Chapter 33

Zhang Yuanshan pondered for a moment and said with a slight smile, "True Ding, my junior brother, is a disciple of a good friend of my master, and his nickname is 'Buddha Sword of Cutting Karma.'"

"‘Buddha Sword of Cutting Karma’..." Lin Bixue repeated softly, then chuckled, "So Master True Ding is also a disciple of a hermit sage."

"‘Buddha Sword of Cutting Karma’..." Meng Qi's lips twitched; he was not very satisfied with the nickname Zhang Yuanshan had given him. Do I even like using swords?

He smiled, picked up his teacup, sipped some clear tea, and said cryptically, "All are immersed in the sea of suffering, how can one speak of being outside it?"

At this moment, Meng Qi felt particularly regretful that he was wearing tattered, blood-stained gray monk's robes, unable to display the transcendent demeanor of an enlightened monk!

"Interesting, interesting!" Lin Bixue laughed, raised his cup, and drank the strong liquor in one gulp.

"‘Buddha Sword of Cutting Karma?’" Wei Wujie and the others in the inn murmured to themselves, savoring this unfamiliar nickname. However, since it was said by Master Zhang, Master True Ding must indeed be extraordinary. They themselves were still too shallow in their understanding of the world beyond the He-Lo martial arts.

Zhang Yuanshan turned to look at Qi Zhengyan and the others who had not moved closer, and said to Lin Bixue, "I have guests, please forgive me, Brother Lin."

Lin Bixue waved his hand indifferently, "I also need to return to my room to meditate and rest. Duercha's experts may attack at any time, so I must be well-prepared."

After bidding farewell to Lin Bixue, Zhang Yuanshan led Meng Qi and the others to the third floor of the inn, and said with a smile, "Junior brothers True Ding and Qi, seeing you covered in blood and with tattered clothes, this journey must have been difficult. However, no one was killed, which is truly impressive."

"We did not encounter any enemies at the Enlightenment stage," Qi Zhengyan explained simply.

"Hmm, perhaps they didn't catch up in time. I have heard that Duercha has four先天 (Xiantian) experts: 'River Guardian' Guan Haoran, 'Versatile Scholar' Kuang Chengwang, 'White Eyebrow Evil Wolf' Bolohan, and 'Palm of the Universe' Tang Shun. You must be careful of the remaining three," Zhang Yuanshan stopped at a door and knocked lightly.

"Come in," Jiang Zhewei's voice, like a lark, sounded from inside the room.

Pushing open the door, Meng Qi saw Jiang Zhewei sitting in meditation, the sword 'White Rainbow Piercing the Sun' unsheathed and resting on her knees, reflecting the sunlight like a clear spring.

The alluring young woman sat idly at the table, playing with the teacup in front of her.

"Little monk, you've had quite an adventure," Jiang Zhewei sheathed her sword and greeted them with a smile, "I'm rather dull, having a good opponent, but Master Zhang took it away."

Because no one was killed, she was in a good mood and started joking.

"Amitabha, my Buddha is compassionate, I do not wish to kill. However, cutting karma or not, killing to protect life, if I do not go to hell, who will?" Meng Qi recited some phrases he had heard before, which sounded quite profound.

"Haha, you're quite a talkative monk, your arguments are quite convincing, I almost fell for it," Jiang Zhewei said with a smile, and Zhang Yuanshan laughed and shook his head, clearly not having heard such twisted logic before.

Then, Jiang Zhewei pointed to the alluring young woman, "This lady is Ke Bi Jun, she has achieved minor success in Qi cultivation and contributed a lot during the breakthrough."

Meng Qi nodded and greeted her, then introduced Xiao Zi and Xiang Hui, and finally asked, "What about the other one? Did he die in the pursuit?"

"Wang Jin, a master at the Enlightenment stage, came to Shaolin and completed the first main quest. He is not very willing to mix with us younger ones and is now moving around, seeking external support," Zhang Yuanshan answered calmly.

Meng Qi was very concerned about the main quest, "You completed the first main quest? What is the second main quest?"

"We met the abbot last night and completed the first main quest, receiving merit points as a reward. However, since our backgrounds are unclear, they did not allow us to stay in the temple and sent us down the mountain, saying they would discuss further after interrogating the traitor," Jiang Zhewei briefly recounted the events of the previous night. "The second main quest is to defend Shaolin until the last moment, with a reward of 100 merit points if successful, and a deduction if not."

She paused and continued, "You don't need to worry too much, they will definitely seek you out to verify the information, to avoid being deceived."

Hearing Jiang Zhewei's words, Meng Qi felt reassured and said with a smile, "Master Zhang, do you have any spare clothes to lend me? This outfit is really uncomfortable."

Zhang Yuanshan chuckled, "I have already prepared clothes for you. Junior brothers True Ding and Qi, and Brother Xiang Hui, come with me to the next room to take a bath and change clothes."

...

After taking a bath and changing clothes, feeling refreshed, Meng Qi was greeted by De Guang, who informed him that Abbot Xin Ji would personally meet with them to inquire about the breakout and the traitor.

The mountain path was winding and the forest was lush. Meng Qi found it increasingly familiar.

Isn't this the path I usually take to fetch water? Meng Qi suddenly realized and turned to look at Jiang Zhewei, Zhang Yuanshan, and Qi Zhengyan, receiving their affirmative nods.

Could this place really be identical to our Shaolin, except for the people inside?

"Abbot Xin Ji is a peak Xiantian expert, just one step away from the realm where the inner and outer worlds intersect, the 'Immortal True' realm. You must not be impolite," Zhang Yuanshan suddenly introduced the abbot to Meng Qi and the others.

"Master Zhang, you flatter. In our Buddhist tradition, we do not call it the 'Immortal True' realm, but the 'Zen Realm'," De Guang explained with a relaxed expression.

At this moment, Jiang Zhewei's familiar voice sounded in Meng Qi's ear, "The temple layout is the same as Shaolin. Don't be surprised, the mysteries of the cycle world are too many."

With Jiang Zhewei's reminder, Meng Qi entered the temple gate and walked through the square, the main hall, and the courtyard without showing any surprise, but his mind was a bit dazed, as if he was not completing a cycle task but walking with True Wisdom and the others, following the routine of fetching water, learning to read, practicing martial arts, meditating, and reciting scriptures.

Dong!

The deep and resonant bell sound woke Meng Qi from his daze, calming his anxious and uncertain heart.

Entering the Great Hall, Meng Qi saw more than ten monks in yellow robes and red cassocks. The leader had sparse white eyebrows, loose skin, and many wrinkles, but his eyes were kind and clear.

"Thank you, sirs, for risking your lives to report," Abbot Xin Ji clasped his hands and recited a Buddhist chant.

"The barbarians are fierce and enemies of all, we monks have only done our part to protect the purity of our Buddhist land," Meng Qi, skilled in formal speech, took out the list of traitors given by the 'Master of the Six Realms'.

Abbot Xin Ji nodded slightly and waved his hand. The thin paper instantly floated like willow fluff and landed in his hand.

Suddenly, Meng Qi's vision blurred, and he saw the golden Buddha statue in the center of the hall smiling and holding a flower. Below, the candle flames rose and formed words.

"Traitor list delivered to Shaolin, first main quest completed, each person entering the temple rewarded with 50 merit points."

"Second main quest initiated: Defend Shaolin until the last moment, no early escape. Success rewards 100 merit points, failure deducts 100 merit points."

The sparks faded, and the words disappeared. Meng Qi felt a great weight lifted from his heart, lowered his eyelids, and waited quietly for Abbot Xin Ji to ask questions.

Abbot Xin Ji nodded as he read, and finally sighed, "In the face of worldly temptations, even monks cannot be completely immune. This time, we owe much to the sirs for risking their lives to deliver this list, otherwise the consequences would have been unimaginable."

"Abbot, your great skills are unparalleled. Even if Duercha leads many experts to attack, Shaolin cannot be breached. We are just adding a touch of beauty to the already beautiful," Zhang Yuanshan replied politely.

Abbot Xin Ji shook his head, "Monks do not lie. If the traitors act, the mountain passes will not be defensible, making it difficult to stop Duercha's army. Moreover, I am near the end of my life, my skills are not what they used to be. Duercha is known as the first expert among the barbarians, his attacks stir the wind and clouds. I have no confidence in stopping him and can only sacrifice my body to find a chance to suppress him."

"Abbot, you must not! Preserve your valuable life for the future!"

"Master, you have been a symbol of Shaolin for decades. As long as you are here, even if the temple is destroyed, Shaolin will remain unharmed!"

The chief elders spoke one after another, trying to dissuade him.

Abbot Xin Ji raised his right hand to stop the noise, "Amitabha, as monks, why can't you see through this decaying body?"

He then smiled at Meng Qi, "I am quite interested in the pursuit you faced. Could you tell me about it?"

Meng Qi knew this was key to gaining trust and nodded slightly, "I will answer any questions, Abbot."

Abbot Xin Ji asked Meng Qi, Qi Zhengyan, Xiao Zi, and Xiang Hui one by one, mainly about the details.

As long as it did not involve their origins, Meng Qi and the others had nothing to hide and did not alter their accounts based on each other's responses, simply telling the truth.

Abbot Xin Ji's expression did not change, and he patiently listened to their answers.

"Old as I am, I have some peculiarities. Thank you for satisfying my curiosity," Abbot Xin Ji said with a smile, then turned to the monk beside him, "Arrange for the sirs..."

Before he could finish, one of the people standing in front of him, like a ghost, darted out and pressed a palm against his chest.

The cassock billowed, instantly repelling the figure. Abbot Xin Ji spat out a mouthful of blood, which hit the person like iron sand, making him stagger.

"Xiang Hui?" At this moment, Meng Qi realized that the person who attacked the abbot was his companion, Xiang Hui!

"Ha ha, the general sends his regards to the abbot!" "Xiang Hui" laughed loudly and slipped out of the hall like a wisp of smoke.

He chose the direction of Ke Bi Jun, who had lower martial skills.

Slap! He struck Ke Bi Jun away and saw the empty door ahead.

Success! He thought excitedly.

Suddenly, a sword light flashed, the coldness piercing his brow, forcing him to pause and change direction.

But the sword light, like a bone-deep sore, followed him no matter how he dodged, always causing a sharp pain in his brow!

"What kind of sword technique is this?" He was both surprised and frightened.

At this moment, one of the chief elders beside Abbot Xin Ji exclaimed in shock:

"Versatile Scholar!"

Meng Qi suddenly understood. Xiang Hui had already died in the second attack and was replaced by "Versatile Scholar"!

Thinking about spending a whole day with such a terrifying enemy, Meng Qi shuddered.

Fortunately, his target was not me!