Chapter 97

Listening to the small monk Zhize, who held the jade Buddha beads, calling Lin Pingzhi "Junior Brother Lin" made Qi Feng feel quite uncomfortable, as if he had turned into Yue Buqun. He hurriedly stopped him, "Ah, ah, ah, don't call me Junior Brother Lin. If I take another Lin disciple in the future, how will you call them? Big Junior Brother Lin and Little Junior Brother Lin? Just call me by my rank!"

Zhize slapped his head, "Master is right! I was confused. But, may I ask, what rank am I?"

Qi Feng waved his hand, "I haven't taken any disciples before, so you're the eldest!"

Zhize happily said, "Oh," and then stood up straight, clasped his hands together, and gave Lin Pingzhi a Buddhist bow, "Second Junior Brother."

Lin Pingzhi, who hadn't reacted at first, couldn't be impolite this time. Although he felt that this senior brother seemed a bit too young, since the master had said so, he had to follow. This master was truly skilled, and he had barely managed to ingratiate himself. He couldn't afford to offend him now, so he clasped his fists and bowed, "Junior Brother Lin Pingzhi, pays respects to Senior Brother!"

Zhize said, "Oh," and looked at Qi Feng and then at Lin Pingzhi, puzzled, "Second Junior Brother hasn't taken the vows yet? Why doesn't Master help him get ordained...?"

Qi Feng lightly slapped his head, "Ordain you? I don't just take monks as disciples!"

Zhize rubbed his head, thought for a moment, and said regretfully to Lin Pingzhi, "I see that Second Junior Brother has great wisdom, but unfortunately, Master thinks your cultivation isn't sufficient and your heart isn't settled. Otherwise, I would have helped you get ordained and join our order... Amitabha, Second Junior Brother must cultivate harder..."

Qi Feng covered his face with his hand. This jade Buddha bead hadn't forgotten his old habit of recruiting people for the faith. But at least he hadn't used magic to brainwash Lin Pingzhi and shave his head. Was there something wrong with Lin Pingzhi's destiny? He was about to become a eunuch, and now someone was trying to make him a monk. Was he missing a girl in his life?

Lin Pingzhi was stunned by the little monk's words and didn't know how to respond. He just stood there, fists clasped, and looked to Qi Feng for help.

Qi Feng pulled Lin Pingzhi over and whispered, "Cough, cough, this senior brother of yours has been with an old monk since he was a child, listening to Buddhist scriptures every day. And then..." He pointed to his temple.

Lin Pingzhi, seeing Qi Feng's gesture, suddenly understood, "Oh, oh! I get it! Master is truly a good person, kind-hearted, and has adopted a mentally challenged child, right...?"

The little monk Zhize, a thousand-year-old demon, had exceptionally good hearing: "Mentally challenged? Oh, he should be Second Junior Brother's junior nephew! I forcibly took him into the order, but unfortunately, he is stubborn and always thinks about eating meat, his six roots are not pure..."

"Stop!" Qi Feng saw that this couldn't go on and quickly pulled the little monk to the side. "You, Zhize, don't mention the past. I'm bringing you to another world. There are no demons or gods here, just a pure human world!..."

The little monk Zhize opened his mouth wide, his face full of excitement, "I know, I know! This is the great world of the Three Thousand Worlds mentioned in the Buddhist scriptures! I am truly enlightened! Master is indeed the incarnation of the Buddha, able to travel between worlds. Is this to help me cultivate in a small world and understand the great Dao?"

Qi Feng was truly impressed by the jade Buddha bead's imagination, but it was also convenient. He nodded, pretending to be a wise person, "That's right. This is a small world called 'Jin Yong Qixia Zhuan.' Don't let the people here know you're from another world, understand?"

Zhize nodded deeply, "Master, now I understand. The past is like smoke, I have already forgotten it..."

Qi Feng looked at him with new respect. It seemed that the jade Buddha bead wasn't stupid; he just read too many Buddhist scriptures and didn't interact much with people, so he wasn't very worldly.

Leading the little monk back, he said to Lin Pingzhi, "Your family's inherited sword manual is in the old house in Fuzhou. The journey is long, and there are many people in the martial world who covet the Exorcism Sword Manual, not just Yu Canghai of the Qingcheng Sect. With your current martial arts, Master fears you won't make it more than a few dozen miles."

Lin Pingzhi, who was clearly prepared, said, "I can disguise myself and mix with beggars and refugees..."

Qi Feng found it amusing, "Do you think the Qingcheng Sect just happened to run into you? With your limited experience in the martial world, who could you fool?"

"This..." Lin Pingzhi hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, "I will risk my life to retrieve my family's inherited sword manual!"

Qi Feng noticed a characteristic of Lin Pingzhi: despite his wealthy background, he was a true martial arts family descendant, with a gentle exterior but a strong will, and a courageous spirit. This impressed Qi Feng.

"You're just throwing yourself against a rock. How can Master let you go to your death?" Qi Feng pulled the little monk over and pointed to him, "I can't travel far, but your senior brother can go with you. He will take care of everything, so you should be safe."

"Ah?!" Lin Pingzhi was initially moved by Qi Feng's words, but when he heard that a mentally challenged-looking little monk who looked less than ten years old was supposed to protect him, his eyes nearly popped out. Who would be protecting whom on the road? If he really ran into the Qingcheng Sect, he might have a chance to escape alone, but if he had to drag this burden, wouldn't he be sending a lamb to the wolves? He couldn't just abandon this "senior brother" and run, could he? How would he face his newly recognized master then?

Lin Pingzhi thought for a moment and then firmly refused, "Master, the journey is dangerous. I'm afraid that 'Senior Brother'... It would be better if I go alone, as it would be less noticeable."

Qi Feng, seeing Lin Pingzhi's expression, knew what he was thinking and laughed, "Do you think he's young and can't protect you? Boy, some things aren't what they seem..."

The little monk Zhize interjected, "Master, you said you want me to help someone. Is it to escort Second Junior Brother home?"

Qi Feng nodded, "Yes, your junior brother's family has a secret manual that people covet, and his parents were captured by the Qingcheng Sect. You need to protect him and help him retrieve the manual..."

Zhize nodded and sighed, "Second Junior Brother's background is truly pitiful..." Then he walked over to Lin Pingzhi, his face full of solidarity, "Don't worry, Junior Brother. I'll help you along the way. Yes, your skills are indeed weak, but since you've joined Master's door, if you work hard, you will surely achieve something."

Lin Pingzhi initially thought this was too far-fetched and even began to doubt whether his master's head was also a bit off. Just as he was about to speak, the little monk Zhize pulled his arm, and a force that couldn't be resisted came through. The horse stance he had practiced since childhood was useless, and his body, weighing over a hundred pounds, was easily dragged several steps by the little monk, who was only a meter and a half tall. Panicking, he called out to Qi Feng, "M-Master! This..."

The little monk Zhize stopped, turned around, and waved, "Master, don't worry. Disciple Zhize will safely escort Second Junior Brother and bring him back. I'll be back soon!"

Qi Feng chuckled, waved goodbye to the two disciples, and only warned the little monk, "When you're out, don't use any shocking methods!"

Zhize bowed deeply, "Disciple will remember!" Then he pulled Lin Pingzhi, who had just stood up, and was about to leave as if carrying a bag.

At that moment, a figure in a green robe, looking like a scholar, slowly walked out. He was dressed casually, holding a sheathed long sword in one hand and a folding fan in the other, his demeanor calm and composed. He nodded at Lin Pingzhi and asked, "Are you the young master of the Lin family from the Fuzhou Fuwei Escort Agency?" (To be continued...)

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