Chapter 2, The Ancient Shaolin Temple (Part 2)

It was not until he walked far away that Meng Nan finally got out of bed: "You think you can fool me? I would be a fool to believe you!"

The two monks stammered, "Benefactor... how can you..."

Meng Nan said with a bitter smile, "It seems you have no need to curse me!"

After the young monk finished reprimanding them, he turned to Meng Nan and said, "Master Meng, the abbot has asked me to take you back."

Meng Dongliu shook his head: "As disciples of the Buddhist sect, we will never seek help from those demons. Moreover... in the vast sea of people, even if I wanted to find her, it may not be possible."

Meng Nan made a heartbroken expression: "I am saddened for that tree..." He glanced at the young monk and continued, "In fact, trees, like humans, are living beings. One could even say that their lives are more admirable than those of humans. They absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen, selflessly contributing their strength to nature. However, I never expected that their fate would be so tragic... I truly feel sorrow for its destiny..."

Can you take me to find those who possess this medication? They must have the ability to cure my illness

Meng Nan said with a smile: "Since that's the case, why don't you just ask him to directly teach me the 'Washing Marrow Technique'? Why go through the trouble of attending school?"

That may not necessarily be the case... Meng Dongliu took out a red booklet from his pocket: "This is the admission notice from 'Yundu University'. The official start of the semester is in ten days."

However, after he left the Shaolin Temple, he discovered that things were not as he had imagined. The stone steps he had seen during his last visit had transformed into a rugged mountain path. He cautiously made his way down the mountain, and after walking for more than a mile, he came upon a mountain gate, where two strong martial monks were stationed, blocking the descent with a solid barrier on either side.

The young monk floated down lightly from the sky and landed beside Meng Nan, with his hands clasped behind his back, presenting an air of maturity and seriousness. He reprimanded the two martial monks, saying, "How dare you be so disrespectful to the guest of Brother Zhiyuan?"

Meng Nan pointed to his travel bag and said, "I am a tourist; do I need your abbot's approval to descend the mountain?"

Meng Nan disdainfully said: "If you had told me earlier, why go through all this trouble? 'Yi Jin Jing' is sold everywhere in our area."

Why do the benefactor and the * picture * book sigh

He turned around and hung the travel bag on a branch behind him, then returned to face the two monks: "Are you two planning to go together, or will it be one at a time?"

We truly do not know!" the two monks hurriedly explained

Heimu Cliff? Meng Nan looked at the monk in confusion, wondering if there was a mistake. Shaolin Temple is clearly located on Mount Song, so how could it end up at the headquarters of the Sun and Moon Holy Cult? He wondered if Dongfang Bubai would jump out later.

The monk on the left was the first to launch an attack on Meng Nan, sweeping his staff horizontally towards Meng Nan's waist. Another monk circled around to Meng Nan's back, launching an offensive from behind. The two of them had clearly been working together for many years, demonstrating a high level of mutual understanding.

The young novice monk displayed an innocent smile towards Meng Nan, and with his right fist, he struck towards a pine tree nearby, which was as thick as a person could embrace. The force of his punch surged towards the tree like a raging tide, causing the pine tree to break at its base.

Meng Nan politely smiled at them and said, "Excuse me, masters, could you please make way."

The attack from another monk behind him came silently and unexpectedly. His staff technique was entirely different from that of the previous monk, targeting the acupoint on Meng Nan's lower back. Meng Nan deflected the monk's staff with his left hand, pivoting on his right foot to evade the seemingly inevitable strike.

Meng Nan asked loudly: "What is meant by serendipity?"

Meng Nan said with a tone of sarcasm: "How could you not know? I just spent a long time explaining while parched, and yet I was still met with a brutal beating from you all without any distinction or reason"

Meng Dong walked out the door: "I have discussed with the abbot, and for these ten days, you can temporarily stay in the Shaolin Temple to familiarize yourself with life here. After school starts, you must be self-reliant, and no one will be able to help you." As he stepped out of the room, he recalled something: "By the way! From today onwards, my identity is merely Zhi Yuan, and I have no further ties with you. From now on, whatever happens to you has nothing to do with me!"

Meng Dongliu smiled and said: "From a child's perspective, how could the true 'Yi Jin Jing' be allowed to spread to such an extent!"

Meng Dongliu stood up from the mat and took two steps toward Meng Nan: "Although I know the cause of your illness, I have no way to treat and cure you."

That may not be the case; the sect leader has already used internal energy to suppress the extraordinary abilities within you. It should not manifest within the next four years. If by chance the opportunity arises, you might be able to completely eliminate the extraordinary abilities from your body

If I do not become a monk, I will not be able to learn the Yi Jin Jing. Without learning the Yi Jin Jing, I will not be able to transform the foreign energy within my body. If I cannot transform the foreign energy within my body, will I not still end up dying

Meng Nan inhaled sharply, recalling the events of that night with clarity. The effects of that pill were truly astonishing. He curiously remarked, "But that young girl seemed no different from an ordinary person..."

The young monk interrupted their conversation: "No need to say more, all of you go to the 'Reflective Cliff' and face the wall, reciting the Diamond Sutra a thousand times before you are allowed to come down!"

From the moment I first saw you, I knew you were meant to have died in that car accident that night Meng Dongliu's expression was extremely serious

Meng Nan deliberately let out a heavy sigh

The young monk said loudly: "Benefactor, if you insist on descending the mountain, do not blame this poor monk for being impolite!"

Meng Nan had long heard of the fierce and powerful Shaolin staff technique. In the face of the thunderous attacks from the two monks, his best approach was to use softness to overcome hardness, and Tai Chi happened to be a representative of this principle.

He picked up the travel bag, preparing to leave this cursed place. Upon seeing the admission notice on the bed, he hesitated for a moment, but ultimately stuffed it into his pocket.

"Do you mean I'm doomed?" Meng Nan said with a bitter smile

Meng Nan originally did not wish to cause trouble, but the two monks' aggressive attitudes ignited his competitive spirit. He was determined to test just how formidable the Shaolin staff technique truly was

"If you dare to take another step forward, do not blame us for being merciless!" shouted the two monks in anger

Is there a decree from the abbot! The monk on the left spoke sharply and with a stern expression.

Meng Nan almost laughed out loud; after all, they were the ones who obstructed this young master from descending the mountain, and they deserved to be taught a lesson

"Stop it! Am I not still here, alive in front of you?" Meng Nan said, somewhat angrily.

Meng Nan did not take these two monks seriously at all. Now we live in a society governed by the rule of law, and monks are also citizens of the country; they cannot harm others at will.

Meng Nan's left foot was light while his right foot was solid. His right hand slowly traced a circle in the air, and his arm skillfully rested on the incoming tip of the stick. The force of his rotation continued, causing the wooden stick to deviate from its original direction under Meng Nan's adhesive pressure. This move was known as 'Grasping the Sparrow's Tail' in Tai Chi. The opponent's fierce strength was rendered formless by this technique, and the monk was propelled forward two steps to the left due to inertia before he barely managed to stabilize his stance

Your illness can only be resolved through the Shaolin secret technique "Yi Jin Jing". However, "Yi Jin Jing" is the supreme martial art of our Shaolin and has never been passed on to outsiders

Meng Dongliu handed the admission notice to Meng Nan, saying: "It is not merely about attending school; during your four years of study, you must exert a full twelve points of effort, and you must achieve the top score in the comprehensive examination upon graduation"

Meng Nan widened his eyes, as this little novice was actually their two masters' uncle.

The young monk smiled and said to Meng Nan: "The abbot specifically instructed me that before the start of the semester at 'Yundu University', you must not leave Shaolin Temple without permission"

Meng Dongliuzheng said: "Those who are able to learn the 'Washing Marrow Technique' are all students ranked first in comprehensive academic performance from various colleges at Cloud University. This has been an agreement between President Yun and Master Liaochan, and it has not changed for five years. Master Liaochan will not make exceptions for you"

I did not curse you; the mysterious girl you encountered that night was certainly not human. If it were not for the elixir she fed you, you would have already died.

Throughout the journey, Meng Nan encountered no obstacles and successfully left Shaolin Temple. He initially mapped out his route in his mind, planning to walk down Songshan while it was still early, then take a vehicle to Kaifeng, and from there, board a train back to Shanghai

Meng Nan nodded with satisfaction: "If that pine tree were aware in the afterlife, it would surely forgive the young master."

Meng Nan arrogantly raised his head and said: "To be honest with you, I am from the Wudang Sect. Those who know their place should quickly step aside. If you provoke me, I will greet you both with my Tai Chi divine skills"

Mengnan's tongue stretched out long and remained extended for a long time. Fortunately, this punch was aimed at the tree; had it struck him instead, his bones would likely have shattered into thousands of pieces.

He lamented, "It is all my fault for having committed too many sins. I am grateful to the benefactor Meng and the librarian for their guidance. I will escort the benefactor back to the monastery and immediately go to the wall to reflect on my mistakes."

Then bring it on! These two monks are impervious to both soft and hard tactics, and as if by magic, each produced a wooden stick in their hands, crossing them in the air, ready to determine a victor against Meng Nan.

Meng Nan silently lamented his situation. The only reason he was able to gain the upper hand earlier was that these two monks were not familiar with Tai Chi. Both of them possessed martial skills far superior to his own. If the fight continued, he would undoubtedly lose. However, since the matter had reached this point, there were no other options left; he could only fight first and deal with the consequences later.

Meng Dongliu said: "How could an ordinary person possess such strange pills? These pills contain a certain unknown powerful energy. I dare say that these pills could not have been refined by human means. The girl who gave you the pills is very likely a member of the demon race, and she should originate from this world. Unfortunately, although the girl meant well by feeding you the elixir, she overlooked the fact that you are human. With your own constitution, you are simply unable to withstand such potent medicinal power. The energy of the elixir has accumulated in your meridians, forming a Qi knot in the meridian at the back of your neck, which is what those doctors referred to as an aneurysm."

You have said so much, are you trying to persuade me to become a monk

Tourists? Nonsense, we have never allowed tourists to come up to Blackwood Cliff!

Although Mengnan's martial arts skills are not as good as his, when it comes to intellect, even ten little novices combined are no match for him

"Since you understand my condition so well, why don't you cure me? Why did you bring me here?" Meng Nan asked indignantly

"You are the only one to carry on the Meng family line; even if you are willing, I may not be willing!" This statement from Meng Dongliu still reveals his lingering attachments and unclear state of mind.

The two were quite surprised; they had actually failed to subdue the seventeen-year-old boy before them despite their collaboration

We confront one together, and we confront thousands of troops together as well! The two monks, cunning and sly, use their numbers to bully the few and speak so eloquently about it.

The former president of Yundu University, Yun Xiaocheng, and Master Liaochen are the best of friends. He has always had a great interest in the Yi Jin Jing and has repeatedly requested Master Liaochen to publicly share the foundational aspects of the Yi Jin Jing in order to strengthen the physical health of the populace. In response, Master Liaochen developed a set of techniques called "Xisui Jue" based on the foundational aspects of the Yi Jin Jing, which he imparted to qualified students at Yundu University. This "Xisui Jue" bears a remarkable similarity to the Yi Jin Jing; even if it cannot completely eliminate the foreign abilities within you, it can still preserve your life.

The young monk made a gesture of invitation: "It is almost time for the meal, Master, so you should set off quickly."

Meng Nan, feeling powerless, collapsed onto the bed: "Just let me die!"

Meng Nan said with a smile: "Little Master, it seems that I am not one of your Shaolin Temple, and I do not fall under the jurisdiction of your Abbot."

Meng Dongliu nodded slightly: "I just did not expect that your lifespan would be so short!"

Meng Nan took down the travel bag from the tree and shook off the dust on it: "Little brother, I won't be playing with you anymore. Please thank your abbot for his kindness on my behalf." He turned around and was about to leave

The young monk looked back thoughtfully, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. He realized that he had single-handedly taken the life of that pine tree, and a sense of guilt immediately filled his heart

Two martial monks exchanged a glance, and simultaneously launched their attacks, one from the left and the other from the right

When Meng Nan left the room, he encountered the young monk who had just been sweeping the floor. Meng Nan inquired about the route down the mountain and walked towards the temple gate with his travel bag on his back

The two monks immediately ceased their attacks. Meng Nan turned around and saw the young novice who had been sweeping in the temple earlier, flying towards them while stepping on branches.

Meng Nan rubbed his eyes vigorously. My goodness, Shaolin Temple truly is a place where hidden talents abound; even a little novice sweeping the floor has cultivated his lightness skill to such an advanced level

He chuckled twice: "Little brother, you truly possess exceptional martial arts skills, I am in admiration."

"No way? You went through all this trouble to bring me all the way here just for me to go to school?" Meng Nan exclaimed in disbelief.

Having witnessed his prowess, Meng Nan no longer dared to persist and could only helplessly follow behind him, retracing their steps towards the Shaolin Temple

The two monks hurriedly discarded their wooden staffs and clasped their hands together, exclaiming: "Junior Master!"

Why?

Stop! A clear child's voice shouted from a distance

Meng Nan turned around and looked at him with great interest: "Little brother, I never bully children, so please don't force me to make an exception!"