A surge of unnamed fire suddenly rose in Meng Qi's heart, and he almost went over to ask about it directly. Zhen Hui, who had been staring at the kitchen, also turned her head to look at Gu Changqing, with a sympathetic and concerned expression.

  Disaster does not befall my family, disaster does not befall my family... Perhaps it was because in his past life he was born into a relatively stable country, Meng Qi only had a thin and hollow impression of cases where an entire family is exterminated, without any personal experience. After all, nothing like that had ever happened around him. So when he previously heard about his master's whole family being killed, and how he killed the opponent's whole family in revenge, it was more sympathy and speculation. But now, although Gu Zhang Qing's family members are not his own family, this matter originated from himself, and the feeling is completely different!

  He had a burning anger in his chest, and he wished to destroy this group of bandits who had lost all sense of morality, and he wished to chop the mastermind behind this incident into ten thousand pieces.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Meng Qi patted Gu Changqing's shoulder: "Changqing, don't be too upset for now, maybe it's just a misunderstanding."

  Gu Changqing forced a smile, his expression showing a hint of fear: "Yes, maybe it's just a rumor. Although my Gu family doesn't have any external connections, we are still a prominent clan and can protect our own people. Moreover, there is also Shen Du Liao, he has never gotten along with Ze Luo Ju, how could he possibly work under him..."

  He talked a lot in one breath, finding many excuses, wanting to prove that what he heard earlier was just a rumor.

  Under the turmoil of emotions, he didn't use the transmission to enter secretly. Fortunately, the location was remote, and the others were all engaged in their own conversations, with no one paying attention. However, even if someone had noticed, Meng Qi wouldn't have been afraid. From what he heard from the previous few people discussing, it seemed that the Golden Temple had yielded, and his master and the others should still be at the broadcasting place, not yet returned to Shaolin. At this time, the notorious horse bandits were either hiding or guarding their camp tightly, with no one able to threaten themselves.

  "Alas, the illustrious Gu family, how could they so readily hand over their own kin just because of a single letter from 'Evil Book' Kang? Who would still be willing to follow such a family in the future?" The wealthy merchant who had spoken earlier let out a sigh, he too was from a long line of inherited wealth and looked down on the Gu family's actions with great disdain.

  Upon hearing this, Gu Changqing suddenly leaned back, almost fainting, his expression desolate and bewildered, his eyes sunken and fearful, with a hint of fiercely burning flames hidden within.

  The person who spoke to the rich merchant was a Sha guest, and the news was quite informed. He followed with a sigh: "It's just that young Master Gu did something wrong. If he had mixed with the Snow Mountain Sect and killed Luo Ju's horse bandits, who could say anything about him? Shen Du would only be happy to see it happen and better protect the Gu family."

  "But he actually colluded with Zhongyuan and Shang, even killing two top masters of the Hanhai School. This is one of the things that Da Ashura hates the most. Even if he is a god on earth, he won't bother with ants, but why would Shen Duoluo risk ruining his impression by helping Gu's family? Hmph, if it weren't for this relationship, with his personality of being overly protective, he would have already gone to kill his whole family."

  "Thus, 'Evil Book Life' Kang Zhi sent two letters through the White-headed Bird, one to Shen Du Liao and one to the head of the Gu family. The former considered Shen Du Liao's face and let him tacitly approve of this matter, while the latter made a not-too-unreasonable request, without letting the Gu family be destroyed, but only asking them to hand over Gu Changqing's direct relatives. Without Shen Du Liao's protection, considering Luo Ju's revenge afterwards, the head of the Gu family yielded."

  "This is also considered wise, otherwise it would be impossible to avoid being exterminated by Zhen Luo."

  Although Gu's house and Xie Ling are separated by half of the vast ocean, a month is enough for the white-headed bird to make two round trips.

  The wealthy merchant let out a long sigh, thought of his family, and seemed to have no choice but to give up on the minority in order to protect the majority. He said dejectedly: "Is there really no justice in this vast ocean? Whoever has the power can arbitrarily control others' lives?"

  "Haha, you've been a merchant for many years and still don't understand this principle? A fist is reason, money and power are also reason!" Sha Ke laughed loudly.

  "It's still better for me to be a bit more reserved, after all, as a member of a prominent family, I have to consider my reputation and maintain a sense of propriety." The wealthy merchant shook his head.

  As for the evil sects and heretical factions, there are righteous families and sects that suppress them, and they will not easily do things that provoke heaven's wrath and people's resentment.

  Listening to their words, Gu Changqing's teeth chattered with rage, his fists clenched tightly, and a faint trickle of blood seeped out, as if his fingernails had dug into his flesh.

  "Did I do badly? Did I really do badly?" He raised his head, as if asking Meng Qi, but his eyes were empty and he didn't know who he was looking at.

  Meng Qi was also filled with sorrow and rage, taking two deep breaths to calm himself down: "No, you didn't do anything wrong, it's just that they're too vicious and lawless."

  Gu Changqing suddenly stood up and then sat back down, his face expressionless as he said: "Zhen Ding shidi, trouble you to find out the details of this matter."

  His eyes were dull and calm, with a quietness that made people's hearts palpitate.

  Meng Qi nodded and went out onto the street, made a circle, found a half-sized child, gave him some silver coins, and had him quietly ask around at the hotel and other places.

  After a while, Meng Qi returned to the inn, and the table was filled with roasted lamb legs and other meat dishes that had been ordered earlier. However, they were all cold and untouched, and even Zhen Hui was telling stories from Buddhist scriptures to comfort Gu Changqing, showing disdain for the food.

  "It's probably true." Meng Qi said with a serious face, his right hand tightly grasping the hilt of his sword, itching to draw it and behead Ma Fei immediately.

  "How did my parents and younger brother and sister die?" Gu Changqing spoke in a stuttering tone, as if he was afraid to know the answer.

  Meng Qi looked around and said loudly: "Waiter, send the food to the room."

  It's not suitable to discuss this topic further here.

  Gu Changqing stood up like a walking corpse and walked slowly to the guest room on the second floor.

  Meng Qi closed the door and made sure no one was around before saying, "Uncle and Aunt were aware of their fate when they were sent to Evil Ridge, so in order to avoid suffering humiliation, they killed my younger brother and sister on the spot and then took their own lives."

  Gu Changqing stared blankly at Meng Qi, and suddenly two lines of tears fell from the corners of his eyes. With a sob in his voice, he said: "My father has been born and died for the family many times, leaving behind a root of illness. Every time it's cold and gloomy, his whole body hurts, and he can't sleep all night. My mother comes from a scholarly family, she is knowledgeable and reasonable, and has never quarreled with them. She silently takes care of my father and us. My younger brother is only in his early teens, just starting to cultivate his energy, and is a strong young man. My little sister is only a few years old, lively and lovely, always following me around. How could they bear to part with us? How could they bear to part with us?"

  "Long live..." Meng Qi wanted to say something, but felt that all the comfort and language had no power in the face of such a disaster.

  Gu Zhangqing buried his head in his hands and sobbed: "I was 20 years old when I opened my eyes, which is considered not bad within the clan. My father had high hopes for me, but...but I ended up dragging them down instead..."

  He suddenly raised his head, looking at Meng Qi with tears in his eyes: "Is it really wrong to be a heroic and chivalrous person? Can't even protect one's own family members, what kind of great hero is that?"

  The voice was filled with deep confusion and self-denial.

  Meng Qi looked at Gu Changqing sincerely: "This matter was caused by me, even if it's wrong, it's my fault. Moreover, I don't think being a hero is wrong. The mistake lies in not being more cunning and ruthless than the bad guys. To be a great hero, one must have more tricks up their sleeve than the bandits, and cut off all possibilities of future troubles."

  This is also some of his practices before reflection, and "eradicating evil" is absolutely not an empty phrase.

  "Is that so?" Gu Changqing asked with a quiver in his voice.

  "Don't you want revenge?" Meng Qi asked on purpose to make Gu Changqing get out of his self-blame earlier.

  Gu Changqing sprang up, his eyes "burning" with unspeakable hatred: "I'd rather go kill Wu Shu now, kill this ringleader! I'd rather make the clan leader kneel before me! This feud will not be shared under the same sky!"

  He suddenly seemed to come back to life.

  Meng Qi nodded solemnly and said, "You must understand that only by grasping power can we help us avenge and uphold justice."

  "Yes, and I've come to realize that for bad people, education is useless. The only way to make them behave is to let them know that if they do something wrong, they'll have to pay a price ten times or even more than what they did." Gu Changqing said with hatred in his voice.

  Meng Qi did not refute, this is also his own partial view, education and punishment must be possessed at the same time to be the right way, minor crimes can rely on education and light punishment, that kind of depraved person, only severe punishment can deter people like him, education at this time is thin and useless.

  He pointed at the food on the table and said quietly, "Since we're going to take revenge, we'd better replenish our strength."

  "What's next?" Gu Changqing looked forward to Meng Qi's arrangement.

  Meng Qizheng suddenly drew out the Red Sun Town Evil Knife: "Then we'll go to Evil Ridge!"

  "What?" Gu Changqing wanted revenge, but he didn't think of taking it now. His strength was still far from enough!

  "This matter originated from me, and I will help you avenge even if it means going through boiling water and walking into fire. Now the leaders of Evil Ridge are only four orifices evil scholar and two seven-orifices masters, the rest are just six orifices below bandits. Although they have many people and strong momentum, but it's not like there is no chance at all. At least it's better than waiting for Zhen Luo Ju or other leaders to return." Meng Qi said in a low voice, "Only by letting the bandits know that even if they are in Evil Ridge, they can't escape the consequences of their actions, will they do less evil things."

  He didn't think of asking his master or seniors for help, because normally they wouldn't commit murder, at most they would capture the evil monk and suppress him in the back mountain, reciting scriptures to reform him.

  "Right, Ao Shu Sheng definitely didn't think we'd dare to launch a direct attack on Evil Ridge!" Gu Changqing's expression twisted into a grotesque grimace.

  Meng Qi pointed his sword in the direction of the evil ridge, saying coldly: "The road ahead is perilous, but I am not afraid. I only want to kill my way to the face of the wicked Book of Life, take his dog's head, and set fire to burn down this evil camp. What about you?"

  "I'm not afraid of death, what else can I be afraid of?" Gu Changqing's face was pale, but his eyes seemed to have flames burning in them.

  "Master brother, I want to go too! Gu's family members died saving me." Zhen Hui said solemnly.

  Meng Qi thought for a moment: "You secretly take charge of setting fires, don't confront them head-on."

  "Yes." Zhen Hui nodded heavily.

  Meng Qi put away his sword and sat down directly: "Then let's have dinner, after finishing it, we'll conquer the Evil Ridge!"