Chapter Six: If you do not enter hell, who will enter hell
It seemed as if she felt the gaze of the past; Xu Hai turned her head slightly, offering a faint smile. If she were to hold a flower in her hand, it would be nothing short of a dignified presence, enveloped in holy light. "Well done, well done, the foremost master of this temple has arrived"
He clearly did nothing at all; from a physics perspective, he could be considered to have blended into the crowd of monks. Yet, for some reason, he stood out so brightly, as if he were the only person in this place, with everyone else merely serving as a backdrop. It was a May afternoon, and the sun was making everyone sweat, yet he remained refreshingly cool, his expression gentle and serene. He seemed like a lump of snow in the heat, an ice cube amidst the agitation, truly a crane standing among chickens, a tree standing out in the forest. It was a May afternoon, and the sun was making everyone sweat, yet he remained refreshingly cool, his expression gentle and serene. He seemed like a lump of snow in the heat, an ice cube amidst the agitation, truly a crane standing among chickens, a tree standing out in the forest
The Void Sea pondered for a moment and slowly said, "In Buddhism, one does not speak of victory or defeat, but only of cause and effect. However, when several abbots go into battle, victory is certainly not to be celebrated, and defeat... is left unspoken. This monk has also observed the skills of Master Yu; it seems that among the younger generation of martial monks, there is likely no one who can match him."
Who is the greatest master of Shaolin Temple? As soon as she felt a chill run through her body, she froze in place, unable to move. She knew that this dead monk was up to no good, yet she still fell for it. What is the situation now? Could it be that among so many people in the temple, she has to fight that handsome uncle? Indeed, she is dressed as a man, but after all, she is a lay disciple!
Amitabha! Just as Ru Chu was momentarily stunned, a loud shout suddenly rang in his ears, carrying the force of a lion's roar that could scare away demons, startling Ru Chu. Looking up, he saw it was Master Feng, who said, "Yushi, since it is so, let my junior brother Hu spar with you. However, in the Buddhist realm of tranquility, let us keep it to a friendly exchange and avoid harming each other." As he spoke, the monks automatically parted to create a path, leaving Ru Chu in the center.
What is going on? Is she really going to be the scapegoat? Is it really necessary for her, a woman, to stand against the external enemies while there are so many Shaolin monks? All the little monks in the temple call her "Shigu," yet in front of outsiders, the abbot refers to her as "Shidi"?
So what? In order for the world to experience the essence of Shaolin's ultimate skills, the heads of several courtyards must be great masters. Even you, Brother Xuhai, are a generation's grandmaster. When will it be my turn to take the stage?" Ru Chuxin was not swayed by the handsome man and threw the flattering words back. What first master of this temple and grandmaster, you are still a grandmaster yourself.
It is hard to say whether I feel disappointment or excitement. The disappointment comes from the absence of scandalous rumors about the virtual sea, while the excitement arises from the unexpected presence of individuals daring to provoke trouble at the Shaolin Temple. Looking at the three individuals, one of them appears to be around forty years old, of short stature but robust build. His beard is neatly trimmed, and his facial features convey a sense of loyalty, integrity, and kindness, giving him a somewhat Buddhist appearance. The two young men flanking him on either side have ordinary looks and attire, lacking any air of arrogance or dominance.
Hmph, I don't believe it
"I must not hide from you, Junior Sister, that the reason Master Yu has come to visit this time is not only to observe the swordsmanship of Shaolin but also to invite me to leave the mountain and teach military strategy at the Tianjin Academy." Xu Hai gently expressed the shocking words that left Ru Chi in disbelief, "You have mentioned several times before that you do not wish to live like an ordinary woman, raising a family and teaching children, but instead admire the heroic women like Hua Mulan and Mu Guiying. Is this not a great opportunity? Even if one cannot go to battle and fight against the enemy, whether it be the Japanese pirates or the northern invaders, if one can cultivate talents who will protect the country, it is equally commendable."
Seeing Zongqing and Pu walking ahead in silence, Ru had no choice but to follow closely behind. When she arrived at the training ground where the martial monks usually practiced, she was astonished to see two groups of people standing face to face, seemingly in confrontation, yet the atmosphere remained relatively harmonious
So you want me, a lay disciple, to take action. If I win, the reputation of Shaolin will be further enhanced. If I lose, the one who will be embarrassed is myself, correct
His voice was very soft, as if he were whispering, yet in such a large venue, everyone clearly heard his words, their gazes all turning towards Ru Chu in unison
In fact, it is said that there are two groups of people, but the comparison of their numbers is extremely disproportionate. One side is led by Master Suifeng, the abbot of Shaolin, consisting of approximately forty to fifty monks, while the other side has only three individuals, making it appear as though the Shaolin Temple is taking advantage of its numerical superiority.
"Master, they have come to challenge us to a duel," Pu said softly to Ru Chu, his tone laced with a hint of hostility
What guidance can be offered? It is certainly a case of being outmatched, having been beaten. However, seeing that those martial monks appear uninjured, it seems that this Yu person is of good character and showed mercy. But where is this place? The Shaolin Temple, a bastion of martial arts! How can one not seek to regain their honor? This is precisely the issue of the temple's reputation that Pu mentioned. Poor Tu Shu, with her modern curiosity, thought something was amiss in Xu Hai and hurried over, only to be conscripted.
What is the dead monk up to now?
However, Xu Hai did not appear to be affected; he simply said, "Junior sister, do you know that this battle of yours, regardless of victory or defeat, will bring immense benefits."
At first, I was taken aback, feeling that his words embodied the fearless spirit of the Buddha. Unfortunately, the subject was just slightly off; it should have been him entering hell!
The junior sister is exceptionally intelligent, discerning in her understanding of elegance, and among the secular disciples, she stands out as the most extraordinary. Xu Hai revealed a captivating smile that could enchant anyone, and even when his feelings were exposed, he remained unfazed, showing no shame; his skin truly possesses a remarkable thickness.
These three do not seem to be here to challenge the temple, could it be that there has been some misunderstanding with the monks? Regardless of any misunderstanding, it is not appropriate for her, as a lay disciple, to get involved. So when the Xu Hai sect sent someone to call her just now, why did it give the impression that she was needed to turn the tide?
As before, she was filled with indignation, but the key issue was her lack of confidence. It was no problem to deal with a few low-level disciples, yet the three individuals before her exuded the calm demeanor characteristic of skilled practitioners. She felt a sense of fear in her heart, which is why, despite hearing the abbot's words, her feet remained rooted in place.
"I will not go there." Seeing him approach and stand still, he said through gritted teeth as before
Time and fortune are intertwined. The serene sea still presents an expression of indifference, neither joy nor sorrow. This esteemed visitor, Master Yu, has come to our temple to observe the art of fencing. The abbot dispatched the temple's finest martial monks to demonstrate their skills, yet each was guided by Master Yu, who remarked that the true essence of Shaolin staff techniques has been lost from the ancients.
"You think too highly of yourself; I won't do it." This was a cold splash of water from the beginning.
The term "swordsmanship" does not actually refer to the use of a sword, but rather to the art of staff techniques
Yet she remained still, while someone else moved—none other than that detestable Xu Hai. He approached her step by step, graceful and ethereal, as if he were a deity. The people around them gradually retreated, as if the water were parting, leaving only the two of them murmuring to each other.
Someone continued to smile gently and speak softly, "Junior Sister, the Buddha said: If you do not enter hell, who will?" A trace of malice flashed across the exquisite visage.
Cursing inwardly, my eyes searched for a certain figure, and I saw that everywhere were monks dressed in jade green, tea brown, or black robes. Some wore cassocks, while others did not, but there was one person, clad in snow-white garments, standing not far away with his head bowed and eyes downcast
Why is it me? At first, it made him so angry that he couldn't even get angry anymore