Shaolin Temple

Shaolin Temple.

Li Changfeng and his group carried several large baskets of vegetarian dishes to the entrance of Shaolin Temple.

At that moment, a Kitchen Monk came before them. After pondering for a while, he said, "These vegetarian dishes come to eight hundred copper coins in total, right?"

Li Changfeng frowned when he heard that. "Eight hundred is too little. These vegetables were freshly picked, and we carefully removed the bugs by hand. They're bright in color and top-quality vegetarian dishes. Since Shaolin Temple is compassionate, make it one tael. No lower."

"Amitabha. Since the benefactor cares so deeply about Shaolin, and these dishes are indeed good, then one tael it is."

"Haha! Straightforward. Then it's a deal!"

"This humble monk sees that the benefactor has extraordinary bones and is fated with Buddha. Why not join Shaolin as a martial monk? You can strengthen your body, learn martial arts, and receive a reward of one hundred taels of silver."

After a moment, the Kitchen Monk asked, "Well? Not everyone gets such an opportunity. What are you still thinking about, benefactor?"

"Hehe, forget it. Becoming a monk means following a pile of precepts. No drinking, no meat, and no women. Too much trouble. Thank you for your kind intentions, Master, but I'm not blessed enough to accept."

"Very well. Since the benefactor is uninterested, this humble monk will not force you. Farewell, then."

"Farewell!"

This kid is already so tall and sturdy at such a young age. He's a fine candidate for external cultivation. The Eighteen Bronze Men happen to be short one person too. What a pity he has no interest.

"Sigh!"

"If not for the Imperial Court's major assault on Shaolin some time ago, which caused grievous losses, we would not be in such a hurry to recruit disciples," the Kitchen Monk said sorrowfully.

"Big Brother, you worked so hard growing all these vegetables, yet you only got one tael of silver. Is it worth it? With your strength, you could earn at least ten times more than this. I just don't understand why you still keep doing farm work."

"What, you look down on farm work? I can beat you only because I grow vegetables, damn it!"

"Look how much your strength has grown recently. Were those few fist techniques I taught you useless? Since you dislike it so much, don't come again in the future. Saves you from pestering me all day."

"Don't, Big Brother! We know we were wrong. We'll definitely work harder from now on and show you more respect. Please calm down!"

"Hmph. That's more like it."

Meanwhile, inside Jinyuan Casino, Li Jincai's eyes were slightly bloodshot as he screamed hysterically, "Big! Big! Big! Come on, big!"

"Open! Three sixes—triple numbers, the house takes all!"

"Fuck! Damn it, it's either triple numbers or the opposite of what I bet on. I suspect you're cheating!" Li Jincai said with bloodshot eyes.

"You can eat shit however you want, but don't spout nonsense. If you've got no money, stop yapping. Look at how much everyone else has won. With your unlucky face, it'd be strange if you didn't lose!"

"You..." Li Jincai was left speechless.

Suddenly, Li Jincai seemed to think of something and said proudly, "You know Tie Niu, right?"

"Tie Niu? I know him. So what?"

"Tie Niu's big brother is my own elder brother. I can borrow some money from you, can't I?"

"Heh. Your elder brother is Tie Niu's big brother? Is that true? Don't try to fool me. If I find out you lied, I'll chop off your hand. Though I did hear that Tie Niu recently acknowledged a new big brother."

"Fine. You know our rules. How much do you want to borrow?"

Li Jincai thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth. "Ten taels!"

At that moment, Li Changfeng, who was eating with his underlings, suddenly heard a howl. "Big Brother! Something happened! Your little brother lost one hundred taels at Gold Master's gambling den. They've dragged him to your house to demand payment from you!"

Li Changfeng's face darkened upon hearing this. "That damned brat is always causing me trouble. Even if he gets beaten to death this time, it has nothing to do with me. Come on, let's go home and take a look."

When Li Changfeng returned home, he immediately saw Li Jincai, who had been beaten into a miserable state, and his second mother crying and wailing. His father looked fearfully at the large group demanding money, but when he saw Li Changfeng arrive, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"Dazhuang, you're back. Save your little brother. I really have no way to save him."

Li Changfeng said coldly, "No money. There's one life. If you want his life, take it. I don't have money to redeem him."

"Big Brother, don't! I'm your real younger brother! We may not share the same mother, but we have the same father. Please save me!" Li Jincai pleaded, clutching Li Changfeng's leg.

"Dazhuang! He's still your biological younger brother. Please save him! From now on, if you tell me to go east, I won't dare go west. Everything will be as you say, all right?" Second Mother pleaded as well.

"Heh. I said it already: no money, only one life. Where am I supposed to get one hundred taels to save him? He's a grown man. He should bear the consequences of what he's done himself!" Li Changfeng said coldly.

Seeing this, the leading man who had come to collect the debt sneered. "Hehe. No money? Very good!"

Then his blade flashed, and with one chop, he severed Li Jincai's little finger. Li Jincai shrieked in agony, while Li Changfeng watched coldly without reacting.

"Jin Cai!" Second Mother cried out.

Seeing that Li Jincai had lost his little finger and Li Changfeng still did not react, Second Mother could only forcefully threaten her husband. "Old man! If anything happens to Jin Cai, I won't live either! Don't even think about touching me again for the rest of your life, or seeing me!"

When the old man heard that his wife would no longer let him touch her, he immediately panicked. "Dazhuang, save your little brother! I'm begging you!" As he spoke, he actually tried to kneel before his eldest son.

Li Changfeng quickly pulled him back and said irritably, "It's not that I don't want to save him. I really don't have money! Where am I supposed to find one hundred taels?"

"There is! There is! Big Brother, you're so strong. If you become a monk at Shaolin, you'll receive one hundred taels of silver as a reward!" Li Jincai said urgently with a mournful face.

"Heh. You sure have it easy. You want me to sell myself and become a monk to save you? What a joke! Don't even think about it!"

The old man pleaded, "Dazhuang, I'm begging you. Go! Being a monk is quite good. At least you won't have to worry about food or clothes. It's just... just that you can't marry a wife. That's no big deal..."

"Hahaha! You all want me to sell myself to save that useless son of yours, right? Fine! Don't regret it! Just see how you live while I'm gone!"

"Let's go. To Shaolin Temple!"

"Big Brother, are you really going to become a monk?"

"What else can I do? Do you think I want to go?"

"Hehe, that was quite a show. How interesting. Tie Niu, is this the big brother you just acknowledged? What a filial son he is!"

"Black Tiger, stop making sarcastic remarks. My big brother is miserable enough already. He's a loyal man. Big Brother, don't worry. If you're my big brother for one day, you'll be my big brother for life."

Li Changfeng patted Tie Niu on the shoulder and smiled. "Good brother! After I go to Shaolin, remember to visit me often. And don't come empty-handed. Bring plenty of wine and meat."

"Fine! Big Brother, don't worry. Leave this little matter to me!" Tie Niu said resolutely, patting his chest.

Shaolin Temple.

The Kitchen Monk asked doubtfully, "Benefactor, you left and have now returned. What business do you have?"

"Hehe, it's nothing. You said earlier that if I became a martial monk at Shaolin, I'd receive one hundred taels as a reward. Is that true?"

"Monks do not lie. It is indeed true."

"Fine! I agree to join Shaolin!"

"Here are one hundred taels of silver. No debts, no delays."

"Fine! Straightforward!" After receiving the money, the group left.

Li Jincai instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Then he said teasingly, "Big Brother, don't worry! While you're away, I'll take good care of those two old people." With that, he turned and left without looking back.

Watching Li Jincai's smug appearance, Li Changfeng shook his head. "I've done all I can. I no longer owe you anything. Whatever happens to them in the future has nothing to do with me."

"Take care, Big Brother!" the underlings said one after another.

"Fine. You should all go."

Inside the temple, Li Changfeng had his hair shaved off and was branded with six incense scars, becoming a Shaolin disciple.

Then a monk said slowly, "Rest here for the night first. Tomorrow, I'll take you to Arhat Hall to meet the Abbot and your senior and junior brothers."

"Fine!"

Lying in bed, Li Changfeng suddenly shuddered. He felt as though something within him had dissipated, and his body became much lighter. In the past, his head would always feel groggy at night, but now he suddenly felt much more relaxed and comfortable.

Ding!

"Detected that the original host's remnant soul has dissipated. The system can now form a contract with the current host."

"Would you like to form the contract?"

"Form it!"

"Three years! Do you know how I spent these three years? System, you finally showed up!"

"Warning! Do not insult the system, or rewards will be deducted! This is your first offense, so it will be forgiven."

"Fine, fine, fine! What functions do you have, System?"

"For the past three years, the host has been afflicted by the original host's remnant soul. Three Lucky Packs have accumulated. Would you like to open them?"

"Open them!"

A glowing screen suddenly appeared before his eyes, floating in the air.

Host: Li Changfeng (Li Dazhuang)
Identity: Shaolin Temple disciple

Inner Force: 0

Strength: 120 jin

Experience Points: 0

Cultivation Method: None

Title: Jianghu Scrub

Fame: Unknown (0/80) (Every 10 Fame grants 1 Cultivation Point)

Cultivation Points: 0 (Every 20 Cultivation Points can open one Lucky Pack or enter System Training Time at a 1:3 conversion rate. Each session allows one month of training.)

Current Lucky Packs: 3

Current Mission: Achieve mastery of Shaolin Bronze Body within three months at Shaolin.

"Holy shit! Isn't this a game interface? This is incredible! Hahaha! Let's open the three Lucky Packs first."

Li Changfeng then tapped the Lucky Pack.

Ding, congratulations, Host. First draw: Luohan Fist obtained.

Ding, congratulations, Host. Second draw: Great Stele Shattering Hand obtained.

Ding, congratulations, Host. Third draw: Vajra Palm of Immense Strength obtained.

"Damn it! I thought I'd get some peerless divine art, but they're all martial techniques. Shaolin has so many cultivation methods, yet I somehow drew martial techniques. Other than Vajra Palm of Immense Strength, which requires Inner Force to activate, the other two are external techniques. As long as I have strength, I can use them."

"Whatever. I'll make do with them for now. With the system, I won't have to worry about getting better cultivation methods later!"

"What's with these Cultivation Points? Training? I guess I gain them by practicing martial techniques and cultivation methods. This stuff is crucial. Lucky Packs and training all depend on it. Forget it, I won't think about it for now. I still have to meet the Abbot tomorrow. Time to sleep!"