Chapter 34: Just now I wanted to give the Master a palm strike

Niu Dingtian, holding a bell hammer, struck it rapidly forty‑nine times and then leapt out of the building.

He vaulted over the temple gate, ignoring the monks at the entrance, and raced down the mountain path.

At night on Shaoshi Mountain, the path was deserted, only a full moon shedding silver light.

The swift, frantic dash made the winter wind whistling by Niu Dingtian's ears like a blade of ice.

His footfalls never ceased, and under the biting cold wind his heart gradually steadied.

To say the least, his actions today violated the jianghu code, even resembling the old thief Mu Rong Bo of yesteryear.

But how many who preach jianghu righteousness meet a good end? Jue Zhen and Jue Xing's deeds today may not be righteous either; they merely see a powerless scholar as an easy target.

Whether evil sects or so‑called prestigious schools, in the jianghu they all merely scramble for personal or sect interests.

Evil sects have their own methods, and prestigious schools have theirs. If he lacked brute force, he wouldn't believe Shaolin Temple, upon learning he possessed the Arhat Subduing Demon Skill, would not strike him down.

Even years later, when the Dragon‑Slaying Saber and the Heaven‑Relying Sword appeared, the same held true: before jianghu interests there is no distinction of good or evil, only blood and carnage. Such is the jianghu!

Perhaps now I differ from Mu Rong Bo's followers and even from the prestigious schools: they would slaughter innocents for profit, while I still refuse to harm the innocent.

The jianghu is but a corner of the world; if one cannot see through these petty confusions, how can one survive the coming chaotic era?

Today's move may have been hasty; I had planned to take two or three days to scheme slowly.

I did not expect Jue Zhen to change plans on the spot, giving only half a day, and the Scripture Vault also housed a capable guardian whose aura far surpassed Jue Zhen and Jue Xing.

If I could capture and kill him alone before dealing with Jue Zhen and Jue Xing, it would be easy; but if the three attacked together, I might not escape unscathed.

That is why I forced my way onto the second floor then; time was running short.

What I didn't expect was that, out of my momentary compassion, the old monk abandoned me to chase Han Xiao Ying.

Had I smashed that old monk with a single palm in the Scripture Vault, perhaps Han Xiao Ying, Niu Ben, and the others who came up the mountain would not be in danger.

Still not ruthless enough!

But is that the outcome I want?

Niu Dingtian's mind grew conflicted, and amid the turmoil his internal breath began to falter.

At that moment, his breathing technique activated on its own, clearing his spiritual gate instantly, and his breath steadied again.

In the blink of an eye, Niu Dingtian felt his heart race.

Damn it!

Almost went mad!

The cold wind on the path could not suppress his cold sweat.

After calming down, he felt light, his mind suddenly elevated:

Follow your heart!

Indeed, everything follows the heart!

He set his thoughts aside, his body moving freely, and sped down the mountain path.

A few breaths later, a figure emerged ahead on the path, racing straight toward Niu Dingtian.

It was the old monk in hemp robes.

Seeing the silhouette clearly, Niu Dingtian noted his empty hands and felt a slight relief.

"Master, please stay!"

Niu Dingtian, still unsure of Han Xiao Ying's safety, could not let him go; he flashed forward, stopped a few yards away, blocked the way, his expression cold, and spoke in a hushed tone.

"Benefactor, why force the issue."

The old monk, knowing he was no match for this person, could only counsel gently.

Niu Dingtian said nothing, staring intently at the old monk's weathered face, his gaze unmoving; after a moment he spoke coldly:

"Master, you know what I seek!"

The old monk's eye twitched, he remained silent for a while, then slowly said:

"Benefactor, rest assured, the female benefactor down the mountain has not been caught up with, as for…"

"As for the one blocking the path, by my Buddha's compassion I, the humble monk, have not taken lethal action, though a little suffering remains to be endured."

After speaking, he stood silently, his aura subtly rising as if readying a formation.

Niu Dingtian, hearing the old monk's words, finally relaxed. After a brief silence he grinned and said:

"Master, did you know that before I came down just now, I intended to give you a palm strike."

"Amitabha!"

The hemp‑robe old monk blurted out a Buddha's name, then fell silent again, his slightly twitching mouth betraying inner unease.

It seemed to say, "You damn thief of the scriptures!" but the words never left his mouth, meaningless.

"However…"

Seeing the silence, Niu Dingtian felt it was a bit excessive, paused, then continued solemnly:

"Nevertheless, foes should be resolved, not entangled; we wouldn't have met without a fight. After all, I was the one who acted rashly today, and your injuring my subordinate counts as a balance."

The hemp‑robe old monk, upon hearing this, clasped his hands and slowly said to Niu Dingtian:

"Because I failed to protect the scriptures this time, I ought to return to the temple for punishment, but the books you took still belong to our temple; please return them promptly."

The old monk understood that his opponent was strong yet never resorted to lethal force, surely unwilling to forge a mortal feud with Shaolin Temple. Since he could

Now that it has come to this, directly reclaiming the scriptures is impossible, but the proper stance must still be shown.

The scriptures belong to Shaolin Temple and will eventually be returned to their rightful owner; whether you or I hold them, it is a matter of principle, even if it means risking defeat.

Niu Dingtian sensed the old monk's looseness in speech, and of course

Had his own strength not been sufficient, the opponent would have already struck him with a palm.

But Niu Dingtian never intended to keep the scriptures long‑term; seeing the opponent's prudence, he

"Master, rest assured, I am also a scholar; the scriptures are merely borrowed, and I will certainly return them."

Having said this, he paused again, without even noticing the twitching expression on the old monk's face, and spoke solemnly.

"In two years, on the eighth day of the eighth month, at Nine Palaces Mountain outside Xiangyang City, I will hold a grand ceremony to establish my sect and found my school; I have already invited your temple's Master Juezhen to attend as a guest, and at that time I will also give your temple a satisfactory explanation."

"That's all for today; I take my leave."

Niu Dingtian finished speaking, and without waiting for the old monk's reply, he directly employed his movement technique and rushed down the mountain; in the blink of an eye, he had vanished from the mountain path.

"Amitabha."

The old monk silently watched Niu Dingtian's disappearing figure, but his heart was not as calm as his expression.

(End of chapter)