Chapter 59: Dispute in the Rotating Hall

Chapter 59: Disputes Arise in Reincarnation Hall

Reincarnation Hall.

The hall was resplendent with gold, and numerous Buddha statues stood tall. In the center was a giant Buddha statue, holding prayer beads, six meters high, with gentle eyes gazing forward.

In Western Regions Buddhism, the ranks above Arhats are Vajras and Bodhisattvas.

As the saying goes, "Vajras glare in anger, Bodhisattvas lower their brows."

The Reincarnation Hall before them enshrined a Bodhisattva of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

On both sides were dozens of other gleaming Buddha statues.

At the same time, a fragrant sandalwood scent wafted out, refreshing the mind.

At this moment, the hall was filled with people. Above were the Cao Gang seats, while on the sides were the seats for the Four Great Families and other powerful figures from Jiangnan Province.

Fa Wu and a group of monks from Faxi Temple stood in a corner.

Many people were secretly curious, wondering why these monks from Faxi Temple seemed to be led by that seven or eight-year-old little monk.

What was the true identity of this little monk?

Zhao Qingmei and Tan Yun had arrived early and stood in a corner.

"These people actually dared to come to this Demon Extermination Assembly. I'm going to write all their names down," Tan Yun diligently memorized the faces and names of everyone present, preparing to record them in her little notebook when she returned.

Most of the people listed in Tan Yun's little notebook of those to be killed had indeed been killed. Her vengefulness was extremely strong, much like Zhao Qingmei's.

Zhao Qingmei's eyes were deep as she transmitted, "Have everyone arrived?"

"All Human Sect experts above the third-grade in Yu Prefecture City have arrived," Tan Yun replied. "Oh, and these Buddhist people…"

At this moment, though the surroundings seemed calm, countless Demonic Cult experts were already hidden, just waiting for a command. This Reincarnation Hall would then become a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood.

The Cao Gang had branded that Peerless Swordsman a Demonic Cult member, then killed him, and now they were even holding a Demon Extermination Assembly. They were clearly not taking the Demonic Cult seriously.

Since the Cao Gang wanted to establish its prestige through the Demonic Cult, Zhao Qingmei, as the Demonic Cult Leader, naturally wouldn't stand by and do nothing.

"Deal with the Buddhist people as well. Since the Buddhist sect allowed the Cao Gang to hold a Demon Extermination Assembly here, they intend to oppose my Demonic Cult."

A sharp killing intent flashed in Zhao Qingmei's eyes. Today, she would see whether it was the Demonic Cult or the Cao Gang that would establish its prestige.

"Su Family Head Su Ze has arrived."

With a clear announcement, Su Ze, the Su Family Head and one of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, made his entrance.

"Brother Su, you used to be so impetuous. I didn't expect you to be the last to arrive at this grand event."

Before Su Ze could even take his seat, someone spoke up to tease him.

The speaker was none other than Cao Family Head Cao Hongkuo.

There were deep grudges between the Cao Family and the Su Family. Not only that, but the two great families' businesses were very similar, leading to years of open and secret struggles. In recent years, the Cao Family had allied with the Cao Gang, a large and influential organization, and its strength had unknowingly surpassed that of the Su Family, deepening their enmity to the point where they were almost irreconcilable.

Ordinarily, you might see members of the Su Family or the Cao Family in one place, but it was extremely rare to see members of both families present, let alone both Family heads personally attending.

"As I've gotten older, I've learned to rein in my temper," Su Ze said, waving his hand, without showing any anger.

"Family Head Su, you're not late. Please take your seat quickly."

Ming Jinghua, the Ming Family Head, stood up and played the role of peacemaker.

Ming Jinghua was the most senior among those present, an elder generation Family Head in Jiangnan Province. Even Cao Hongkuo and Su Ze had to show him some respect.

Su Ze, along with a group of Su Family experts, slowly took their seats.

His Su Family was compelled by circumstances to attend this grand event. The Cao Gang had spread rumors that this Peerless Swordsman was a Demonic Cult expert, and in Great Yan, the Demonic Cult was essentially an enemy to be exterminated by all. As one of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, his Su Family had no choice but to come.

Among the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, the Cao Family and the Mu Family had clearly sided with the Cao Gang, while the Ming Family was ambiguous, never explicitly aligning with the Cao Gang but also not rejecting opportunities for cooperation with it.

Compared to the Ming Family, the Su Family's stance was much clearer. Due to the Tie Yunshan incident, the relationship between the Cao Gang and the Su Family was extremely hostile. If not for the Su Family still having some remaining influence in the imperial court, it might have ceased to exist long ago.

Mu Jinglun watched all of this, a cold smile playing on his lips.

As the leaders of the Four Great Families of Jiangnan Province, none of them were fools; each had their own calculations.

The fiercer the struggle between the Su Family and the Cao Family, the more profit the other two great families would naturally gain. But some people were different; they wanted to have their cake and eat it too, wanting both benefits and the reputation of being universally praised good people.

After everyone was seated, Ming Jinghua said with a chuckle, "Family Head Cao, I heard that a batch of your Cao Family's goods was robbed by river bandits when it was being transported from the East River to the Yuzhou River?"

A few days ago, a batch of Cao Family merchant ships came from the East River, intending to enter the Linjiang City ferry crossing, but unexpectedly, they were robbed by a group of river bandits midway. These goods have yet to be recovered.

The waterways of Jiangnan Province were crisscrossing and interconnected, basically controlled by the Cao Gang and the Three Lakes Gang. Given the Cao Family's deep ties with the Cao Gang, who would dare to openly defy them and rob the Cao Family's goods?

Cao Hongkuo raised an eyebrow. "Those river bandits really have some nerve. A few days ago, my granddaughter fell ill, and I couldn't spare the effort at the time."

"I actually caught a river bandit. Perhaps he can be of some help to Family Head Cao."

Ming Jinghua gestured to his grandson, Ming Fei.

Mu Jinglun raised an eyebrow, feeling a little strange in his heart.

Before long, a river bandit, bound with five flower knots, was 'invited' in.

"Hmm!?"

Seeing that person, Su Ze inwardly thought, "This is bad."

This person was Liu Shize, a Guest Elder who had defected from the Su Family two months ago.

"Father…"

Su Rui was about to speak, but he was instantly pulled back by a pair of withered hands. He looked up to see Su Ze shaking his head at him.

"Have mercy! Sir!"

As soon as the river bandit was brought into the Reincarnation Hall, he knelt on the ground, crying out.

Ming Jinghua commanded in a low voice, "You will repeat what you said yesterday, or I will send you to Yellow Springs right now."

Hearing this, the river bandit quickly wailed, "I'll tell! I'll tell everything! I am a Guest Elder of the Su Family. A few days ago, I was ordered to go to the East River ferry crossing to rob passing merchant ships. All of this was at the command of Young Master Su Rui. I was just following orders…"

"Nonsense!"

Before the river bandit could finish speaking, Su Rui, standing behind Su Ze, immediately cursed, "Liu Shize is spouting utter nonsense!"

"Impudent!"

Cao Hongkuo frowned and coldly snapped, "Where do you, a junior, have the right to speak here? Continue speaking."

The river bandit, prostrate on the ground, stammered, "It was Young Master Su Rui. He said that the Cao Family's merchant ships didn't have many guards. As long as we robbed this batch of goods, each person would be rewarded fifty taels of silver. And he personally cut off Cao Wang's head."