Chapter 118: The First General Assembly of Shaolin

In the early morning, a crowd gathered in front of the Luohan Hall, with female monks on the left and male monks on the right, all standing in neat rows, awaiting the arrival of the Abbot.

Although none of the monks fully understood the meaning behind the notification, they all obediently showed up, not entirely out of fear of the punishment, but mostly due to the Abbot's call—everyone followed without question.

The ordinary disciples waited for a while, and soon the senior monks, such as Hui Bo, arrived.

Originally, Hui Wu and his group had planned to arrive early, but for reasons they didn't quite grasp, they followed the Abbot's instructions without protest.

However, when they arrived at the Luohan Hall, they couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence.

The monks stood in two lines, and as Hui Wu and his companions walked through the middle, they were treated with a kind of leadership-like respect, which was undoubtedly different from usual.

Hui Wu, Hui Jian, Hui Niu, Hui Ming, and Hui Zhen stood at the door of the Luohan Hall, waiting for the senior monks to arrive.

After a while, the "Yi" generation monks appeared.

Abbot Yi Jie, wearing a ceremonial robe and radiating a dignified, noble aura, evoked a feeling of respect that came from the heart. There was an involuntary sense of reverence, as though standing before a towering mountain.

Yi Chen, Yi Kong, and Yi Jing, dressed in handmade robes, were far less majestic than the Abbot's attire but still respectable.

Huo Yuanzhen led his companions directly into the inner hall of the Luohan Hall, followed by the monks according to their seniority.

Inside the hall, a row of tables was placed at the far end, with several chairs positioned on a raised platform. A large red banner hung above, reading: "Shaolin Temple First General Assembly."

After offering incense to the Luohans, the disciples followed suit. Once the incense was burned, the prepared drums and music started, signaling the start of the ceremony.

Under Huo Yuanzhen's lead, all the monks recited the Heart Sutra together. When the recitation finished and the incense had burned down, the opening ritual was complete, marking the start of the conference.

Huo Yuanzhen, along with the Yi generation monks, sat down in the chairs behind the table—Huo Yuanzhen in the center, Yi Chen to his left, Yi Kong to his right, and Yi Jing further right.

The monks of the Luohan Hall, following the arrangement, sat down in their respective places. Hui Wu, as the presiding monk, took the central chair. Hui Niu and Hui Jian took their seats to the left, and the five Hui generation monks sat down, followed by the rest of the monks.

Once everyone was seated, Huo Yuanzhen nodded to Yi Kong.

Yi Kong stood up and looked around at the monks. Everyone straightened their backs in anticipation, ready for him to speak. Yi Kong held great authority in Shaolin, being the only one daring to challenge the Abbot. Though often reprimanded, his courage earned him respect from the others.

"Amitabha!" Yi Kong recited the Buddhist greeting, and the monks responded in unison.

"My fellow Shaolin disciples, I, Yi Kong, have been tasked by Abbot Yi Jie to preside over this conference…"

Yi Kong briefly paused and quickly grabbed the papers on the table—drafted by Huo Yuanzhen to prevent any awkward silence.

"This conference will cover three main topics: first, the long-term winter development strategy for Shaolin; second, the standards for rewards and punishments in Shaolin; third, a discussion on the relationship between Shaolin and the surrounding martial sects. We will now proceed to the first item."

After flipping to the next page, Yi Kong continued, "As Shaolin is located on the central peak of Mount Shaoshi, with superior geography, its prospects are extremely promising. The current assets of Shaolin are as follows: one silk shop, one shopkeeper, nine workers, with monthly expenditures totaling…"

He then outlined Shaolin's current economic situation, including the repayment of debts and ongoing purchases of weapons and clothing, which had left the temple in a tight financial position.

"The Buddha statues in the Wanfo Pagoda have all been installed, and the merit plaques have been hung. Currently, there is no additional income from the pagoda."

Despite this, Huo Yuanzhen had ambitious plans requiring significant funds. The Shaolin monks, skilled in hand-to-hand combat and weaponry, needed to develop their equestrian skills as well. To this end, they planned to purchase fifty fine horses to enhance their mobility and long-distance combat abilities.

"The plan is to purchase fifty horses, requiring a total of 1,500 taels of silver," Yi Kong read out, causing murmurs of surprise among the martial monks. "Are we really going to ride horses?"

Seeing the disorder in the hall, Huo Yuanzhen cleared his throat and used a bit of his Lion's Roar technique, silencing the murmurs instantly.

"The horses are to increase our mobility for the greater good, not for show or to flaunt wealth. Remember, we are monks, not warriors seeking to impress. Our goal is to serve the innocent and act swiftly in times of need. Anyone who develops a sense of arrogance or superiority will be sent to the back mountain for three months of reflection."

With his words, the martial monks quieted down. Huo Yuanzhen gestured for Yi Kong to continue.

Yi Kong read further, "The temple plans to construct a mountain path for the horses, costing 1,700 taels of silver. This road will not be open to the public or pilgrims, and will only be used in emergencies."

Thus, plans for the horses and the necessary infrastructure were laid out, followed by further announcements for acquiring other equipment and supplies.

The conference then moved to the second topic: the standards for rewards and punishments. Huo Yuanzhen had drafted strict regulations, especially for the martial monks, who were to adhere to rigorous training standards. Failure to meet these would result in severe punishment.

Next, the names for the third-generation disciples were announced, marking the beginning of Shaolin's internal hierarchy: the Yi generation, the Hui generation, and now the Jue generation.

Finally, the discussion shifted to Shaolin's relationships with surrounding martial sects. Though it was a matter for the higher-ups to decide, the goal was to strengthen Shaolin's dominance over Mount Shaoshi and surpass the Zhongyue Sect, which was viewed as their primary rival.

After a lively discussion, Yi Kong announced, "Now, we will proceed with the final item. I invite Abbot Yi Jie to give the concluding remarks."

Huo Yuanzhen, admired as both a young leader and a martial arts icon, stood to speak. His presence was magnetic, and the monks immediately began applauding. Huo Yuanzhen attempted to halt the applause with a gesture, but the monks only clapped louder.

Frustrated, he resorted to his Lion's Roar technique once again: "Stop!"

The monks immediately stopped clapping, startled by the powerful voice. Huo Yuanzhen sighed, feeling a bit exasperated.