Chapter 33

Zhao Yingyu's face tightened, and she frowned as she looked at the rubble, worriedly turning to Chu Li: "Senior Brother, are they in danger?"

Chu Li shook his head.

He had already seen through the Great Round Mirror Wisdom that all 150 women were safe and sound, sitting in the hall with their heads bowed, reciting scriptures.

He saw an old monk, dressed in gray monk's robes, with a bald head marked by precept scars, a robust figure, a lion's nose, and tiger-like eyes, sitting opposite the women, his lips moving as he recited the scriptures.

Through the Great Round Mirror Wisdom, he saw that the old monk's meridians were glowing, indicating he was a master of innate skills, with profound internal strength, even surpassing his own, making him a formidable opponent.

"Is that expert inside?" Zhao Ying asked hurriedly.

Chu Li nodded.

Zhao Ying frowned: "Has he harmed them?"

"For now, everything is fine... Let's go in." Chu Li stepped into the cave, then entered the valley, arriving at the Tiger Den.

The old monk suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp and piercing, scanning the women before floating out of the hall to the foot of the mountain, looking up at Chu Li.

Chu Li stood halfway up the mountain, clasping his fists and said, "I don't know who the monk is, but why did you intrude here?"

"I am Dharma Shan." The old monk joined his palms and recited a Buddhist chant, coldly staring at Chu Li: "I don't know why the two of you have come here?"

"I am a guard from the Yi Kingdom's Duke's Mansion. I happened to pass by here and found bandits rampant. I had to take action to uphold justice and leave these women behind."

He knew Dharma Shan's identity and thus invoked the name of the Duke's Mansion.

"Did you destroy the Tiger Den?" Dharma Shan's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Chu Li nodded: "Yes."

"You are young, yet possess such martial arts skills. I admire you!" Dharma Shan slowly said, "I came here to advise them to turn from evil to good and lay down their weapons, but it's too late. They have already been destroyed. What a pity!"

Chu Li smiled: "The monk's intentions are noble, but they were unworthy of such kindness."

"Sir, you should give them a chance to lay down their weapons and turn from evil to good."

"Monk, that's a mistake. If you give them a chance, did they give their victims a chance? Their extreme wickedness cannot be tolerated by heaven!"

"Amitabha, cause and effect, the cycle of the six realms, everything has a cause and an effect."

"Monk, are you saying those who died deserved it? ... Then they were destined to die a violent death, as the saying goes, those who kill will be killed!"

Zhao Ying huffed: "Monk, please step aside. We want to see our sisters."

Dharma Shan joined his palms and smiled: "The women have sincerely turned to Buddhism, escaping from suffering. This is a cause for celebration."

"I want to talk to them," Zhao Ying said.

"Please—!" Dharma Shan flicked his robe and stepped aside.

Chu Li and Zhao Ying floated down, passing by Dharma Shan. Chu Li appeared relaxed but was actually on high alert, ready for any attack.

This old monk was not a good person, coming from the Great Thunderclap Temple, the foremost of the four major sects, known as the best in the world, and no one dared to provoke him.

Chu Li was very wary of the Great Thunderclap Temple, even after invoking the Duke's Mansion.

The three of them floated into the hall, where 150 women sat on cushions, reciting scriptures softly and solemnly. Zhao Ying unconsciously walked more lightly.

Chu Li coughed lightly, breaking the solemn atmosphere of the hall.

The women looked up, their faces lighting up with joy.

Zhao Ying also smiled, waving at them: "Sisters, I'm here to take you away."

A slightly older woman stood up: "Sister Zhao, where are we going?"

"Senior Brother bought a house in Chongming City. We can live there and open a tavern in the future, where the sisters can earn their own living."

The women looked hesitant.

Zhao Ying smiled: "Senior Brother says you should earn your own living. You can either work as servants in the house or help in the tavern, but you can't be idle."

The women nodded. They would rather work to support themselves; idleness was a painful thing, and labor would help them think less about their troubles.

"Sister Zhao, what if some of us want to stay?"

"It's not safe here. People might come at any time, like Master Dharma Shan. Fortunately, Master Dharma Shan is not a bad person, or the sisters would have been in danger."

"Miss Zhao, these women have taken refuge in Buddhism. I will send them to a nunnery to atone for their sins in this life," Dharma Shan joined his palms and smiled.

Zhao Ying was taken aback: "Taken refuge?"

Dharma Shan nodded and smiled: "Yes, they have been moved by the Dharma and are sincerely devoted to Buddhism."

"Is that so?" Zhao Ying frowned, glancing at the women, who looked at her helplessly.

Zhao Ying pulled the woman who stood up to the outside of the hall and whispered to her.

She lowered her voice and glanced at Dharma Shan in the hall: "Sister Zhang, what's going on?"

The woman's name was Zhang Fu, with a gentle and beautiful demeanor. She shook her head and whispered: "This master is a high monk from the Great Thunderclap Temple, with profound Dharma. We feel he is right. Our fate in this life is unfortunate, so we should cultivate for the next life."

Zhao Ying disagreed: "Starting a new life in Chongming City, Sister Zhang, we have a long future ahead of us!"

"Sister Zhao, we are all fallen women, destined to have no future."

"Nonsense, Senior Brother and I won't abandon you. We are actually guards from the Duke's Mansion!"

"The Duke's Mansion?" Zhang Fu was surprised.

Zhao Ying nodded slowly: "So there's no need to worry. Senior Brother and I can take care of you!"

Zhang Fu looked her up and down. Zhao Ying smiled: "What, don't I look like it?"

"Who would have thought you are from the Duke's Mansion!" Zhang Fu shook her head and sighed: "If we had known, we wouldn't have been so worried!"

To outsiders, the Duke's Mansion was a powerful and prestigious institution, a top-tier existence. Having a connection with the Duke's Mansion was nothing to fear.

"Sister Zhang, please persuade everyone. Why live a good life and become nuns? Let's live a lively life!"

"Okay, I'll try to persuade them."

After a few more words, they returned to the hall. Zhang Fu whispered to the women, who looked at Chu Li and Zhao Ying with surprise and excitement.

Dharma Shan's face darkened, recited a Buddhist chant, and sighed: "The sea of suffering is boundless, and the shore of return is near. It is truly sad and pitiful that the women are so stubborn!"

Chu Li smiled: "Monk, devotion to Buddhism requires sincerity, not coercion."

"Sir Chu, did the chief of the Tiger Den die at your hands?"

"Yes!"

"What martial arts did he use?"

"Forgive my ignorance, I couldn't recognize it."

"He is a traitor to our temple!"

"Oh—?"

"Though he is a traitor, he is still a disciple of our temple, and his martial arts are still intact. Sir Chu, you killed him, so I would like to test your skills."

Chu Li smiled: "Are you trying to avenge him?"

"Sir Chu, that's a misunderstanding!" Dharma Shan shook his head: "I came here to deal with the traitor. Since he is dead, I cannot return empty-handed."

"What do you mean?" Chu Li smiled: "Are you saying that your temple can punish the traitor, but others cannot?"

"Amitabha..." Dharma Shan joined his palms.

Chu Li sneered: "What a domineering Great Thunderclap Temple!"

"Sir Chu, this rule is not unique to our temple; all sects follow it!" Dharma Shan said solemnly.

"Are you trying to take my life?"

"Not necessarily!" Dharma Shan shook his head: "He is a traitor and deserved to die. Sir Chu, if you can defeat me, all grudges will be settled."

"What if I can't?"

"Just one arm will suffice!"

"Interesting!" Chu Li laughed: "What a Great Thunderclap Temple! Fine, let's go!"

"Please—!" Dharma Shan joined his palms and bowed: "Please, Sir Chu, do your best and don't harm yourself!"

"Ha ha..." Chu Li laughed and drew his sword.

Zhao Ying frowned, coldly glaring at Dharma Shan and huffed: "You call yourself a monk, yet you are so hypocritical!"

Chu Li shook his head.

Through the Great Round Mirror Wisdom, he could see through the old monk's thoughts. This old monk was a ruthless man. He said he wanted one arm, but in reality, he wanted to kill him. If he lost, he would surely die!

Looking at the high monk's appearance, yet seeing such cunning, he realized that the Dharma could not erase one's character.

"Forgive me!" Chu Li shouted and thrust his sword.

"Clang..." The palm and the long sword met, the long sword was deflected, and a cold internal force traveled along the sword into his palm, heading towards his heart.

Chu Li found that the first level of the Boundless Sea of Green Power could not block it, so he quickly doubled it, barely stopping the internal force from reaching his heart.

What a vicious palm force! If it reached his heart, it would be fatal.

He staggered back two steps, his face turning red, and the Boundless Sea of Green Power continued to double, barely allowing him to thrust the sword.

Dharma Shan smiled and struck another palm.

"Bang!" A dull sound, Dharma Shan's eyes widened as he stepped back.

Desperately neutralizing the internal force, he was deceived by Chu Li, thinking Chu Li was weakening, but he didn't expect Chu Li's internal strength to be so formidable.

Chu Li followed up and thrust his sword into Dharma Shan's shoulder.

"Clang..." It sounded like metal clashing, and the long sword failed to penetrate.

Chu Li raised an eyebrow, the Indestructible Body of the Buddha!

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