Chapter 32

Under the blazing sun and the babbling stream, a group of yellow-robed warrior monks guarded the entrance to the mountain path. Nearby, there were simple inns and markets, forming a bustling area.

"This place looks a lot like your mountain gate..." Qi Zhengyan frowned slightly and said to Meng Qi.

Meng Qi had never left the mountain and was not familiar with the foot of his own sect's mountain, so he shook his head and said, "I was unconscious halfway and was carried up the mountain by an old servant. I have never seen the mountain gate."

This was the truth. It was precisely because the body's owner was unconscious that he could travel through time.

"I saw it when I accompanied the elders of my sect to Shaolin. The layout is basically the same." Although Qi Zhengyan did not say much, there was a hint of confusion on his face. Since these were two different worlds, why were they so similar? Moreover, in his world, Shaolin Temple was on Lotus Platform Mountain, while here it was on Shaohua Mountain, which were not the same mountain ranges.

Meng Qi thought for a moment and said, "Once we get up the mountain, I will know. However, if the layout is just the same, it doesn't mean much. According to the 'Master of the Six Realms,' the realms of reincarnation are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Coincidence is not uncommon, after all, they are all Buddhist temples."

Behind them, Xiao Zi, who looked somewhat listless, listened to their conversation. Xiang Hui, who had been slashed on the face, injuring his nose and muscles, found it painful to speak and no longer flattered them as he did a few days ago. He half-covered his face and occasionally groaned.

Qi Zhengyan, who couldn't figure it out, nodded and walked with Meng Qi to the monks guarding the mountain path. He spoke calmly, "Venerable masters, we have important news to report to your abbot."

"I wonder what news? These are turbulent times, and we cannot let people up the mountain casually." The leading monk clasped his hands and asked without being overly humble or arrogant.

Meng Qi said solemnly, "May I ask the venerable master's name?"

"My Dharma name is De Guang." The leading monk smiled slightly, "May I ask the Dharma name of my junior brother?"

He was trying to establish a connection.

After Meng Qi reported his Dharma name, he said succinctly, "General Duo Er Cha intends to lead his elite forces and army to annihilate your sect. We received help from a righteous person and learned about this, obtaining a list of traitors within your sect. This is a serious matter, and it is not convenient to speak openly. Please inform your abbot, Venerable Master."

De Guang frowned, "Junior Brother Zhen Ding, are you divided into two groups?"

"Exactly, Senior Brother, has the other group arrived?" Meng Qi asked with surprise.

"Yes, two female and two male laymen." De Guang did not hide this, "This news has already spread, and laymen from nearby sects have come to help. They are gathered in the inn next door."

Meng Qi nodded with a smile, feeling unusually relieved. It was good that Zhang Yuanshan and Jiang Zhewei were safe. In the world of reincarnation, the hardest to encounter were righteous disciples of famous sects. If they were harmed, there was a high chance of encountering ruthless or hypocritical people in the future. Besides, he and they had a deep friendship, already considered friends.

De Guang clasped his hands and recited a Buddhist chant, "Namo Amitabha Buddha. At this critical moment for our sect, we dare not let people up the mountain casually, fearing the infiltration of spies. Please go to the inn next door for the time being. I will inform the abbot and then invite you."

Hearing his sincere and frank words, Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan had no objections. After bowing in return, they walked to the inn next door—there were many Shaolin monks, and many guests and vegetable farmers, so a resting place had formed at the foot of the mountain, similar to many other sects.

"Jiang and Zhang have arrived, and our importance has greatly diminished. No wonder they don't pay much attention to us." Meng Qi complained casually.

Qi Zhengyan did not echo Meng Qi, looking up at the sky, "There is still half a day left before the deadline. We should be able to enter the temple in time."

"Nothing will go wrong again, right..." Meng Qi stopped talking, not wanting to jinx it.

"Ha ha, are you also here to aid Shaolin?" At this moment, a rough-looking man walked over, laughing heartily and asking Meng Qi and the others.

Meng Qi smiled, "Yes."

"We are too. Since we heard that the barbarian cannibals are going to besiege Shaolin, many righteous people have come to help." The man pointed to himself, "I am Wei Wujie from Heluo. I haven't had the pleasure of knowing your names yet."

When mentioning his name, Wei Wujie straightened his back, as if preparing to receive surprised and admiring looks, clearly a well-known figure.

Meng Qi secretly rolled his eyes, "How would I know who you are? Don't act like you're so famous, come and worship me."

Except for Duo Er Cha, Meng Qi really didn't know who was who, so he deliberately ignored Wei Wujie's gaze and introduced everyone with a smile.

Wei Wujie's face showed a hint of awkwardness but quickly returned to normal, smiling, "It seems you have gone through a fierce battle to break through? This young lady, it seems, does not know martial arts?"

His doubt was normal, and Meng Qi did not find it strange. If he were in the same situation, he would have similar questions, though he might not say them out loud.

After a moment of thought, he nodded, "On our way here, we encountered several barbarian experts and barely broke through."

He pointed to Xiao Zi, "This is Senior Brother Qi's fiancée. Although she is weak, she has a deep bond with us. She left her comfortable home to come with us, sharing life and death with Senior Brother Qi."

At that moment, Qi Zhengyan's long sword fell to the ground, and he looked at Meng Qi with a complex expression, as if condemning or angry, while Xiao Zi was still confused.

Meng Qi secretly shrugged, "I can't say she's my fiancée, can I?"

Hehe, when it comes to making up melodramatic stories, who in this world can match me?

Wei Wujie nodded in approval, "Brother Qi, to have such a righteous and virtuous lady, I am truly envious. Since we have met like old friends, why don't I treat you all to a drink and a change of clothes?"

Is this a generous and bold hero in the martial world? Meng Qi silently criticized, but since they were near Shaolin, there should be no great danger. He pointed his hand, "Then I will not refuse."

"Ha ha, Venerable Zhen Ding, you are indeed a bold person." Wei Wujie laughed heartily and made an inviting gesture.

On the way to the inn, Meng Qi naturally seized the opportunity to ask Wei Wujie about the local news to find Jiang Zhewei and the others.

"The news just spread, and the martial world of Heluo is in a frenzy. Under the call of many respected heroes, many friends have come to help Shaolin, including the young master of Luohemen, Lin Bixue..." Wei Wujie said with enthusiasm, as if the experts and army of Duo Er Cha would soon be destroyed.

Meng Qi smiled, "Among these respected heroes, there must be you, Hero Wei?"

Wei Wujie smiled modestly, "Not at all, not at all. I just follow the lead of my seniors. Alas, I have practiced martial arts for thirty years but have barely touched the threshold of innate. Compared to young master Lin, who broke through to the innate level before the age of thirty, the difference is immeasurable."

Innate? Meng Qi and Qi Zhengyan exchanged glances, wondering if the realm classification here was different from their world.

"But this time..." Wei Wujie's expression suddenly became a bit lost, as if remembering something unbelievable.

Meng Qi looked at him curiously and stepped into the simple inn with him.

Inside the inn, it was crowded, with all the tables full and many people standing around.

"Is it really so lively?" Wei Wujie pulled over a young and beautiful girl and asked doubtfully.

The heroine pointed to a corner, saying with reverence and admiration, "Young Master Zhang has come down and is drinking tea and discussing with young master Lin."

"Young Master Zhang?" Wei Wujie's expression changed, also showing respect and fear.

Following the girl's finger, Meng Qi looked over and saw a rare quiet spot in the inn.

In the corner, a square table was set up, with two men sitting opposite each other, with cups, teapots, and other items in front of them.

One of the men was mature and refined, with a smile on his face, while the other wore a True Wu robe, with a straight nose, full of vitality, and a handsome and masculine appearance, clearly Meng Qi's acquaintance, Zhang Yuanshan.

Around them, the guests subconsciously left a clear space, making it unusually quiet.

"Young Master Zhang?" Meng Qi repeated Wei Wujie's question, but with a completely different meaning.

Wei Wujie turned to look at Meng Qi and nodded slightly, "Young Master Zhang is a disciple of a hermit sage, walking the martial path for the first time. It's normal that you don't know him."

"Oh?" Meng Qi took the opportunity to inquire about Zhang Yuanshan and the others, to avoid any problems, and put on a curious expression.

Wei Wujie looked at Zhang Yuanshan with reverence again, "Young Master Zhang is a man of great righteousness and high moral principles, unlike us common people. Not only did he break through to the innate level before the age of twenty, but he also braved the night and day, breaking through layers of ambushes to report the news to Shaolin."

Here, innate refers to opening the acupoints? Meng Qi nodded slightly, this was possible. According to Jiang Zhewei's occasional remarks, after achieving the highest level of qi storage, one expels a breath of turbid air, returning to the state of a newborn, to cultivate the inner world and open the innate acupoints.

"And among the experts who ambushed them was 'River Guardian' Guan Haoran, who has been at the innate level for twenty years and is one of the top experts in the world. Unfortunately, he became senile and traitorous, leaving his clan and country to become a barbarian lackey, and was ultimately killed by Young Master Zhang."

The female hero nodded heavily, her cheeks flushed, "This happened at the entrance of Guanhe Town, and many martial artists witnessed it, all amazed by Young Master Zhang's strength. His fame has spread throughout Heluo."

"Although Guan Haoran was old and frail, he was still an innate expert, which shows the terrifying power of Young Master Zhang. Even more terrifying is that he is only nineteen years old. Alas, I feel like I have wasted my life." Wei Wujie mocked himself, somewhat dejected.

"Yes, probably only a genius like young master Lin can be a friend of Young Master Zhang. A disciple of a hermit sage is indeed extraordinary." A passing martial artist also sighed.

Wei Wujie touched his chin, suppressing other emotions, and said with respect and fear, "We should go to the other side to avoid disturbing Young Master Zhang and young master Lin. You, you..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw the little monk in front of him walk straight to where Young Master Zhang and young master Lin were, and he couldn't call him back.

He is too rash! Even if he wants to meet a great person, this will cause resentment.

At the table, Lin Bixue picked up his wine cup and took a sip, "Thirty years of Luohemen wine, rich and fragrant."

Zhang Yuanshan returned the toast and nodded, "Indeed, it is exceptional."

"Alas, the days when we can enjoy tea and wine in peace are few. The world is in turmoil, and even Shaolin is facing a battle. I wonder when we will have peace again." Lin Bixue sighed lightly.

Zhang Yuanshan smiled and sipped his tea, "The way of the world, prosperity leads to decline, and life is born from death. Although the barbarians are strong, they will eventually decline. We must maintain our strength to be the seeds of revival."

Lin Bixue was stunned for a moment and then laughed, "No wonder you are a disciple of a hidden sect..."

Suddenly, his smile disappeared, and he looked imposing, seeing a dirty little monk walking over carelessly.

"Who are you?" he asked slowly, his presence so strong that ordinary martial artists dared not approach, and Wei Wujie was somewhat uneasy, after all, this person was brought in by him.

However, he saw the little monk sit down without hesitation, unceremoniously taking a cup from Zhang Yuanshan, pouring a cup of strong wine, and saying casually, "Let's drink first."

Zhang Yuanshan smiled and did not stop him, instead picking up another cup and pouring a cup of clear tea.

Ah? Seeing Zhang Yuanshan's reaction, Wei Wujie and the female hero, among others, froze, wondering if this seemingly ragged little monk was an old acquaintance of Young Master Zhang. Was he also a disciple of a hidden sect?

Lin Bixue, who was about to get angry, was stunned, then smiled again, picked up his wine cup, and clinked it with Meng Qi's.

The surrounding martial artists, who did not understand, had very colorful expressions, speculating about who this person was.

Cough, cough, cough, after drinking the strong wine, Meng Qi felt a line of fire burning from his throat to his stomach, and couldn't help but cough.

Oh no, I forgot this body isn't used to alcohol!

At this moment, a cup of clear tea appeared in front of Meng Qi, and he picked it up and drank it without thinking, finally stopping the discomfort in his stomach.

"Junior Brother Zhen Ding, regardless of the precepts, it is not wise to drink so rashly for the first time." Zhang Yuanshan said gently, clearly guessing that Meng Qi's body had no experience with alcohol—this was not hard to guess, as those from noble families usually had strict upbringing and were sent to Shaolin at a young age, with no chance to drink.

After stopping his cough, Meng Qi smiled and played with the wine cup, "Without tasting the strong wine, how can a little monk understand the value and necessity of the precepts?"

"Hmm, no destruction, no creation." Zhang Yuanshan agreed indifferently.

"Where is Jiang?" Meng Qi asked solemnly.

Zhang Yuanshan smiled bitterly, "Jiang is impatient with socializing and is still resting upstairs."

"Who is this?" Lin Bixue couldn't help but ask.

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