Chapter 5: The Little Jade Buddha

However, Meng Qi still did not have the opportunity to leave the servant's courtyard and enter the martial monk academy

"Little Junior Brother, I once heard the story of a great hero. Would you like to hear it?" Meng Qi asked with a smile.

No. Meng Qi shook his head, feeling that this young monk's discourse was remarkably mature for his age. At the age of fourteen or fifteen, he spoke like a learned adult.

Struggling to open his mouth, Meng Qi felt that explaining to Xuan En would be futile and would only draw more attention to the matter. Therefore, he focused on practicing his calligraphy, thinking that if Xuan Zang inquired later, he could say that he was still in the initial stage of adapting to the tasks of the miscellaneous work academy, and that his arms were sore and weak, which was why his writing was not up to standard

Well, then Senior Brother must tell you some things, there are some words... Meng Qi began a lengthy discourse, but as he spoke, he noticed that Zhen Hui's eyelids were drooping, as if he was about to fall asleep

Meng Qi felt a stir in his heart and thought that he was a monk from the Martial Monastery, so he smiled and replied: "It's just a small matter, Senior Brother, why must you be so formal"

Zhen Yong looked around and directly sat down next to Meng Qi, whispering: "Zhen Ding Junior Brother, I hope I didn't crowd you out"

Xuan Ku looked around the courtyard and nodded, saying: "Everyone, return to your rooms and do not forget to study hard"

Not sure if "The Buddha's Palm", "The Muscle-Tendon Changing Classic", "Moksha Demon Subduing Fist", and "The Great Dream Scripture" are in the Sutra Repository..." Meng Qi thought as he wandered beyond the realms of heaven and earth

At this time, the monastery allows for self-arranged time for "Dingzhong Xiushen"

Zhenhui nodded and said blankly: "It will be soon"

As noon approached, when Xuan'en announced that the young monks could leave, Mengqi quietly took away the white paper he had used for practicing calligraphy, intending to destroy the evidence.

He simply cannot listen... Meng Qi's mouth twitched slightly as he furrowed his brows in thought. Soon, he came up with a good idea: "This fellow seems to be very interested in stories from the martial world, so I can incorporate the intricacies of human relationships into it!"

Although Xuánxīn clearly stated that they were only responsible for the two lower levels where the Buddhist scriptures were stored, and that the higher levels would be managed by eminent monks, Mèngqí could not help but feel excited. The藏和 - 图 - 书经阁, the storied library rumored to house the seventy-two ultimate skills of Shaolin! How many martial arts and fantasy tales have depicted this place as a site of extraordinary encounters!

Xuan Ku, with his large ears, still wore a yellow monk's robe, but his right hand bore a string of reddish-brown prayer beads

Zhen Yong is tall and slender, with an ordinary appearance, but when he smiles, he reveals a mouthful of white teeth, which is particularly radiant: "Master Xuanxin, I have heard from several junior brothers that you are well-informed and knowledgeable about the legends of the martial world. I have a great fondness for these stories, so in my eagerness, I have come to visit uninvited. I hope for your understanding and kindly request permission to listen in."

Xuanxin's face suddenly turned pale, and he hurriedly forced a smile, saying: "Junior Brother Xuanku, I, I..."

The chaotic thoughts dissipated, the mind became calm and composed, free from impatience and worry. Meng Qi gradually sensed the emergence of true energy, which flowed through the Ren and Du meridians, condensing into a golden nectar in the upper and lower jaws, resulting in a mouthful of clear and sweet "elixir".

The joy in Meng Qi's heart immediately dissipated; the last time he wrote with a brush was during elementary school, and indeed, the characters he wrote were extremely ugly.

Meng Qi turned back and saw a somewhat familiar young monk standing at the gate of the courtyard. This was a child who had entered the temple with him, Zhenhui, Zhendé, and others, and he was one of the two oldest among them, probably around fifteen years old. Today, during the study session in the lecture hall, he had a good rapport with the other young monks in the miscellaneous service courtyard and did not show any discrimination towards this side.

Ah? Although the lay monks had heard many tales of the martial world and anecdotes of noble families before becoming monks, no one knew that the Shaolin Temple and the Vajra Temple, both of which are among the four great temples of Buddhism, had such a strained relationship that caution was necessary

In fact, if it were not for being in a foreign land, all alone, Meng Qi would not care at all whether others understood the ways of the world or not. However, now he wishes to alleviate the inexplicable frustration of his unexpected journey through this means

After just a few exchanges, the two seemed to regard each other as confidants, lamenting the late meeting.

The young monk Zhenhui increasingly admired Mengqi due to his captivating and intense stories from the book "Tales of the Jianghu," to the point of almost being completely obedient to him

Upon returning to the meditation room, Meng Qi quietly took out the small jade Buddha, turning his back to Zhen Ying, Zhen Guan, and the others to examine it. He felt its touch was warm and smooth, with a subtle coolness penetrating his body, clearing his mind.

Is that so? A deep and rich voice suddenly resonated at the entrance

Xuan'en noticed that a quarter of an hour had passed, so he tapped the wooden fish, using its crisp and resonant sound to awaken everyone. He then inquired about each person's state of meditation, including whether they were able to enter meditation and the quality of the 'sweet dew' generated, and provided guidance accordingly

In the end, he nodded and said: "Everyone should try again after returning; we will begin to learn to read and write."

The golden body of the Tathagata... Meng Qi's brows furrowed slightly, feeling that this matter had become somewhat fantastical, while simultaneously experiencing an inexplicable warmth in his heart

This is even more terrifying... Meng Qi secretly clicked his tongue; the unyielding Master Xuan Ku actually entered the Discipline Institute. If he were to be caught with a flaw in the future...

His narration captivated the servant monks, their spirits soaring and their thoughts wandering. However, as they listened on, a sense of melancholy began to settle over them. At that moment, Zhen Yong raised his hand to speak, saying: "Master Xuanshin, does that mean our Shaolin has no sword techniques that can compare?"

"No wonder you came to inspect, Junior Brother." Xuanxin deliberately changed the subject

Opening the scriptures used for literacy in front of him, Meng Qi unexpectedly found that he was basically familiar with the characters above

However, Meng Qi thought for a moment and steadied his mind. The "Hundred Days of Foundation" that had been completed belonged to the past. If he wished to go further on the path of martial arts, he must personally experience every step, allowing no room for any leaps. Only in this way could he walk more steadily and go further.

Meng Qi nodded in frustration, suddenly startled. If this piece of writing were to be seen by Xuan Zang, would he suspect something? It is very likely that this body was born into a prominent family, having even completed the 'Hundred Days of Foundation', so it is impossible that he did not practice calligraphy from a young age

After practicing breathing techniques and filling his energy points, Meng Qicai opened his eyes again after a full hour and a half. It was not that he did not wish to continue his training, but rather that he had to ensure adequate rest; otherwise, the physical exertion required for fetching water and sweeping the floor tomorrow would be immense.

Having just completed the practice of "Ding Zhong Xiu Shen," Meng Qi felt refreshed and was momentarily unable to fall asleep. Turning his head, he happened to see Zhen Hui looking over, seemingly having just finished her own training.

... ...

This concludes the discussion on Shuiyue An. In the future, if you encounter them, it is best to respect them from a distance. As for Jingang Temple, it is at odds with our Shaolin, so you must exercise utmost caution.

This body seems to have completed the 'Hundred Days of Foundation' The little monk Mengqi, who is not particularly fond of the Buddhist teachings, opened his eyes and reflected on the situation he had just experienced. According to the description of his master Xuan'en, 'he' should have already passed the stage of 'Hundred Days of Foundation' and can now begin 'Meditation and Energy Accumulation'

"Zhen Ding, where are you going?" Zhen Yong entered the servant's quarters and happened to see Meng Qi and Zhen Hui holding brooms, preparing to go out. It was just after lunch.

Alright, the night is deep, let us each return to our rooms to study. Xuanxin yawned without much expression, and finally, seemingly unconcerned, said, "Actually, I am not afraid of Junior Brother Xuan Ku, I am merely giving him face since the servant's quarters are managed by the miscellaneous department."

If the body is deficient, then the "sweet dew" is not sweet; it must undergo such vital energy transformation and strong spirit cultivation to be replenished. Meng Qi's current condition indicates that his body is in the best state possible.

Suddenly, someone knocked on the gate, and Xuanxin jumped up in fright, looking there with a face full of panic, exclaiming: "Junior Brother Xuan Ku, I haven't broken any precepts..."

This is similar to what Meng Qi saw during the day in the Monastic Discipline Institute, except that one is dark yellow and the other is brownish-red

"Pick up the brush and practice this character," Xuan En instructed

I see that you, Junior Brother Zhen Ding, seem to be able to read and punctuate. In the future, please take care of me more. If there is anything you need from your Senior Brother, just feel free to ask. Zhen Yong said with a familiar smile.

Three months later, Meng Qi had grown taller by a notch, but due to insufficient time, only half of the "Hundred Days of Foundation Building" was completed

This brought him inner joy, as he had at least not become illiterate and needed to start learning from scratch. The current version of himself is sufficient to "dominate" the lecture hall!

This fellow always speaks so out of tune ... Meng Qi scratched his bald head, gazing at the bright moon outside the window, and said in a distant voice: "Once upon a time, there was a Daoist priest named Qiu ChujI who passed through a place called Niujia Village ... ... "

Before he finished speaking, his expression darkened: "This junior disciple, what brings you to my servant's quarters?"

This story seems to serve as a bridge connecting two worlds, allowing Meng Qi to momentarily become immersed in it, forgetting that he was merely telling a story to Zhen Hui

Xuanxin let out a sound of contemplation: "Indeed, my Shaolin sword techniques are not numerous, but there is one that can rival these three major sword techniques, which is the 'Ananda Breaking the Precepts Sword Technique' among the seventy-two ultimate skills. It belongs to the pinnacle level of external realm techniques that can communicate with the laws of heaven and earth. Of course, one must also enter the 'external realm' to unleash the true power of this sword technique"

More practice is needed Xuan En walked past Meng Qi with his hands behind his back

"Junior apprentice, are you still awake?" Meng Qi felt a stir in his heart and decided to share some insights about the ways of the world with him

After transforming the true energy, Meng Qi suddenly frowned, thought for a moment, and directly took down the small jade Buddha

Regarding this matter, Meng Qi was unexpectedly delighted. After having lunch a moment ago, Xuanxin instructed him and Zhenhui to clean the Sutra Repository, indicating that from now on, it would belong to the two of them.

He roughly introduced this knife technique, which made the monks feel a deep yearning and excitement

Being praised by Zhen Yong, Xuan Xin seemed to become lighthearted again, smiling broadly as he said: "It is no trouble at all, no trouble at all. Please sit down and listen. Gaining more knowledge of the world will ensure that one does not suffer losses when traveling the world in the future"

Brother Xuanxin, I am no longer in the storeroom; I am currently a deacon monk in the Discipline Hall. " Xuan Ku said with a serious expression

Seeing their wide-open eyes, Xuanxin nodded with satisfaction and said: "The Blood Knife Monk originally practiced Wild Fox Zen, but he had an extraordinary encounter that allowed him to obtain the fifth form of the 'Rulai Divine Palm' from hetushucomcom. From this, he comprehended two fundamental great methods and established a lineage in the Diamond Temple. Therefore, they have long coveted the third form of the 'Rulai Divine Palm' that is secretly preserved in Shaolin, hoping to gain insights on how to attain the 'Rulai Golden Body' through comparison. This has led to quite a bit of underhandedness between the two sects."

He remained troubled by the fright he had just experienced

Indeed, my Shaolin martial arts are renowned for their all-encompassing nature. The lay monks also possess a sense of pride in their sect.

Upon witnessing this, Xuanxin coughed once to silence everyone, and then continued, "In addition to the two fundamental great teachings of the Diamond Temple, it is important to pay attention to their sword techniques"

After the departure of the small jade Buddha, Meng Qi's thoughts gradually became more active. Fortunately, with the successful experiences from the previous two times, and with the bright moon hanging high, in the stillness of the deep night, he finally managed to calm his mind, achieving tranquility, from which wisdom arose, and with wisdom, true energy naturally emerged

"What a rare treasure!" Meng Qi felt a surge of joy within, turning it over and over in his hands, hoping to uncover more secrets. However, he found nothing further and had to rein in his thoughts, ceasing to ponder these matters. He began to attempt meditation, and with the assistance of the small jade Buddha, this time the meditation was remarkably effortless.

After a long day of toil, Xuanxin gathered everyone once again to continue recounting his illustrious tales of prowess in the martial world

After lunch, Meng Qi and Zhen Hui, along with others, were assigned to clean various areas of the temple until the sun set in the west

The first step in martial arts training must not rely on external objects; if it becomes a habit, in the future it will be like walking with a cane

The Blood Blade Ascetic is a master of the blade, having also comprehended part of the mysteries of the fifth form of the 'Tathāgata's Divine Palm'. Therefore, after attaining the 'Wrathful Vajra Dharmakāya', he established the three great sword techniques that stand at the pinnacle of the world's swordsmanship, with very few able to compare to them

The sweet dew gradually seeps into the Ren meridian, filling the acupoints according to the thoughts of Meng Qicun.

It seems to be called "Zhen Yong"? Meng Qi recalled his Dharma name

Meng Qi replied with a hint of excitement: "Master Xuanxin has arranged for us to clean the Sutra Repository"

Zhenhui opened her eyes wide and nodded vigorously: "Thank you, Senior Brother!"