Questions and answers

Hengyuan frowned, sensing something was amiss. Ever since he introduced himself, the two gatekeeper monks had displayed strange expressions.

After the message was sent, a subtle hostility arose.

"Please lead the way!" Hengyuan said meekly.

Led by the gatekeeper monk, we passed through the front courtyard and the main building, and arrived at the back courtyard.

Under the eaves, in the corridor, stood a middle-aged monk. He wore the ascetic robes that were easy to wear for trekking, and had a round face and thick earlobes.

He stared at Hengyuan expressionlessly.

"Qinglong Temple Hengyuan?" Monk Jingchen scrutinized Hengyuan with sharp eyes.

"It is indeed this humble monk."

Monk Hengyuan was also scrutinizing Jingchen. At this point, he realized that this group of fellow disciples from the Western Regions harbored a vague hostility towards him.

Hengyuan had no idea what was going on with this hostility, considering that the two sides had never had any contact before.

"A monk does not lie!" Monk Jingchen said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, Hengyuan's most immediate reaction was that it was a wake-up call: he couldn't lie; he had to answer honestly.

"It is indeed this humble monk," Hengyuan said frankly, his hands clasped together.

Monk Jingchen fell silent.

He had just used a Herrscher's ability to confirm that the monk who called himself Hengyuan was not lying, unless the other party was also a Herrscher and could modify the precepts on his own.

The question is, if the person in front of us is Hengyuan, then who was that just now?

What is his purpose?

Jingchen carefully reviewed the conversation and was horrified to discover that the other party had come for Sangbo's sealed artifact.

In that case, the matter is not as simple as impersonating Hengyuan; it concerns the Demonic Monk, and he must treat it with utmost care.

"That martial monk just now also knows the Buddhist School Lion's Roar. Even if he wasn't Hengyuan, he must be someone from the Buddhist School. And this person before us, even if he really is Hengyuan, is his arrival truly just for a visit, without any other intention?"

After a flurry of thoughts, Monk Jingchen made his decision immediately, pointed at Hengyuan, and shouted, "Take him down!"

Immediately, two monks dressed in blue robes stepped forward and pressed down on Hengyuan's shoulders.

Bang!

With a surge of energy, Hengyuan easily sent the two monks flying.

In the corridor, the monk Jingchen formed a mudra with his hands and chanted, "The body cannot move, the hands cannot move, the mouth cannot speak."

As the words fell, golden ripples, like water patterns, emanated from the handprint, gently yet firmly sweeping across Hengyuan.

In an instant, Hengyuan felt as if he were trapped in a quagmire; his mind was still functioning, but his body had already lost control.

"Bang bang bang"

Ripples of air erupted around Hengyuan, resembling tiny fireworks.

He was using brute force to resist the precepts, trying to break free from the mire.

Jingchen frowned. This monk, who called himself Hengyuan, was stronger than he had expected. He couldn't help but shout, "Take him down immediately!"

Several more monks, shamans, and Zen masters rushed out of the room. The latter two were weak fighters, so the monks had to subdue the people.

But before the warrior monks could surround him, Hengyuan broke through the "precepts," leaving afterimages as he pounced on Monk Jingchen at an extremely fast speed.

Hengyuan was furious and wanted to teach this fellow disciple from the west a lesson.

Just then, a figure blocked Jingchen's way. It was the young monk Jingsi, dressed in a blue robe and with delicate features.

He calmly watched Hengyuan rush towards him and struck out with his palm.

When the palm strike first began, there was nothing unusual, but during the process, a speck of gold lacquer spread from the palm, quickly covering the hand and arm, and then the whole person looked like a gold lacquer sculpture.

When!

The palm struck Hengyuan squarely in the chest, sending him flying as if hit by a battering ram, crashing through the inner courtyard wall and then through the main building wall.

The couriers at the post station were terrified; they hid inside, trembling with fear, too afraid to come out.

These monks started fighting as soon as they checked in; what will happen if they demolish the inn in a few days?

"Cough cough."

Amidst a cough tinged with pain, Monk Hengyuan emerged, staring at Jingsi without uttering a word.

Jingchen said calmly, "You should stay at the post station and wait for Uncle-Master Du'e to return. He will have questions for you."

Hengyuan nodded. "Okay."

As he finished saying "good," he transformed into a blur once more and pounced fiercely, but his target was not Jingchen, but Jingsi.

Jing Si, whose body exuded a metallic sheen, raised her hand again and struck Heng Yuan with a palm. This time, she missed, and instead, Heng Yuan intercepted her arm joint. The fist, as big as a casserole dish, slammed into her face repeatedly, making loud "clang clang clang" sounds.

After being hit in the face, Jing Si headbutted Heng Yuan, and after exchanging more than a dozen blows, Jing Si was once again countered.

Hengyuan grabbed his wrist, growled in a low voice, and slammed Jingsi to the ground with an over-the-shoulder throw.

Boom!

The blue bricks paved in the courtyard were instantly blasted into the sky, and the ground cracked.

Hengyuan's knee slammed into Jingsi's throat, while his right fist, like a blur, relentlessly pounded on his head.

The clanging sounds, like the tolling of bells, echoed through every corner of the courtyard.

Tiles clattered and slid off, flowerbeds burst open, and willows snapped. In an instant, everything was a mess.

Jingsi was powerless to resist and could only cover her face and endure the blows.

"Enough!" Jingchen said in a deep voice.

Hengyuan then stopped, swinging his bloodied fist and coldly staring at Jingsi: "Just thick-skinned."

At this point, the monk had finally vented his anger.

Xu Qi'an had always misunderstood Heng Yuan, thinking that he was a simple and gentle "Lu Zhishen" (a character from a Chinese folktale known for his honesty and simplicity). In fact, Heng Yuan was a thug disguised in this kind and simple exterior.

A person with a mild temper would not break into the Pingyuan Earl's mansion at night, kill someone, and then leave without a trace.

However, in Hengyuan's mind, Lord Xu was a kind and benevolent person, and such a good person deserved to be treated with gentleness.

Upon entering the inn, he was targeted at every turn. He had come with good intentions, but instead encountered "sticks and beatings," leaving him extremely frustrated. In such a frustrating situation, this little monk still dared to act arrogantly, as if he, Hengyuan, were some clay chicken or earthen dog that could be easily knocked away with a single palm strike.

In the end, he was just a thick-skinned little monk.

At the beginning of Shen Shi (3-5 PM), the early spring sun hung gently in the west.

Master Du'e, holding a Zen staff and wearing a golden-red kasaya, strolled back. He paused at the entrance of the post station, then stepped out and entered the inner courtyard.

The inner courtyard was in a mess. The courier workers climbed ladders to the roof to lay down tiles. The warrior monks carried sand to tamp down the cracked ground.

The one working the hardest was a strange, bald man. Master Du'e glanced at him a few times but said nothing.

Master Du'e appeared as a gaunt old monk with dark skin, a face full of wrinkles, and a emaciated body wrapped in a large robe, which made him look somewhat comical.

"Uncle-Master!"

The monk Jingchen came out of the room and spoke in a Western Region language, "Something happened during your stay at the palace."

He recounted the entire story of the truth and falsehood of the eternal to Master Du'e in detail.

"Hengyuan completely overwhelmed Jingsi?"

Master Du'e turned his head and glanced at Hengyuan, who was working diligently.

"Yes," Jingchen nodded, then added, "However, Junior Brother Jingsi was not injured. The Diamond Sutra is not something an ordinary person can break."

His tone was tinged with arrogance.

Master Du'e did not express his opinion, but instead asked, "When the first Hengyuan spoke with you, did he mention anything about evil entities? For example, did he know their origins or some aspect of them?"

Jingchen recalled for a moment and shook his head, "He only said that the sealed object under Sangbo was related to Buddhist School, and when recounting the case, he said that he had seen the severed hand residing in his junior brother Henghui."

"Uncle-Master, this matter can actually be verified; we just need to summon Hengyuan from outside and question him."

Du'e asked again, "Did he really not reveal any information about the evil entity to lure you into revealing more secrets?"

Jingchen shook his head. "No."

Master Du'e grunted in acknowledgment. "I know who he is. Nightwatchers watchman's office now and find the chief watchman, Xu Qi'an. I have some questions for him."

Xu Qi'an emerged from the brothel feeling light and airy, as if his bones were melting. Enjoying a massage while watching a play and listening to music, he thought to himself, "What a carefree life!"

In the course of an hour, batches of girls came and went in the brothel, entering with radiant smiles and leaving with trembling hands.

"It's a pity that the girls in the brothels mainly sell seafood, not provide professional massages, so their skills are lacking. This era has brothels, Imperial Academy of Music, and entertainment districts, but it's a shame there are no foot massage parlors or massage parlors."

It was already time to leave, so there was no need to go to the yamen. Xu Qi'an hired a carriage by the roadside and returned to the Xu Residence.

"Dalang, you're finally back! Someone from the yamen is looking for you. They've been waiting at the manor for ages, they've even drunk two pots of tea." Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, rushed to greet Dalang when he returned.

"The government office wants to see me. "Xu Qi'an pondered for a moment and guessed that it was someone from the Western Buddhist School who wanted to see him.

Upon entering the reception room, I saw a clerk in black sitting in a chair, drinking tea, his eyes frequently glancing outside.

"Oh, Lord Xu, you're finally back!"

After countless glances around, the official in black finally spotted Xu Qi'an. Overjoyed, he said, "If you hadn't returned soon, I would have had no choice but to stay at your residence after curfew."

"What is it?" Xu Qi'an went straight to the point.

"Not long ago, a Buddhist School monk came to the yamen looking for you, but couldn't find you, so he went to see Duke Wei. Duke Wei sent me to wait for you at his residence," said the clerk in black.

He's just a monk, why is Wei Yuan treating him with such seriousness? What is this Westerner? When will I, the mighty Central Plains of the East, ever be able to stand up? I'm trembling with rage.

Xu Qi'an said expressionlessly, "I understand. I'll go see him later."

The official in black breathed a sigh of relief and was about to take his leave when he suddenly remembered something and said with a smile, "Duke Wei heard that you've been wandering around lately, not waiting for orders at the yamen, nor patrolling the streets. He's very angry and says you've lost three months' salary."

"Dad, we can talk this over!" Xu Qi'an's face froze.

After seeing off the official in black, Xu Qi'an remembered that his little mare had been left at the Nightwatchers's office, so he ordered his servants to fetch Xu Erlang's horse.

The Xu Residence owned three horses, which were the mounts of Xu Pingzhi, Xu Dalang, and Xu Erlang. They also owned a carriage, which was used exclusively by the women of the household for their outings.

Upon hearing that his elder brother had returned, Xu Xinnian hurriedly came out of the study, looking worried, and said, "Brother, after you left today, those two scheming fellows came again."

"What?" Xu Qi'an didn't react for a moment.

"A swordsman in a blue robe and a monk who looked more like a butcher. They came uninvited, saying they came to offer their congratulations. Father said that guests are always welcome, so he invited them into the mansion for a drink."

Xu Xinnian frowned and said, "I always feel like they're looking at me strangely."

Xu Qi'an remembered that when he saw Hengyuan that afternoon, he seemed to have mentioned that he had just come from drinking at the Xu Residence.

"Erlang, don't worry about these nobodyes. You're the top scholar now; your sights are set on a higher sky." Xu Qi'an didn't know how to comfort his younger brother, so he patted him on the shoulder.

"I'll borrow your mount for a bit; I'll return it to you tomorrow."

Just then, a servant brought a horse from the back door and waited outside the main gate. Xu Qi'an immediately slipped away.

When he arrived at Sanyang Post Station again, the sun was already setting in the west, and the twilight sunlight was a magnificent golden-red.

"You"

The two monks guarding the gate realized they had been deceived emotionally, and they stared at Xu Qi'an with unfriendly expressions.

"I am Xu Qi'an, the presiding officer of the Sangbo case. Master Du'e summoned me. Lead the way." Xu Qi'an smiled and handed over the reins.

The two monks guarding the gate took a deep breath, suppressing their anger. One took the reins, and the other gestured for them to proceed.

As the gatekeeper monk entered the post station, they arrived at the inner courtyard.

It looks like there was just a fight here. Hengyuan was working here too, what a sin! I'll definitely be a better person from now on.

He lowered his head somewhat guiltily, avoiding looking at the monk Hengyuan, and entered a room under the guidance of the gatekeeper monk.

There were three monks in the room. The one in the middle sat on the couch. He was an old monk with dark skin and a face full of wrinkles. His thin body could not support the loose kasaya, and he looked somewhat comical at first glance.

On the left and right are Jingchen and Jingsi, whom I have met before.

Jingchen stared at Xu Qi'an with an unfriendly expression.

"Master Du'e!" Xu Qi'an clasped his hands together and bowed.

The old monk returned the greeting and asked gently, "Why is Lord Xu impersonating Hengyuan, the martial monk from Qinglong Temple?"

Xu Qi'an replied seriously, "I want to find out what's sealed beneath Sangbo Lake."

The old monk squinted, silently watching him. His calm and gentle gaze was like a human body scanner.

In front of this old monk, Xu Qi'an dared not have any inner monologues. He suppressed his wandering thoughts and prevented himself from having random ideas, and said:

"I personally investigated the Sangbo case and discovered many secrets within it. The Yongzhen Shanhe Temple was built on a large array, which sealed an evil entity. After the Yongzhen Shanhe Temple was destroyed and the evil entity escaped, I personally went underwater to investigate and found Buddhist script engraved on the remaining array stone pillars."

"At first, I thought that what was sealed under Sangbo was the previous generation of supervisor, but as the case progressed and Heng Hui appeared, it turned out that what was sealed under Sangbo was a severed hand."

"From this, I deduce that the severed hand is related to Buddhist School. However, neither the Imperial Censor nor the royal family are willing to discuss this matter."

"I, Xu Qi'an, have solved numerous major cases in the capital; there is no case I cannot investigate. But this question has been like a fishbone stuck in my throat, keeping me awake at night and unable to eat or drink."

Master Du'e nodded slowly. "So that's why there was that test earlier?"

"Exactly!" Xu Qi'an said.

He had already prepared this explanation when he impersonated Hengyuan. He disguised himself as a "madman" obsessed with solving cases, and was deeply concerned about the origin of the severed hand and the secrets hidden behind it.

So after the Western Regions delegation entered the capital, he impersonated Hengyuan to test the waters.

His probing was also flawless; all his questions were only touched upon briefly, without revealing any information about the monk Shenshu, perfectly playing the role of an organizer who only knew one side of the story.

Master Du'e smiled and said, "Lord Xu wants to know information about evil spirits?"

Xu Qi'an was delighted and appropriately revealed his thirst for knowledge. "Master, are you willing to tell me?"

The gaunt old monk chuckled, "That's fine, but you must join my Buddhist School and become my disciple."

"Get lost!" Xu Qi'an's face twitched, and he shook his head in refusal. "I cultivate Martial Dao; I can no longer practice Buddhist School mental techniques."

Master Du'e seemed to have anticipated this response, and calmly said, "You can become a martial monk."

You can become a monk. Monks and martial artists are indeed different paths leading to the same goal. My guess was right. The monk system in Buddhist School was designed for "outer disciples".

Xu Qi'an's long-held suspicion was confirmed.

What's the next rank after an eighth-rank martial monk?!

"Will you be able to marry and have children?" he asked.

"Although martial monks are not required to observe precepts, they cannot marry and have children. This has nothing to do with their spiritual practice, but is a rule of Buddhist School." Master Du'e shook his head.

"Once Buddhist School, you become a monk or nun, and martial monks are no exception. How can a monk or nun establish a family?"

Xu Qi'an said with a regretful expression, "I long for Buddhist School, but unfortunately, my family has only had one son for nine generations. It seems I am destined to be without Buddhist School, which is truly a great regret in my life."

Master Du'e was somewhat pleased, not expecting Xu Qi'an to be so friendly towards Buddhist School.

"If Lord Xu has any questions in the future, please feel free to come to the post station and ask. I will tell you everything that I can. There's no need to pretend to Buddhist School disciple."

"I admit my mistake."

Du'e nodded and instructed Jingsi to escort the person away.

After Jingsi saw Xu Qi'an off and returned to his room, Master Du'e said in a deep voice, "Summon Hengyuan into the room."

"Yes!"

Jingchen went outside to call for help.

A moment later, Hengyuan, covered in dust, returned with Jingchen. Master Du'e laughed and said, "Panshu calls me Uncle-Master, and since you are his disciple, you should call me Grand-Grand-Uncle-Master."

In fact, the Buddhist School of the Western Regions and Qinglong Temple have no seniority relationship. Previously, Jingchen addressed Xu Qi'an as fellow disciples out of politeness.

"Grandmaster Uncle." Hengyuan clasped his hands together in prayer.

Master Du'e nodded and asked, "I heard from Jingchen that the Silver Gong Xu Qi'an claims to be your close friend?"

Hengyuan replied, "Yes."

"The previous misunderstandings all stemmed from this person. Don't you harbor any resentment?" Master Du'e stared at Hengyuan.

"Whatever Lord Xu does, this disciple can forgive and understand," Hengyuan said.

He owes Number Three two lives and Xu Qi'an one life; these are immense debts of gratitude.

Du'e nodded again. "What kind of person is he?"

PS: I'll update first and then revise later. It seems like I've written 10,000 words today.