vstars Chapter 114 Imprisonment
Chapter 114 Imprisonment
She whispered in his ear
"Master Wukong, do you even know what misfortune or frequent accidents mean?"
The tone of his voice was pointed, even somewhat sarcastic.
Wu Kongxin shuddered suddenly, looking at Qiao Qingshu with some confusion. He didn't know what this Miss Qiao meant.
But then he thought, this is his territory, how could he be intimidated by this girl who is only ten years old and hasn't done anything wrong?
She, Qiao Qingshu, only stayed at his Wanfu Temple for one night. What could she possibly find to provoke him?
This girl is definitely trying to trick him into confessing, but how could he possibly fall for her trick?
Master Wukong grinned crookedly, looking at Qiao Qingshu with disdain.
“Miss Qiao, when I was a monk at Wanfu Temple, you were probably still in your mother’s womb.”
"You don't need to threaten me. Bring on whatever tricks you have up your sleeve. I want to see what you're capable of!"
Qiao Qingshu straightened up, her back slightly bent, and a bright smile bloomed on her lips.
"Fine! Then I'll wipe out your Wanfu Temple tonight!"
With a single glance from Qiao Qingshu, Xia Zhi picked up Master Wukong and headed towards the empty courtyard outside.
The monks had already sent someone to fetch another elder when Ye Qingqiu and Xiao Zhijie helped an old monk walk over.
Qiao Qingshu was taken aback, not expecting to meet Mr. Ye and Xiao Zhijie here.
It was the monks behind them who began to introduce things.
“Master Wannian is the former abbot of our temple and also Master Wukong’s teacher. He has been bedridden for more than ten years and only comes out when there is a major event.”
"The other two were Master Wan Nian's guests, who stayed overnight due to the heavy snow."
Qiao Qingshu raised an eyebrow, surprised that she would run into these two tonight.
She simply smiled and gave the two of them a slight bow as a greeting.
Ye Qingqiu and Xiao Zhijie exchanged a glance, both somewhat incredulous. The monk had just come to report that something terrible had happened in the backyard.
At the time, they were meditating with Master Wannian. Seeing that the young monks looked very nervous, they thought something serious had happened, so they accompanied Master Wannian to take a look.
Master Wannian, nearly eighty years old, leaned on his cane, his back hunched, as he saw his disciple bound and pinned down.
He angrily poked the ground with his cane and looked at Qiao Qingshu, saying...
"Who are you! Causing trouble at my Wanfu Temple!"
"Release my disciple right now!"
When Master Wukong saw his master come out, he also started acting while crying.
"Master, you've finally arrived! This eldest daughter of the Qiao family is trying to kill me! She's framing me!"
Seeing this, Ye Qingqiu, fearing a misunderstanding, also wanted to protect Qiao Qingshu and quickly said,
“Miss Qiao, Master Wukong is the abbot of Wanfu Temple and also a disciple of Master Wannian. Is there some misunderstanding between you?”
"Let's have a good talk and get things out of this!"
Qiao Qingshu glanced at Ye Qingqiu indifferently and said...
“Mr. Ye, some people are wolves in sheep’s clothing, and even you can’t see it.”
Master Wannian was so angry that his beard bristled when he saw a young girl slandering his disciple like that.
"Young lady, don't wrong an innocent person. My disciple has always been the kindest of them all!"
Qiao Qingshu gave an undisguised sneer.
“Master Wan Nian, I know you are highly respected, and even the late emperor received you several times, but your only mistake in this life was taking on such a disciple!”
Qiao Qingshu pointed at Wukong without hesitation, her eyes shooting out cold arrows.
Xiao Zhijie stood not far away, squinting at her, a strange warmth rising in his heart.
He didn't understand why, but he felt that Qiao Qingshu was very charming and attractive in his eyes at this moment.
The corners of his mouth had turned up slightly without him noticing.
Upon hearing her words, Master Wannian became so angry that he frantically stabbed the ground with his cane.
"Nonsense! Utter nonsense!"
Qiao Qingshu smiled and stepped forward to support Master Wannian's arm.
"If I, Qiao Qingshu, have uttered even half a lie, I am willing to kowtow to you and your disciple to apologize."
"But if... Wukong is truly guilty of heinous crimes, how would you, Master, deal with him?"
Anger immediately surfaced on Master Wannian's thin face.
"If my disciple has truly done anything wrong, I will have him beaten to death on the spot!"
Wu Kong's body trembled uncontrollably, and the fear in his eyes vanished in an instant.
He also shouted,
"Qiao Qingshu, you're spouting nonsense! I'll make you kneel down and kowtow to us to apologize."
At that moment, a commotion suddenly arose outside, and the monks guarding the outer courtyard rushed in, shouting...
"Master! Something terrible has happened! Soldiers have arrived with a large group of people and are shouting at the temple gate that they want to come in and arrest people."
Qiao Qingshu smiled and said to Master Wannian,
“I summoned these government officials; let them come in as witnesses.”
The old monk Wan Nian, who had been aloof his entire life, snorted coldly and said angrily.
"We have nothing to hide! Let the officials come in and investigate thoroughly. If they don't find anything, Miss Qiao, I'll make you pay!"
Qiao Qingshu just smiled and didn't say anything. The monk brought the soldiers in.
The leading officer said aggressively.
"Who reported that girls have been abducted here?!"
Upon hearing this, Wu Kong, who had just been clinging to a sliver of hope, broke out in a cold sweat, feeling as if his back was being pricked by needles.
He looked at Qiao Qingshu in disbelief; even the monks in the temple didn't know about his secret imprisonment.
How could Qiao Qingshu, a pilgrim who only came for one day, possibly know this?
Seeing Wu Kong's panicked expression, Qiao Qingshu winked at him playfully.
He turned and led the soldiers toward the kitchen.
"Sir, please come with me."
Everyone followed Qiao Qingshu with a sense of curiosity, except for Wu Kong, whose legs went weak and he collapsed on the ground, unable to move at all.
Master Wannian saw that his disciple's legs were weak and he refused to walk, so he went forward to comfort him.
"Good disciple, just go and see for yourself. This Miss Qiao will surely return empty-handed, which will clear your name!"
Wu Kong felt extremely flustered, and looking at his master's earnest eyes, he silently lowered his head.
Suddenly, a cry of alarm came from ahead, and Ye Qingqiu and Xiao Zhijie quickly helped Master Wannian to go and check.
The soldiers moved the large vats used to store vegetables in the backyard of the kitchen, and the bluestone slabs on the ground were lifted up, revealing a cellar underneath.
Several soldiers had already climbed inside, and one rushed out in a hurry.
There were four or five girls inside!
Everyone was immediately shocked.
Master Wannian's eyes widened in disbelief; he insisted on going in and seeing for himself.
When several emaciated girls, their faces distorted by the torment of broken legs and feet, were helped out, the courtyard fell silent for a long time.
An official angrily rebuked,
"These girls are all mentally challenged, unable to speak or understand right and wrong. Who could be so cruel as to chop off their hands and feet?"
Master Wan Nian was trembling uncontrollably. He turned to look at his disciple.
"Did you do these things?"