Chapter 229

As soon as Feng Yi spoke these words, the Venerable Shenshan's eyes flashed with a sharp gleam.

Because these words are both soft and hard, they appear to be an apology and compensation, but in fact they secretly blame the Shaolin people for saying nothing, while you, the abbot of Qingliang Temple, are meddling here.

A Zi smiled at the corner of her mouth and murmured softly: "Abbot Xuanci was just being polite, saying that all of Buddhism is one family; this monk must really think he is the abbot of Shaolin."

Although her voice was low, every one of the dozens of senior monks present, all possessing deep inner strength, naturally heard it clearly.

Fortunately they were well cultivated and did not laugh out loud; otherwise, how could the Venerable Shenshan come down from the platform?

One cannot possibly hold a sixteen- or seventeen-year-old girl to the same standard.

Abbot Xuanci, palms together, said: "Our temple, since Patriarch Bodhidharma, has upheld the precepts for hundreds of years. I am unworthy and unfit to hold the position; if there truly have been any improper conduct among our temple's members, I ask you, elder brother, to speak plainly. Guilt deserves punishment, fault demands correction. For you to wipe out Shaolin's centuries-old reputation with a single word is going too far."

Although the Venerable Shenshan appears haughty, he is actually deep‑scheming; he knows that opposing Feng Yi and A Zi would be of no benefit and only harmful.

Upon seeing Abbot Xuanci speak, he no longer pursued the matter further, seized the opportunity to change the subject, and said: "Hero Feng, your name weighs heavily in the martial world. I, along with several fellow Buddhist monks, have come today precisely for a major sectarian affair of Shaolin, and I ask Hero Feng to join us in judging right from wrong."

"Venerable, please don't give me an undeserved compliment," Feng Yi said with a faint smile. "I act on the principle of preferring to mistakenly kill now rather than leave trouble for the future; any question of right or wrong is always about helping kin, not principle—I hardly deserve the title of great hero, and I cannot interfere in others' sectarian affairs."

These words were even more cutting than an outright rebuke of the Venerable, and all the monks thought: "This person's temperament is truly unfathomable."

As it turns out, by the rules of the martial world, internal sect affairs must not be interfered with by outsiders. For the Venerable Shenshan to invite persons of other sects to come to Shaolin to participate in judgment is nothing but further bullying of Shaolin.

Of course, this also means that Shaolin belongs to the orthodox path of the martial world.

After all, the precondition for using morality to bind people is that those being bound must themselves possess morality.

The Venerable Shenshan blinked slightly, then laughed: "Hero Feng, you have been riding the spring wind lately; I, old and incapable, dare not boast of strength and hegemony in the jianghu like some young upstarts. How could I meddle in such peripheral matters? But I certainly ought to manage the affairs of my own sect."

Everyone knew he was mocking Feng Yi for having committed many high‑handed, domineering acts since his debut, yet when he spoke of 'internal sect affairs,' they were all puzzled.

Feng Yi gave a light smile and thought: "The jianghu is perilous; words are words, deeds are deeds—how could one lump them together and generalize?"

The head of the Precept Court, Master Xuanti, said: "Elder brother, as soon as you arrived you blamed our temple's rules; now that Hero Feng and several fellow Buddhist monks have graced us with their presence, we can jointly judge right and wrong—I ask Elder Brother Shenshan to speak plainly!"

Feng Yi smiled: "Shaolin's precepts are strict and renowned throughout the land. But the ancients said, 'To hear all sides is to be enlightened; to hear only one side is to be biased.' Though I, seated among the audience, cannot decide, I am interested in hearing exactly where Shaolin has violated the precepts—so please, Venerable, stop beating around the bush."

The Venerable Shenshan today, relying on his supposed moral high ground, wanted to step on Shaolin, but Feng Yi is not a Shaolin disciple, so trying to suppress him with morality would likely fail; thus he could not help but restrain his arrogance, saying 'Excuse me!' and then asking: 'Abbot Xuanci, Shaolin monks and disciples are many, spread throughout the world; regardless of the strength of their martial arts, must they all uphold martial morality and not bully the weak with strength?'

Abbot Xuanci nodded: "That is naturally the case; I suppose your disciples are the same."

The Venerable Shenshan gazed at the statue of the Tathagata and said: "Above the Buddha, false speech is a grave precept of Buddhism!" Turning to Abbot Xuanci, he continued: "Once in the jianghu, Shaolin disciples are seen everywhere. My Qingliang Temple is small in scope; our monks' daily duties focus on studying the Dharma, paying homage to the Buddha, and practicing meditation, while our martial‑arts transmission cannot compare with Shaolin's."

However, although the number of monastics and lay disciples who leave Qingliang Temple is small, they all strictly observe our precepts, daring not to harm the innocent, observing the prohibitions against killing and stealing. Shaolin's disciples are numerous, so it is inevitable that there will be a mix of good and bad, and the decline of the precepts is unavoidable—alas, alas! lamentable, lamentable!' he said, shaking his head repeatedly.

Apart from Feng Yi, who remained calm and composed, everyone else listened with bewildered faces, all changing color at once.

A Zi could not hold back her laughter and burst out laughing.

The Venerable Shenshan gave a cold snort and said: "Young lady, what is improper about what I have said?"

A Zi laughed and said: "It's nothing; I'm just wondering, you monk, speaking in riddles—why not just say directly which Shaolin disciple broke the precepts? Are you afraid that Shaolin will come to blows with you, so you first use the Buddha to weigh them down?"

It turns out monks also play mind games; I was thinking that tomorrow I will go to Qingliang Temple and put on a similar performance—who knows how interesting that would be!

Although the monks felt A Zi's words were not pleasant to hear, the reasoning behind them was indeed correct; indeed, she is exceptionally clever.

The Venerable Shenshan gave a hum and said: "Abbot Xuanci, if after judging right and wrong it turns out that Shaolin disciples are indeed guilty, but outsiders step forward to protect them—how should that be handled?"

Abbot Xuanci said solemnly: "Junior Brother Xuanti, head of the Precept Court, oversees our temple's punishments—you tell me how it should be dealt with."

Master Xuanti's eyes flashed with a sharp light, he replied 'Yes.' He rose from his seat, palms together, and said: "If such a situation arises, our sect will naturally persuade the outside guests and, according to the precepts, punish those who have violated them."

He has always administered the precepts with an impartial, iron‑fisted hand; all the monks of the temple fear him three points. Upon hearing this, some young Shaolin disciples dared not even glance at him.

The Venerable Shenshan, however, smiled and asked: "What if the outside guests refuse to submit and resort to martial force?" He glanced, intentionally or not, at Feng Yi.

A Zi raised her eyebrows, about to rise, but Feng Yi pressed her down.

Master Xuanti raised his white brows, also slightly surprised, and said: "To violate the great precept of the pure rules is already a grave crime for a Shaolin disciple; if an outsider shields them with force, that is guilt added to guilt—when the time comes, everyone in the temple, from top to bottom, has the duty to protect the Dharma, so what more is there to say?"

In fact, the Venerable Shenshan simply wanted Shaolin to utter these words first; one must know that Shaolin is the number one sect under heaven, its masters are as numerous as clouds, and it is the leader of the martial world.

However, the Venerable Shenshan knows that Shaolin are Buddhist disciples, and by inviting four highly respected monks from the martial world, he intends to make Shaolin, constrained by public opinion in both Buddhist and martial circles, unable to act high‑handedly; reasoning must prevail.

What the Venerable Shenshan relies on is actually nothing more than a single sentence: in the affairs of the world, nothing can outweigh a single principle.

Then one saw the Venerable Shenshan sigh and slowly say: "It is not that I am deliberately being obscure; after all, Shaolin has many disciples, and in the jianghu there are always good and bad mixed together, so sometimes one cannot avoid being inadvertently implicated; Abbot Xuanci, being busy with major temple affairs, may overlook things, which is also understandable."

However, the matter I wish to speak of has long existed; the victims' bones are already cold, the issue has stirred the whole realm, public sentiment is turbulent, yet your sect turns a blind eye and a deaf ear.

This inevitably gives people the impression that, relying on being the largest sect in the martial world, others are powerless—would that not be excessively 'tyrannical and domineering'?

Or does it mean that henceforth in the jianghu, everything will be governed by sheer force—so long as one's martial arts are strong and one's numbers are great, one can do as one pleases and act as one wishes?

His words were stern in expression and even more pressing in tone; intentionally or not, he glanced at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi chuckled: "Master, when ideas collide, the benevolent see benevolence, the wise see wisdom."

Abbot Xuanci, however, remained calm and composed, and slowly said: "Elder brother, exactly which matter are you referring to? Please point out the evidence; our sect will certainly endeavor to investigate and rectify it thoroughly."

Feng Yi could not help but nod inwardly, thinking: "Abbot Xuanci truly possesses extraordinary ability; he can remain completely composed in this situation, showing no sign of guilt. Were it not for my own foreknowledge, how would I know that he slept with Lady Ye Erniang, fathered a son, and committed a grave Buddhist precept?"

If I myself had committed such a grave offense and someone came to confront me in this vague, roundabout manner, I fear my resolve would not be as steadfast as his.

Indeed, Shaolin's meditative cultivation truly has its own profundity.

Then the Venerable Shenshan rose abruptly and spoke loudly: "In my sect there is a monk surnamed Xu, Xu Chongxiao, who is my senior brother."

He is of high standing, loyal and sincere; years ago he joined the Beggars' Sect, labored diligently, accumulated merit and rose to the rank of Nine‑Bag Elder, and has long been respected in the Beggars' Sect; all past sect leaders have held him in high esteem.

In April of the year before last, when the Beggars' Sect gathered in Jiangnan's Wuxi and discussed the lineage of Sect Leader Qiao Feng, Brother Xu fearlessly stood up, produced an old letter from the former sect leader Wang Jian Tong, and proved that Qiao Feng was a Khitan barbarian.

The Beggars' Sect, upholding righteousness over kinship, deposed Qiao Feng from the position of sect leader; this event shook the contemporary world, and in the martial arts community it can be said that no one is unaware of it.

Brother Xu undertook this deed fully aware of the extreme danger; Qiao Feng's martial arts are astonishing, his attacks are ruthless and vicious, and he is moreover a Shaolin disciple, whose teacher's power is vast, so all who study martial arts fear him.

Brother Xu, for the sake of country and people, stood forward to expose this great conspiracy, truly risking his life.

Brother Xu was indeed killed by someone; after learning of this, I inquired of the elders of the Beggars' Sect, but they kept their mouths shut—I knew they feared Qiao Feng and Shaolin and dared not speak openly.

Subsequently, those who went to pay their respects—Tan Gong, Tan Po, Zhao, Qian, and Sun—were all slain, their chests, backs, and ribs broken, likewise felled by the Shaolin sect's fierce palm strikes.

Moreover, my fellow Buddhist, Master Zhiguang of Tiantai Mountain, died at the hands of your sect's 'Mahasattva Finger'.

The Venerable thought: 'Shaolin is the orthodox lineage of martial arts under heaven, its precepts are strict; having produced such unworthy disciples, it ought to properly dispose of them and purify the sect—there is no need for outsiders to chatter.'

But Qingliang Temple, having waited in vain for any sign from Shaolin, was left with no choice but to invite the eminent masters of the Great Xiangguo Temple, Pudu Mountain, Donglin Temple, and Jingying Temple to come together to Shaolin, intending to ask Abbot Xuanci: 'What exactly is the reason for this?'

After saying that, he stared fixedly with bright eyes at Abbot Xuanci.

A Zi then realized this monk had come to accuse them of Qiao Feng's killings, while Feng Yi knew the Venerable of God Mountain was using Qiao Feng as an excuse to embarrass Shaolin before the Heroes' Gathering.

Yet, thinking that Xiao Yuanshan already knew who the mastermind was, how could Tan Gong, Tan Po, Zhao Qiansun, Shan Zheng, and Master Zhiguang still be dead?

One also didn't know whether Xiao Yuanshan was cutting off his son's retreat by joining the Khitans, or avenging his son's grievance; it was uncertain.

Then Abbot Xuanci said loudly, "Junior Brother Xuangou, please explain the circumstances to the six venerable monks."

Xuangou rose and said, "May the Buddha be merciful! On the night Senior Brother Xuanku passed away, Qiao Feng caused a disturbance in our temple and escaped from the joint attack of Abbot Xuanci, Senior Brother Xuannan, and Senior Brother Xuangi."

Though several senior brothers did not give chase, Abbot Xuanci sent a novice and Junior Brother Xuanshi to secretly follow Qiao Feng, to learn his deeds and whereabouts without confronting him. We followed all the way and saw Qiao Feng bringing the girl named A Zhu to seek medical help at the Manor of Heroes, but with Great Hero Feng's intervention, the assembled heroes did not clash with Qiao Feng.

Later a black-clad figure appeared; Qiao Feng pursued him, and Great Hero Feng took the woman along to catch up with Qiao Feng, while we two dared not approach, merely watching from afar on the hilltop.

They lodged at a farmhouse, staying eight days in total, but when they emerged, Qiao Feng and the girl had become two unremarkable sturdy men, while Great Hero Feng had turned into a corpse-like figure.

Had we not personally seen the three of them lodge at that farmhouse, we would not have known they were Great Hero Feng and his companions.

We all knew the girl had been gravely injured, yet she was now lively and energetic; surely Great Hero Feng had used his divine skill to save her life.

A Zi stuck out her tongue at Feng Yi, not knowing whether to say you were being followed without realizing it, or whether you had saved my sister in the same way.

After all, when he saved Li Qiuhui, he massaged her chest, and A Zi saw it clearly.

Feng Yi smiled faintly and said, "I dare not claim credit; I merely assisted from the side as a Dharma protector, while the actual rescue was entirely Qiao Feng's doing and had nothing to do with me."

"Amitabha!"

The monks all joined their palms together, their tone growing more grateful.

For they all knew that Divine Physician Xue had said A Zhu had been struck by Shaolin's Mighty Vajra Fist, her days numbered, so Qiao Feng had no choice but to go to the Manor of Heroes.

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But after seven days, she became lively and energetic; if Qiao Feng had such ability, there would be no need to risk his life seeking medicine, so it must have been his doing.

Moreover, Feng Yi does not claim credit; Qiao Feng is a Shaolin disciple, and his healing him naturally causes no loss of face to Shaolin.

Xuangou continued, "Later they went to Xinyang, where they met with the Beggars' Sect elders and went together to the home of the widow of the Beggars' Sect deputy chief Ma Dayuan; seeing this was an important Beggars' Sect matter, we dared not approach, so we did not know what happened."

Only after a long while did we hear several mournful cries in the quiet night, and later the Beggars' Sect announced the deaths of Elder Xu, Elder Bai, and others.

The Venerable of God Mountain glanced at Feng Yi and slowly said, "I wonder whether Great Hero Feng could make public what happened that day?"

All eyes turned toward Feng Yi.

By now Feng Yi understood the monks' intentions; Abbot Xuanci had already anticipated this, so he had summoned the person involved—himself.

Feng Yi stared at the Venerable of God Mountain for a moment, then slowly said, "Elder Xu Chongxiao truly is your senior brother; did you really ask the Beggars' Sect elders about his cause of death?"

"Of course!" the Venerable of God Mountain pondered briefly, then said, "Could it be that I would speak nonsense before everyone's eyes?"

"All right!" Feng Yi sighed, "If you truly asked the Beggars' Sect elders, why not consider that their silence is both to preserve the Beggars' Sect's face and to uphold your own and the Pure Cool Temple's dignity?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts were greatly shaken,

The Venerable of God Mountain twitched his brows: "I and my temple act properly and uprightly; Elder Xu is venerable in age and virtue, esteemed by the martial world—how can you speak of face and dignity?" The monks also showed doubtful expressions.

Feng Yi smiled and said, "I have had no dealings with you or the Pure Cool Temple; I won't comment on whether you are proper, but Elder Xu Chongxiao's age is undeniable—his virtue, heh, is certainly open to question!"

That mocking chuckle of his made people feel ill at ease.

Feng Yi also did not want Qiao Feng to bear the blame again; besides, Shaolin would lose face at the Heroes' Gathering, and he did not fear their nonsense damaging the Beggars' Sect's reputation, so he recounted the events of that night in detail.

This turned out unexpectedly; in the Main Hall, strange noises arose, and the monks whispered among themselves.

The Venerable of God Mountain's face alternated between pallid, flushed, and purplish.

Sixty years ago, when the Venerable of God Mountain came to Shaolin Temple to seek a teacher, he was only seventeen; at that time the Shaolin abbot was the master of Xuanci, Xuannan, and others, the Zen master Lingmen.

He felt that the Venerable's sharpness was too exposed, his arrogance and pride excessive, his vessel small and prone to overflow—he was not fit to transmit the Dharma; if he remained an ordinary monk in the temple, he would surely refuse to be inferior, and would later cause trouble, so he politely declined.

Thus the Venerable went to Pure Cool Temple, yet its scale and inheritance cannot compare with Shaolin's; whenever he thought of it, he felt both envy and resentment.

Consequently, upon Elder Xu's death, he sought a pretext to come to Shaolin to pick a fight, thus gathering many helpers; but when the senior monks elsewhere heard it was to accuse Shaolin, they made excuses and refused to join, and the Venerable spent a long time polishing his efforts before finally securing the eminent monks of the Great Xiangguo Temple, Donglin Temple, and Jingying Temple.

Yet he never expected that Elder Xu Chongxiao, taking the lead, would invite Tan Gong, Tan Po, Zhao Qiansun, and Shan Zheng's family to reveal Qiao Feng's origins, and actually take advantage of Madam Ma, the wife of Ma Dayuan.

Thus his earlier claims of serving country and people, fearing neither life nor death, and being highly virtuous and prestigious, all turned into a boomerang, lodging in his own chest.

He also understood that Elder Xu's failure, his self‑severing of the pulse, was for posthumous fame; the Beggars' Sect's four elders concealed the truth and did not tell him simply because it would be too embarrassing.

Yet after today, how could this not be a great disgrace for Pure Cool Temple?

A renowned martial figure from Pure Cool Temple sleeping with his own sworn brother's widow is simply disgraceful to the utmost.

Originally they said Shaolin's precepts were improper; what about Pure Cool Temple?

Is this not like trying to steal a chicken and ending up losing the rice used to lure it?

Tsk tsk, whether one goes to the Buddha or to Avici Hell, how can one demonstrate one's impartiality?

Feng Yi closely observed his expression and couldn't help thinking, "Could this be his finding peace among kindred spirits?"

Suddenly a clear, bell-like laugh rang through the hall: "Oh dear, big brother, isn't this like lifting a stone only to drop it on your own foot?"

But how could this stern, virtuous high monk enforce proper discipline upon Elder Xu?

Tsk tsk, whether one goes to the Buddha or to Avici Hell, how can one demonstrate one's impartiality?

Apart from A Zi, who else here is making cool-headed remarks?

She, like Feng Yi, helps kinfolk regardless of right or wrong.

Since Shaolin respects Feng Yi, she supports Shaolin; Qiao Feng is her brother‑in‑law, and though she has not yet met him, she supports him as well, while ignoring everything else.

How could one not throw stones at the Venerable of God Mountain when he's down?

"Impudent!"

The Venerable of God Mountain's forehead bulged with veins, his eyes flashed, and he suddenly shouted, "Great Hero Feng, do you really let her run wild?"

His voice was naturally loud; this shout, powered by his inner energy, rang like a dragon's roar and a tiger's howl, shaking the whole hall, with reverberations lingering, the bells humming, the sound enduring.

"You just know how to play." Feng Yi feigned anger at A Zi, saying, "Aren't you afraid of my family law?"

A Zi rolled her eyes and said, "Family law? I'm terrified of it!"

Feng Yi flicked his finger on her snow-white, tender cheek, saying, "Don't speak anymore, otherwise this eminent monk will not be saying you spoke recklessly!"

The monks saw the two of them putting their heads together, as close as glue and lacquer, and unconsciously furrowed their brows: "Great Hero Feng is also a top-notch figure in the martial world; how can he be flirting in the Mahavira Hall?"

Before the thought had finished, suddenly a loud roar came from the God Mountain Monk, like the heavens' lord thunderously angry; not only did everyone's hearts race and vision blur, but Azhi was also startled.

Feng Yi glanced askance, then blurted, "What a magnificent 'lion's roar'—the name Subduing Dragon Arhat is truly deserved."

The God Mountain Monk flushed with anger and said, "Feng Yi, you're also a martial-world hero, yet you allow the ladies to behave so wantonly?"

Feng Yi sighed and said, "Master, your words make no sense; women can hold up half the sky, she is not my subordinate, so how is that indulging her? And what wantonness is there to speak of?" While speaking, he gazed at the God Mountain Monk with a half-smile.

"Let loose four?" Azhi sneered, "I still let loose martial arts—you dare come to Shaolin Temple to provoke the gate; you must have some skill."

"Come, let this young lady see your skills!" Her body leapt, light as a swallow skimming, and she arrived at the center of the Mahavira Hall.

Everyone stared at each other, astonished that a little girl would actually challenge the Subduing Dragon Arhat.

Although her movements looked exquisite, she is so young—how much skill could she have? Some low-level Shaolin monks could hardly suppress their laughter, covering their mouths and forcing back smiles.

After all, given the God Mountain Monk's reputation and status, it's natural not to quarrel with a lovely young maiden; this mute fellow is surely at a loss, right?

"You girl." The God Mountain Monk's face turned yellowish-purple with anger, he sighed, and said, "With so little instruction, are you truly not ashamed?"

Azhi's cheeks, like white jade, flushed with a wave of rosy color, and she sneered, "What are you anyway? I've had plenty of instruction—what business is it of yours to interfere?" A snow-white jade hand shot out from her sleeve, and in an instant a tremendous force surged toward the God Mountain Monk.

Everyone was just feeling astonished when suddenly they saw Feng Yi turn his gaze toward the window and laugh loudly, "Since the Bright King has arrived, why hide his head and show his tail?" (End of chapter)