Chapter 65: The Abbess

Puhang and Puyin moved cautiously toward the back mountain.

They had no choice but to be extra careful. Ever since arriving at Shaolin, Puhang had felt increasingly uncertain.

Not to mention the elusive Abbot, but even that Yichen was someone whose strength was impossible to gauge. And then there was Huīwú—his combat prowess was definitely superior to Puhang's.

So, Puhang had to tread lightly. The Abbot had begun to suspect him, and it seemed unlikely he would be allowed to stay at Shaolin for long. Tonight was an opportunity—he had to find out where the relic was hidden in the back mountain.

Even if he couldn't take it tonight, he at least needed to confirm its location. If the relic truly existed, he could always return later.

Puyin had already scouted the back mountain several times and had found nothing. Tonight, there was one last area to check—the final hope.

The two quietly made their way, leaving Shaolin and reaching the side of the Drinking Horse Lake.

Ahead lay the cave where they believed the relic might be hidden.

This was the last area they had not thoroughly searched.

As they were about to advance, Puhang suddenly noticed the light dimming, his heart sinking.

It was night, with only moonlight around, and the dimming of the light meant something must have blocked it. What was it?

Looking up, he saw a person gliding overhead, their wide sleeves unfurling like a night hawk soaring across the sky—something even many innate martial artists couldn't achieve.

When the figure landed and turned to face them, Puhang was shocked to recognize it was none other than the small monk from Shaolin.

"Amid the night, you two are here to admire the moon, hmm?" Abbot Huò Yuánzhēn gazed coldly at the two, his tone no longer serene.

Puhang and Puyin exchanged looks, both sensing the danger. The Abbot's appearance here meant he knew something and had deliberately followed them.

At this point, Puhang decided to take a gamble and boldly asked, "Abbot, what do you know?"

"According to the Buddha, the relic is empty in nature, neither born nor destroyed, neither pure nor impure, neither increasing nor decreasing. Master Puhang, am I reciting the Heart Sutra correctly?"

Puhang's face changed. "Abbot, since you know of this, the relic must already be in your possession. You must also know that Mount Wutai has a deep interest in the relic. I hope the Abbot can show mercy and allow us access."

"Master Puhang, this is no joking matter. The relic is a treasure of Shaolin, a sacred item in our Buddhist tradition. How can I part with it?"

"Abbot, as they say, giving to others is also benefiting oneself. If you agree, Mount Wutai will surely reward you handsomely in the future."

"Master Puhang, do not push too hard."

Seeing the Abbot's firm stance, Puhang knew it was futile to continue. He turned to Puyin and said, "Let's go."

"Master Puhang, in the future, Shaolin will place the relic atop the Buddhist pagoda. You are always welcome to visit."

Though Huò Yuánzhēn had intended to stop them, he changed his mind. While Puhang and Puyin had come for the relic, it was not originally a Shaolin possession—Shaolin had merely occupied the land. They had helped Shaolin in the martial arts arena, and it wasn't excessive.

Moreover, Huò Yuánzhēn saw it as an opportunity to enhance Shaolin's reputation through them, which would be beneficial for the future.

Had the relic not been so precious, he might have even considered befriending Mount Wutai, fostering mutual support in the martial arts world.

Puhang left, clearly dissatisfied with Huò Yuánzhēn, but fearing his martial prowess, he dared not take a more confrontational approach. Still, the relic was likely hidden somewhere in the back mountain, and he believed that, in time, he would be able to retrieve it.

As Shaolin's fame spread, the nearby Lüyě Town had grown significantly, with its inns always fully booked. Vegetarianism was all the rage, and having a shaved head gave people a sense of prestige.

The newly opened Zenlin Inn had a high-class décor, delicious meals, and booming business.

This morning, two nuns arrived at the inn.

Both were dressed in blue robes—one was older, already shaved bald, holding a whisk, her face cold and stern.

The other was younger, her hair still unshorn, beautiful with her long hair tied up in a hat, carrying a long sword on her back.

The older nun glanced at the inn, scoffing, "Hmph, Zenlin Inn. A Buddhist temple should be a place of secluded cultivation, but now, at the foot of the mountain, they're running such chaotic businesses. People come and go, the incense is burning strong, but they've lost the true purpose of cultivation. Why doesn't Shaolin manage this? What is that Abbot doing?"

The younger nun, named Lín Yí, looked at the inn and said to the elder, "Master, is it really the Abbot's responsibility? Can we blame him for this?"

"Hmph! Lín Yí, what do you know? If it weren't for the Abbot creating some sensational religious spectacle, no one would even know about this place. How could such a bustle exist around here? Now, they're selling things like the Zenlin Inn, Shaolin teahouses, and even Shaolin lay disciples offering services. Isn't all of this profit-driven? What's their basis? Isn't it the 'miracles' of Shaolin and the Abbot's supposed ability to communicate with Buddha? If the Abbot were to speak, do you think these people would not listen? Do they not want to make money? So, the real culprit behind all this is that Abbot."

Lín Yí was reprimanded by the elder but said nothing, though her face clearly showed her dissatisfaction.

The elder glanced at her. "Lín Yí, your six senses are impure, and you have yet to be truly initiated. You must understand the true meaning of Buddhism and not let worldly matters cloud your vision. Do you know how much I expect from you? My sect, Éméi, wishes to pass the tradition on to you."

"Master, I fear I am not worthy," Lín Yí complained softly, her fingers twisting the edge of her monk robe, a touch of charm in her expression.

"That's exactly why I brought you along, to help you see the truth. This time, when we reach Shaolin, you'll witness what I mean—how the so-called Buddhist monks have perverted the path. You must remember, do not let these worldly things cloud your mind. Once we reach Shaolin, I will personally confront that Abbot about his actions. His behavior is an affront to Buddha."

The elder nun spoke with a sharp tone, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Lín Yí was surprised. "Master, are we really going to Shaolin?"

"Of course. Let's go inside, rest for a while, and tomorrow morning, we'll visit Shaolin."

With that, the two nuns entered the inn.

The waiter hurried over to greet them, and the two nuns ordered simple vegetarian food.

As they sat down, the elder nun continued her lecture: "Lín Yí, when we get to Shaolin, be more assertive. You're too submissive, and that will make others look down on you. We're from Bashu, and they'll try to bully us."

Lín Yí lowered her head. "But Master, I don't know how to act."

"You... you're hopeless. Everything about you is good—obedient, well-liked—but why do you lack the strong character a master should have? Remember, when we get to Shaolin, don't give those monks any leeway."

"But Master, we are all from the Buddhist tradition. Isn't it wrong to act this way?"

"What's wrong with that? What's wrong? The Abbot of Shaolin is clearly a hypocrite, so why should we be courteous? When we get there, you'll see how I deal with these people who have forgotten Buddha's teachings."

The elder nun continued her tirade when she suddenly realized the teapot was empty. She turned to call for the waiter but grew angry when no one responded.

"Waiter! We need tea!"

When no one answered, she looked over to see the waiter standing behind the counter, staring coldly at them.

"Hey! I'm asking for tea, what are you doing?"

The waiter suddenly snapped back, "There's no tea. If you want it, go find a spring in the mountains!"

The elder nun was furious, slamming the table so hard that the teacups clattered.

"What's this? No tea in a guest house? Why put teacups on the table if there's no tea?"

The waiter slapped the counter and yelled back, "There's tea, but it's not for you."

"Ridiculous! Others can drink it, but I can't? Are you trying to say I can't afford to pay for it?"

"Stop talking about money. So what if you have money? A lot of people have money. Let me tell you, old nun, this is Mount Shaoshi, the holy land of Shaolin. You speak ill of our Abbot, say bad things about our monks, and yet you still think you'll get tea? You can leave now!"

"How dare you!"

The elder nun's brows furrowed, ready to take action.

"Get lost! This is our inn, and we're not doing business with you! Go find somewhere else!"

The waiter didn't care about her threats, shouting, "Hurry up and leave! Can't you see the looks on everyone's faces?"

The elder nun scanned the room, noticing that the patrons were all staring at her with unfriendly expressions.

"Do you see that, Lín Yí? The deceptive methods of Shaolin have spread far and wide. These fools are all under the Abbot's control. It's worse than the cults. Let's go. I won't stay in such a filthy place."

With that, the elder nun stood up and left, with Lín Yí following behind.

As they reached the door, the waiter called out to Lín Yí, "Little nun, don't feel embarrassed. I wasn't talking about you. It's that old nun. She came here to act all high and mighty. Go tell her it doesn't work here! The whole Lüyě Town knows I, Chen Xiaoyi, follow Abbot Yījiè. We believe in justice!"

Lín Yí nodded and left.

Chen Xiaoyi, the waiter, felt proud after speaking his piece. Since he had begun following Abbot Yījiè, everything had changed—he'd never felt so bold before.