Chapter 4, Asceticism

After having lunch, Fang Ming returned to the meditation room, which was not a private room but a large communal sleeping area. However, his companions were already well acquainted with him and naturally knew that he was going to meditate, so no one came to disturb him

Even if he did not fully learn in the world of "The Deer and the Cauldron," he can still traverse to other worlds to continue his studies

The food on the wooden tray is scarce, consisting only of a porridge and a dish, with absolutely no meat or fish, yet it exudes a strong medicinal aroma that completely diminishes one's appetite

Moreover, after thousands of years of evolution, the martial arts of Shaolin Temple have absorbed the wisdom of eminent monks throughout the ages, reaching a point where it cannot be further modified. This is especially true for the foundational aspects that Fang Ming emphasizes, which have absolutely been perfected to an extraordinary degree

However, what made Fang Ming feel particularly spirited was that the Shaolin Temple was not a place he could enter at will

A group of gray-clad novice monks, along with lay disciples who still have their hair, were carrying two pointed-bottom wooden buckets, holding them aloft with both hands, marching in an orderly line up the mountain

Certainly, choosing Shaolin Temple has many advantages

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, among the martial arts sects, only Huashan and Shaolin still held some influence at this time, seemingly having preserved some foundational martial arts skills

Due to the short distance, Fang Ming hired a carriage and a bodyguard from the escort agency, and he arrived at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain with almost no risks encountered

The first stage of martial arts practice is to refine the flesh and bones, strengthen the muscles and tendons, and cultivate vital energy, which in Taoism is referred to as "One Hundred Days of Foundation Building"

It is not a secret that is not to be passed on; every school has its own. However, the Shaolin Temple is particularly extreme in this regard, having compiled fifty-four different sitting postures, each of which can be maintained for twelve hours, leaving Fang Ming, who was just starting out, nearly dazed and on the verge of collapse

Luzhuang Town is located between Luoyang and Zhengzhou, and is conveniently close to Mount Song in Dengfeng, which has saved Fang Ming a considerable amount of trouble

In this way, the Huashan School can be eliminated, leaving only the Shaolin Temple as the remaining option

On the morning of Mount Shaoshi, the valleys are still quite chilly, with white mist occasionally rising around, resembling a fairyland

Fortunately, Fang Ming's background is unblemished, his origins are quite clear, and there is also a certificate issued by the village head.

Fang Ming clasped his hands together, his expression neither sad nor joyful: "As a disciple, I originally wished to accompany the ancient lamp and old scroll for a long time, but my body is insufficient, so I can only endure and temper this vessel first"

Not only is it a staple in almost every novel by Jin Yong, but even in Gu Long's works, the Shaolin Temple plays a significant role, which allows Fang Ming to be assured about the continuity of martial arts skills

Even if one arrives, given the nature of Gu Long's writing, it is likely that they would be casually struck down with a single punch by a skilled passerby on the road

It has been almost three months since I arrived at Shaolin

"Junior Brother Lu, your lunch!" A large monk with a round face and big ears handed a wooden tray to Fang Ming

Little did he know that this point perfectly aligned with the characteristics of Shaolin martial arts, which emphasize "foundation first, slow but steady." This allowed Fang Ming's progress in martial arts to be no slower than that of some senior brothers who had been practicing for one or two years, catching the attention of the team leader

This is, in fact, a method of cultivation, which involves adjusting the internal breath and invigorating the vital energy through meditation

Monks who wish to learn martial arts must, during the initial one hundred days of foundational training, consume herbal meals prepared daily by the Medicine Master monks from the Medicine Master Hall, in order to replenish their physical deficiencies. Otherwise, it is likely that they will exhaust themselves before mastering the martial arts.

The kind-eyed old monk inquired

... ...

Fang Ming is preparing to become a monk, and he is going to the Shaolin Temple

Having entered the Buddhist path, one should forget both the secular world and worldly affairs! Lu Guo, you have already received the novice monk precepts; will you now choose to meditate and engage in Zen practice, or will you pursue martial arts and skills?

Given so many considerations, it is quite normal to choose the Shaolin Temple

In the Seven Weapons, although Fang is well aware of the protagonist's advantages and has considered following him in hopes of a stroke of luck, the Seven Weapons actually consist of seven stories that generally take place within the same time frame, with the villains primarily represented by the Qinglong Society

At the end of the line, Fang Ming's expression was neither sad nor happy, as he held a wooden bucket with both hands, diligently maintaining the balance of his breathing, showing no signs of slowing down at all

But regardless of how one puts it, where does the essence come from? Fang Ming has not yet reached the time for consuming the wind and dew, so naturally, he needs to obtain it from his diet

Even though Gu Long's world may differ, the Shaolin Temple in Jin Yong's world is undoubtedly a direct continuation, and there is absolutely no need to worry about the subsequent issues of martial arts techniques

However, the kind-hearted Yuan Chengzhi from Mount Hua, along with a large group of his followers, has gone overseas to Borneo to live as an outsider. Only He Tieshou has returned to the mainland a few times, rescuing a number of women from the Zhuang family.

Thank you, senior brother!" Fang Ming joined his hands in a gesture of respect.

Fang Ming has no confidence at all in being able to hit the mark precisely. As for the Gui Xinshi family? I’m sorry, those are fools combined with lunatics, I will not serve them

For a scholar like Fang Ming, who is of impeccable character and wholeheartedly devoted to Buddhism, the Shaolin Temple is indeed very welcoming. However, he also observes that although Fang Ming appears to be in good spirits, he is physically weak, with slightly sunken eyes, which are symptoms of congenital deficiencies. It is indeed not advisable for him to immerse himself in the study of Buddhist teachings every day; he must first address these deficiencies before proceeding.

The second benefit of Shaolin is its complete inheritance

The Shaolin Temple does not lack resources - in addition to the substantial income from incense offerings each year, there are various donations from devotees. Even the surrounding farmland is under the name of the Shaolin Temple, and the farmers at the foot of the mountain are tenants of the temple. Since it is temple property, they are exempt from paying taxes, which has also attracted a group of refugees to cultivate the land.

Foolish child! In that case, you shall join those mundane fellow disciples and start by fetching water and chopping firewood every day

Certainly, Shaolin Temple would not initially impart any profound skills, but Fang Ming was well aware of the principle that haste makes waste, and he was quite diligent and hardworking, determined to establish a solid foundation.

Fetching water and chopping wood are essential skills for beginners at Shaolin, and the local villagers have long been accustomed to this.

During this period, Fang Ming maintained a low profile, spending his days either fetching water and chopping firewood or practicing martial arts and honing his skills, strengthening his physique

Fang Ming sat cross-legged, with his brows and eyes lowered, resembling those old monks who meditate and chant scriptures, his face subtly exuding an air of solemnity and dignity.

In ancient times, traveling was a very arduous and dangerous endeavor. Not to mention the bandits and the miasma diseases along the way, the mere amount of time consumed was enough to drive one to despair

However, since Shaolin prohibits the consumption of meat, what should be done? Two words! Medicinal cuisine!

In "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber," Yuan Zhen, who was forced into a corner, began to recruit disciples outside and did not enter the Shaolin Temple, which led to the emergence of characters like Chen Youliang

Throughout Jin Yong's martial arts world, the Shaolin Temple can be regarded as a perennial tree in the martial arts community, having withstood the test of multiple dynasties and remaining unshaken, and it can even occasionally produce a master or two

This subtly more potent medicinal dish than others of its kind is the result of Fang Ming's public relations efforts

The selection of disciples at Shaolin is extremely strict. Disciples must have a clean background, and thereafter, the senior elders will send individuals to their hometowns to investigate and confirm the authenticity of their claims before granting permission to join.

Of course, the Shaolin Temple depicted in Jin Yong's novels is characterized by its selflessness and integrity, but as for the reality... hehe... that is open to interpretation...

The first, and also the one that Fang Ming values the most, is the proximity to Shaolin Road! That's right! It is indeed the proximity to the road!

Only after truly joining Shaolin did Fang Ming understand how Shaolin has long held the leading position in the martial arts world of the Central Plains, and how it supports the Eighteen Arhats and the Three Hundred Staff Monks. It is nothing else! It is simply due to its immense wealth and power!

Fang Ming rolled his eyes in his heart, yet continued to comfort himself

After overcoming numerous obstacles and passing through rigorous examinations, Fang Ming finally achieved his wish to be tonsured at Shaolin, becoming a novice monk

The original meaning of "shami" in Sanskrit is diligence and compassion, which implies that one should diligently receive encouragement from the master and cease evil actions with kindness. In Fang Ming's view, this refers to the monks of the Shaolin Temple as reserves, who must also be under the guidance of a "relying on the master," meaning they are subject to the master's authority, and they do not even have their own Dharma name yet

After completing the usual tasks of fetching water and chopping firewood, Fang Ming wiped the sweat from his body and arrived at the dining hall

Of course, since Fang Ming is now a monk of the Shaolin Temple, he naturally adopts a very righteous stance, wishing that the entire world were the private property of the Shaolin Temple. In this way, he could utilize more precious medicinal materials to support his martial arts cultivation

More importantly, he lost his father at a young age, suffered the loss of loved ones in his childhood, had no brothers, and was left alone. Additionally, he was frail and often ill, having previously been gravely ill to the point of nearly dying, which led to Fang Ming possessing him. This also aligns with his own statement: "Having seen through the worldly affairs, I hope to become a monk, and I admire the martial arts of Shaolin!"

It is said that Fang Ming, having lived two lives, possesses a far greater understanding of human emotions than his peers at Tongji. Moreover, he has not completely exhausted the wealth he has accumulated; instead, he has retained a portion for himself. After entering the temple, he is able to use this to generously bestow small favors, which has made him quite popular.

"Receiving the decree!" Fang Ming bowed down.

With such strength, one could defeat the enemy merely by throwing money at them

Forget it, I don't like braids anyway, shaving it off is just right! Moreover, a novice monk is still one of our own, much closer than those secular disciples. I don't ask for anything else, at least the foundational techniques can be taught, right?

Only after receiving formal "Bhikkhu Precepts" and being granted a Dharma name can he be considered an honorable monk of the Shaolin Temple; as for now, he is still a novice monk, commonly referred to as a handyman

A faint nasal tremor emanated from his nasal cavity, which also stimulated the circulation of energy and blood throughout his body, in an unending cycle

The old monk raised his eyebrows

From the basics onward, Shaolin Temple offers a wealth of advanced pathways. Whether it is the Luohan Hall for fist techniques, the Prajna Hall for palm techniques, or the various forms of staff, saber, and sword techniques, as well as grappling methods, there exists a complete system that allows for continuous advancement. Ultimately, there are also the seventy-two unique skills of Shaolin and supreme techniques such as the Yi Jin Jing to choose from, which are of utmost importance to Fang Ming

The team leader on one side nodded silently upon noticing this

At that time, Fang Ming was merely a beggar; even if he heard the news, how could he possibly have the ability to traverse a large part of the Central Plains to get there?

Finally, the influence of the Shaolin Temple is immense

After meeting with the governor monk and presenting a substantial amount of incense money, he made his request. The Shaolin Temple first arranged for his accommodation, and then dispatched personnel to his home to investigate his ancestry thoroughly, tracing back eight generations.

Fang Ming, however, seemed completely oblivious, devouring the food with great appetite

Indeed! What he is currently receiving is the novice precepts, which can only be considered as being in the reserves; he does not even hold the formal title of a monk yet. There is still a long way to go before he can truly become a Shaolin monk.