Chapter 79: The Overbearing Senior Brother

Mingxin and Yiyin, in perfect synchrony this time, both slammed the copper coins they were holding onto the ground with force.

Mingxin, trembling with rage, pointed at Huo Yuanzhen's nose. "Listen here, Yijie, stop pretending! I'm your senior brother. Your master is Mingxuan. I know he came here to build this Northern Shaolin. I was here at that time too, though it wasn't as grand as it is now. And there's only one Shaolin in the entire north—this one. Isn't it the one he founded?"

"Exactly! And you're from the same generation as us! Our Southern Shaolin is the same. I'm your senior brother—this is all concrete evidence. Why are you still pretending to be confused? As a disciple of the Buddha, refusing to acknowledge your sect—what's your intention?" Yiyin was also losing patience. This Yijie was so rebellious, using a broken copper coin to mock them. It was almost too much to bear!

"I speak the truth. My master is not named Mingxuan," Huo Yuanzhen replied calmly.

"Then who is your master?" Mingxin demanded.

"My master is Xuanming. He was the first abbot of this temple. I don't know what relation he has to you," Huo Yuanzhen responded.

"Xuanming?" Mingxin paused, then suddenly burst out laughing. "I understand now! When we came here together, his name was Mingxuan. But before he left, my master told him to keep his origins from Southern Shaolin secret. He must have followed his advice and changed his name from Mingxuan to Xuanming. Hahaha, junior, it must be as I say!"

Huo Yuanzhen thought to himself, I had already guessed this, but just because you say it, doesn't mean I'll acknowledge you as my senior brother. He coldly responded, "There's no proof to your claims. I don't believe what you two are saying."

Mingxin smiled faintly, "Alright, since you have doubts, let me show you some evidence."

He signaled Yiyin to bring over a package.

"Look at this. These are your master's belongings from back then, and his favorite Longjing tea. Sigh... it's no use showing you these. You've become the abbot, so your master must be an elder now. Just bring him out, and everything will be clear."

Huo Yuanzhen was at a loss for words, thinking to himself, This old monk is really out of his mind. He still thinks my master is alive.

"My master passed away over four months ago," Huo Yuanzhen said flatly.

"Amitabha!" Both monks immediately chanted a Buddhist phrase, but neither seemed truly sorrowful. This made Huo Yuanzhen dislike them even more.

Mingxin sighed deeply. "Ah, back in the day, we were three brothers. I was the best at martial arts, my second brother Mingxing excelled in Buddhist teachings, but the third brother, Mingxuan, was no good in anything—yet he was the one our master favored. Now that our master is gone, and the third brother has joined him in the Western Paradise, it's truly a poignant bond."

He spoke with a hint of regret, but Huo Yuanzhen couldn't help but sense a trace of glee in his tone.

"Well, the old are gone, and mourning is useless. Yijie, now you understand I'm your senior brother, right?" Mingxin asked. When Huo Yuanzhen didn't respond immediately, Mingxin added softly, "You must have heard about the cave in the back mountain. As the abbot, you must know of it."

This was said in a very quiet voice, so that even Yiyin, who was standing nearby, couldn't hear it, but Huo Yuanzhen heard clearly.

That monk was indeed his senior brother. He recalled that mysterious old man from the cave had once asked who Huo Yuanzhen's master was, and had mentioned the names Mingxin, Mingxing, Mingxuan, and Kongfan. It seemed now that Kongfan was perhaps his master's master, making him his "grandmaster."

However, Huo Yuanzhen felt no sense of belonging to Southern Shaolin. He had heard of its legendary reputation and had some expectations, but now, after meeting Mingxin, all those expectations had disappeared.

But Mingxin didn't seem to realize this and continued, "Since you've become the abbot, I'll tell you the truth. The reason I came to Shaolin was to deal with the old man in the back mountain. To be honest, no one can defeat him—not even me. But since he's trapped in that cave and can't come out, he can't pose a threat. We can use some clever tricks to completely eliminate him. You should know that there are pills he made in that cave, right?"

"Who is this old man?" Huo Yuanzhen asked, his interest piqued.

"I'll save that for later. Those pills were his ransom. Years ago, my master promised him that if he made the pills, he could leave. But now that my master is dead, no one can subdue him, so we must get rid of him."

Huo Yuanzhen hadn't planned on acknowledging Mingxin as his senior, but now he was intrigued. "So, what method do you have to deal with this old man in the cave?"

"This person has extraordinary strength, and no one can match him in a fair fight. But I have my methods, though it'll take some time. I can't share them with you right now," Mingxin said with a mysterious smile.

After a brief pause, Mingxin continued, "For now, I'll stay in the back mountain. No one is allowed to enter for the next month. After a month, I'll leave, and you can still be the abbot. I'll also leave some pills for you, but you must keep this secret."

Huo Yuanzhen almost wanted to refuse, but Mingxin added, "You have no choice. I'm about to reach the mid-stage of the innate realm, so you must agree. Besides, you belong to our Southern Shaolin. If you oppose me, I can clean up the sect if I have to."

These words made Huo Yuanzhen utterly disappointed in Southern Shaolin. He was no match for Mingxin right now, but he didn't rush. If Mingxin wanted to stay, let him stay. A month's time was not long, and even the fiercest tiger naps. Maybe there would be an opportunity for him.

Besides, he wasn't against getting rid of the old man in the cave—perhaps that was where his opportunity lay.

Deciding to bide his time, Huo Yuanzhen performed a Buddhist salute and said, "Then I'll take my leave, senior brother. You're the senior, do as you wish. I can't stop you. You can stay in the back mountain if you like, but there are no houses there. You'll have to make do with shelters."

After saying this, Huo Yuanzhen deliberately flung his sleeves in anger and returned to his room.

Mingxin, however, laughed heartily, and even Yiyin joined in, "You're quite bold, aren't you? Let's see what you do now!"

He then turned to Mingxin, "Master, this brat doesn't respect his elders. Sooner or later, we'll teach him a lesson."

Mingxin's eyes flashed with cold light. "This kid is reckless, but that works for us. He's angry enough not to bother us. It's the perfect chance for us to act. Once we succeed, hmph, Yiyin, you'll be the abbot of Northern Shaolin."

"Really! Thank you, Master!" Yiyin's eyes sparkled with excitement as he began to fantasize about life as the abbot.

Mingxin and Yiyin immediately headed to the back mountain. As they passed Huo Yuanzhen's door, Mingxin warned him again to keep the monks under control, ensuring no one went to the back mountain, or they would be risking their lives.

Huo Yuanzhen didn't follow them, as he didn't need to spy on them personally. From his vantage point, his golden-eyed eagle had sharp enough eyes to watch their every move without them realizing it.

The eagle's usefulness was immense. Now, even Guanshan Yue and the others' movements were clear to Huo Yuanzhen. They had reached the border of Dengfeng and had hidden in a cave in the mountains. Each day, Guanshan Yue would venture out to gather food while the rest remained patient, waiting for the right moment.

Yue Ying and Zhao Yuanji were absent, likely because Zhao Yuanji was still recovering, and Yue Ying was taking care of her.

The entrance to the cave was sealed by Guanshan Yue, and they moved with extreme caution. No one had found them, even though the soldiers and the Heavenly Dao Alliance were searching for them.

Guanshan Yue had also set up a clever distraction, leaving false trails that led search parties in the wrong direction, ensuring they remained undetected.

Huo Yuanzhen was pleased with how Guanshan Yue was handling the situation. He would not ignore the safety of his allies.

Now, his golden-eyed eagle's focus was on the back mountain, to monitor Mingxin's and Yiyin's every move. After all, the cave and its mysterious occupant were of great interest. Not only could the cave contain precious pills, but it was also rumored to hold the legendary Sarira, which was incredibly valuable. If Huo Yuanzhen managed to acquire the Sarira, but had not yet obtained the Nine Suns True Scripture, he could lend it to Ning Wanjun, allowing her to resolve her arranged marriage issue.

Huo Yuanzhen didn't see himself as a worldly person, but helping others brought him joy. And helping someone as beautiful as Ning Wanjun? That would certainly feel like an accomplishment.