"Moreover, these past few days... this disciple had been worrying whether Martial Uncle would be able to come, so I did not give this matter much thought..." Zen Master Mingyue added at last. "Let Jiangchao Temple send whatever they have at us. Our Little Gold Temple will block soldiers with generals and stem water with earth—how could we possibly fear them?"
"Hahaha, exactly, Martial Nephew Mingyue!" Hearing Zen Master Mingyue's final words, Xingchen laughed heartily. "That is precisely it! Whatever contest rules Jiangchao Temple devises will be nothing but ants before the mighty strength of our Little Gold Temple!"
With that, Xingchen strode into Little Gold Temple with his head held high. The three Clearing Dust realm disciples followed after him as well, leaving Zen Master Mingyue and the others behind.
"Hehe, Martial Uncle Xingchen truly has an open and forthright temperament!" Mingfa said enviously from behind.
"Indeed," Zen Master Mingyue said softly. "If we can persuade Martial Uncle to stay at our Little Gold Temple for a while after the Immortal-Buddha Grand Ceremony, we will surely benefit beyond measure."
"Abbot..." Just as Zen Master Mingyue was considering how to keep Xingchen, a disciple called softly from behind him. "It seems people have already begun arriving from the foot of the mountain!"
"Oh?" Zen Master Mingyue hurriedly turned around. Sure enough, on the mountain road roughly a li below Little Gold Temple's gate, several carriages were slowly making their way up, accompanied by a few big men on horseback.
"That is Shopkeeper Feng from the Green Pine Pharmacy west of town!" Mingcheng watched for a moment, then smiled. "When this disciple passed by the Green Pine Pharmacy that day, I heard him mention it. The Immortal-Buddha Grand Ceremony is a rare spectacle in Changsheng Town. He was certain to come