,The fastest updates for My Many Masters are on the latest chapters!
When his voice fell, master and disciple stared each other down without yielding. Yuan Ci looked at the disciple before him, whose presence had suddenly sharpened, then slowly drew in his brows and eyes before saying:
"If that is so, then show me. We have chatted long enough today. Go cultivate!"
Wang Anfeng was angry inside, but he did not lose his manners. He first bowed to Yuan Ci, then strode to the side, opened his stance, and began practicing Shaolin Long Fist. Knowing that he truly could do nothing about this matter, his thoughts could not free themselves, yet an intense desire to become stronger rose within him.
One's appearance was born of one's mind. Once a thought arose, the Tathagata could be seen nowhere and everywhere. Wang Anfeng was gloomy inside at this moment, but without realizing it, his qi had already gathered like a mountain, and his fistwork grew ever grander as it swept forth. Behind him, Yuan Ci lowered his eyes to the clear tea. The porcelain cup, shaken by his cultivation power together with the hot tea, silently crumbled into powder, leaving not the slightest trace behind.
He raised his eyes again to look at the small boy. Yuan Ci remained silent, no one knowing what he was thinking. Only after Wang Anfeng's allotted time was up and he was sent out of this world, only after night had enveloped the land and the stars had wheeled across the sky and begun to fall, did he slowly rise. Following the mountain path step by step, he entered the main hall of Shaolin Temple. Though he had not returned, hazy lamplight already shone inside, as if it had been lit all night. Someone had long been standing beneath the Buddha statue with his hands behind his back, black hair hanging to his shoulders, his bearing deep as a prison. In a low voice, he said:
"SL1204, why did you summon me?"
Yuan Ci pressed his lips together and said hoarsely:
"...I hope to open the sect, so Anfeng can receive instruction from all the major sects."
The wick of the solitary lamp before the Buddha gave a sharp crack. The shadows in the room wavered, yet the atmosphere grew increasingly silent and cold. After who knew how long, the figure slowly spoke:
"Why? You did not think this way before."
Yuan Ci said, "That is true. At first, I only intended to raise him through ordinary methods... In twenty or thirty years, he might become a capable martial artist."
"SL1204, do you know that things have changed since we entered this world?"
Yuan Ci answered, "Yes."
The figure continued, "If you want me to activate the other characters, the power gained from entering this world may vanish to a great extent. I, as the core, will continue to exist, but you are different. You have only recently developed an independent consciousness. If we do this, your consciousness may disappear in less than twenty years. If we do not, you can live for at least fifty years. Do you understand?"
"I understand."
The solitary lamp suddenly began to sway and tremble violently. The shadows of the two men writhed on the pale wall like demons and monsters baring their claws. The figure abruptly spoke in a frigid voice:
"You understand? Since you understand, why are you still doing this?! Give me a reason!"
As he spoke, chill burst forth like a ghostly dragon's howl. It made the Buddha's features look sinister and terrifying, while the solemn main hall seemed like a domain of ghosts had descended, horrifying to the soul. Yuan Ci remained calm, though his expression seemed to soften slightly, and he said:
"Because I am his master."
"Is that the only reason?!"
"Once a teacher, a father for life."
The other man fell silent. After a moment, his anger seemed to gradually dissipate, and he said in a somewhat lowered voice:
"Set this matter aside for now... He may not have such talent after all. Besides... if..."
His voice gradually sank, but Yuan Ci understood what he meant, even the deeper implications. This was merely a delaying tactic. He turned his head to look outside. The sky beyond the window was gradually brightening, and mist veiled the mountains. Beneath that mist lay the martial world in his memories. Thinking of the utterly real flashing blades and splattered blood and fiery passion and tender hearts, nostalgia surfaced in his eyes as he said:
"You should know the difference between someone who always sets his sights on the summit beneath heaven and someone who only aims to become an ordinary expert..."
"My master once suffered seventeen wounds for my sake and died sitting upright after exhausting his strength. Since Feng'er has such ambition, how could I not lend him a hand and let him soar into the heavens?"
The palm hidden beneath the other man's sleeve slowly clenched. He said, "Then you are willing to make wedding clothes for someone else for this sake?! To abandon yourself for this?!"
Yuan Ci turned to look at him. Before him was a handsome, refined man, yet for some reason he thought of the ignorant young boy he had first met. Before that day, his world had been set by others. But from that day onward, all things had suddenly come alive.
Rain had dripped upon the damp flagstones. The familiar yet strange Mount Shaoshi had been shrouded in pale smoke and mist, and gray memories had been dyed with color. The brightest stroke of all had been that young man. Yuan Ci smiled lightly and answered, his expression gentle and composed:
"Shaolin's Wrathful Vidyaraja, Yuan Ci, will not make wedding clothes for another. But his master will."
"SL1204, that was only a setting! A setting, damn it—a setting!"
The handsome, refined man across from him suddenly erupted in fury. Watching the man whose anger had surged to his head, Yuan Ci suddenly thought of a line from a scripture.
"Like a blue lotus, a red or white lotus—born in water and growing in water, rising above the water without being stained by it. Thus does the Tathagata arise in the world and grow in the world, yet act beyond the world without being attached to worldly dharmas."
His expression grew ever more peaceful as he said:
"That is no longer a setting. That is my life."
"I am Yuan Ci."
"You..."
By the time Wang Anfeng reached the county town, it was already the fifth day of the eighth month. Uncle Li wanted him to deliver the goods to that manor on the fifteenth, the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival. In the time that followed, thanks to Zhao Daniu's reminder, he did not leave the city to practice his fists as he had that day. He also came up with various excuses to stop Li Kangsheng and his wife from leaving the city.
At first, the two of them did not understand. But they soon noticed that the city defenses had tightened on the surface and relaxed within. Coupled with the oddness of Wang Anfeng's words, they guessed some of the truth and silently said nothing. During the day, Wang Anfeng stayed at Hui Chuntang, where Aunt Feng Lan taught him the Taisu Needle Technique. According to her, this technique was crude and shallow, consisting mostly of theory. Since he did not have much time, he should memorize it by rote first; it would surely prove useful someday.
Every night, after everyone had fallen asleep, he entered Shaolin Temple. He knew that he was still very weak, but he did not act rashly. In his dealings and conversations, he showed not the slightest abnormality, remaining as gentle and proper as ever. At times, Li Kangsheng seemed to see the vast heavens and earth in his eyes, but when he came to himself, all he saw were the boy's increasingly clear and luminous eyes.
With this state of mind, he practiced fist techniques and internal cultivation with an undivided heart. The thirty-two stances of Shaolin Long Fist, which had been broken apart into utter fragments, rapidly recombined under this spirit into all kinds of moves—some laughably crude, others fierce and domineering. When his Internal force was exhausted, he swallowed pills, sat cross-legged, and cultivated his inner power.
Time passed day by day in this extremely monotonous state, yet he had no leisure to indulge in wild thoughts. In the blink of an eye, the fifteenth day of the eighth month arrived.
If you think this book is good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you will not have trouble finding it next time.
Before you continue