Chapter 120: Xing Xiu

The Five Decays of Heaven and Man, in Buddhism, refers to the various strange phenomena that appear when a heavenly being's lifespan is about to end.

Clothes becoming dirty, flowers on the head withering, sweating under the armpits, the body becoming foul-smelling, and not enjoying one's seat.

Its appearance represents a concrete step toward death.

Once one possesses two paths above the peak, one will immediately fall into the "Five Decays of Heaven and Man." From the moment it appears, the remaining lifespan begins to be counted in moments. The higher the Wu Gong, the faster one dies.

Taking Li Miao as an example, he possesses three paths above the peak, but he deliberately left one step untaken on all three paths. So his three paths above the peak are "fake," losing their divinity, which is why he can jump around everywhere.

In that battle on Taishan, in order to fight Yun Zelin, he self-perfected "Vajra." It seemed like only his hair turned white, which didn't seem serious, but if he didn't regress his realm, then this "Five Decays of Heaven and Man" would intensify over time.

Within a day, Li Miao would also die.

But this person who commanded Zhu Zai to bombard Shaolin, looking at this leisurely and slow attitude, didn't look like someone with less than a day of life left.

The signs of "Five Decays of Heaven and Man" on this person, although more serious than what Li Miao had on Taishan, seemed to have been stalled by some method and didn't show any signs of continuing to develop.

Li Miao smiled silently.

When he was in Shuntian Prefecture, he rarely revealed his martial arts. Even in front of Zhu Zai, he avoided talking about his progress, just to guard against these people and things hidden behind the scenes.

Relying on a little bit of specialty, thinking one is the favored child of heaven, acting recklessly, will only lead to dying inexplicably like Zuo Lishan.

The essence of Wu Gong is a kind of violence, and all power is built on violence.

The person who eats the most might not be the most righteous, nor the most popular, but they must be the best at fighting.

The Great Ming Imperial Court has stabilized the world for nearly two hundred years and enjoys the four seas. If it didn't master the secret of being above the peak, that would be the strange thing.

After that person gave the order, Zhu Zai gave instructions to fire a few cannons first to test.

Just as a few Embroidered Uniform Guards pulled the fire cannons and were about to bombard the Shaolin gate directly.

They saw the gate slowly open.

An old monk came out from the gate, saw the many Embroidered Uniform Guards outside the temple and the fire cannons that had already been lit, but was not panicked, put his hands together, and bowed to Zhu Zai.

"Lord Zhu."

Zhu Zai suddenly raised his hand and clenched his fist, signaling the Embroidered Uniform Guards preparing to fire to stop, and then bowed to the old monk: "Master Xing Xiu."

"The Imperial Court received news that Shaolin was besieged by Ming Sect thieves and came specifically to save you. Have the Ming Sect thieves already retreated?"

This old monk who walked out of the gate was the junior brother of the current Shaolin Abbot, Master Xing Chi, and also one of the only two high monks of the 'Xing' generation left in Shaolin.

Shaolin and Mount Wudang are called the North Star of the Ordinary Jianghu, so naturally, they have dealings with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Zhu Zai had been to Shaolin and knew him.

"Yes, thank you for the Imperial Court's concern, our temple is deeply grateful."

"My lord has come from afar, why not enter our temple to rest first and have some vegetarian food and tea," Xing Xiu said.

Zhu Zai turned to look at the person with the "Five Decays of Heaven and Man": "Big Brother, what do you think?"

That person chuckled: "Since Shaolin is fine, I will go back first, I'm tired."

"Go ask about the situation that day, write a memorial and submit it, no need to come back to report to me."

After saying this, he turned and returned to the sedan chair, slowly leaving.

Zhu Zai gave an instruction, letting the many Embroidered Uniform Guards camp outside Shaolin Temple first, and picked a few trusted aides to follow Xing Xiu into the Shaolin mountain gate.

Entering the temple gate, Zhu Zai saw that the ground was full of bloodstains that hadn't been cleaned up, but no corpses were seen.

Looking at the surrounding buildings, most of them had collapsed, and only a few remote Buddha halls were still intact.

Zhu Zai nodded secretly.

It seems the news received by the Imperial Court is true; with Shaolin's foundation, the Ming Sect must have come out in full force that day to turn Shaolin into this state.

He immediately asked Xing Xiu in front: "I don't know how Master Xing Chi is now?"

Hearing this, Xing Xiu didn't stop his steps and said lightly: "Senior brother was seriously injured and has three days to live."

Zhu Zai's steps paused: "Is that so... with your temple's methods, who could injure Master Xing Chi to this extent?"

"The Ming Sect's Benefactor Ji."

"Impossible."

Zhu Zai said decisively: "He is already dead, died in Miao Jiang. I saw it clearly that day."

"To prevent the evil of witchcraft, we cut his corpse into several pieces, transported them to Shuntian in boxes made of raw iron, had people dissect them carefully, and finally I personally burned them into a pile of charcoal and scattered them into the river."

"No matter how high his Wu Gong is, he is still human. No matter how evil witchcraft is, it is impossible for him to be resurrected from the dead."

Xing Xiu still said lightly: "I have never practiced Wu Gong, only focused on Buddhism. Senior brother asked me to hide that day, and I didn't see the situation at that time with my own eyes."

"For all matters, Lord Zhu, see senior brother, and then come to ask him."

After saying this, he led Zhu Zai toward the main hall of Shaolin.

Seeing the temple gate slowly close, Li Miao fell lightly from the treetop, stood in place, twisted his fingers, and pondered for a while.

Shaolin didn't seem to have too big a problem, which didn't exceed Li Miao's expectations.

Shaolin has been passed down for a millennium, how could it not have some unusual methods.

Over this millennium, the world has produced many geniuses above the peak; if a Ji Tianrui could destroy Shaolin, then Shaolin's millennium inheritance would be a bit laughable.

It's just that I don't know why the Ming Sect attacked Shaolin.

Li Miao turned and left, finding Yin Yin Minjun and Yong Jie.

"Elder Yin, take my waist token and find that Battalion Commander Zhang just now. Tell him to pass a message to the Commander-in-Chief that I will see him at the third watch tonight."

"If that person is there, let him hang a lantern outside the tent. If he is not there, hang two."

"Yes, my lord." Yin Yin Minjun took the waist token and accepted the order.

Li Miao turned to look at Yong Jie: "Master, looking at Shaolin's situation, it should be safe."

"You can go on your own. You are originally Master Xing Chi's disciple, the Embroidered Uniform Guard won't stop you, just don't reveal news related to me."

"If you see Master Xing Chi, ask him a question for me."

"Just say, the late-comer Li Miao has some grievances with the Ming Sect and is willing to vent some anger for your temple. It's just that there are some questions I want to ask Master Xing Chi for advice."

"I will come to the temple tonight to find you, let's agree on a place. If Master Xing Chi is willing to see me, I will trouble Master to take me to see him."

Yong Jie nodded, agreed on a meeting place with Li Miao, and turned to walk toward the Shaolin mountain gate.

After being stopped by the Embroidered Uniform Guard and explaining, he entered the mountain gate.

Li Miao stood in place, looking at this millennium-old ancient temple of Shaolin from afar, without saying a word, not knowing what he was thinking.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 121 =====