Chapter 15: Xuanji — Senior brother has entered the mortal world, his heart holds the Buddha; I cannot compare

The gates of Mount Shaoshi.

"Senior brother, you've kept us in the dark for so long!"

Abbot Xuan Ci had defeated You Tanzhi in a dozen or so moves, and now Monk Xuanji and the others could not help but speak up in a plaintive tone.

"We are fellow disciples of the same Xuan generation — is it really right for you to hide your strength like this?"

"Ahem, let's discuss this matter later!"

Under the resentful gazes of his many junior brothers, Abbot Xuan Ci gave a light cough and changed the subject.

Right now the mountain gates were in peril, Shaolin faced a crisis — this was no time to talk about such things.

"Mm, the pressing matter at hand is still Ding Chunqiu and the others before us."

Monk Xuanji, standing to one side, glanced over and spoke up to help Xuan Ci explain.

The main matter before them was still people like Ding Chunqiu.

But just as Monk Xuanji, Monk Xuannan and the others thought Ding Chunqiu's group would cause more trouble—

Below the mountain gates, Qiao Feng and the others had already been the first to be surrounded by the crowd.

The crowd had originally come to watch Shaolin's downfall, but Abbot Xuan Ci's ferocity had taken them completely by surprise.

So, for the moment, their gazes could not help but shift to Qiao Feng on the other side!

Though Qiao Feng was now a Khitan, surrounded as he was by so many people of the Wu Lin, he showed not the slightest fear.

On the contrary, he paid not the slightest heed to the crowd of Wu Lin people.

And just as Qiao Feng was being surrounded, Duan Yu and Xu Zhu, just as in the original plot, stepped forward without hesitation.

The three of them, beneath the gates of Mount Shaoshi, immediately engaged You Tanzhi, Ding Chunqiu, and Murong Fu in battle.

Watching this scene, Abbot Xuan Ci and the others could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

So long as no one came to make trouble for Shaolin, they would simply keep watching the show.

The fight ended quickly, and without much suspense.

Apart from Duan Yu running into a little trouble on his side, both Qiao Feng and Xu Zhu on the other ends dispatched their respective opponents with great speed.

Seeing that the crisis at Shaolin had been resolved in less than half-day's effort, smiles appeared on the faces of Abbot Xuan Ci and the others.

However, the way the plot developed next was somewhat beyond Abbot Xuan Ci's expectations.

Just as Xu Zhu was being sentenced by Shaolin to receive the staff punishment, Abbot Xuan Ci, who had been sitting calmly on the fence the whole time, froze.

Below the mountain gates, Ye Erniang, one of the Four Great Evils, was now holding Xu Zhu tightly, recounting the story of his birth.

Upon hearing that Xu Zhu was Ye Erniang's son, Abbot Xuan Ci's body gave a violent start.

Monk Xuanji, standing beside Abbot Xuan Ci, his cultivation having surged, instantly sensed something amiss with his senior brother.

Watching Abbot Xuan Ci stare fixedly at Xu Zhu, the look of parental love in his eyes instantly made Monk Xuanji freeze.

Oh heavens, it can't be, senior brother, it can't be!

A bold guess rose in Monk Xuanji's mind, and like a thunderclap it left him at a loss.

Meanwhile, below the mountain gates, Xiao Yuanshan, clad in a black robe, was now pressing Ye Erniang with questions.

But no matter how he pressed her, Ye Erniang refused to utter a single word about Xu Zhu's biological father.

Abbot Xuan Ci, who had been standing atop the mountain gates silently watching this scene, now had a glint of resolve in his eyes.

"Amitabha. Well done, well done. Where there is a karmic cause, there is a karmic fruit!"

Abbot Xuan Ci pressed his palms together, Buddhist reasoning on his lips, yet with a tap of his foot his figure drifted lightly down.

"Senior brother!"

Monk Xuanji, who had been watching this unfold, panicked the moment he saw Abbot Xuan Ci truly descend.

Senior brother, you've lost your senses!

How could you step forward and confess on your own!

"I never imagined that after twenty-four years in the temple, I still did not know you were my son!"

The moment these words left his mouth, the crowd burst into an uproar — countless people were shocked, astonished, furious, and everything in between.

They had never, ever imagined that the ferociously formidable Shaolin abbot actually had a son!

And now Abbot Xuan Ci, after acknowledging his son, slowly recounted the events of years past, bit by bit.

Including Murong Bo, who stood to the side in a grey robe — he too was called out by Abbot Xuan Ci.

In an instant, the atmosphere in the arena grew tense.

The events of that year were also thoroughly brought to light at last.

"Amitabha. The events of that year — karma cycles round!"

Looking at Xiao Yuanshan and Murong Bo before him, Abbot Xuan Ci spoke a single line.

"Hmph, you old Murong thief — come and receive your death!"

Hearing the cause of those past events, Qiao Feng instantly cast Murong Bo as the culprit behind everything.

With a great shout, he launched himself at Murong Bo.

In an instant, Murong Bo's figure moved, heading up Mount Shaoshi.

Seeing this, Qiao Feng, Xiao Yuanshan, and Murong Fu all immediately gave chase.

And with the departure of those four, the rest of the Wu Lin people now surged up Mount Shaoshi as well.

"Hmph, form the array and stop them!"

Watching a mob try to rush up Mount Shaoshi, Monk Xuanji gave a cold shout, and a host of Shaolin staff-monks formed an array to bar their way.

"Shaolin is a pure and tranquil ground of the Buddha — you had best not act rashly!"

"Ha! A fine 'pure and tranquil ground' indeed — a pure ground that specializes in raising illegitimate sons, is it?"

The moment Monk Xuanji's stern rebuke rang out, Bao Butong, a retainer of the Gusu Murong, spoke up to provoke them.

"Roar!"

The moment the words left his mouth, Monk Xuanji's face changed. Vast internal force gathered in his throat, and he let out a great shout at Bao Butong.

The surging internal force, channeled through the Buddhist Seventy-Two Arts' Lion's Roar, sent Bao Butong's body flying backward. Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, and he crashed to the ground, unconscious.

The scattered roar was so thunderous that the rest of the Wu Lin people all clamped their hands over their ears.

The group of old Shaolin monks at the mountain gate, seeing this scene, were utterly stunned.

When did Senior Brother Xuanji's Lion's Roar become so powerful?

"Speak one more word against my Shaolin, sully my Shaolin's name, and you will be punished without mercy!"

The shout, laden with internal force, echoed across the mountain gate, and the crowd of jianghu people were all dumbfounded.

Many of them glanced at Bao Butong, already fallen and unconscious, then at Monk Xuanji, glaring like a vajra warrior, and couldn't help but gulp.

This isn't right. Not one bit right!

Isn't Shaolin always the most protective of its reputation?

How is it that today, Bao Butong only said one sentence and was grievously wounded by a single Lion's Roar from Shaolin?

"Junior Brother, why must you do this!"

Below the mountain gate, Abbot Xuan Ci, seeing Monk Xuanji fly into a rage, could not help but feel a pang of heartache.

The reputation the boy had built over hundreds of years was ruined on his head.

Thinking of Shaolin's long-cherished reputation, Abbot Xuan Ci felt he owed the Wu Lin under heaven an explanation.

But before he could speak, Monk Xuanji at the mountain gate had already seen through Abbot Xuan Ci's intention one step ahead.

"Senior Brother, my Shaolin relieves the suffering of the world—how can we not enter this mortal dust!"

"The Buddha once said, 'If I do not enter hell, who will!'"

Monk Xuanji spoke first, and to convince Abbot Xuan Ci, he now cited the Buddhist classics.

"Senior Brother enters the mortal dust with his own body, and from within it, comprehends the truth of the Buddha's gate!"

"As the saying goes, 'Pass through the mortal dust, keep the Buddha in one's heart!'"

"How could Junior Brother be at fault—indeed, what fault is there at all!"

The words, laden with internal force, echoed across the mountain gate.

At this moment, not only were the Wu Lin people stunned, but the entire assembly of Shaolin monks was utterly dumbfounded as well!

What the hell— what is all this?

The Buddha said that too?