Chapter 38

The Old Monk's Favor (2)

The gangsters muttered among themselves.

"Yel... Yellow Dragon City...?"

"There's no way. Why would Yellow Dragon City come to a place like this?"

"The high monks of Shaolin were with Zhi Xian! There's no way Yellow Dragon City couldn't come!"

This scene vividly showed the disorder of the black path.

When street thugs learned martial arts, they became part of the black path. They were failed martial artists who had strayed from the righteous path.

At that moment, a bald man with a stocky build pulled out the axe he had stuck in the table.

He seemed to have mastered martial arts befitting his innate strength. His eyes, glaring at Zheng Lianxin, were red from alcohol.

"Is a brat like you a Yellow Dragon City expert? What kind of brothers are you!"

He gripped the axe handle and threw it with a loud whistling sound slicing through the air.

Zheng Lianxin didn't flinch, even crossing his arms. He even smiled.

Bang!

The wooden fragments scattered in the wind around Zheng Lianxin as the axe shattered. The door was cleaved apart by the sword strike, and Zheng Lianxin kicked off the ground.

Zhe Zhe Zhe!

The various weapons held by the gangsters came into view. They were already prepared.

It was said that major sects hesitated to clash with the Yellow Dragon City.

Smaller sects, being less informed, often failed to grasp the rumors. They lacked the ability to know their enemy's strength.

Qingming had once said that the term 'ignorant' was used for such people.

Xinya Baiwu Sect. They truly looked formidable.

"Two ignorant fools have come! I'll make you fertilizer for the fields!"

The man who stepped forward with arrogance had a commanding presence. He seemed to be the leader of Xinya Baiwu Sect.

"Kill them!"

Zheng Lianxin didn't stop his advance.

A faint light and the sudden glow of the Guanghua Sword Technique swept past, grazing the leader's neck.

* *

When he had shattered the dantians of the minions and collected the documents related to the Zheng Family Manor, four people crossed the threshold of Xinya Baiwu Sect. Their gazes were filled with shock and surprise.

It seemed they had heard the rumors from the tavern.

"You... You are the child of the Zheng Family Manor, aren't you?"

The plump-faced magistrate of Xinya County recognized Zheng Lianxin.

Even without frequent visits, they knew each other's faces.

Martial sects and the county magistrate were not separate entities.

When hands were short, it was common for martial artists to assist with law and order.

In return, the magistrate would provide convenience in public duties and business, fostering a symbiotic relationship.

"Yellow... Yellow Dragon City? You?"

"Master!"

Behind the stammering magistrate stood a man.

"Indeed, you have become a Yellow Dragon City expert! Wearing a blue robe! It's truly a dream come true!"

The middle-aged man's face brightened; he was the chief manager of the Zheng Family Manor.

The rumors about Ma Guangyi's new disciple had not yet reached Henan.

"I heard you haven't been doing well."

"I lacked the strength."

The manager smiled bitterly. Zheng Lianxin narrowed his eyes. The aura approaching was different from before.

It was quite clear and weighty, a change that would be hard to achieve without proper orthodox martial arts training.

"Did you join a righteous sect?"

"Yes. At my age, I became a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple. It was a stroke of luck. I am truly grateful."

It was indeed surprising. The twists and turns from losing the business to becoming a Shaolin disciple would be a long story.

His face alone revealed the complexity of his feelings.

The manager seemed to have wanted to use Shaolin's power to crush the Xinya black path.

Zheng Lianxin had sensed his extraordinary nature during the Zheng Family Manor's destruction. He thought such a talented person had been wasted at the Zheng Family Manor.

The manager then introduced the old monk standing quietly beside him.

"This is my master."

"I am Yuancong."

The old monk in yellow robes raised his right hand to his chest.

He said it was a bow, a unique Shaolin greeting.

His face, staring intently at Zheng Lianxin, was etched with the passage of time.

"Master Yuancong. I am Zheng Lianxin of Yellow Dragon City."

When Zheng Lianxin bowed, the young monk spoke up.

"Your skills are truly remarkable! I am Jue Ting!"

He approached, having been casually looking around.

He was very handsome, with a well-shaped head and long, auspicious ears. A famous martial monk of Shaolin Temple.

It was hard to gauge his rank before talking, but it was clear he was not an elder.

Little Divine Monk Jue Ting. His name was already well-known.

One of the eighteen arhats of Shaolin Temple and a master of Shaolin fist techniques. He was no ordinary late-stage disciple.

"Master. May I talk with this person?"

"Do as you wish. Before that."

Master Yuancong looked at Zheng Lianxin with a weary but direct gaze.

"Have you any connection to our temple?"

"This is my first time meeting Shaolin's experts."

"However, your body is quite extraordinary. It's well-cultivated, as if you've practiced the Yijin Jing."

The Dharma Muscle Change. A martial art known to few in the martial world. Its origin was widely known.

It was said that Dharma Master created it to cultivate the monks' physical and internal strength.

The seventy-two supreme techniques of Shaolin Temple originated from and returned to the Yijin Jing.

The manager's eyes, and Jue Ting's, widened.

"Come to think of it..."

Jue Ting's words trailed off as he scanned Zheng Lianxin's physique. The manager stood in awe.

Even knowing that Zheng Lianxin had founded the Zheng Family Grotto and cultivated his body for nearly ten years, he was still impressed.

As a lay disciple of Shaolin, he refrained from speaking rashly.

"Zheng Xiaoye. I don't think you stole our temple's supreme techniques. That's impossible."

Jue Ting spoke.

"However, I have an idea. Your methods are very rational from a secular perspective. But from the viewpoint of a monk who has only cultivated martial arts and Buddhism in the mountains, they seem a bit excessive. Given that you will undoubtedly become one of the top experts in the world, I can't help but worry."

"What do you mean?"

"Martial artists speak through their skills. I have mastered the Iron Sand Palm and the Yijin Jing. While the Yijin Jing also cultivates internal energy, it seems you have also cultivated your body through the Zheng Family Grotto. How about we compete in physical achievement, and the winner gets to make a request? If you accept, I'll give you this."

Jue Ting pulled out a wooden box from his robe and opened it.

A fragrant smell spread, and a small pill was revealed.

"This is the Mingzheng Pill. I had it made by the Medicine King Hall of Shaolin Temple, using the secret techniques of my clan."

"Mingzheng Pill!"

Huan Yuan Chang, who had been watching indifferently, now showed excitement.

He had just come out after searching the hall for wealth to distribute to the common people.

While the fame of the Dahuandan and Xiaohuandan spread across the land, the Mingzheng Pill from Shaolin Temple was also gaining recognition.

It was said to instantly heal injured qi and blood. Thanks to the combination of Shaolin's medical skills and the secret techniques of the clan.

'Quite a valuable medicine, I hear.'

It allowed one to fight again immediately even with internal injuries. Was this the righteousness of Shaolin?

Despite wanting to guide, he cautiously offered the medicine first.

Such an attitude was rare in other martial sects.

Zheng Lianxin stared at Jue Ting's clear eyes and nodded.

Taking the wooden box, Jue Ting smiled.

"Master Jue Ting is giving a gift. I will give it my all."

"Haha! Thank you for accepting my concern. And just in case, Xiaoye, you might need to take this medicine right away."

It was an interesting provocation. He might suffer internal injuries while competing with Jue Ting's external skills.

Considering the powerful Shaolin martial arts and Jue Ting's reputation, it was a reasonable concern.

"What is your request, Master?"

"If I win, listen to my Buddhist lecture for an hour."

"..."

"Did you think I would ask you to shave your head and join the temple as a disciple?"

As Jue Ting loosened up, he seemed like a mysterious figure to Zheng Lianxin.

His competitive spirit as a martial artist and the detachment of a Buddhist disciple seemed to create a unique character. It wasn't a bad feeling.

"Let's begin."

"Alright."

As the competition started, Zheng Lianxin instinctively knew.

If they used internal energy, he was far behind Little Divine Monk Jue Ting.

However, in terms of physical cultivation, he was different. He had long cultivated the Zheng Family Grotto to great success.

He felt it was worth a try.

Kua!

As soon as the competition began, a flurry of fists and kicks rained down. They struck his body in all directions.

Only Zheng Lianxin's eyes moved as he observed the essence of Shaolin's fist and leg techniques.

Pah! Pah!

The punch that hit his shoulder was not light. Even without internal energy, Jue Ting's martial arts were powerful.

Zheng Lianxin didn't counterattack effectively for twenty rounds.

Then, Jue Ting suddenly crouched, and his robe fluttered gracefully.

For a moment, he charged forward with a powerful stance, striking in a diagonal line.

It seemed to be the Dragon Fist, one of the famous Five Fists of Shaolin.

Peng!

The punch, bursting with power, exploded on his chest. The fist technique seemed to manifest a dragon's surge.

Even without internal energy, dust rose sharply. It felt like a lethal strike.

"Hmm?"

Instead, Jue Ting was pushed back two steps. The footprints in the dirt were deep.

Zheng Lianxin stood calmly, still in the same spot where he had started.

"..."

"Have you finished, Master?"

He asked quietly.