Chen Shi grasped one of his fingers with both hands and, with a forceful twist backward, Fan Kongliu let out a scream as the finger snapped with a crack.
Chen Shi got hold of another finger and twisted it again, resulting in another snapping sound as this finger too was broken.
Watching in horror, Yu Lingzi realized just how much Chen Shi had been holding back when they had faced each other the day before.
Chen Shi remained silent, breaking all five of Fan Kongliu’s fingers, shifted his foot away, and stepped over the convulsing, in pain body of Fan Kongliu, stepping onto the back of his other hand.
"Now we can talk reasonably."
He grabbed another of Fan Kongliu’s fingers and paused, saying, "Yesterday, was it you who incited Yu Lingzi to block my path in Guangji Storehouse?"
Fan Kongliu’s forehead was covered with cold sweat as he hissed, "Mr. Chen, why would you say such a thing? Brother Yu Lingzi, did I utter a single word to you yesterday about seeking Mr. Chen?"
Yu Lingzi hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "You didn’t say it. But your implication was..."
Fan Kongliu clenched his teeth and said, "But I did not say it verbally! Mr. Chen, you see..."
Chen Shi snapped that finger, then grabbed another, saying, "I’ve also heard you’ve been indecent with many women."
Fan Kongliu, now in tears from the pain, cried out, "I did it for the good of those female devotees! Mr. Chen, you don’t understand our Buddhist ways. In Buddhism, there is the practice of ’flesh body giving’, where Bodhisattvas transform into women and offer their bodies to others. After consummation, that person will abandon worldly desires, lose all interest in romantic affairs, and inevitably turn towards Buddhism. The path I follow is that of the Bodhisattva, offering my body to those women to help them extinguish their burning desires! What fault is there in that?"
Chen Shi broke another finger and said, "So that means, Shen Hongniang has set up quite a few connections for you. So you prodded Yu Lingzi to test my strength, isn’t that right?"
Fan Kongliu’s eyes widened, his pupils frantically rolling. He had already been in denial twice, and each time a finger had been broken. It was clear that if he denied it, Chen Shi would retaliate!
"Yes, that was my plan. Shen Hongniang has indeed made many introductions for me, allowing me to convert many female devotees, but I don’t feel secure with such matters solely in Shen Hongniang’s hands! In case she blabbed, it would bring disgrace to Buddhism! You eliminating Shen Hongniang for me, I had to reciprocate. I just didn’t know about your cultivation or strength and didn’t want a direct conflict with you."
He laid out the whole story, saying, "Yu Lingzi is naive, so yesterday I instigated him a little. But it’s not just me, there are others, more people involved!"
Chen Shi broke the third finger, and Fan Kongliu’s pain was so intense he nearly died, and then Chen Shi lifted his foot, stepping over Fan Kongliu’s Ten-foot Golden Body.
Fan Kongliu heaved a sigh of relief internally; just then, he heard Chen Shi’s voice say, "Yu Lingzi, it’s your turn now."
Enraged, Yu Lingzi stepped forward, trod on Fan Kongliu’s hand, hugged the remaining two unbroken fingers, and with a strong pull, mimicked Chen Shi’s action!
Two crisp sounds followed, and Fan Kongliu passed out from the intense pain.
"Have you vented your anger? Are you going to hit him more?"
Chen Shi asked with concern, "The Western Capital is good in every way except one; you can’t kill people randomly. Otherwise, we could stay right here and send this lecherous monk to Nirvana for his enjoyment."
Yu Lingzi jumped in shock and hastily shook his head, "I’ve gotten it out of my system. No more hitting!"
Chen Shi sighed regretfully and walked towards the exit of the palace, saying, "With Fan Kongliu’s matter settled, now we need to find Li Tianqian, Ma Xueqing and the others."
Before he had finished speaking, Lanyue Palace began shaking violently, and the two men hastily rushed out. They had just reached the White Jade Path when the palace collapsed with a thunderous rumble behind them!
Qixia Temple’s reception monk hurried towards them, but upon a glance from Black Pot, the monk felt the matter wasn’t all that serious.
Chen Shi looked toward the end of the White Jade Path with an expectant gleam, "Tonight, we might just meet that white-robed Immortal... Yu Lingzi, hurry, let’s go find the others!"
Yu Lingzi exclaimed in surprise, "Are we going to fight them too?"
Chen Shi walked down the White Jade Path, leisurely said, "To convince them by reasoning, you have to beat them first. How else will they be willing to listen?"