Chapter 5

Fang Shiyu knew his elder brother all too well. After all, every time Fang Xiaoyu mentioned the Invincible Body of the Buddha, he would always lament the loss of the accompanying internal cultivation techniques. It was impossible for Fang Shiyu not to remember.

"There's no way around it. Not only has Shaolin lost the internal cultivation techniques, but so have all the major sects and schools in the world. However, for you to achieve the first level of the Invincible Body of the Buddha without the internal cultivation techniques is already quite astonishing. Master didn't say that even he might not be your match in a life-or-death battle?"

Fang Xiaoyu smiled slightly and patted Fang Shiyu's shoulder, saying, "Master is being modest. Do you really believe that? Not to mention Master, even you are not weak. If we were to truly fight, I wouldn't have the confidence to defeat you."

Fang Shiyu pouted and muttered, "You might not have the confidence to capture me alive, but you wouldn't have any problem killing me."

The corners of Fang Xiaoyu's mouth curled up, and he put on a brotherly demeanor, saying, "Shiyu, what are you mumbling about?"

Fang Shiyu quickly said, "Elder Brother, we should head back to the mountain. If we're late, the old monk will get angry."

Fang Xiaoyu nodded and said, "Hurry up and wash off the meaty smell from your body. Otherwise, the old monk won't just get angry; he might make you copy the Diamond Sutra a hundred times."

Fang Shiyu shivered and jumped into the stream in fright. Fang Xiaoyu cleaned up the traces of the roasted meat and also jumped into the stream to wash himself.

The two brothers returned to the temple together. They were about to sneak back to their rooms quietly when they suddenly heard a Buddhist chant. They immediately stopped, exchanged glances, and slowly turned to look in the direction of the sound.

"Master!"

Master Zhishan looked at the two of them and slowly walked towards the meditation room, saying, "Follow me."

The two brothers felt that Master Zhishan's reaction today was a bit strange, but they didn't dwell on it and followed him into the meditation room.

The meditation room was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood. Master Zhishan sat cross-legged, his face radiant and dignified, looking like a great monk.

Fang Xiaoyu and the other sat down, their expressions filled with confusion as they looked at Master Zhishan.

Master Zhishan said, "How long have the two of you been in Shaolin?"

Fang Xiaoyu pondered for a moment and said, "It has been eight years now!"

Master Zhishan nodded slightly and said, "Eight years. When you two first came, you were just young boys. Now you have grown into men. I have not let down the trust your parents placed in me. Our master-disciple relationship is coming to an end, and it's time for you to leave the mountain."

Hearing Master Zhishan say this, although Fang Xiaoyu and the other often talked about leaving Shaolin, they couldn't help feeling a sense of reluctance when the day finally came.

With a thud, Fang Xiaoyu and Fang Shiyu knelt before Master Zhishan. Fang Xiaoyu trembled and said, "Master, are you sending us away?"

Master Zhishan looked at them with a kind expression and said, "You are truly foolish children. Now that you have grown up, you are like birds that have grown wings and must spread your wings and fly. You can't stay with me forever, can you?"

As he spoke, Master Zhishan slowly closed his eyes and chanted a Buddhist chant, saying, "Foolish children, pack your things and leave the mountain."

Seeing that Master Zhishan's decision was firm, the two brothers exchanged glances and respectfully bowed to Master Zhishan.

"Unworthy disciples bid farewell to our master."

Over the eight years, even Fang Xiaoyu, who had received modern education, had undergone a significant change in his thinking. He regarded Master Zhishan as a close family member.

People are not plants; who can be without feelings? After eight years of living together, the bond between them was not something trivial.

Back at their residence, Fang Shiyu said with a look of reluctance, "Elder Brother, are we really leaving the mountain?"

Fang Xiaoyu composed himself, having lived two lives, and patted Fang Shiyu's shoulder, saying, "Shiyu, all good things must come to an end. We have been away from home for so long; it's time to return. I wonder how our parents are doing."

Guangzhou City was as bustling as ever, even more so than before. A piece of news was spreading throughout the city: the Fang family, known as the wealthiest merchant in Guangzhou, was about to form an alliance with the second wealthiest merchant, Lei Laohu.

This move caused a stir throughout Guangzhou. The Fang family, which was once a small and insignificant household, had grown into the wealthiest merchant with assets worth millions in less than ten years.

Fang Xiaoyu, the eldest son of the Fang family, and Lei Tingting, the only daughter of the Lei family, were to be married, uniting the two major families that dominated Guangzhou. The impact of this union was truly astonishing.

Leaving aside the rumors in the streets of Guangzhou, let's talk about the General's Residence in Guangzhou. Su Hede, a third-rank general, was bowing respectfully to a man in a brocade robe.

"Your subordinate, Su Hede, greets the Inspector General. I apologize for not welcoming you from afar, as I was unaware of your arrival from the capital."

The Inspector General slowly turned around, his face solemn and exuding a heroic aura. He was much younger than Su Hede, looking to be in his thirties.

Feeling the Inspector General's gaze, Su Hede felt a bit nervous, especially from the Inspector General's eyes, which had a natural authority that made Su Hede hesitant to meet his gaze. He inwardly acknowledged that the Inspector General, E'erduo, was indeed the emperor's most trusted confidant, holding the important position of Inspector General of the Nine Gates.

If Fang Xiaoyu were to see this Inspector General, he would probably exclaim, "Zhao Wenzhuo!"

Indeed, this person was none other than Zhao Wenzhuo, playing the role of Inspector General E'erduo, exuding a heroic aura. E'erduo had one hand behind his back and the other gently rubbing the jade ring on his thumb.

"Su Hede, how is the investigation going?"

Su Hede quickly bowed and said, "Reporting to the Inspector General, I have mobilized my connections. The investigation revealed that the Fang family's hidden influence in Guangzhou is astonishing. At least thirty percent of the city's shops are controlled by the Fang family. Additionally, a large sum of money has mysteriously disappeared from the Fang family's hands..."

E'erduo, who was rubbing the jade ring on his finger, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said, "Indeed, this matches the intelligence we received. The Fang family has been collaborating with the anti-Qing organization, the Red Flower Society, providing them with a large amount of gold and silver. In particular, Fang De is a key member of the Red Flower Society and possesses a list of all the members in the two provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi."

Su Hede was shocked as he looked at E'erduo, thinking about the large sum of money he had received from Fang De and the large number of weapons he had sold under false pretenses. Realizing Fang De's connection to the Red Flower Society, Su Hede broke out in a cold sweat.