Their martial arts were formidable, and their movements swift. In the blink of an eye, they drew near. Their leader was short and stout, yet carried great authority; those behind him varied in appearance.
"Brother Jianran!" Xuanci descended the steps to greet him, clasping Wang Jiantong's hand. "It's been years since we parted, yet you're as distinguished as ever!"
"Distinguished? Hardly!" Wang Jiantong shook his head with a bitter smile. "I nearly met my end in the Liao Kingdom this time! Only thanks to Brother Xi taking my place-the plum tree sacrificed for the peach-did I escape with my life!"
"Oh, how noble of you, Brother Xi!" Xuanci pressed his palms together and bowed.
A short, stout man who bore some resemblance to Wang Jiantong returned the bow. "The sect leader shoulders the weight of the Beggars' Sect. Trading my life for his would have been a bargain! Hahaha..."
Seeing his bold, carefree manner, everyone joined in the laughter.
"You've all come a long way. Please, let us speak inside the monastery!" Xuanci extended a hand in welcome.
They followed Xuanci into the monastery. Once host and guests had taken their seats, a young novice served fragrant tea.
After some idle conversation, Wang Jiantong set down his teacup and asked, "Brother Xuanci, what important matter did you invite us here for?"
"Nothing terribly important. There are two small matters in which I hope Brother Jianran might help."
"Oh? What are they?"
"First, a couple surnamed Qiao living below our mountain have a son. Some years ago, Junior Brother Xuanku took it into his head to teach him a few moves. Unexpectedly, the boy proved exceptionally gifted and practiced them quite creditably. Yet monastery rules prevent Xuanku from teaching him more, and he cannot bear to see that talent go to waste. So we hoped Brother Jianran might take him as a disciple!"
Wang Jiantong narrowed his eyes slightly and stood. "Brother Xuanci, might we speak in private?"
Xuanci nodded and led him into a quiet room.
"Have you thought this through? That child is the spawn of a Liao dog!" As soon as they entered, Wang Jiantong lowered his voice. "If one day he learns who he is..."
"Brother Jianran, didn't we agree on this before?" Xuanci interrupted. "We killed his parents by mistake. Raising him to become a heroic man would at least help ease our guilt."
Wang Jiantong stared at him, his expression shifting, before finally giving a long sigh. "Ah... I don't know whether this is right or wrong either! Thinking back now, Master Zhiguang's words made sense!"
"If the child had been mediocre, we could have let him farm as Zhiguang suggested and live out his life in peace. But he happens to be extraordinarily gifted!" Xuanci said earnestly. "Brother Jianran, if we turn a blind eye, how could our consciences rest?"
"Ah!" Only after pondering for a long time did Wang Jiantong speak. "Very well, very well. Let this repay our sins! I only pray the boy won't bring calamity upon the Great Song someday!"
"With Brother Jianran's character and careful guidance, he will naturally become another great hero!"
"Let us hope so! But he's only fourteen now, isn't he? Give him another two years, and I'll come for him!"
"As you arrange, elder brother!" Xuanci pressed his palms together.
"And the second matter?" Wang Jiantong asked.
"This concerns the man who brought us that report all those years ago."
"Murong Bo?" Wang Jiantong's gaze sharpened. "The man has all but vanished these past years. Time and again, I've sought him out without finding him! Have you learned his whereabouts?"
Xuanci shook his head. "Junior Brother Xuantong still failed to meet him on his latest visit to Gusu, but he did encounter his wife's younger brother..." Xuanci then recounted everything Xuantong had seen and heard.
"So Murong Bo was deceived by a villain and passed on false information, and he's spent all these years searching for that villain?" Wang Jiantong considered this. "What do you think?"
Xuanci said calmly, "One side's account is not enough to be trusted!"
"Quite right! Murong Bo's affairs still require investigation!" Wang Jiantong said. "Why not look into whether those Lake Tai bandits are real? If they're a fabrication, the Murong Family may be plotting something considerable."
"That is precisely the second matter in which I need your help, elder brother!" Xuanci said. "It is inconvenient for monks to gather information, whereas the Beggars' Sect reaches throughout the Great Song, penetrating every crack, and is far better informed!"
"Easily done!" Wang Jiantong readily agreed. "I'll send another elder to oversee the matter!"
"Excellent!"
Having reached an agreement, the two returned together to the reception hall. After sitting down, Wang Jiantong was considering whom to send to Gusu when a novice hurried in, intending to whisper into Xuanci's ear.
Xuanci raised a hand to stop him. "Everyone here is a chivalrous soul. There is no need for secrecy!"
The novice bowed in acknowledgment. "Great-Uncle Xuantong has had another fit. He's searching everywhere for the seven treasures to make a kasaya!"
"Ahem..." The Beggars' Sect members were startled. Good heavens, a seven-treasure kasaya! Even Xuanci did not possess such a thing. Was Monk Xuantong trying to usurp his position?
Who would have thought a visit to Shaolin would yield such juicy gossip!
"The wretch! On his visit to Gusu, Junior Brother Xuantong was beguiled by that Wang Family lad and developed a heart demon. He now wishes to become an enlightened monk and deliver all living beings!" Xuanci invoked the Buddha's name and explained the circumstances to everyone.
After hearing this, one of the Beggars' Sect men slammed the table and rose, shouting, "How could that Wang Family brat resort to such underhanded tricks! I'll go to Gusu this instant and seize him, then make him cure the master's heart demon!"
"Amitabha! Benefactor Wu, I appreciate your kindness!" Xuanci pressed his palms together. "But this also happened because Xuantong's resolve was weak and he could not see through greed, anger, and delusion. We cannot lay all the blame on the Wang Family lad!"
An idea flashed through Wang Jiantong's mind. "Wu Changfeng, I happen to have a matter that requires you to visit Gusu. While there, you can also seek out that Wang Family lad and ask whether he has a way to dispel the heart demon."
"Oh? What matter?"
"Apparently, bandits have appeared on Lake Tai, plundering countless victims and leaving the common people no peace! I need you to investigate!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
With that settled, Xuanci hurried toward the rear hall, where he found an old monk earnestly trying to persuade Xuantong. "Junior brother, you've fallen into a demonic obsession! To become an eminent monk, you should read more scriptures. What use is making this kasaya?"
"Fine words coming from you!" Xuantong refused to listen and tried to force his way into the storeroom. "All those devout men and women seek you out to explain the scriptures only because you're so splendidly dressed!"
"What... what does that have to do with anything!" The old monk blocked the doorway, almost speechless with anger. "When receiving the faithful, surely I cannot dress in rags!"
"Ha... don't try to deceive me!" Xuantong sneered. "The day before yesterday, I met a pair of pilgrims and wanted to expound the scriptures to them, but they insisted on seeking you out! I too have read scriptures since childhood, you know!"
"What does that have to do with making this kasaya?"
"If I wore such a kasaya, who could look at me without knowing how profound my understanding of Buddhism was? Naturally, more people would then seek me out to expound the scriptures! I could relieve their worldly suffering too!"
"What twisted nonsense! I see you're full of greed, anger, and delusion!" The old monk was furious.
"Twisted nonsense?" Xuantong said disdainfully. "Even Tubo's Great Wheel Wisdom King agrees with this principle, yet in your mouth it becomes nonsense! Could it be that you possess greater wisdom and a deeper understanding of Buddhism than the Wisdom King?"
"You... you... you, leave at once! I certainly won't let you into this storeroom!"
"You had best step aside, senior brother! Otherwise, beware my Skanda Staff!"
Xuanci could bear to watch no longer. He could not understand how his forthright, decisive junior brother had become like this!
"Ha! Awaken!" Silently invoking the Buddha's name, Xuanci suddenly spoke. He employed the Buddhist Lion's Roar Skill, his voice like spring thunder bursting from his tongue.
Xuantong shuddered from head to toe, as though struck over the head with a staff, and instantly came to his senses. He bowed. "Senior brother, I..."
Xuanci waved a hand. "Your heart demon has clouded your mind! Go recite the Heart Sutra three hundred times, then report back!"
"I respectfully obey your decree, senior brother!" Xuantong bowed to Xuanci, then to the old monk, before bending forward in a bow and heading toward the Scripture Repository.
"Ah..." Xuanci sighed deeply, gazing at the southern sky. He murmured, "What sort of youth could send a man into demonic obsession with a single remark!"