Chapter 95 Left Hand Steamed Bun, Right Hand Sutra, Neither Betraying Buddha Nor Betraying You

"All that has form is deceptive and false. If you see all forms as non-form, then you see the Tathagata..."

The long, mellow sound of chanting drifted faintly. Everyone who heard the words of the scripture stopped in their tracks and listened intently.

The chanting felt like a clear spring flowing through their hearts; their state of mind instantly became clear and empty, and the hostility within them dissipated.

Looking toward the source of the chanting, a continuous stretch of buildings appeared ahead.

This was the residence of the Zhang family, a prominent clan in Mang Prefecture.

The sound was coming from the room of the Zhang family head.

Inside the quaint, antique room, a fat monk reclined on an embroidered bed. His monastic robe was half-draped, exposing his chest and large, flabby belly. He held a scripture in his right hand and was chanting with great interest.

With his left hand, he was caressing half of a large white steamed bun—fresh, fragrant, soft, and soul-stirring.

"Great Master Xin Yong, do you think there really is a Buddha in this world?"

"If I make a wish to them, can it come true?"

"amitabha!"

Great Master Xin Yong put down the scripture in his hand and smiled like Maitreya. "My Buddha created Ultimate Bliss in the West; ten thousand scrolls of scripture are passed through the Three Realms!"

"Buddha, naturally, exists!"

"Female benefactor, feel free to make a wish. This poor monk will fulfill it for you!"

"Really? Great Master?"

The woman’s face was as beautiful as a flower; she was the daughter of the Zhang family head.

Her eyes were currently hazy. In her sight, the monk before her was tall and handsome, with red lips and white teeth, just like the man of her dreams.

"Of course it's true, female benefactor, rest assured!"

"The rhythm of your chanting just now was a bit off. Let's chant it again from the beginning; this poor monk will personally inspect it."

As he spoke, the sound of chanting drifted from the room once more.

However, this time it was replaced by a crisp female voice, and the sound was intermittent...

...

In another room of the Zhang family estate, the lighting was dim and the atmosphere was heavy.

The Zhang family head and the clan elders were gathered for a meeting.

One clan elder whispered,

"When exactly is that bald donkey Xin Yong going to leave?"

"It's only been one day, and I see the Eldest Young Miss has already been drained by him until she's barely recognizable. If he stays for another two or three days, I don't know how many female relatives of our Zhang family will suffer!"

One day ago, the monk Xin Yong arrived at the Zhang family in Mang Prefecture.

He used forceful means to suppress everyone in the Zhang family—even the Old Ancestor was seriously injured—and he moved directly into the Zhang household.

He claimed he wanted to propagate the Buddhist Dharma to the Zhang family, pulled the Eldest Young Miss, Zhang Biyu, into the room, and spent an entire day performing his 'harvesting' arts on her.

According to Jianghu rumors, Abbot Xin Yong of Dalin Temple is well-versed in Buddhist Harvesting Techniques.

Rumor has it that those harvesting techniques were obtained from the Huanxi Sect. Originally an advanced method of Dual Cultivation, because it lacked a crucial part, it could only be used as a harvesting method that benefited oneself at the expense of others.

Unfortunately, commoners and ordinary Jianghu people did not know this.

Every year, many people still ran to Dalin Temple to pray for a child, and shortly after, they would joyfully hold a son in their arms.

"That lecherous monk Xin Yong! If he really refuses to leave our Zhang family, we'll fight him to the death!"

"Watch your words!"

A senior clan elder frowned and rebuked in a low voice,

"The means of a Grandmaster are not to be speculated upon!"

"Who in the Jianghu doesn't know that Abbot Xin Yong is incredibly petty?"

"Once, there was a Genius Disciple from a large Sect who said a single bad word about him behind his back. He was kidnapped to Dalin Temple and forced to sweep floors for fifty whole years."

"From the prime of youth to a septuagenarian... how many fifty-year periods can one have in a lifetime?"

Fifty years?

Hiss...

Everyone present couldn't help but shudder.

If they were forced to stay in Dalin Temple and sweep floors for fifty years, unable to do anything else every day, they might as well just kill themselves by slamming into a block of tofu.

In that case, let's just let the Eldest Young Miss suffer for a while...

"Then Third Grand-Uncle, are we just going to wait for that bald... Great Master Xin Yong?"

"Wait until he's had his fill and leaves on his own?"

"Alas..."

The Zhang family's Third Grand-Uncle sighed deeply to the heavens.

"Steamed bun in the left hand, scripture in the right; faithful to Buddha and faithful to you!"

"Abbot Xin Yong's love for 'large white steamed buns' is known to everyone."

"Our Zhang family might be considered a major power in Mang Prefecture, but what are we compared to the rest of Cangzhou Prefecture?"

"Not to mention anything else, we can't even defeat that mount of his!"

Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.

Abbot Xin Yong had an exotic beast mount—a terrestrial tiger, jet black all over, radiating a terrifying aura.

Yesterday, many of them had only glanced at that tiger and were chilled to the bone by its lantern-like eyes.

Zhang Hetai, the head of the Zhang family, sat at the head of the table without saying a word.

He had seen his daughter's appearance not long ago. Originally full of vitality and radiant, she had now become blood-deficient and as fragile as a willow in the wind.

At this moment, the clan elder who had spoken earlier said again:

"Wasn't it said that Great Master Xin Yong was commissioned by the Six Doors to deal with the Blade Demon Yan Chu?"

"Isn't he afraid of delaying the matter?"

"Right now, Yan Chu's reputation has spread throughout Cangzhou Prefecture. Even in our Mang Prefecture, many people are rushing to Dragon Splendor Prefecture, wanting to join him."

"He must have something to rely on."

The Third Grand-Uncle thought for a moment and continued, "The relationship between Abbot Xin Yong and the Six Doors is unusual."

"Before he became a monk, he was a member of the military. The current Cangzhou Provincial Governor of the Six Doors, Hong Wei, was also transferred from the border army. The two of them must have known each other for a long time."

"Even if the monk Xin Yong really delays the matter, I'm afraid the Six Doors won't be too harsh on him!"

At this point, Zhang Hetai spoke up: "I just received news that the Blade Demon Yan Chu has left Dragon Splendor Prefecture and is heading toward Tianshui Prefecture."

"If Great Master Xin Yong doesn't set off soon, Yan Chu will likely pass through Tianshui Prefecture and leave Cangzhou Prefecture entirely!"

...

The aftermath of the incident where Yan Chu slew a Grandmaster was spreading frantically to the outside world.

Almost everywhere in Cangzhou Prefecture, his prestige was being sung.

Outside of Cangzhou Prefecture, his reputation also entered the ears of major powers at an extremely fast speed.

The name of the Blade Demon was deeply etched in people's hearts.

In the various prefectures and counties surrounding Dragon Splendor Prefecture, countless Jianghu people were heading toward Dragon Splendor.

Some wanted to catch a glimpse of his true face, while others wanted to join him.

But Yan Chu had already left Dragon Splendor Prefecture.

He only took Ma Qingzong with him.

This trip was for the Nether Prison Demonic Art that Ma Qingzong had mentioned.

If the Nether Prison Demonic Art was truly as Ma Qingzong described—far superior to the Three Lights Water-Splitting Sword Art in his hands—then this technique would become his primary Cultivation Technique.

He did not hide his tracks.

From Dragon Splendor Prefecture to Tianshui Prefecture was about four thousand miles. Most of it was by water; they had to pass through Linshui Prefecture first, then travel upstream along the Yang River.

The river wind whistled, and their clothes fluttered.

Ma Qingzong stood respectfully behind Yan Chu.

Ever since Yan Chu had slain a Grandmaster with a single strike, Ma Qingzong had become increasingly respectful in his presence, for fear of saying a single word wrong.

Yan Chu stood on the deck with his hands behind his back, watching the surging river water below, and said indifferently:

"Commander Ma, you are walking on thin ice before me. Do you think you can make it to the other shore?"

Ma Qingzong bowed his waist even lower, his voice nervous:

"I do not know why the Young Master asks this?"

"In my heart, I have already broken away from the Six Doors. From now on, I am willing to follow the Young Master's every lead!"

Yan Chu chuckled. "I heard that the Six Doors invited the Abbot of Dalin Temple to deal with me. If I slay him as well, do you think you'll still have a chance to escape?"

Ma Qingzong said, "Great Master Xin Yong is no ordinary Grandmaster. If he also dies at the Young Master's hands, then it won't just be Grandmasters coming to deal with you!"

"Oh?"

"Then I shall see it through to the end!"