Chapter 991

Xixian Dieyan Temple is a place of flourishing incense in Xizhou; the reason this thousand‑year‑old temple got its name is mainly due to the cliffside statues behind it. Xue Lingjun did not choose to go to Dieyan Temple to offer incense, but went straight to the cliff statues at the rear, walking along the winding, secluded valley plank path. Yet she saw that the cliffs on both sides were carved with countless large and small Buddha statues, the carving exquisite and lifelike, the surrounding vegetation lush, mountain streams accompanying the way all along. Hu Xiaotian never imagined that such a wonderful place lay hidden here.

Dieyan Temple, Guanyin Pavilion, Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue, Guanyin

meditation mat, palms together, lower jaw

Guanyin statue, auspicious marks, Buddha's hand, palm, eyes

Hu Xiaotian marveled at the exquisite craftsmanship of the statues, waited a while, and saw Xue Lingjun still kneeling there, praying nonstop; he never expected she would be such a devout believer, and finally grew a bit impatient, rose, and went outside the Guanyin Pavilion.

Seeing a monk sweeping fallen leaves on the platform ahead, Hu Xiaotian walked over; the monk, upon seeing Hu Xiaotian, lowered his head, stepped to the side, and continued sweeping.

Master

West Mountain

Hu Xiaotian said: "Just that there are far fewer worshippers here than at Dieyan Temple."

Great Buddha Rock, Reclining Buddha, Great Buddha Rock, mountaintop, Great Buddha Rock, Reclining Buddha, Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun, Guanyin Pavilion, monk, Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun

Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian

Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun

Xue Lingjun knew he was saying one thing but meaning another, pointed up the mountain and said: "The summit doesn't seem far off; let's go up and have a look."

Hu Xiaotian also happened to have a free day, and moreover the scenery here truly made one feel refreshed and delighted; recalling the reclining Buddha the monk had just mentioned, he thought it a good opportunity to broaden his horizons, so he nodded and accompanied Xue Lingjun as they continued upward. After walking a stretch, they did not see that sweeping monk; not far from the summit they spotted a small temple, its plaque inscribed with the three characters "Dafoyan". The temple gate was ajar; Hu Xiaotian peered through the crack and saw the courtyard empty of anyone, just as he was about to leave. But then he heard footsteps from the right, looked up, and saw a middle-aged monk walking slowly toward him.

middle-aged monk, Wuning, patron, Amitabha Buddha

Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian, Great Master, precious temple, Reclining Buddha

Wuning, main gate

Wuning, temple, road, triple courtyard, Reclining Buddha, stone steps, mountainside

Following the stone steps to their end, he saw five connected huge arched entrances; entering them, he finally beheld the full view of the reclining Buddha, which lay there, about thirty zhang in length, magnificent and imposing. Although Hu Xiaotian was well‑traveled, he had never seen such a gigantic reclining Buddha before.

Xue Lingjun, fifty thousand taels, silver note, Great Buddha Rock, repair, merit

Wuning, Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian, tea cup, tea pot, tea cup

Wuning, Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian, Buddhist teachings, tea cup, sweeping monk, Great Buddha Rock, monk, Hu Xiaotian

Wuning, prayer beads, patron

Watching the two figures depart, Hu Xiaotian whispered to Xue Lingjun: "Strange, I always feel something is off."

Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian

Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun

Xue Lingjun said: "People who transcend the world are mostly like this; you cannot judge them with worldly eyes."

Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun

weather, Xue Lingjun, tea pot, tea cup, dizziness, on the ground, Hu Xiaotian, tea, toxin, body, antitoxin, ordinary, toxin, harm, abnormal reaction, Xue Lingjun, ability

Hu Xiaotian, Xue Lingjun, West Sichuan, Lanruo Temple, experience, monk, poison, be overcome, luck, avoid, decide, repeat old trick, use the opponent's plan against them, pretend to be, faint, on the ground, evil monk, appear

gleeful sound, sound

Wuning, sweeping monk

Xue Lingjun, Hu Xiaotian, jaws, clenched, faint, both eyes, both ears, every move

Wuning, he, he

sweeping monk, Master, senior martial brothers, kid, he

Hu Xiaotian, sweeping monk, himself, this person, festival, Lanruo Temple, lucky escape, remnants

sweeping monk, Master, Uncle-master, kid, Master, take revenge, kill them both

Wuning, senior martial brother, kid, another one, hand over

sweeping monk, Uncle-master, uproot completely

Wuning, she, stunning beauty, killed, pity, enjoyable, Young Master, bestowed, hehe

The two had already reached Hu Xiaotian's side when he suddenly opened his eyes, staring straight at the sweeping monk. The monk was startled, drew a dagger from his waist, and thrust it at Hu Xiaotian, but Hu Xiaotian seized his wrist, twisted it hard—crack! —snapping the bone, which pierced the skin. The monk let out a pig‑like scream, not yet finished, when Hu Xiaotian, still gripping his hand, drove the dagger deep into his chest; the cry cut off, and the monk collapsed dead on the spot.

Wuning, Xue Lingjun, on the ground, critical moment, mind, confused, seize the time, subdue, survive, hope, most people, in the situation, only thinking of escaping, Wuning, awake

It was a pity his speed could not compare to Hu Xiaotian's; after swiftly disposing of the sweeping monk, Hu Xiaotian turned and charged at Wuning. Wuning only felt a blur before his eyes, then saw Hu Xiaotian appear before him, who raised his right hand and flung a handful of black ash at Hu Xiaotian's face. Hu Xiaotian puffed out a breath; his inner energy was so strong, like a gale sweeping through, it cleared the black ash completely, sending it all back onto Wuning's face. Wuning cried out, covering his eyes with both hands, for the ash was toxic, burning hot upon contact with his eyes, and in an instant his face broke out in blisters the size of soybeans.

Hu Xiaotian, Wuning, vicious move, step forward, a foot, step on, on the right leg, sharp sound of bone breaking, Wuning, a right leg, being stepped on and broken by him, Wuning, wail, patron spare life, patron spare life

Hu Xiaotian, cold smile, only now realize fear, is it too late?

Wuning, anguished cry, heaven has virtue of cherishing life, I and the patron have no grudges, hope the patron will have mercy and spare my life

Hu Xiaotian, you evil monk, just now when you put poison in the tea, have you ever thought of the words compassion, how can you now have the face to say it

Wuning, both eyes can no longer see, both hands waving wildly, patron spare life, patron spare life, poor monk merely deceived by evil person, absolutely no intention to harm the patron's life

Hu Xiaotian, cut the nonsense, first bring the antidote

Wuning, patron, you have been afflicted with the Mandarin Duck Union Powder, I have no antidote

Hu Xiaotian, just hearing the name you know it's an aphrodisiac, inevitably furious, damn thing, if you don't hand over the antidote, believe it or not I'll send you to see the Buddha right now

Wuning, patron, I really have no antidote, this poison was a gift from the Young Master, the antidote is only with him, actually there is another way, as long as you spend the night together you can expel the poison from your body

Hu Xiaotian, scolded, cliché, deceiving this old man who hasn't seen the world, another foot stepped on Wuning's left leg

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