Chapter 83

Big eyes staring at small eyes.

The monk was stunned, Li Li Qingluo was full of anger, and the corner of Tong Guan's mouth twitched.

"Amitabha!" The monk held one palm upright in front of his chest, while the other hand holding the cloth bag was hidden behind his back.

"Female benefactor, this poor monk pays his respects."

Li Li Qingluo's eyes were blazing with fire, and her expression was so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it: "Which temple are you from, and how dare you come to my Mantuo Villa to steal? Was it you who stole those seven volumes of the Minor Formless Art?"

"This..." The monk showed a smile upon hearing this, very calm and composed: "Since we have met, this poor monk will not hide it. This poor monk is the Great Wheel Dharma King Kumarajiva of the Tubo Great Wheel Temple."

"Kumarajiva?" Li Li Qingluo was stunned for a moment: "You are that Tubo monk?"

She had heard Duan Yu say that he was being hunted by a Tubo monk enemy named Kumarajiva, so she figured it must be the monk before her.

"Oh?" Kumarajiva laughed: "The female benefactor actually knows this poor monk. It seems this poor monk's reputation is loud enough, even known in the Jiangnan region of the Song Guo. Since that is the case, would the female benefactor be willing to give the last volume of the Minor Formless Art to this poor monk? Missing one volume makes it impossible to practice to perfection. This poor monk thanks the female benefactor."

"You thieving bald monk, you are delusional!" Li Li Qingluo was so angry that her insides felt like they were burning. She hadn't expected this monk to be so shameless; not only did he steal books, but now he was actually opening his mouth to demand more.

Kumarajiva was very polite: "This poor monk has never liked to force others. I would rather take it myself than make the host family feel troubled. But since the last volume is not here, this poor monk has no choice but to break the rules and ask the female benefactor for it."

"I will kill you, you thieving bald monk!" Li Li Qingluo could no longer endure it. She dared not act recklessly in front of Zhao Ti, and having suppressed a heart full of anger, she now released it all. Drawing her long sword, she stabbed directly at Kumarajiva.

The sword light was cold and the speed was fast. Kumarajiva slid backward, the sword always remaining more than a foot away from his body. He shook his head and said: "The female benefactor possesses such a treasure house, why is your martial arts so clumsy? Could it be that you haven't learned the Minor Formless Art?"

Li Li Qingluo was even angrier upon hearing this. She wove several green phantoms with her sword; it was the Pine Wind Sword Technique of the Yu Qingcheng Sect.

Kumarajiva laughed: "The moves are not bad, but the female benefactor's execution is lacking. It seems your talent for martial arts is not very good. Since that is the case, what use is this treasure house to you? Just give it all to this poor monk!"

As his voice fell, he slightly dodged the long sword and slashed out with a Flame Blade palm.

The Flame Blade could project palm wind through the air, with internal power released, extremely scorching, capable of lighting incense, and at its peak, even capable of lighting lamps and candles.

Li Li Qingluo only felt a wave of heat rushing toward her face. Having never seen such martial arts, she wanted to dodge but was too late. She was struck on the shoulder by the palm wind, let out a miserable cry, and her body was knocked backward.

Kumarajiva wanted to force the eighth volume of the Minor Formless Art out of her, so he didn't deal a killing blow; otherwise, this palm would have taken her life directly.

Li Li Qingluo supported herself with her sword, spat out a mouthful of blood, and sat up with difficulty, her face filled with extreme horror. This monk's martial arts were so powerful that perhaps only her father, Ding Chunqiu, could contend with him.

Kumarajiva held his palm upright in front of his chest and smiled: "Offended, female benefactor."

Li Li Qingluo was flustered and hurriedly looked at Tong Guan. Since Tong Guan was brought along by the Prince of Yan, he must be a master.

Kumarajiva followed Li Li Qingluo's gaze and looked at Tong Guan. He had just sized Tong Guan up and felt that this person looked very strange, but he couldn't say where.

And there was another person behind, sitting cross-legged on the ground, blocked by this person's body, making it impossible to see his appearance.

Tong Guan kept his sleeves folded, but his heart was not as calm as he appeared. Kumarajiva's Flame Blade had truly given him a fright.

Anyone capable of projecting internal power externally is a master. Although the Sunflower Manual does not follow this path, if he truly had to project it, he would find it extremely difficult.

"You monk, how bold!" Tong Guan snorted coldly. There was some distance to the cave entrance outside, and the cave was sound-absorbent, so even if he shouted, those outside might not hear. Moreover, he was afraid of startling Zhao Ti, who was practicing martial arts behind him. Caught in a dilemma, he figured he could only try to stall for time.

"Since you are a Tubo monk, how dare you come to the Song Guo to run wild? Could it be you are harboring some unspeakable secret?"

Kumarajiva showed a strange expression upon hearing this, finally realizing where the feeling of strangeness came from: "You are a eunuch?"

Tong Guan said: "Since you know, why don't you pay your respects quickly? This official holds a sixth-rank position. You dare to run wild here; do you want to provoke a war between the Song Guo and Tubo?"

Kumarajiva frowned: "Although I am a monk, I also hold a rank. Since you are a eunuch, how can you easily leave the palace and come to this Jiangnan region?"

Tong Guan sneered: "My affairs, do you, a monk, need to manage? Naturally, I am on official business. Do you want to interfere and block it?"

Kumarajiva's eyes flickered: "What official business could there be in this water villa in Taihu? I'm afraid your Song Guo Emperor isn't that idle, wanting to collect the martial arts stored here?"

Tong Guan hummed: "I already said it's official business. You Tubo monk, stop asking about this and that. Why don't you retreat quickly? This official will pretend not to have seen you and let you go."

Kumarajiva was silent for a few breaths, his gaze looking behind Tong Guan, and he smiled: "I'm afraid that's not the case? Who is behind you, and why don't you dare to reveal your face?"

Tong Guan said in a shrill voice: "I told you to leave, so leave quickly. Do you really want to hinder my official business and provoke a war?"

Kumarajiva shook his head: "You are so nervous, could it be that the person behind you is from your Song Guo royal family?"

Tong Guan's face twitched: "Where did you get so many guesses, you monk? You just said you were a monk from the Great Wheel Temple. If you dare to sabotage my mission, aren't you afraid I'll find my way to your Great Wheel Temple? Don't forget, you can run away, but the temple can't!"

Kumarajiva's expression was serious: "What you say as a eunuch makes sense. However, this poor monk is determined to succeed in today's matter and cannot give up. If the person behind you is truly from the Song Guo royal family, at worst, this poor monk will take him to the Great Wheel Temple for a visit. When the time comes, with this person in hand, what can your Song Guo Emperor do to this poor monk?"

Tong Guan felt slightly relieved in his heart. He was afraid this monk would kill them to silence them. Hearing that he didn't reveal such intentions, he couldn't help but say: "You Tubo monk, you are truly bold, you..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw Kumarajiva walking forward, saying as he walked: "Let this poor monk see exactly who it is that can bring a eunuch to Jiangnan. Could it be a prince?"

Tong Guan showed urgency and scolded angrily: "How dare you, monk!" Having said that, silver needles flew out from his sleeves, stabbing directly at Kumarajiva's eyes.

Hmm? Kumarajiva let out a light sound of surprise. Seeing the needles were fast and strange, and even tied with colored threads, he felt suspicious in his heart, having never seen such martial arts.

He raised his hand to grab them, only to see the thread twitch, and the silver needle actually turned, heading straight for his throat, forcing him to dodge to the side.

At this moment, Tong Guan lunged forward, and two more flying needles flashed from his sleeves, heading straight for two acupoints on Kumarajiva's ribs.

Kumarajiva's brows locked slightly, and he slashed out with a palm, but the needles seemed to have no force, paused for a moment, changed direction, and stabbed again.

With the Sunflower Manual mastered quickly, Tong Guan could now control six flying needles. His footwork was enchanting, and in the blink of an eye, he was at Kumarajiva's side. Two more silver needles drilled out from between his fingers, stabbing toward Kumarajiva.

Kumarajiva shifted his body, his eyes bright, and a strange smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. He actually changed his palm into a finger, as if plucking a flower.

One couldn't even see how he moved, but he actually pinched the two needles, then shook them lightly, bending both needles. Then, he pointed forward with one finger. Tong Guan was scared out of his wits and used all his strength to retreat backward.

Just at this moment, Zhao Ti, who had been closing his eyes, opened them.