Chapter 818: [Seven Swords to Slay Heaven] (Part II)

Jue Zheng strode over and stood in front of Hu Xiaotian and the other two, the blue-robed old man's eyes burst forth with a wolf-like ferocious light, killing intent blazing in his heart. At that moment, the donkey tethered to the pine tree let out a hee-haw.

Everyone looked up, only to see that beside the donkey there had somehow appeared an old monk in gray robes; the old monk gently stroked the donkey's neck mane and murmured, "The Buddha says, all beings are equal; venerable patron, why then have you tied it here?"

The blue-robed old man's gaze turned icy, but the killing aura on him vanished instantly; he smiled and said, "Great master, if you have taken a liking to my donkey, I would be happy to give it to you."

The old monk smiled and said, "Wealth is an external thing; what use have monastics for such possessions? You give me a donkey—on the surface it's kindness, but in truth our Lingyin Temple barely manages to fill the monks' bellies; where would we get extra grain to feed a donkey? Are you hoping we'll tighten our belts and spare our own rations for the donkey? Venerable patron, you may look kind and benevolent, but your heart is not generous enough."

The blue-robed old man chuckled and said, "Great master, as a monastic you have far more scheming than any I've ever seen; my goodwill you treat as malice—never mind, never mind. Since you think I'm framing me, I'll keep the donkey myself."

The old monk smiled narrowly and said, "Venerable patron, may your journey be smooth."

The blue-robed old man said, "I had heard Lingyin Temple was charitable and benevolent, saving all beings, but seeing it today it's nothing special; at this late hour you're rushing me on my way."

The old monk said, "In Buddhism, the most important thing is affinity; disciples seek only good affinities, and venerable patron, you seem to have no affinity with Lingyin Temple."

The blue-robed old man said, "I can leave, but I still need to take someone with me."

The old monk smiled and said, "As long as someone is willing to go with you, I will not obstruct you, and no one in the world could stop you." He looked at Hu Xiaotian and Huo Shengnan and asked, "Do you two patrons wish to go with him?"

Hu Xiaotian said, "No one here wants to go with him. I reckon even that donkey doesn't want to go with him."

The blue-robed old man coldly said, "You must come with me!"

The old monk sighed and said, "Venerable patron, you are already at the age of knowing one's destiny; why defy heaven?"

The blue-robed old man nodded and said, "Is Lingyin Temple relying on its size to bully guests?" His eyes suddenly turned sharp.

The old monk still smiled narrowly and said, "Venerable patron, you have misunderstood; Lingyin Temple is not an inn, nor is it a place where anyone can come and go as they please."

The blue-robed old man gave a cold snort: "Good! I'll have a taste of the master's supreme technique!" His blue steel sword traced a startling arc, thrusting at the old monk with the speed of wind and lightning.

The old monk remained motionless. Even as the blue steel sword thrust toward his chest, he did not dodge or evade—puff! The sword pierced his chest, as if stabbing rotten wood, and the blue-robed old man had not expected to succeed with a single strike.

Hu Xiaotian and the three others cried out in alarm simultaneously; two young monks shouted in grief and anger, "Grandmaster uncle!" No one had expected this old monk's status in Lingyin Temple to be so exalted.

The old monk's face showed no pain; although the blue steel sword had pierced his chest, no blood flowed from the wound. He still calmly gazed at the blue-robed old man and said, "The sea of suffering is boundless; turning back is the shore."

The blue-robed old man roared in anger, forcefully thrusting his blue steel sword forward again, aiming to pierce the old monk's heart and run through his body. Yet the sword's tip inside the monk's body seemed to meet an obstruction; no matter how much force he exerted, he could not advance even a fraction. Fear flashed in the blue-robed old man's eyes, for he felt a mighty power slowly pushing his sword outward from within. Cultivation to a certain level can produce a protective gang qi that hardens flesh, sinews, and bone beyond steel, but he had never seen a sword thrust into an opponent's body and still be pushed back outward. This old monk, from head to toe, never moved a finger—could he have trained his five viscera and six bowels to be as hard as metal and stone?

The old monk said, "Venerable patron, your killing intent is too heavy; if left to return to the mortal world, you will surely create countless killings. It would be better to stay here in Lingyin Temple and accompany me in chanting sutras and reciting the Buddha's name for a while, to dispel the hatred in your heart."

The blue-robed old man shouted angrily, "What are you, daring to detain me by force?" He lifted his leg and kicked fiercely at the old monk's lower abdomen; Hu Xiaotian watched, his scalp tingling, thinking that if it were him, even if the kick didn't kill him, it would likely violently castrate him.

Yet the old monk remained utterly still; the blue-robed old man's kick landed solidly on the monk's lower abdomen, but it was like kicking an iron plate—crack! His right leg was shaken until the bone broke.

Sweating profusely from pain, the blue-robed old man's expression was utter terror as he trembled, "You are Master Yuanmu… you ought to be a monk of Tianlong Temple; why are you here?"

The old monk smiled and said, "I, your humble self, wander the world, the four seas are my home; as long as the Buddha resides in my heart, where I am makes no difference."

After delivering that kick, the blue-robed old man dared not move another muscle; his blue steel sword clanged to the ground.

The old monk, as if nothing had happened, spoke softly, "Venerable patron, would you now be willing to accompany me in chanting sutras for a year?"

The blue-robed old man bit his lip, his eyes vicious as they flicked at Hu Xiaotian; although countless thoughts churned in his heart, he dared not utter a single 'no,' and whispered, "I will follow the master's arrangements."

The old monk smiled, nodded, extended his hand, and lightly patted the blue-robed old man's shoulder, saying, "Venerable patron, after all, there is still some goodness in your heart."

The blue-robed old man felt a silken-like inner current travel along his shoulder well point, instantly penetrating his eight extraordinary meridians; his internal energy seemed sealed, leaving him utterly weak, and he exclaimed in terror, "You…"

The old monk said, "Venerable patron, do not worry; after the year is up, when you leave you will naturally recover as before."

Although Hu Xiaotian had never seen the old monk strike, from the blue-robed old man's words and their exchange he already knew the old monk's martial arts were profound and unfathomable, having reached the pinnacle; the blue-robed old man's formidable swordsmanship could not even exchange a single move before the old monk, and he secretly sighed, "There are always experts beyond experts, heavens beyond heavens."

The old monk had Jue Zheng alone lead the donkey, lifted the blue-robed old man onto it, and brought him into Lingyin Temple—clearly to fulfill the promise of accompanying the old monk in chanting sutras for a year. Before departing, the blue-robed old man gazed at Hu Xiaotian with eyes full of venom; though he hated Hu Xiaotian to the core, with the old monk present he dared not make any further move.

After the two had left, the old monk's gaze fell on Xiao Hui, and he smiled, saying, "Please forgive my poor eyesight—is this a mule?"

Xiao Hui was obviously displeased with that remark, and brayed "hee-haw! hee-haw!"

The old monk smiled and said, "It looks like a mule, yet its sound is like a donkey's—truly rather rare." He turned to Hu Xiaotian and said, "I, your humble self, am quite fond of this donkey."

Hu Xiaotian said, "Even if you like it, junior cannot give it to you."

The old monk sighed and said, "I, your humble self, originally had some affinity with you young people and wanted to help cure your illness, but I never expected you to be unwilling to part with even a mere donkey."

Huo Shengnan, upon hearing the old monk's words, felt anxious; in her view, if Hu Xiaotian's illness could be cured, not to mention Xiao Hui, she would not hesitate to give away all her precious possessions.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Master, you just said all beings are equal; in the Buddha's eyes, you and I and even that horse are no different—we are all lives, and as lives they have freedom, so I cannot make the decision for it."

The old monk said, "If you cannot decide for it, how do you know it is unwilling to follow me?"

Hu Xiaotian smiled and said, "Master, you keep calling it a donkey, which for a horse is already the greatest insult; every life has its own dignity, and for dignity one can even sacrifice life—do you think it would follow you?"

The old monk burst into laughter, then told Jue Ming, "Escort the two patrons to a room to rest."

Jue Ming carried Hu Xiaotian on his back into the room and laid him again on the bed.

After they went in, Huo Shengnan bore the pain of the arrow wound in her left leg, knelt to the ground, but this movement aggravated the wound; the pain drained the color from her lovely face, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead.

The old monk's countenance remained calm as an ancient well, as if he had not noticed Huo Shengnan's action at all.

Huo Shengnan said, "I beg the master's compassion."

The old monk shook his head and said, "One kneels to heaven, to earth, to the Buddha, to parents, to the emperor—but one may not kneel to me; female patron, this is clearly adding to my sin!" He walked slowly inside; Huo Shengnan felt an invisible pressure press upon her, so intense she could barely breathe, her vision darkened and she fainted.

Although Hu Xiaotian had entered the room, his eyes remained fixed on the outside; seeing Huo Shengnan faint, his heart was also filled with anxiety, yet he knew that even if he were more anxious it would avail nothing—just now the blue-robed old man had nearly taken their lives, let alone this old monk.

The old monk entered the room and told Jue Ming, "You may go."

Jue Ming bowed with palms together to the old monk, then turned and left.

Hu Xiaotian said, "Master, do you still have any questions for me?"

The old monk said nothing, extending his withered right hand; though he and Hu Xiaotian were still about a zhang apart, Hu Xiaotian felt an invisible force lift his right arm, his right side losing sensation as he watched his right hand slowly float upward; Hu Xiaotian's eyes filled with astonished light, not knowing how the old monk accomplished this.

It was as if an invisible silk thread had wrapped around his right arm, allowing it to extend and flex; the old monk's previously calm eyes suddenly shot forth a dazzling, awe-inspiring radiance.

Hu Xiaotian's heart pounded with anxiety; suddenly he recalled the blue-robed old man's words, that this old monk was Master Yuanmu of Tianlong Temple, and only now did Hu Xiaotian connect the Formless Divine Skill's origin in Tianlong Temple—could this old monk have discovered his secret of cultivating the Formless Divine Skill? (To be continued~^~)