Courage

Meng Qi shot upright, listening to the bells. Beneath the covers, his fists clenched without a sound. "Had Qing Jing's death been discovered? Or had he simply disappeared?"

The unusual bells roused even the indifferent errand monks, Zhen Ying and Zhen Guan, who sat up in alarm. Their confusion concealed Meng Qi's strange reaction.

Inside the Daxiong Baodian, the golden Buddha statue sat with hands clasped in a mudra, solemn and dignified, its compassionate gaze resting on everyone in the hall.

Standing beneath the statue was an old monk with long white eyebrows hanging down over his face. He was thin and gaunt, dressed in yellow monk robes and draped in a red kasaya. He held a Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff, and his face was tinged with pale gold.

"Namo Amitabha Buddha. Please, everyone, remain calm." The old monk raised one hand and recited the Buddha's name.

Nearly twenty monks in red kasayas stood on either side of him. Some were deeply wrinkled and withered with age; some were thin and shriveled, like deadwood; others had a melancholy air and a refined, mature bearing.

"Hmph. Remain calm? A disciple of my sect was killed in your Shaolin Temple, and you expect me to remain calm?" The old Daoist in a Seven Star Crown and yin-yang robes stared at the old monk, his eyes flashing like lightning. "Master Kong Wen, my Xuantian Sect came at your invitation, only to suffer this calamity. You owe us justice! Otherwise, hmph!"

His hair was snow-white, yet his face was unusually ruddy, without a single wrinkle—the very picture of a youthful face beneath a head of white hair.

The old monk was Kong Wen, Abbot of Shaolin Temple. He had attained the Dragon Subduing Arhat Golden Body and had commanded awe throughout the martial world for over a century.

"Amitabha Buddha. Benefactor Shou Zhuo, no matter who the killer may be, my Shaolin Temple cannot escape blame for such a tragedy within its walls." Kong Wen spoke evenly, making no attempt to save face. "But I imagine your sect's Shou Jing, like everyone else here, is even more eager to learn who the killer was and what their purpose might be. Please allow this old monk some time to examine the body and find the culprit."

Daoist Shou Jing was the Sect Master of Xuantian Sect. They said he had already touched the threshold of the Dharma Body realm and ranked second on the Earth Ranking.

"Master Kong Wen speaks sense. Daoist Friend Shou Zhuo, please do not let grief overcome you. We all share your sorrow." A middle-aged Daoist in dark robes bearing a tortoise design came forward to offer words of counsel. He held a Jade Ruyi in his hand.

Among the disciples behind him, Zhang Yuanshan stood with his fists clenched, sorrow in his eyes as he looked at Qing Jing, who lay beneath a white cloth. His head had been severed from his body; his brows were raised in fury, his eyes wide open. Clearly, he had died in shock and rage.

"So it really happened the same way..." Grief-stricken, Zhang Yuanshan was also shocked and bewildered. Qing Jing had died in the Reincarnation World, and in reality he had died the very same way!

Whether their true bodies had actually been drawn into "reincarnation," or their injuries were merely an echo of what had happened in an illusion, the Lord of Six Paths Samsara was truly possessed of immense powers!

And this had happened right under the nose of the "Dragon Subduing Arhat"!

He surreptitiously glanced toward Jiang Zhiwei among the Sword Washing Pavilion disciples and Qi Xia among the Great River Gang members. They looked grief-stricken, yet could not hide their shock and solemnity. Qi Zhengyan, however, was only an ordinary disciple and had not been permitted to enter the Daxiong Baodian with the Flower Washing Sword Sect elders.

Still, the mysterious murder of a Xuantian Sect disciple inside Shaolin Temple was horrifying enough. The other young disciples wore much the same expressions, and no one noticed anything unusual about them.

Daoist Shou Zhuo shot a cold glance at the True Martial Sect Daoist. "Xuan Yuanzi, it wasn't one of your disciples who died. Don't play the good man!"

"I've often heard that Daoist Friend Shou Zhuo of Xuantian Sect is fiery-tempered and forthright. What I see today confirms it." Xuan Yuanzi was even-tempered, and he knew that while Xuantian Sect still had plenty of disciples like Qing Jing and could afford the loss, such a brazen assassination was a slap in the face. How could Shou Zhuo not be furious? So he merely replied with a smile, then looked to the other side. "Daoist Friend Su, what do you think?"

Standing before Jiang Zhiwei was a young, handsome man in green robes. He seemed ordinary, but if one looked closely, it felt as though the space around him were empty, devoid of both self and all things.

The man in green kept his eyes half-closed, his right hand gently rubbing the ancient sword at his waist. His voice was deep and weathered as he said, "Master Kong Wen speaks sense."

His voice did not suit his youthful appearance at all. It sounded like that of an old man who had weathered the world and seen through its tumult.

As soon as the man in green finished speaking, the Daxiong Baodian fell silent. Even the hot-tempered Daoist Shou Zhuo did not argue, as though overwhelmed by the man's presence.

Daoist Shou Zhuo fell silent for a moment, then saluted with a raised hand. "Please examine Qing Jing's injuries, Master Kong Wen."

It was not that the man in green had a greater reputation than Abbot Kong Wen or was more powerful. Everyone present knew that perhaps one day he would be, but for now he was still worlds apart from the Divine Monk Kong Wen. The real reason was that Abbot Kong Wen was compassionate and open-minded, never using his strength to bully the weak; one could debate the merits of an argument with him. The man in green, however, had no patience for words. If provoked, he would simply strike with his sword.

Kong Wen handed the Nine-Ringed Monk's Staff to the handsome, melancholy middle-aged monk beside him, then walked forward and stopped beside Qing Jing's body. Flecks of golden Buddhist light glimmered faintly in his eyes.

"The fatal injury was a palm strike to the back. The killer's strength was at the initial Orifice Opening level, and he specialized in Iron Palm. The wound to the neck was inflicted after death, by a long saber. Whoever wielded the saber was slightly stronger than the one who struck with the palm. Therefore, there were two killers, both skilled fighters with their Eye Apertures opened, though to different degrees." Kong Wen slowly laid out the cause of Qing Jing's death. Zhang Yuanshan, Jiang Zhiwei, and the others listened in stunned silence. He had reconstructed the scene with such clarity! No wonder he was a Dharma Body Master!

Daoist Shou Zhuo's face remained livid. "I could have reached the same conclusion. But who were the actual killers? Who could let two junior Orifice Opening fighters sneak into the courtyard without my noticing? Who could commit murder inside Shaolin without you detecting them with your Heavenly Eye or Heavenly Ear, Master?"

"This old monk was in meditation yesterday, contemplating the Pure Lands. I fear the true culprit found an opening while I was occupied." Kong Wen spoke unhurriedly, his expression tinged with apology.

Daoist Shou Zhuo refused to back down. "Master Kong Wen, few people knew you had entered deep meditation. How could this be such a coincidence? Please show us the power of your Golden Body and trace the killer!"

His argument was sound. Xuan Yuanzi and the others nodded slightly, turning their gazes toward Kong Wen.

Kong Wen pressed his palms together. "Amitabha Buddha. This old monk has already tried. The true culprit is no weaker than I am, and the trail has gone cold."

"So Shaolin cannot find the killer? Then I'll report this to my Senior Brother, the Sect Master, and ask him to bring out the Time Saber. We'll search for the culprit ourselves!" Daoist Shou Zhuo said in anger.

"Amitabha Buddha. This old monk has failed the benefactors of Xuantian Sect. I am willing to go to Jade Emperor Mountain and apologize to Benefactor Shou Jing, then search for the culprit together with your sect." Kong Wen's face was full of compassion.

Several of the Chief Monks and elders behind Kong Wen looked displeased. Shou Zhuo was being far too aggressive, while their Abbot was far too yielding! But they also knew that the circumstances were deeply suspicious. If they could not find the killer, anything less than this might destroy Shaolin's good name.

Hearing that Kong Wen was willing to personally visit Jade Emperor Mountain and apologize, everyone was utterly stunned. For the first time, Daoist Shou Zhuo looked awkward. "There's no need for that, Master Kong Wen. I can feel your sincerity. I only hope Shaolin will honor this promise and search for the culprit together with our sect."

For a Golden Body Arhat ranked third on the Heaven Ranking, a man who had commanded awe across the world for over a century, to personally come and apologize—it was a severe test of his resolve. Without solid evidence, even Xuantian Sect was unwilling to push matters too far.

As he listened to the elders discuss the killer, Zhang Yuanshan's thoughts churned. To be honest, though the True Martial Sect urged its disciples to travel and temper themselves, and "Reincarnation World missions" could be considered another kind of trial, he had only opened his apertures recently. He was nowhere near ready to get involved in something like this.

So he desperately wanted to escape the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" and its "reincarnation missions." He coveted those divine arts, immortal weapons, and miraculous medicines, but at his current level, he did not lack manuals, weapons, or pills. Nor had his cultivation stalled or slowed to the point where his fellow disciples were leaving him behind.

Now the "Dragon Subduing Arhat" was right in front of him. This was a chance to escape the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara"!

A Dharma Body master was already like a celestial immortal, with vast supernatural powers. Even if he fell short of the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara," he should still be able to resist it a little and protect them. Otherwise, why would the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" need to mysteriously and strangely "snatch" people away to complete reincarnation missions? It could simply seize every expert in the world.

Of course, the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" might have other reasons for holding back.

Should I expose the truth about the "Reincarnation World" in front of everyone? Could the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" really kill me in front of the "Dragon Subduing Arhat"?

Even if Abbot Kong Wen is the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara," with elders from every sect watching, he would have to hide his murderous intent and do his best to protect us. The world is vast, and he isn't the only Dharma Body master. Chong He, the senior from my Daoist sect, even ranks above him on the Heaven Ranking!

But if Abbot Kong Wen is working with another Dharma Body master, then when I reveal this, that other master could kill me. Kong Wen would only have to pretend he was caught off guard and acted a moment too late...

Perhaps the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" is far stronger than Abbot Kong Wen, with powers like the Daoist Master or Buddha of Mythological Legends. Perhaps it could kill anyone who revealed the secret of the Reincarnation World right in front of everyone, without leaving a trace...

If I had opened all nine apertures, I could use the "Reincarnation World" to temper myself...

Zhang Yuanshan weighed the possibilities, thought after thought rising in his mind, but he could never make up his mind.

He sighed inwardly. So he really did have a weakness: he was afraid to take a deadly risk.

He knew himself well. He had always been considered one of the best at staying calm and getting things done, praised by many elders. He rarely panicked or felt at a loss. But for that very reason, he thought too much and worried too much. When he needed to risk everything, he lacked the necessary courage. That was the real reason he had failed to master the sword techniques in the True Martial Seven Sections Scripture.

Thinking of this, he looked at Jiang Zhiwei. In that regard, she was far braver than he was.

Following his gaze, he saw Jiang Zhiwei standing behind Su Wuming, her eyes lowered in quiet concentration. Apart from a hint of sorrow, she looked entirely detached, absorbed in her own thoughts. She showed no sign of stepping forward to reveal the secret of the Reincarnation World.

Zhang Yuanshan's heart stirred. He remembered the burning look in Jiang Zhiwei's eyes as she had gazed at the lists of sword techniques, and smiled bitterly to himself, shaking his head.

"Abbot, this junior has something to report. It concerns Qing Jing's death." Suddenly, Qi Xia's voice reached Zhang Yuanshan's ears.

He looked over in surprise and saw a lovely face marked by grim resolve.

Jiang Zhiwei, who had been staring at the ants on the ground as if counting them, also looked up in surprise.