Chapter 81

(81)

Chao E Liang arrived at the latrine and, once the attendant monk who had guided him left, he hid in the shadows.

There was no reason for the attendant monk to wait, given the tense atmosphere at Shaolin and the monks stationed everywhere.

"If it's Fan Jie Wei..."

Chao E Liang thought of Fan Jie Wei as he left the latrine.

As he moved down below the latrine, a steep slope appeared, revealing a vast tea plantation.

He crossed this area and infiltrated the temple grounds again.

After hiding and concealing his presence for a moment, Chao E Liang's eyes gleamed.

"That will do."

The pagoda that visitors to Shaolin would see first as they entered was right there.

Though it had no historical value, it held significant meaning as the first stone pagoda visitors would see upon entering Shaolin.

Just as Chao E Luang decided on his target, a powerful internal force gathered in his fist.

"Is this the notorious monk's famous weapon?"

A familiar nickname was heard from a distance.

"The staffs of the Arhat monks are heavy, but this is in a different league. How does he even wield this thing?"

"It's an ominous object; ignore it. It's said that he has fed it with blood to enhance its power. How many lives have been lost under this vicious weapon?"

Chao E Liang changed his plan upon hearing their conversation.

'This is more like Fan Jie Wei.'

Following the voices, he saw two monks carrying something and chatting.

Though it was wrapped in cloth, it was clearly Fan Jie Wei's large staff.

"Is he really here?"

"It's not our place to know. We just need to place it in the warehouse as instructed."

Once the monks who had entered and left the warehouse disappeared, Chao E Liang moved.

He infiltrated the warehouse, confirmed Fan Jie Wei's large staff, and carried it out.

After a brief moment to gauge the direction, Chao E Liang leaped.

In the blink of an eye, he jumped nearly a hundred feet, and a hall came into view.

Right in the center of the temple complex.

The Great Vairocana Hall, the largest in Shaolin Temple.

Chao E Liang's eyes flashed menacingly for a moment.

At the same time, Fan Jie Wei's large staff had already turned into a streak of light.

The large staff, released from Chao E Liang's hand, rushed straight toward the Great Vairocana Hall.

Bang!

With a deafening roar, the large staff pierced through the wall and disappeared.

'This is the interest on the debt he owes me.'

At that moment, figures running toward the Great Vairocana Hall caught his eye.

Deciding to change his approach, Chao E Liang returned to the latrine, changed his expression, and calmly went back to the hall where the incense guests were staying.

However, the atmosphere there was as chaotic as an anthill disturbed.

The attendant monks, who had taken over from the hall master, were sweating profusely as they tried to calm the anxious incense guests.

At this moment, Fan Jie Wei approached Chao E Liang and asked in a low voice.

"What did you do?"

"I just imitated you a bit."

"Imitated me?"

"Yes. Now they won't suspect you anymore."

Fan Jie Wei, hearing Chao E Liang's explanation, burst into anger.

"Hmph! So you came back here to have all the fun by yourself?"

"Is there a better way than this?"

Fan Jie Wei, at a loss for words, awkwardly turned his gaze toward the Great Vairocana Hall.

"Still, I hope everything is alright."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean Doctor Dan. I'm worried that the commotion just now might have ruined our plans to come here."

Chao E Liang flinched.

After a long moment of serious contemplation, Chao E Liang suddenly spoke.

"One thing is certain."

"..."

"All this chaos is because of you."

"What?"

Chao E Liang avoided Fan Jie Wei's gaze.

"I'm not to blame."

"What a despicable act!"

As Fan Jie Wei erupted in anger, a few incense guests and monks turned their heads toward them.

Fan Jie Wei had no choice but to shut his mouth.

Chao E Liang did the same.

He tried his best to ignore the sharp, dagger-like gaze Fan Jie Wei was giving him.

In a corner of the guest hall, a monk's room was set up.

A soft cushion was laid on the hard bed, a sign of Shaolin's consideration for their benefactor.

Han Xuehua sat beside the bed, quietly watching Dan Aoxian, who was fast asleep.

Dan Aoxian was so exhausted that he slept soundly without a stir.

Han Xuehua, looking at him with a sympathetic gaze, gently reached out and brushed the sweat-soaked hair from his forehead.

How much time had passed?

"..."

Han Xuehua's gaze suddenly turned to the ceiling.

She had spread a web-like sense around to protect Dan Aoxian.

'What is he doing?'

High up in the air.

The powerful energy currents swirling there were undoubtedly Chao E Liang's.

At that moment.

Bang!

A shockwave accompanied by a roar shook the guest hall.

Han Xuehua's eyes turned cold in an instant.

Dan Aoxian, who had been sleeping, opened his eyes due to the shock.

At this moment, the door opened, and an attendant monk entered.

"Are you alright?"

"What happened?"

The attendant monk looked perplexed at Han Xuehua's question.

"Fan Jie Wei attacked the Great Vairocana Hall. I came to check on you just in case."

"What?"

Han Xuehua momentarily doubted her own ears.

The person she had sensed was clearly Chao E Liang.

"The Abbot and the Arhat monks have already taken action. The situation will be under control soon. Please wait here until then. He is known to be extremely vicious, so please be careful."

The attendant monk bowed respectfully and retreated.

At that moment, Dan Aoxian tried to sit up.

Han Xuehua stopped him and spoke.

"You need to rest more."

"I thought I heard Uncle Fan's name just now."

"Don't worry, it's nothing. I'll explain when you wake up. Just rest easy."

Dan Aoxian, blinking his bloodshot eyes, nodded and soon fell back asleep.

"What are these fools up to now?"

Han Xuehua extended her senses to search for Chao E Liang's trail.

But it had already vanished as if it had never been there.

Han Xuehua sighed softly.

'Should I have sealed his acupoints and brought him here?'

She regretted her foolishness in believing they would behave themselves.

But there was nothing she could do at the moment.

She could only hope they wouldn't cause any more significant trouble.

At the same time.

"Amitabha..."

A mournful Buddhist chant burst from Fayuan's lips.

The dozens of statues he had cultivated since becoming a disciple.

The death of his disciple Ryofan. And the illness of his fellow disciple Horyo, which he had maintained with a semblance of composure.

All of this crumbled in an instant at the sudden disaster.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't shake off the confusion and bewilderment.

The scene before him was so shocking that he couldn't believe his eyes.

The statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, which had been enshrined in the center of the Great Vairocana Hall since the founding of Shaolin by the Indian monk Batuo during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, was now rolling on the floor.

The head of the statue, which had stood for over a thousand years, had been severed.

A massive, heavy iron rod was clearly embedded in the shattered neck.

This was an unprecedented disaster in the thousand-year history of Shaolin.

Fayuan was overwhelmed by confusion and bewilderment before anger.

"Did you find him... Fan Jie Wei?"

"Not yet. But we are searching the area thoroughly and will find him soon."

"How could he do such a thing, despite having no significant ties to us?"

"Perhaps it's because of the Wulin Alliance. I heard he recently appeared at the Baijian Sect, causing significant damage."

"Hmm."

Fayuan sighed, a sense of regret evident in his eyes.

"The debt we owe to the Nan Gong family is so great."

Ryokou's face grew heavy as he realized the implications.

During the Great Battle against the Demon Sect.

Shaolin could not remain unscathed by the death of the previous head of the Nan Gong family, who had fought alone against the overwhelming attack of the Demon Sect.

Fayuan's inability to refuse Nan Gong Bai's request for Shaolin's experts to help in the hunt for Chao E Liang was also due to this.

But the blood debt from the past, which had taken the life of his fellow disciple Ryofan, had now come full circle, bringing another disaster.

Fayuan, sighing deeply, chanted another Buddhist verse.

A voice woke him from his thoughts.

"Is the earth collapsing? Or is the sky falling? Why are you walking toward hell with your legs intact?"

"Uncle..."

Hui Gong, who had approached Fayuan, cast a reproachful glance.

"Tsk tsk. Your eyebrows are white with frost, yet your heart remains as poor as ever, with no place for even a single needle. Where have you spent your years?"

"..."

"Ri Mu Tu Yuan (日暮途遠)! The road is long, yet the day is already setting! When will you pass on your robe and staff to me, an old man?"

Fayuan's face turned red.

It was true.

How could he not know the reason he had delayed passing on the staff and robe?

He had been waiting for the day when, like the great patriarch Mazu, Dan Aoxian would ripen in his bodhi mind and awaken as a 'thousand-mile horse that tramples the world.'

Fayuan, sighing, gave instructions to the surrounding monks.

"Collect the remains of the Buddha's body."

At this, Hui Gong shouted like a thunderbolt.

"Remains of the Buddha's body? Where is the Buddha nature in that piece of wood rolling around?"

The monks flinched at his outburst.

While they were at a loss, Hui Gong stepped forward.

At the same time, he swung his staff.

Bang!

The wooden statue, which had maintained its form below the neck, shattered into pieces with a single strike.

A voice like a thunderclap echoed through the hall.

"Kill the Buddha, kill the patriarch! When you meet the Buddha, kill the Buddha; when you meet the patriarch, kill the patriarch!"

The monks, including Fayuan, bowed deeply.

The teaching of Linji Yixuan, one of the great patriarchs, pierced their hearts at that moment.

A great shout to warn against attachment to concepts!

His cry that one should attain enlightenment even if it means committing the five grave sins (造五無間業 方得解脫) shook Shaolin across centuries.

At that moment.

"Huh?"

Someone in the hall burst out in confusion.

As all eyes turned to him, a young monk pointed to a spot, looking bewildered.

"Is that... a relic (舍利)?"