Chapter 48: Great Wheel Bright King

Zhao Ti said, "Abbot Benyin need not overthink; the previous agreement still stands."

Benyin pressed his palms together in prayer: "This old monk is humbled; how can this be allowed?"

Zhao Ti said, "Why not? Master, say no more."

Benyin sighed: "Prince Yan acts with righteousness; Tianlong Temple accepts this grace."

Having spoken, he looked at Duan Zhengming. Duan Zhengming's mind spun a hundred turns; since Benyin was on good terms with the other, his identity could not be false. At this moment, thinking of the matter of vassalage, if this person could intercede a word or two, would there not be great hope?

Duan Yu looked at Zhao Ti: "Brother Zhao, so you are actually the Prince of Yan!"

Zhao Ti said, "Does Brother Duan not hide his identity either?"

Duan Yu wanted to speak again, but Abbot Benyin looked at Duan Zhengming and said, "Donor Duan, this visit of yours..."

Duan Zhengming returned to his senses and hurriedly explained the matter of Duan Yu's injured meridians.

Benyin pondered: "This matter requires me to take you to the Muni Hall to consult with my three junior brothers."

Duan Zhengming said, "Disturbing the quiet cultivation of all the masters is a great sin."

Benyin said, "The heir apparent of Zhenan will one day inherit the throne. Since he has come to Tianlong Temple to inquire, it must be a difficult problem; we should discuss it with my junior brothers."

Having spoken, he looked toward Zhao Ti: "Donor Zhao, please go first."

Zhao Ti nodded. Duan Yu went over and took his arm: "Brother Zhao, how did you come to this temple?"

Duan Zhengming scolded: "Yu'er, do not be disrespectful to Prince Yan! Have you forgotten all daily etiquette?"

Duan Yu let go and said, "Yes, Uncle." But he still did not leave Zhao Ti's side and continued speaking.

Seeing this, Duan Zhengming pondered in his heart; he did not know how Yu'er had become acquainted with this person, but it was ultimately a good thing. He could strengthen ties with him and request this person's help in interceding with the Song Emperor.

The group walked toward the Muni Hall. Zhao Ti did not go inside but sat still beside a four-stringed moon lute. This was as previously agreed; if Jiu Ji Mo Zhi seized the scriptures, they would intercept him here.

Benyin said, "Donor Zhao has taken on trouble. This old monk will first take these two inside to inquire about the injury."

Zhao Ti nodded. Since Duan Zhengming had arrived, for the sake of caution, Master Kurong would probably still have him learn one of the Six Meridian Swords. But even if Duan Zhengming learned one meridian, the group would still not be Jiu Ji Mo Zhi's match.

At that time, Jiu Ji Mo Zhi should have acted to seize Duan Zhengming, threatening with words to take him back to Tubo. Subsequently, Duan Yu would have used the Six Meridian Swords to rescue him, but although Duan Yu rescued Duan Zhengming, he himself was captured.

Not to mention that Duan Yu cannot practice the Six Meridian Swords now; even if he could, in the end Jiu Ji Mo Zhi would still obtain one person, and ultimately I would have to act myself.

Just then, a young monk brought tea. Zhao Ti asked him to sit and inquired about the playing method of the four-stringed moon lute. Seeing the young monk was lively, he also asked him to bring chess pieces for a game.

Midway, Benyin came out twice and spoke some words with Zhao Ti. Zhao Ti only told him to get back to the business inside. Abbot Benyin pressed his palms together to apologize and returned.

Unknowingly, more than two double-hours had passed. Suddenly, a wave of gentle sandalwood fragrance arose, followed by a distant, faint chanting of Sanskrit verses drifting over.

Inside the Muni Hall, Abbot Benyin mobilized his internal energy and shouted loudly: "Great Wheel Bright King, please move this way."

From outside, moving from near to far, came the voice: "Trouble the Abbot."

Zhao Ti heard this voice as intimate and humble, quite polite, and could not help but smile at the corners of his mouth.

A moment later, the sound of footsteps approached, and a dozen or so people appeared outside the Muni Hall.

Leading them was a monk wearing a yellow robe, not yet fifty years of age. His face was radiant, with an inner light flowing like a bright pearl or precious jade, shining naturally.

Benyin walked out from inside and looked at the monk: "Great Wheel Bright King, please."

Jiu Ji Mo Zhi pressed his palms together: "The Buddha says: no birth, no death; no defilement, no purity. This small monk's roots are dull and slow; I have not penetrated the emotions, hatreds, life, and death. I have troubled the masters of Tianlong Temple."

Benyin shook his head: "Bright King, this act is truly adding feet to a snake."

Jiu Ji Mo Zhi smiled on his face and walked inside. Suddenly seeing Zhao Ti playing chess with the young monk, his figure paused slightly, but then he continued forward with an unchanged expression.

When he entered, Zhao Ti only glanced once. When Jiu Ji Mo Zhi looked over, Zhao Ti did not look at him at all.

Jiu Ji Mo Zhi was arrogant; he also believed the experts of Dali were limited. Even if he suspected Zhao Ti was an ally, he would not retreat.

Watching the two walk inside, the young monk said, "Donor Zhao, will, will we continue the game?"

Zhao Ti smiled: "Of course we will. I will teach you a game of Zhenlong."

The two arranged the black and white pieces, completely ignoring what was happening inside, but not long after, they heard fighting break out.

The young monk trembled in fear. Zhao Ti said, "Do not be distracted while playing chess."

The young monk said, "Yes, yes, but Donor Zhao, I am still afraid..."

Zhao Ti shook his head. Listening to the sound from inside the main hall, the hissing of finger qi never ceased. There was another sound, like that of a blade, but upon closer inspection, it was the powerful qi tearing through the air. He knew it was Jiu Ji Mo Zhi's supreme technique, the Flame Blade Palm.

The fighting inside grew more intense. After about half a double-hour, the sounds suddenly stopped. Then, within a few breaths, Jiu Ji Mo Zhi was seen carrying a person out; it was precisely Emperor Baoding, Duan Zhengming.

They heard him speak loudly: "The ruler of my country has long admired the style of Emperor Baoding and eagerly wishes to meet him. Please do us the honor of traveling to Tubo for a discussion."

The monks inside chased out. Leading them was Master Kurong. At this moment, his face was peculiar: half was ruddy and smooth, while the other half was like a withered bone, yellow and protruding with no flesh, obviously the result of practicing a special Cultivation Technique.

Master Kurong said indifferently: "Bright King, this act is improper."

Jiu Ji Mo Zhi laughed loudly. Since stepping into the main hall, he had seen that Duan Zhengming's expression was full of wealth and glory, so he guessed it was Emperor Baoding. Thus, he seized an opportunity to strike and capture him: "What is improper? Men, take good care of the ruler of Dali!"

The dozen or so subordinates outside wanted to enter, but Zhao Ti slowly stood up at this moment.

Jiu Ji Mo Zhi was guarding against the monks opposite using the Six Meridian Swords. At this moment, he held Duan Zhengming horizontally in front of him, pinching the other's pulse gate, preventing him from using any internal energy.

Zhao Ti stood up. Jiu Ji Mo Zhi looked over. He knew the experts of Dali's One Yang Finger; the other's age meant he could not be Duan Zhengchun. Without a One Yang Finger ability to strike from a distance, as long as he had Duan Zhengming in hand, retreating from Tianlong Temple would be absolutely safe. Then he could demand the complete sword scripture of the Six Meridian Swords. As for taking him back to Tubo, it was merely to frighten the monks.

But just as he was about to withdraw his gaze, Zhao Ti suddenly raised a hand behind the four-stringed moon lute.

Only a light, ethereal, and gloomy sound suddenly arose. Jiu Ji Mo Zhi's face changed instantly. He hurriedly released one arm and slashed through the air.

A fierce palm wind immediately met the true qi of the Phantom Yi Yin Zhi, producing a "crackling" sound.

Zhao Ti felt the other's internal energy far surpassed Duan Yanqing's. This was while holding Duan Zhengming with one hand and using only the other.

He raised an eyebrow. Both hands emerged, sending four streams of Phantom Yi Yin Zhi true qi toward Jiu Ji Mo Zhi from different directions.

Jiu Ji Mo Zhi used Duan Zhengming to block the monks in front. With an opening at his side, he could only continuously slash out with the Flame Blade. But the Phantom Yi Yin Zhi force was extremely cold; the Flame Blade palm wind could not completely slash it apart. If he had two hands, it would be fine, but at this moment only one hand was usable. Consequently, his Buddha-like appearance shattered, and his expression became ferocious.

Zhao Ti's Phantom Yi Yin Zhi force continued unceasingly. Jiu Ji Mo Zhi was shocked in his heart; he had never seen such a Wu Gong, and none existed in all the martial arts he knew.

The Phantom Yi Yin Zhi force temporarily forced him into a desperate situation. Suddenly, he let out a loud cry, released Duan Zhengming, and used the Flame Blade with his other hand as well.