Chapter 80

Shinma's Line (80)

The path leading to Shaolin Temple.

At the very back of the long procession of incense guests climbing the mountain was Bangyewi, carrying a heavy load on his shoulders.

He had volunteered to be a porter to blend in naturally with the incense guests.

With his already imposing build, the additional luggage made him look like a small mountain in motion.

Bangyewi glanced at the excited and chattering incense guests and noticed Chao Ailiang walking far ahead.

—Brother Chao, do we really have to go this far?

Chao Ailiang turned his head at Bangyewi's telepathic message.

—Thanks to you, we managed to blend in with them, didn't we?

At this moment, something caught Chao Ailiang's eye.

It was a long iron rod protruding from the items Bangyewi was carrying.

The famous weapon, Daichozagon.

—Why don't you just announce that Bangyewi is here?

No matter how ignorant the Shaolin monks might be, they wouldn't fail to recognize Bangyewi's build and the Daichozagon.

—This?

Bangyewi pulled out the Daichozagon and threw it into the forest.

It seemed like a casual toss, but the iron rod landed precisely on a tall tree.

—We can pick it up later.

After disposing of any potential clues, the two men blended in with the incense guests and arrived at the front of Shaolin Temple.

It seemed they had pre-arranged this, as the welcoming monk led them calmly through the mountain gate of Shaolin.

* * *

Creak.

The door opened, and Dan Aoxian, who had just finished the treatment, appeared.

His complexion was pale from the overnight treatment, and he was drenched in sweat.

Hansulhua quickly ran to support the staggering Dan Aoxian.

Her eyes were filled with sympathy as she helped him.

Hegong, the monk, looked slightly surprised at the sight.

"Who would have thought that the Ice Jade Immortal could show such an expression."

Only then did Fayuan recall what Hegong had said earlier.

He had mentioned that she didn't know how to treat people warmly. However, her face, as she dealt with Dan Aoxian, was as gentle and kind as if she were a different person.

Hansulhua wiped the sweat from Dan Aoxian's face with her sleeve, and he smiled brightly.

"It was successful."

"I believed it would be."

Dan Aoxian smiled again at the firm and unwavering answer.

"Um…"

At this moment, the head monk of Yaowang Hall spoke cautiously.

"How is the Discipline Master's condition…?"

"You can go in and see. He has regained consciousness."

The head monk, who had been surprised, led the monks of Yaowang Hall into the room.

"Amitabha!"

The monks of Yaowang Hall, seeing Fayao sitting with his eyes faintly open, spontaneously exclaimed the Buddha's name.

For nearly a year, they had tried every method, but there had been no improvement. Now, he had opened his eyes in just one day!

It would have been impossible without the Buddha's protection.

The name Yaowang Hall was derived from the Bodhisattva's practice of healing all beings and eliminating disasters, as embodied by the Medicine Buddha. To them, Dan Aoxian felt like the incarnation of the Medicine Buddha sent by the Buddha.

"He might still be confused. Help him understand the current situation and ensure he rests until he fully recovers."

"I will do so. Thank you, Layman Dan."

Facheng, the head monk of Yaowang Hall, who was genuinely moved, bowed deeply to Dan Aoxian.

Fayuan, who approached Dan Aoxian, also held his hand with a bright smile.

"Thank you, Layman Dan. Thanks to you, I can now rid myself of the heart demons."

"I still have a long way to go before I can follow my parents."

With a polite and humble response, Dan Aoxian turned his head to look at someone.

"Hello. Are you perhaps Venerable Hegong?"

Hegong nodded with a kind smile.

"Thank you for bringing this poor disciple back to the monk's side, despite his reckless attempt to take refuge with the Buddha."

Dan Aoxian was momentarily taken aback by the extremely respectful tone. However, there was something he needed to do first.

The moment his tension eased, sleep overcame him.

Even now, he was struggling to keep his heavy eyelids open.

"I came to speak with you. Actually, I have a favor to ask…"

At this moment, Hansulhua interrupted Dan Aoxian.

"Perhaps you should rest first."

"Huh? But…"

Hansulhua turned her head and looked at Hegong.

Hegong nodded in response.

"Let's do that. I will wait this time."

Dan Aoxian finally relaxed and smiled tiredly. His head soon drooped.

Hansulhua picked up the unconscious Dan Aoxian.

"You've worked hard."

Hansulhua, who had brushed the sweat from Dan Aoxian's forehead, turned her head to look at Fayuan. Her warm gaze had turned as cold as ice.

"I will take care of him."

Guided by Fayuan, the abbot, Hansulhua headed to the quarters prepared for the two of them.

* * *

"Huh? What…?"

Chao Ailiang looked at Bangyewi, who was noticeably flustered and making strange noises.

—Shh! What are you doing all of a sudden?

Chao Ailiang's telepathic message made Bangyewi point to a spot.

Chao Ailiang turned his head in the direction Bangyewi pointed and froze in place.

In the distance, Hansulhua was visible among a group of moving monks.

"These damn monks finally…!"

Seeing Dan Aoxian, who was limp in Hansulhua's arms, Bangyewi growled with a fierce expression.

Just as Bangyewi was about to launch himself, he made eye contact with Hansulhua.

—Why are you here?

Hansulhua's telepathic message made Chao Ailiang and Bangyewi exchange telepathic messages.

—What's going on? Why does Doctor Dan look like that?

—Who is it? Who did this to our Doctor Dan?

Hansulhua frowned at their agitated state.

—He's just sleeping.

—Really?

—Yes.

Only after receiving several assurances did the two men finally relax.

Suddenly, Hansulhua's sharp gaze made Chao Ailiang smile awkwardly.

—Is everything going well?

—As long as these fools don't interfere.

He then coldly turned his gaze away.

—So, get lost.

"Who…?"

Bangyewi was about to react but quickly suppressed his anger. Causing a commotion would not be good for Dan Aoxian.

"Since Doctor Dan is safe, let's head back."

Chao Ailiang's words made Bangyewi reluctantly nod.

However, there are places in the martial world that are easy to enter but hard to leave.

One of those few places was Shaolin.

* * *

Before the incense burning.

In the forest surrounding Shaolin Temple, a fierce territorial dispute was underway.

Nature's laws were not so lenient as to allow the intrusion of a stray from the outside.

Sizzle!

A squirrel, severely affected by the territory's owner, ran along a tree branch and then slipped.

It had mistakenly stepped on a smooth iron rod instead of the rough bark.

To avoid falling, the squirrel dangled from the end of the iron rod and began to struggle to pull itself back up.

The iron rod wobbled slightly.

The more the squirrel struggled, the more the iron rod's amplitude increased.

Then, at one moment.

The iron rod, slippery from melted snow, fell to the ground.

Boom!

The heavy impact shook the forest.

Almost simultaneously, a young monk appeared nearby.

"Huh? What's this?"

It looked like a mallet, but the spikes on the head seemed unsuitable for threshing grain.

If he had known it was the famous weapon, Daichozagon, used to crack skulls and peel flesh, he would have run away without looking back. However, the young monk, with no experience in the martial world, had no way of recognizing it.

"I should find its owner."

Unable to move it alone due to its weight, the young monk called a nearby fellow monk. Together, they grunted and groaned as they moved the Daichozagon.

Thus, the two young monks disappeared into Shaolin Temple with the Daichozagon.

* * *

The incense guests burned incense, offered flowers, and bowed to the Buddha statues.

Their prayers were filled with earnest wishes for a better life, relying on the Buddha's compassion.

At this moment, a young monk from the Gongzi Hall rushed over.

Without even wiping the sweat from his pale face, the young monk approached the monk from the Liaozu Hall who was guiding the incense guests and whispered something.

'What's going on?'

Noticing the monk's sudden shock, Chao Ailiang and Bangyewi sensed that something was amiss.

Sure enough.

"Go straight to the Arhat Hall and report this!"

Liaoyun, the head of the guest hall, instructed the young monk and then addressed the incense guests.

"An unexpected incident has occurred, so we will postpone the prayers. I will guide you to a safe place."

"What happened, Venerable?"

Liaoyun answered the question with a serious face.

"It seems a dangerous guest, who was not invited, has visited our temple."

"Who is it that you look so worried?"

Liaoyun sighed deeply.

"It seems to be a ruffian from the martial world known as Wangshan Chaozi."

At this, gasps of shock erupted from the incense guests.

"Don't worry. This is Shaolin, the holy land of the Central Plains martial world. We will ensure your safety."

Chao Ailiang and Bangyewi exchanged glances.

The situation was turning serious.

—How did they know we were here?

Bangyewi's telepathic message made Chao Ailiang frown.

—What did you do?

—Me? I've been with Brother Chao the whole time.

Neither of them had done anything suspicious that would draw attention.

Regardless, the two men silently followed the head of the guest hall. They arrived at a separate annex within Shaolin Temple.

"If you notice anything strange or see someone who looks like Bangyewi, please inform us immediately."

One of the incense guests shouted out.

"But we've only heard rumors and don't know what he looks like."

Liaoyun nodded and described Bangyewi's appearance.

"He is about seven feet tall, with piercing eyes like a tiger's. His build is reminiscent of an iron tower, making him easy to recognize…"

Liaoyun trailed off and looked at someone.

Among the incense guests, one person stood out.

His appearance matched the description of Bangyewi exactly.

Sure enough.

The incense guests' gazes all turned to Bangyewi.

—Brother Chao, what should we do? I feel like I'm being suspected.

—Your appearance is indeed rare.

Bangyewi's eyes flashed coldly.

—There's nothing we can do.

—What do you plan to do?

—Since it's come to this, we should have some fun before we leave.

—This is Shaolin Temple.

—The Shaolin monks' heads are said to be made of iron and steel. If we break them, they'll die just the same, won't they?

—Be cautious. Doctor Dan is here.

Mentioning Dan Aoxian, Bangyewi could no longer insist.

At that moment, one of the monks following Liaoyun tilted his head.

"But that person doesn't have a beard like thorns, and he's not bald."

Liaoyun nodded.

The incense guests, who were naive believers, quickly relaxed their suspicions. However, some of the monks who had entered to protect them kept their eyes on Bangyewi.

It was strange that someone with a similar build had entered at this moment.

—Brother Chao, I feel like I'm about to be caught.

Chao Ailiang pondered and made a decision.

—I'll find a way. Stay here and don't move.

—What do you plan to do?

Without answering, Chao Ailiang stepped forward to the monks.

"Venerable, where is the toilet?"

Guided by the monk, Chao Ailiang disappeared.

Left alone, Bangyewi felt extremely uncomfortable with the gazes fixed on him.

'Just hold on. For Doctor Dan.'

Bangyewi could only manage an awkward smile.