Legend of Zhan Zhao

Chapter 1 I am Zhan Zhao
“I’m so handsome!”

Zhan Zhao looked at his face in the bronze mirror.

At the age of fifteen, his face, with its first hints of youthful innocence, was fair-skinned and radiated the health of a young martial artist. His dark eyes shone like cold stars, with slightly upturned corners that revealed a sharp and intelligent glint. His thick eyebrows slanted upwards towards his temples, and between his brows was a resolute and heroic spirit beyond his years.

The description of him as having the appearance of a phoenix and the bearing of a dragon, with a graceful and elegant demeanor, is most fitting.

I can't hold back my smile.

He never imagined that he would travel back in time and become his childhood idol.

The story of Bao Zheng is known to every household, and his portrayal on screen is a classic.

When I was a child, I especially liked Zhan Zhao and dreamed of being as elegant and chivalrous as him.

Now that my wish has been fulfilled, I wouldn't trade it for even the emperor!
Hmm, is this Emperor Renzong of Song?

That's definitely not going to be changed...

"Dong dong!"

Just as he was waking up from his own handsomeness, a knock came at the door.

A young monk stood outside, with full cheeks, gentle eyes and brows, his hands clasped together: "Good morning, Young Hero Zhan."

Zhan Zhao returned the greeting: "Good morning, Master Dinghai. Are the constables from the Six Doors still guarding outside the temple?"

The young monk replied, "Yes."

Zhan Zhao frowned: "I'm sorry to trouble you masters. I would like to go to Zhengjin Hall to pay my respects to Master Jiewen."

"please!"

The young monk had come for this very reason and led the way.

The two stepped out of the inn's threshold and were suddenly greeted by a wide-open space.

Amidst the swirling sandalwood mist, rows of magnificent halls stand side by side. The central axis of the temple stretches as far as the heavens, overlooking the mountain gate to the south and admiring Zisheng Temple to the north. Over 500 acres of golden and green temples are scattered like stars among the Zen monasteries. Although later generations have also built great temples, they have ultimately lost the charm of being imbued with the ancient woods and the resonant sound of the chimes.

This place is the foremost Buddhist monastery in the world.

Daxiangguo Temple!

One version of the young Zhan Zhao had a special connection with the Xiangguo Temple. Now, Zhan Zhao is just starting out in the martial arts world and has come here by chance.

As my gaze lingered, I arrived at Guanyin Temple.

A middle-aged monk was reclining on a bamboo couch, his robe stretched into a rounded arc. Hearing footsteps, he sat up, revealing a cheerful face.

Zhan Zhao bowed and said, "Greetings, Master Jiewen."

The middle-aged monk looked him up and down, then smiled like Maitreya Buddha: "Young hero, you have a refined appearance and outstanding talent. No wonder your master wanted to take you into the temple. It is truly a karmic connection formed under the Bodhi tree!"

"Master, you flatter me. I am more grateful to the Venerable Monk Chiyuan for resolving my conflict with the Six Doors."

Zhan Zhao gave a slight smile, and the image of an old monk with eyes as clear as a cold pool appeared in his mind.

That was the abbot of the Guanyin Temple of the Great Xiangguo Temple, the master of the fat monk in front of me.

Five days ago, if that Buddhist monk hadn't intervened, his sword wouldn't have been sheathed.

Looking back, relying on superior martial arts skills might allow one to show off temporarily, but in the long run, it is indeed disadvantageous.

Zhan Zhao accepted the sentiment.

The monk, acting as a peacemaker, turned hostility into friendship, which certainly fits the usual impression, but things started to get a little strange afterward.

The monk wanted to take him into the Buddhist order.

With my modeling skills, should I become a monk?

The version seems a bit off...

Seeing the young man remain silent, the middle-aged monk Jiewen continued, "What do you think of the birthday banquet at Yunqi Manor, young hero?"

Zhan Zhao said, "I am new to the martial world and originally wanted to travel around, but I got involved in a dispute and witnessed the mysterious disappearance of that great hero from Jiangnan at his birthday banquet."

Jie Wen's smile faded: "Is there another 'Zhong Kui' painting?"

"Not bad!"

Zhan Zhao nodded: "There is a painting called 'Zhong Kui Catching Ghosts' left at the scene!"

Jie Wen sighed softly, "How many ghosts are drawn on it?"

Zhan Zhao's eyes flickered slightly as he replied, "Four ghosts!"

“Four ghosts… four ghosts…” Jie Wen sighed: “Yun Heming, the master of Yunqi Manor and ‘Great Hero of Jiangnan,’ is not the first person to disappear! In the past year, three famous figures in the martial arts world have disappeared on their celebratory banquets, leaving behind a ‘Zhong Kui’ painting at each location. The number of ghosts depicted on the painting is gradually increasing!”

"I see."

Zhan Zhao understood why everyone was initially bewildered after the manor lord's disappearance, but immediately became panicked after discovering the scroll depicting Zhong Kui catching ghosts: "So, the appearance of the monk Chiyuan at the birthday banquet was not an accident, but rather a deliberate act targeting this incident. Was the Six Doors also involved at that time?"

Jiewen nodded: "Yes."

Zhan Zhao asked, "Which side should take the lead?"

"Amitabha! Helping the weak and oppressed, protecting the common people, all contribute to the stability of the world! What distinction is there between primary and secondary principles of morality?"

Jiewen clasped his hands together, then winked and said, "However, the Six Doors can never force anything that my Great Xiangguo Temple does not agree to!"

"Junior understands."

Zhan Zhao felt a sense of goodwill towards him. He asked directly, and the other party answered so readily and without any ambiguity.

Jie Wen earnestly said, "This matter is of great importance, and the Six Doors will definitely pursue it relentlessly. It is difficult for you, young hero, to be involved in such a storm so soon after entering the martial world. However, our Great Xiangguo Temple is different from ordinary temples and has its own way of protecting you. When the truth of this case comes to light, if you wish to return to secular life, the temple will not stop you!"

"Uh……"

Zhan Zhao didn't expect the topic to come back to him, and said with a wry smile, "This junior does not want to be ordained."

He really didn't want to shave his head...

Although he would still look handsome with his hair shaved off.

"Don't be shy! Don't be shy!"

Jiewen smiled and said, "Tying the tonsure and being baptized are minor matters; the key is wisdom and enlightenment."

"Can one really renounce secular life at any time?"

"Naturally, naturally. Buddha never forces people to stay. This temple gates open in the morning and close in the evening. People come and go as they please, it all depends on 'fate'!"

Zhan Zhao still had some reservations, but given the other party's attitude and the fact that there was another reason for their contact with the Daxiangguo Temple, he finally nodded: "I am deeply grateful for the Master's hospitality, and I will respectfully accept your offer."

"Okay! Okay!"

Jie Wen happily grabbed his arm, gave him some instructions, and then warmly saw him off.

After Zhan Zhao left, the young monk Dinghai, who was waiting outside, entered the house and bowed, saying, "Master."

Humming a tune, Jiewen skillfully pulled out a plate of millet cakes and two plates of vegetarian rice dumplings from the cabinet beside him, handing over a large one: "Disciple, you didn't eat enough for breakfast, did you? Here~"

Dinghai took it and skillfully peeled it open, but he was still a little stunned by the happy look on the other person's face.

His master had once earned the reputation of "the all-powerful cloth bag monk" in the martial arts world. Now he was the abbot of Guanyin Temple. Daxiangguo Temple led all Buddhist sects in the world, and its four academies held immense power. He was far beyond the reach of ordinary people. Why was he so happy to have taken on a disciple?
Dinghai couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Master, is this young hero Zhan involved in that major case?"

"Isn't that right?"

Facing his apprentice, Jiewen was much less reserved. He ate a piece of millet cake in one bite, and a vegetarian rice dumpling was gone in a couple of bites. He ate with great relish, but a worry lingered deep in his eyes:

"There are no ghosts in the world. Demons and monsters all arise from the heart."

"Escape to the netherworld and your form is hard to find; fortune and longevity are never the same."

"Zhong Kui, sword in hand, startles the demons and monsters; the five ghosts are vanquished, and the clear sky reappears..."

"This phrase has now become a curse at birthday banquets across the country."

"If something happens at Yunqi Manor again, it will be the fourth major case. People are in a state of panic, and the martial arts world is in turmoil!"

Dinghai had been staying in the temple and had only heard about the extraordinary case that had affected the whole country, without any real thoughts on it. However, he was very curious about Zhan Zhao, whom he had met: "What kind of dispute did Young Hero Zhan have with the Six Doors?"

Jiewen looked at his disciple and asked, "Disciple, may I make a guess?"

Dinghai said, "Is it because he was wrongly accused by the Six Doors and became a suspect, so the Six Doors are guarding outside and our temple is protecting his safety?"

"On the contrary!"

Jie Wen shook his head with a smile: "After the disappearance case at Yunqi Manor, another murder case broke out. The eldest disciple, Gu Lin, was killed, and this young hero Zhan, who was new to the martial arts world, investigated and determined that the Six Doors were the real culprits. Unfortunately, Yunqi Manor did not believe him, and the Six Doors were furious and wanted to capture him to bring him to justice, which resulted in a conflict..."

Dinghai was greatly shocked, then suddenly realized, "Grandmaster stepped in to protect him?"

"They've rebelled again!"

Jiewen laughed even more heartily: "Master's intervention to resolve the conflict, while intended to eliminate it, also protected the Six Doors."

"Otherwise, many elite experts would be defeated by him alone, and the Six Doors would fall."

"We were defeated by this fifteen-year-old swordsman, Zhan Zhao!"

(End of this chapter)