The Fist Manual Revealed by Fire

His heart jolted. Could it really be such a coincidence?

"Dad, where did this come from?" Lin Qing asked, turning around.

"This? I found it in a filthy ditch. No idea who threw it away, but the material looked good, so I brought it home. Is something wrong?" Lin Cheng said.

"Nothing. I'm taking it. Remember, don't tell anyone about it, and if you ever come across another Buddha statue like this, whatever you do, don't touch it," Lin Qing said gravely.

Lin Cheng sensed something was wrong. "What happened?"

"Nothing. Just remember what I said." Lin Qing found a piece of black cloth, wrapped the Buddha statue in it, then tied it to himself with a hemp rope and took it to his own courtyard.

After dinner, he went to the woodshed, set the wooden idol on the ground, and examined it closely.

Could this be the Buddha statue? Three faces, eight arms, half as tall as a man—the shape matches perfectly. But where's the fist manual?

Lin Qing turned it over and over but found no writing carved anywhere on it.

After a moment's thought, he raised an axe and swung. To his surprise, the blade failed to split it. Instead, it bounced high into the air without leaving so much as a mark.

"Something's wrong!"

Lin Qing frowned. How could an ordinary wooden idol be so sturdy? He had already begun mastering the Eight Strikes of the Spirit Snake and was an early-stage Bright Force Martial Artist. What kind of wood couldn't he split?

Could there be some special way to open it? Lin Qing frowned.

He had heard that this world held extraordinary treasures and divine weapons with all manner of unbelievable powers, though ordinary people had no chance of encountering them.

After some thought, he hurried back to his room, took a kitchen knife, and cut his hand. Blood splashed onto the wooden idol, but nothing happened.

Could it really be an ordinary Buddha statue made from unusual material? Lin Qing frowned.

"Forget it. No point dwelling on that now. What should I do with this Buddha statue?" Lin Qing wondered.

He immediately ruled out handing it over to the authorities. The yamen had never said Yin Muhua was searching for a wooden idol. If he turned it in unprompted, he would have no way to explain himself and would only invite trouble.

"Might as well dig a hole and bury it."

The courtyard floor was packed yellow earth, so digging a hole was not too difficult. Before long, the wooden idol lay buried. Lin Qing moved a large water vat from the corner of the wall over it. As long as he kept quiet, no one would ever discover a Buddha statue buried there.

Once I figure out this Buddha statue's secret, I might get my hands on a supreme fist manual. Heat surged through Lin Qing's chest.

As the saying went, refuse what heaven offered and suffer for it instead. It would be a terrible shame to throw away such a gift delivered to his doorstep.

Three more days passed.

Lin Cheng was tending the shop when someone pushed open the door. The newcomer wore a yamen uniform, with a broad back, thick shoulders, and a ring of bushy beard around his chin.

"Officer, please come in. What can I do for you?" Lin Cheng greeted him with a smile.

"Have you seen a wooden Buddha statue with three faces and eight arms?" the burly man asked in a deep voice that rumbled like thunder.

"No, sir, I haven't." Lin Cheng recalled Lin Qing's earlier warning and kept the truth to himself.

The burly man went into the rear courtyard and swept his gaze around. Seeing nothing but worn-out odds and ends, he did not linger and turned to leave.

Lin Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. He would have to ask Lin Qing what was going on.

The burly man stepped outside and suddenly heard a call from behind him.

"Brother Han! Still working a case this late? Come on, let your elder brother treat you to some wine and women."

The burly man turned to see a smiling old man with a goatee approaching. It was Jiang Baihe.

The man was none other than Han Tai, Constable Chief of the Evil-Suppression Squad.

"Brother Jiang. A few days ago, Yin Muhua killed thirteen people at Eternal Peace Pawnshop. Now rumors are raging through the city, and everyone fears for their lives. Naturally, I must catch her and put her behind bars as soon as possible," Han Tai said grimly.

"Brother Han, it was only a few lowly commoners who died. Why would you investigate personally? If you ask me, you're looking for the wooden idol," Jiang Baihe said with a smile.

Han Tai gave Jiang Baihe a long look. "I didn't expect you old ghost to be so well informed. There's a supreme fist manual inside that wooden idol. I have to find a way to get it."

"Any leads?" Jiang Baihe asked.

"Not yet. I can only do it the hard way, starting with the major pawnshops and general stores. As long as the wooden idol is still in the county, I'll find it sooner or later," Han Tai said coldly.

"Then I wish you success, Brother Han. I'll be going." Jiang Baihe smiled.

"If you have anyone in mind, Brother Jiang, send word to me. I'll throw them straight into prison and question them under torture. We'll get to the bottom of it," Han Tai added.

"Haha, don't worry, Brother Han. If I hear anything, I'll let you know." Jiang Baihe acknowledged him and left.

Outside the city.

In an abandoned temple, an ugly old woman with dark blotches on her face sat cross-legged on the ground, surrounded by a group of black-clad figures.

"Cough, cough!" She covered her mouth as she coughed, and blood seeped from the corner of her lips.

"Damn those Night Patrol Office officers. They earn a paltry tael or so a month. Why risk their lives over it?" Anger flashed in Yin Muhua's eyes.

Suddenly, another black-clad figure darted into the temple.

"My lady, the Han Family Grand Elder sent word. He can help conceal our movements, but if we find the Tathagata Fist Manual, he wants a share."

"That old ghost has a finger in every pie. Tell him I agree," Yin Muhua snapped.

"Yes."

"The rest of you, keep looking. You must find the wooden idol," Yin Muhua ordered in a raspy voice.

"My lady, the wooden idol has been missing for so long. Is it even still in the county? Could it have been destroyed?" someone beside her asked.

"That wooden idol is an extraordinary treasure. Blades can hardly damage it, and neither water nor fire can harm it. There's no chance it's been destroyed. As for whether it's still in this county, I can't be sure. But my son did lose it here half a year ago. If the Soul-Calming Office officers hadn't been so close on his heels, he never would have lost something so valuable," Yin Muhua said coldly.

As she spoke, she slowly rose and walked to the temple entrance, gazing toward the distant county town.

"Remember: refine the Buddha's body with fire, and the scripture will reveal itself. That is the simplest and surest way to tell."

"Yes, my lady!"

Over the next few days, the city grew as skittish as cranes startled by the wind. Everyone feared for their lives.

Back at the Night Patrol Office, Lin Qing resumed his usual routine, working and practicing martial arts each day.

One morning at breakfast, he overheard several hired hands nearby whispering about the matter again.

"Have you heard? A general store in the outer city was wiped out. Four people are dead!"

"Madness! Those Yinyuan Sect fiends are vicious."

"Sigh. I heard all the pawnshops and general stores have closed."

"The Yinyuan Sect fiends were never this frenzied before. What's going on?"

"Who knows?"

Lin Qing frowned uneasily. Yin Muhua had previously targeted only large pawnshops. Now even small general stores were not safe.

He worried for his parents. No. I have to go home again!

Just then, Shen Lian called out, "Erzhuzi, chop some firewood and heat water for me! I want a bath!"

"Right away!" a skinny, dark-skinned boy answered.

A flash of insight struck Lin Qing. Fire! If it holds a legendary fist manual, its vessel must be extraordinary. Being impervious to water and fire would be nothing unusual. I'll burn it. If the fire can't destroy it, that'll be more proof the Buddha statue is a treasure. If it really burns to ash, at least I'll have removed a danger.

With that in mind, Lin Qing went home the next day and dug the wooden idol out of the courtyard. He chopped firewood, lit a fire, and set the Buddha statue over the flames.

At first, nothing unusual happened. Then, after a short wait, a strange sight appeared.

One by one, brilliant golden characters emerged across the Buddha statue, each full and distinct, standing out in sharp relief.