Unexpected "Joy"

A common courtyard was filled with thick, sturdy Bodhi trees, their canopies spreading like umbrellas, casting a patch of cool shade.

This was the Bodhi Courtyard within Shaolin Temple, dedicated to studying Buddhist teachings and realizing Zen mind. It was always paired with the Damo Courtyard, which focused on martial arts. Moreover, the elders here possessed terrifying martial arts skills that transcended the mundane, no less than the monks of the Damo Courtyard, nearly earning them the title of living Arhats.

The reason lay in Shaolin being a branch of the Buddhist path. Most divine techniques required a pure Zen heart. The deeper one's Buddhist understanding and the more one saw through the mortal world, the easier it was to awaken to the truth and make rapid progress.

In a Zen room within the Bodhi Courtyard, furnished with only a dozen or so meditation cushions, an old monk who looked like withered wood, with no eyebrows or beard, struck the wooden fish before him. His voice was hollow as he said, "Nephew Xuan Bei, why must you insist on taking Zhending as your disciple?"

Before the handsome yet melancholy Xuan Bei could speak, a kind-faced old monk beside him said leisurely, "Nephew Xuan Bei, I do not oppose you taking Zhenhui as a disciple. The Attendant Monks of the Servant Courtyard and the Warrior Monk Institute all say he is single-minded and aligns with the true meaning of Buddhism, clearly possessing past-life wisdom. But that Zhending—in the Servant Courtyard, he was flighty and heavy with scheming; in the Warrior Monk Institute, he bullied the weak. Such a nature—how can he receive Shaolin's true transmission?"

The first old monk, with no eyebrows and withered, added, "Zhending has rendered great merit, but for true transmission, nature must come first. Not necessarily clever and simple, without a trace of scheming, but at least not arrogant and domineering, bullying the weak. In this old monk's view, it would be better to let him choose a Qi Accumulation Chapter of a supreme technique as a reward."

The elders of the Bodhi Courtyard and Damo Courtyard would secretly observe the monks of the Servant Courtyard and Warrior Monk Institute, then combine their observations with the Attendant Monks' evaluations to make judgments, lest the true transmission fall into the wrong hands.

Of course, this could only minimize the chance of betraying the temple and the Buddha. Throughout the ages, there had always been monks who fell into corruption after traveling the mortal world, and there had always been bad disciples who excelled at surface appearances but had poor natures. For instance, in the Damo Courtyard itself, there were several high monks with stubborn personalities. However, for disciples who had already received the true transmission, Shaolin tried its best to reform them with Buddhist teachings, to save those who had strayed.

Because he often frowned, faint wrinkles had formed at the corners of Xuan Bei's brows and eyes. He gazed into the void ahead and said, "Uncles and masters, Zhending was not bullying the weak in the Warrior Monk Institute. Zhen Liang habitually ran rampant in the martial practice hall, often oppressing others. What Zhending did was an act of righteous indignation. Though his methods were wrong, his nature was not at fault."

He had entered the monastic life halfway, so his wording leaned toward that of a martial hero.

The monks present were all of the "Wu" generation of high monks, hence he addressed them as uncles and masters—the living monks of the "Kong" generation numbered fewer than the fingers on one hand.

"Meeting violence with violence—how could that be the true intent of the Buddha?" The kind-faced old monk shook his head.

The withered, eyebrowless monk said, neither pleased nor angry, "Nephew Xuan Bei, why not slow down a little? Let Zhending temper himself in the Warrior Monk Institute for a while longer, to smooth out his nature as much as possible."

Xuan Bei turned to look at this old monk, respectfully pressing his palms together: "Zhending is young, easily influenced, and has a flighty nature. He cannot be ground down endlessly. Amitabha Buddha, the Buddha is merciful. I beg Uncle Wu Si to grant this disciple's request."

The withered, eyebrowless old monk was none other than the Chief Monk of the Bodhi Courtyard, Wu Si, the senior disciple of Abbot Kong Wen and Xuan Bei's proper martial uncle—his master was Kong Wen's youngest disciple, Wu Kong, who had passed away from injuries inflicted by a demonic creature before Xuan Bei entered the temple.

The kind-faced old monk darkened his expression and said, "If he cannot withstand tempering, how can he study Buddhism? Nephew Xuan Bei, why are you so insistent on taking him as a disciple?"

It was the same old question again.

Xuan Bei kept his eyes on his nose and his nose on his heart, but did not open his mouth to answer.

Wu Si struck the wooden fish and said, "Junior Brother Wu Xiang, taking a disciple is a personal matter. We need not say more. Nephew Xuan Bei, you must bear this responsibility in the days to come."

The implication was that if his disciple committed a grave mistake, the master who insisted on taking him would also be punished.

Xuan Bei slowly nodded: "This disciple understands."

Looking at the dense, serene Bodhi trees, Meng Qi felt both excited and anxious. Because he had counted on the Bodhi Courtyard's reward, he hadn't exchanged for a main cultivation technique in the Reincarnation World. If his wish came to nothing, his development would stall significantly, making it hard to achieve a leap forward, and the next reincarnation mission would be extremely dangerous.

Normally, whether it was completing the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needle, the Blood Saber Technique, the Lingzhi Qi Replenishing Pill, or the first move of the Ananda Breaking Precepts Saber Art, all should have been secondary to a main cultivation technique!

If not for the Bodhi Courtyard's reward as a safety net, Meng Qi would probably have chosen a main cultivation technique plus the first move of the Ananda Breaking Precepts Saber Art. At worst, he could have asked friends like Jiang Zhiwei to gather some ordinary poison needles and figure out the loading himself.

Glancing at the Bodhi trees, then at Zhenhui walking beside him with single-minded focus, Meng Qi felt a trace of doubt: "If we're here to collect a reward, why bring Little Junior Brother along?"

This doubt was the source of his anxiety.

"Little Junior Brother, have you done anything lately?" Meng Qi couldn't help asking.

Zhenhui earnestly counted on his fingers: "Morning lessons, fetching water, breakfast, learning characters, lunch, martial practice, dinner, meditation, listening to stories, sleep. Senior Brother, I did these things. Oh, and I cursed the Discipline Institute."

"Not that." Meng Qi looked up at the sky in exasperation. "Do you know why you were called to the Bodhi Courtyard?"

Zhenhui stared at Meng Qi with bright eyes: "Senior Brother, do you know?"

He looked like he wanted to know the answer too.

"Alright, I don't know either." Meng Qi covered his face.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, the two followed a guiding novice into a Zen room. Inside were two monks, both high monks in yellow robes and red kasayas. One looked nearly forty, refined and handsome, but exuded a melancholy air—it was Xuan Bei, whom Meng Qi had met before. The other was withered like wood, his face covered in wrinkles, with sparse eyebrows and beard.

"Ancestor Master, Martial Uncle, Zhending and Zhenhui have been brought." The novice bowed and withdrew.

"This old monk is Wu Si, the Chief Monk of the Bodhi Courtyard." Hearing the withered old monk speak, Meng Qi quickly led Zhenhui in a solemn bow.

Wu Si said flatly, "Zhenhui, Xuan Bei wishes to take you as a disciple. Are you willing?"

Ah? Meng Qi was taken aback, then relieved. So they had called Zhenhui because Xuan Bei had taken a liking to him. It had nothing to do with his own reward.

Sigh, this kid looks foolish, but he keeps getting noticed by high monks... Meng Qi felt a twinge of envy and jealousy, but the feeling quickly subsided. First, he had a great relationship with Zhenhui and was genuinely happy for him. Second, he himself harbored a great secret and was utterly unsuited for taking a master. Better to get a supreme technique, blend in with the warrior monks as "one of the crowd," and leave Shaolin when the chance came.

Zhenhui's blank face first showed confusion, then joy and hesitation. He knelt and said, "This disciple is willing, but has one request."

"Others are all gratitude when taking a master. Who makes demands?" Wu Si wasn't angry at the simple-hearted Zhenhui but instead scolded him with a laugh.

Xuan Bei wasn't upset either. He nodded gently: "You are honest and straightforward. What is your request?"

"I beg Master to also take Senior Brother Zhending as a disciple." Zhenhui didn't lift his head, his voice somewhat muffled.

Ah? Meng Qi was shocked again, then moved. Although he had been good to Zhenhui, caring for him and often "teaching" him, it was mainly to relieve his own feelings of being inexplicably transported to a strange world and the pressure of the Reincarnation World. To say he was completely sincere—even he didn't believe it. But he never expected Zhenhui to value him so much and repay him so genuinely!

The corners of Xuan Bei's mouth curved up, resembling a smile, and his melancholy aura faded a bit: "You are truly brotherly in your affection."

Hearing his words, Meng Qi snapped back to reality and looked at Zhenhui with "resentment." Little Junior Brother, I know you mean well, but Senior Brother doesn't want to take a master at all! Don't do good deeds that cause trouble!

Then he looked at Xuan Bei with pleading eyes. Don't agree. Please don't agree!

"Zhending, I can feel your longing. Since Zhenhui has begged so earnestly, I will reluctantly agree." Xuan Bei went with the flow and agreed, his smile faint but without a trace of gloom.

Wu Si said nothing, only sighed softly at Xuan Bei's smile. Since entering Shaolin, Nephew Xuan Bei had rarely smiled.

No need to be reluctant! Meng Qi wished he could gouge out his own eyes. But in this situation, he couldn't refuse. After all, anything out of the ordinary was suspicious!

Out of a hundred martial monks, at most one can resist the "temptation" of an Elder taking on disciples—and that's only because they have a better option.

Whatever. I'll find a chance to leave the mountain anyway, and with a master's guidance, it might even shorten the time! Meng Qi thought, giving in to despair. He knelt and bowed. "Disciple pays respects to Master."

After preparations, Meng Qi and Zhenhui formally took their vows in the Bodhi Courtyard. Witnesses included several Elders and monks from both the Bodhi and Damo Courtyards, as well as Attendant Monks from the Discipline Institute and Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard who "registered" the change in Meng Qi and Zhenhui's status.

When Xuan Kong entered the Bodhi Courtyard on behalf of the Discipline Institute and saw Meng Qi and Zhenhui kneeling before Xuan Bei, his entire face changed color. It darkened as if it could drip water, and his voice trembled slightly as he asked another monk, "They're taking a master?"

After receiving an affirmative answer, his expression turned dazed, regret flooding his heart. If only he had known that Xuan Bei had already set his sights on Zhending and Zhenhui, why would he have used petty tricks to make Zhending miss the disciple selection day! Now he had earned their enmity for nothing!

Seeing Xuan Kong like this, Meng Qi's mood suddenly improved, and he no longer resented the apprenticeship ceremony so much.

Hmph, I'm just that petty!

After a somewhat solemn ceremony, Meng Qi and Zhenhui officially became Shaolin direct disciples, and of the Abbot's lineage at that.

"Now that you are my disciples, you may each select one unique skill as your main cultivation method. In the future, if your meditation mind becomes clear and you grasp the true meaning of the Buddhist Dharma, you may yet be able to switch to cultivating the 'Maha Demon Subduing Fist' and the 'Great Dream Scripture.' At the same time, you will also have the opportunity to cultivate the 'Muscle Tendon Change' and observe the True Intent Inheritance of the third stance of 'Buddha's Palm.'" After the apprenticeship, following custom, Xuan Bei first "laid out" a bright future for Meng Qi and Zhenhui.

Of course, among the direct disciples, fewer than one in a hundred ever truly got to observe the Divine Palm or cultivate the "Muscle Tendon Change."

Meng Qi was slightly stirred, but having been through life-and-death situations a few times, he understood that the latter was just a "painted cake." What truly mattered was the main cultivation method chosen from the Seventy-two Unique Skills.

Mm, someone with such exceptional bone structure as myself—Master will surely see at a glance that I'm suited for elegant, flowing martial arts like Wu Xiang Jie Finger or Nian Hua Finger. Ah, but I'll have to disappoint him. I'm so single-mindedly focused on the Golden Bell Shield or the Indestructible Vajra Divine Skill... Meng Qi thought, finding bitter comfort in self-mockery.

"Zhending, you choose the Golden Bell Shield," Xuan Bei said softly.