Chapter 47

In an ordinary courtyard, sturdy and majestic bodhi trees grew, their canopies like umbrellas, providing a cool shade.

This was the Bodhi Hall within Shaolin Temple, dedicated to the study of Buddhist teachings and the enlightenment of the Zen mind, often mentioned alongside the Dharma Hall, which focused on martial arts. The elders in the Bodhi Hall were all terrifyingly skilled, transcending the ordinary, and were not inferior to the monks in the Dharma Hall, almost comparable to living arhats.

The reason for this was that Shaolin belonged to the Buddhist lineage, and most of its divine skills required a pure Zen mind. The deeper one's understanding of Buddhism and the more one transcended the mundane world, the more one could grasp the true essence and make rapid progress.

In a meditation room within the Bodhi Hall, which had only a dozen or so cushions, a withered old monk with no eyebrows or beard struck the wooden fish in front of him and said in a hollow voice, "Nephew Xuanbei, why do you insist on taking Zhen Ding as a disciple?"

Before Xuanbei, who was handsome but filled with melancholy, could speak, a kind-looking old monk beside him said leisurely, "Nephew Xuanbei, I do not oppose you taking Zhen Hui as a disciple. The monks in charge of the Miscellaneous Service Hall and the Martial Monks Hall all say he is focused and in harmony with the true meaning of Buddhism, showing innate wisdom. However, Zhen Ding was always impulsive and scheming in the Miscellaneous Service Hall, and in the Martial Monks Hall, he bullied the weak, which goes against the spirit of compassion. How can such a character receive the orthodox teachings of Shaolin?"

The withered old monk who spoke first followed up, "Zhen Ding has made great contributions, but for the orthodox teachings, character is paramount. Even if not wise and simple, at least he should not be arrogant and bullying. In my opinion, it would be better to let him choose a cultivation technique as a reward."

The elders of the Bodhi Hall and the Dharma Hall would secretly observe the monks in the Miscellaneous Service Hall and the Martial Monks Hall, and combine the comments from the monks in charge to make judgments, to avoid entrusting the orthodox teachings to the wrong person.

Of course, this could only minimize the risk of monks betraying the temple and Buddhism. Throughout history, there have always been monks who fell into the mundane world and became corrupt, and there have always been those who were skilled in surface-level techniques but had poor character, like several eccentric high monks in the Dharma Hall. However, for disciples who had received the orthodox teachings, Shaolin would try to correct and guide them with Buddhist teachings to save those who had strayed.

Due to his frequent frowning, Xuanbei had wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and between his brows. He looked into the void and said, "Honorable Uncles and Elders, Zhen Ding did not bully the weak in the Martial Monks Hall. Zhen Liang often bullied others in the martial hall, and Zhen Ding's actions were to uphold justice. Although his methods were wrong, his character is not flawed."

He had become a monk later in life and was accustomed to using terms closer to those of a martial hero.

The monks present were all of the "Wu" generation, so he addressed them as Uncles and Elders—there were fewer than five "Kong" generation monks still alive in the temple.

"Using violence to stop violence, is that the true meaning of our Buddha?" the kind-looking old monk shook his head.

The withered old monk said calmly, "Nephew Xuanbei, why not wait a bit longer and let Zhen Ding refine his character further in the Martial Monks Hall?"

Xuanbei turned to look at the old monk and respectfully clasped his hands together, "Zhen Ding is young and easily influenced. He is impulsive and cannot be refined too much. Amitabha, our Buddha is compassionate. I humbly request that Uncle Wusi allow me to take him as a disciple."

The withered old monk was Wusi, the head of the Bodhi Hall and the eldest disciple of the abbot Kongwen. Xuanbei's master was Kongwen's youngest disciple, Wu Kong, who had passed away due to a severe injury from a monster before Xuanbei entered the temple.

The kind-looking old monk frowned, "If he cannot be refined, how can he study Buddhism? Nephew Xuanbei, why do you insist on taking him as a disciple?"

It was the same old question.

Xuanbei looked down, not speaking.

Wusi struck the wooden fish and said, "Brother Wuxiang, taking a disciple is a personal matter. We need not say more. Nephew Xuanbei, you must bear the responsibility in the future."

In other words, if your disciple commits a grave mistake, you, as the master who insisted on taking him, will also be punished.

Xuanbei nodded slowly, "I understand."

...

Looking at the lush and serene bodhi trees, Meng Qi felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. Because he relied on the reward from the Bodhi Hall, he had not exchanged for a main cultivation technique in the cycle world. If his wish was not fulfilled, his development would be greatly hindered, and he would not make significant progress. The next cycle mission would be very dangerous.

Normally, whether it was the completion of the Plum Rain Needle, the Blood Knife Technique, the Lingzhi Qi Pill, or the first move of the Arhat Breaking Precepts Knife Technique, they should all come after the main cultivation technique!

If not for the reward from the Bodhi Hall, Meng Qi would probably have chosen the main cultivation technique plus the completion of the first move of the Arhat Breaking Precepts Knife Technique, and let his friends like Jiang Zhimi collect some ordinary needles for him to load.

Looking at the bodhi trees and the earnestly walking Zhen Hui beside him, Meng Qi felt a bit puzzled, "If we are here to claim the reward, why bring Little Junior Brother along?"

This was the source of his anxiety.

"Little Junior Brother, what have you been doing recently?" Meng Qi couldn't help but ask.

Zhen Hui counted on his fingers, "Morning prayers, fetching water, breakfast, learning to read, lunch, practicing martial arts, dinner, meditation, listening to stories, sleeping, and, oh, cursing the Discipline Hall."

"That's not what I meant." Meng Qi looked up at the sky, speechless, "Do you know why you are here at the Bodhi Hall?"

Zhen Hui looked at Meng Qi with bright eyes, "Brother, do you know?"

He seemed to want to know the answer too.

"Alright, I don't know either." Meng Qi covered his face.

Pushing open the gate, the two followed the guiding novice monk into a meditation room. Inside were two monks, both high-ranking monks in yellow robes and red kasayas. One looked to be in his forties, elegant and handsome but exuding a melancholic aura, and was none other than Xuanbei, whom Meng Qi had met before. The other was withered and wrinkled, with few eyebrows or beard.

"Grandmaster, Uncle, we have brought Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui." The novice monk bowed and left.

"I am the head of the Bodhi Hall, Wusi." Hearing the withered old monk say this, Meng Qi quickly led Zhen Hui in a solemn bow.

Wusi said expressionlessly, "Zhen Hui, Xuanbei wishes to take you as a disciple. Are you willing?"

Ah? Meng Qi was shocked but then felt relieved. It turned out that Zhen Hui was here because Xuanbei had chosen him, and it had nothing to do with his reward.

Sigh, this guy looks foolish but is always chosen by high monks... Meng Qi felt a bit envious and jealous, but these feelings quickly subsided. First, he and Zhen Hui were very close, and he genuinely felt happy for him. Second, Meng Qi had a great secret and was not suitable for a master-disciple relationship. It was better to have a unique skill and blend in with the martial monks, and when the opportunity arose, leave Shaolin.

Zhen Hui's dull face first showed confusion, then joy and hesitation, and he knelt down, "Disciple is willing, but I have a request."

"Others are grateful when taken as disciples, how can you make requests?" Wusi did not get angry at the pure-hearted child but scolded him with a smile.

Xuanbei was not angry either and nodded slightly, "You are honest and sincere. What is your request?"

"Please take Brother Zhen Ding as a disciple too." Zhen Hui did not look up, his voice sounding a bit muffled.

Ah? Meng Qi was shocked again, then deeply moved. Although he had been good to Zhen Hui, often concerned and "teaching" him, it was mainly to alleviate his own loneliness and the pressure from the cycle world. He didn't think Zhen Hui would value him so much and return his kindness so sincerely!

Xuanbei's lips curled into a smile, his melancholic aura dissipating a bit, "You are indeed a loyal brother."

Hearing this, Meng Qi came to his senses and looked at Zhen Hui with a "grievance," Little Junior Brother, I know you mean well, but I really don't want a master! Don't do a good deed and make a mistake!

Looking at Zhen Hui, he then looked at Xuanbei with earnest eyes, don't agree, please don't agree!

"Zhen Ding, I can feel your desire. Since Zhen Hui is so earnest, I will reluctantly agree." Xuanbei readily agreed, his smile faint but without any shadow.

Wusi did not speak, just sighed lightly at Xuanbei's smile. Since Xuanbei entered Shaolin, he had rarely smiled.

No need to be reluctant! Meng Qi wished he could blind himself, but in this situation, he could not refuse. After all, something unusual must be a demon!

Out of a hundred martial monks, at most one could resist the "temptation" of being taken as a disciple by an elder, and that was only because they had a better choice.

Whatever, I will find a chance to leave the mountain. With a master's guidance, I might even shorten the time! Meng Qi thought, and then knelt down, "Disciple greets Master."

After some preparation, Meng Qi and Zhen Hui formally became disciples in the Bodhi Hall, with many elders and monks from the Bodhi and Dharma Halls, as well as the Discipline Hall and Miscellaneous Service Hall, witnessing the ceremony to confirm the change in their status.

When Xuan Kong, representing the Discipline Hall, entered the Bodhi Hall and saw Meng Qi and Zhen Hui kneeling before Xuanbei, his face turned black, as if it could drip water. He asked other monks with a trembling voice, "Are they going to become disciples?"

Receiving a positive answer, he looked dazed, filled with regret. If he had known that Xuanbei had already chosen Zhen Ding and Zhen Hui, he wouldn't have used petty tricks to make Zhen Ding miss the disciple selection day! Now he would be unfairly hated!

Seeing Xuan Kong's expression, Meng Qi's mood suddenly improved, and he was no longer so averse to becoming a disciple.

Hmph, I am just that petty!

After a relatively grand ceremony, Meng Qi and Zhen Hui officially became orthodox disciples of Shaolin, and even part of the abbot's lineage.

...

"Since you are my disciples, you can choose a unique skill as your main cultivation technique. In the future, if your Zen mind is clear and you grasp the true meaning of Buddhism, you may also switch to the 'Mahakavira Fist' or the 'Great Dream Sutra.' At the same time, you will have the opportunity to practice the 'Sinew Metamorphosis Sutra' and observe the true essence of the 'Buddha's Palm' third move." After the ceremony, Xuanbei, as per tradition, gave Meng Qi and Zhen Hui a glimpse of the bright future.

Of course, the chance to observe the Buddha's Palm and practice the Sinew Metamorphosis Sutra was extremely rare, with only one in a hundred orthodox disciples ever achieving it.

Meng Qi was slightly excited but, having faced life and death several times, understood that the latter was just a "pie in the sky." The truly important thing was the main cultivation technique chosen from the seventy-two unique skills.

Hmm, with my unique bone structure, Master will surely know I am suited for the Unseen Finger or the Flower Plucking Finger, such graceful and elegant martial arts. Sigh, but I must disappoint him. I am so focused on the Golden Bell Cover or the Indestructible Body of the Buddha... Meng Qi found solace in self-comfort.

"Zhen Ding, choose the Golden Bell Cover." Xuanbei said softly.

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