Monastics tell no lies

The True Qi coursing through Monk Kong Chan gradually settled. In the end, this man, one of the five supreme masters under heaven, did not strike. He merely asked mildly, "Young benefactor, would you be willing to become this old monk's disciple?"

Wang Chong's back went cold. Just now, he had keenly sensed anger and murderous intent stirring in this youthful-looking old monk. Afraid that saying he did not want a master would make the old monk turn on him, he replied tactfully, "I am a successor of Wudang..."

Kong Chan chuckled. "What sort of Wudang successor are you? You merely learned some Wudang martial arts."

The old monk pressed his palms together before his chest. "Monastics tell no lies. I see that you bear a deep burden of demonic sin, young benefactor. Nothing but the supreme Buddhist teachings can resolve it. If you refuse to become this old monk's disciple, this old monk shall subdue the demon."

Horrified, Wang Chong cried, "Is that how 'monastics tell no lies' is supposed to work?"

The burly monk Xuangang gloated from the side. "Exactly. That is precisely how it works. Master said the same thing to me back then. Between death and the Buddhist teachings, I chose the Buddhist teachings. To this day, I still feel that the Buddha is merciful, but my master is a fiend."

"You had better agree!"

"This poor monk can guarantee that my master is not making empty threats. This bald scoundrel really is no good!"

Monk Kong Chan ignored his loose-tongued disciple and fixed his piercing gaze on Wang Chong.

At this, Yuzao suddenly stepped forward and cried, "Run, young master! This maid will hold the old monk off for you." Before her words had faded, the burly monk Xuangang reached out and grabbed, sealing Yuzao's acupoints from a distance. He then waited with a smile to watch the fun.

Wang Chong let out a deep breath, bent down, and bowed eight times. "Your disciple Wang Chong pays his respects, Master."

Kong Chan laughed. "Today, this old monk has resolved a demonic tribulation. Supreme merit shall surely follow!"

"Though you have taken a master, your worldly ties remain unfinished. You may cultivate with your hair unshorn and need not enter a monastery. I hereby bestow upon you the Dharma name Xuande!"

Wang Chong hurriedly said, "That Dharma name is rather grand. Your disciple cannot bear it."

Was Xuande a Dharma name any decent person could use?

He would not even dare leave home without a few Martial Saints at his side.

Kong Chan said, "Our Buddha wishes to use this Dharma name to suppress the demonic Qi within you."

Wang Chong thought, All I did was recite a passage from the Heart Sutra. How did that turn into demonic sin, demonic tribulation, and demonic Qi? Does the Heart Sutra violate some taboo in this world? If I had known, I would never have tried to show off. I've shown off right into the splits. All he wanted now was to leave as soon as possible, so he hurriedly said, "Your disciple still needs to meet up with Divine Constable Li. I shall take my leave for now, Master, and visit Ruyi Nunnery."

Kong Chan hastily said, "You must not go to Ruyi Nunnery!"

"Divine Constable Li may still need some time to investigate the case. Your master shall explain to you the profound meaning of the Sutra of Mahasthamaprapta Buddha Enlightening the Sea Dragon King to Soar Beyond the Heavens and Attain the True Fruition of a Heavenly Dragon."

Wang Chong dared not refuse. He thought to himself, There must be something wrong with this identity of mine. Otherwise, this old monk would never act like this.

I absolutely cannot ask. If anything goes wrong, I'll die without a place to be buried. He hurriedly said, "Master, please let your disciple's maid get up."

The burly monk Xuangang gave a light pat through the air, sending a powerful surge of True Qi across the distance and breaking open every one of Yuzao's sealed acupoints. She sprang to her feet and ran behind Wang Chong, her eyes darting about. Yet a little delight stirred in her heart. I offered to die for the young master today. He'll surely treat me differently from now on.

If I really died for the young master, would he remember me a few times each year afterward? For a while, Yuzao's thoughts tumbled into confusion, and she did not know what to make of them.

Kong Chan explained the scripture to Wang Chong, who listened patiently for an hour. The scripture was very short, but it was immensely famous in Buddhism. Also known as the Dragon King of the Sea Sutra and Buddha Speaks the Heavenly Dragon Sutra, it contained profound truths in subtle words and ranked foremost in spreading the Buddhist teachings.

After explaining the scripture, Kong Chan questioned him repeatedly. Wang Chong answered everything fluently, and only then did the old monk smile and say, "From now on, you must recite it morning and night and never forget it. This sutra will do a great deal for your future attainments. In time, you will understand your master's painstaking intentions."

Seeing that his master seemed willing to ease up, Wang Chong hurriedly took his leave. The burly monk Xuangang escorted his junior brother outside Golden Light Temple. This time, he no longer pretended not to know him. "When you have some spare time, come have some fun at Shaolin Temple. Not wanting to come will do you no good. Our master is ruthless. He'll force you to come."

Wang Chong raised his hands in farewell, unwilling to say another word. All he did was mutter inwardly, Who exactly am I? That bald scoundrel Kong Chan actually recognized me. I must be someone important! My origins are growing more and more shrouded in mist. He brought Yuzao to the gates of Ruyi Nunnery and waited a little while before seeing Li Qingge emerge with a beautiful nun. Upon seeing Wang Chong, Li Qingge said, "Master Li Miaomiao is worried that, having failed, that lecher will refuse to give up his lustful designs and come looking for her again. She wants to stay with us for a while."

Li Miaomiao seemed distracted. At the sight of Wang Chong, she had barely pressed her palms together before her face took on the utmost terror, as though she had seen a fiendish ghost or a yaksha. In a trembling voice, she said, "Actually, I'm quite comfortable at Ruyi Nunnery."

Wang Chong nearly lost his composure too. The timing doesn't even match. I might be White Chrysanthemum, but I absolutely cannot be the White Chrysanthemum who wanted to rape you. What is that terrified look supposed to mean, you wretched nun?

If you dare falsely accuse me, I'll kill you with one palm strike...

Hmm, forget it. I won't do something as vile and tasteless as raping you before killing you. I'll give you a quick death.

He bared his teeth in a smile. "There is no need to worry, Master Li Miaomiao. My martial arts are by no means inferior to Divine Constable Li's. White Chrysanthemum would never dare come harm you."

At these words, Li Miaomiao's teeth began to chatter softly, rattling together. Li Qingge also noticed something was wrong and asked, "Master Li Miaomiao, are you acquainted with Young Master Wang Chong?"

Li Miaomiao cried loudly, "No! This is my... first time meeting Young Master Wang."

"Then Li Miaomiao shall entrust herself to Young Master Wang's protection." As the beautiful nun spoke, she looked ready to cry-and from sheer fright, at that. Had Li Qingge not tested Wang Chong and believed he was not White Chrysanthemum, she would already have moved to seize him. Even so, the female divine constable was still beset by suspicions. I must find some way to have Wu Hook Frost Snow and her junior brother meet Wang Chong. Otherwise, I won't be able to dispel these doubts.

Wang Chong felt very much like "tofu dropped into ashes: you could neither blow on it nor beat it clean, and it left you itching all over, uncomfortable everywhere." He kept cursing inwardly, Bald scoundrel, wretched nun, look what you've done! Even I'm starting to suspect I'm not a good person.

Who the hell am I, exactly, to leave Kong Chan and Li Miaomiao so rattled?

Li Qingge shared a horse with Li Miaomiao and kept probing her along the way. But the nun would not say a thing. The less she said, however, the greater the suspicions grew. By the end, Li Qingge was looking at Wang Chong very strangely indeed.

All along the way, Wang Chong kept cursing inwardly, Wretched nun, wretched nun, wretched nun...

He was so thoroughly vexed that he even forgot to tell Li Qingge he had also encountered Kong Chan and the burly monk Xuangang.

...Li Miaomiao: "Y-you stay away from me..."