CHAPTER 400: CHAPTER 353 NINTH MASTER

However, this person was not Shen Tu Tai.

Shen Wuzheng widened his eyes slightly, looking at a boy who was only about ten years old. Though he was stocky and seemed quite burly for his age, he was still just a boy. He held a copper hammer in one hand, which was the size of a pumpkin, clearly not light in weight. As he stood at the entrance of Wanggang Village, his appearance was somewhat comical, yet the people around him moved aside at his presence.

It was as if they were somewhat afraid.

"This, this child is—"

Shen Wuzheng was momentarily stunned. Although he anticipated unexpected events during this visit to Wanggang Village, this was indeed something he hadn’t foreseen.

After all, from what they knew, the highest combat power in Wanggang Village should undoubtedly be Shen Tu Tai. Therefore, at this moment, if Xiao Yuansui wanted to deal with Yu Wenye, he would certainly have to play this trump card.

Yet unexpectedly, the one called out was such a boy.

And this boy—

At this moment, he suddenly thought of something and murmured, "Ninth Master? Is this child the Ninth Master of Wanggang Village?"

"That’s right,"

Yu Wenye, standing beside him, observed the short-statured boy who didn’t seem fierce and even looked a bit comical wielding two copper hammers larger than his body, yet standing there, he exuded a certain indefinable aura of intimidation. Yu Wenye then calmly said, "He is also called Shantong’er."

"What?"

Shen Wuzheng furrowed his brows and looked at Yu Wenye, who didn’t show the slightest hint of surprise. Instead, his deep eyes expressed a feeling of inevitability. When he looked again at the "Ninth Master," he noticed that the boy had a shaved head with a few scars typical of a monk.

He indeed looked like a monk!

Although Yu Wenye’s voice was neither too loud nor too soft, it reached the opposite side of the gate. Upon hearing his words, the boy’s face showed a trace of surprise. He widened his eyes and said, "You, how do you know?"

This child was the young monk Shantong’er, the same one who met Shang Ruyi in the temple’s side hall two nights ago.

He looked at Yu Wenye in astonishment, "Have you met me before?"

Shen Wuzheng also looked at Yu Wenye.

However, Yu Wenye’s gaze flickered slightly. He didn’t answer the question but instead let out a deep breath and said, "Whether I’ve met you or not, I’ve heard your name—since a very long, long time ago."

He then gently tapped his horse’s flanks with the side of his blade and stepped forward.

Shen Wuzheng stood there watching his back and also looked forward at the child who was walking towards them, each step so heavy it seemed to make the ground subtly tremble. His heart suddenly quivered—

Very long ago?

How long ago was the "very long" known by Yu Wenye?

But at this moment, there was no room for further thought. As the heavy footsteps and the clear clopping of hooves drew closer, the two were almost only a few yards apart. Yu Wenye looked down at the child in front of him, knowing his age and what he had gone through in recent days. Yet the boy’s expression remained innocent, his eyes pure and bright, with an aura of youthful innocence about him.

He looked up at Yu Wenye, his small face full of confusion, "Who exactly are you?"

Yu Wenye replied indifferently, "My wife traded a pair of earrings to save you from being beaten by your senior. Have you thanked her?"

"...!?"

"...!?"

Hearing this, Shantong’er immediately showed an expression of shock.

Unbeknownst to him, Xiao Yuansui, standing behind him and coldly watching the two of them with eyes seemingly waiting for a great battle, also showed an unmistakable expression of astonishment.

Subconsciously, he reached towards his chest.

And although this small gesture went unnoticed by those around him, it did not escape Yu Wenye’s sharp gaze.

Faced with that gaze, sharper than a blade, Xiao Yuansui’s hand paused, just a little distance from his chest. After a moment, he clenched his hand into a fist, his knuckles cracking slightly, and then he slowly lowered it to his side.

He then said in a deep voice, "Lao Jiu, where have you been these days?"

"..."

"And what’s with his wife’s earrings?"

Shantong’er’s eyes showed some panic, clearly not expecting the sudden situation and the presence of this person. He turned to look at Xiao Yuansui, stammered twice, but couldn’t speak, only murmuring, "I, I was—"

"Let me explain."

Yu Wenye slightly raised his chin, his gaze carrying a hint of coldness, and said, "Your Ninth Master is indeed the Ninth Master, but he is also a monk from a small temple in Yanyue City."

Xiao Yuansui’s eyes darkened. Before he could speak, those around him urgently said, "Ninth Master, didn’t you escape from the temple?"

"Yes, you fled here, saved us with your skills, and joined the village. Why did you become a monk again?"

"What have you been hiding from us?"

As the crowd’s chatter turned the boy red-faced and speechless, Yu Wenye said calmly, "Because, the temple is a place where he feels at peace."

"..."

"Or rather, the actions of Wanggang Village made him uneasy and troubled, so even though he was the Ninth Master here, he still sought a place where he could find peace and feel he could rid himself of his burdens."

"..."

"As for why he didn’t stay forever in the temple and instead remained here as your Ninth Master, I think there’s only one reason—"

Saying this, he looked at Shantong’er, a faint smile on his lips.

"Because you know very well that the temple couldn’t support you."

"..."

"You eat ten times what others do in one meal, and if it weren’t at your old place, or a place like Wanggang Village, an average household couldn’t afford to keep you."

"..."

"Even my wife’s pair of earrings would only feed you for half a year."

After he finished speaking, he cast a cold glance at Xiao Yuansui, then looked down at Shantong’er, who lowered his head as if showing a hint of remorse, and said, "Is that so?"

With a moment of silence, Shantong’er finally softly said, "Yes..."

There was a gasp from the crowd of Wanggang Village.

Shantong’er then looked up at Yu Wenye, frowning, "But I did thank her."

At this point, his expression turned solemn, devoid of the child’s innocence, now exhibiting a maturity that distinguished friend from foe.

"Oh,"

Yu Wenye slightly raised an eyebrow, not caring much about the answer, merely nodding slightly, "If that’s so, I won’t blame you for turning away and standing by my and her enemies."

"..."

"And I won’t demand the gratitude for sparing your life from my father."