sjar Chapter 132 The Mysterious Idol
Chapter 132 The Mysterious Idol
"Are you implying that the demoness spared you? Could it be that you're in cahoots with her?"
A gaze filled with jealousy and resentment was fixed on the sole survivor of the nightmare in the ruined temple.
Logically speaking, Zhao Yi should not be openly breaking with Shen Tianbao at this moment.
As far as he was concerned, these people were all doomed anyway. He could simply wait for Shen Tianbao and the others to finish their work and make amends before he could vent his evil intentions.
It's one thing to rationally understand how to act, but if everyone in the world could maintain rationality at all times, then where would all these changes, joys, and sorrows come from?
At this moment, the person Zhao Yi wanted to vent his anger on was being protected by the kind-hearted man. Naturally, Zhao Yi transferred his hatred to the kind-hearted Shen Tianbao, and could no longer calmly control the malice in his heart.
'Want to be a good person? Hmph, let's see if your brothers are as open-minded as you!'
"You led us to this dilapidated temple. I found it rather strange before, why did you repeatedly protect that demoness? Now it seems that you and that demoness are clearly in cahoots!"
"Don't talk nonsense! Our镖主 (bodyguard/escort) is definitely not that kind of person!"
No sooner had Zhao spoken than someone refuted him.
The young men of Changchang Escort Agency found it unbearable for others to slander their respected elder brother in this way.
"I'm talking nonsense? You can't judge a book by its cover. I truly feel sorry for you! You've fallen to such a state. The brother you trusted might just be an accomplice to evil. Who knows what kind of benefits he received to bring you here, to be played with by this vixen. I've heard that what your Chief Shen lacks most right now is money!"
The young man who had refuted Zhao Yi was immediately speechless.
They all endured a hellish ordeal, but the镖主 (bodyguard/escort) alone remained unharmed.
The dark side of human nature has always been the easiest thing to exploit in the world.
“Brother Zhao, I know you are filled with resentment. Although my Changchang Escort Agency is not a famous or prestigious sect, every brother in the agency is an upright and honorable man. You don’t need to sow discord between me and my brothers.”
"I am stopping you from harming the people of Tianshan for three reasons."
"Firstly, as I've already stated, this person may not be an accomplice of that witch. I, Shen, have roamed the martial world for fifteen years. Although I haven't performed any earth-shattering acts of chivalry, I've also never harmed any innocent person. If this person is evil, you can kill him, and I, Shen, will not stop you; however, if he is a good person, I, Shen, cannot stand by and watch you harm an innocent person. If you have any grievances, you can come at me, and I, Shen, will have a clear conscience!"
"Secondly, it is not advisable to stay here any longer. That demoness chased after that old man and has disappeared without a trace. If she suddenly returns, neither of us may escape her clutches. Keeping these people from Tianshan alive may allow them to serve as hostages or provide assistance."
Shen Tianbao did not refute Zhao Yi's slander, nor did he prove whether he had any connection with Qiu Shuying.
His reasoned and well-founded words left the members of the Changchang Escort Agency feeling both ashamed and embarrassed.
They had actually had doubts just now, and based on what others said, they began to suspect their escort leader.
"And the third one?" Zhao Yi regained his senses with his calm and organized words. Since he still needed to rely on Shen Tianbao and the others to get out of this wretched place, he naturally had to accept the way out offered by the other party.
"Thirdly, this person is from Tianshan. Brother Zhao, how could you not know the legends of the martial arts world? Anyone who lays a finger on a Tianshan person, no matter where they are in the world, will be buried with them by the Lord of Tianshan!"
The emphasized words "to be buried with" sent a chill down Zhao Yi's spine.
He almost brought a terrible disaster upon his master!
Before he could say anything, the rumbling sounds outside the dilapidated temple instantly drew everyone's attention outside.
Everyone's expression changed drastically, and those who could move rushed towards the door.
Outside the dilapidated temple, the earth shook violently, as if the entire world was trembling. A tremendous force erupted from the depths of the ground, causing trees to sway wildly, their branches clashing and creaking. Some of the thinner trees were even uprooted and crashed to the ground.
Cracks appeared in the ground, spreading rapidly like a giant spider web. The soil loosened, stones tumbled down, and dust billowed, obscuring the sky. Animals panicked and scattered in all directions. Birds screeched as they took to the sky, and wild beasts ran wildly through the forest, searching for safety.
Only the area around the dilapidated temple stood unscathed on the earth, like a lone boat in a raging storm, amidst the chaos and panic.
“What…what’s going on?!”
"A natural disaster! A natural disaster has struck!"
"But what about the strange celestial phenomena you mentioned before, Chief Escort Shen?"
In response to Zhao Yi's question, Shen Tianbao nodded solemnly.
The natural disaster that had been troubling him had indeed struck, and Shen Tianbao was filled with mixed emotions.
This morning, he intended to take advantage of the clear weather to gather his brothers and set off immediately. However, due to a moment of carelessness, a demon harmed everyone.
However, if it weren't for the demon delaying their journey, they would all have met their doom under the natural disaster.
"The sky is falling and the earth is cracking outside, so why is this dilapidated temple still intact?"
No one could answer Lu Bo's question.
They were both grateful to be in this dilapidated temple, spared from the strange earthquake outside, and yet felt an inexplicable unease about this unknown protection.
"Brother Shen, look over there! What is that?"
A brother's alarmed voice alerted Shen Tianbao, and he looked in the direction the brother was pointing.
In the place where the statue of the deity was in the dilapidated temple, there stands a strangely shaped object.
If it is said to be human, it is eight feet tall and has four limbs like a human; if it is said to be non-human, none of the people present had ever seen such a strange creature.
It resembles a large, round iron barrel cast from steel.
As everyone stared in astonishment and suspicion at the strange "deity statue" inside the temple, no one noticed that beneath Zhao Yi's panicked expression lay a secret, undisclosed smugness.