Misfortune and Fortune Depend on Each Other

After carrying water and finishing breakfast, Meng Qi couldn't wait to grab his broom and head toward Chan Xin Courtyard, intending to learn from Jiang Zhiwei, Zhang Yuanshan, and the others the reason for this morning's urgent bell tolling.

Was it because Qing Jing's death had been discovered?

Had the Dharma Body-level experts found any clues? How were the various sects of Great Jin responding?

With these questions in mind, Meng Qi stepped into Chan Xin Courtyard and pretended to sweep the thin layer of snow that had accumulated again overnight.

While sweeping, he secretly observed the disciples from various sects coming and going through the several courtyards. He noticed that although most people's faces showed shock and confusion, only a very few wore grave expressions, as if burdened with heavy thoughts.

"That sweeping junior brother over there." Zhang Yuanshan's familiar voice suddenly reached Meng Qi's ears.

Meng Qi turned his head and saw Zhang Yuanshan standing before a guest room, waving at him: "Please come in and sweep, junior brother. My mind is unsettled, and I've dirtied the floor."

"Alright." Meng Qi naturally understood that Zhang Yuanshan was finding an excuse to get him inside. He immediately carried his broom and dustpan toward the guest room.

Zhang Yuanshan waited there with great poise, held the door open, let Meng Qi enter first, then casually glanced around the surroundings.

As soon as Meng Qi entered the room, that bright goose-yellow color caught his eye—Jiang Zhiwei was here too.

Acting cautiously, he lowered his head, wielded his broom, and swept up the tea stains and scraps on the floor.

Jiang Zhiwei chuckled: "Little monk, it's you again?"

"Replying to Benefactor Jiang, this humble monk has been sweeping Chan Xin Courtyard for the past two days." Meng Qi understood that Jiang Zhiwei was pretending they had only met once yesterday, so he cooperated in his response.

Hearing the address "Benefactor Jiang," Jiang Zhiwei raised her right hand to cover her mouth, then put on a serious face and said to Zhang Yuanshan, who had just re-entered: "Senior Brother Zhang, Sister Qi and I fought and became friends yesterday, but who knew she would meet such misfortune today? My mind is truly unsettled. You were close to her—have you recalled any clues? I will use my sword to seek justice for Sister Qi!"

Yesterday, Qi Xia had been eliminated by her.

What? Qi Xia is dead? The shock in Meng Qi's heart was like a raging storm, impossible to suppress. How could Qi Xia be dead? That clever, delicate, beautiful Jiangnan girl who loved mechanisms and hidden weapons had actually died?

Slap! In his shock, though he tried to control himself, he still failed to hold his broom steady. This completely exceeded all the scenarios he had anticipated!

The sound of the broom hitting the floor snapped Meng Qi back to his senses. He quickly bent down to pick it up, putting on a panicked expression: "Th-this humble monk... forgive my rudeness."

The stammering wasn't deliberate on Meng Qi's part—it was simply from being too stunned.

"No matter. At the time, I was no less shocked than you. This matter is truly horrifying." Zhang Yuanshan comforted Meng Qi with the attitude of addressing a "stranger from Shaolin," then turned to Jiang Zhiwei: "Before the new year, I met Junior Sister Qi in Maoling. Though our acquaintance was shallow, our conversation was deep, yet I found nothing unusual. It seems just as Master Kong Wen said—she was killed by the curse within her for trying to reveal that secret. Alas, Junior Sister Qi was in the prime of her youth. Who would have thought she'd die so young? Truly lamentable."

The grief and regret in his tone were genuine.

Although they couldn't openly discuss organizations like "Immortal Trace," the deaths of Qi Xia and Qing Jing were like fire wrapped in paper—they would soon be known to all. So Zhang Yuanshan and Jiang Zhiwei took this opportunity to inform Meng Qi in advance, lest he reveal himself when first hearing about it in front of other monks.

So Qi Xia was erased for trying to leak information about the "Reincarnation World"... She must have been right in front of a Dharma Body expert at the time, yet she was still erased? Is the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" so vastly powerful? Meng Qi understood the cause of Qi Xia's death, but the storm in his heart showed no sign of calming. Who would willingly be controlled if there were any chance? Who would want to be coerced into completing dangerous tasks in exchange for "divine techniques and immortal pills"?

Couldn't even the Dharma Body expert "Dragon Subduing Arhat" stop the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara"?

Jiang Zhiwei sighed: "Qing Jing also died under unclear circumstances. The true culprit behind it all is utterly detestable!"

"I had a doubt yesterday. I wonder if Junior Sister Jiang noticed it?" Zhang Yuanshan pondered for a moment, then spoke, "When Junior Sister Qi's curse activated, although Master Kong Wen said he was a step too late, he never revealed his Golden Body power. This is truly unreasonable. I privately asked Uncle-Master Xuan Yuanzi, and he only said the rumors weren't false."

Jiang Zhiwei pressed her lips together: "I noticed that too. After returning to Chan Xin Courtyard, I asked my master. He only told me to gather materials and deduce on my own."

He didn't reveal his Arhat Golden Body? That means it still can't be proven that the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" far surpasses Dharma Body and has reached the legendary realm of Daoist Master and Buddha. Meng Qi breathed a slight sigh of relief and grew even more curious about why Kong Wen hadn't revealed his Golden Body.

"In the end, our strength is still too weak to access higher-level matters." Zhang Yuanshan sighed with genuine feeling, no longer carrying the hidden pride he'd had before—at his current age, his martial arts were sufficient.

Only by becoming stronger, stronger, and stronger still could he gradually break free from the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara" and avoid dying in brutal missions. Yet to grow stronger quickly, it seemed he had to rely on the "Lord of Six Paths Samsara"...

Jiang Zhiwei's five fingers moved as if plucking the strings of a seven-stringed zither, gliding lightly over her sword scabbard. Her gaze fixed on the pale blue sky outside the window, her tone firm and resolute: "Perhaps one day, we too will encounter something similar. When that time comes, we can only rely on the longsword in our hands to cut out a thread of life. Let these words encourage us both, Senior Brother Zhang."

The two of them, treating Meng Qi as if he were invisible, recounted the morning's events at Daxiong Baodian back and forth, except for matters concerning the "Immortal Trace" and "Mythos" organizations.

Those could only wait until the next reincarnation mission, to be discussed on the White Jade Plaza. Otherwise, if overheard by the various sect elders in the courtyard, they would surely be suspected.

Meng Qi slowly finished sweeping the floor. After Jiang Zhiwei left first, he also returned to the courtyard and continued his "sweeping career." His mind churned with thoughts, one after another, impossible to calm.

After the midday meal, Meng Qi began circulating his true qi according to the "Iron Cloth Shirt" method, striving to turn what others had instilled in him into something truly his own.

But just then, Xuan Xin rang the small bell in the courtyard, summoning everyone to assemble.

"Immediately go clean the plaza near the main gate to respectfully see off the benefactors from various sects." Xuan Xin looked like he'd been woken from a deep sleep, giving the order angrily. At the end, he muttered under his breath: "Has the Chief Monk's brain been eaten by a demon? When has Shaolin ever needed to be so deferential to other sects?"

Meng Qi's heart moved. He roughly guessed the reason. With heirs of both Xuantian Sect and Great River Gang dying tragically in the temple, Shaolin was in the wrong and had to make some gesture.

The group soon arrived at the plaza near the main gate with brooms and buckets. After dividing up the areas, they worked with great vigor.

Thanks to having "mastered" Iron Cloth Shirt and gained a basic internal energy foundation, Meng Qi found sweeping much easier. Several times he couldn't resist the urge to practice "Eight Steps of Divine Travel," but he knew that among the departing guests and the monks seeing them off were many experts. If anyone discovered that his lightness skill wasn't from Shaolin's tradition, under the current circumstances, he would surely be interrogated.

Amid the tinkling of wind chimes, Zhen Yan suddenly pointed into the distance and said: "Junior Brother Zhending, that is Benefactor Jiang Zhiwei, the first-place winner of this martial arts competition, the heir of Sword Washing Pavilion."

He, Meng Qi, and Zhenhui had been walking together after finishing their sweeping, naturally gathering together.

At this moment, experts and disciples from various sects, accompanied by several chief monks and elders in red kasayas, were walking toward the main gate. Zhen Yan was pointing at Jiang Zhiwei, who was walking behind a man in blue robes.

Tch, you need to introduce her? We're very familiar, alright! Meng Qi silently cursed in modern terms, but outwardly pretended to be interested: "Oh, it's that young woman! When I was sweeping Chan Xin Courtyard, she helped me once."

"Senior Brother, that's not right." Zhenhui stared blankly at Meng Qi.

Meanwhile, Zhen Yan asked curiously: "Junior Brother Zhending, is Benefactor Jiang Zhiwei the kind of aloof, cold woman? They say most women with good swordsmanship and high martial arts are like that."

Meng Qi originally wanted to show off, but ultimately held back: "I don't know. From how she helped me, she seems like a very easygoing girl. By the way, Little Junior Brother, what's not right?"

Zhenhui frowned at Meng Qi: "Senior Brother, isn't it usually the hero who saves the beauty?"

Get lost! Meng Qi wanted to shout that at his silly junior brother.

Zhen Yan couldn't help but laugh. He knew that Zhenhui was too immersed in the various martial arts stories Meng Qi had made up.

The surrounding servant monks began to murmur among themselves.

"That's Zhang Yuanshan of the True Martial Sect? I've heard other senior brothers say he's a renowned young expert of this generation, with hopes of entering the Human Ranking in the future."

"It's him, but I heard yesterday he lost to Jiang Zhiwei of Sword Washing Pavilion by half a move."

"Such a delicate little girl?"

"Don't underestimate little girls. My mother told me, the prettier a girl is, the more formidable she is!"

The servant monks had come to the Servant Courtyard for one reason or another, and inevitably, some spoke coarsely.

"Hey, what's wrong with little girls? Ten years from now, she'll likely step into Outer Scenery and become a true expert. With her looks and status, she'll surely be chased by countless heroes of the jianghu and hailed as a fairy." Zhen Yan suddenly sighed. "Zhang Yuanshan is the same—a direct disciple of the True Martial Sect, valued by his elders, with boundless future prospects. Unlike us, who are just monks sweeping and doing chores, not even worthy of standing beside them!"

"Yeah, forget standing beside them—if they even glanced at me, I'd be content. When I eventually return to secular life, I can boast to my neighbors about having some connection with a great hero or a fairy from the jianghu." Other servant monks echoed similar sentiments.

For a moment, the servant monks were filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Suddenly, as they walked, Jiang Zhiwei and Zhang Yuanshan almost simultaneously turned their heads, glanced this way, and nodded almost imperceptibly at Meng Qi.

"Haha, are they looking at me?"

"Are you satisfied now?"

"Who? Who are they looking at?"

The servant monks instantly grew excited, buzzing with discussion.

Meng Qi exhaled, easing the subtle turmoil in his heart, and watched Jiang Zhiwei and the others leave.

"In the jianghu of the future, they'll surely be figures who command the wind and clouds!"...

Amid similar sighs, Meng Qi, Zhen Hui, and Zhen Yan packed up their tools and headed back to the Servant Courtyard.

As they walked, Zhen Yan said somewhat mournfully, "They walk a ladder to the heavens, while we can't even take the small step of leaving the Servant Courtyard. Ah, Junior Brother Zhending, Junior Brother Zhen Hui, aren't you sad? Aren't you despairing?"

Meng Qi thought to himself, I need to find a chance to leave Shaolin. With the Reincarnation World around, my martial arts might suddenly skyrocket, and staying here would invite suspicion. But there's no rush for now—I urgently need a sparring partner at my level. If I leave Shaolin, with my current strength, it'll be hard to find a suitable opponent who won't kill me—my Iron Cloth Shirt is only at the minor success of Qi Accumulation, and it's a common technique, so I'm not afraid of being discovered; I have plenty of excuses to explain it.

Moreover, if I can apprentice myself and learn one of the Seventy-two Unique Skills along the way, my chances of surviving in the Reincarnation World will increase greatly. Either way, I'll have to go down the mountain eventually.

At this moment, Zhen Hui replied foolishly, "Why be sad? When sweeping, focus on sweeping; when eating, focus on eating; when listening to stories, focus on listening; when sleeping, focus on sleeping. Why would I be sad?"

"Huh?" Zhen Yan was stunned and didn't answer, but a soft exclamation came from beside them.

Meng Qi didn't need to turn his head—his senses, greatly improved by opening his Dantian and accumulating internal energy, had already detected the awe-inspiring Martial Uncle Xuanku approaching with another yellow-robed monk.

"Martial Uncle Xuanku, Martial Uncle Xuan Chi." Zhen Yan followed the sound and looked over, quickly pressing his palms together.

After Meng Qi and Zhen Hui also paid their respects, Xuanku nodded: "Zhen Hui, report to the Warrior Monk Institute tomorrow."

Huh? Aside from Zhen Hui, who still didn't understand the situation, Meng Qi and Zhen Yan were both shaken.

Xuan Chi, whose skin faintly gleamed gold and who looked lean and sharp, sized up Meng Qi: "Are you Zhending?"

"This disciple is." Meng Qi felt utterly bewildered.

Xuan Chi nodded slightly: "You also report to the Warrior Monk Institute tomorrow."

Huh? Meng Qi was stunned as well.