did Yuan Chengzhi suddenly appear at the Mount Tai Conference, and how did the Qing court seem so well-prepared, lying in wait with Dongfang Bubai?

If there was a traitor within the Golden Serpent Camp, everything made sense…

“Could it really be Master Shi Li who caused Yuan Chengzhi’s death?”

“He looks like an enlightened monk, but who knows?”

“You don’t really know someone just by their appearance.”

…

The assembly erupted in chaotic discussions. Some believed it, others didn’t. 

Listening to these conversations, Master Shi Li and Xuan Cheng’s faces grew redder with anger.

“Qingshu, such accusations require evidence,” Zhang Songxi said seriously. He, too, disliked Shaolin Temple. They had repeatedly slandered Zhang Sanfeng as a Shaolin deserter and blamed him for stealing Shaolin’s martial arts, leading to Yu Daiyan’s crippling and Zhang Cuishan and his wife’s deaths. However, disliking them was one thing; handling the situation properly was another. As the leader of the righteous path, Shaolin Temple couldn’t be wrongfully accused.

Song Qingshu remained calm, “Some of you might know that I previously served in the Qing court, managing the Pole Arms, an espionage organization responsible for recruiting martial artists. Many succumbed to its allure of fame and fortune. Master Shi Li of Qingliang Temple was one of them.”

“You’re spouting nonsense!” Master Shi Li trembled with anger, momentarily at a loss for words.

Not giving him a chance to defend himself, Song Qingshu quickly continued, “May I ask Master Shi Li, where did the former Qing Emperor, Fu Lin, shave his head and become a monk?”

“This… this…” Master Shi Li was at a loss. Fu Lin’s seclusion at Qingliang Temple was a closely guarded secret. However, the false Empress Dowager had revealed it to eliminate Fu Lin, leading to a chaotic invasion of Qingliang Temple, making it known to the world. It was impossible to hide now.

“So, Qingliang Temple had long since allied with the Qing court.”

“It’s not just Qingliang Temple; I’ve heard that Shaolin Temple also accepted the barbarian regime’s decrees.”

“When under another’s roof, one has to bow their head.”

“But why does Master Shi Li frequent the anti-Qing rebels? It’s suspicious.”

“Yes, could he be a Qing spy?”

…

Listening to the crowd’s discussions, Song Qingshu knew the time was ripe. He gestured, and a small box flew into his hand from a distance.

Holding a yellow silk scroll in his left hand, Song Qingshu unfolded it before the assembly. “This is the Qing court’s decree conferring titles upon the monks of Qingliang Temple!”

Before the crowd could process this information, Song Qingshu pulled out a letter, dropping another bombshell. “And this letter is Master Shi Li’s pledge of allegiance to the false Emperor Kangxi!”

Unable to contain his anger any longer, Master Shi Li roared, “Don’t believe him! He’s forged this!”

Song Qingshu’s eyes narrowed, his voice icy. 

“Over the years, you’ve leaked countless secrets of the Golden Serpent Camp to the Qing court, causing heavy casualties among our brothers and leading to the previous Golden Serpent King’s death at Mount Tai. For such a traitorous scoundrel, I will personally deliver justice today!”

With that, he swiftly charged towards Master Shi Li.

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