Chapter 78: Visitors from South Shaolin

In September, the leaves had turned red where they were meant to, yellow where they should be, and the ones that should still be green were holding onto their color, painting the mountains and forests in a vibrant palette.

The mornings in Shaolin were always full of life, with the bells ringing melodiously and the sounds of chanting drifting from afar, sounding like heavenly music. It was a sound that unknowingly drew people's footsteps toward the mountain.

Huo Yuanzhen had just finished watching the monks practice martial arts in the Arhat Hall and was strolling slowly around the temple grounds.

The pilgrims who came to Shaolin for incense offerings had gradually learned the proper way to behave. Seeing Huo Yuanzhen, they no longer acted crazed like they had in the past. Instead, they respectfully bowed to show reverence to the high monk.

This was exactly the effect Huo Yuanzhen had been hoping for. At least he could enjoy some peace.

A few slender, graceful figures were coming up the mountain, and when they saw Huo Yuanzhen, they quickened their pace.

It was Ning Wanjun, Lin Yi, and Ning Wanjun's maid, Xiao Cui.

"Abbot."

The girls all bowed in greeting, and Huo Yuanzhen returned the gesture.

"You three ladies are here quite early today."

"Yes, we were so bored staying at the inn at the foot of the mountain. We could only play chess, but I don't know how to play, so I just watched Miss and Master Lin Yi play. But after a while, both of them got tired of it," Xiao Cui said, speaking with the speed of a machine gun.

Huo Yuanzhen chuckled. "That's simple. I'll make a deck of playing cards for you all, and you can play 'Landlord'."

"Landlord? We're not farmers, why would we play Landlord? Besides, the landlord is just an ordinary person, is it really worth our effort? And what's this 'playing cards'?" Ning Wanjun asked, confused.

Huo Yuanzhen had mentioned the game casually, but now that Ning Wanjun had asked, he had to awkwardly explain. "Playing cards are a form of entertainment, and 'Landlord' is a card game, very good for leisure."

"Is it a gambling game? If it involves betting money, then I'll pass," Lin Yi said, her face pure like water, and she winced at the thought of gambling.

"Of course not! The loser can get a turtle drawn on their face or get a paper note stuck on their forehead," Huo Yuanzhen explained, imagining the scene of their faces covered with little turtles. Especially Ning Wanjun, with her fair face and a few little turtles drawn on it—it would be quite amusing.

Before they could discuss further, a loud voice interrupted them.

"As the abbot, you should focus on your cultivation. Instead, you're here flirting with female pilgrims. This is a disgrace to the Buddhist Order! I wonder how Ming Xuan is teaching you!"

The voice was deep and imposing, but to Huo Yuanzhen, it sounded unpleasant. Who was this person, suddenly lecturing him? And who was Ming Xuan? Huo Yuanzhen had never heard of him.

The voice came from two monks standing behind them, both dressed in yellow robes. One looked to be in his fifties, with a fierce expression, while the other was in his twenties, wearing a proud look, seemingly the elder monk's disciple. He was carrying a bundle and had the attitude of someone trying to show off their power.

Huo Yuanzhen's heart tightened as he recalled hearing about someone named Ming Xuan. Could it be...?

He stepped forward and said, "Amitabha, may I ask where you two masters are from?"

"Shaolin!" The younger monk answered from behind, raising his head slightly with a disdainful look at Huo Yuanzhen.

Xiao Cui chimed in, "You're really talking nonsense! This is Shaolin, and this is the Abbot. You say you're from Shaolin? Are you out of your mind? Abbot, should we report these two scam artists to the authorities?"

"Nonsense, don't speak carelessly. Let's go pay our respects to the Buddha," Ning Wanjun interrupted Xiao Cui, then turned to Huo Yuanzhen. "Abbot, since you have guests, we'll take our leave. We hope one day you'll teach us how to play Landlord."

"Amitabha, Ning Miss, you may go. Don't just say Landlord—I'll teach you how to play Mahjong too," Huo Yuanzhen replied, though the girls didn't understand what Mahjong was either. They all bid him farewell.

As they left, Xiao Cui passed by the two monks and shot them a glare, making a fist in a threatening gesture, before walking off proudly. It nearly made the two monks choke on their anger.

"Master, look at this! What has happened? A so-called abbot, having all sorts of improper dealings with these women, and daring to lecture us! Where is the glory of Shaolin in all this? This is utterly absurd! Amitabha, I feel embarrassed for him!" The younger monk was practically seething.

The older monk's face darkened as well, though he didn't immediately scold Xiao Cui. Once the girls had walked away, he turned to Huo Yuanzhen and coldly asked, "Are you Yijie?"

"Yes, I am Yijie," Huo Yuanzhen replied.

"Listen clearly," the older monk said, "I am Ming Xin, head of the Discipline Court at South Shaolin. By seniority, I am your master uncle. This is my senior disciple, Yiyin, your senior brother. You should greet your master uncle."

Huo Yuanzhen looked at the two monks and replied, "Sorry, I don't know who Ming Xuan is, and I never knew I had a master uncle. That... Hui Ming, go and see if there are any leftovers in the kitchen and bring two plates to these two masters. Perhaps they are hungry and have lost their bearings after arriving at Shaolin."

"Yes, Abbot," Hui Ming replied, about to head off to find the leftovers.

But the two monks were already furious.

"Yijie! You have some nerve! You want us to eat leftovers? You think we are dogs? There isn't even a table here! Are you feeding us on the floor?"

"Shut up!" The older monk, Ming Xin, roared, stopping his disciple from speaking further. It was clear that Huo Yuanzhen was making his intentions clear enough without needing any further explanation.

Now that his disciple had been silenced, Ming Xin turned to Huo Yuanzhen and asked, "Did your master Ming Xuan not tell you about his situation?"

Huo Yuanzhen shook his head, acting ignorant. He had already guessed who these people were, but he decided to play dumb for now. Given the unclear situation, he needed to make them uncomfortable while he could.

"Well, since you don't know, I won't hold it against you. But now I must tell you why your temple is called Shaolin!" Ming Xin said, his voice full of authority.

"Master, please don't be in a hurry," Huo Yuanzhen interrupted. "Let me first inform you of something. I've never heard of Ming Xuan, whom you claim is my master. You've mistaken me for someone else. If you're not too delirious from hunger, you might just be a fraud. However, even if you are a fraud, as long as you repent, it's still considered a good deed. I have two copper coins here."

With that, Huo Yuanzhen took out two worn copper coins from his waist and continued, "This one was given to me by my master when he went to perform a ritual. It was his first earnings, and he gave it to me, teaching me to live frugally. No matter how prosperous Shaolin becomes, we must never waste. This second coin was given to me when I became the abbot, the first incense offering I received. It symbolizes the first income of Shaolin, which is very meaningful."

As Huo Yuanzhen rambled on, the younger monk, Yiyin, couldn't take it anymore. "You're insane! My master is trying to tell you something important, and you keep talking on and on!" he shouted.

"Enough!" Huo Yuanzhen suddenly yelled, his voice resonating like a lion's roar, causing Yiyin's ears to ring. For a while, Yiyin couldn't say a word.

Even Ming Xin's face changed. This Yijie was actually capable of performing the Buddha's Lion's Roar? He was just starting to learn it himself. Who taught him this?

After silencing his opponents, Huo Yuanzhen continued, "These two copper coins have been with me for a long time, and I've been reluctant to spend them. But treasures should be given to the deserving, so seeing how emaciated and desperate you two masters are, I must reluctantly part with them. Take these and leave, and maybe you'll find a way to start anew."

With that, Huo Yuanzhen pretended to be sincere as he took the coins and pressed them into their hands.

"Amitabha! May you find redemption!" he added, his voice full of mock sincerity.

Ming Xin was still stunned. He wasn't unable to resist Huo Yuanzhen's Lion's Roar; he was just shocked. In his memories, Ming Xuan had no martial skills, so how could he teach such a Buddhist technique?

In this brief moment of confusion, Huo Yuanzhen had placed the two dirty, almost unrecognizable coins into Ming Xin's hands.

This was humiliating beyond measure!

He had actually accepted these coins, the very same coins that beggars wouldn't even take. What was this Yijie doing with such trash?