Chapter 118: Duan Yu and Kumārajīva

In the Heavenly Dragon world, in front of the Songhe Tower, the largest and most famous restaurant in Suzhou City, which had four floors

and stood out like a crane among chickens among the surrounding one or two-story buildings,

Zhang Jie, dressed in a green shirt and holding a clean ivory fan, stood leisurely.

"Young Hero Zhang, you are here, please come inside quickly."

As soon as he saw Zhang Jie, the waiter of Songhe Tower greeted him with a full face of smiles.

Zhang Jie walked inside while ordering:

"The usual."

Besides reading extensively in the Langhuan Jade Cave of Mantuo Mountain Villa and improving his martial arts these days,

he also occasionally came to Suzhou City to play and relax.

Above is heaven, below is Suzhou and Hangzhou!

And Songhe Tower was the place where he rested midway,

ordering some wine and food here, listening to guests from the south and north talking about the world,

bragging and farting, which was also a very good experience.

"Got it!

Young Hero Zhang, please wait on the second floor."

The waiter responded and turned to the kitchen to arrange wine and food.

Zhang Jie came to the second floor and found a seat by the window.

The view here was good, and he could take in all the pedestrians and vendors on the street below.

"Young Hero Zhang, your wine and food."

Soon, the nimble waiter delivered the wine and food.

Zhang Jie drank and drank to his heart's content while watching the scenery outside the window.

Suddenly, a somewhat strange combination came into his view.

This combination consisted of an old man and a young man; the age structure was not strange;

what was strange was their identities, a monk and a scholar.

The monk was thin, with a yellowish complexion, wearing a yellow monk robe, cloth clothes, and straw sandals,

less than fifty years old, and looking at his dress, he did not look like a Central Plains person,

and should be a monk from foreign lands like the Western Regions or Tibet.

However, what was most impressive was that his face was full of spirit,

faintly as if there was precious light flowing, like a bright pearl or precious jade naturally shining, clearly possessing profound cultivation.

The scholar was dressed in white, with a gentle and jade-like face, and a clear and soft temperament,

with an overall extraordinary spirit, giving people a feeling of being refined and detached from the world.

"Heh!"

"Has the plot progressed to now?"

Zhang Jie smiled lightly, having a guess about the identities of the two below.

With such a distinctive combination, if he still could not recognize their identities,

then wouldn't the novels and TV series he watched before crossing be watched in vain?

His lips opened and closed, and a voice sounded in the monk's ear:

"The Great Wheel Bright King has come from afar, why not come up and drink a cup of clear tea?"

Well, Han monks were forbidden to drink alcohol, and the fifth commandment of Buddhism was not to drink alcohol;

and Zhang Jie did not know the rules of Tibetan Buddhism, so he could only invite him like this.

"Who?"

Kumārajīva, who was rushing on the road with Duan Yu below, turned his head suddenly.

Then he saw Zhang Jie looking at them with a smile at the window of the second floor of Songhe Tower.

"Amitabha, little monk Kumārajīva, may I ask who you are?"

Kumārajīva, who understood that Zhang Jie was an expert who could use sound transmission, also asked via sound transmission.

Zhang Jie smiled freely and transmitted:

"Zhang Jie, the sect leader of a small Jianghu sect, has met the Great Wheel Bright King."

"Amitabha, the little monk will not be polite."

Kumārajīva, who could not see Zhang Jie's roots, chanted a Buddha name and agreed.

However, he was not very panicked:

after all, there were not many people in this world who could fight him to a draw!

"Master Kumārajīva, who are you talking to?"

Duan Yu, who was being held hostage behind Kumārajīva, saw him first turn his head suddenly, then his lips opened and closed,

but no sound came out, and asked with some confusion.

Although he had a lot of internal energy due to the North-Ming Divine Art by mistake,

he could not use it as he wished, and even the Six Meridian Divine Sword was sometimes effective and sometimes not,

let alone high-level internal energy techniques like sound transmission.

"An interesting person."

A smile appeared on Kumārajīva's face, and he turned to walk toward Songhe Tower.

Duan Yu, who was being held hostage, had no choice but to follow behind him.

When they walked to the door of Songhe Tower, Zhang Jie also came down to greet them.

Zhang Jie took the lead in bowing and saluting:

"Zhang Jie has met the Great Wheel Master."

Kumārajīva put his hands together and chanted a Buddha name:

"Little monk Kumārajīva has met Young Hero Zhang."

"Is there such a graceful young man in the world?"

Seeing Zhang Jie, Duan Yu was full of surprise in his heart.

He was already called a gentleman as gentle as jade in Dali,

but compared to the young man in front of him, he was eclipsed.

If there really were a celestial being descending to the world, it would probably be like this!

"Zhang Jie has met Prince Duan."

At this time, Zhang Jie's gentle voice sounded in Duan Yu's ear.

While Duan Yu was sizing up Zhang Jie, Zhang Jie was also sizing him up.

This Prince of the Dali Zhennan King, the natural noble spirit of the Dali royal family,

combined with the scholarly spirit of reading the classics of Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism for many years,

possessed both elegance and heroism, and was a humble gentleman loved by everyone.

Duan Yu hurriedly returned the salute: "Little student Duan Yu has met Young Hero Zhang."

"Master, Prince Duan, please."

Zhang Jie invited.

"Please."

Kumārajīva, who had nothing to fear, brought Duan Yu to the second floor under Zhang Jie's lead.

"Waiter, bring a pot of clear tea, and another bowl of plain noodles."

Considering that Kumārajīva was a monk and had to observe the clear rules and commandments, Zhang Jie ordered the waiter.

"Thank you."

Kumārajīva thanked him.

He was in a good mood because he felt sincerity and respect from Zhang Jie.

Although he was the National Master of Tibet, high-ranking and powerful, and had Gao Wu Gong,

when he roamed the Jianghu, all forces were respectful to him,

but Kumārajīva knew that these people were vigilant and guarded against him in their hearts.

And some people looked down on his identity as a Tibetan.

Although these people hid it well, how could they hide it from him, whose Wu Gong had entered the transformation realm,

and involved the six senses of the Buddha's eyes, ears, mouth, and nose?

At this time, Duan Yu's vision had been attracted by the wine and food on the table.

He had been coerced by Kumārajīva from Dali Tianlong Temple for many days, although Kumārajīva did not abuse him, because Kumārajīva was from the Buddha gate and was a believer who strictly observed the clear rules and commandments,

so he was not hungry, but meat and wine were out of the question.

"Prince Duan, please."

Zhang Jie saw Duan Yu's eyes full of desire, and immediately handed him a pair of chopsticks, signaling him to help himself.

"Th-thank you, Brother Zhang."

Duan Yu, although somewhat ashamed, still took the chopsticks handed by Zhang Jie.

Soon, the nimble waiter delivered the plain noodles Zhang Jie had ordered.

After Duan Yu ate to his heart's content and was full,

and Kumārajīva also ate some plain noodles, the conversation between the three entered the main topic.

"Amitabha, I wonder why the benefactor is looking for the little monk?"

Kumārajīva chanted a Buddha name in a low voice and asked.

Zhang Jie poured a cup of clear tea for Kumārajīva and Duan Yu each, and then spoke slowly:

"I have come specifically to resolve the dispute between the Master and Prince Duan."

Zhang Jie: Jie has never loved fighting in his life, and loves resolving fights best~

"Ah?" 【1

"Ah?"

Duan Yu, holding a teacup that was still steaming, was momentarily stunned.

Although he knew that Zhang Jie, who could use internal energy and the secret transmission of voice, was no ordinary person,

wasn't it a bit too far-fetched to just say he would resolve the dispute between him and Kumārajīva?

One must know that Kumārajīva's strength was such that even the masters inside Tianlong Temple, such as Ku Rong,

Ben Yin, and Ben Guan, were no match for him when combined.

In order to deal with Kumārajīva's visit to the temple, his uncle,

the Emperor of Dali, Duan Zhengming, had to temporarily shave his head and become a monk to practice one of the Six Meridian Divine Swords.

And even then, they were still no match for Kumārajīva,

and he himself was abducted by Kumārajīva, who regarded him as a living sword manual for the "Six Meridian Divine Swords."

"Amitābha, this humble monk is a bit curious. How does the benefactor intend to resolve the dispute between us?"

Kumārajīva asked with great interest.

Zhang Jie smiled and extended one hand:

"Nothing else, just rely on this!"

"Amitābha, it seems the benefactor wishes to exchange blows with this humble monk!"

Kumārajīva's expression became solemn.

The so-called "exchanging blows" occurs when two martial artists have a conflict,

yet are unwilling to truly fight, avoiding death or injury and preserving harmony,

so they shake hands and engage in a contest within that single handshake to determine the winner.

"Indeed."

Zhang Jie nodded.

Although he had promised Duan Yanqing that he would look after Duan Yu to some extent,

today he had to act due to that promise,

but he also had a good impression of Kumārajīva and was unwilling to resort to fighting and killing the moment they met.

As for Duan Yanqing, whose body was already stone-cold, why still keep the promise?

To Zhang Jie, Duan Yanqing's promise was not important,

but what was important was that he did not wish to deceive his own heart!

To be sincere to others is, even more so, to be sincere to one's heart!

"That is also fine."

Kumārajīva, who also had a good impression of Zhang Jie, nodded gently.

After all, Zhang Jie's treat of vegetarian noodles was still sitting right in front of him!

Who could harbor ill feelings toward such a polite and graceful young man?

"Master, please."

Zhang Jie extended his right hand.

"Benefactor, please as well."

Kumārajīva also extended his right hand.

The next second, a hand that looked as if it were carved from the finest mutton-fat white jade

clasped together with a hand that was waxen yellow, as if it were indestructible like a diamond.

"Amitābha, Benefactor Zhang, this humble monk is going to exert his internal energy now."

Before starting, Kumārajīva, considering himself a senior expert, gave a warning.

Zhang Jie said calmly: "Master Jumo, please exert your full strength."

Duan Yu, who thought Zhang Jie had been sent by his father, Duan Zhengchun, and the others to save him, also became nervous.

If that were not the case, Zhang Jie should not have said he was here to resolve the dispute between him and Kumārajīva.

After all, Tianlong Temple being defeated by Kumārajīva alone was truly too shameful;

if exposed, it might affect the rule of their Dali Duan clan.

Kumārajīva began to exert force; one part of his strength, and Zhang Jie had no reaction.

He immediately added two more parts of strength, but Zhang Jie still had no reaction.

When he couldn't help but use seven parts of his strength, Zhang Jie's expression remained as usual.

'To dare to come alone to save Duan Yu, he truly has some tricks up his sleeve.'

Kumārajīva, who also believed Zhang Jie had been entrusted by the Dali Duan clan, nodded inwardly.

"Amitābha, this humble monk is going to use his full strength, Benefactor, be careful."

Kumārajīva, preparing to use his full strength, warned again.

'He truly is the most polite villain in Tianlong.'

Zhang Jie sighed inwardly upon hearing this.

Compared to those martial artists who would kill an entire family at the drop of a hat, Kumārajīva was simply a breath of fresh air in the Wu Lin.

Throughout the entire *Tian Long Ba Bu*, although Kumārajīva stole many Shaolin unique skills,

including the Xiaoyao Sect's "Small Formless Art," attacked Tianlong Temple, captured Duan Yu,

and fought with Qiao Feng and others, Kumārajīva truly never killed a single person.

Kumārajīva was exceptionally gifted; although obsessed with martial arts, arrogant, conceited, insidious, and cunning, and unscrupulous in achieving his goals;

he was essentially not an evil person. He was greedy for martial arts and combative but had not broken the commandment against killing; he was a martial arts fanatic.

Thinking to himself, Zhang Jie still responded outwardly without changing his expression:

"Dharma King, please proceed."

"Hah!"

Having received the response, Kumārajīva began to use ten layers of his power.

"Crack!"

Because he used his full strength, his control over his force was no longer perfectly rounded,

and a bit of force leaked from his hand, striking the table,

and the table made of century-old solid wood was instantly pierced through!

Duan Yu, who was watching from the side, couldn't help but shrink his pupils:

The calm from just a moment ago was merely an illusion; beneath this illusion,

the clash between Zhang Jie and Kumārajīva had already reached a white-hot stage!

Sss, sss, sss!

As time passed, Kumārajīva used twelve layers of his power,

and more force leaked out, leaving the table riddled with holes.

"Hey! There are experts fighting!"

"Run!"

The diners who heard the commotion were not the bloodthirsty audience from those "Hey! To be able to see such experts fight,

it's worth it even if I die" high-martial worlds; they all ran away extremely fast.

Even the waiters and the boss were not in a hurry to demand payment for the meal,

but instead very skillfully hid in a secret door, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.