The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"Put my father down!"

Murong Jiu and Qiao Feng only had time to shout a word to stop them before they hurriedly chased after them.

At the same time, Chu Luren noticed that Qiao Feng was staggering and the blood on his face showed no signs of fading. He quickly stepped forward to help him up, saying, "Brother, calm down. I also know that master. If he makes a move... he might be faking his death to heal Uncle's injuries."

"Husband! Let's listen to our second brother first!" A'Zhu hurriedly stepped forward.

Qiao Feng was furious. There were probably only a handful of people in the world who would listen to him, but A'Zhu and Chu Luren were definitely two of them, especially the latter... Since Chu Luren said so, Qiao Feng was temporarily relieved.

Only then did he stop forcing his already gathered and dissipating vital energy to keep up, and instead, with A'Zhu's support, he walked slowly...

Chu Luren had already witnessed the power of that attack—it was clearly not a normal situation, as even the Sweeper Monk was caught off guard and sent flying.

Of course, judging from the subsequent outcome, at least the Sweeper Monk was able to run back, carry the two "corpses" and turn around to continue "escaping," while Qiao Feng's situation is not so good now.

Chu Luren didn't know whether Qiao Feng's injuries were external or internal. His meridians seemed undamaged, but his qi, blood, and bones were severely shaken...

Seeing that the old monk seemed to be alright and was even able to come back to snatch the corpse, and considering Chu Luren's words, the Shaolin monks and the Righteous Alliance members did not make a move for the time being, but instead rushed to the back mountain to see what was going on.

Worried that Murong Jiu, who had already given chase, would cause further trouble, Chu Luren also used his lightness skill to give chase...

Murong Jiu hadn't caught up with the Sweeper Monk yet, but Chu Luren had already caught up with her. Murong Jiu ignored Chu Luren's calls, clearly dissatisfied that someone had gone to chase after the leader of the Four Spirits earlier. Moreover... just now, when she and Qiao Feng were about to chase after the Sweeper Monk, Chu Luren actually went to care about his elder brother first.

Seeing that Murong Jiu ignored him, Chu Luren had no choice but to catch up with her completely before stopping her. Moreover, Murong Jiu attacked without saying a word!

"That master probably didn't just kill your father... Hey! What are you doing?" Chu Luren was completely baffled.

After blocking a few moves, Chu Luren realized—could it be that Murong Jiu was putting on an act for the people behind her?

That's right, as expected of Murong Jiu. Although the accuracy rate of her major decisions is less than 50%, she is still very meticulous in the details.

So Chu Luren also got into a fighting stance and started fighting with Murong Jiu...

Murong Jiu:? ? ?

I'm divorcing you!

Shangguan Haitang, relying on her superior lightness skill, caught up with Chu Luren and saw Murong Jiu fighting Chu Luren with murderous intent!

After observing repeatedly, Shangguan Haitang sensed Murong Jiu's hostility...

Absolutely not fake!

So he temporarily put an end to his absurd guess—after all, he knew all too well what it meant to be a woman disguised as a man, and there would always be some traces in her words and actions.

Moreover, the emotions Murong Jiu is displaying now don't seem like acting, nor are they the typical coquettishness of a woman...

"Brother Murong, show mercy!" Shangguan Haitang stopped Murong Jiu first.

Chu Luren was just putting on an act and was a little puzzled as to why Murong Jiu was so anxious. He hadn't used any special techniques; they were just exchanging blows. Yet, he had been hit by Murong Jiu and felt a tightness in his chest. He had to rub his chest a few times to dispel the fossilized true energy that was affecting him.

However, after that slap, Xiao Jiu Jiu immediately became unhappy, and Murong Jiu had no choice but to go along with Shangguan Haitang and suppress her fighting spirit, while comforting Xiao Jiu Jiu in her heart.

Others also rushed over at this time, not only those who had been in the abbot's courtyard, but also most of the martial arts practitioners who had been in front of the main hall...

Because the dog-monster suddenly erupted and shocked Kumārajīva, after all sides stopped fighting in the square in front of the palace, most of the martial arts practitioners who were watching the excitement naturally rushed to the next match.

Following the trails left by Black Spider and Wei Yixiao, after traveling a little further along the mountain path, they saw a slightly flatter boulder at the edge of a cliff. The Sweeping Monk had arranged Murong Bo and Yuanshan in a cross-legged position with their hands clasped together, while he himself spread his arms and went behind them...

Upon seeing this, Chu Luren couldn't help but smile knowingly—remembering what happened in the ancient tomb, though... at this moment, Murong Bo and Yuanshan were wearing clothes.

Otherwise, Murong Jiu would definitely have overturned the stone on the spot without saying a word...

Chu Luren was slightly surprised that the Ancient Tomb Sect didn't come to join the fun this time. It was one thing that Sect Leader Long always preferred peace and quiet, but Chu Luren originally thought that Li Mochou would probably join in the fun, but he didn't see her at all.

The Sweeper Monk was indeed highly skilled. Although he was already in poor condition after helping Guihai eliminate the demon with a single blow, and then his attempt to feign injury failed, resulting in him being sent flying by his elder brother's palm strike, his movement using his lightness skill while carrying the two of them was already much slower. Wei Yixiao and Black Spider could even catch up with him. However, he still had the strength to heal the two of them...

Chapter 797 Resolving the Issue with Buddhist Teachings

"With hands clasped together and inner breaths in harmony, yin nourishes yang, and yang transforms yin... All ambitions of kings and conquerors, and deep-seated hatreds, return to dust and vanish without a trace!"

Everyone heard the sweeping monk muttering some prophecy, and at the same time, black smoke rose from above Yuanshan and Murong Bo's heads...

Then, the two people who had been completely silent suddenly opened their eyes, looked confused for a moment, and then burst into laughter.

"Father!" Two voices rang out from the side.

Qiao Feng and Murong Jiu hurriedly stepped forward to visit their respective fathers. Seeing that Yuanshan and Murong Bo had both knelt down before the Sweeper Monk, the two of them also knelt down. Murong Jiu had probably forgotten her previous sarcastic remarks to Qiao Feng.

"Master! I am foolish and do not understand the profound meaning of your trip. I acted rashly and beg your forgiveness!" Qiao Feng hurriedly knelt down and said.

"Master Qiao, there's no need to feel guilty..." The sweeping monk hadn't expected that he would actually be breached.

At this moment, he was not angry. Instead, he explained, "The two elderly laymen have been suffering from chronic illnesses for a long time. Ordinary methods are not enough to cure them. That's why I let them die first and then be reborn, so as to regulate their yin and yang."

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren felt a slight stirring in his heart—when the sweeping monk mentioned "using yin to aid yang, and using yang to transform yin," Chu Luren found it strange, since neither of their internal energies possessed extremely yin or extremely yang properties.

Moreover, they were both grown men, and Murong Bo was somewhat exposed during the fight, so it was clearly not some kind of hereditary female disguise as a man...

Where do yin and yang come from?

Now it seems that what the old monk was talking about was not the yin and yang energies, but the "path" of yin and yang, or perhaps... life and death!

But this skill of using death to heal wounds, of borrowing the yin to return to the yang...

Chu Luren doesn't seem to be using Buddhist methods. This subtly contradicts one of the fundamental principles of Buddhism, "reincarnation."

Therefore, Chu Luren speculated in his heart that the person sweeping the floor might actually be a monk who had become a monk halfway through his life...

"You two have gone through life and death, and life and death again. Is there anything you still can't let go of?" the sweeping monk asked the two old men.

"I have been a monk at Shaolin Temple for thirty years, but I have no compassion as a Buddhist disciple. I humbly request my master to accept me as a disciple."

Both of them had come to terms with it—well, in a Buddhist sense, whether they were truly open-minded or simply depressed was a matter of individual opinion and had nothing to do with Chu Luren.

Aisin-Gioro Yuanshan thought about how many people he had killed, some of whom were his enemies, and others with whom he had no grudge. He wanted revenge, and so did others. Murong Bo also thought that from Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han to the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, there had been countless emperors and generals. The Yan state was but a drop in the ocean. Whether to seek revenge or not...

So the sweeping monk, having saved two people who could be saved, was greatly relieved and began to preach on the spot. All the monks and even other people from the martial arts world listened with rapt attention—those who were not rapt, in order not to appear out of place or lacking in knowledge, all pretended to be rapt.

Chu Luren also looked like he thought this made sense, with an approving smile on his face. The sweeping monk had lifted his hand when he was not around. Now, seeing the human head hanging on his waist and his typical pretentious attitude, the others wondered to themselves whether this old monk was a real or fake master.

There was one who didn't pretend: Kumārajīva. He showed impatience halfway through the conversation and turned to leave...

Afterwards, Yuanshan and Murong Bo also stayed at Shaolin Temple to be ordained as monks.

Now that he has become a monk, it is naturally inconvenient to pursue past grievances—even if he wanted to, he would be magnanimous when he thought of the great Arhat and the powerful Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms.

Actually, Chu Luren could cure their problems, but... Chu Luren really didn't want to add to the trouble!

Although those two old guys are both scoundrels, they're both family members, so what can Chu Luren do if they start fighting again? He'll be too busy running away to avoid them!

Therefore, Chu Luren remained silent and left it to the sweeping monk—"playing the field" is a low-EQ term; for us high-EQ people, this is called "resolving it with Buddhist teachings."

Qiao Feng was still somewhat reluctant to part with his father, whom he had just recognized, even though this father was quite a troublemaker, while Murong Jiu had already gone to donate incense money.

The Dali Duan family then carried Ren Woxing over. He was fast asleep and snoring loudly. Chu Luren didn't know when he had crawled out, but he seemed to be in good condition, having retained all his martial arts skills.

As darkness fell, Shaolin Temple was in complete chaos. Although things had been somewhat sorted out, there were still many issues to be addressed.

He wasn't worried about anyone getting impatient. The place the Sweeper Monk had chosen was the only way to the Three Crossings Hermitage on the back mountain. Who would dare to refuse and just go there? Even Kumārajīva went in the opposite direction and returned to Shaolin Temple.

After the Sweeping Monk finished speaking, Xuan Nan stepped forward and asked the group of martial arts practitioners to go down the mountain to rest for the time being, and to come back tomorrow to discuss the Lion-Slaying Assembly and the Knife-Slaying Assembly—after a whole day, not a single "serious matter" had been accomplished!

Qiao Feng wanted to stay at the temple for another night to keep his father company, but Shaolin Temple refused to let him in. In addition, Yuanshan himself advised his son that he should cultivate in the mountains and not to disturb him unless necessary.

"Feng'er, you are now Prince Feng of the Great Qing Dynasty. From now on, remember that as long as you are worthy of the Great Qing and the people, that is enough for your father. There is no need for you to come again!" Yuanshan said to Qiao Feng in his final words.

As for what constitutes being worthy of the Qing Dynasty?

Yuanshan didn't say much. He knew perfectly well that in the eyes of his Dorgon faction, the person sitting on the throne now didn't represent the Qing Dynasty at all...

"Master, I have already donated a considerable amount of money to Shaolin Temple. You can focus on your cultivation on the mountain and not worry about worldly affairs." Murong Jiu had changed his tune and seemed pleased that his father was becoming a monk.

Murong Bo: ...

"Fu'er..."

“Master, you have already become a monk,” Murong Jiu reminded him.

"Your Majesty, come here! This old monk has something to say to you privately!" Murong Bo said with a dark face, leading the reluctant Murong Jiu aside.

Chu Luren didn't pay special attention to it. Perhaps after Murong Bo had a great awakening, he would no longer suppress his daughter with "restoring the country" as before.

However, when the two returned, Murong Bo looked full of guilt, while Murong Jiu looked displeased. Except when he passed Chu Luren and gave him and Murong Fu a cold laugh, he ignored everyone else and left with his retainers.

Clearly, the idea of ​​"restoring the kingdom" that Murong Bo had been tirelessly instilled in him from childhood could not be resolved by Murong Bo simply telling his daughter "it's fine if we don't restore it" after he came to terms with it.

Qiao Feng was quite easygoing. After being turned away by Shaolin Temple, he kowtowed at the door and then turned and left.

Chu Luren wanted to ask Xuan Ku about it again, but then thought there was no rush...

"Second brother, third brother, come on! Come drink with me!" Qiao Feng said, patting Chu Luren and Duan Yu on the shoulder.

"It just so happens that I recently made a new brother. When I swore brotherhood with him, I was thinking that I would definitely include my eldest brother and third brother in the future..."

"Haha, since it's someone my second brother has chosen, we must get along well. Let's go together!"

As Chu Luren spoke, amidst the resentment of the Shaolin monks, he pulled the grinning Gou Zazhong along and left.

"Masters, I'm going to become sworn brothers with some of my brothers, so I won't be staying overnight..." Dog Bastard waved to Xuan Nan and the others who wanted him to stay.

……

In the courtyard of the Three Abodes, Yuanzhen looked at the moonlight and then asked, "My three senior uncles, no one has brought us our evening meal yet. Should I..."

"No need."

Chapter 798 Drinking

Now, after Chu Luren left the Southern Shaolin Temple, he politely declined Xiao Zhao and others' requests to catch up. He first accompanied his elder brother, who had suddenly gained a father but then lost him again, then gained him again, and then lost him again. He also spared Gou Zazhong and they became sworn brothers!

When they swore brotherhood, they naturally drank a full bowl of wine. However, after the ceremony, Chu Luren was worried that Qiao Feng's body couldn't handle it, so he asked him to drink tea instead of wine. Then Qiao Feng almost slapped him in the face with the "Eighteen Subduing Dragon Palms"—who was he cursing?

Seeing that Qiao Feng still had the energy, and that his originally flushed face had greatly improved in the past two or three hours, Chu Luren was relieved.

Over drinks, the four of them chatted about all sorts of interesting things. Chu Luren had a lot to say. He was most at ease when the carriage was on the road, but once they arrived at their destination, he would start causing trouble.

Qiao Feng also talked about some of his experiences in the capital, but he omitted the unpleasant things that happened in the court.

Duan Yu traveled throughout the Central Plains, visiting many academies, Taoist temples, and Buddhist monasteries. However, wherever he went, he mostly talked about scriptures and doctrines... Well, this was a world that the other three did not understand.

The bastard also talked about his previous "worries," who I am, who is me... but now he seems to have figured it out.

After a few rounds of drinks, Chu Luren asked Qiao Feng about his previous "outburst" and the "injuries" that followed.