Following the sound, Zhen Guan turned his head and saw Meng Qi and Zhen Hui. A faint, icy smile flickered across his gaunt face: “So it’s Junior Brother Zhen Ding. Who would have thought we’d meet again in a foreign land? I hope you’ve been well.”
He strode directly toward Meng Qi. A faint layer of black scales emerged on his face and the backs of his hands, transforming him into a humanoid serpent, radiating a sinister and bone-chilling demonic aura.
Having already undergone demonic energy refinement within the Stupa, Meng Qi remained calm. With a metallic clang, he drew his precept blade and assumed the “Purifying Severance” stance, his essence, qi, and spirit all converging inward.
“Amitabha, wrathful poison has entered your body; there’s no redemption after falling into such a path. Venerable, please calm down,” the young monk Hong Neng intoned a Buddha’s name, his clear and resonant voice echoing throughout the small temple, reaching deep into the heart, calm and serene, like the evening drum and morning bell awakening those lost in the sea of suffering.
Zhen Guan halted his steps. Glancing at Meng Qi, who appeared ordinary yet exuded extreme danger, and then at the serene and compassionate Hong Neng, he silently assessed his own strength before sitting down opposite them with his satchel.
Meng Qi did not attack either. When Zhen Guan fully unleashed his demonic aura earlier, the presence was truly terrifying. Although it might not quite match An Guo Xie and Yuan Meng Zhi, it was close. Judging by the collision of energies, Zhen Guan’s strength was likely around the eighth aperture level, placing him at the upper limit of opponents Meng Qi could engage in a life-or-death battle with—especially in the absence of thunderstorms.
Therefore, although Meng Qi was eager to know how Zhen Guan had connected with the monsters and demons in the back mountains, the origin of the secret passage, and whether he had any ties to Senior Brother Zhen Chang, he restrained his impulse to avoid mutual destruction. With Gu Changqing and Zhen Hui nearby, Meng Qi felt confident he wouldn’t completely exhaust himself, but capturing Zhen Guan might still prove difficult. If he ended up seriously injured and encountered the still “uninformed” horse bandits, the trouble would be immense.
How could his strength have increased so rapidly? Meng Qi was inwardly astonished. Despite his own extraordinary encounters and the rewards from the Samsara world, he had only unlocked four acupoints thus far. Back when he had just begun cultivation, Zhen Guan hadn’t even learned any techniques. Yet now, Zhen Guan was nearly at the eighth acupoint level. Could this be the result of transforming into a half-demon body? If so, there must be significant hidden dangers involved. It would probably be better to accumulate virtuous deeds and have the Lord of the Six Paths directly elevate him to the eighth acupoint level.
Zhen Hui stole glances at Zhen Guan, appearing curious yet too timid to ask anything outright. He occasionally looked toward Meng Qi, hoping for the “almighty” senior brother to speak up.
“Amitabha, all sentient beings are empty. Venerable, you are already burdened with killing karma; why add further sins?” Hong Neng intoned another Buddha’s name, his gaze solemn yet filled with compassion as he looked at the satchel Zhen Guan carried.
Zhen Guan snorted, his expression slightly dazed as he opened the satchel. Inside were two heads preserved with lime. A smirk curled his lips, as if he felt a surge of satisfaction: “They killed my parents and wiped out my family. Today is merely the cycle of karma—this is their due reward! I’ve only taken eighteen of the seventy-two heads. There are still fifty-four left!”
“Amitabha, when will this cycle of vengeance end? What a pity, Venerable, you’ve already fallen into the suffering sea of Asura. Why not let go of your grudge, come with me, and build a temple in this desolate land to accumulate merit, seeking liberation in the next life?” Hong Neng sighed, fulfilling his duty to counsel.
Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brow. The seventy-two bandits of Helian Mountain, the disciples of the Crying Elder, “Yanluo Standing,” and more? So it turned out that Zhen Guan became an orphan because of them. No wonder he encountered him again in the Vast Sea—it was inevitable that he would come here.
Hearing Hong Neng’s advice, Zhen Guan burst into laughter: “You should have said these words to them when they slaughtered my parents. Yesterday’s cause is today’s effect; this is the Buddha’s teaching.”
“Today’s cause will become tomorrow’s effect. Bound by karma, it’s hard to attain liberation. Don’t you understand yet?” Suddenly, Hong Neng shouted, as if a great bell had rung, imitating the method of great monks of old to deliver a sharp reprimand, “Put down your butcher’s knife now, break free from karma, and attain Buddhahood instantly!”
When it came to debating the sutras, Zhen Guan was no match for Hong Neng. After stubbornly arguing a few more points and being rendered speechless, he simply stopped talking and stared blankly at the ground.
Despite Hong Neng’s eloquence, Zhen Guan remained unrepentant. For a moment, Hong Neng felt somewhat discouraged and closed his eyes, turning his prayer beads.
Seeing Hong Neng’s reaction, Meng Qi couldnched inwardly. Before this, Hong Neng’s demeanor had given him the impression of a great monk, almost making him forget the young age. Now, however, despite his deep Buddhist cultivation and serene detachment, Hong Neng was still in his early twenties, lacking the composure of one who has transcended worldly concerns and viewed all things as empty. His discouraged, sulking behavior was indeed fitting for his age.
He took a light breath and, in front of Hong Neng, instinctively adopted a calm and detached demeanor: “Amitabha, Senior Brother Zhen Guan, back then at the back mountains, I saw you leave through the secret passage but was too timid to greet you. Who would have thought we’d meet again here?”
He was fishing for information.
Zhen Guan sneered: “I’ve been expelled from the temple and no longer have a dharma name. I’ve resumed my secular name, but you can call me however you like. Besides, I should thank Junior Brother Zhen Ding. If it weren’t for you, how could I have had such an opportunity and gained the power for revenge?”
He did not reveal his secular name.
“Did you have this opportunity the night you were expelled from the temple?” Meng Qi asked casually.
Zhen Guan chuckled: “Do you think I’d tell you?”
“What you call an opportunity is merely a half-demon body, filled with hidden dangers. What’s the point?” Meng Qi showed no discouragement, exaggerating the hidden risks he had deduced.
Zhen Guan’s face darkened: “To you monks who can cultivate, it’s meaningless. But to me, it’s the only way to seek revenge. Even if I fall into hell, even if I suffer day and night, I won’t regret it!”
“The demonic energy infusion from the Xiangliu clan causes unbearable agony every Zi and Wu hour, with countless toxins ravaging your body. In winter, you’ll be utterly powerless, completely at others’ mercy. And you can forget about ever attaining the Dao of Heaven and Humanity,” Hong Neng reopened his eyes and earnestly advised, “If you return to Buddhism and assist me in building a temple in this barren land, I will teach you methods to dispel the demonic energy and guide you back to the righteous path.”
Xiang Liu? Isn’t that the nine-headed serpent god from the mythology of my past life? Meng Qi thought with slight astonishment. But considering even Bodhidharma existed, this wasn’t too surprising.
Zhen Guan smiled ambiguously: “After I’ve avenged my great hatred, I’ll follow you, okay? Then I can cultivate Buddhism and accumulate merit to eliminate my sins. It won’t be too late.”
“Amitabha, what a pity, what a pity,” Hong Neng, still young, was left speechless by the question.
Zhen Guan ignored him and turned to Meng Qi: “I heard that Senior Brother Zhen Chang sacrificed himself to steal scriptures for the Vajra Temple. Is that true?”
The Shaolin Temple had already informed all sects, and the news had spread widely.
“Do you think I’d tell you?” Meng Qi retorted with the same words. Moreover, Zhen Chang’s matter was closely related to him. Seeing that Zhen Guan seemed to have some connection with Zhen Chang, he decided not to speak too much to avoid unexpected trouble.
“I heard about it near Helian Mountain. What’s there not to say?” Zhen Guan asked expressionlessly.
Meng Qi became increasingly suspicious. If you had no relation to Zhen Chang, why keep bringing up this question? After careful consideration, he replied: “Senior Brother Zhen Yong was caught stealing scriptures, which implicated Senior Brother Zhen Chang. With no hope of escape, he committed suicide.”
“Suicide…” Zhen Guan repeated the word softly, then closed his eyes and said nothing more.
“Amitabha, demonic beings are not forbidden here. Please come in, both benefactors,” Hong Neng spoke toward the temple entrance again.
Meng Qi was utterly astonished by Hong Neng’s sensing ability. Having already unlocked four apertures, he himself couldn’t detect anything outside in such a sandstorm, yet Hong Neng could!
But once more, so many supernatural beings? Aside from the Stupa, this was the most encounters with the supernatural he had experienced in his entire life!
Although it’s said that many powerful demons dwell deep within the vast sea, and some perilous locations serve as demonic residences, this place wasn’t that remote, was it? Wait, the terrain of Tanlan Khan is complex—isn’t there a rumor about a dangerous area here?
(Note: “贪婪汗” is transliterated as “Tanlan Khan” based on the given instruction to follow Chinese pinyin for names. If this refers to a specific known location or term, please provide the correct context for accurate translation.)
Zhen Hui’s eyes gleamed as he glanced toward the door, murmuring: “Senior Brother, could it be a fox spirit? Brother Gu, ‘reading by lamplight with a beauty by your side’ fits you perfectly.”
He himself had no carnal desires, purely a child’s curiosity.
Hmm, have I already started telling him Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio? Meng Qi vaguely thought.
The temple door creaked open, and a man and a woman entered. Regardless of age or gender, almost everyone’s gaze was drawn to the young girl. She was about sixteen or seventeen, exquisitely beautiful, with naturally pouting, crimson lips. Her innocent charm was mixed with an innate seductiveness. Pure and sexy at the same time, in terms of appearance, Meng Qi had only seen Jiang Zhiwei and Gu Xiaosang rival her. In terms of allure, the straightforward Jiang Zhiwei and the mischievous Gu Xiaosang were slightly inferior. Of course, everyone has their own taste, and Meng Qi wasn’t particularly fond of this type.
It must be a fox demon… Meng Qi’s lips twitched slightly.
“Humans?” The old man, with white hair and an air of scholarly grace, looked at Meng Qi and others as if he wanted to devour them.
“Master Wen, the monk has allowed us to take shelter from the sandstorm. We should behave as guests,” the girl said in a crisp voice.
Master Wen nodded and turned to Zhen Guan: “Which venerable one from the Xiangliu clan infused you with demonic energy?”
“The Nine Yuan Demon Lord.” Facing genuine members of the demon clan, Zhen Guan’s demonic aura was suppressed, and he displayed profound reverence.
“Nine Yuan Demon Lord? Isn’t he sealed in the back mountains of Shaolin? Are you from Shaolin?” The girl asked with sparkling eyes, brimming with curiosity.
Zhen Guan honestly replied: “Yes, honored one, are you from the Tianhai Source?”
“You plan to seek refuge with us at the Tianhai Source?” The girl smiled mischievously without answering directly.
Master Wen coughed: “Too many people around. Let’s talk when there’s a chance.”
Even with secret whispering techniques, there was still a risk of being eavesdropped, especially by the young monk at the upper seat, whom he couldn’t quite read.
“Oh,” the girl said disappointedly and sat aside. After a while, she became lively again, eyeing Meng Qi and others and asking Zhen Guan: “There’s also a monk among them. Are they also from Shaolin?”
Zhen Guan naturally didn’t conceal the identities of Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, gesturing toward them: “These two are direct disciples of Shaolin.”
Upon hearing the news about Zhen Chang, she naturally also learned that Xuan Bei had brought two direct disciples to the Vajra Temple to demand an explanation.
“Disciples of Shaolin?” The girl flashed her pearly white teeth, her smile captivating as she gazed at Meng Qi. “You carry a blade and wield a sword. Have you mastered the Ananda’s Breaking Precepts Saber Technique and the Bodhidharma’s Sword Technique?”
“What an absurd guess!” Meng Qi grumbled to himself. Although Shaolin only possessed one Exterior-level saber technique—the Ananda’s Breaking Precepts Saber Art—there were still numerous Acupore-level saber techniques. As for sword techniques, there were even more. Why jump straight to guessing the Ananda’s Breaking Precepts Saber Art and the Bodhidharma’s Sword Art? Do I really seem that remarkable?
Meng Qi naturally wouldn’t answer such a question, but he forgot about Zhen Hui beside him. The honest disciple replied, “Senior Brother hasn’t learned any sword techniques. The long sword is just a trophy. But he does know the Ananda’s Breaking Precepts Saber Technique.”
Monks do not lie.
The girl’s expression instantly changed. She abruptly stood up and shouted sternly: “By the decree of the Demon Saint, anyone who practices the Ananda’s Breaking Precepts Blade Technique shall be hunted down and slain by all demons!”
Oh no, what did I do to deserve this? Meng Qi was filled with injustice.
For some reason, a scene suddenly flashed through his mind—the moment he received the true inheritance of the Ananda Breaking Precepts Saber Technique. Below the inscription “Kindness and righteousness, do not enter this door,” there was an unfathomably deep small hole, as if an indescribable flame was burning inside. Beside it, tiny characters were engraved:
“Those who are fickle and unfaithful shall be killed!”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage