The Prodigal Disciple of Mount Hua: Seizing All Opportunities

Putian Southern Shaolin Temple.

This ancient temple, nestled in the Jiulian Mountains, is a renowned Buddhist holy site in southern China.

Although it is not as renowned as Shaolin Temple on Mount Shaoshi, its strength should not be underestimated.

In recent years, he has worked diligently and changed his past style of seclusion and cultivation, actively participating in various martial arts conflicts.

This has added a touch of hostility to what was originally a peaceful Buddhist temple.

"Abbot, the Huashan Sect is really going too far!" Monk Yuankong, who had rushed back from Fuzhou, had long lost his former composure.

"That Yue Buqun is a complete hypocrite! And that Chen Qianyang, so young yet so ruthless, actually burned the 'Evil-Repelling Sword Manual' in public! That was a relic of our Buddhist sect, the lifeblood of Patriarch Hongye!"

"This master and disciple duo are playing dumb with everyone! Especially that Chen Qianyang, who, relying on his sword, even dared to threaten this humble monk! If it weren't for... if it weren't for..."

If Guo Jing hadn't been there, and if that kid's swordsmanship hadn't been so strange, he would have really wanted to smash that arrogant brat's head with his staff!

That's enough.

An old and calm voice interrupted Yuan Kong's words.

Deep within the meditation room, an old monk with white beard and eyebrows sat cross-legged, holding prayer beads in his hands, his eyes slightly closed. He was none other than Abbot Liaowu of the Southern Shaolin Temple.

"Yuan Kong, you have broken the precept against anger."

The abbot's voice was not loud, but it carried an air of authority without anger.

Yuan Kong shuddered, but instantly calmed down.

"This disciple knows his mistake! This disciple was just... just angry that the Huashan Sect was so domineering, not only ruining our grand plan to reclaim the sword manual, but also tarnishing Shaolin's reputation..."

"Famous reputation?"

The abbot slowly opened his cloudy eyes: "A reputation is not something that can be stolen or shouted out."

The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual is destroyed, so be it. It's a demonic artifact; it shouldn't exist in this world. Although Master Yue's methods were dishonorable, his disciple resisted the temptation of this unparalleled martial art and burned it in public. This resolve and courage are truly admirable.

"But Abbot..." Yuan Kong said, somewhat unwillingly, "That's, after all, a fragment of the Sunflower Manual! If we could bring it back to Shaolin..."

"So what if we welcome them back?" the abbot said calmly. "Do you also want to practice that self-castration technique?"

Yuan Kong's face turned pale: "This disciple wouldn't dare! This disciple would never have such an intention!"

"Go down."

The abbot waved his hand, his tone tinged with disappointment, "Go to the disciplinary hall to receive your punishment. You can come out again when you've calmed down."

"Yes... this disciple accepts the punishment."

Yuan Kong dared not say another word and withdrew.

Silence returned to the meditation room.

"Amitabha."

The abbot remained expressionless, as if he already knew there were people there.

"Since Senior Brother Fangzheng is here, why don't you come out for a chat?"

The screen slowly moved aside.

An old monk wearing a yellow kasaya came out.

His face was gaunt and his expression was sorrowful; he was none other than Master Fangzheng, who had come from Shaolin Temple in the north.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Senior Brother Fangzheng." Abbot Liaowu stood up and put his palms together.

"Junior brother, you flatter me."

Master Fangzheng returned the greeting with a compassionate smile on his face. "Nephew Yuankong was also acting for the greater good of Shaolin. Although he was a bit hasty in his actions, his heart for protecting the teachings is truly commendable."

The two took their seats as host and guest, respectively.

Master Fangzheng slowly spoke: "Junior brother, it seems that the matter in Fuzhou has been settled."

"Yes," Abbot Liaowu sighed, "The Evil-Repelling Sword Manual has turned to ashes; everything is in vain."

"not necessarily."

"Oh?" Abbot Liaowu raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that, Senior Brother?"

"Although the sword manual was destroyed, can the greed in people's hearts be destroyed? Now it's rumored that the burned sword manual was a fake, and the real one was already embezzled by Yue Buqun. Once this seed of doubt is planted, the Huashan Sect will never have peace again."

"This..." Abbot Liaowu frowned, "How did these rumors spread so quickly?"

Master Fangzheng simply smiled slightly: "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Yue Buqun has been biding his time all these years, thinking nothing more than the same thing as Zuo Lengchan: to dominate the Five Mountains. We both know this ambition. If the Five Mountains truly become a unified whole, then even Shaolin will have to take it seriously. Junior brother, don't forget that we cannot let our energy be swayed by such things."

The abbot remained silent.

Although the Northern and Southern Shaolin belong to two different lineages, they share the same interest in maintaining Shaolin's supreme status in the martial arts world.

"The Buddhist Kingdom on Earth..."

"That's right, like the Great Harmony of the West, we will build a Buddhist kingdom on earth." A hint of fanaticism flashed across Fang Zheng's face: "This is something we must do, so it cannot be disrupted."

"As for that Chen Qianyang," Master Fangzheng changed the subject, "this young man is so young, yet he possesses such martial arts skills and cunning. Not only is his swordsmanship superb, but he also knows how to assess the situation and use others' strength against them. His 'Burning Sword Manual' move in Xiangyang Alley, though seemingly reckless, was actually extremely clever. If this young man is not restrained, he will surely become a great threat in the future."

"What does Senior Brother mean?"

"Chen Qianyang's reputation has soared, naturally many heroes and valiant men want to admire his prowess." Master Fangzheng clasped his hands together, his tone compassionate. "Since the martial world is saying that he possesses the sword manual, why don't we go with the flow and help him achieve his 'fame'?"

"Senior brother!" Abbot Liaowu's expression changed slightly. "Monks do not lie, and they must not harbor thoughts of killing. If we spread rumors and use others to kill, wouldn't we be violating the Buddhist precepts?"

"Amitabha."

Master Fangzheng chanted a Buddhist prayer, his expression solemn and dignified. "Junior brother, you are attached to appearances."

Even Buddha has moments of wrath. To uphold the righteous path of the martial world and to prevent demonic sects and ambitious individuals from wreaking havoc on the world, these measures are merely necessary steps to eliminate evil and protect the righteous path.

People say, "If I don't go to hell, who will?" For the sake of realizing the great cause of a Buddhist kingdom on earth, for the sake of restoring peace to this martial world, what's wrong with sacrificing a little fame, or even a disciple of Mount Hua?

Abbot Liaowu looked at the senior brother from Northern Shaolin Temple in front of him and felt a strange chill rise in his heart.

He didn't want to get involved in these things, but this senior brother Fang Zheng's methods were simply too...

That's it.

"Senior brother...you have a brilliant idea."

Master Fangzheng smiled slightly and looked westward.

That was the direction Chen Qianyang had left.

"The Huashan Sect members have already headed west, leaving only Chen Qianyang in Fuzhou to handle the aftermath. This is truly a golden opportunity."

He turned around and called out to the door, "Someone come here."

A middle-aged monk pushed open the door and entered; he was a trusted disciple brought by Master Fangzheng.

"Master."

"Go," Master Fangzheng said calmly. "Spread the word. Say that... the burning of the sword manual in Xiangyang Lane was a hoax, and the real sword manual is on Chen Qianyang. The reason he stayed in Fuzhou was to keep the sword manual for himself and cultivate demonic arts."

Reveal his whereabouts to those friends who are "interested" in him; they should be happy to seek out this young hero for a "sparring match."

"yes!"

The monk accepted the order and left.

Abbot Liaowu sighed deeply, and the prayer beads in his hand spun even faster.

"Amitabha Buddha, what a sin, what a sin..."

……